Iron Horse 6point6 review

Published on January 28, 2009

Iron Horse are a real big player these days in the extreme mountain bike scene for two reasons. Firstly, the Iron Horse Sunday WC rig. And secondly, Sam Hill whipping ass on board an Iron Horse Sunday WC rig. Sam pedalled his way to victory in numerous World Cup races along side Bryn Atkinson, both riding the Sunday in the Iron Horse/Mad Catz DH Team. Look a bit further in the company’s bike range and you will find some mighty tasty bits of kit.

Iron Horse bounced back on to the mountain bike scene a few years ago with the launch of the DW (Dave Weagle) link equipped Iron Horse steeds.

The 2009 Iron Horse line up has a nice mix of rides from top of the range full suspension downhill beasts, to your everyday commuter ride. All of the full suspension bikes can be slotted in to the one of the following categories; downhill, freeride, all-mountain, trail and the XC Marathon are all covered.

The Iron Horse 6point6 blurs the line between freeride and all-mountain. We have spent the last few months hitting various terrain on the rig, hitting downhill and ladder trails, singletrack and full on cross country jaunts.

The 6point range has been pushed in between Iron Horse’s MK111 trail bikes and the Sunday range, making it a bike that’s capable of hitting everything and still scrapping its hoof on the floor for more.
The name could be easily misinterpreted and it would be easy to assume that the 6point6 would have of 6.6 inches of travel. The first 6 stands for 6inchs of travel, but the second is the model number, as Iron Horse offer a lower specced 6point4.

The frame is crafted from 6069-T6 light weight tubing and weighs in at 7.3lbs, with F7 links providing a real stiff and responsive ride. This shows when railing single tracks, or banging your way back up the hills. The 6point6 comes kitted out with some nice mid to top end kit that is perfectly in tune with the frame.

Your cockpit is kitted out with Funn Combat lock-on grips on a FSA Maximus OS 25mm rise bar, shifting is controlled by SRAM X7 shifters with the super smooth SRAM X9 mid cage rear mech, and a Shimano Saint front mech. Braking is taken care of by the highly popular Avid Juicy 7’s with 7″ rotors, which provide excellent stopping power in most conditions.

The Cockpit is joined to the Rockshox Lyric 160mm Solo air forks by the FSA OS Gap stem. The Lyric forks give the bike a plush front end whilst keeping the weight down.

Providing your rear bounce is the much loved Fox DHX Air 5 with rebound, pro-pedal, bottom out resistance and a position sensitive boost valve. All those settings make for a highly tunable bike, which can be tailored to the trails and your style of riding.
Putting power to the DT Swiss wheel set is FSA’s Gravity MegaExo crankset with 32/22 tooth rings, with the E-13 DRS Dual guide keeping the chain in place.

A WTB Pure V race saddle with cromo rail (which I personally found a bit uncomfortable on longer rides) is held to the frame by the FR-270 seat post.

Traction is down to Kenda’s Nevegal Sticke compound 2.35 tires, which prevent you from spinning out in the stodgiest of conditions, and clear real easy once the wheels are rolling again with a bit of speed.

THE RIDE
During our tests, the 6point6 it was thrown around at Esher Shore, Chicksands, Frome DH and shore trails, the Mendip Hills and the Forest of Dean.

The first stop for testing was Esher Shore in Surrey. The 6point6 really did feel at home on the ladder trails, with a responsive front end. The twisting ladder trails were no match for the bike (shame the same can’t be said about me). With the shock pumped with 150 PSI the 6.6 sucked up the bumps and small drops from trail to trail.
Hitting the kickers at the bottom of the park, the 6point6 felt just at home in the air as it did on the trail. It was the same riding the 4x track at Chicksands, the bike was so responsive over the track that, at times I thought I was back on my old Norco 4X.

A real test for the bike (as well as myself) was the Mendip Hills. I was surprised about how easily the bike climbed up the hills once the pro-pedal was fulled clicked on by the large blue lever on the top of the DHX. Managing 15 miles with some real steep climbs and leg burn like I’ve rarely felt before (I’m so unfit), the only thing that I can really complain about is the saddle being so uncomfortable (although that’s down to riders choice and normally everyone uses a saddle they know and find comfortable).

Again the bike really felt at home slopping its way down muddy bridal paths and the occasional deer track. In fact this is where the real fun starts. I pointed the bike down some of the gnarliest, natural, steep trails I could find, and rode out the bottom with a massive smile every time. The bike handles really well on enclosed trails  twisting and turning in and out of the trees, and down the icy single track that we hit at the Forest of Dean.

The all-mountain label doesn’t really do the 6point6 justice. Although it climbs like a demon in and out of the saddle, I would personally label it as the perfect UK freeride bike for ripping up shore parks and Freeride areas.

For £2,800 you get a bike fully kitted out bike that will leave you begging to unleash her from the stable again after each ride.
For more info on IronHorse Bikes and the DW Link checkout www.ironhorsebikes.com.