Trail One Components Bike Checks - Piotr Slusarz Banshee Titan

The Racers Bike Build  

Words by Piotr Slusarz (@enduro.pete.sd)

Welcome to our new Trail One Components Bike Check series—where we showcase the bikes of our friends, riders, and supporters of the brand. These are just real riders who genuinely love what we do and choose to run Trail One components in their own way. From custom setups to trail-tested favorites, each bike check offers a glimpse into how our parts are being put to use out in the wild. We're stoked to help our friends dial in their rides—and even more stoked to share them with you. Enjoy!

The allure of a new bike build. We all think about it, no matter if your bike is ready for a refresh or recently built. What components would I choose? What would I do differently than before? What would my options be for an economical build or an all-out dream build? My time had finally come to move onto a new build, the Racers Bike Build.

The new build would focus on fit and function, reliability over revolution, personal preferences over trends and hypes. This is not a dream build where money is no object, this is a build that focuses on what matters to myself as an Enduro racer that lives in the reality of real-world expenses. The foundation for such a build had to start with a tried and tested aluminum frame, for that crash it and bash it reliability.

I chose the Banshee Titan v3.2 in a raw finish to be the centerpiece of the build. I never said function couldn’t also be beautiful. This frame with this finish highlights the craftsmanship that went into constructing it. I later found out that at the factory there are only a couple guys that are allowed to weld this frame, and it shows. The forged back bone of this frame, where the shock sits and all the pivot points attach, gives this frame a unique look. The age of the longer and slacker bike has gone, and it was time for a bike that was fit for purpose. The size large frame had the reach that I was looking for with
uniquely long chainstay, for a balanced platform.

The suspension is where personal preference kicked in. I went for the Fox X2 shock entirely based on feedback from other riders, being a shock that is amazing when it works, citing the old reliability issues that have now been resolved. For the fork I stuck with what is familiar to me and what I have vibed with on my previous build, a Zeb with the Charger 3.1 damper and buttercups. Purists might balk at the idea of running a mixed suspension setup, but this is all about function. Having a visual indicator to adjust compression settings on the fly is incredibly convenient and reassuring. No more click counting.

The cockpit is where personal preference and feel has to play a role in every rider’s decision, but how each rider comes to make that decision is varied. I have found that each component and dimension influences the other and does not work independently. I went for the Trail One Crockett 35mm diameter and rise handlebar in alloy, which I found to be comfortable and forgettable: the highest of praise. A handlebar should feel natural, working in harmony with your body, which the Crockett does exactly that. I have gone for the 35mm rise as it gives me the adjustability I need to bring the stack height up without
reducing my reach. Stem spacers will also increase your stack height, but with the slack head tube angles it also reduces your effective reach. I have cut my bars down to 780mm, as that fits my riding position, where it is comfortable but also where I can generate the most power when pumping and reacting to the terrain. I have gone for the 40mm jewel of a stem, the bronze Trail One Rockville stem. This work of art is as showy as the raw finished frame and a joy to look at. I went for the 40mm length not for the purpose to extending my reach or shifting my weight forward, as many would expect, but to pair well with my bar width balancing out my steering. The narrower the bar width the more twitchy the steering is, as it requires less steering input. A longer stems slows down the steering and balances out the sensitivity. For the grips I had to go with the Trail One Hells Gate grips, which I believe to be the best grips currently on the market. The fact that I do not see more people on the trails with these just means they have not had a chance to try them out. The thickness coupled with the pliability of the rubber results in a tactile yet comfortable feel. Given this is your only contact point in the cockpit I would argue is the most important piece of the puzzle.

Moving onto the other controls that are strapped to the handlebars, I have gone for the Shimano Saint brakes. At the moment I am a Shimano brake fanboy. I love the ease of service, which does not require a syringe for a quick bleed, and feel of the Shimano brakes. I highly prioritize braking feel and wanted to try my hands at the Saints after previously running the Deore and SLX brakes, and they have not disappointed. The modulation feels the same as the entry level Shimano brakes with increased braking force. For the shifter and the rest of the drivetrain I have went for the trustworthy and reliable SRAM
GX. No batteries here, but an old school shifter cable that does not need to be charged.

The SRAM GX drivetrain is a strong value to performance proposition. Reliable and does not break the bank if anything gets damaged or worn. The 165mm cranks are actuated by the Trail One Sage Alloy pedals. These are the pedals you go for when grip and control are of utmost importance, but you want the freedom to put a foot down on some sketchy terrain. These pedals are as close to clipped in as you can get in flats. Moving to the final contact point, my bum is made happy with an Ergon SM saddle mated to a 180mm OneUp Components v2 dropper.

This rig is ready to race. So ready, I ended up doing the shakedown on race day and landed on the podium. It is confidence inspirating and predictable, regularly fighting for the top step from the first time it tires it the dirt.