Gubbinalia, agree on most points except about the TB, geo was still years behind even when they released the V2, _it's when Banshee released the Phantom with adjustable geo HTA 67.5-68.5_ _and Kona release the 111, that I think you have to say this "category" of bikes really took off, 70_ as a HTA for a trail bike really wasn't cutting it, even back then with Kona and Banshee releasing their bikes the following year.
I still own, love and ride my V1 Phantom, it's THE most fun bike I have, because it encourages me to want to pedal, whether that's to meet guys to ride 10+ road miles away, or make it a proper ride and hit it all up, road, gravel DT and ST. It pedals well and yet handles the down with aplomb, well actually more than that IMHO and if you want versatility, just have 2 wheelsets shod with lighter weight, less aggressive tyres and more aggressive for bigger/harder hitting days.
July 25, 2022, 10:18 a.m. - Lynx .
Gubbinalia, agree on most points except about the TB, geo was still years behind even when they released the V2, _it's when Banshee released the Phantom with adjustable geo HTA 67.5-68.5_ _and Kona release the 111, that I think you have to say this "category" of bikes really took off, 70_ as a HTA for a trail bike really wasn't cutting it, even back then with Kona and Banshee releasing their bikes the following year. I still own, love and ride my V1 Phantom, it's THE most fun bike I have, because it encourages me to want to pedal, whether that's to meet guys to ride 10+ road miles away, or make it a proper ride and hit it all up, road, gravel DT and ST. It pedals well and yet handles the down with aplomb, well actually more than that IMHO and if you want versatility, just have 2 wheelsets shod with lighter weight, less aggressive tyres and more aggressive for bigger/harder hitting days.