Discussion
Anyone have one?
I have a Santa Cruz Chameleon and though I love the bike, have been struggling with back pain from the hits on a HT.
Second hand frame has come up and thinking of making the switch.
Of all the FS frames that have come up for sale its the one thats caught my eye the most (and most expensive!)
I have a Santa Cruz Chameleon and though I love the bike, have been struggling with back pain from the hits on a HT.
Second hand frame has come up and thinking of making the switch.
Of all the FS frames that have come up for sale its the one thats caught my eye the most (and most expensive!)
RRS_Staffs said:
At the risk of offending you if you fancy a 5 Spot and are posting here Id say it would be wasted on you
On the other hand ask the same question here and Id say 'good for you son you deserve the best'
There is a subtle difference between here and there though - other than one is a car site and the other solely about MTBs. That difference is that STW is populated largely by gear queens who would never ever admit that the bike they've just spend £2-3k isn't actually any good - all in my experience obviously. At least on here people seem to be more honest and reflective about the pros and cons about their bike.On the other hand ask the same question here and Id say 'good for you son you deserve the best'
Fair enough - here goes
The Turner 5 Spot is a high end 'boutique' bike
They are fairly rare in the UK, I have only ever seen one and I ride a lot
A new frame alone costs just under 2k
Build it with appropriate components and you looking at 4-5k
My (polite) point was that asking for advice on a car site on a rare bike may suggest you are an all the gear no idea type
Asking for advice on Singletrackworld where more people would have actually ridden one would not
FWIW one of my pals has one
He has spent more on bikes than many have spent on cars
He says its the best bike hes ever had
Good luck
I've got one - an 05 Horst Link frame, one of the last of the originals.
I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
Can I cover off the tangent regarding SW first?
I personally dont like tracking two forums at the same time or having to register to ask a very specific question.
This place has been a bit more busy lately and it was on the off chance that someone might have had experience or knew of someone that rides one.
Its slightly offensive that you seem to think I am all the gear no idea type rider. The Chameleon should of been a hint that I like my riding, I am no stranger to hospitals and I am happy to tackle anything up to the limit of my abilities - albeit they aren't that great.
So in asking the question I wanted to get a feel for the Turner, because the Chameleon is just a great frame - begs you to put the foot down and go faster. The Turner frame even 2nd hand is 800-900 - for which I can easily get a blur or heckler, prophet etc.
So what I am trying to work out is whether the Turner is worth the money in terms of what it will deliver to me, given my abilities OR as some may be surprised to see - am I actually never going to get the best out the frame and a lesser FS would do the job perfectly well.
The Turner attracts me because its out there a bit, not common and gets good reviews opinions.
However I am not going out and spending £££ just because of that..I need to think carefully about the riding I do and whether its worth the change.
Plus SW is great but I find it all a bit too much in there and rarely read or pay attention to the forums other than classifieds, find people on here a bit more human.
I personally dont like tracking two forums at the same time or having to register to ask a very specific question.
This place has been a bit more busy lately and it was on the off chance that someone might have had experience or knew of someone that rides one.
Its slightly offensive that you seem to think I am all the gear no idea type rider. The Chameleon should of been a hint that I like my riding, I am no stranger to hospitals and I am happy to tackle anything up to the limit of my abilities - albeit they aren't that great.
So in asking the question I wanted to get a feel for the Turner, because the Chameleon is just a great frame - begs you to put the foot down and go faster. The Turner frame even 2nd hand is 800-900 - for which I can easily get a blur or heckler, prophet etc.
So what I am trying to work out is whether the Turner is worth the money in terms of what it will deliver to me, given my abilities OR as some may be surprised to see - am I actually never going to get the best out the frame and a lesser FS would do the job perfectly well.
The Turner attracts me because its out there a bit, not common and gets good reviews opinions.
However I am not going out and spending £££ just because of that..I need to think carefully about the riding I do and whether its worth the change.
Plus SW is great but I find it all a bit too much in there and rarely read or pay attention to the forums other than classifieds, find people on here a bit more human.
longblackcoat said:
I've got one - an 05 Horst Link frame, one of the last of the originals.
I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
See what I want it to be like is a HT on the way it feels but a bit more "givey" when I hit something hard so my back doesnt give up - PS yes I know a steel frame is an option but I for some reason I cant get my head round flexible metal I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
halo34 said:
longblackcoat said:
I've got one - an 05 Horst Link frame, one of the last of the originals.
I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
See what I want it to be like is a HT on the way it feels but a bit more "givey" when I hit something hard so my back doesnt give up - PS yes I know a steel frame is an option but I for some reason I cant get my head round flexible metal I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
You can tailor the ride (almost too much adjustment is available) and for XC races I've stiffened the suspension up so that it's really quite taut, and has a very direct feel when pedalling. Even in this guise you can land a 3' drop and never feel anything other than totally in control.
You'd think it was a hardtail from the way it pedals when climbing - no real bob, no sloppiness, but enough suppleness and 'give' that it grips rather than just spinning out as HTs tend to do.
If you're in the Herts area you're welcome to try mine out.
Final thing I'd say is that I'm now riding a Ti HT most of the time - I get shaken to bits less than on my uber-solid HT Nicolai, and at 23lb it's a lot less heft than the Turner. You might want to think about this option before you go down the FS route. After all, the Chameleon is exceptionally solid/inflexible/rigid/painful (delete as applicable), so it really is at the extreme of the HT market.
halo34 said:
longblackcoat said:
I've got one - an 05 Horst Link frame, one of the last of the originals.
I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
See what I want it to be like is a HT on the way it feels but a bit more "givey" when I hit something hard so my back doesnt give up - PS yes I know a steel frame is an option but I for some reason I cant get my head round flexible metal I've managed to break the sum total of nothing on it in the time I've had it, though I've worn bits out. It's a really great frame, and although it's reasonably heavy (about 6.5lb from memory) it carries it well. Mine has a Fox DHX 5 air shock, which has been fine. The Romic coil shock fitted to some of the 5-Spots is apparently very good as well.
A key feature of it is the way it climbs; obviously it's down to legpower, but the rear suspension make it dig in and grip really well.
Mine is in a reasonably heavyweight spec: Pike forks, Hope V2 brakes, XM819 rims, Hope hubs, XT drivetrain. In this form it's done a lot of riding in the Alps/Sierra Nevada, but equally I've ridden it at XC races at it's not disgraced itself. My wife also has one, but specced about 5lb lighter and it's significantly faster.
If you ride a Chameleon I assume you're into reasonably hardcore riding - the 5 will deal with drops, jumps, high-speed rock gardens exceptionally well, and be a substantial improvement over your current ride in terms of comfort. That said, the 5 is NOT a cruisy DH-orientated bike; it's much more of a high-speed rough trail bike.
Thoroughly recommended.
theboymoon said:
A short travel full sus that costs a fair bit but not silly money and is getting rave reviews is the 09 lapierre zesty 314....
have heard rumours that stock levels of the zesty 314 are quite low at the moment. many smaller outlets are thin on the ground and anrent too sure when they will get more in.i had a friend who I am 99% sure had a turner 5 spot on trial for a few weeks but opted for the ellsworth epiphany instead. can get his opinions if so desired?
Thanks guys - I went off on a tangent today and bought a 06 Santa Cruz Blur.
Ok its not the latest revision (or even the previous) but the price was such that I can dabble with FS and if I dont like, go back to the hardcore HT.
Should arrive next week then will build it up for a blast and report back.
In the end I couldnt justify the turners price given my abilities and habit of changing my mind.
Ok its not the latest revision (or even the previous) but the price was such that I can dabble with FS and if I dont like, go back to the hardcore HT.
Should arrive next week then will build it up for a blast and report back.
In the end I couldnt justify the turners price given my abilities and habit of changing my mind.
halo34 said:
Thanks guys - I went off on a tangent today and bought a 06 Santa Cruz Blur.
Ok its not the latest revision (or even the previous) but the price was such that I can dabble with FS and if I dont like, go back to the hardcore HT.
Should arrive next week then will build it up for a blast and report back.
In the end I couldnt justify the turners price given my abilities and habit of changing my mind.
one of the boys i ride with regularly has one of these and he LOVES it!Ok its not the latest revision (or even the previous) but the price was such that I can dabble with FS and if I dont like, go back to the hardcore HT.
Should arrive next week then will build it up for a blast and report back.
In the end I couldnt justify the turners price given my abilities and habit of changing my mind.
Have fun and let us know what you think
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