New Bikes from Banshee! Introducing the All-New Titan 29 and Rune V3

Banshee isn’t your average bike brand. We are a team of four passionate riders who don’t like to rely on marketing bullshit and buzzwords. Instead, we invest all our resources in R&D and manufacturing technology, believing strongly that brand loyalty comes from the performance of our frames. Banshee recognizes that in order to evolve we need to take a step back to reflect upon and critique our product. These all-new designs represent the culmination of nearly 20 years of experience, inspiration, and innovation.

We're proud to launch two completely new enduro bikes, the Titan and the Rune V3.

Banshee Titan

29-inch // 155mm Rear Travel // 170mm Front

KS2 linkage using 205x65mm trunnion shock and Enduro bearings
Adjustable geometry via modular dropouts (also enables 27+, 29+, and reverse mullet compatibility)
Custom chainstay protection
Adjustable splined ISCG faceplate
Internal cable routing and moto-style
Near-net forged parts throughout
Internally ribbed stays
Frame Weight: 3.95kg (8.7-pounds, size medium with FOX Float X2 shock, axle, and seat clamp)

Banshee Rune V3

27.5 or 26-inch // 160mm Rear Travel // 170mm Front

KS2 linkage using 205x65mm metric trunnion shock and Enduro bearings
Adjustable geometry via modular dropouts (also enables optional 26-inch setups)
Custom chainstay protection
Adjustable splined ISCG faceplate
Internal cable routing and moto-style
Near-net forged parts throughout
Internally ribbed stays
Frame Weight: 3.9kg (8.5-pounds, size medium with FOX Float X2 shock, axle, and seat clamp)

The V3 Platform

Keith Scott, Banshee Engineer and Co-Owner, has spent the last three years developing our V3 platform, the foundation of which is the new KS2 link. The linkage is designed to optimize all aspects of suspension performance for each bike while maintaining Banshee’s DNA. Using superior 7005 T6 alloy and manufacturing methods such as custom hydroformed tube sets and near-net 3D forgings, we created frames that we are truly proud of. Oh, and yes… these changes also allow a full-size water bottle inside the front triangle.

Banshee's Keith Scott riding an early test mule.

We built numerous test mules and prototypes as we refined the designs, using both alloy and carbon to experiment with structure, geometry, and suspension characteristics. Multiple manufacturing options were ridden while others were abused in rigorous lab simulations. At Banshee our priorities are to create incredibly balanced bikes that excel in terms of riding confidence, speed, and FUN! We are very excited to share the evolution of Banshee Bikes with Banshee riders around the world.

3D-Forged Shock Cage

We choose to open forgings rather than just CNC machine from billet for a few reasons:

Strength - Forged parts are stronger than machined parts due to the pressures of the forging process aligning the grain structure of the alloy. Ultimate strength for forged parts is around 9% higher than machined from billet due to the alignment and size of the grain structure. Forged parts also offer a higher resistance to impact and fatigue loads.

Load Isolation - The 3D-forged shock cage of the KS2 design contains all the high rear suspension loads that are amplified by leverage ratios within the forged section, effectively equalizing these loads within the cage and isolating them from the rest of the frame. This results in a better front triangle with all high loads contained by the strongest section.

Low Center of Gravity - Mounting the shock low down in the shock cage results in an incredibly low center of gravity. This makes the bike more stable when things get rough, easier to lean over into corners to carry more speed, and helps initiate turns faster.

Less Waste - Our forgings are still post machined by CNC to tolerance where required, but the parts are near net forged, meaning that the form of the forgings is close to the final form. Therefore there is significantly less material being machined off than there would be if a part were machined from billet. While all our off-cuts are always 100% recycled, it’s better to make full use of material in the first place and reduce machining time and energy consumption significantly.

The result is a stronger, lighter frame with lower environmental impact.

KS2 Linkage and Kinematics

Low Friction - With full complement sealed bearings throughout all linkage pivots including the trunnion mount, there is almost zero rotational friction. This results in incredibly supple suspension and huge amounts of traction.

Leverage Ratio - By fitting longer stroke shocks then competitors with the same amount of travel, our frames have a lower overall leverage ratio (under 2.5:1). We have also adjusted the progression of our bikes to work optimally with both large volume air and coil shock options, giving our customers a wider range of choice and better performance.

Axle Path - The initially rearward axle carries better speed through square-edge hits. Combined with high initial anti-squat this also generates more speed when pumping terrain and landing drops and jumps.

Anti-Squat Profile - The anti-squat profile has been specifically tuned to maximize pedaling efficiency in the sag range. This value reduces as you go deeper into the travel to minimize pedal kickback and offer a neutral feel through the roughest terrain.

Anti-Rise - Optimized to result in maximum traction and balance under hard braking, so you can brake later and ride faster.

Geometry

We have tested a whole range of geometry from the sublime to the ridiculous. It would be easiest to simply jump on the bandwagon of longer + slacker + more travel, however, extreme geometry plus adding extra travel isn’t automatically better or as fun to ride. Banshee riders deserve better. Our ride geometry delivers a very balanced weight distribution that maximizes traction and inspires confidence so you can ride faster and have more fun.

Pricing and Availability

MSRP for Framesets: $2,299 USD / €2299 (includes FOX Float X2 Performance shock, pre-installed headset, seat collar, rear axle, and choice of modular dropouts)

Both bikes are also offered in various build kits. They are available to purchase now with delivery expected to start in 2-3 weeks. Contact your local dealer to secure a frame. There are 100 of each model in the initial production run, so don’t hang about if you want one.