We have a lot coming down the pipe with Project Alpha.Project Alpha is a complete redo of everything Banshee from bikes, to clothing, to website, to the whole Banshee look. We really want something with more contemporary styling and something that indicates our bikes are not the big heavy beasts they once were.
Product
currently we have a team of engineers working on the following new models: Munro, Scythe, Wildcard, Rune, Rampant.
The Pyre will go through a few small tweeks and version 2 will be released late 2007, expect a lighter frame, with a little less travel as we push it closer to an all mountain platform rather then an enduro.
The hardtails will remain similar for 2007 and 2008 but when we finish the above, we'll look at updating them with the new tubing.
Working with Easton we are developing new custom tubeset that will make all the bikes much lighter and I will be releasing details as they become available on this blog.
The Wildcard will be the first frame we anticipate will be finished, and hope to see a prototype in the next couple of months.
We will then move onto the Rampant as we need to have this model done for Simon our 4X rider in France for its big debut at one of their major races... based on the Pyre VF4B suspension it will have a lower BB, shorter chainstay length, and optimized travel at 100mm to dial it in for racing.
Website
We're currently working on a new more dynamic website, and am still working out some of the details with the contributors to this new site. We'll be working closely with North Shore Nation and this will be our home base if our customers need to find us quickly... I am hoping it will become a great discussion place where we can talk directly to our customers and they can discuss what they'd like to see from us now and in the future - a chance to get back in touch with our roots.
We will be soliciting their direct input on what they want and we'll offer them incentives for their ideas.
There are many other things were working on and as we progress I'll be posting things up. Let me know your thoughts as you know nothing is ever written in stone, and we can always modify things.
