Iron Horse Azure Expert - BikeOutlet ReviewThe Iron Horse Azure is one of the worlds best trail xc/marathon full suspension frameset and both this model and the Full Iron Horse DW Linkage range framesets are massively underated in the UK market. A True World Class Winning Frameset from IronHorse nested around some of the best parts available in the industry.
The Frame Design on the Azure is second to none made from 6069 Aluminium which is both Strong and Lightweight, Sealed Cartridge Bearing Pivots using MAX E Bearings with a Eye to Detail which is second to none, The Flared Headtube to Intergrated Headset looks fantastic and adds extra strength the the Headtube Gusset Area.
The main frame is based around the DW suspension technology offering 90mm or 3-1/2" of controled Rear Wheel Travel via the Linkage Technology - This is 3rd generation suspension design and the only systems which come close in terms of the design is VP - Virtual Pivot and many would argue thats just not as good to ride .
The DW Link Technology has had world wide aclaim from Cycling Magazines and Riders a like and uses a Anti-Squat Mechanically tuned design that does not need lock outs or platform shocks that often make the bikes feel wooded when riden offroad, Cruitially the design offers very little pedal feedback with a ability to put power down in a manner that is unrivaled. It is fair to say that these bikes, Climb, Descend and Trail Ride faster than anything else you have riden before
.
The DW system also mean less time on the setup once preload is adjusted correctly the Suspension is ready to ride without the need to adjust platforms and control valves.
I recently test rode our Shop Demostrator Model of the IronHorse Azure Expert at Dalby Forest and straight away the bike felt at home as soon as I pulled it out of the Van and rode it round the car park, What amazes you with this cycle is how fast it rolls.
The model we have set up differs to the standard spec (please see at the bottom of this review) and this is mainly because of the multi useage that the cycle will have, We have however not adjusted with the standard frame or rear shock and this is factory set and felt amazing on the first ride out.
Once Riding the suspension came into its own as the long slow climb out of the visitors centre car park offers a great warmup on the muscles,
What became instantly noticable was the lack of suspension bob which under power becomes virtualy none and the cycle rides like a hardtail, However as soon as the trail started to level out and the rolling contour of the single track unvieled the suspension became live and active,
The travel just feels right in these settings and almost endless if you need it, At no point during the ride did I feel the shock bottom out (which can easily be adjusted via Shock Preload) and yet the suspension never felt hard, Over Rougher stuff the bike just eats up.
The DW Linkage makes the suspension feel plush as soon as you need it and yet again when you needed to put the power down the wheel digged back in and away she flew.
The bike was litterly flying round and with it I added more confidence to it. The bike didnt seem to have a limit , It became clear that I was hitting sections of the trail a lot faster than I had before and was leaving the rest of ou party behind.
One of the riders with us had a Orange Five and to compare Iron Horse DW Link to the Orange's Single Pivot Design I rode a section of Singletrack Downhill on both,
The differences were amazing, The Orange seemed harsher even though it had more travel, It was noticably harder to pedal and therefore harder to ride, The other noticable point on the Iron Horse was the stiffness of the rear end especially in tighter turns and the directness of the bike.
Because the DW Linkage actually closes the gap between bearing and axile it make the rear of a DW Frameset a lot tighter and stiffer. Same sections that I was hitting the Iron Horse Azure on seemed a lot more controled, although again this could be down to the Crude Single Piviot Design that Orange use.
Many would argue that the Single Pivot is better than multi linkage such as the DW Link/VP/ or Horst Linkage Systems, I say thats just plain rubbish they have there place, but the Pedal Feedback, Brake Jack make single piviot bikes a lot harsher and are actually harder to ride.
The only arguement is that you have to replace one set of bearings instead of 4 sets but it is the same amount of labour involved and if it rides better there is no argument. Iron Horse also use MAX E Bearings as Standard which use a extra 2x sealed bearings for longer life and better bearing load
Fork - Rockshox Revelation 426 Dual Air Suspension Forks
Wheels - Hope Pro2 Red Hubs built on X717 Rims - DT Swiss Comp Spokes
Brakes - Avid Ultimate 180mm/160mm - with Goodridge B/Hose
Tyres - Maxxis Crossmark 2.1 F / Maxxis High Roller 2.1 R
Bar/Stem - Easton EA70 H/Rise Bar 25.4 / Easton Vice 50mm
Seatpost - Easton EA70 27.2mm
Chainset - Shimano SLX 170mm with Single 38T Saint Chainring
ChainDevice - E-Thirteen LG1 Taco
Rear Mech - SRAM X9
Shifers - SRAM X9 - Rear Only
Extra - Sunline Lock On Grips, WTB Silverado Saddle, Pivit Pedals
- Everything else as listed below
MODEL : IRON HORSE AZURE EXPERT 2008
CATEGORY dw-link MARATHON XC
FRAME 3.5" TRAVEL dw-link XC RACE FRAME W/ EASTON TUBING, 1-1/8" ZEROSTACK HEADTUBE, REPLACEABLE DERAILLEUR HANGER
REAR SHOCK FOX FLOAT R, 6.5"X1.5"
FORK ROCK SHOX REBA SL, 100MM TRAVEL
HANDLEBAR EASTON EA70, LOW RISE, 685MM, 31.8MM CLAMP
STEM EASTON EA70, 31.8MM CLAMP
HEADSET ORBIT Z, ZEROSTACK
BB FSA MEGAEXO, 73MM
CRANK FSA MOTO, 15-17"=170MM, 19-21"=175MM
RINGS FSA ALLOY/STEEL, 44/32/22T
PEDALS CRANK BROS SMARTY CLIPLESS
CHAIN SRAM PC-951 W/ POWERLINK
SADDLE WTB SILVERADO RACE W/ CROMOLY RAILS
SEATPOST EASTON EA70, 31.6MM
F. HUB DT/SWISS X1800 WHEELSET
R. HUB DT/SWISS X1800 WHEELSET
F. DER SRAM X.7, 34.9MM CLAMP
R. DER SRAM X.9
SHIFTER SRAM X.7 TRIGGER
CASSETTE SRAM PG-970, 11/34T, 9 SPEED
BRAKES AVID JUICY 7 W/ 160MM ROTORS
BRAKE LEVER AVID JUICY 7
RIM DT/SWISS X1800 WHEELSET
SPOKE DT/SWISS X1800 WHEELSET
TIRES WTB RAIJIN, DNA COMPOUND, FOLDING BEAD, 2.1" FRONT & REAR
SIZE 15", 17", 19", 21"
COLORS RED GLOSS
WEIGHT 27.6LBS/12.5KG
Iron Horse Azure Size / Geometry Chart -
Size HA SA Eff TT CS WB HTLength BB Min Max
15" 70.5° 73° 21.5" 16.85" 40.8" 4.5" 12.8" 5'6"
17" 70.5° 73° 22.5" 16.85" 41.8" 4.5" 12.8" 5'7" 5'10"
19" 70.5° 73° 23.5" 16.85" 42.8" 4.5" 12.8" 5'11" 6'
21" 70.5° 73° 24.5" 16.85" 43.8" 4.5" 12.8" 6'1"
