K9 Dh001 -Looking good.

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[Miffy]

I think it looks nicer than most of it's competition, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.  I like the lack of crazy hydroformed bits and the steel tubes of the front triangle look more in proportion to the alloy tubes making up the rear triangle.

I too am looking forward to seeing how the frames do on the race circuit.  They are designed to be the out-and-out fastest.  Leave all the aesthetics to the companies who have to make up for lack of performance by making it look pretty.  Marzocchi only went downhill (not in a good way) because they started styling the forks and then trying to make them work afterwards.

Smithy

[Lucky]

I fully agree with you Miffy.

I think its the most eye pleasing downhill bike I've seen recently.

If i ever had a need for 8inchs of travel, and £5k odd ( to justify a nice frame, you need nice components ) I'd buy one.

[Miffy]

Some of the builds they've had on the pre-production proto's...... *dribble*

Smithy

[Ermm]

this is an interesting topic, and let me say now i don't buy hype, i buy personal experience, one thing it looks like you all are forgetting is to take others opinions with a pinch of salt.

and as for aesthetics, this one really has not got it, although i beg to differ on it looking cheap, it looks more AM the DH to be honest (as in if the frame was on its own, just with shock possibly)

[Janitor.]

I like it (though i also love the look of my skinny tubed hardtail with fox 32s), so i love the look of skinny, minimilistic bikes. As for the ride, im looking forward to having a go.

[Andy@woodlandriders]

I've ridden it, not a lot but enough to get a good first impression. It was when they were at Gawton for 3 days doing some data logging with James Mc. I have to say first off (as looks seem to be ALL important to some of you) it's a really clean balanced looking bike, by that I mean that the size of the steel tubing is in direct proportion to the aluminuim rear end. It's also very low slung and looks fast even on the workstand, where you can get a good close up look at just how well built it is.
Now the important bit, it rides superbly...if you want a flat out race bike. The front end is seriously low meaning you've got to be pretty confident to rag it, but if you are it rewards you with the most amazing front end traction of any bike i've ridden. The back end is equally good, it just silently get's on with sticking the back wheel to the floor. Mcknight was riding with bloody hard tires and it still gripped like hell. Watching him come past us on Super tavi was equally impressive, mainly because the bike was silent....
All sounds a bit brown nosey but I was genuinly impressed with it and would consider one for my next bike.

[gridds]

I'm of the mind that if something is designed fit for purpose, it looks the part.

This Looks the part!!

I'm really interested in this bike, I'm not connected in any way other than one of my old riding mates once test rode a proto one a few years ago.

Any DH bike with a steel frame is getting one majorly important thing right. They also seem to have the geo and, from what I hear, the sus design and ride right too.

I just wish they'd get the bloody thing out there and on podiums quickly to prove all the hype!!!

[old(ish) git]

You hit the nail on the head there Gridds!
 I know as little about how the bike performs as 99% of everyone else. Obviously the people behind the project will be singing its praises, the people knocking it can only really base their claims on looks. I'll certainly be carrying on keeping my eyes on how it's performing and when the time comes for me to have a new race bike and they are available i'd most definately consider a K9.
As a racer performance comes way ahead of looks, and I think it looks ok anyway!

[larry.]

As posted on Dirt...


Definetly been a few threads in the past on the subject so thought it was worth mentioning

[[Rob]]

Scott Cartwight went to for a chat at K9

http://www.southerndownhill.com/interviews/interviews/k9-industries.html

[Ass-master]

Interesting topic this! is it just me or are most of the people on hear singing the praises of this bike in some way involved in it?
as i see it- These bikes were tested/data logged on a sandy hill, well more of a mound in oxford being riden by riders that had never been to a mountain or really any experience of downhill riding /racing.
as far as i know untill a yr ago they had never been riden down a hill and even now lecky is not exactly a ruff downhill?
i know j mcnight has been envolved in the testing which is probably the bikes saving grace as this guy can ride.
Even with all the best engineering its still f**kin ugly and looks cheap! which i know isnt the be all but if you think about it i would say at a guess 75% of uk downhillers are just social riders not racers and most want great bikes that look great and this just dosnt, skinny bendy tubes look proper crap! it would be great if luis and his team suceed but bull s**t hype is not the way forward. just get the bike out there and let results speak for themselves good or bad.

Totally agree.  Word for word, all of it.
Especially hi-lighted

I've met and spoke to Luis a few times and well, nice guy, but he dunt half talk and his opinions ARE to be taken as science-fact (arguing is such a waste of time).

Hmmmm, walk away from the dyno dude (he is obsessed with dyno reading - OBSESSED) and get it raced

[Burf]

Interesting topic this! is it just me or are most of the people on hear singing the praises of this bike in some way involved in it?
as i see it- These bikes were tested/data logged on a sandy hill, well more of a mound in oxford being riden by riders that had never been to a mountain or really any experience of downhill riding /racing.
as far as i know untill a yr ago they had never been riden down a hill and even now lecky is not exactly a ruff downhill?
i know j mcnight has been envolved in the testing which is probably the bikes saving grace as this guy can ride.
Even with all the best engineering its still f**kin ugly and looks cheap! which i know isnt the be all but if you think about it i would say at a guess 75% of uk downhillers are just social riders not racers and most want great bikes that look great and this just dosnt, skinny bendy tubes look proper crap! it would be great if luis and his team suceed but bull s**t hype is not the way forward. just get the bike out there and let results speak for themselves good or bad.

You, my friend, are an idiot. You have absolutly no idea what your talking about

[[Orge]]

Although K9 are not running a "team" as such next year every rider that owns a DH001 will get full factory race support, that means full bike overhauls, suspension set up for the course which is going to make any one feel like a Pro.

Orge.

[box]

Interesting topic this! is it just me or are most of the people on hear singing the praises of this bike in some way involved in it?
as i see it- These bikes were tested/data logged on a sandy hill, well more of a mound in oxford being riden by riders that had never been to a mountain or really any experience of downhill riding /racing.
as far as i know untill a yr ago they had never been riden down a hill and even now lecky is not exactly a ruff downhill?
i know j mcnight has been envolved in the testing which is probably the bikes saving grace as this guy can ride.
Even with all the best engineering its still f**kin ugly and looks cheap! which i know isnt the be all but if you think about it i would say at a guess 75% of uk downhillers are just social riders not racers and most want great bikes that look great and this just dosnt, skinny bendy tubes look proper crap! it would be great if luis and his team suceed but bull s**t hype is not the way forward. just get the bike out there and let results speak for themselves good or bad.

What a load of shite!!!

You seem to miss out that the bikes been ridden in the alps through summer and raced all the NPS (including podium finishes) not just on a "mound" as you claim. Have you not seen the testing they do at the races? The clipboards? Recording settings and changes they make after each run and the effects they have on the ride?

[Londoner]

well personally I think their bike looks dope (like the new Superco) and good luck to them!

their bike needs to be out soon for sale...its currently vying with the Banshee Legend for "longest time in pre-production"