|   Ventana Pantera Experiences? | Closed Loop
Sep 23, 2003 2:22 PM | | Anyone out there with Pantera experience? Any advice for an XC rider from the Mid-West, 6'4" 200 Lbs. Addition of teh swing link? Shock options, i.e. can a 5th element be used? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. -Rich |
| link (nm) | rvw
Sep 23, 2003 3:18 PM | | http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/2003_full_suspension/product_122325.shtml |
| Had one for a few months.... | Innocent Bystander
Sep 23, 2003 5:00 PM | | While I was awaiting my Heckler. I guess that is an advantage to being a shop owner... anyway... great great bike. Frame quality AT LEAST as good as anything on the market. I got it with the Romic and Superlink and it was very plush... pedaled very well... and it was very stiff, VERY stiff (laterally). It climbed very well, yet came down very well also. Maybe not as capable a descender as the Heckler, but it was a better climber. It is a bike that I, personally, highly recommend. |
| Had one for a few months.... | jcs
Sep 25, 2003 2:41 PM | | Hey IB,Im also lookin pretty hard at the Pantera. Was it you that posted a comparision between the XCE and the Pantera? I did a search and couldnt find that thread. thanks |
| Yup, that was me.... | Innocent Bystander
Sep 25, 2003 4:12 PM | | Both bikes very plush. The XCE is a bit more efficient to pedal and you feel it on loooooong climbs, otherwise both are very good climbers. I would give the edge to the XCE there. The Pantera is a better descender, IMO. The geometry just seems to feel better when the hill turns down. Both bikes are very stable and can carve a section of singletrack like nothing else. I got the Pantera with the Romic and Superlink, and I am not I have ever felt a bike more laterally stiff than that setup... NOTHING.
As for build quality, it's a push. I like Sherwood's attention to detail, and would give the slight edge to the Pantera there. Certainly the difference between a Mercedes and a BMW, so take your pick.
Basically, they are 2 different bikes, that excel at different things, but can both be ridden on the same trails. You have to like single pivot bikes though to feel good on the Pantera. The Romic really takes much of the single pivot feel away, and does it's job when going uphill. That lessens the gap between the 4-bar and the single pivot.
Really can't go wrong, really. I just can't say which one I like better, it wouldn't be fair to the other to choose. |
| re: Ventana Pantera Experiences? | tommyrod74
Sep 23, 2003 6:32 PM | | I had one for over a year and loved it. Sold it to buy my dream bike, an XCE, both are great, I'm just a "bike whore" (as Charles at Hammerhead recently described me) ;) . Very high quality bike, and it rides great.
Tommy |
| Much Ventana Pantera Experience! | ringlord
Sep 24, 2003 6:24 AM | | I have ridden the pantera for 1.5 years with great success. Rode it in all kinds of terrain: east coast roots, west coast rocks, midwest clay, etc.) I have tried many shock/fork combos and currently use a romic and 100mm bomber with ETA. You should get the superlink at your weight. It will make a noticeable difference to an already stiff frame. Also, get a pair of stainless steel outer pivot bolts (10mm). My stock aluminum ones have broke (after much abuse). The s. steel pivots should last forever.
I have owned many, many bikes over 10 years (4bar & SP) and can honestly say the pantera is top class. Most importantly, Sherwood and Teresa are shining examples of customer service. Definite customer for life here
-later |
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