SPOTLIGHT: 2005 Iron Horse Factory Sunday

May 17, 2005
by Luc 'Acadian' Albert  
Everyone pretty much knows the feeling of waiting for a new bike? The wait – tap tap tap – the anticipation - tap tap tap – then there’s the first “another two weeks” update – bang bang bang – then the second “another two weeks” – BANG BANG BANG. You know the drill!!But once the wait is over, all of this is quickly forgotten: “Waiting makes it even sweeter!” they say. Humm, I’m no so sure about that, especially during the waiting game. But one thing I know, it’s a pretty damn good feeling once you get to receive your new bike. A few weeks ago I was relived (and beyond stoked) to take delivery of my new 2005 Iron Horse Factory Sunday frame kit.

About the Iron Horse Sunday
What’s all the fuss about the Iron Horse Sunday? After a brief chat with the master mind behind the DW-Link, here is what Dave had to say:

The Sunday is a DW-Link bike. The DW-Link is very unique as far as suspension systems go. It basically counteracts mass transfer and pedaling forces as you accelerate. In essence, compared to other frames, this means that there is significantly less compressive force acting on the rear wheel as you accelerate. The suspension only has to deal with absorbing bumps, not absorbing bumps PLUS acceleration forces. This lets you run a lot less damping and a lower spring rate. It also lets the bike hook up better in corners off the power because the bike is not overly stiff to compensate for pedaling. If you think this sounds pretty trick actually – you should get to try one!!

Because the Sunday has a low leverage ratio, and also because the Sunday's leverage rate curve was designed to be less progressive in the beginning of the stroke than many older bikes. This in itself rquires less low speed compression damping.

As a rule of thumb so far, the DH/FR DW link bikes (Sunday and 7POINT) have required 1/3 of the damping that a non DW-Link bike requires. I know it sounds extreme, and most of the shock makers didn't believe it at first, but that is the reality, tested and proven on the computer for 3.5 years and testing on the trail for a solid 2 years now.

Up close and personal with the IH Factory Sunday Frame
**For higher rez: simply click on the image**

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OnePointFive Headtube with reinforced gussets

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ISCG 05 tabs, 83mm shell BB

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Room to park a truck, 9.5x3” Progressive 5th Element CV/T 5 shock

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Enduro Max Type bearing throughout

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In all its glory

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dw-link system from the left

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trick replaceable derailleur hanger, 12mm thru axle, 150mm width

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Frame+Shock with Steel spring+E13 cups+seatpost clamp+axle = 11.34lbs

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DW-Link upper link

Extra info about the Iron Horse Factory Frame kit
The Factory frame differs from the frame used on the Team & World Cup complete bikes on material, butting, and colors. Overall, the frame is about 1lb lighter than it's Taiwan made counterpart (i.e. Sunday World Cup and Sunday Team). Geometry and sizing is identical for the Taiwan & USA frames.

The frame comes in Jazz Blue, Imola Yellow and Black Magic Pearl. With the frame you get: Progressive 5th Element CV/T 5 shock w/ 275# spring, DT/Swiss Hugi FR hub w/ alloy cassette body, Thomson Elite 30.0 seatpost, e.thirteen 1.5 zerostack reducer cups, & FSA IS-2 Carbon headset

Sizes: Regular (17") and Large (19")

Geometry (with 8" fork)

17”19”
HA65.465.4
SA64.464.4
Eff TT23.6”24.6”
CS17.24”17.24”
WB45.25”46.25”
BB13.9”13.9”

MSRP: $2,299.00 USD

Dave Weagle's DW-Link Suspension setup tips
First you have to select the right spring for you. Here is a chart that should help you select the right spring for you: Rider weight is with gear and with minimal CV/T chamber pressure.

This guide is accurate and will give you the correct rates that you need.

RIDER WEIGHT with gearSPRING RATE
140 lbs ------------------> 250#
155 lbs ------------------> 275#
175 lbs ------------------> 300#
205 lbs ------------------> 350#
240 lbs ------------------> 400#
270 lbs ------------------> 450#

Progressive 5th Element's starting setup adjustments. Start with these settings then tweak as needed:
• Set the rebound at full fast
• 1 turn in on the CV/T chamber (start at full counterclockwise and give it one full clockwise turn)
• Approx 70 PSI in the air chamber
• Full out on the low speed screw (full counterclockwise)
• Full out on the high speed screw (Full counterclockwise)
• Then adjust rebound to prefered setting

If you have a Dw-link bike with a coil over shock, Sunday, 7POINT, there are updated shock tunes available from Progressive. I cannot be certain that all of the bikes out there have the latest shock tunes, but I can guarantee you that if you send your shock to Progessive, you will get the latest tune.

Make sure that you specify that the shcok is going on a DW-LINK Iron Horse Sunday or 7POINT, and that you want the lightest tune possible.

Here is why you need this:

The DW-Link is a one of a kind suspension system. In function, there is nothing else like it in the world. (Although some marketing material out there would have you believe otherwise but that’s a different story for another day)

In the simplest sense, this is what it does.

The DW-Link system almost completely cancels out suspension compression and extension due to the affects of mass transfer and rider movement when you accelerate your bike.

Because of this, your rear wheel suspension is left to only deal with the bumps in the trail, NOT the bumps in the trail PLUS your mass transfer and pedaling related forces.

All shocks on the market today are designed to compensate for much less efficient systems. The shocks use higher spring rates and increased damping to achieve the identical performance under acceleration that the DW-Link achieves. The 2005 DW-Link Sundays and 7POINTs run 1/3 of the compression damping of any other bike on the market that I am aware of today. Many shocks on the market are actually incapable of attaining damping rates low enough to take advantage of the system's full potential. (Progressive and Avalanche have verified Shock tunes currently)

So basically, you need less spring rate and damping to get the same suspension performance with a DW-Link than other suspensions. The end result are shocks that run cooler, less forces in the frame, and a suspension that reacts to the smallest bumps without reacting to you.

Luc’s Iron Horse Sunday Specifications
I'm pretty damn excited to ride/test the Iron Hose Sunday this year. Other than a few occasional races - I won’t be doing much racing this year. The bike will be primarily use as an every day DH bike. Whether it’s for the fast Whistler trails, the gnar-coreness of North Star at Tahoe, the dusty Bootleg Canyon trail or even the local “pedal to the top” DH runs here in Northern California – the Sunday will be used for it all.

Below is the specifications of my bike, which for the most part will remain unchanged all season – this unless I face some major component failures that would force me to swap parts.

Since I’m a “parts whore” at heart – I may swap some parts for testing purposes. A few things come to mind:
• Tires: Who doesn’t like to try different tires eh? For now the bike had Maxxis tires mounted on it, but I might try different ones throughout the year.
• Shifter Pod and rear derailleur: Will definitely be trying out the new SRAM X.0 triggers and new rear derailleur once they are available.
• Push Industries bits: Who knows what PUSH bits might show up on my bike from now until the end of the year! ;o)

This is only a mere spotlight – I will follow up in a couple months by a long-term review. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the bike or any of the parts I’m using, feel free to e-mail me and I’ll try to help you out to the best of my abilities.

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Frame sizeRegular 17”
Rear ShockProgressive 5th Element CV/t 5 shock
• 9.5”x3” stroke
• 275# steel spring
• 70psi Air Pressure
• 1 turn Volume Adjuster
• Beg. & End. stroke all the way out
Fork2005 8" RockShox BoXXer WC
• 2 Silver springs
• 93mm Oil Height Rebound (2.5wt)
• 115mm Oil Height Compression (10 wt)
HeadsetE13 Zero-Stack Reducer cups and FSA bearings
Crankarms170 / Middleburn RS-7
Chain GuideE13 Components SRS Guide
ChainringE13 Components 38T Guide Ring
Bottom BracketFSA Platinum Pro 83x128
PedalsEaston Cully with Woodman Component Spikes Comp pins
ChainSRAM PC-99
CassetteSRAM PG-970
Rear DerailleurSRAM X.0
Shifter Cable/HousingAvid Flack Jacket
Shifter PodSRAM X.9
HandlebarEaston CNT DH Carbon bars (not shown)
StemE13 Components Direct Mount
GripsODI Lock On
BrakesAvid Juicy 7 with 203mm rotors
Front hubChris King 20mm TA
Rear hubDT Swiss 12mm TA
SpokesBlack DT Competition
TiresMaxxis Minion
Front RimMavic EX 823 UST
TubesSpecialized 05 Standard DH tubes / Presta valve
Rear RimMavic EX 721
SaddleSDG USA Bel-Air ST (not shown)
SeatpostSDG USA I-Beam (30.0)
ExtraHope seatpost clamp
WeightAs is: approx 41.1lbs

Links of interrest
www.ironhorsebikes.com
www.madcatzracing.com
www.dw-link.com
www.e13components.com
www.progressivesuspension.com
www.rockshox.com
www.sram.com
www.avidbike.com
www.sdgusa.com
www.fullspeedahead.com
www.eastonbike.com
www.dtswiss.com


Author Info:
acadian avatar

Member since Jan 1, 2000
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