My first ride on a dw DHR was at Interbike last year. I was appalled at the condition of the demo fleet, DHR included. The fork had zero oil in it, super sticky, bushings shot, rear shock was totally hosed, and the bike in general was poorly maintained. I think they had just come from a demo in Utah, and had not been overhauled. In Turner's defense, I'm sure its. I took the bike on the main DH run at Bootleg, and it was definitely hard to ride the bike objectively given its condition. I definitely did not feel the bike lived up to its reputation at that point, but I also understand that without properly tuned and maintained suspension, any bike will feel like garbage. If the DHR in this review is one of these demo bikes, then I believe every word written.
That being said, I went ahead and bought a DHR for myself a couple months later because I knew it would be a bike that would fit my riding style, and I've always loved dw link. The first ride on my new DHR was mind bendingly amazing. It felt like I'd been riding the bike for 10 years…it really was like an old pal right off the bat. I did have a little trouble tuning the RC4 for my weight, and in the end, I ended up ditching it getting a CCDB which was a great decision. The Double Barrel truly unleashed the potential of this bike. The bike absolutely flies over fast bumps, and eats up square edge hits like nothing. I am actually slightly scared to see just how fast this bike goes…it definitely begs you to take it to the limit, which I have not found yet. I was also very impressed with how quiet the bike is. People in front of have no idea I'm behind them because they cannot hear me coming. I put on a simple chainstay wrap, and a short wrap around the seatstay, and that does the trick.
I was quite surprised to read this review on the DHR, as it is essentially the complete opposite of my experience with the bike (other than my first ride on it at Interbike). Even with the RC4, under no circumstance would I have characterized it as a harsh ride. There are a ton of DH trails where I live, with a wide variety of conditions. Rocks, roots, steeps, big hits, jumps, etc…I've taken the bike through it's paces, and I've been impressed at all turns. It's coming with me to Whistler this weekend, so that will be another good test.
I have spoken with LJ at Turner at length about shock options for this bike. I think it would be a great option to offer the DHR with a Double Barrel. The RC4 is good, but the Double Barrel is better. It's adjustability and tuning options make it the clear choice to me, no matter what the bike. And it seems Cane Creek is willing to work out some great deals in the industry, so I don't see why it shouldn't be an option. Look at the M9, it comes with a CCDB and an Angleset for $2999. Turner has taken it under consideration, so hopefully we see this option in the future.
For those considering a DHR, I wouldn't write it off just yet. There are three people including myself riding these bikes in my area, and everyone is bringing back rave reviews. I've spoken with several people all over the country who also give glowing feedback. It just doesn't fit that the DHR reviewed here got such a bad wrap. I can certainly appreciate honest reviews, but something definitely seems amiss.