Slingshot Bicycles
06-30-19, 12:57 PM
#1
Blue Collar Cyclist
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Slingshot Bicycles
I have never seen a Slingshot bicycle in the wild, even though I lived in Grand Rapids, MI for a while (where they are built). I've known about them for a long time, and have a passing curiosity. I figure if they were actually great bikes, I would see them once in a while...
Anyone ever give on a try?
Anyone ever give on a try?
06-30-19, 01:58 PM
#2
rebmeM roineS
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
07-01-19, 12:37 PM
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I'm not an engineer but, from what little I know, the design doesn't make sense to me. Somewhere I've heard the stresses on a bicycle down tube are in the torsional direction. That doesn't seem like a very good design to counter that.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
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07-01-19, 04:08 PM
#6
Senior Member
I have ridden several Slingshot frames, all of them mountain frames, no road frames. They were very smooth riding, cornered with an odd sensation at first, but once acquainted with it, all was good. Not my first choice, but I knew several people that raced quite well on them.
07-01-19, 04:31 PM
#7
WALSTIB
Interesting but like my Montague design better.
But reminds me to wonder what happened to Dahons GB1 full sized folding gravel bike they've been showing prototype at bike shows for about 2 years. Much more interesting to me.
But reminds me to wonder what happened to Dahons GB1 full sized folding gravel bike they've been showing prototype at bike shows for about 2 years. Much more interesting to me.
07-01-19, 05:16 PM
#8
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I saw one in the wild, May 1993 at the Big Bear NORBA race that year. I stopped to talk to the guy, because I was really curious about them. The guy said he liked the bike, but didn't seem particularly attached to it. He actually suggested I just take off with it, since he could get a new one from the manufacturer. I think he was kind of serious. Yeah, it was a strange encounter.
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07-01-19, 06:52 PM
#9
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A fella lived a few doors down from me when in school and he was an independent rep pedaling their first BMX frame, which I believe was their first product. Since I was living in their home town, there I saw quite a few of them around, especially at the 12 hours of Pando. Honestly, I liked them, but reliability was sketchy at first as the flex plate had issues and the seat tube cracking was an issue. Once that was sorted out, the frames were good to go. The boys sold the company to a group of people who quickly outsourced ridged frames and the brand eventually went off the radar.
One of the founders of Slingshot has started up another flexible downtube company called Alter Bikes. If you look at them you will see how the wishy-washy flex of the frame was fixed. I have also ridden two Alter bikes and they do flex as they are supposed to do, but are not as flexy as the Slingshot, even with the lightest flex tube installed.
One of the founders of Slingshot has started up another flexible downtube company called Alter Bikes. If you look at them you will see how the wishy-washy flex of the frame was fixed. I have also ridden two Alter bikes and they do flex as they are supposed to do, but are not as flexy as the Slingshot, even with the lightest flex tube installed.
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