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Turner Updates Entire Mountain Bike Range – New Shocks, Tubes, Axles, More!

2012 Turner Flux mountain bikes get Fox boost valve shocks and 142x12 maxle lite
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2012 Turner Flux mountain bikes get Fox boost valve shocks and 142x12 maxle lite

Turner has updated their mountain bikes at virtually every point that matters: Tubing, suspension, headtube, cable guides and axles.

For 2012, all bikes will get Boost Valve shocks. Until this past winter, Fox didn’t have the right tune available in a Boost Valve shock to meet Turner’s liking. So, Fox sent an engineer over to ride with them on their local trails and, a couple weeks later, they received a box of shocks to test. One of them stood out and it actually started shipping on all trail bikes in August.

Also for 2012 models, complete bikes will no longer ship with QR forks, only thru axle options. In the rear, they’ll use 142×12 SRAM Maxle Lite rear axles on all bikes.

Last year, the Sultan and 5-Spot got the 44mm head tube that allows for virtually any headset and steerer tube to be used. For 2012, the Flux (above) gets it, too, which will shave a few grams and lower the stack height.

2012 Turner Sultan mountain bikes get Fox boost valve shocks and 142x12 maxle lite

The down tube on the Sultan and 5-Spot will change to accept piggy back shocks, getting a new molded shape – note the bend at the bottom of the tube.. Turner anticipates about 15% of their customers will want to run a piggy back shock. They say there’s a long life for their bikes, and on the used market, second owners may want to replace the shock to breathe new life into it.

2012 Turner mountain bikes get Fox boost valve shocks and 142x12 maxle lite

Combined, all of these changes should keep the frames’ resale value up and future proof them against the ever changing standards landscape.

2012 Turner mountain bikes get new cable guides Fox boost valve shocks and 142x12 maxle lite

All the bikes will get new cable guides that better capture and align the housing along the top of the downtube.

2012 Turner mountain bikes 44mm headtube to run straight or tapered forks

The 44mm head tube standard was introduced by the handmade bicycle builders as a way to simplify the building process while accommodating the myriad headset and steerer tube options. Bigger manufacturers have taken note and it now appears on a wide variety of frames. Turners geometry is based on using the external cup lower for a tapered steerer tube (left), but you can see how it works with a inset headset for a straight steerer on the right.

Lastly, all build kits will be 2×10, but there will be a 1×10 option that’ll come with an e*thirteen XCBB chain guide and the new XTR plus rear derailleur, with rider’s choice of rings. You’ll also still be able to get a 3×10 drivetrain if you want.

Not shown is the DHR downhill bike. The DHR became a DW Link bike for 2011 and needed a complete redesign. It kept the low horizontal shock layout with a really low bottom bracket. The DW Link design allows it to have a lower bottom bracket because it won’t sag as much under power thanks to the anti-squat properties. This allows riders to come out of a corner better, even off camber, and immediately hit the gas. Four sizes are available with a true small for shorter riders. The head tube is short to allow for a short stack height, and it’s straight 1.5″ and Angleset compatible. For 2012, there will be more kit offerings now with more wheel and fork options, and two SRAM drivetrain options. This gives customers and retailers better options for packaging together a bike to fit their customer’s budgets and needs.

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GS1
GS1
12 years ago

When will these new frames and build kits become available? A Sultan is one of only a few bikes that I would replace my RIP 9 for.

Chunky
Chunky
12 years ago

You forgot to mention the addition on ISCG tabs.

Steve M
Steve M
12 years ago

Props to Dave for not jumping on every bandwagon that comes along

mountguitars
mountguitars
12 years ago

Dave Turner?

Artem
Artem
12 years ago

Why on Earth Turner keep making their frames so ugly?

lukas
lukas
12 years ago

New frames and kits available on December. We have to wait for x-mass presents 🙂

lukas
lukas
12 years ago

@ Artem. You have to ride them to find their inner beauty on super demanding terrain. For me design is simple and perfect. They look much better in a real.

Artem
Artem
12 years ago

@ lucas. Yes, I agree to the logic, but seeing the streamlined front triangle of these coupled with broken-lined rear end just rubs me the wrong way…

cp
cp
12 years ago

Would love the 5spot, only if it was in carbon; at least the rear triangle. Guess I’ll wait another year.

chase wesley
12 years ago

I want Flux!

Jeff
Jeff
12 years ago

I have been drooling over a 5.spot for sometime now. I dig the straight lower tube of the current model but dont mind the new bent tubes. Turner is one of the few bikes out there in which form follows function. They look cleaner and dare I say more manly (*cough**cough* Niner Jet 9 RDO *cough**cough*) than most bikes out on the market today.

Tom
Tom
12 years ago

I have bought a Turner Sultan 2011 frame and equiped it with SRAM XO and FOX Fork. I only can say – forget the carbon stuff – brakes far to early once you or your bike fall´s down!
The bike is riding awesome and I like the clear look. Form follows function as it´s best. As I am from Germany and the 29-er trend just starts over the ocean I am proud to be a pioneer!
P.S. Before I had a Turner 5 Spot bought in 2004. The frame trade in service was excellent and beneath bikes they offer a fair service. This is what count´s at the end!

Barry
Barry
12 years ago

My buddy broke his $$Carbon frame…His tiedown bungee cord slipped from his hand, flew into the top tube & cracked it. Beautiful Blue Sultan = fast piece of mind.

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