Banshee Bikes Prime Prototype – Full Suspension 29er For “The Shore”

There’s no front derailleur mount on it, nor do I think there is one planned, so you’ll need to run an e-type FD if you want gears up front. I dunno about their low focus on weight. I think once they get the riding characteristics down, they’ll shave weight, so that might not be the final weight. The Giant Reign gained a good deal of performance by losing weight.

It’s good to see that 29ers are moving more into the AM world, rather than being something for XC race types, XC or trail HTs, and SS riders. With what experience they have from their Paradox 29er trail HT, they may be able to change a lot of impressions the AM/trail [north shore-type] riders have for 29ers. There are plenty of happy 29er riders already riding trail/AM class 29ers, like the GF Rumblefish, various Lenz bikes, Intense Tracer 29, Niner RIP9 and WFO9, etc. but none seem to have really have made a splash with the folks making the videos that glorify high level riding. I have my reservations, since I know 29ers make things from bumps to jumps look smaller, so those who like to get air and try this may be initially put off, while those that like to charge through the rough may be impressed.

I have a Specialized Stumpy FSR Comp 29er with a 140mm fork on it and that bike has no problem getting off the ground. In fact all the 29ers I have owned seemed to jump just as well as my 26er bikes. If anything they are easier to jump because they are so stable in the air with the big wheels. You can still throw them around though, you just need a little more body english.