Balfa BB7

[demo man]

hi all,

i was just wondering if there are any Balfa BB7 owners out there. i love those bikes but know nothing about them. could anyone who knows anything tell me about them, i'd apprieciate it.

and screw Rocky Mountain for closing them down and leaving Miles Mead withot a ride (is tht right?)!!!

Cheers,
Sam

[Daver]

um, Miles Mead races for Kona?

[demo man]

he does now, but he used to ride for Balfa, err, didn't he?

i thought he rode BB7s till last year and then switched over, because Kona only started their DH squad then, right?

[and1]

miles mead left the balfa team by his own free will because he was offered a top deal from team kona....

Theres a heap of bb7 riders out there, on farkin there is;
Wattsy, bb7 rider, road warrior (banned now I think), lotec, shaun and a few others I cant remember, and hopefully soon myself as well.

I also know dean robson has been racing bb7s in u19's for a while now as well and is doing quite well. There is also another 4 or so bb7s that I have seen cruising round the likes of oxford falls and red hill.

[thrasher]

ask away....i have owned and raced bb7s for quite a wile so if u have any questions feel free to ask.

[Wattsy]

hey demo man,

i am for sure a proud owner of a Balfa BB7, the bike is a smooth plush ride, nothing very fancy pedal effencey, but the way the cromo rear linkage works make the ride so go, and pumping a brease. the travel goes rear ward most ofthe time, and in the last few inches goes right up, then means u dont get hooked on rocks, making it alot quicker. the weight, like its the heavy full build, but u dont get much better than it. its just a perfect ballance of performace/weight that u dont notice. this bike makes u hit lines with full confidence. the who range of balfas are (were) made in there canadian factory, so the quality was 100 to non, perfect frame work and weilding. most people talk shit bout the bb7 cause of its simplisity and weight, but they are missing out. my advice, try one, then buy it.

it wasnt just miles, but the whole of the balfa team world wide (except for lucky deano, cause johns a legdend).

good luck

[Wattsy]

ask away....i have owned and raced bb7s for quite a wile so if u have any questions feel free to ask.

woooooooh, deans back

btw man, what size shoe are u, im gettin a pair of impacts for ya.

[demo man]

thanks for the replies guys, info is good,

:confused:
but ah, Wattsy, are you asking me for my shoe size? if so i'm a 13 (big huh?), and what the hell are 'a pair of impacts'? or is that a subt joke i obviously don't get?
:confused:

as for riding one and buying one, i will as soon as i can! but that'll be early next year at the soonest, and then all BB7s will be a bit battered. i was thinking maybe i should just wait a few years, until they are rare as hell, thn track down the builders/designers and get them to build me one (or just take one in to like a chopper shop and get them to copy it exactly. but, that's all assuming i can't afford one soon as, and you never know, i might find a gem that's been in a garage for a year and has only been ridden for a month in 6 months. i'll just work on my Karma points and try to get some 'bonus intrest'.


a question (or 6 1/2) about the bike, what sort of head angle does it have, and how long is the chainstay? do they have any (valid) warranty? they're a 203mm (8") travel bike huh? what size rear spacing do they have?

oh yeah, and how much do thy cost? (new and second hand average)

Cheers guys, keep that info coming!!

Sam

[No Skid Marks]

I love my BB7 and don't have any intensions of selling it. I've owned them with Fox and with fith and they all rock. I don't use the brake arm because with so much travell it feels cool anyway and I'm trying to get mine under 40lbs(currently 41.8)wich I think I can and thats with 888s. I find it very very efficient at pedaling. and plush as an old matress with a thrashed hooker taking up the dampening. Go for it dude, you won't regret it and I've owned 222s, M1s,9.5inch custom Craftworks,and a list of others, I've ridden most others as well including V10s etc, and I'm not keen to change.

[Wattsy]

but ah, Wattsy, are you asking me for my shoe size? if so i'm a 13 (big huh?), and what the hell are 'a pair of impacts'? or is that a subt joke i obviously don't get?
:confused:


Sam

lol, sorry, that was for thrasher, lol

[Wattsy]

a question (or 6 1/2) about the bike, what sort of head angle does it have, and how long is the chainstay? do they have any (valid) warranty? they're a 203mm (8") travel bike huh? what size rear spacing do they have?

oh yeah, and how much do thy cost? (new and second hand average)
[/QUOTE]

new, $4150 with fifth

9" (235mm)
135mm, normal QR
66'
warrenty should now be covered by RM (but im not 100% sure) and asif ud need it, they are tanks

[demo man]

i sorta half thought it was, but then it said "btw man" so i thought that meant me (demo MAN).

lol, it's all good. but if you want to get me some shoes (or whatever) then that's cool! i actually need some.

hey, does anyone have a good recommendation as to what shoes to buy for flat pedals? i generally wear skate shoes, but i want something that's a bit tighter, then again i could just tie up my damn shoe laces huh?

i was thinking 661 Launch (check www.trpedo7.com). any suggestions?

[lotec]

9" rear travel. 125mm rear spacing in QR, head angle would be about 65 degrees i think although I cant remember off the top of my head, 16.9" chainstays new price is a bit over 3 grand around $3500 i think (frame only) second hand will range from around $1700 - 2700 depending on condition and age but i guess there is exemptions to every rule, I own one and have ridden it with a fox RC and a 5th and with and without the floating brake mount, the floating brake mount is nice but by no means neccicary (most people dont run them) and is hayes direct mount only (why I dont run mine), even with the fox they pedal pretty well but with the 5th they are a dream, plush, dont hook up on things, the travel is linear not progressive though so they arn't the hardest things in the world to bottem out though but i like my bikes set up nice 'n' hard so thats not really a problem for me anyway, look shit hot as well :D have massive tire clearence (probably get a 26 x 3" in there) but the chainguide gets in the way of anything bigger than a 2.5" maxxis (although i ran a 2.5 michelin for a while and it JUST fit) but if you are running cranks that you can space out further away from the bb do that and space out teh chainguide and its sweet, gotta regularly check the main pivot is tight and use a truckload of loctite but if you do it right it stays tight.... not much else i can think of off the top of my head and I know I didn't use a single fullstop but thats too bad if you dont like it dont read it :D
edit: it appears i did use fullstops :eek:

edit x2 DAMN YOU LEE. and i was thinking of turners with that rrp :o and because it is higher second hand they can go for up to about 3 grand but it would be mint for that

[Old Shagger]

They are such a plusho and strooong 9" bike. Heavy but ridgid. My BB7 had the 5th element shock and after riding it for a month or so then put on the floating rear - big difference in the rocky jungles! Have ridden a few with fox as well - still great. Mine had Monster's on it as was my choice so when i hit the trees it just keeps on goin straight on - and i just hang on. Seriously Ive jumped on heaps of big travel, and light weight DH bikes and if you want a reliable and way strong monster for the rocks and drops - this is it. If peddaling for miles - buy an Orange.
My red bb7 was taken from me in one of the cruelest acts of life - now i dream of old things great.
All i have left in my stable is a AC1 and my Liquid jump bike - want to swap these 2 for a DH (bb7) - dreaming again.
Seriously - get a BB7 - they rule

[Shaun]

the bb7's are an awesome bike. strong, stiff as and reliable. if you aren't a smooth rider this bike takes all the big hits in it's stride.

i had a raceline before this, boy did i notice a difference. handles all types of tracks well, especially fast ones, due to it's length and slack head angle. you need to manhandle it around a bit, but that's ok, makes it a whole lotta fun.

[donthucktoflat]

the bb7's are an awesome bike. strong, stiff as and reliable. if you aren't a smooth rider this bike takes all the big hits in it's stride.

i had a raceline before this, boy did i notice a difference. handles all types of tracks well, especially fast ones, due to it's length and slack head angle. you need to manhandle it around a bit, but that's ok, makes it a whole lotta fun.

so you're comparing a raceline to a BB7?

a bit unfair dont you think?

[Shaun]

a little unfair i guess.

another good thing about the balfa's is the short headtube. this allows you to get the front of the bike lower than most. a major advantage when cornering.

[demo man]

ok ok, you guys have sold me!

i can't stop druling!

i'll be keeping an eye out from about june then, unless i find omething better.

thanks for all the info, and if you think of anything else, 'd love to hear it

Cheers guys,
Sam

[mike&nat]

yeh bb7s are sweet but i like 222s better. buy my bb7 $1700 frame only

[No Skid Marks]

Because your a propergander fed muppet.

[Daver]

yeh bb7s are sweet but i like 222s better. buy my bb7 $1700 frame only

Umm...ok?

222s might be a better race bike, but i actually like suspension that moves, i'd much rather a bb7. I had a play on one a few months back and was very impressed, there pretty damn sorted and well made.

[Wattsy]

u like 222 cause ur not even heavy enough to get the full usage properly out of any bike.

as u can see, the balfa is well used in aus, perfect bike. hell, i even ride mine up hills

[lotec]

u like 222 cause ur not even heavy enough to get the full usage properly out of any bike.
damn straight, he was running the same spring rate as me and i barely ever get full travel at 2x + his weight :eek:

[No Skid Marks]

yep I'm pedalling mine everywhere at the moment because it's my only running bike, and I'm surviving. I can't decide what back up bike to get for longer rides because unless it's a hardtail it's not gonna serve my purposes well enough. Sure I get puffed but I'm sure I would be wishing I bought the BB7 on any ride under two hours long.

[dirt rider]

how much are the 2005 selling for brand new ?

[bolzy]

bb7 are one of the sweetest bikes ive ever ridden without a doubt.

[bb7 rider]

bb7s are still available for 05, same frame as 04 plenty of stock around and weigh about 11 pounds with 5th. All warranties are still processed and havent had any issues. Pro cycle have sold the brand and the new company have all intentions to still build balfas but no news as yet, so hopefully they can keep being built. I just got dorados on mine and she feels sweet.

[Joshwah]

balfa bb7 with 5th element best bike i ever rode in rock gardens.... people don't like em cause they r diff but the people who try em love em so.... the design works awsome over rocks