Description:Free ride chain device. For a dual ring set up. For use with splined BB/crank only.
Comes with inner plate, all hardware, two chainrings and an outer plate.
Zero drag when climbing. Tension when descending. The perfect all mountain chain device.
Submitted by
brad morfitt
a Weekend Warrior
from calgary, alberta, canada Date Reviewed: December 3, 2006
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At:
gericks cycle and sprts
Strengths:
it is on of the strongest chainguides i have owned i have not had any problems with it and when i bought it it cam with new sprockets and bash guard.
Weaknesses:
none
Bottom Line:
this is a very strong chainguide and i would recomend it to all of my friends
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adam
a Downhiller
from PA Date Reviewed: August 15, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
This was a true set it and forget product for me. No dropped chains, full range of gears, stealthy looks, great price.
Weaknesses:
The roller is noisy, but I've come to enjoy it as it lets me know when I'm not pedalling hard enough. Also, it's only noticeable on hills and fireroads.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
IH SGS, 7x7, basically a burly FR bike with a granny gear. I set the Guide up with RF North Shore cranks and a Truvativ Gigapipe BB
Bottom Line:
I agree with other posters that the directions are useless, but if you have a basic understanding of what this chain guide is intended for, you should be able to set it up quickly. For what I paid for it, I figured the guide could be a throw away because chainrings and a bashguard should cost more than $60, but the guide has been great. I would buy it again at retail when/if the time comes. Right now I'm planning to put the Dewlie on my Heckler and get a DS-1 for my Iron Horse.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Josh
a Downhiller
from bethlehem,pa,usa Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
It keeps the chain on.
Weaknesses:
The chain guide is fairly easy to mount. The directions however are completely useless. They have one set of directions for ALL of their guides which is no help for the Dewlie. The design of the guide is poor. The inner plate is almost the same diameter as the bash guard. Thus when you bash hard the inner plate takes the hit as well which can cause it to move. The roller is not wide enough. With the front in the granny the chain will bear on the roller. And this is with the correct bottom bracket setup.
Similar Products Used:
First chain guide so take my review with a grain of salt.
Bike Setup:
Specialized Enduro Comp 130 2005, modified so it doesnt break.
Bottom Line:
The guide does not guide adequately for my bike. I tried everything including flipping the roller around and I find it lacking mechanically.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ryan
a Downhiller
from Bellingham, Washington, USA Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Evolution/Scorpion, or Shawn's
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
Ebay
Strengths:
Great guide, never drops a chain. Relativly light weight. The replacement rollers are cheap, but I havent had to buy one yet. The roller bearings stand up great to the mud that we get here in the Pacific North-West. Alot cheaper that a E-13 DRS, with the same performance.
Weaknesses:
A little difficult to mount on my bike. Blackspire web-site is pretty much useless.
Similar Products Used:
E-13 DRS, Truvative Box-Guide (peice of crap!), MRP (overpriced) and a dual-bash set-up
Bike Setup:
2004 Kona Stinky, Kona glow-in-the-dark grips, Kona DH Primo handlebars and stem, Vanilla RC, 66, Single-Track rims on Hadley Hubs, Truvative Hussefelt cranks, Blackspire Ring-God bash guard Kenda Negeval 2.5' tires
Bottom Line:
Go out and buy this product right now! I have hucked this thing on boulders, logs, rock-gardens, drops, jump, step-up, step-downs, hips, road gaps, you name it. This thing has never dropped a chain. It seemed with the DRS, everytime I came close to bottoming in the rear, I would drop my chain into the granny, or even worse, into the bottom-bracket holder. This is most likely to the chain lenght shrinkage as the shock compresess on my Stinky. Now anymore though, as soon as I set this thing up, I never dropped a chain. This product is so light that I dont even notice it, except for when I charge a rock-garden that I used to drop my chain in all the time, and make it out unscathed. When I pedal up-hill there is no rubbing and the pedals slide as effortlessly as before.
If you havent bought this product already, then there must be something terribly, terribly wrong!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
mike gleason
a Downhiller
from la habra,ca,usa Date Reviewed: February 20, 2006
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
everything you need out the box. solid part
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
black spire ds-1
Bike Setup:
bullit, super t, race face stem cranks and bb
Bottom Line:
this is a great product. the manual says that chain guides are rarely an "out of the box installation" well this is an out of the box install. only had to mount and adjust, no trimming or shaving. the back pedal issue is only if you have a bad chain line
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill Mayerthorpe
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver BC Date Reviewed: December 11, 2005
Favorite Trail:
all of them
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
John Henry
Strengths:
Solid Construction. Nothing wears out.
Weaknesses:
Not really any.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain
Bottom Line:
I cannot figure out why anyone would buy anyhting other thatn this unit for a dual ring set up. Once I got the chainline the way I wanted it, It works perfectly.
All my budds use this unit and we have no problems.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
josh
a Weekend Warrior
from watford UK Date Reviewed: July 9, 2005
Favorite Trail:
wippy
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$140.00
Purchased At:
CRC
Strengths:
Excellent value, ease of set-up, very strong.
Weaknesses:
Very little back pedal chain slip.
Similar Products Used:
None.
Bike Setup:
Gt chucker, saints, dewlie, atom lab...
Bottom Line:
This chain device is amazing, i only ever ge it to jump, i i'm back pedaling in the biggest ring front and back, whic you should never do anyhow... Apart from this, its overly amazing. One thing, whith my saint cups, i can move then chain device's angle, and it undo's/does up the BB cups. but after i tightened then, its all good. If you want a great double ring device, buy blackspire. I'm sure it has its flaws, but none that i have found/ had problems with.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
brendan
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver, bc Date Reviewed: April 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
A line
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
like jake said; if you're going forward it's awesome.
Weaknesses:
same thing happens to me. when i pedal packwards the chain drops to granny...i adjusted my front derailleur, even got a bike shop to look at it, and they say it's working fine. for one ride after a tune up it works, but then after that it goes back to dropping when i backpedal. so i guess it is just a product flaw.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
stock 2004 norco shore
Bottom Line:
if it comes on a bike you're getting then it's alright, but i wouldn't go out and buy it. i'll prolly get e13 drs soon.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
shm
a
from Maine Date Reviewed: March 19, 2004
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Strengths:
Relatively compact and complete package. Quite. Smooth.
Weaknesses:
Exposed and unreinforced pulley!
Bike Setup:
'03 Norco Shore with some extra goodies, now running an Evil DRS
Bottom Line:
2nd day on the Shore (after a one year layaway payoff) and I slid left off a log to flat landing of about two feet. Chain grabbed when exiting and I looked down to see the pulley and inner plate bent up causing a complete failure of the retention system. Had to remove the pulley system to even pedal.
Catastrophic engineering flaw in my eyes having the pulley as large, exposed and unreinforced as it is: just one small bolt/axle.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Tom Morgan
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver BC Canada Date Reviewed: November 22, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Any trail
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$190.00
Purchased At:
Cove Bikes
Strengths:
keeps the chain on. Comes complete with all the gear you need to make it work. Heavy duty outer plate resists bending.
Weaknesses:
None that I can see. It does what it is supposed to do.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
rocky Mountain team
Bottom Line:
This thing woeks great. I had some trouble at the outset getting the right bb, which caused me all kinds of grief. The inner plate goes under the bb shell, and it put the chainline outboard, so the chain was always trying to derail. I found this out at the bike shop. They put in an e type bb from tru vativ, and it fixed the problem. Funny thing what not reading the instuctions will do for you.
I would buy this agian and have rec'd it to friends.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jon
a
from Tehachapi, CA, USA Date Reviewed: November 7, 2003
Favorite Trail:
North Rim, Gooseberry Mesa, UT
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$180.00
Purchased At:
WebCyclery.com
Strengths:
Stiff Keeps the chain where it belongs No drag uphill No NOISE!!!
Weaknesses:
You're kidding, right?
Similar Products Used:
None. First time I've needed one! LOL
Bike Setup:
'03 XL Bullit; King headset; Thomson stem, seatpost; WTB Power V DH saddle; Azonic DW bars w/ODI S&M grips; Azonic HeadLock; XT shifters, chain, mech brake levers and derailleurs; Blackspire Badger FR cranks and Dewlie chainguide; Crank Bros Mallet OR Weyless B-37 pedals; Avid mech calipers with 8" Hayes rotors; XT hubs laced to RynoLite XL rims; WTB 2.5 Wierwolf (F), WTB 2.4 MutanoRaptor (R); Maxxis DH tubes
Bottom Line:
I've been using this thing since March '03.
I don't know what the issue is that previous reviewers have had with throwing the chain off while backpedaling. I don't backpedal a lot, mostly when I'm ratcheting the cranks to make sure I'm in the right position to climb over some obstacle, but I've NEVER had it toss the chain while riding. I actually went out and rode the thing for a day and TRIED to get it to throw the chain while backpedaling and it WOULD NOT! Maybe I'm just lucky that my chainline is just right or maybe I didn't try hard enuf... (Don't think so...) LOL!
I've also never smacked the roller or its mounting tab. The REST of the inside plate and outside bashring have more than their share of scars, but the roller is still rolling along in one, unbashed piece.
Maybe this product isn't a perfect fit or spec for every bike, but it works exactly like the best products in the world on my bike: I don't even remember that it's there! Can't get much better than that!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bogdan M
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa Date Reviewed: October 2, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Too many
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Strengths:
Keeps the chain on most times
Weaknesses:
If you do any urban stuff the little roller gets bashed into the object you bash ... instead fo the bash ring.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Norco VPS Shore 2003 .. mostly stock except for Chris King Headset, Easton Monkey lite bars, Raceface Diabolus seatpost
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty good product. I have had similar issue with it as the guy below me when backpedaling, though it is not happening to me withthat much frequency. Actually almost never when I ride. Most when I stop and the pedal goes backwards. Maybe I just don't backpedal enuff when I ride, I dunno, but it doesn't seem as severe. Also when I am doing urban type stuff where balance is and issue and I backpedal, I tend to be in the granny.
My major beef is with the roller bashing up on stuff when I try to get up on a 2-3 foot ledge. Instead of the bashring taking it, the roller gets it first ... so beware of that. I t is still in good shape despite a lot of wacks so it doesn't seem to be much a prob.
value wise .. dunno it came on my bike ... so not too sure. But over all I would say 3-4 chillys ...
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a
from VicTown Date Reviewed: September 25, 2003
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Bottom Line:
To follow up on my previous posts, I contacted Norco about my difficulties with this product since Black Spire offered absolutely no help. And they recommended that I simply flip the roller around, which temporarily solves the chain dropping problem but greatly compromises the chain line while in the granny ring, adding friction and a steep chain angle over the roller. I received a very poor response from Black Spire when i asked for help with their product. All I can say is buyer beware and this seems to be a common theme with much of there products. Hope you have a fix for next year. Cheers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Downhiller
from Victoria Date Reviewed: June 23, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
Mountian Magic
Strengths:
keeps chain tensioned
Weaknesses:
nothing if you only pedal forward....
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Stock 2003 Norco Shore
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this product is great if you only pedal forward. Half a pedal stroke backwards and the chain falls off the top ring and down onto the granny. This happens in 2/3rds of the gear combinations in the top ring. In the middle of a long log ride 20ft in the air this can be very dangerous. I challenge anyone to get their chain to stay on while back pedaling. After emailing the Blackspire Dewlie guys for help on why this is happening I realized it is simply poor engineering and simply a poor product. I’m looking at buying the Evil dual chain guide which has obviously addressed and solved this problem. Secondly I’m ashamed that Norco and Blackspire Dewlie have suckered me into buying such a poorly tested product. Shame on you!! If anyone feels I’m out of line please email me with comments.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jake
a Downhiller
from Victoria, BC, Canada Date Reviewed: June 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Keeps chain from getting stuck between granny and frame
Bike Setup:
Stock 2003 Norco Shore
Bottom Line:
ah...maybe I don't have this setup properly and if anyone disagrees PLEASE help and respond to my email address. This was my first ride on my new shore…and the bike is great, but this chain tension thing is not working so well. It tends to keep the chain in place when riding on the bumps, but in certain gear combinations the chain falls off constantly. I don’t know about everyone else but I tend to back pedal a half stroke here and there to setup for stunts and drops. This usually happens when I’m in the big ring and the upper gears in the back. Since the derailleur has moved the opposite direction to the big ring it will pull off the chain down to the granny in one revolution. For my style of riding this product is complete junk. Sorry Blackspire Dewlie, kudos on trying…but the lack of testing is quite obvious here, better luck next time.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Judson Hall
a Downhiller
from Bellingham, WA USA Date Reviewed: April 19, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Snakeonia
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$125.00
Purchased At:
Edmonds Cycle (B.C.)
Strengths:
Does all it says it will. Chain no longer clanks around on my stays and so far zero chain hopping. I was having a brutal time with my chain falling off, not being in the right gear, and smacking down on the front derailleur and stays. No more of that!
Weaknesses:
I've never used a guide system before so I don't know if this is normal or if I installed it poorly but it buzzes in certain gears from the chain lightly rubbing the guide wheel. I actually like the buzz except for when I'm riding around campus.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
RM7, North Shore cranks, XT everything else.
Bottom Line:
I was surprised with the ease of installing the Dewlie and really have no regrets with it so far. It wasn't cheap, but to me it is incredibly more worthwhile than a standard guide system. I pedal just as much up hill (steeeep) as I do down on a normal day so I need two rings. Solid product that does all it's supposed to and it looks badass!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Albert Roan
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland Oregon Date Reviewed: January 13, 2003
Favorite Trail:
switchback
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$135.00
Purchased At:
Bens Cycles
Strengths:
It does what it says it will do and that is keep the chain on and allow you to shift. It has a soild setup, that I do not think will bend or break unless I really hammer in, in which case you can send flowers
Weaknesses:
None yet.
Similar Products Used:
First time I hve used this type of tensioner.
Bike Setup:
Rocly Mountain
Bottom Line:
I followed the instructions carefully, and was please that the tensioner worked as it said it would. I have no doubt that I will have some problems but right now it is working great.
I would buy it again and some of my friends are going to buy it as well.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
bamxbam
a Weekend Warrior
from la ca Date Reviewed: December 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
nrg cycles
Strengths:
everything this keeps where it belongs
Weaknesses:
what
Bike Setup:
sc bullit super t 5th element sick bike
Bottom Line:
for free riding this product is a must
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim Campbell
a Weekend Warrior
from Vancouver Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Uppper Oilcan
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$150.00
Purchased At:
www.steedcycles.com
Strengths:
chain kept perfectly in place all the dang time. No gear changes, no ghost shifts, just performance. If you freeride, you NEED this product , or very similar. 2 rings = climbing, and tensioner means safe and fun descents with chain engagement wqhen you mash down and need it.
Weaknesses:
Costly, but hey, I'm cheap.
Similar Products Used:
2 rings and bash guard, which sucked bigly
Bike Setup:
'02 Bullit, lx/xt w/ SRAM shifters
Bottom Line:
If you ever drop your chain on rides, just get this and put it on. Period. You'll wonder why you didn't a looooooooooooooooooooooooooongggggg time ago.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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