Supreme DH '07 - I love this freaking bike

[Guest]

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
May 23, 2012, 04:36:02 AM

1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Login with username, password and session length

[What is the main type of machine you use to surf the site?]

What is the main type of machine you use to surf the site?
Desktop
	112 (28%)
Laptop
	158 (40%)
iPhone
	51 (13%)
Android phone
	29 (7%)
Tablet
	24 (6%)
Other
	14 (3%)
Total Voters: 287

[Grundles]

Any Supreme Dh owners with performance/set-up recommendations to milk this beast a bit more?

I love how fast, nimble and balanced this thing is, and having just come off a Nomad I've been spoilt in that regard.

However, a couple of set-up questions. I'm 150lbs, ride north-shore & DH.

Pedalling: anyone got an insight on spring-rate/set-up/shock choice to help it pedal better? I'm riding the Marzocchi 5-way, 125psi, 300lb spring. I find it sluggish to pedal. probably no surprise coming from the Nomad.

- Move to Fox?
- stiffer spring required?
- higher than normal psi?

Fox 40 spring: I'm riding the 150lb-rated spring at the moment but i find it too soft for tight, high-speed cornering. Anyone else agree with this or should I play with the high-speed compression a bit more? thinking of moving to the next rate. higher ~180lbs

ciao.

[twin]

I love how fast, nimble and balanced this thing is, and having just come off a Nomad I've been spoilt in that regard.

please elaborate in terms of that comparison. i almost got a nomad a little while back and would def like some feedback on how it handles compared to a commencal supreme. which supreme do you have? here it says dh, in the who what where thread it says 6.0. Got both?

sorry, can't help you on the setup guide as i have the supreme fr (now mini dh) with all air setup. and yes, you should post a pic of your bike. always a treat to see fine bikes

[Rab]

Hi ive a 07 superteam with a roco shock. Im around 140-145lbs and it seems to do the job with a 300lbs spring. The bike isnt the best pedaling rig but thats something that u dont even think about when you start to point it down the hill.
This bike is designed to rip any downhill track a new one!!!! 
The best person to talk to or take the bike to is Steve in real cycles , he will have all the feedback from commencal and the team he runs.
Oh and for the guy who wanted you to elaborate on the supreme dh.  Take a ride on one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dicko]

hey rab, think i know who you are. You're usually floating about Cavey with Stevo aren't you? Heard you had a massive crash at cooleveely, you back on the bike yet? I'm dicko, used to ride the wee red Supreme 6 up there.

Grundles, which is it you have? A mini dh, or Supreme dh?
I've just switched from a mini dh to an 08 Supreme dh and i'm absolutely loving mine as well. Over the 6, its plusher, lower and to me just wants to go faster all the time. Where the mini dh got a little bit jittery through rough stuff at high speed, the dh just seems to track much better and stay on line. ITs really nimble for a dh bike too, very stable in the air and at high speed. Anyway, i ran an air shock on my 6 and ran the pressure at little higher than i needed so it did rip out of the tight stuff a bit better. When i switched that for a Van R coil, the bike rode much better and took the downhill a lot better - the coil was much more responsive, though in both cases i found it to be a brilliant pedalling bike. I agree with Rab, the dh doesn't pedal quite as well though still great for a downhill rig. My Roco shock is still bedding in, but i think the stock spring is gonna work out great for me too.
As for fork spring, are they the 40R or 40RC2? Is the sag ok when you're sitting on the bike? If they are the 40rc2's you could run your sag as normal then ramp up the high speed compression for bigger hits and to be firmer in the corners?

[twin]

Oh and for the guy who wanted you to elaborate on the supreme dh.  Take a ride on one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the guy who..? next time try "and for you twin..." hehe

and yes, you missed the essence of my question. it was not how a dh rides, but how the nomad and supreme is different in action - the pros and cons of each in reference to the other - a sort of vs thing, preferably stated from a person that has used both for some time. sure, i could borrow a nomad and take it for a spin, but i'm also interested in hearing people who've used em for a whiles opinions on the subject. as for the dh, i'm thinking that it is slow as hell riding uphill, but even faster than my fr (minidh) going downhill and just as stiff/indestructible.

and i believe he has a rc2 as he talks about the high speed compression settings of it.

[gravity-slave]

Other than agreeing - it's freakin' awesome, I can't comment much further right now!

I took delivery of an '08 Supreme DH VIP frameset (S/M) with Roco shock a week last Friday.  I've only had one ride on it, having had two Yeti Mono 9's in the last 5 years.

When speccing a new DH bike, it had to be race capable but as far from the Yeti as possible.  Since the Yeti was 43-44lbs, looooong wheelbase and a linkage bike, the Supreme DH hits the mark.  Sub 40lbs, single pivot and more compact wheelbase.

My teammates saw me riding on my first run down the hill and didn't believe me, they thought I'd been on it all day long!  It was stable, planted and corners like a bobsled.

Regarding the shock setup, bear in mind the DH is a massively different beast from the Nomad.  Rather than a big travel trail bike, it's a world cup winning DH race bike with a very very different feel when pedalling.

With the Roco it's super active and super plush.  The speed sensitive rebound rules, it sticks tight to the ground over the rocks and roots while staying calm on landings and g-out big drops.

Upping the PSI in the 5-way chamber will increase platform and reduce small bump sensitivity, while improving pedalling.  But most downhillers are dumping platform (for example, getting the Fox PUSHed and platform taken out by TF Tuned) in favour of small bump sensitivity and grip on stutters and roots.  That's where the Supreme comes in to it's own - the wicked grip!

Upping the spring will again make it less prone to bounce and feel like it pedals better - at the expense of full travel, which is a shame!  Check the eye to eye sag on the shock (around 200mm when sitting on the bike) and that'll tell you if the spring is right.

Another thing to think about it the chainring size.   I run a 38T and it seems fine.  However, looking at the high single pivot, a larger ring will place the chainline up near the pivot, reducing chain tension induced bob.

I'm hoping to get another blast on Saturday and I'll let you know how it is!

[Rab]

Hi dicko, you got the right man.   I do go up the cavey with stevo, he is so fast its scary!!!!!   I hope you have loadsa fun on the new rig!!!! I had a big hit at coolaveely, 4 stitches in my hip.  collarbone broke and a few broken ribs.
I can remember the bang when i hit the ground and a few small details but l dont wana go there.Doctor said.No bike until end of november!! Im away dec 5th to Japan, australia then back through los angeles so my next ride will be in feb next year.

the supreme dh vs nomad, id find that very hard to compare even if i did have both bikes, dont get me wrong i am very intrested to see the response you get from this and hope you have fun out on ur bikes wot ever you ride!!!!!!!!!
Rab

[Grundles]

almost got a nomad a little while back and would def like some feedback on how it handles compared to a commencal supreme

It depends on your style of riding and the terrain you have at your desposal.

For all mountain riding the Nomad is outstanding. I had it set-up for freeriding (saint cranks, DH Rims, TALAS 36 forks, 50mm stem, Fox 5.0 air shock) and was able to hit 95% of the lines my mates on their DH bikes were taking.

It pedals well, steering is fluid, the bike is well balanced and for a 6" travel bike it is very light and nimble. Basically, If you're looking for a bike that you can take on a trail ride, can handle fast rocky downhills, up to 12 foot drops and any gaps or stunts you want to attempt then this bike is perfect.

Where it falls down is when you start wanting to get faster and faster on technical downhill sections. The geometery of the bike is not suited to bombing through massive chunky lines at high speed, which is why I bought the commencal.

In short:

If you want an agressive all mountain to light free-ride bike the Nomad is perfect and you can still ride it uphill very easily.

If you're loooking to to race DH you should look at a purpose-built DH bike like the Commencal.

[Grundles]

If they are the 40rc2's you could run your sag as normal then ramp up the high speed compression for bigger hits and to be firmer in the corners?

hey Dicko,

Thanks for the advice; I adjusted the high-speed compression the other weekend and it seems to be better, but it still runs a bit soft opn the really tight stuff. Sag is OK so I might have a look at how the rear shock is set up to see if it's trying to compensate for the rear being a bit too soft. Otherwise I'll just have to get smoother.

I'm rding the DH supreme; I guess I've just done the same as you because the Mini is designed to do the same job as the Nomad by the looks of it.

I don't know whether it's just a suspension-snob thing but I'm really temped to try the Fox 5.0 coil on this. I noticed in the latest DECLINE mag that Gracia was riding his DH with a shock that had a blue cap on it....hmmmm.....sounds like a Fox to me....Why would a man sponsored by Commencal, which provides the Roco as standard swapout for to a Fox?

[Grundles]

i'm thinking that it is slow as hell riding uphill

Agreed.

I was thinking that the next 'pedally' race I have on the Commencal I'm going to swap the Manitou out for the Fox 5.0 Air I have and see how it pedals.

If I'm being honest with myself though I probably just have to get over it and:

a) learn to pump better
b) get to the gym and get some strength on
c) stop expecting the DH to pedal anything near like the Nomad
d) spend some time sussing the shock out so I can feel some sort of pedalling platform
e) be more efficient on the brakes

[Grundles]

Upping the PSI in the 5-way chamber will increase platform and reduce small bump sensitivity, while improving pedalling. 

Upping the spring will again make it less prone to bounce and feel like it pedals better  Check the eye to eye sag on the shock (around 200mm when sitting on the bike) and that'll tell you if the spring is right.

Nice work Gravity-Slave. I'll spend some time on the shock this weekend and see where I get to. I'll let you know.

Happy riding, I love that shit-eating grin the bike delivers..

[twin]

well, all of a sudden we've gotten a lot of snow instead of the usual rain, which is really really nice. i just hope it will stay put, something it prob won't. but, this means no more bike riding for a while. hm, or is snow as fun as muddyish conditions ? - i will have to find out. anyway, i took my supreme fr out for a tiny spin outside my house and holy got damnit how fun it is. really like the way it feels. also took out my cannondale prophet. the supreme feels more bombproof and dependable/predicatable, but my prophet is just so damn light - which makes it really hard to not like it. i'm in the process of selling the prophet, but i'm starting to rethink that prospect. maybe i should get a new shock and just keep it. but, i don't really need it do i? having both a 5.5 incher and a 6 incher? 12.5 vs 15kgs? we'll see how it turns out.

i just one thing, there's no way in hell i'm gonna sell my supreme. love it love it love it. now, if only the frame was a bit lighter it would be perfect.

and yes, thanks for the feedback on the nomad vs supreme thing. didn't really help all that much to be honest, but i guess it really was kind of a stupid question on my part. might as well compare a nomad and a cannondale scalpel eh. both can be used for all mountain xc, but they're really too different to compare. or, eh, nm. thanks for the effort and time none the less hehe