You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Back in 2002 when I started MTBing, one of the group I bumped into and became friends with upgraded to a Turner XCE. Something about that bike I loved, and since then I’ve always wanted a Turner, and had it in mind that a Turner trail bike would be my “retirement” bike - the bike I’d ride after end my competitive days for just the enjoyment of the thing.
So I keep an eye on the Turner website, which was down over Christmas. It’s back now and, oh no..... https://turnerbikes.com/
Seems like Turner have reinvented themselves, and my dreams are over 🙁 What a shame, I guess it’s driven by niche or something....
Now I really wish I'd kept my 5 Spot 🙁
Looks like the Turner were all know and loved has gone belly up and someone has bought the brand....
No info on where they are made? No real company info or history or who we are?
I was of the same mind. Always hankered after a Turner boutique bike. My wife still rides a 2006 5 spot and loves it, won't consider anything else. I always thought I had a nice shiny Burner in my future. I know he was very vocal about not developing an Easy bike and cited their existence on whats wrong with the human condition but always thought full sus was their thing.
I wonder if there has been a falling out with Dave Weagle over licencing or something?
Unfortunately I think they struggled with the market switch to carbon FS frames.
This article seems to imply Dave Turner is still involved:
I’ve used the “ask a question button” on the Turner site, I’ll let you know if I receive a reply.
Thats a real shame. early 2000's I always lusted after a turner and I finally got a 5 spot in 2004.
I LOVED that bike. it lasted me 7 years of hard graft, ridden at least twice a week, year round in the lakes, dales, wales, scotland.
Replaced with a DW 5 spot in 2011 which was just not the same. Miss the original 5 spot. Wish I'd never sold it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/2492/3960382512_67a4908385_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/2492/3960382512_67a4908385_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/72XZK7 ]d082[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
Website disappeared and changed a month or so back. DT still owns and designs, there's been no sale.
On this recent thread on mtbr he has a few comments to make about standards and design- reading between the lines, it might be that the FS world is changing too quickly at the moment for it to be worthwhile for him (whether it be financially or workload).
TheGingerOne
Unfortunately I think they struggled with the market switch to carbon FS frames.
I remember the wait for the new RFX, was in the market for a bike like that, but it eventually arrived with pretty dated geo. Hard for a small company to keep up with 27.5/29/boost and all the other changes, I'd say. Costs for moulds and that are huge when things are changing so fast.
Ah Romic shock, I was lucky enough to have one that didn’t spew its guts up and it felt awesome. Nice squooshy sound too.
That's quite a departure. My 2009 DW Flux is currently my 'main' mtb but soon to be replaced.
Unfortunately I think they struggled with the market switch to carbon FS frames.
They did a lot of things right but always seemed a little behind the curve....or stuck to what they thought was right if being more positive....on many aspects of bike design. Their head angles remained steeper for longer than most and their bikes were shorter in reach too. And you can't blame CF mould cost for that because it was the same for the aluminium in house built bikes too that could have almost been updated overnight had the desire been there. My switch later this year from a 2009 Turner to a 2021 Bird is going to be chalk and cheese in terms of approach and feel.
But the proudly US made aluminium frames was always part of the USP along with customer service. It always felt a bit like they lost their uniqueness (and probably control) when they joined the far east manufactured carbon band wagon. Before that they were more of a manufacturer that made bikes - almost rare these days in a market full of brands that don't do a lot more that 'spec'/design a frame which is farmed out to a third party and then an assembly job.
This seems like a venture into a market in which his name has little kudos which has to be a concern for their ability to be more than a cottage industry brand.
I dunno, I would think a lot of ex-Turner MTBers are rigind gravel bikes now
Weirdly I was thinking about Turner the other day and noticed the website wasn't offering the Turners of old that I remember.
Real shame, I reckon a long, slack, 27.5 DW Link RFX would be awesome.
They were nice, but they had their time, same as a lot of the brands that were big at that time, the ellsworths, mavericks, IFs, etc.
Nowadays a lot of bikes have 4 bar or horst, and just work better, Turner and the likes just didn't progress, but the market for new entries is still pretty good, just look at the likes of Cotic, Stanton, Bird, Deviate, etc all starting up and doing well in the UK, that wasn't the case 15-20 years ago, so good to see.
the 05/06 turner DH bike was a thing of beauty
Loved my 5 Spot (hence the user name) used it week in/week out for 6 years but as others said geo etc just moved on. My mate still has a 650b Burner with a slackset in - he loves it
Small-ish bike brands like that are just people at the end of the day.
The ones that adapt and survive are likely to be staffed by people engaged with modern riding habits and trends in geometry etc. Others perhaps lose the love a bit and their products just wither.
That's not meant to be a diss on Turner BTW, it's just the way of things.
Personally, I've never really had apsirational feelings toward a particular brand. I tend to look at what's available at a given time and choose the best option. Not very romantic, I know.
argee
Nowadays a lot of bikes have 4 bar or horst, and just work better, Turner and the likes just didn’t progress
They were unlucky with that too - I thin they were squeezed out of Horst because the license was too expensive, would then have had to pay out to license DW-Link. That's a lot of expense and redesign that they probably wanted to avoid. (And a few years later Horst was free as patent expired)
I think the switch to 1X has had a lot of change to the importance of specific suspension design too. The complexity of making suspension that works well with 2 chainrings has gone. Probably even more crucial for a trail bike intended to descend AND climb well.
The constant discussions here about brake jack and other suspension design concerns just don't happen anymore. Could better shocks, might be some design fettling but I think it mostly the 1X making it easier. Paying for a suspension solution must make less and less sense.
I have a Burner, great bike but considering going back to a hard tail because of the trails I’m now riding and the Turner is possibly a bit overkill!
It’s a real shame they not making FS anymore and a shame if they’ve been taken over!
Biggest mistake I made was buying a Santa Cruz Tazmon from Stif in the 90's instead of ponying up another £200 for a Burner. Turner were cool AF.
As mentioned above, they've not been taken over. I've had contact with David Turner in the last couple of weeks regarding one of the ti hardtail frames he has designed. Unfortunately there's no UK importer currently and the shipping costs were a bit much for me. Bike looks great though.
would then have had to pay out to license DW-Link
Presumably they did pay out for the DW link? I thought their latter full suspension bikes used the DW link?
As for the new bikes, they look quite smart. Upon first glance, they looked like any other made in the east ti frame, but after further inspection, the little details look great.
Loved my DW flux, but that cracked on the top tube just behind the head tube weld.
Loved my DW burner, but that cracked inside the BB tube on the down tube weld.
Replaced my flux with a 29er czar under their scheme for out of warranty bikes. I'm hoping this one doesn't crack (there's no welds to cause an issue here). I'm hoping that I can get all the bearings when they need doing again from somewhere (the rocker chainstay bearing is a weird one).
Good luck to anyone needing other turner hardware, I think a lot if it has now been used up form DT's stock.
I've always loved by Turner bikes, and Dave / the company have always been great when I've contacted them for advice or parts.
Presumably they did pay out for the DW link? I thought their latter full suspension bikes used the DW link?
Yes they did. I might be in the minority here but I preferred the DW versions. The anti squat/ bob was better making it climb more like a hardtail with suspension opening up when you needed it. I also thought the horst bikes looked pretty grim. Always reminded me of a texan oil nodding donkey.
Didn't they at one point swap the pivot to the seatstay rather from the chainstay to get around the Horst link license issue?
I had a DW 5 Spot..snapped a pivot bolt and then ruined the rocker link trying to drill it out - rang Turner, was upfront with how stupid I'd been and they sent a full new assembly and bushings free of charge - EXCELLENT customer service is what I think of when I hear the name Turner
Engage fanboi mode.
Quite sad news this. Had a 5 spot from 04 to 13, then a burner 13 to 18 and now an RFX. They've just always worked exceptionally well and brought many happy memories! I like how DT always said a bike spends 2/3 of it's life climbing and designed accordingly.
Still awesome on the downs as well.
Ah well, guess I'll need to do some real shopping around when the rfx dies.
Thanks Dave T for 17 years of fun.
I'm a bit like convert - my '09 Flux is still going strong and I absolutely love the raw finish - but I think this year will be time to move on. But I don't really know to what though - a YT Izzo perhaps but who knows how easily it will be to actually get one.
I hope the Turner 'rebirth' goes well though! The Cyclosys looks awesome.
Loved my 5 spot 🙂
In 21 years of riding, the Turner 5spot ranks as my most fondly remembered bike, and the longest owned. In one form or another it ran from 2005 to 2012, and even then I only replaced it when I couldn't get a new chainstay when it cracked.
It managed to be light enough, yet agro enough that I never wanted for more.
My riding has changed since then, and doubtless I'd find it wanting these days. But back then it was the right bike at the right time.
In 2012 I followed up with a Sultan which felt more like the successor of the 5 spot than the actual dw 5 spot did at the time. I rode that for another 5 years, pushing it into things it was never really designed for until bushing spares started to become very scarce indeed.
Its sad really, my last few experiences of Turner were that they really weren't interested any more.
My switch later this year from a 2009 Turner to a 2021 Bird is going to be chalk and cheese in terms of approach and feel.
Maybe in terms of geometry it'll be different, but I just tested the Aether9 and it evoked memories of that lovely horst link buttery compliance on the stuttery stuff. So I ordered one!
So I ordered one!
Sounds promising!
VanHalen
Full Memberthe 05/06 turner DH bike was a thing of beauty
I spent a long time trying to find a good one of those, the square tube frame was awesome. The King Khan fatbike was pretty glorious too. But it did seem for a long time that they were one of those US brands that just couldn't get past making short, tall long travel bikes, like Ibis
I loved my 5Spot. Built by Tim @ Sideways cycles, picked up and immediately ridden for a dry, sunny week in Scotland. Loved it. Also reminds me of a trip to Moab in about 2008 which has many happy memories.
My daughter has had 2! Can't find a pick of the really tiny one, but this was an XS
Still going strong with a mate's kid now.
Shame about Turner for sure, but when I looked to replace the 5-Spot, there was nothing really in their line up I liked.
Dave Turner is definitely involved as I've been talking through my order of the Ti Nitrous x 2 with him recently. The frames are almost sorted. We're importing them hopefully this month.
I think this is a progression of him riding more gravel and the carbon full suss period giving him a lot of trouble.
That's said we still have 2xczar and 2xflux , 2x cyclosys in the house. Still my favourite bikes and he's always taken care of us.
My partner's czar is now well over 10,000 miles.
Hannah gave me the heads up that there was a Turner thread going and I should give it a read. I want to thank you all for the kind words and shared stories of good times you've had on Turner Bikes. I will address a couple of the questions and try to stay in the spirit of the thread.
I am firmly at the helm here! No plan to sell, I am only 58 and still wearing out bike parts. I figure I need to keep my industry connections for wholesale parts another 10 years! Since my wife and I are both cycling addicts, keeping a fleet of bikes in tune would be quite expensive at retail.
More hardtail models in the works. No suspension frames are in development at the moment. I will come up with a new design of course, but I can't see a big travel bike. Modern geometry, tires, suspension and brakes are so amazing that I can get away with less bike, like the niche now called XXC. Exactly like the O2 and Flux, this is really where my mtb heart is, and at this time, don't see any reason why I would go longer and Longer. Someone mentioned that I never really caught up when the boost/ long lower revolution hit and that affected sales. All correct. And carbon tooling is brutally expensive and no where close to what most companies spend to develop a new alloy frame. Not really excited about putting my hand back in that fire!
Not sure how to word my feelings for my current direction. Yes, I love riding suspension in rough terrain. And if I lived where I could get Lakes Dist style riding all the time, my model line would probably be very different. But through the years of riding gravel bikes on 'average'ish mtb trails I have realized that modern suspension bikes have taken some challenge out of a lot of dirt I ride. My current Cyclosys is pretty darn capable, especially with 40-45mm tires on it, but when it gets steep and rough a flat bar bike with another 12-15mm of tire makes a huge difference. So the Nitrous is a natural progression from the Cyclosys, and of course that will lead to drum roll.... another suspension bike when I finally decide the Nitrous runs out of capability! haha What goes thru the little brain when puppy catches its tail?
Since most of the trails I ride most of the time are less than chunky, I found that I really enjoy the 'connection' I have with the dirt whilst riding a hardtail, and truth be known, and extra 10psi in the fork. A hardtail REALLY emphasizes good form, no more lazy boy drop and flop. Stand up and work the bike. The other reality for this suburban dweller, I have miles of roads to ride between home and trails. I can lock the fork and mash the tarmac before I drop into the dirt, and if I go in the right direction, get into some very serious mountain bike terrain, all on one bike. I know, a gravel bike can do the same, but the 'xxc' Nitrous is a massive step up from even a modern 'gravel' bike, so when the going gets rough and tough, the flat bar takes the cake.
I am also digging the visually elegant simplicity of the hard tail as well, maybe all of this is just an excuse for playing with new toys, from concept to creation to riding it. Designing a hardtail gravel, road or mtb is new and fun, and there are new things to learn about geometry that is not influenced by rear suspension. They are quite different to ride, and new lines can be/should be taken on the same old trails. I like bikes, and this must be some subliminal excuse to have more bikes to play with.
DT
and of course that will lead to drum roll…. another suspension bike
Great to hear from DT himself thats brightened up my day immensley, thanks DT for posting, I'm glad you're still at the helm and enjoying the industry - all the best! And with that statement ^ I'm not ready to "retire" yet, so will keep on watching the website to see if I can enjoy my rides into the sunset on a Turner FS trail bike in the coming years.
I had an original 5 Spot from 2004 until 2009. It was absolutely great until it sheared through the seat tube. I replaced it with a DW model but it wasn't as nice, truth be told. When it cracked, DT did me a blindingly good deal on a Sultan and it was and still is brilliant. It fits me really well, is nice to ride and still looks cool. Ok so it isn't long, low and slack but for me, it is just what I want in a bike.
Given the chance, I would jump at getting a large King Khan fat full susser. I pissed about ordering one and by the time I was ready, I couldn't get one. I never really saw the attraction of the carbon models. Alloy may not be on trend but it bloody works. I still have my cracked Horst Link frame!
Thanks for the nice bikes Dave!
Cheers
Sanny
Thanks for posting Dave - my Flux has been an absolutely brilliant bike!
honourablegeorge
Free MemberThey were unlucky with that too – I thin they were squeezed out of Horst because the license was too expensive, would then have had to pay out to license DW-Link. That’s a lot of expense and redesign that they probably wanted to avoid. (And a few years later Horst was free as patent expired)
Yeah, think i remember something about Specialized and so on, it's why i say a lot of them use horst and so on nowadays. I did always want a Turner, either the burner or 5 spot, but unfortunately for me i went and bought an Ellsworth ID, which was horst, but not a very good frame.
Would be nice to see turner back in the game for full sus, but the market is so mental just now, i have always loved the double diamond style, have a transition patrol and it does make me think of a turner that's had the 'long, low and slack' makeover.
I also had a 5 spot that i got in 2003, paid for by my first ever work bonus! that i rode all over from the surrey hills, puddletown, wales north and south, scotland, spain, french alps, swiss alps, chicksands, rogate, secret jump spots you get the picture! what i loved most was that you could put chunky wheels and tyres on and you could plough down rheola dh track one day and lighter wheels and tyres for 40 mile xc blasts. i still have the frame but the chainstay has worn to much at the main pivot to not be all wobbly :o(
i retired it in 2012 i think but have kept it just incase
cheers Dave for making sure a great versatile bike!!
Iain
Turners in this household from a v2 burner, xce, rfx( still my favourite),hl flux dw five dw flux, rfx andtwo Sultans. SO turner is still used and we bought it 1998.
The joy for me was having a bike that could climb and still descend, worked in the mud and were robust. Some of my fondest memories of riding a bike are related to Turners, especially with family.
Still a fan and still hope for a new fs from Mr Turner.
I wished I kept my rfx, fantastic bike and at the same time I owned a litespeed kitsuma- I count myself lucky.
Edit That is a great post from DT, agree with a lot re the connection of the trail and a short travel fs would be ideal.
I had, in order from 2006: horst 6pack, horst flux, TNT 5spot, another 6pack (still have the frame), horst Nitrous, DW flux, DW Czar, DW Sultan and Cyclosis...you could say I'm a fanboy and/or have a Turner-acquisition problem....but, I always justified it thinking the the geometry was always spot on for the application (at the time, and for the kind of riding I was doing). And, also, I bought into the the ethos of customer service e.g. if you emailed Turner you'd get insightful comments from the man himself. I'd love to see another Turner full-suss (short travel) down the line...but I hope DT makes a success of the titanium bikes in the meantime.
I loved my Turner's from my first 2004 Horst Link 5 Spot.
Got it resprayed by Turner in 2009.
Then bought a second hand DW link Flux a few years later.
Cracked the seat tube.
Turner sent me a brand new frame!
Great customer service that they were known for!
Funnily enough I have gone gravel and titanium hardtail the last few years! ( Haven't changed my username!)
I am eyeing up a short travel and slack FS though!
Will keep my eyes on Turner for the future!
Thanks Dave (and Jared!) for the great bikes and excellent customer service!
Max.
Great to hear DT is still at the helm....
I had a Turner Rail for a few years and loved it. Was prob the most fun full Sus I've owned.
My "I'm never parting with it" 2006 5Spot frame with RP3 and Romic is available should anyone wish to reignite the passion!
So good to see a personal response from Dave, such a nice guy and legendary customer service. Would buy another Turner at the drop of hat assuming it will follow the previous ethos that it climbs as well as it descends.
Bought a 5-Spot back in '04 frame only, built it up with some Marz Marathons but them moved to South Wales and slung a pair of Pikes on it when they first came out, man that was fun to ride around Afan for a day, the bike was one of those 'just right' bikes that don't come along very often, the Pikes were awesome on the front end and it was a scream to ride on the descents
I sold it in about '08/09 to a guy on here from Devon way I think, after joining around Afan for a few years I got into the back country long distance stuff around Wales and it was just a bit overkill for that so moved to an early Cove hjob which is still in the loft
Some great riding memories on that Turner
<img src="http://www.flickr.com/photos/153635742@N07/38498395201/in/dateposted-public"
Should be a pic of my 1999? Turner RFX with the 5spot front end, as I'd cracked the RFX seatube in 2015. Great bike had seen some action including the massive pileup at the 2014 Megavalanche qualifying. Bike was fine but I dislocated my shoulder twice before the finish.
It still stood up well against the modern bikes then.
Been full circle myself. Hardtail-full sus 4-6inch now back on hardtail and ad mentioned. Good brakes/ fork and geometry is where it’s at 👌🏻
Except for a year on a Transition it's been Turner from 2003 til today for me.
I still have my 2003 5spot frame - it was a replacement for my 1st gen FSR Enduro - same suspension but so much better in every way. Rode that all across Europe, the states and Australia. Didn't even look at another bike.
Also bought my wife a 2008 5spot (faux bar).
Bought a DW link spot in 2010 (broken seat tube replaced under warranty) plus a second hand one for her - both ridden in the Trans Provence.
Some where I dabbled with a flux (too XC for me)
After riding my mates bike I finally realised the spot was getting dated so i went on trend to a Transition Smuggler. Which was fine but then the Carbon RFXs were starting to be sold second hand.
Once you upsize the geometry is pretty comparible to today's bikes. So we are both on to very bling RFXs (mine with a Storia shock) picked up at a reasonable price. They are all I could want in a trail bike.
So thanks Dave! Glad you are still in the business and I see a Cyclosis in my future.
I was in the category of lusting after a Turner from early 00's and finally took the chance on a biking trip to Oregon in '14 to get a Burner. I was with friends of friends of a bike shop who mostly sold Ibis and a few choose to buy Ripleys. Straight away the Turner felt over weight, over engineered and a bit of a lug to muscle round 2 weeks of (awesome) riding. It rode sweet but something in my head didn't sit right and I sold it on return to the UK. I'm with DT that "modern suspension bikes have taken some challenge out of a lot of dirt I ride" and the Burner was the sofa bike that would have taken any interest out of most local trails.
I had heard a rumour that Halfords had bought the brand, or at least UK distribution rights. I'm guessing that's clearly bollocks.
Good to hear from Dave Turner on this thread. Still have my 2013(?) Sultan and no need to replace it. Amazing good customer service from Dave and Jared when I bought it direct from Turner. Not ridden it for the last 18 months as a hardtail is fine for me down south, and not had chance to get away much but always makes me smile when I do ride it, and plenty more adventures to come.
[img] 
[/img]
5 Spot rider right here.. we own two of them, my wife's and mine. Both 2010 DW link versions.
* Shock NEWSFLASH!...* I'm riding a 26er and I haven't died!
Just to echo the comments and sentiments
of the previous posts.
Many many happy hours on an original 5 Spot
through a Burner, now on an RFX, respect to
DT, for always designing a proper bike,
think in many respects the RFX was ahead of
the game.
With the craziness of the bike industry and
the boom in gravel to, so pleased to hear
from Dave that the company lives on, wishing
success with the new range, and hopefully UK
distribution.
In the spirit of N plus 1,perhaps that Burner
frame i retired needs a new life in a mullet
style, the joys of cycling.
I think the problem is all the "I was going to buy one one day", "there'll be one in my future" rather than "look what I've bought"
Future dream sales don't pay the bills so pre order To frames (made in the far East I presume) is a much safer bet economically for the company rather than a bank account of dreams
If I could own any retro MTB from history I reckon it would be Jamie Hibbard from MBUK's Turner Burner.
If we were to take a long term view and play a game of which brands have achieved the greatest respect for their designs and production but also the ethos and values they represent through the history of mountain biking then for me Turner is in a select few right at the top...quite possibly even sat up there on the summit. If he built it I would come.
I sold the rear end on my cracked burner to someone in the States who needed a replacement to keep theirs going. So nice to see the fanken-turner!
My first ever FS was a 5-Spot, Horst link. Still one of my favourite bikes ever, frame eventually developed a hairline crack through the chainstay, and also around the seat tube area. I could never bring myself to get rid of it though, frame still hangs on the wall of the man-cave.
I had a 5 Spot... I sold the frame to fund my Dekerf in about 2005. I have some regrets...
The new Ti hard tail looks gorgeous. Mr Turner is very classy by email and in his post above. If I hadn’t literally just built a Kona Raijin from scratch I would be swallowing some import duty and treating myself
Am I the only one still riding a Czar? Still suits my mtb needs when that arises and it gets used about once a week. Inevitably I ride gravel now!!
Still riding my 2014 Czar lots. Replaced the wheels, bars, seatpost, & fork (up to 120mm) & original bushing & axles last summer. When I ride I still can't imagine anything would be better for my riding & ability.
Wife had one too but the rear cracked after a rock strike last October. Jumped straight into a Scott Spark RC Pro in the sales at the time but it did repair so was a bit hasty. Just sold it to a former Czar owner & racer who regretted selling his & who had been look for another for a while.
Also had Horst & DW Five Spot, & DW Flux. Great Turner fan here.
Finally got round to taking my Turner Tribute Photo. Was this thread really a month ago?
And the 5 spot may be coming back!
Some wonderful times on a 5 spot - thanks DT
https://imgur.com/IY2ricw
https://imgur.com/yon5P9n
https://imgur.com/wf6Sv6R
https://imgur.com/XUCLo0A
https://imgur.com/p8T3UJC
And the 5 spot may be coming back!
Say what now...?
Just been for a lunch time blast on my czar with freshly services suspension and dropper. Perfect bike for XC.
Say what now…?
Just mine! My son has asked me to rebuild it for a friend of his. Need some cranks though due to an unfortunate incident with his!
Oh god, massive anti climax. I thought you were saying a new DT Five Spot was rumoured.