Silverback Ventura

[moon!]

Hey all

 

I'm new to mtb (and to the forum) and have just bought the Silverback Ventura. I did some research and it seemed to be a pretty good spec bike for the price (got it for R6000). I do however want to know if its a decent frame? Is it upgradeable or worth upgrading components (at a later stage obviously)? I suppose the question is somewhat irrelavant because i've already bought it, but just wanted some (more experienced) opinions.

 

Thanks

[Pieter1]

Hey Moon!.

 

I have one and I'm proper happy with it. I have bailed a couple of times and nothing but a scratch to the frame. They use the same frame for the Spectra so you can upgrade on parts etc... Oh, Some okes have done tubless on theirs after they got it. Congrats on the purchase

Edited November 13, 2011 by Pieter1

[Clinton1]

These sort of discussions interest me as I am a bit of a detail freak.

 

I just bought a Silverback Phoenix which is said to come with an "AL 6061 Generation II Technology" frame. Your Ventura is one up in the Silverback hierarchy and comes with an "AL R6 G2 Force Generation II Technology".

 

A Google search reveals a lot of answers as to what a 6061 frame is - an aluminium magnesium alloy - however, information on the "R6" was not as readily found. I'm sure the materials differ slightly but not sure it makes too much of a difference. General consensus seems to be that all aluminium used is of high enough quality to not be of concern.

 

The part I did find interesting was when comparing the geometry of the Phoenix and Ventura frames. By all accounts they appear identical for the large frame. The dimensions shown on here are identical except for a slight variance in the top tube length (2.1mm):

 

http://www.kayalamicycles.co.za/images/stories/silverback/silverback-mountain-bikes/ventura//ventura.jpg

 

http://www.kayalamicycles.co.za/images/stories/silverback/silverback-mountain-bikes/phoenix//phoenix.jpg

 

EDIT: Found some more boring stuff Seems the R6 is in fact a 6066 aluminium alloy. These links show the properties of these two aluminium alloys:

 

6066

http://www.matweb.com/search/datasheet.aspx?matguid=2af4dd4c6d5740489dc5b342ef1ab84b&ckck=1).

 

6061

http://www.matweb.com/search/DataSheet.aspx?MatGUID=1b8c06d0ca7c456694c7777d9e10be5b

 

 

You can see that the 6066 is slightly stronger with a tensile strength of 57000psi vs 45000psi and a shear strength of 34000psi vs 30000psi. But that seems to show both as being plenty strong enough!

 

 

PS I am no expert on the matter and am as interested as the OP but just sharing what I found.

Edited November 13, 2011 by Clint_ZA

[scotty]

Good bike, good price, now ride and enjoy it