Previewed last fall, Banshee updated almost all of their bikes for 2016. From their trail-capable hardtail all the way up to their signature Legend DH bike, Banshee has improved on their aluminum frames with updated contemporary geometry, lighter weights, improved stiffness, and more tire clearance. They’ve also put all of the bikes into an interactive 3D bike viewer that lets you get an up close look at the new complete bikes and frame details. Now that we are already a couple of months into the new year and all of the new Banshees have been out on the trail for a while, we thought we should do a quick roundup of what you’ll see this spring…
Banshee’s 205mm travel Legend downhill bike gets the biggest updates for the new year. 2016 marks the second major generation of one of the fastest DH bikes on the race circuit. The hydroformed and butted 7005 aluminum frame gets a new 650B specific redesign with updated geometry and more standover. Its suspension linkage gets reworked too for the bigger, more capable wheels. The frame itself uses a new stiffer tubeset and lighter forgings, plus it gets new integrated ODI plug fork bumpers.
The bikepark slaying Darkside is one of the most recent additions to the Banshee line, so it doesn’t get a lot of changes. In fact many of the updates to the other bikes such as the modular ISCG mount and long, low & slack geometry are already on this 180mm bike. The frame does get improved cable routing however that keeps housings from moving much through the bike’s full travel. It also gets a slightly updated shock mount that trims a gram or two.
The 160mm enduro Rune gets big geometry updates with a switch to 650b wheels, while 26ers can still be fitted. All sizes of the new frame get longer toptubes, a 1/2° slacker headtube angle, and either a 0.5° or 1° steeper seattube angle (depending on frame size), plus more standover clearance. The Rune also incorporates the splined, removable ISCG tab of the Darkside and the updated cable routing.
The 140mm Spitfire trail bike designed for gravity junkies does the same geometry update as the Rune as it also goes 650b standard, with a 26″ option. Longer toptubes are there again, as are the 0.5° or 1° steeper seat tube angles. The Spitfire also uses the new splined, removable ISCG tab and improved cable routing.
The 135mm 29er Prime gets geometry updates as well for a more aggressive feel. The new bike gets longer top tubes and reaches across the board and a 0.5° slacker headtube angle, plus longer headtubes on the bigger frames. It also gets more standover, the splined ISCG mount, updated cable routing, and the trimmed down shock mount. Also not really talked about much, with improved tire clearance for 29 x 2.5″ tires comes the option to use 650+ wheel/tire combos (on left).
The short travel 105mm 29er Phantom trail bike adds the splined ISCG mount for 2016, plus gets updated cable routing and a refined shock mount.
Banshee’s 29er hardtail Paradox gets reworked stays that now give it clearance for 650+ tires.
All of the 2016 bikes are available now through your local friendly Banshee distributors and dealer shops.
