This is my fourth season riding this bike. I demoed quite a few before buying it and still demo others from time to time. It is absolutely in a league of its own. It pedals well uphill, but the downhill will put you in a flow state that I just haven't been able to replicate elsewhere. I guess I am now an "older" biker and the solid, planted ride just makes me feel safer on the descents, too, as much as the idea of it being rowdy.
Had one exactly like yours for a good 8 months last year. One of the single best bargains of a bike on the market. Not only FULL XTR (brakes, drivetrain), but the performance alone was astounding. It felt nearly as quick going up as my Epic Evo (22') and incredibly stable and surefooted going down. I did some upgrades, NOBL TR33's, CK hubs, eeWings, Bike Yoke dropper, got the weight down to 28 lbs for a size large. Incredible, especially given it has an alloy rear triangle. And the color, that blue in person is stunning. Should have never sold it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simple single pivot linkage driven bikes have a proven design that is generally stiff easy to maintain and has familiar kinematics. Which are supple off the top supportive mid stroke and ramps up towards the end. That's why you see many manufacturers keep using this concept and make slight changes to linkage placement, shock chainstay length etc. Some other manufacturers make very complex kinematics which mostly increase maintanance and weight.
Great video and some awesome riding, I’m currently deciding between a gen 6 Trek Fuel EX 9.8 and an Optic C1.. both are on special around 25% off so it’s a tough decision!
Most people need less travel than they think... I own a Banshee Phantom V3, setup mullet, w/ Fox Factory 36 @140 up front. It has a Fox Float piggy back shock... @115mm of travel - outback. I ride my local gnarly trails (on the V3) without issue. It's so capable!!
I've put hunt xc wide wheels and Schwalbe winked will 2.4 front and rear and then put a fox 34 factory with a sram xx1 cassette keeping every thing else gx it pedals great and still descends awesome it weighs 12.6kg now!
Great video, awesome riding mate. There is a mad video from ews rider Lewis Buchanan doing downhill runs in Scotland on an upgraded Optic. This bike is incredibly capable.
@@trailreviews3628 A 27/27.5 would also be a good mix of a duthie bike and a tech machine. And then the dh bike would be for park laps. That with a dj would be my ideal bike fleet.
I'm buying a Norco optic C2 dual suspension mountain bike sram edition for what I'm doing I want something that is great on descents the affordability that it's $635.00 difference of my 11 Norco Phaser 3 new $4385.00 dual suspension mountain bike factory mint condition it stuns bike mechanics I have had it Offroad over one thousand times I have Rode it from Peterborough ontario Canada 🇨🇦 to omemee ontario Canada 🇨🇦 Peterborough to douro ontario Canada 🇨🇦 Douro Ontario to Lakefield it's seen a ton of riding and looks mint and has not sat outside at all I love Norco frames In high speed turns mines a beast in corners and fun 30 speed 26in tires rs recon silver tk front rs ario rl rear shock I'm excited about a new optic c2 my phaser3 is addictive
