herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
I've been looking and looking for a bike to match my favorite Dakine gloves. My bike is close, but it has no red. So I found this one today:
OK, actually, I was taking my bike in to have the fork serviced (it's been 48 rides since last service). As I was milling about BikeCo, a fresh load of Demo HD3s was delivered, including this beautiful XL. What can I do? I have the day off. Wife and kid aren't home. Sure I am tired from my morning ride, and the thought of getting back into my sweaty shorts is not very appealing, but how often will I get this chance? Off I went to ride the exact same trails I just rode on my Knolly.
I believe this is the $10,000 version. CCDBa Inline, Fox 36 extra blingy bling, Carbon 741 wide rims, XTR 1x11 drivetrain (30t x 11-40), XT Trail Brakes, Maxxis Minion DHf tires (front and rear). KS LEV internally routed post. Electric dog polisher. Kitchen sink. Etc.
Short story - yes this is a better bike than mine. $6000 better? No way. It descends about the same (although I still think my fork is better), but it climbs much better on relatively smooth surfaces. That's to be expected since it's 4lbs lighter and DW Link.
Long story. I dropped 5-Oaks first, climbed Cholla, then dropped Rock-It. My legs were toast before I started. Bottom line - The harder you flog the Ibis, the better it responded. It definitely feels like a race bike. One of the things that attracted me to my Knolly was its lateral stiffness and side-to-side quickness (considering its nearly 4' long wheelbase - 46 3/4"). the Ibis was quicker in the turns. I assumed it had a significantly shorter wheelbase - nope - 1mm shorter than my Knolly. Was it the wide rims? Maybe. Hard to tell. I did have a huge grin on my face as I pounded and twisted down my favorite equipment test track Rock-It.
This Fox 36 was far superior to the PoC 2011 I had, but it still refused to use more than 120mm of the 160mm travel, despite me dropping the air from the recommended 85psi to 70 (I weigh 210). It was pretty plush, and didn't dive - but I am not sure what it would take to get it to use most of its travel. Knucklebuster knows all about this.
The DB Inline was primo! Props to Zach for nailing the setup. Perfect psi, rebound, LSC and HSC. Used all the travel, but never felt it. It does give my Avalanched Fox CTD a run for its money - very similar feel and philosophy. I never used the climb switch - the DW Link doesn't need it.
This was my first 1x11 and I hated it. It shifted great, but 30x40 was a little too tall for my tired legs, and I spun out of 30x11 long before I was ready to stop pedaling and coast. I'll take my 2x10 anyday for top end speed and low end options. Good thing the Ibis was so light and the DW Link so efficient - I made it up Cholla, but it hurt. I almost endoed uphill on Rock-It when I went for my usual "up and over" route on the short climb that's halfway down the trail. Somehow I shifted into that 30x40 before hitting the 2' high rock and when I went to pedal, had no resistance and flung forward like my chain had snapped. I typically do that move in my 36 chainring and my 32 or 28t rear. Pilot error - can't blame that on equipment. The HD3 will allow a front derailleur for those who are brave enough to buck the trend.
Final thought - Having never ridden a DW link bike beyond a parking lot, I was skeptical that it would be plush when the going got rowdy. It just feels so firm. Well, it opened up as designed and really did allow the rear to track well. Not better than my Knolly, but not worse.
So the HD3 was on my short list, and I wouldn't mind owning one. It didn't wow me in the short time I rode it, but I did have a really stupid grin on my face and I think I shouted out loud while galloping down Rock-It. Great bike - but they all are these days. I'll give myself 'til summer 2016 to find my next bike.
Next up - Pivot Mach 6, Yeti SB6, Norco Range and maybe Intense Tracer 27.5c. I want to try the Knolly Warden too of course, but I don't think I would buy one until it's made of plastic like the other bikes. It's hard to turn down 2-3 lbs of weight reduction while adding torsional stiffness and vibration absorption.
OK, actually, I was taking my bike in to have the fork serviced (it's been 48 rides since last service). As I was milling about BikeCo, a fresh load of Demo HD3s was delivered, including this beautiful XL. What can I do? I have the day off. Wife and kid aren't home. Sure I am tired from my morning ride, and the thought of getting back into my sweaty shorts is not very appealing, but how often will I get this chance? Off I went to ride the exact same trails I just rode on my Knolly.
I believe this is the $10,000 version. CCDBa Inline, Fox 36 extra blingy bling, Carbon 741 wide rims, XTR 1x11 drivetrain (30t x 11-40), XT Trail Brakes, Maxxis Minion DHf tires (front and rear). KS LEV internally routed post. Electric dog polisher. Kitchen sink. Etc.
Short story - yes this is a better bike than mine. $6000 better? No way. It descends about the same (although I still think my fork is better), but it climbs much better on relatively smooth surfaces. That's to be expected since it's 4lbs lighter and DW Link.
Long story. I dropped 5-Oaks first, climbed Cholla, then dropped Rock-It. My legs were toast before I started. Bottom line - The harder you flog the Ibis, the better it responded. It definitely feels like a race bike. One of the things that attracted me to my Knolly was its lateral stiffness and side-to-side quickness (considering its nearly 4' long wheelbase - 46 3/4"). the Ibis was quicker in the turns. I assumed it had a significantly shorter wheelbase - nope - 1mm shorter than my Knolly. Was it the wide rims? Maybe. Hard to tell. I did have a huge grin on my face as I pounded and twisted down my favorite equipment test track Rock-It.
This Fox 36 was far superior to the PoC 2011 I had, but it still refused to use more than 120mm of the 160mm travel, despite me dropping the air from the recommended 85psi to 70 (I weigh 210). It was pretty plush, and didn't dive - but I am not sure what it would take to get it to use most of its travel. Knucklebuster knows all about this.
The DB Inline was primo! Props to Zach for nailing the setup. Perfect psi, rebound, LSC and HSC. Used all the travel, but never felt it. It does give my Avalanched Fox CTD a run for its money - very similar feel and philosophy. I never used the climb switch - the DW Link doesn't need it.
This was my first 1x11 and I hated it. It shifted great, but 30x40 was a little too tall for my tired legs, and I spun out of 30x11 long before I was ready to stop pedaling and coast. I'll take my 2x10 anyday for top end speed and low end options. Good thing the Ibis was so light and the DW Link so efficient - I made it up Cholla, but it hurt. I almost endoed uphill on Rock-It when I went for my usual "up and over" route on the short climb that's halfway down the trail. Somehow I shifted into that 30x40 before hitting the 2' high rock and when I went to pedal, had no resistance and flung forward like my chain had snapped. I typically do that move in my 36 chainring and my 32 or 28t rear. Pilot error - can't blame that on equipment. The HD3 will allow a front derailleur for those who are brave enough to buck the trend.
Final thought - Having never ridden a DW link bike beyond a parking lot, I was skeptical that it would be plush when the going got rowdy. It just feels so firm. Well, it opened up as designed and really did allow the rear to track well. Not better than my Knolly, but not worse.
So the HD3 was on my short list, and I wouldn't mind owning one. It didn't wow me in the short time I rode it, but I did have a really stupid grin on my face and I think I shouted out loud while galloping down Rock-It. Great bike - but they all are these days. I'll give myself 'til summer 2016 to find my next bike.
Next up - Pivot Mach 6, Yeti SB6, Norco Range and maybe Intense Tracer 27.5c. I want to try the Knolly Warden too of course, but I don't think I would buy one until it's made of plastic like the other bikes. It's hard to turn down 2-3 lbs of weight reduction while adding torsional stiffness and vibration absorption.
