Carrera Banshee

super_claret

Does anyone own a Carrera Banshee and if so, how does it perform?

I ride as much as I can, but during the winter probably once a week maybe twice at a push. Summer is different, as I can usually manage 3 nights and 2 days at the weekend. Would this bike serve me well or do you think I would be forever replacing bits?

I ride on the road,forest trails & cross country.

Many thanks, Mark

scotttomo

From what i understand readin other threads this is a good bike for the money, but i'm sure someone with a bit more knowledge will be along shortly with some usefull advice :oops:.

super_claret

Do you have a link the other threads which discuss this, as I haven't been able to find any.

Cheers, Mark

scotttomo

Sorry but dont know how to do links . Someone with better knowledge will reply soon i'm sure . Why not get a hardtail much more fun :P .

trail jacker

ive heard that banshees are very heavy, but perform pretty well.
to be honest, i agree with SCOTTTOMO, i would get a hardtail (eg Carrera Fury), rather than a full sus for the money your talking about.

Dan.hkr

bike radar have done a review on this bike mate, type in bashee in the little box that says search uderneath where it says your log in name and logout clicky.

would definatly go for a hardtail if youve got a small budget, but if its a cheap full sus you want then the banshee would be a good buy in my opinion (although i have never ridden 1)

Cheeky Tosser

Bought one of these recently at Halfords. Last years model (read last years colours) so got it for £320 - an offer I couldn't refuse.

Overall not a bad bike although I have already lost one of the main suspension pivots - it must have shaken loose somewhere on the coastal path near where I live. I will need to get a new one machined at a local engineering shop. Would suggest applying Loctite to all of the suspension bolts as most of them were loose when I picked the bike up from Halfords - so much for their pre-delivery inspection.

Fairly good spec for the money although I have never been a great fan of SRAM components and these are to be replaced over the winter with Shimano XT stuff and shiny new XTR shifters. The Tekro disc brakes are fairly rubbish and a set of hydraulic Shimanos are on the replacement list.

I bought a 17 inch frame and find this spot on for my height (1.75m) although the stem is a bit short for my tastes.

super_claret

Would you say that the frame is worthy of upgrading of the components, as I don't really want to have to go to the expense of replacing all the bits on a sub standard frame.

I'm considering a Specialised Stumpjumper FSR Comp 2007 which I can get for £1099, a lot more than the Banshee, I know and I can't really afford it, but in the long run, would it cost nearly as much to upgrade all the bits on the Banshee?

super_claret

Dan.hkr,

I've read the review but just wanted to hear from people who owned the bike before making any decisions.

I've just been to Halfords and got a feeling for the bike and it is very heavy and I got the usual customer service (none) so I walked away

Steve_F

I've got the 07 Banshee X and apart from the fact that it's heavy I haven't got a bad word to say about it. Although I do agree with the loctite comments as I also lost a pivot. Halfords did replace this for me and have sorted any other small niggles I've had with it (nothing more than I would expect for the hammering it takes weekly).

If you are on a budget I would recommend this bike, I was planning to upgrade as parts went wrong but so far most of the gear is stock.

Oh yeah and with the upgraded kit between the X and the normal Banshee the extra hundred(ish) quid is well worth it.

super_claret

Thanks for that Steve

Is it the components that make the bike heavy, ie the forks, wheels and seatpost etc or is the frame heavy.

Do you find it difficult pedalling it uphill with the weight?

Cheers


Mark

stevie the freerider

on paper the bike seems great for the £££ but i knew someone who had one and it was awfull you would be better of getting a hartail for the same price as it would be better speked or the banchee X for a little more money

Dan.hkr

super_claret wrote:

Dan.hkr,

I've read the review but just wanted to hear from people who owned the bike before making any decisions.

I've just been to Halfords and got a feeling for the bike and it is very heavy and I got the usual customer service (none) so I walked away

sorry maybe my post came across in the wrong way,
i wasnt just trying to fob you off, just didnt know if the review would have been helpful to you, and as i have never ridden 1 it was the only advice i could give.

anyways goodluck with whatever you do

Steve_F

I haven't stripped the components off to find the frame only weight but I have noticed the wheel weight could definitely be saved on.

I hired a Kona Dawg Supreme down in Wales earlier in the year, it was definitely easier on the hills especially with the lock out.

I just tend to plod my way up the hills, probably not the best bike if you want to be the quickest to the top but you should be able to keep up with the pace if you are fairly fit.

You'd be surprised at the number of more expensive bikes I shoot past most weekends.

super_claret

Steve

Does your Banshee have lockout on front and rear suspension? The bike I looked at yesterday at Halfords definitely had, which I presume, would help when pedalling uphill!

I take it the Kona Dawg Supreme was a lot lighter bike?

Steve_F

Mine doesn't have lock-out on either. The adjustment lever on the back is for rebound, might almost lock it out but not sure. The front forks are Marzocci All Mountain 4s which don't have lock-out.

Looking at Halfords website I did see that the rear has lock-out, think this is the same shock as I've got, will have a look when I get home tonight.

The Dawg was a hell of a lot lighter but is in a whole other price league.

petestew

i'am a bikehut specialist, and i own a banshee x 07, id say that they might not be the best bike, as they are a tad heavy, but for the price they are a very good bike, couple of things i would say tho, is i would recomend upgrading the gears 2 shimano xt, and upgrading the rear shock, as the origional is only used for rebound dampaning, the front forks have marzocchis ssv (speed sensitive valving) which i have found works well, it means that the travel is determined by speed and the weight of the rider , and doesnt need adjusting as it does it for u, but all round a good bike for the price, this bike is branded an entry level competition bike, and should with stand most of what you throw at it. also, id recomend going for the 07 model as the new 08 model has cheap looking graphics, even though it has an air rear shock, the forks arent as good, and have 20mm bolt thru (more expensive to replace) wheels,

supersonic

SSV is the damper: you still should set the sag to your weight ie the spring rate or prelaod.

petestew

yes, but the marzochhi bomber on the banshee x 07 is an air fork, and if u unscrew the cap at the top, ull find a valve, if u look at the marzocchi manual, it gives u a table of weight and pressure, u then use a shock pump and put 2 desired pressure for ur weight, also id like to say there is a rebound adjuster underneath the fork leg

supersonic

I just wanted to make it clear that the fork doesn not auto adjust the spring rate: you must do that.

petestew

how du mean it does not adjust the spring rate? its air and oil. u set the pressure of the forks depending on your weight, which sets sag, and the travel of the forks depnds on ur speed, so it reduces pedal bob, and brake dive, but but adds more travel when going over larger bumps, and the rebound dampening (how fast the forks push back) can be adjusted at the bottom of the fork leg.

supersonic

"and doesnt need adjusting as it does it for u"

That comment I feel is misleading and needed clarifying as a novice may think that the fork needed no adjusting at all. Also you can tune the compression rate by changing the oil weight.

petestew

i can see wat you mean, there are ways of adjusting it, but from a novice point of veiw, i wouldnt tamper about with forks without seeking profesional advice.

Steve_F

petestew wrote:

and upgrading the rear shock, as the origional is only used for rebound dampaning,

What rear shock did you upgrade to and how does it improve the handling over the original shock?

Haven't actualy seen the 08 model yet, will need to have a look.

petestew

i upgraded to a rock shox pearl 3.3 air shock, the standard rear shock wasnt bad but needed improving, it doesnt actually lock out, and id heard that after a while they tend to break, as in, it only stays on the one setting. The pearl is great tho, as it has lock out, 3 seperate settings, and only needs recharging with a schrader pump, and also has motion control, when ever buying a bike i always find myself upgrading parts, trying them out, but whats good for me might not be best for everyone tho, so have a look around and try different things

chris_wilson

Hello...i have a banshee x 07 with the marzocchi bombers...i was just wondering if anyone knew how many psi i should have in my forks? i didnt get a marzocchi manual with the bike (typical halfords)? I weigh 11.5 stone? Thanks

stumpyjon

^^Have a look in here, should be a manual for you.

http://www.marzocchi.com/Template/listS ... mit=Search

chris_wilson

Thank you for this but all it says on my forks is ''marzocchi bomber's'' do you know what spec they are and which manual i need to download? thanks

supersonic

I think its the All Mountain 4.