Canzo 29er

[MotoLite-MoFo]

So my search continues for a FS 29er without breaking the bank. I think I have a solid component spec in place so now I’m in frame mode. I came across a review for the Canzo 29er and pretty much all of the reviews have been positive. I know I'm not getting a Sultan or Mach 429 but a complete bike build at half the cost; you’d have to give it some serious consideration right? So, anybody local riding a VooDoo Canzo 29er? Anybody here have any experience with VooDoo Cycles and their products? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[smdubovsky]

AFAIK, Theres me and one guy out in Frederick. Hes on MTBR but not here. I ran into him the first time I rode gambril. I've had mine since 07. L frame. New frames have been avail before for ~$500 on ebay. Unbeatable at that price. I didn't like the old monarch shock damping but the newer ones come w/ something different that many people like. Can't remember the brand, but chainlove does a FS 29er sale for ~$1k IIRC (and it had a fox shock.)

People aren't going to want to hear it but all single pivot bikes ride basically the same. The shock damping and linkage geometry makes 10x more difference than the rest of the bike.

SMD

[MotoLite-MoFo]

AFAIK, Theres me and one guy out in Frederick. Hes on MTBR but not here. I ran into him the first time I rode gambril. I've had mine since 07. L frame. New frames have been avail before for ~$500 on ebay. Unbeatable at that price. I didn't like the old monarch shock damping but the newer ones come w/ something different that many people like. Can't remember the brand, but chainlove does a FS 29er sale for ~$1k IIRC (and it had a fox shock.)

People aren't going to want to hear it but all single pivot bikes ride basically the same. The shock damping and linkage geometry makes 10x more difference than the rest of the bike.

SMD

SMD....

Thanks for the feedback. I agree with your statement about single pivot bikes. The way the economy is right now 3.5 to 4.5K for a FS 29er is tough to swallow. How's the Canzo at Gambril/ Watershed.

[smdubovsky]

Canzo was fine @ gambril. Was my first time (so the first 1/2 I kept asking WHY do people like to ride here, then it all clicked and I want to go back:) Its made for that type of terrain.

Also did great "shuttling at the shed" at one of their beginner rides. Was my first time doing that too. Kept up w/ some of the guys and even took a big jump (I was the only one who didn't have to push their bike back up the hill to try it:) ) My minute 120 TA fork needs less high speed damping (Im currently running it w/ a TPC damper and thicker oil.) The burn in my forarms says I need to go back to the lighter oil and just add another shim.

Like I said, I've got a fox rp23 on it now. The monarch had crazy high compression damping (hi&lo speed) and no rebound. It wanted to buck me off MANY times while dialing it in. The bike rode like a HT. Its much nicer w/ the HV fox, though still stiff enough to not really need the propedal. For AM comfort, it could actually stand to be a little more plush.

FWIW, I picked the minute 120 TA because it had more offset than anything out there (until the G2 fox). That gets the trail figures back to reasonable and it handles like a 26'er.

The only thing thats wrong w/ the canzo is also whats right: the high BB height. W/ a 120 fork its way up there and clears everything. I can pedal over all sorts of crap I couldn't before. My new HT has a lower BB but otherwise almost identical geo to the canzo and I can notice the difference. Doesn't take as long to lean over to flick though the fast turns on the HT. But thats comparing a XC HT vs a AM FS setup.

[rizetech]

There is some very positive feedback on this one over at MTBR.
I was seriously considering one, but decided I need a hardtail since I'm in love with my FS - if 29er turns out to be amazing and I want an FS, the canzo will be my choice. I will also probably go with a fox shock because even their low end ones feel decent, the RS low end feel like suck. but some of the MTBR people seem to not mind it, so it would be worth a shot to see how it goes.

[soreback]

just FYI, i think voodoo redesigned the shock linkage on the canzo 29ers in 07, then again 08, and again in 09. i guess 09 is the best design??

[smdubovsky]

just FYI, i think voodoo redesigned the shock linkage on the canzo 29ers in 07, then again 08, and again in 09. i guess 09 is the best design??

I don't think there are any appreciable differences in the linkage (except a few gms of weight?) We compared my 07 to an 08 and really couldn't tell any differences in that area.

The top tube/cable routing (07=bent and under, 08+=straight and over) and shock model (07 = MC3.3(?), 08=monarch) are the only real differences.

FWIW, IIRC my large 07 frame weights ~6.4#. Neither a DH tank nor a featherweight racer.

[soreback]

[QUOTE=smdubovsky;153959]I don't think there are any appreciable differences in the linkage (except a few gms of weight?) We compared my 07 to an 08 and really couldn't tell any differences in that area. [QUOTE]

the 2007 rear sure looks different than the 2009. looks like a redesign. the 2008 and 2009 looks like they have at least a different rocker (might just be the angle tho) - probably not that much different between 08 and 09.

http://www.voodoocycles.net/canzo29.htm - 2009

http://www.voodoocycles.net/08_canzo29.htm - 2008

http://www.voodoocycles.net/blog/?p=17 - 2007

i think those are all pics of the correct years.

[smdubovsky]

Ha. Don't believe everything you see on the web:) Your '07 pic is of the multi-link prototype (like VPP/DW/etc) not the production version. Notice the extra link near its BB and no pivot on the CS/SS.

The 07 has a rocker that looks like the 09. Look @ the first pic in this thread:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=343533

I don't think the 08 had a rocker that looked like your 08 pic either. Look on page 2 of that same thread of the stripped silver 08 "danzo". Same rocker as 07 & 09. Like I said: I've compared mine in person to an 08 and there is no obvious difference apart from the TT.

[smdubovsky]

FWIW, Heres what a steel HT canzo would look like if such a thing existed :D (It has basically identical geometry except a 72deg ST so I don't have to run such a setback seatpost.)