Hi Cheezit, thanks for the honest review on your Rampant. Definately sounds like you really like the ride characteristics! It's too bad to hear that you had to deal with excessive maintanence to keep it running.
Banshee is working hard to upgrade the pivot design to reduce the service intervals and down time off the bike. Here is what they are doing:
- the lower link and chain stay yoke on the rear triangle will have a "sacrificial" wear bushing installed the will rotate on the shoulder of the pivot bushing. This wear washer is made from a harder Igus bushing material that will resist wear from the bushing shoulder.
- the pivot axles are being Keronite coated vs hard anodized. Keronite is a process that changes the material that is being coated into a ceramic like surface that is many time harder than hard ano. If you want to read more go to: http://www.keronite.com/page-view.php?pagename=HomeThese two modifications will greatly reduce the amount of maintanence that needs to be done with the current VF4B suspension bikes (Spitfire, Rune, Rampant).
One thing to note is that the pivot bushings are very long wearing and usually play developing in the system is from a worn pivot axle or a bike that has been over torqued and is developing frame wear. I personally only tighten the pivot bolts until they just contact the frame. The bolt is there to keep the axle from coming out and not to preload the system. If the bolts are overtighted it will cause premature wear of the frame and problems down the road.
Banshee is stepping up to the plate and producing a retro fitable lower link and rear end that have the "sacrifical" wear washers installed. These will be available to customers who are having problems under warranty and then as an aftermarket upgrade for people that want to update their bikes even if they are not having an issue.
Guest, if you want to contact me at Trident to explain the issue you are having with us I would be more than happy to see if we can figure out a solution. My email is [email protected] or I can be reached by phone at 604 929 9626 ext 930.
This is the first news about new frame rears and links, I thought it was just washer shims and axles for retrofit.
So…do we all have to send our frames to you, and go without riding? or are pictures good enough?
When exactly will these items be available?
Chainsmoker 8)