Mountain Biking - Think I might get a Banshee

I'm thinking I might go ahead and get a banshee. One problem, no one sells them here in Texas...well one guy does and he sells them at his place but I'm thinking about buying the complete kit and having my LBS put it together. Couple of questions, I love the morphine but I think it might be too much bike for me. I also love the scirocco but it's only about $100 cheaper than the morphine so I'm figuring go for the morphine. Also, does Banshee sell these kits directly from there website? I emailed them early so I'll wait tomorrow and see if they email me back. It says the Morphine is $1612 as a complete kit and its the journeyman kit but when I try to find a morphine complete kit online the prices seem to jump up $1000. I'm assuming they are giving you different parts with other stores kits? Also, one finally question, how much does a LBS charge to build a bike. I understand that everyone is different but whats a rough estimate? I'm hoping I can get a Morphine or a Scirocco shipped to my house and put together for under 2grand. One more question, would it be cheaper to buy the frame and build it myself?

Thanks Guys

It might not be cheaper but it would be an experience.

If you can't get an email back go onto www.nsmb.com and pm pip. He is the owner. Damn good guy.

The Scirocco is an awesome choice and fits everything you have been looking for. The morphine is alot of bike :)

In canada anyways. The price they give on the site is usually deadon what you find at the dealer. Could the price you keep finding be the gucci?

I got an email back from the guys at Banshee. They said they aren't dealing directly with customers and they want us to go to our dealers. My dealer happens to be a guy who seems to have his prices a tad high at around $2500 instead of around $1500 and your right maelstrom it could be that it's the gucci. I really like Banshee's frames but I also like Jamis's Komodo frame, I'm just afraid that its set up more for DJ and what not. I want a tough DJ frame for trail riding and the Morphine/Scirocco had that. I just need to find a complete kit to buy.

To be honest...the komodo and scirocco don't even compare. The banshee is on par with Evil frame...the komodo isn't. Both nice, but the oooooooo factor is easily going to the Banshee (I forgot how good those bikes looked)

Order the frame off of the shop near you. Go to jenson or another big outlet and buy a build kit. 500ish for the frame and 1000 for the build kit. Maybe spend a touch more for a better fork. BAMN!!!!

Oh and then come to whistler and let me rip up the mountain on it. Dead SEXAY!

Hahaha Yeah I figured that weren't close at all but the banshee is a dream bike that I think I can make happen if everything falls together. The Komodo is, I would think, on par with the kona dirtjump stuff while the scirocco and the morphine are in a class all alone. Kinda like either buying a corvette or a ferrari. Like the vette, love the ferrari.
;)

More or less. I can think of 4 or 5 frames on par with the banshee. All in the 700 to 1000$ range for the frame. Seeing the 2 (scirocco vs a kona roast for example) you really see the diff. Its an awesome frame. But you can't loose with either. I like your purchasing approach Hammer....

http://www.bansheebikes.com/images/bike-frame-scirocco.jpg

How could you say no to a face like that.

Oh and since I am mid drool....how bout the morphine

http://www.bansheebikes.com/images/bike-frame-morphine.jpg

Morphine is just so badass looking. That thing could take falling out of an airplane. After reading what you said and looking around the web, I think I'm going to TRY to pick up a scirocco frame. BeyondBikes.com had a sram build kit for 850. All I would need is a fork then. DAMN! they make this complicated when you want the very best but hey! atleast I'm learning quick.

How would you pronouce Scirocco?

I hope they arent like the scream.....ive seen quite a few of them broken.

Those frames are like the thickest, most sturdiest look frames I've EVER seen.

screams break a lot???

I'm guessing the guys/gals thought it was too powerful and did a major big hit and cracked it. I'm prettty sure the banshees are really really really stiff, so they'd be brittle if landed the wrong way.

I hope they arent like the scream.....ive seen quite a few of them broken.

To clarify, 2003 NEVER breaks. 2004 they start playing with the shock mounts and things started to break more often. They have tried to fix it again this year.

But the breakages are no more than most bikes and a little more than the strongest of frames. Unfortunately, the break in question was always bad, the lower shock mount.

Ive seen the lower shock mount, the BB shell, and on the swingarm. They try and create such an oversized hardcore frame, but it doenst compensate for the bad design.

But breakages are still rare for a big bike. (2003 especially)

Most big bikes dont break that often lol

In 2002 when the scream was made. I know of many models that were breaking. But now the point is moot, overbuilt is no longer needed.

http://www.bansheebikes.com/images/bike-frame-scirocco.jpg

How could you say no to a face like that.

Talk about drool- That frame is awesome.

Hey Maelstrom, how does the Rocky Mountain Flow compare to the Scirocco. It seems to me, from just looks alone, that they are basically the same frame build. Long TT and shorter chain stay. You think the Flow is just as tough?

The 'Morphine' looks rediculous, heh.
I like the look of the Azonic steelhead more and more..

Flow is tough. Based around the same geometry by Kona called the 2001-2002 Roast/chute :D...(I love my bike, so many companies have copied its basic geometry it isn't funny)

Personally, the frame costs are similar, I would give my money to banshee. *IF* the situation is right with costs vs quality vs my need I always support the little guy :)

The morphine is ridiculous, but the Steelhead is not even on par with it for quality and strength. The steelhead is amazing affordable frame, but not bombproof as pinkbike kids like to say.

Gotcha mael. I'd love to get a Kona but their XL is only 17.5 for a Stuff and I'm 6'4 230. So I dunno. Your a big guy how does the roast work out and what do you use it mainly for?

My bike is actually the hoss now a days. Its awesome. I am 250 to 270 and ride the things through anything. Nothing big though, 3 footers for the biggest drop, djs, most trails. Its steep enough with a 5in fork to climb 'ok' and slack enough with a 5in fork to really get my butt over the rear tire.

The shore chainstays are ideal for any shore riding I do and I find the bike handles speed well. In retrospect with experience I prefer steel now (it really does feel better) but my roast is being delegated to light weight xc (for me and bc it wil be a scant 32ish pounts)

It can handle anything, I love the frame and it introducted me to the joys of fr. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I rode the hoss the other day. I liked it alot but it was an 18 and felt kinda cramped. I'm still thinking about going back and seeing if he has a 19 or 20 and ride it. Does it have a shorter chainstay. To me it looked a little bit longer than the Scirocco but hey if you say it's badass and its a lot cheaper than the scirocco I might look into it a bit more. Do you have the Hoss or the Hoss dee-lux and if you have the Hoss how do you like the mech bikes? I have heard some neg. things about them.

what about a long stem?

I don't know about this year but it might have the short chainstays. It should.

You misunderstood. I have the 2002 roast which is what the 2004 hoss is.

Oh and I don't like mech brakes from 2002. They may be better now but I use hydros only now.

Ahhh ok. Yeah I might go the longer stem route. I kind of rushed out of that place but I fell over on one of there bikes and tore my knee all up. The bike was fine, I used my fallin skills to protect it. But it was hard to cover up my bleeding knee. I should go back in there and ride it again. I think the falling part was more embarrassing than anything.
How is the Roast the Hoss now? They just used the say frame and rebadaged it?

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=79956&highlight=roast

Read post 89 I think. I posted to hooligan what kona did in 2003

And do you think the Hoss can take as much abuse as the scirocco and how do the geometry of the 2 compare. The scirocco seems to have a much more traditional frame as in that its more XC set up rather than DJ or FR. Does the Hoss have that XC set up?

The hoss isn't THAT xc. I think with a 5in fork is sits a 69degree HA. Which is the same as the scirocco. I think the scirocco might be stronger and more overbuilt and can take a longer travel fork in the future. Rate up to a 7in fork ;)

My roast is a 19" which, compared to the 19" scirocco is identical in every way. Biggest diff is the fork limitation. Oh and I think Banshee has a better warranty.

Awesome read up. I always trust you opinion higher than anyone elses. So you think the Hoss, which is really a roast, could handle some hardcore ass riding? To me it looks like a very solid bike. Probably give it a longer stem on the 18in being that I think the 20in is going to be too big. My GF tarpon I have now is a 19.5" and it seems a little too big for me. I know you hate GF's but how does the geometry differ from Kona? I just need to go ride the Hoss again. If you suggest the Hoss as much as the Scirocco then I might go ahead and get the Hoss. The scirocco is really nice but its expensive and if the Hoss is just as tough, I could put the money I save from the scirocco into the Hoss. Yes?

I am sure the hoss can handle a good amount of abuse. The scirocco is still stronger but really it is overkill unless you are going big. The hoss should be more than enough frme wise.

Take the money you save on the hoss and buy better parts (replace at shop..might save money by saying you want a better fork) or drivetrain etc...I would rather a short bike (18" with a long stem)...

Very true Maelstrom. I could def. replace with a better fork for sure. How does the Marz Dirt Jam Comp hold up? and is it worth it to go for the Hoss Dee-lux to basically just get the Marz Dirt Jam Pro?

Of course the Dee-lux comes with hayes hydro's while the Hoss has a mech's. Do the mech's hold up alright?

It will be a strong fork. Nothing special ride wise. I would personally buy the standard hoss and upgrade the fork right away. Then upgrade other parts as they break :)

Mechs are decent to start on. Upgrade later when you ourride the mechs :)

I ride a hoss and well it hasn't broken yet and I feel safe on the bike and I'm a BIG boy...sooo strength is not an issue. If I had to the chance to do it over again I think I'd get the hoss, not the hoss dee-lux and upgrade as I want to..I am OK with the fork, but mine (the exr pro, 04 model) is spongey versus springy, which I dislike.