Anyone riding a Turner 5 Spot in the DC metro area?

[ludwell]

I am looking at buying a Turner 5 Spot but have been unable to ride one do to the size I am looking at. I am 6'4" and would need an to try an XL. If you have any experience with this bike or even own one in this size, I would greatly appreciate your input.
My thanks!

[jabberwocky]

I own one. Its a small, though. Fantastic bike.

There are several MORE folk who have 5-Spots, but I don't know of anyone with an XL. You may want to check in with Germantown Cycles, I believe they are a Turner dealer (although I have no idea if they actually have any in stock).

[ludwell]

Thanks - Germantown Cycles is actually the shop I'm working with on this. Unfortunately, XLs are hard to come by.

What trails do you usually use your 5-Spot on? What technical aspects do you think the bike is particularly good for? And what technical aspects is it challenging in? From reading the Turner forums at MTBR, I have discovered that it is hard to find someone say anything remotely critical of Turners. Might you be able to provide a critical viewpoint?

Thanks in advance!

[glader60]

I am looking at buying a Turner 5 Spot but have been unable to ride one do to the size I am looking at. I am 6'4" and would need an to try an XL. If you have any experience with this bike or even own one in this size, I would greatly appreciate your input.
My thanks!

I'm 6'1"+ with a 34" inseam and the large fits me very well. I used a 120mm X 10 stem with a thomson setback seatpost. I think a large would be too small for you unless you like a cramped frame.

You should take the theoretical top tube measurement from your current bike and match it to the turner’s measurements. I think you’ll find the XL is the right size for you.

I ride places like shaeffer, patapsco and the frederick water shed. Most of these trials don’t need 5”+ of travel, but I’m older and don’t like abusing my body, so this bike works great for me. It's very plush. I have a fox talas rlc 130mm fork. I have been riding full suspension bikes since 1995, so I like a plush ride even if it adds some weight.

[jabberwocky]

Thanks - Germantown Cycles is actually the shop I'm working with on this. Unfortunately, XLs are hard to come by.

What trails do you usually use your 5-Spot on? What technical aspects do you think the bike is particularly good for? And what technical aspects is it challenging in? From reading the Turner forums at MTBR, I have discovered that it is hard to find someone say anything remotely critical of Turners. Might you be able to provide a critical viewpoint?

Thanks in advance!I ride the 5-Spot on everything, basically. Wakefield, Schaeffer, Gambrill and the Watershed, even out west in Fruita. I did the 24 hours at Big Bear last year and this year on it, also. I shuttle the Shed on it and hit some of the smaller freeride stuff there. I've said before: I've ridden a lot of bikes, and own two other mountainbikes, but the Turner is the bike I would keep if I could only have one. It’s extremely versatile (and the geometry is damn near perfect for a trail bike, in my opinion).

The weaknesses of the Spot are at the extreme ends of the spectrum. It's too heavy and cushy to ever be a great race bike, and it isn't heavy or cushy enough to ever be a real freeride bike. And it sure is pricey. It is hard for me to think of anything too critical to say about my Spot though, as there just hasn't been anything I don't like about it.

[DaveG]

Thanks - Germantown Cycles is actually the shop I'm working with on this. Unfortunately, XLs are hard to come by.

What trails do you usually use your 5-Spot on? What technical aspects do you think the bike is particularly good for? And what technical aspects is it challenging in? From reading the Turner forums at MTBR, I have discovered that it is hard to find someone say anything remotely critical of Turners. Might you be able to provide a critical viewpoint?

Thanks in advance!

It's my only real beef with the bike. It's a hair low, and I tend to hit my pedals a bit more than I'd like. I'm running a 115 MM fork so that makes it worse than it should be, but I'd still like another 1/4"-1/2".

I'm also not a huge fan of the DHXa shock. Mine stuck down twice and I never got it running as well as an RP3 on my friends bike.

It pains me to say this, but you might want to take a look @ Titus bikes as well. Titus is blowing out their Motolite frames; they're going for 975 bucks, which is a screaming deal. Those are made in Taiwan though (if it matters to you).


It's probably not the snappiest climber, but it motors through everything. I generally ride it out @ the 'shed and ride my SS on the tamer trails. The 5-spot makes places like Schaeffer seem kinda boring.

Dave

[ludwell]

This is great feedback, thanks to all replying. Titus has crossed my mind as well, but I havent quite seen the same sized "over 6 foot" population in their forums.

From forums and from build kits at competetivecyclist.com I am seeing that it appears very possible to build a 5Spot under 30 pounds. Now asking the real-life riders, is it so?

[Nick]

Have you looked at the Kona Dawg line up? The '07 frames are a pound lighter than the '06's. I was very impressed with the ride when I had one a couple years ago. Basically the same suspension as Turner since they switched from horst.
They frames come sized very large and the price is certainly easier to swallow than Turner or Titus - but - you're not getting a Turner or Titus.
http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/DAWGSUPREME/index.html

Caveat: Kona is a grassroots sponsor of my team so my opinion may be somewhat colored..!

[jabberwocky]

This is great feedback, thanks to all replying. Titus has crossed my mind as well, but I havent quite seen the same sized "over 6 foot" population in their forums.

From forums and from build kits at competetivecyclist.com I am seeing that it appears very possible to build a 5Spot under 30 pounds. Now asking the real-life riders, is it so?Mine is probably in the 29# range, with an air shock and fork. The frame and shock aren't that heavy, so it shouldn't be that hard to keep it under 30#. I didn't really worry about weight when I built mine, so it's a more heavy duty build than some may opt for.

I'll second the Titus recommendation also. They make a sweet bike. I would also check Ventana, although it may be hard to find one to test ride.

[DaveG]

Mine is probably in the 29# range, with an air shock and fork. The frame and shock aren't that heavy, so it shouldn't be that hard to keep it under 30#. I didn't really worry about weight when I built mine, so it's a more heavy duty build than some may opt for.

I'll second the Titus recommendation also. They make a sweet bike. I would also check Ventana, although it may be hard to find one to test ride.


Slightly less than 28 when I throw on lighter tires for racing.

Very easy to build one <30 pounds. I don't really have super lightweight parts either. The frame is ~6.5 pounds, so it's not really heavy.

Dave

[glader60]

Yea, the bottom bracket is a little low and I was hitting rocks and roots with the crank arms. I then put on a pair of kenda nevagal 2.35 and now it's up higher to a little over 13.5". :D

[shannon]

Yea, the bottom bracket is a little low and I was hitting rocks and roots with the crank arms. I then put on a pair of kenda nevagal 2.35 and now it's up higher to a little over 13.5". :D

The Turner will accept MASSIVE tires w/o any issues. I've seen a 5-spot w/ 2.7's!

[jabberwocky]

I think the low bottom bracket may be due to the fork Dave is running. I run a Fox TALAS 130mm and don't have any complaints about the BB height. I think it is about average for a bike of this type.

Yes, tire clearance is massive. I have 2.35s on mine and they aren't even remotely close to the frame.

[Natureboi]

i can tell you this about turner frames. I want one. it is a single pivot multi linkage design with roller bearings. roler bearings acuate/roll completely through the travel of the pivots they were designed around. ball bearing pivots only see 10-20% of movement which wears them out in practically one or two rides.

i ride a heckler now, 2000 model/original design with 110mm of travel, and when i buy another frame it will be a tuner five spot. I've ridden one and can only say good things about the ride.

screw ellsworth, they own a patent on every four bar linkage suspension design out there. turner used to be one of them. they got smart and redesigned and refined, and got their own patent rights on their 06 and up frames.

[jabberwocky]

i can tell you this about turner frames. I want one. it is a single pivot multi linkage design with roller bearings. Actually, Turner uses a bushing system (http://www.turnerbikes.com/Maint/introduction.html) (no bearings at all).

[shannon]

I think the low bottom bracket may be due to the fork Dave is running. I run a Fox TALAS 130mm and don't have any complaints about the BB height. I think it is about average for a bike of this type.

Yes, tire clearance is massive. I have 2.35s on mine and they aren't even remotely close to the frame.

My XCE had a slightly higer BB with only 4" of travel so that's what I was used to.

The Motolite has a BB almost 1/2" higher for the same travel as do the Ellsworth bikes.

The shorter fork should only lower the BB by 1/4" or so; not too much.

It's def. not a deal breaker though, and with a taller fork and bigger tires it would probably not be an issue. I'm also hyper-sensitive to smacking my pedals on things so take that into account.

Dave

[jabberwocky]

Huh. I guess I never noticed the slightly low bottom bracket. Strange, as I run 175mm cranks, too. I guess the 130mm fork and big tires help, or I just don't care about bottom bracket height.

Of course, now that you pointed that out, I am going to notice every time I smack my pedal on something. :)

[rusog]

i understand chumba has already beaten ellsowrht in a head to head and has challenged titus and/or turner for the same "ride off". i just got mine in today so i'll have to let you know....

[walsh]

i understand chumba has already beaten ellsowrht in a head to head and has challenged titus and/or turner for the same "ride off". i just got mine in today so i'll have to let you know....

Bikes don't beat riders, riders beat riders.

I'm going to have to put it on a t-shirt.

[jabberwocky]

i understand chumba has already beaten ellsowrht in a head to head and has challenged titus and/or turner for the same "ride off". i just got mine in today so i'll have to let you know....Dude, I glued some old popsicle sticks and toilet paper tubes together with mud into the shape of a bicycle and it beat Ellsworth in a ride off.

[Natureboi]

Actually, Turner uses a bushing system (http://www.turnerbikes.com/Maint/introduction.html) (no bearings at all).


Read the first line again.

it states that they are instructions for those bikes that "use" bushings.

This does not mean they don't use Roller/needle bearings. Trust me, there are Roller bearings on all their frames main pivot if not the secondaries as well. I have seen a Highline overhauled in front of me. It had Needle bearing pivots on it.

[jabberwocky]

Read the first line again.

it states that they are instructions for those bikes that "use" bushings.

This does not mean they don't use Roller/needle bearings. Trust me, there are Roller bearings on all their frames main pivot if not the secondaries as well. I have seen a Highline overhauled in front of me. It had Needle bearing pivots on it.Yes, I think the DHR and Highline have needle bearings in the main pivot. I can assure you, though, that the 5 Spot only has bushings.

[DaveG]

Yes, I think the DHR and Highline have needle bearings in the main pivot. I can assure you, though, that the 5 Spot only has bushings.


The rest of the bikes use bushings w/ zerk fittings. I've pulled apart my wifes Burner, my old XCE and my 5-spot and there are no needle bearings to be found.

Dave