Banshee Rune 2016 XL – First Look
Over the past few years there has been an uprising of small companies willing to take risks and push the boundaries of bike design, size and geometry… Banshee being one of them.
We just took delivery of this super bright 2016 XL Rune, banshees hard hitting 160mm do it all bike to test over the coming race season.
Here’s a first look at the setup we will be running and the details of this perfectly crafted Canadian aluminium frame.
The frame
In the name of science we have up-sized our test bike to an XL which for a rider who is 5,11” could be to big in many people’s eyes….
Set up correctly with a 30mm stem this XL has the same reach as the large with a 55mm stem, but extra length in the wheelbase and top tube making it a super agile rocket on the trail. It is the biggest bike I have ever had the pleasure of riding and is the first bike that feels like it fits properly. It’s about time that bikes are sized by the length and reach rather than the seat tube height. This XL has a 20 inch seat tube, which traditionally would be found on a size large frame. This enables riders like myself to be able to up-size without worrying about getting the Saddle down far enough.
With a 1233mm WB and 64.5 degree HA (low setting) and a 338mm BB height it’s as long as many DH bikes and first ride impressions certainly show that, it’s very stable at speed and when it gets rough the Rune just accelerates through it, a confidence inspiring ride.
So with all this long slack talk you may think the pedaling performance is sacrificed!? That’s where your wrong…. The steep seat tube angle ( 72 degrees) helps put your weight in the right place, more centred than the traditional climbing position of over the front and so far feels good.
Banshees own KS link suspension platform helps keep the bike planted, giving good support though-ought the travel. Our bike has come with a CCDB air which has required quite a lot of setup but feels great now.
Other interesting features on this frame is the Adjustment of the geometry via the flip chips on the rear axle and the wheelsize options (26” or 27.5”). Not something you can do on the move but something that you can use to set and personalise your ride or to adjust the bike to the terrain you are riding.
3 settings are available:
Low (HA 64.5 ) Mid (HA 65) and High (HA 65.5).
Each setting also affects the wheelbase and the BB height, really allowing you to change the feel of the bike if required. After years of having bikes that feel to steep and short its the Low setting with 27.5” wheels that is pushing all the right buttons for us and i predict will be the setting we use the most.
The adjustment options dont stop there with a 44/56mm tapered head tube allowing for an angle set to be used to push the already aggressive geometry even further. Something that we will look into later in the year.
The kit
Ison Distribution, The U.K. Distributor of Banshee have gone to town kitting this race bike out for us from their other in house brands.
The 160mm MRP Stage forks look great and setup has been easy, we look forward to seeing what they can do over the season.
The new MRP SXG chain guide looks the business with a standard top guide and a one piece bash guard/lower guide, ready for some rocks!
MRP also on the front chain ring with their 36 tooth wave ring.
Halo vapour 35mm rims on SCHWALBE Magic Mary and Nobby Nick tyres are keeping us rolling, it will be interesting to see if the wider rim width helps reduce tyre burping when set up tubeless.
Renthal bar and stem combo is the most desirable in the business… We have gone for a 30mm apex stem with a 30mm rise alloy fatbar.
HT components make the fastest pedals in the world…. Glad we have a pair!
The rest of the Kit is taken care of by SRAM with a 125mm Reverb stealth, XO1 drivetrain and Guide RS brakes, all set up with match maker clamps making the cockpit really clean and tidy… Its the small touches that make a great bike!
Keep up to date with the bike over the year on our social media channels and here on the home page as we take a closer look at individual products in the coming months.
