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Banshee Scythe - Built for burl and hurl
August 21, 2008Published by bruleSource: Ryan Kuhn
Midway through the 2008 season, the DH race beast sunk its fangs deep into my blood. I suddenly had a burning desire to get on the track as much and as soon as possible. However, the limiting factor was I had dumped all my cash early in the season on a new “all mountain” ride more apt to the single track of my hometown of Rossland, B.C. In order to fix my craving, drastic measures were called for. I decided the only option was to delve into the line-of-credit (all-mountain bike for sale…anyone?) to build a race-capable bike, along with a little help from my friends. However, I had a few prerequisites: I wanted to keep it local (as in a B.C./Pacific Northwest company), simple and sturdy enough to handle the day-to-day abuse freeriding in the Kootenays of British Columbia. This is in addition to the performance necessary of a competitive race machine. Here's what my debt built: Frame:  Banshee Scythe – If you haven't checked out Banshee (bansheebikes.com) in a while, you're in for a big surprise. Under new ownership and with a list of new designs, Banshee is poised to claw back some of the North Shore/freeride market of which it once played a more dominate role. Synonymous with being very beefy, the older Banshee models such as the Scream were gradually becoming relegated to the sidelines as riders of today demand lighter weight and performance in addition to durability. Banshee design engineer Keith Scott (and co-owner with Jay MacNeil) recognized this trend as he was an avid North Shore rider himself. He developed the Scythe as the bike he wanted to ride with same characteristics I was looking for – durable, light, no-fuss and race potential due to the geometry's adjustability and light weight. If you want to see Scythe's sexy new race sibling, check out the Legend Mk1 at http://www.bansheebikes.blogspot.com/. The Scythe is adjustable from 7” to 8” of rear wheel travel, with two shock settings in each for downhill and freeride applications (the latter having a higher bb and steeper head angle). The linkage is a simple but stiff faux-bar (effectively a single pivot with the rear pivot point on the seat stay) linkage with a full compliment of sealed bearings handling the pivot points. The head tube is 1.5” and most of the tubing is hydro-formed with gusseting seamlessly melded into the frame. I received the small size in the finely finished anodized grey. It came with a Fox DHX 5.0 coil shock, spare bearing/bushing parts, seat post and a 12mm Maxle rear axle – a nice touch.   Fork: 2008 Fox 40r – with rebound and compression cartridge installed. The Fox 40 is one of two truly competitive racing forks for the mass market (the other being the Boxxer World Cup). I got a great deal on the 40r from Revolution Cycles and Service (revolutioncycles.ca) and ordered the rebound/compression upgrade cartridge. With a remarkably simple swap, the budget model was transformed into the high-end model.   Other bits: Brakes: I'm waiting on a set of the Formula Ones, but in the meantime my old Hayes Stroker Trails (see previous review) are keeping things in line. While not really a race brake by any means, I am still impressed by the Hayes feel and adjustability. Wheels: I am pleased with my Mavic 823 UST rims, so they earned their spot on this build. I laced them to pewter Chris King 20mm front hub and a new Hadley 150mm rear hub, joined by DT Swiss spokes. Finally, to keep things rolling fast yet versatile for the sloppier stuff, I put 2.5 Maxxis Minion UST front-specific tires on both wheels. Drive Train: up front, sturdy Shimano Saint cranks with Shimano PD-MX30 pedals turn a versatile 36-tooth chain ring encased in a Gamut P30 (ISCG05 compatible) chain guide. This is my first experience with Gamut, but its light weight, simplicity and clean lines are impressive. In the rear, a SRAM 9.0 short cage derailleur gets the duty, along with a SRAM racing (corn cob) race cassette, linked by a SRAM chain.   Topping it off: Ole faithful ODI Ruffian Grips grab an oversized Chromag FUBAR zero rise bar (28” wide) with a stylish Chromag Cutblock 002 stem and an X9 shifter. I opted for a light WTB Thinline saddle.   Final spec: Fully built, the Scythe comes in at a respectable 39.5 lbs. – light as a freeride bike that is race capable. And on top of that, it's a made-in-BC head-turner, especially in the durable stealth grey ano and matching bits.  Up Next: I'll be riding this in several races to finish off the season, just finished the Crankworx events and heading to Sun Peaks, as well as the many new trails we're digging in the Koots. Stay tuned for a full review of the Scythe this fall. Happy Trails! |
Comments
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dillonchamberlain
(August 22, 2008 at 0:09)
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looks like it will be the best banshee model ever.
i like it but im just not a fan of bikes with a straight toptube i know there nice and simplistic ... just sumthin bout em
Keeps you lower in the cockpit/front - I'm not a tall guy so don't need the rise. Agreed it looks odd at first, but I'm getting used to it. It's comfortable and has a good sweep. Riser bars do just that - raise you up.
For me the frame looks like a good basis for a gearbox-bike.
Look at the bottombracket-area, there is so much space and it is a single-pivot
Look at the bottombracket-area, there is so much space and it is a single-pivot
Banshee bikes are fabricated in Taiwan as I understand it. Designed in Canada/PNW, but made overseas.
don´t like the "XC" on the pedals on the last picture...
downhill sport is drifting way too far into the CrossCountry sector. lightweight parts are not everything about downhill. for sure there are some nice, light and stiff parts, but the most of them don´t even stand one season (i´m a good rider, do not criticize my riding style
)
downhill sport is drifting way too far into the CrossCountry sector. lightweight parts are not everything about downhill. for sure there are some nice, light and stiff parts, but the most of them don´t even stand one season (i´m a good rider, do not criticize my riding style
) Those are shimano DX pedals. When there upside down it looks like it says XC. There a lightweight Freeride/Downhill/4X all around pedal that is very strong.
I thought you were joking until I read your part about how its drifting into the XC sector. If you were, Sorry
I thought you were joking until I read your part about how its drifting into the XC sector. If you were, Sorry
German buddy, there's no way to snap or crack those DX pedals.. They're pretty much the best pedals out there, even better than the DMR V12..
Lighter components are better for lighter riders that do not have the extra weight to move heavier machines. With all this being said, since the riders are lighter they put less stress on the lighter components, in turn, the lighter components last longer and are not stressed as much as they would be with a heavier rider. Its all scientific mumbo-jumbo dealing with the weight of rider verses weight of equiptment and all that... well, you get the jist.
That broken Scyhte is the only one to have broken, and has already been warrantied I believe. It only snapped because the Chainstay was not heat treated properly, and the heat affected zone near the weld created a weakness in the material. The chainstay assembly is actually almost identical to a 2007 Chaparral in terms of how it is welded together, and none of them failed this way either. so just a one off mistake by the factory. Once again applogies to michalak.
buddy, don't get those Formula One... They suck big time! Stick to Avid Elixir CR or Juicy Carbon.. both on 203 front and 7 inches rear. (stay away from Juicy Ultimate tho..)
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
are they banshee in the uk again now or mythic still? caus there was some dispute with halfords over the name banshee as they sell a bike called a carrera banshee and they demanded that (at the time) banshee change there name to something else in court i believe.....this still the case or is banshee back with a vengeance?
those chainstays look really long, like a transition blindside. the sicklines review of the blindside says they're flexy. any noticable flex in the banshee? if not, how is this if the blindside does? all-in-all, sweet looking ride!
I believe all Banshees have ribbed chain and seat stays making them very stiff in the back end. This is the case with my Wildcard, which i love.
I must say i love my scythe First day i got it i threw all my parts on it it comes in at 41LBS and rides like a dream absorbes the big hits with ease yet takes the quick chunder with suprisingly good stability corners amazing and the rear end is so stiff its not even funny. all in all the best bike ive owned. and my happy new replacement of my old banshee chapparal
Btw nice set up man hoping to get a bit nicer on my ride for next season
Btw nice set up man hoping to get a bit nicer on my ride for next season
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