Cosh
Likes Bikes
Frame – Banshee Prime V3.2, Raw, Medium
Rear shock – Fox DPX2 Performance Elite
Fork – Rockshox Pike Ultimate RC2 29” 140 mm travel
Handlebars – Deity Brendog Alloy, Stealth, 31.8 mm, cut to 780 mm
Stem – Deity Copperhead, Black, 31.8 mm 50 mm long
Headset - Banshee
Grips – ODI Rogues
Saddle – Selle SMP Hybrid
Seatpost – Brand X – 150 mm Drop
Front brake – Shimano MT 520 4 Piston, SLX 203mm Rotor
Rear brake – Shimano MT 520 4 Piston, SLX 180mm Rotor
Cranks – Shimano XT 12 Speed, 170mm, SLX 30T Chainring
Chainguide – One-Up Components Bash Guard and Chain Guide
Chain – KMC x11
Pedals – DMR Vault Magnesium
Rear derailleur – Shimano XT 11 Speed
Rear shifter – Shimano XT 11 Speed
Cassette – Sunrace MX8, 11-46, Black
Front hub – Industry Nine 1/1 Boost, J bend, 6 Bolt
Rear hub – Industry Nine 1/1 Boost, J bend, 6 Bolt
Front rim – Light Bicycle Carbon AM 928 32 H, 28mm internal width
Rear rim – Light Bicycle Carbon AM 928 32 H, 28mm internal width
Spokes – Sapim D-Light
Nipples – Brass
Tyres – Front – Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5, EXO, Maxterra.
Rear – Maxxis Dissector, 29x2.4, Exo+, Maxterra.
Total weight – 15.5 kg
After buying and building-up a Raw Banshee Paradox a couple of years ago, I’d been looking for a suitable FS frame to build. I’d narrowed it down to either a Phantom, or a Prime, and ended up choosing the Prime as it seemed to be the sweet spot for me in terms of the trails I ride and the travel. Plus I love the Raw frame!
I previously converted my Paradox from 27.5” to 29” with the LB carbon wheels and Pike, but I still had the 27.5+ Ohlins coil fork and Hope wheels lying around. So I decided to put the Paradox back to 27.5”+ and use the Pike and LB wheels on the Prime.
I’ve been riding this for the last two months and I’ve only just gotten around to posting a PYR.
My thoughts so far:
Rear shock – Fox DPX2 Performance Elite
Fork – Rockshox Pike Ultimate RC2 29” 140 mm travel
Handlebars – Deity Brendog Alloy, Stealth, 31.8 mm, cut to 780 mm
Stem – Deity Copperhead, Black, 31.8 mm 50 mm long
Headset - Banshee
Grips – ODI Rogues
Saddle – Selle SMP Hybrid
Seatpost – Brand X – 150 mm Drop
Front brake – Shimano MT 520 4 Piston, SLX 203mm Rotor
Rear brake – Shimano MT 520 4 Piston, SLX 180mm Rotor
Cranks – Shimano XT 12 Speed, 170mm, SLX 30T Chainring
Chainguide – One-Up Components Bash Guard and Chain Guide
Chain – KMC x11
Pedals – DMR Vault Magnesium
Rear derailleur – Shimano XT 11 Speed
Rear shifter – Shimano XT 11 Speed
Cassette – Sunrace MX8, 11-46, Black
Front hub – Industry Nine 1/1 Boost, J bend, 6 Bolt
Rear hub – Industry Nine 1/1 Boost, J bend, 6 Bolt
Front rim – Light Bicycle Carbon AM 928 32 H, 28mm internal width
Rear rim – Light Bicycle Carbon AM 928 32 H, 28mm internal width
Spokes – Sapim D-Light
Nipples – Brass
Tyres – Front – Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5, EXO, Maxterra.
Rear – Maxxis Dissector, 29x2.4, Exo+, Maxterra.
Total weight – 15.5 kg
After buying and building-up a Raw Banshee Paradox a couple of years ago, I’d been looking for a suitable FS frame to build. I’d narrowed it down to either a Phantom, or a Prime, and ended up choosing the Prime as it seemed to be the sweet spot for me in terms of the trails I ride and the travel. Plus I love the Raw frame!
I previously converted my Paradox from 27.5” to 29” with the LB carbon wheels and Pike, but I still had the 27.5+ Ohlins coil fork and Hope wheels lying around. So I decided to put the Paradox back to 27.5”+ and use the Pike and LB wheels on the Prime.
I’ve been riding this for the last two months and I’ve only just gotten around to posting a PYR.
My thoughts so far:
- It took a bit of time to get the shock set up properly. I had to remove the tokens and run at higher pressure to get the sag correct and use full travel.
- You can definitely feel the longer wheel base out on the trails, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
- It’s a bit heavier than my previous FS bike (Canyon Strive), but I’ve gotten used to it and already it’s faster downhill.
- I decided to run a 50 mm long stem and it seems like the right choice. I run a 35mm long stem on the Paradox and it definitely suits it, given it’s a playful hardtail.
- For the dropper post, I’ve used a brand-x before and it was adequate. I forgot how bad the lever was, after having a One-up, so it’ll be the first thing to change.
- I also forgot how slow rolling the Assegai is; my previous FS bike (Canyon Strive) had a DHRII and it had more than enough grip, but rolled a bit faster. I’ve got a DHRII ready to install on the weekend.
- For the brakes, I’ve previously had Hope V4’s (Paradox) and XT 4 pots, as well as SLX 2 pots. For me the Hopes are way more brake than I need, plus they are a pain to set-up. The XT 4 pots were functionally great, but not great value. So for this build, I landed with the non-series MT 520 and they are perfectly fine for me!
- For the Fork, I’m not sure I’ve hit the sweet spot in terms of travel, at 140 mm. I guess I just have to ride the hell out of it and see how I feel about it in 6 months!
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