... The Carrera is what I would call an entry level bike, the bikes are built in the same factory as Kona so expect the same level of workmanship you would from a top name like Kona. This bike comes with the Tough 4 bar link full suspension 7005 aluminium Bi-axial tubed frame. Suntour XC60 fork, ... Read review
Advantages: Great for downhill Disadvantages: suspension no good for road.
...at a reasonable price. The Carrera is what I would call an entry level bike, the bikes are built in the same factory as Kona so expect the same level of workmanship you would from a top name like Kona. This bike comes with the Tough 4 bar link full suspension 7005 aluminium Bi-axial tubed frame. Suntour XC60 fork, 27spd Shimano Deore transmission, Tektro IO Disc brakes, FSA Alpha drive chain set, Tioga double butted handlebars, Tioga stem and seatpost, ... ...pre-load and rebound damping.
This bike is meant really for downhill racing but does well on dirt riding. The gears are Shimano Deore which are a sturdier gearing than the standard Shimano, which is what you will need when dirt riding. The disk brakes are Tektron of make, a nice enough make but no where near the likes of Hope. The Tektron brakes are disk brakes and work pretty much the same way as disk brakes on a motorbike. They are ... more
The old Carerra bikes seem to be doing well for themselves of late, Halfords still arent offering them though at a reasonable price. The Carrera is what I would call an entry level bike, the bikes are built in the same factory as Kona so expect the same level of workmanship you would from a top name like Kona. This bike comes with the Tough 4 bar link full suspension 7005 aluminium Bi-axial tubed frame. Suntour XC60 fork, 27spd Shimano Deore transmission, Tektro IO Disc brakes, FSA Alpha drive chain set, Tioga double butted handlebars, Tioga stem and seatpost, Tioga Factory Extreme 2. 1 tyres, Shock comes with adjustable pre-load and rebound damping.
This bike is meant really for downhill racing but does well on dirt riding. The gears are Shimano Deore which are a sturdier gearing than the standard Shimano, which is what you will need when dirt riding. The disk brakes are Tektron of make, a nice enough make but no where near the likes of Hope. The Tektron brakes are disk brakes and work pretty much the same way as disk brakes on a motorbike. They are very keen!!!!! Which is what you need when your pounding the Shimano Deore gears as hard as your little chunky legs will let you!
The bike feels sturdy when riding it, with an adjustable back suspension for different ground surfaces. The peddles would be the first thing I would replace, for an off road bike they just arent durable enough for all the knocks they would be taking. The gearing can be quite sensitive too, best not to mess with them and let someone tune them up, usually costs about £10. The Tyres on the bike are a cross for road and dirt riding. Swap them for some decent dirt tyres as this is not a bike for the road due to the suspension on the back. You can adjust the suspension for the road but you have to fully wind it in and is not a quick action. Another problem with the bike is the bottom bracket (the bearing where the peddles are) to offer a bike like this at a reasonable price, cheaper than its makers for instance, parts like this are of poor quality, the bracket is made of plastic so soon wears out and will need to be replaced with a decent one. Again you can pay a varied amount of prices for them and they usually cost about £10 to fit. I replaced mine with a Shimano and have not had any problems since. The pads on the Tektron are not of decent quality either and Im finding they get spongy not so longer after I have adjusted them.
The seat is quite comfy as its larger than a normal Carerra stiff tail seat, one fat arse in padded shorts on a fully sussed bike, ahhhhh to be a king! If your wanting a bike just for the road with a bit if dirt riding thrown in, Id get a cheaper equivalent like the Carerra Kraken, its a stiff tail but has al the other features of this bike for nearly £200 less, usually about the £300 mark, as the Banshee is usually around the £500 mark. I think this bike is worth its money, as its a sturdy bike that can stand the lengths you will put it through as an amatuer, great for a first bike. Well I liked it so ner. ;-)
I've recently purchased a banshee after a few years of not owning a mountain bike. The online reviews of the bike claimed it was superb value for money considering the price tag of £499. So, you can imagine how pleased i was to get a 2007 ex-display model for £239.99 in a recent 20% off sale.
Suspension
Tough Suntour Epicon forks up at the front are air-sprung with adjustable rebound and lockout. When the sag is set correctly for your weight, they ... ...punishing drops, with no obvious kickback or excessive dive. The X-Fustion Glyde RL rear shock may not be as sophisticated, but it absorbs even rather harsh bumps well, while the lockout is a must if using the bike on paved surfaces.
Brakes
Tektro IO mechanical discs on 180mm rotors are near the bottom of the Tektro range, but they are powerful enough, with just enough feedback to prevent locking up unnecessarily. Gears
The only criticism here ...
Jack_cheese 14.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Carrera Banshee
Advantages: Everything, build, price, quality, aftercare, look of bike Disadvantages: none
I purchased my Carrera Banshee from Halfords on-line, the bike was priced at WAS £579.99 but being a bike coming to be replaced you can save £145.00.
When I ordered mine there was a further 10% of online orders so I ended up with a brilliant bike worth £579.99 for £365.00.
Although I was sent a 19 inch bike instead of the 20 inch I ordered apparently this is a mistake on the website.
So if you order there is no actual difference being a suspension ... ...all mountain 6" travel bar linkage 19" aluminium frame With robust Suntour Epicon 140mm travel fork with lock out.
This lockout system is a must if you need to go on roads as well as off road; this is due to the bouncing in the lock position for off road.
You need the bike to act as a hard tail on roads as it can be quite a handful if the suspension is to soft this can also be done for the rear coil to.
The rear suspension is X-fusion Glyde RL ...
dingoo 21.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Carrera Banshee
Advantages: Great for off road and very comfortable Disadvantages: NOt very good for the road
First of all excellent entry level bike. Fairly cheap with some top parts strapped on! Its very comfortable to ride and can take a good pounding form the downhill tracks. Good 4 bar linkage suspension system with 7005 aluminium frame-keeps the weight down. Good forks will keep you going for a few years until you decide to upgrade. Awesome brakes will stop you with ease along with excellent wheels and other parts to keep you riding! *NOTE*- i would ...
stu_stu23 17.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Carrera Banshee
Advantages: Comfortable to ride, i find it good value for money, turns many heads!! (esp kiddies). Disadvantages: Absolutely nowhere to strap any sort of bag, bottle or lock-carrier to it. Need to keep taking front wheel off and carrying seat with you if leaving it locked up for a while
This was my first bike since a fairly basic one everyone owns as a child, so the difference was bound to be astranomical. A full supsension bike with more gears than you know what to do with, this is a bike that makes you want to ride it!. Only cycling across my local park, it hasn't been tested to the extreme, but riding over mounds and stright into rabbit holes, this bike makes it unnoticable. The suspension makes those gravel roads a breeze, and ...
lioncub 31.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Carrera Banshee
