Pippin, Jamie, DH and the rest of the crew from Banshee stepped
it up for Interbike 2003 and expanded their presence by moving from the New
Product Pavilion into the middle of the chaos on the main floor at Interbike.
Banshee's new booth with room to
wheelie was one of the hot spots at the show, sporting the super
hot Scream and the new Banshee Scratch.
2004 Banshee Scream
The Scream has only gotten better for 2004 with 2 major
changes.
Scream shock basement:
First, the shock basement has been redesigned and now features a super beefy custom
CNC machined block of aluminum that easily could easily be used to bolt a jet
engine onto a 747.
Please don't try this at home. Actually, if you have a 747
at home, give me a call, and we can try it together.
Redesigned Scream shock basement
Thru-axle will be standard.
Scream thru-axle:
Secondly, the rear-end slot style horizontal drop out has been
replaced with an all new standard through axle and 3 fixed adjustment holes to
keep the flexibility in the wheelbase length options while stiffening up the
rear significantly.
Other changes for 2004 include new components such as Truvativ
Holzfeller cranks and SRAM shifters as well as the availability of 600
and 650 lb. springs for the Progressive 5th Element Shock, which will
allow heavier (or super burly) riders to find a better spring rate.
Otherwise the Scream moves forward unchanged - you couldn't
do much to improve it anyway - with its 6" - 7" - 8" adjustable rear travel, Easton's
heaviest gauge RAD tubing and the massive Kegger head tube - this is one burly rig.
I Scream, you Scream…
2004 Banshee Scratch
New for 2004 - Banshee describes the Scratch as the "missing link" -
it's a transition bike designed with the versatility of a mountain bike and the burliness of a BMX.
With a Johnson like that, who needs 5" up front?
With 24" wheels and the super beefy Cro-Mo Johnson Bar
rigid fork, or even a 3" to 5" suspension fork and the Scratch is set
up steep and fast for riding the park, jumpin' or jibin'.
Add a 7" fork and 24" x 26" wheels and the geometry rakes
out Shore-style for a freeride, big hit or hucking hardtail. No matter
what you like to scratch n' sniff, this baby smells sweet.
Scratch Highlights:
Custom triple butted "RAD" shaped Cro-Mo Steel
Large radius bend top tube for clearance
BMX BB Shell
22mm 3D horizontal dropouts
10mm axle, 8 or 9 speed hubs or 14mm single speed hub
Derailleur hanger, disc brake mount
Dual Stainless Steel chainstay grind guards
The BMX BB and chainstay grind guards suggest BMX, but the 3D dropouts allow you to run a 20, 24 or 26 inch wheel on the back. Shit son, that's crazy!
Like Banshee's other bikes, there's nothing light-duty
about the Scratch, the suggested retail is rumoured to be around $559 Canadian
for the frame only and a complete bike for around $1299.
Ready for all kinds of abuse.
The number of options presented to the Scratch owner when setting
up their bike go to prove that the Scratch really is one of the most versatile
bikes, freeride or otherwise, on the market today. Keep an eye out for Banshee's
soon to be released 2004 website.
