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MountainBikeReview.com's Forum Archives - What Bike to Buy
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I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I (10 posts)
|  I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I | Blk Lab
Aug 1, 2002 6:59 PM | | love to have an additional inch of travel in the rear. With the air shock set to my liking (3/8" sag), I get about 3" max travel on about 95% of my rides. Which "true" 4-4 1/2" travel bike(s) best mimic the RX in ride/build quality, i.e. quick steering, outstanding climbing, stiff rear end, durable, yet semi-light weight.......
Oh, forget about the HH100. Though an outstanding bike I'm sure, it's to close to what I'm presently riding.
On my list so far:
*Tracer
*Switchblade
*XCE
*Pantera |
| re: I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I | me2XC
Aug 1, 2002 7:18 PM | | I'm tryin to swap my s-works FSR (2.96") for an Enduro. I rode my friend's bike with 3.75" and I felt the difference. I was once intimidated of dropping 2-3ft. drops with the s-works, but the extra inch really goes a long way. A good 28lb< trailbike with discs would be nice. |
| re: I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I | Lucky7
Aug 2, 2002 4:59 AM | | Look at the Ventana El Saltamontes. Added one to my stable and it is very similar handling/climbing to my R-X. Except with 4 inches front and rear. Great bike! |
| re: I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I | Truth or Dare
Aug 2, 2002 5:37 AM | | I would suggest you test ride an Ellsworth Truth. It is a 4" x4" travel bike, very plush and still extreamly efficient pedaling machine. Climbs like billy goat on roids.
Paul |
| re: I love my Racer X, but man wouldn't I | Q-Factor
Aug 2, 2002 5:38 AM | | I have been riding a 2001 Racer-X for a little over a year. It is an awesome bike, handles like a dream and is everything I expected. But, I to found the suspension to be very stiff and limited in travel. I am 6'-4" and weigh 250 lbs and have to run the shock at over 250 lbs of pressure to get about 1/2" of sag. I typically do long epic rides with a group of friends, and the suspension was just too stiff for me. I suddenly realized that I needed more of a trail bike than a XC race bike. I am not faulting the X, it is a greta bike, but just not right for my particular needs.
I just received a 2002 Turner XCE that I ordered from Hammerhead Bikes, and all I can say is WOW! It handles every bit as well as the Racer X, but not quite as twitchy and fast (slightly slacker head angle). The new Romic shock was spec'd on the bike and the tuning capabilities are tops. The ride is everything I was looking for, it just soaks everything up and even the small chatter bumps that caused the rear end of my X to skitter and break loose under fast cornering just dissappear under the XCE. I was originally concerned with the potential for bobbing with the coil rear, but the frame pivot design keeps it to a minimum and the Romic valving takes care of what is left. Definitely take a good look at the XCE. |
| Romic.... | Roy
Aug 2, 2002 6:16 AM | | on the XCE reduces the travel from 4" to 3.5". Only the Vanilla gives you all 4" as the Float is 3.5" also. |
| Ellsworth ID ... | RP
Aug 2, 2002 7:49 AM | | I own both a RX and a Switchblade. I've got the RX built up light with a XC cockpit while the SB is 28-29# with a bit more free ride setup(5",4.5"). I routinely ride both bikes and enjoy the difference in ride characteristics.
I picked up the SB with the same mind set you have, but after owning/riding the SB for a year and a half, I tend not to worry about weight and climbing performance. IMO you can't climb any of the bikes on your list like a RX, any plush 4-41/2" travel bike requires a sit and spin technique. Once you are out of the realm of XC performance the difference between a 27# and a 30# trail bike isn't huge. With 5" coil fork on my SB I bottom the 4.5" air rear all the time. I'm now considering the 5.7" rear link but I would perfer a coil for that kind of travel.
If I was in the market right now I think I would try an Ellsworth ID over the SB. I test rode the ID when it came out and was amazed with how efficient it felt. It does have a high BB, but I like the clearance/sag you get. For a heavier rider I might not go with the ID, but at 165# I think I'd be fine.
The bikes on your list are all outstanding, but you're trading weight/efficiency for a little better travel and a bit slower handling. If you can't keep the RX and you like to ride with the XC racer crowd then a Tracer would be the best on the list, i.e. a bit more travel but lighter than the others. |
| So True...Nothing's Perfect | Spectre
Aug 2, 2002 1:30 PM | | Between the Switchblade and the XCE, the XCE might feel a little snappier. The Id also might be a good choice (though I haven't ridden the Id). HOWEVER, I agree with RP that there is no perfect bike that does everything well. Just as you can't get a monster truck to corner like a Formula 1 race car, bikes either feel racier or have a lot of travel. |
| Ellsworth ID ... | Cyto
Aug 10, 2002 8:30 PM | | I went through this same decision and bought a Medium ID, and then later a Small ID because the standover was way higher than they said on their web site.
28lbs! with 6" of Romic in the back, 5" of Fox Van RLC in the front, Avid Disc's, WTB 2.4" tires, XTR... and soon an Evil DRS chainguide! Plush, climbs incredible...
It came down to the Turner XCE (Awesome) and the ID, The Turner RFX was too heavy (duty)...The extra travel and light weight frame sold me on the the ID. Also the wait for getting a Turner also turned me off (I wanted a custom color... but their service rocks!)
Try to ride one before buying to make sure the Standover is not too high... The BB height thing is way overdone... It is really cool to pedal 175 XTR cranks through rock Gardens and not smack a pedal or crack! Only really really slow stuff feels tipsy....
My Ride without a front derailure 27.4lbs, waiting for the Evil!
Chris |
| nearly all in one | derby
Aug 2, 2002 8:30 PM | | The Tracer is the most adjustable short to medium travel fully made (3 to 4.4 inch measured). And it has the most advanced suspension in this travel range too. I have adjusted it to very nearly the same geometry measurements as an XCE, Hammerhead-100, and a Pantera (without the pedal kickback and brake jack). Although I haven't ridden it with an 80mm fork it can be adjusted to ride the same as the RacerX. Sure there would be minor differences in feel due to tubing and pivot geometry differences and shock rate. The geometry couldn't be made to ride like a Switchblade (the steering can't be made as slack without an inch more travel in the front than the rear (which would shorten the rear travel too much). Depending on the adjustment there is little to no bob using faster damping than nearly any other design. Few suspension bikes (even with shorter travel) have less bob when standing an pedaling. Very few bikes ride as smooth or as stable. With a 6.1 lb frame with air shock, it can be built as light as under 24 lbs up to 28 lbs with 2.4 wheels, coil suspension, etc. I haven't tried it yet but with an Uzzi link it should ride well with a 5 inch fork and 5 - 6(?) inches in back. Pretty versatile, I'd say. A lot to learn about suspension and geometry adjustments with this bike. Otherwise go buy about 6 high-end more expensive bikes to match the quality and handling options that can be quickly adjusted between rides or on the trail. (But, I must admit, there are prettier bikes! And looks are the most important thing, right? ;-)
- ray |
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