55 or 666

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May 19, 2012, 10:55:07 AM

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Total Voters: 285

[Rufus]

Yo.

I've got some parts knocking about, like you do, and I thought I'd build myself a new bike.

I tried the 552 earlier this year and was stunned by it's, well everything really.

I have a Fox Van 36 from last year, and som Sram stuff.
But I am wooed by long travel. I feel that 'cos the fork is 160mm I should get a 666 frame.
I was also given a 666 jersey from the Commencal people here (in Norway). Talk about easily swayed!

I know I can shorten the travel on the forks, and the Meta 5 is less dineros.

The riding I do will be mostly singletrack, quite steep up and some carrying, and some longish slogs on the road.
I am a dahnhilla at heart, and have been since 80mm was Long Travel (dude). I own a Superteam DH, so when the going gets tough I use that. I also have a xc bike, a hardtail hardnut, a MaxMax and a bmx.

So what should I get, the 666 or the 55?

[Vic-Tim.com]

Hmmm what to add to your stable....

I think if you already have an XC bike ( as well as the rest of your fleet ) and you love pointing downhill, then give the 666 a try. If you set it up with 160mm but also a relatively light build, then you are going to be able to do the ups ( though not as fast as the 55 ) and make the most of the downs ( but not as much as your Supreme ).

But then again I am biased... 

Tim S

[Rufus]

Biased 'cos you have a 666?

I read on the "Shop Blog" how Steveb(?) hated the 666 'cos it basically made his 55 redundent? (It was a while back that I read this.

[Vic-Tim.com]

Yep I have one of the first 666's.... 

[Nugget]

its gonna come down to your riding style and what u want out of it, the 55 is lighter more nimble but still surprisingly stiff, but it wont take much abusive/harder riding...... The 666 will but its still not a DH bike its just a bigger 55.... try check out similar specc'd 666s and 55s with the same parts spec that you have for it, they are both fairly versatile bikes and suit many builds.... 

I ride a 55 and cant fault it, but it definitely has limits....

[gravity-slave]

I'm running a Supreme DH and couldn't decide between the 55 or 666.  In the end, I decided on the 55 as I was in need of an XC bike for long rides and prepared to slow down on the downs if I have to in exchange for easier climbs, while still being able to cut loose.

As a downhiller, I'm amazed what I can throw at the 55, travel seems bottomless, it tracks well and is also an excellent climber.  I'm really happy with the choice. It's great down our local DH tracks, messing around doing cutties and popping the odd jump.

If I were doing lots of riding like the Megavalanche I'd go 666, if you are doing 2-4 hour rides and want something faster and easier on the climbs, check out the 55.

To be honest though, it mainly came down to the forks I had.  If I'd had Lyriks rather than Pikes I reckon I've have gone for the 666.

[Rufus]

Ok, Iain, what's your account number... oh wait, it'll be in blighty, aren't there some rules about money transfers. Oh well have to keep the dosh myself, sorry.

Thanks people.

I've also been thinking that I have the dh bike for dh, so it doesn't have to go down so fast (oooh, missus), and I was well impressed with the 55 anyway.

I haven't tried the 666, I guess I should.

If I was doiing away with the dh bike (which I hope I never do) then the 666 would be first choice.

The 55 would be more sensible, it's just I have these 160 forks, 666 jersey... and penis envy? Or whatever it's called when people buy too big a car...

It's always gonna be difficult for people to write what a bike will feel like.

But numbers, what is the seat angle on the 666/55.
I tried a Marin Wolf Ridge recently http://www.top-tubes.com/Bilder/Wolf.html and it has quite a steep seat angle, which keeps the suspension stiff when sitting.

[Rufus]

As to defending my stable, I know, I know, I have to many bikes. And I don't ride nearly enough or earn enough to be able to have them all, (I also have a KTM 620LC4 with knobbly tyres), it's just I love bikes.
Design, weight, feel, handling abilities.

So I work with bikes, run my own little shop, to sell to people I genuinely believe will have a better life with a particular bike. I write about them, design them and do events. I also work in a hotel to pay the bills.

My xc bike was given to me for a job I did for a bike catalogue (in fact they gave me two, I gave one of them to my father in law, now he's a biker!), other bikes have accumulated as parts have built up in my cupboard under the stairs, and I also have another bike that my wife uses, which is now pretty custom, and I'm pretty proud of, even though the fork is not perfect (http://www.top-tubes.com/Brukt/Bloo.html )