RELIABILITY
We have a lot of Avid brake comments on the website. Any issues?Errr, yes! I spent a fair chunk of my summer bleeding them. The lever feel is great though. Well, I tried to be positive.
Fork and shock reliability been good?So far, yes. But neither have been through a British winter and summer, in the Alps it was very dry.
Bottom bracket. Still working?Yeah it’s hanging in there.
What’s cable routing been like? Especially around the headtube and seat–tube?It’s pretty neat and there is a good flow from lever to brake/mech. There is a little rub on the paintwork at the headtube. I haven’t needed to change the gear cable too often, which is a good sign.
Gearing correct? Any issues with the gearing? Adjustments?The bike comes with a really tight ration cassette, which is all well and good for racers on big tracks, but for anyone riding between lifts or any tracks i.e. between resorts in the Alps, it is pretty tough to pedal.
Chain retention good?Seems to be.
Wheel strength. What’s the spec and durability been like so far?Good spec wheels (Mavic rims on DT Swiss hubs), neither of which I can really fault. I have had to true them once or twice, and as I mentioned earlier there are a few dings in the rims. But all in all, they have been reliable.
Made any changes to components?Only the bar and stem. I’ve got Production Privee ones on there now, simply as they are higher rise than the supplied bars. The stem is a direct mount PP one that I got to match the bars. But there is no faulting the standard spec Truvativ bar and stem.
RIDE DYNAMIC
Has it ripped, is she loose, have you raced, where’ve you been, does it work?Oh maan, is she dynamic butt. Serious, she’s mega. Proper tidy bruv. I’ve taken the bike to locations across Britain and around the Alps, and the thing I love the most is tearing the shit out of corners. I just can’t describe how planted she is in turns – loves every bit of it. Conclusion: she works a treat.
What’s this bike all about?Downhill speed. Winning races. But most importantly, it’s just a fun bike that I think any privateer would be happy as hell riding every day and racing every weekend on. It isn’t boring to ride like some top race bikes are and yet it is still capable of winning the biggest titles.
Do you find yourself flirting with the idea of other rides? What would improve this bike?Hmmm well that day I took the bike down the Austrian death track I thought for a moment that I hated the bike, that the headangle was ludicrously steep. But then I realized it was just the pitch of the hill. I like the idea of the Scott Gambler but then I would honestly be happy keeping this as my DH bike FOREVER.
Will you go the distance with this bike?I’ll go right down a hill, then get on an uplift or chairlift and go back up again. That distance could be anywhere between one and twenty miles. Does that answer the question? Not sure what you mean…marriage? Yeah I have considered that option. I loves it!
| FRAME | Aluminium Optimum G04 w/Carbon seatstays |
| FORK | RockShox BoXXer World Cup 200mm |
| HEADSET | Cane Creek 40-Series Zero Stack |
| REAR SHOCK | Fox DHX RC4 Boost valve, Factory series (not Kashima) |
| RIMS | Mavic EX721 |
| HUBS | DT Swiss 340 (F 20mm, R 12x150mm) |
| SPOKES | DT Swiss Champion |
| TYRES | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C 60tpi |
| BRAKES | SRAM XO |
| REAR DERAILLEUR | SRAM XO |
| REAR SHIFTER | SRAM XO |
| CRANKSET | Truvativ Descendant 1.1 38T |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | SRAM GXP |
| CASSETTE | SRAM PG–1070 10spd, 11–26T |
| CHAIN | Shimano 10spd |
| BARS | Truvativ Boobar 31.8mm, 780mm |
| STEM | Truvativ Hozfeller Direct Mount 31.8mm |
| SADDLE | Selle Italia XR |
| SEATPOST | Devinci WLSN SL |
| GRIPS | Devinci Performance Lock–on |
| CHAINGUIDE | E13 LG1+ with Taco Bash |
Price: Completes from £2762.50 (our bike was £3250.00). Framesets: carbon rear 2012 (as tested) £2125.99, Carbon frame 2013 £2699.99
Haven Distribution: 07827 797 044
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