Yes they will – X12 and Shimano (yeti) use different axles but have the same hub dimensions (thank god). Both 142x12mm hubs.

mindmap3 –

I rode the rune and spitfire (not sure if it was a v2) at the leisure lakes demo day in March. Totally different bikes – riding the rune will tell you very little about the spitfire

If you haven’t already got a post, KS do a lay back version (dropzone I think).

Sorted now. Thanks for the responses, SJS sorted me out.

I’ve got a PC1 at the minute and 1/8th chainring and sprocket, so 9 speed ‘aint going to cut it!

Got mine at Winstanleys….

This is why I’ve gone with a LEV for my yet to be built bike – lever replaces the inner ODI lock ring – very neat, and one of the biggest selling points IMHO (along with the stationary cable).

Surely the pace of the ride is important – if you’re putting out 200W it won’t matter if your going slowly on an anvil, or screaming along on a carbon wunder bike.

If you’re riding as a group moving at the same speed though, the guy on the anvil will be stronger and fitter, but won’t notice it until he gets on the carbon bike.

How are you finding the Vipr? I’m considering my options between the CTD and Vipr when the green ones land…..

10 for me, decision now made!

Some useful clips and things here:
http://meyle-mueller.onlinekat.de/index.php?customer=rose&lang=en_GB&catName=hk_13#/?onlinekatpage=306

Laptops may not like the shock loads imposed on them being on the frame – I’d not put mine in paniers, which is a shame as I prefer riding with paniers over a rucksack.

Cy,

I had a play with my Magura’s when I got home and I just couldn’t get them to do the same thing – hopefully a check over will see them right.

Agree on the weight front – nothing in it, the rocket is perfectly competitive. Something Paul said on Saturday also occured to me – that the Vipr only gives the right amount of travel for the situation, I think that was probably the case, and why I didn’t see loads of travel.

As you can see I’m down to two options now, I’d be wanting it in Orange anyway so have a few weeks to choose! I was really hoping that the demo on Saturday would make it an easy choice one way or the other, but I just can’t get a piece of paper between them in my head at the moment. I can’t believe how much I’m agonising over it – my wife is well and truly fed up with me talking about it now – and it’s such a first world problem!

Pastherizla – I think we met on the Birmingham urban ride. You don’t happen to be up Cannock at the weekend do you? The only thing I didn’t really get a sense of on the Rocket test was it’s ride on more groomed trails – it was all nice natural stuff.

daveh, I’m no seasoned bike tester, all of my previous bikes have been bought unridden (currently on a 2005 Orange 5), but my I’ve scrawled down my impressions below. I’m an okay rider, in the faster group going down in my club (though there are no DHers in our club!), mid pack going back up, ride trail centres, peaks, long mynd, swinley etc. I’m 5’11” and rode a large in all the bikes except the Cotic which I rode in L and M.

Banshee Prime
Really liked this bike – rolled well and was chuckable for a 29er – worth a ride if you go 29er Good value too from memory. The lacquered raw finish on the Banshees looked great.

Banshee Rune
Super plush pillow of a bike, probably great if you’re riding big stuff, but way too much for an ‘everthing with an uphill’ bike. I struggled to get it off the ground on my test ride, and found it really draggy on the flat – not for me, so I exclude the SC Nomad as too similar

Banshee Spitfire
This was much more like it, really snappy and fun, I just wanted a shade more capability and the SB66 was more confidence inspiring.

Spec Stumpjumper 29er
Just not for me this one, seemed quick, but not fun

Trek Remedy
Felt too on top of the bike, and thus a bit nervous, quick though.

Santa Cruz Tallboy LT
Didn’t get on with this bike for some reason, it didn’t seem to have very good small bump compliance, but I wonder if that was shock setup – I was going to re ride it with less air, but decided that 29ers weren’t for me after demo’ing a mix.

Santa Cruz Blur LT
I like the suspension feel on this – good small bump compliance, not too much bob uphill, it was just the short TT that put me off, I felt far too cramped

Yeti SB66
This was the first bike I tested, and I immediately gel’ed with it, was the equivalent of a hot hatch – egging you on to go faster, giving you loads of confidence. The faster you went the more you got out of it. It pedalled really well up hill even with the propedal off. I re-rode it at the Leisure lakes demo day as I had some spare time and still got the same feeling coming off the other bikes. The first bike I rode had Devilles fitted and the second had fox 32’s. The BOS were really nice – I’d have them if they weren’t so expensive! The 32’s were fine, but were a little flexy in comparison.

Yeti SB95
Similar to the 66 but not as quick to change direction, it rolled over ruts very well and could be made to go where you wanted, but was happier to just steamroller a line through the trail. Easier going on the flat though. If I were less aggressive down hill it’d be between this and the Prime.

Cotic Rocket
Much like the SB66 this pedalled really well up and felt great down. The Large was spot on for me with a 60mm stem (I was riding Cy’s bike). I’m not convinced the forks were working properly though, they seemed to be locking up on the bushings. Cy had the Vipr shock fitted and I probably used only 75% of the travel with the sag set right, I suspect the compression tune on it suits a more aggressive rider than me (Cy)! The medium I rode was definitely too short for me both in length and height, and made my back hurt in fairly short order. The narrower bars also didn’t suit going down, I felt much less confident. The CTD shock felt better for me though – although I did pinch flat twice within 200m and didn’t think I was riding harder than on the large.

mmel – I had a play with my magura’s when I got home, couldn’t get them to lock up like that so I think there may be a problem with Cy’s pair?

Dean – the top tube is what I’m concerned about – I tested the large and it felt quite open, but being 182cm (5’11.5″) I’m right on the cusp of medium/large.

I do want to run a 50/60mm stem with it though as I’ve heard these really work well with this bike, so I could shorten the cockpit from the demo bike by 20mm (70mm stem). In contrast to you though I’m more of a sit down and spin rider, although that’s changing slightly now I have a single speed.

Stewart – Hong Kong may be a bit of a stretch! 8O

Thanks for the link Steve, must have been having a special moment – just couldn’t find it when I looked.

Willing to travel further to be honest – considering a day trip to Afan to have a go on theirs. I liked how the large rode, really just wanted to try a medium for fit.

Any other suggestions good people of singletrack? Neither Swinerton or John Atkins have stock.

It wasn’t me mmel – I went with Magura’s today!

Can you stretch to these?
18 Bikes

I’ll just rivet them on

8O

Don’t do this! The 3M stuff above is good, or plexus if you can find it – I used to glue Aston Martins together with it :D

Thanks for the feedback!

majorspaniel – any other feedback on the TS8’s? How well does the lift select work? I’m considering these over Rev’s but they’re a chunk more money! Where did you buy yours from?

Not any more scientific, but my times over a section (up and down bit) from last weeks Cannock demo:
Specialized SJ FSR 29er 4.27
Banshee Prime 4.14
Trek Remedy 4.40
Banshee Rune 4.47
Banshee Spitfire 4.36
Yeti SB66 4.15
Yeti SB95 4.41

None of these are my bike, although I have riddenthe 66 and 95 before. I was impressed with the Primes time, but enjoyed riding the 66 more. In fact I prefered riding the spitfire over the prime, even though it appeared to be slower…..

I found good value fox’s at JE James:
2012 Fox 32’s

and if you want burly
2010 Talas 36’s

I really want something between these two, hence why I was looking at the Rev’s and TS8’s

Orange, but would really want a green one!

I’m up there on Saturday, demoing different sizes at 10 and 12. See you then!

Cheers for the link – they look a pretty good price. Does anyone have opinions on the TS8’s?

merlin bikes are excellent value

I wasn’t convinced 142+ wheels wound work with a 142 frame. I think 142 wheels will work with a 142+ frame – but google it, I found the info a few weeks ago.

Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll look them up.

Just checked on the club form – it’s legit.

There’s nothing amazing, but enough to keep you occupied. Look up Godiva Trailriders (coventry) or RLSCC (Royal Leaminton Spa Cycling Club). Both do weekday evening club rides, and Godiva (probably RLSCC too) generally have people doing something every weekend. Snow ride today around Cov :-)

Don’t forget road and MTB versions of the octalink BB, in a variety of axle lengths and BB widths

Ah, cross post!

Cheers

The point of sale with most online shops isn’t when you enter your card details, it’s when the transaction is processed, this may be at the same time it may not.

Jason,

do you have a link to a light bikes auction, can’t find them! Also, roughly how much did you pay for them?

Cheers

Like the heckler Hora,

was on my list when I was looking – enjoy!