|   Ventana El Chamuco - built bike pics..... | Ventanarama
Nov 25, 2002 1:25 PM | | Finally getting around to posting more pics of the El Chamuco now that it's built up. I've had it built for a couple of weeks and have some good ride time on it. This bike is FUN! Puts a big smile on my face every time I ride it, what a blast. With the 5" single-crown it actually climbs really well, much better than I thought it would. Rock solid in the rough stuff, very very stiff frame. First page of pics is with the 03'Z1-FR QR20 fork, second page with 03'SuperT.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| El Chamuco with 03'SuperT... | Ventanarama
Nov 25, 2002 1:38 PM | | Only have 2 good rides on it with the SuperT so far. All I can say is WOW, this fork is amazing. Sooo much stiffer than previous versions, very impressive. Fork weighs 7.4lbs. I'll probably stick with the SuperT on there since I already have a shorter travel bike.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| El Chamuco with 03'SuperT... | CTRider
Nov 25, 2002 3:04 PM | | Wow, that is a sweet looking bike either way it is set up!!! Does it only come in that color? I like the color a lot just curious.
Ventana's sure do look like high quality rigs that's for sure!
Can you climb with that rig?
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mountain biker this year. Please send me a nice new Ventana Pantera all decked out with a Marzocchi up front (Larry what would you recommend in Marzocchi for a Pantera?)a nice Race Face Deus Stem and Race Face Riser Bar and seat post, A Race Face ISIS BB and Crankset, A SRAM Drivetrain (I guess I have to run an XT as a front derailleur) complete with shorty shifters, some Avid Mechanicals, a sweet durable disc wheelset (Mavics, Sun?)with some nice WTB Motoraptors!! I can provide the saddle Santa! |
| El Chamuco = The Little Devil, so... | andy f
Nov 25, 2002 3:18 PM | | it only comes in Red. Ventana is having the red Romic springs powdercoated black so they match the frame better, though.
The bike climbs very well with a 5" fork. No trouble keeping the front wheel down and moving straight on steep climbs, unlike other bikes with similar travel/head angle i've ridden.
And the quality IS great, too. Ventana builds frames for some of the top brands in the business in addition to their own bikes. |
| El Chamuco = The Little Devil, so... | CTRider
Nov 25, 2002 3:29 PM | | Who else does Ventana build frames for? Would be good to know....as their own frames would be a stretch for me budget-wise right now. |
| Well.... | Shylock
Nov 26, 2002 6:17 AM | | ..They were building Karpiels for a while as well as the first run of Tomacs. they aren't doing tomac anymore, but I have no idea if they are sill doing Karpiel. They no longer do work for Ellsworth since their ..er... "misunderstanding." Currently they are doing Moots, but I doubt that will mean a cheaper bike. In fact, I don't think anything Sherwood has built for any manufacturer has fallen too far outside the price range of Ventanas.
Feel the gin |
| Well.... | CTRider
Nov 26, 2002 6:24 AM | | Thanks Shylock!
I think Ventana supplies the rear end for the Sycip Double Dribble.
Any other rear ends that are Ventana?
Also, what is the connection/relationship between Ventana and KHS? |
| purely about distribution nm | Shylock
Nov 28, 2002 10:12 AM | | feel the gin |
| So I guess that the blue color and the dust color listed | andie
Nov 26, 2002 6:19 AM | | on the web site are for blue devils and ....dust devils?
http://www.ventanausa.com/products/chamuco.shtml
3 colors available. But the Pantera is still black only, unless you have some extra ($200) cash to spend. |
| So I guess that the blue color and the dust color listed | CTRider
Nov 26, 2002 6:31 AM | | The Blue Devil.........now that would be a perfect fit for me since I was a Blue Devil in college (Not Duke though).......SUNY Fredonia. :-) |
| Actually..... | Ventanarama
Nov 26, 2002 8:22 AM | | they probably cut & pasted the basic page format from the others and forgot to edit that out. The only stock color in the Chamuco is the red. Other colors are extra $$.
Larry |
| Actually..... | CTRider
Nov 26, 2002 9:54 AM | | Both Rigs look sweet in their stock colors anyway I think.
Larry, just curious, but does the Pantera have a fairly high bottom bracket?
My current ride (Marin Nail Trail) has a low bottom bracket (at least it seems low to me) and I'm constantly bashing the crank arms and pedals on our rocky CT trails.
I wish I could find a Pantera to test ride here on the East Coast! |
| No, red anodized and shot peened finish only | andy f
Nov 26, 2002 9:33 AM | | Although, like Larry said, they will do custom finishes.
Ventana is really picky about the quality of the powdercoating on their other frames so the anodized/shot peened finish on the Pantera and Chamuco is actually cheaper for them. |
| Nice! | andy f
Nov 25, 2002 3:10 PM | | Looks familiar for some reason. Did the Super T slow the steering a lot? Big difference between the two forks while climbing or riding switchbacks? I'll be sticking with the Fox on mine for at least the next few months. After that I may go with a 150mm travel fork.
I got to ride my Chamuco and a Pantera side by side recently. What a huge difference in handling and suspension feel! Even with 4" up front, the Pantera has definite XC manners. |
| Nice! | john h
Nov 25, 2002 7:24 PM | | Three weeks ago I traded Sherwood my el matador for the el chamuco. I've built it almost the same as Larry's, z1 fr, avid brakes, xo drivetrain. I'm 6'2" 215lbs and the large fits perfect. I changed the shock spring to a 500lb as I could not preload the 400 enough to set the sag. Yesterday just to see if I could do it, we went on a ride to the top of a local ski resort. This bike climbs way better than any long travel bike I've owned. Put a 34 cog in back some 2.2 tires on it hit the eta and wow I'm at the top. Down the 5 miles of singletrac I went. You really do ride in this bike. 100% connection to the trail, think and it happens. I'm selling my santa cruz, I'll probably never ride it again. |
| El Chamuco with 03'SuperT... | tmv
Nov 26, 2002 10:58 AM | | How does the bike climb with the SuperT? I've been going back and forth between the Z1FR and Super T on a new Bullit. I like the idea of 7" front and back but am concerned about climbing as I live in Northern Cal and have to climb every hill I ride down. As far as riding preference, I generally trail ride so maybe the Super T is too much. Any input is much appreciated. |
| El Chamuco with 03'SuperT... | Ventanarama
Nov 27, 2002 8:05 PM | | It actually isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I've pretty much been climbing everything with it (well, except for stuff that everyone was walking - some nasty hike-a-bike on one ride we did). However, if it were my only bike I wouldn't put the Super on it. If you're using it as more of an all-around bike and it's your only ride, then I'd personally go with a 5"-6" single-crown. I will try the 6" Marzocchi Z1 when it comes out, the ETA would help a lot with climbing but I'd only lose 1" of travel compared to the Super. The Bullit has 1" more travel than the Chamuco though, which would give you a 2" gap front to rear with a Super instead of 1", that may be a factor to cosider also.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
| What size frame? | Troll
Nov 27, 2002 9:25 AM | | Just wondering what size frame you have shown here. I have a custom buit Salty for my 6'-7" height and looking at the dimensions on the web site, I think I might be able to get the largest Chamuca frame without going custom built.
Thanks ,Troll |
| What size frame? | Ventanarama
Nov 27, 2002 6:55 PM | | That one is a large, I'm 6'2". Yeah, I think the XL could probably work for you Troll.
Larry Mettler
http://www.mtnhighcyclery.com |
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