Banshee Spitfire - 2010 Frame (discontinued)

A pretty unique bike that is meant for riders that can appreciate how hard it can be pushed. Adjustable geo is easy to change, and the low/slack position is very much so for a trail bike. The shock does seem to be much more active in the low/slack setting, leaving the high/steep setting feeling snappy for trail riding but a bit harsh over the chatter.

I've got the bike build with a 160mm fork up front and the Fox Float RP23 it comes with. I ride a fair bit of steep and technical terrain with it and it handles it surprisingly well. The Geometry is spot on and the suspension system works like a treat. On normal "Enduro" kind of trails I never wish for more travel, I think the 160mm up front help greatly, but the chassis is really stiff and makes for a stable ride. It's only on my local DH track, where the speeds are significantly higher that I remember it's only 130mm of travel. Maybe a beefier shock would help, but the system certainly has it's limits somewhere. As a trailbike it's pretty unbeatable, though!
I definitely care more about going downhill, but the bike also climbs really well. I usually only ride it in the slack setting and on steep climbs you really have to shift your weight forward, but if you have a dual position fork that solves that problem, too.

I haven't had many troubles with the bushing system, I quite like it actually. I study mechanical engineering and had a discussion with a professor about that and he agreed, that it's better than bearings. Banshee could have made it easier to service though, it's a bit annoying to get the grease gun in there and the screws are tiny.

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! When it worked it rode well, i do ride a lot, and did put the miles in during the 8 months of using this frame but shit son, £300 in bushings and pivot kits! I still have the frame in the garage but i'd feel to guilty to sell it on to the next unlucky guy to fool into buying it.

I picked up this frame at a deep discount and built it with mainly with spare parts sitting around my garage. The fit and finish of the bike is top notch - no creaks, squeaks or clunks and the whole bike came together easily.  On the trail its extremely fun.  It goes uphill quietly with minimal pedal bob and has very good traction.  Going down or fast through twisty, technical trails is really where this thing shines.  It's nimble, quick and can be tossed through turns very easy.  It's low bottom bracket rails turns and keeps the bike feeling stable over fast, chunky descents.  The Spitfire is just as happy hitting jumps and drops as it is on single track.  It's a very versatile bike, depending on how you set it up.

The bushing system isn't nightmare to keep up.  New bushings can be bought in bulk for cheap and all you need to swap out the bushings is about 30-35 min, allen wrenches, grease, a mallet and a clamp.  It's quick and easy and needs to be done once every few months if you're riding regularly.

Overall, the original Spitfire is still a blast even in the world of bigger wheels and fancy carbon.