Turner RFX V4 Carbon | Bike Check
February 19th, 2016
By Andrew Dodd in Bikes,Features
Turner RFX V4 Carbon – the brawler of DW link trail bikes
With a back ground in professional racing and R+D work for major suspension manufacturers, Dave Turner started work on his own range of bikes in the early 90’s.
These bikes incorporated everything Dave had learned about suspension, with elegant lines and great design. Turner bikes became know for an active suspension action, unaffected by braking – by utilising the Horst Link.
Over the years, those smooth lines have remained but a new suspension platform was brought in – the DW Link. This variant of the traditional four-bar system uses anti-squat to eliminate suspension bob.
The Turner RFX is the latest bike to leave the stable. Although it bears resemblance to other models, this thing looks like a right brawler of a bike.
The classic Turner lines are there, but amplified by the huge Toray high modulus carbon frame tubes. The RFX runs 160mm travel, and has a decent 65degree head angle.
The Dave Weagle link is the heart of the bike. Turner used this from the second it was developed, and were certainly one of the better brands with it’s implementation. This build has a Rockshox Monarch Plus shock with the Debon Air can – giving maximum sensitivity and traction on smaller bumps, with plenty in reserve for the big hits. The huge lower linkage here has oversized pivots for maximum support – just what you need when throwing it in to turns getting it sideways in the air.
The huge one piece rocker ensures everything out back runs smoothly – it’s ultra stiff and ensures the shock doesn’t have anything to do with rear end stiffness. Quality mounting hardware is used throughout on the RFX.
Although not 1X specific, the Turner RFX can be used with a front mech, should you really want one – but looks fine without one. Tidy plugs cover the mech mounts. Some folk might prefer internal cable routing, but having had issues on big days out with internal cables in the past, the top-of-downtube routing is fine with us. Way more functional – just doesn’t look as tidy.
Replaceable captive nuts on the brake mounts are another nice touch – even the ham-fisted will have a problem messing up this bike* *that is not a challenge, by the way.
2.4in tyre clearance – no problem. Looks like it should be pretty good in the UK sludge.
The brand new Easton Haven seat post features on this build, which has a really neat machined bar mounted lever. The owner of this bike is a bit of an aficionado for Grip Shift – we’re not the biggest fans of the twist grip gear change system, but love how clean and minimal it looks.
Turner always have a nice head tube badge – no decal nonsense here.
This size XL Turner RFX V4 Carbon looks pretty good – considering it’s a lofty old bike. It’s not often that you can show off the biggest frame in the range and make it look tidy. We approve!
Like what you see?
Let us know what you think of the Turner in the comments section below…
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