Hey guys, while I wait for a 58# 2 piece I also have always wanted a Bear TD but ain't paying $2K for an old one. It will also fill my need for a tooless TD. Does anyone have experience with the new Bear TD. I see they are making it with Bubinga handle now. I have shot a few older TDs, but was wondering about the new ones. At $825, seems like a stiff price for black glassed bow, but I guess I am paying for the TD system.
I had the opportunity to shoot one at Kalamazoo back in the winter and really liked it. That is the next bow on my list.
Good luck
You will love the new Bear T/D.
It is well made and shoots like a dream.......Philip
Smoothest shooting bow I've ever shot. the new grey risers are heavy because they are made from Diamondwood but they are as dead in the hand as I've ever seen.
I love my new red stripe and have one of the new bubinga risers and limbs on order. You can't go wrong with a Bear takedown bow!!!!!
Michael
I totally agree and not because I'm a collector of them either.
They are so well made.
The fit and finish is very good. The grip and shelf is comfortable and points easy. The limbs will handle any string and they are quite fast.
Lastly, it's a timeless design and will last a lifetime........Philip
I have a had few in the last couple of years. Was not a big fan of the 2000 era bows but they were stable accurate shooters. I played with the red stripers at Denton. I think Bear is making an attempt to improve on there trad line (isn't that sentence a bit ironic and should be blasphemous ! ). I think I would be , and you will be , very satisfied with the new takedown. Nicer grip and limb tips in my opinion, two wood choices and two riser/limb combos.
Have no complaints with mine, smooth and stable. Fit and finish is excellent.
How does the new bows grip compare to the older bows? I have shot older ones, but not new model.
awbowman, I prefer the beefier grip like the type1A .I felt the slim grip of the 2000 era risers uncomfortable but like the arrow next to my hand. I thought the risers at Denton filled my hand adequately ,a nice happy medium. To be honest, if I had a new riser first ....i probably would have never sought after a Type 1A and have more money in the piggy bank ! Grips are a personal preference....my son prefers the slim grip.
Shot them, like them, just don't understand how or why they Charge 800+ for a production bow, with blk glass. finished well yes, but not finished like many of the the clear glass custom bows.
I hear lots of guys say they think $800 for a production bow is too much. I don't know what a fair price would be but if the limbs are $300 and riser is $500 I think its very fair. I really don't know what defines it as a production bow either. They don't come out of an injection mold...still lots of handwork. A Widow will cost $1000 if you stay away from fancy wood. I have an exotic Widow and love it, but I shoot my red stripe A with Rose Oaks just as well. I will have a new Bubinga Bear riser asap. Probably a 'B' this time. Anyone know what the bubinga risers cost?
I bought an A riser and a set of limbs from Rose Oak.
Production riser with GREAT looking Limbs!
but:
I still want a sleeve joint TWO pc.
Simple is GOOD!
I think Philips comment of a timeless design captures it all. I have been fortunate to acquire a type 2 riser and a set of RER limbs. I hunted with this bow all season and sat many a mornings with "old Fred" just admiring its simplicity, genius and beauty. It shoots better than any bow I have owned and if I was not fortunate enough to get it I would have looked at a new one. Fred knew what he was doing when he designed the take down. I will never look back. tm
Please tell me, is there a bow out there that is not a product of production???????
BW limbs go for $600 in plane Jane version. Handles are $400. So Bear handles are pricey but limbs not.
Are Widows worth $200 more, yeah probably but the point is that the Bears are not priced too bad. You can delete the inserts on Bear which is really about the only option you can change on a Widow other than what you have them write on it. I think the Bears are cool because of the mojo factor and with Rose Oaks they are sweet. If you want a true custom no problem, there are lots to choose from.
The Bear TD system is great, fast, strong and proven over time.
I like mine just fine.
Did a little grip modification, now it is almost exactly like my 1970 A
(http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq253/OBXarcher/IMG_0263.jpg)
(http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq253/OBXarcher/IMG_0267.jpg)
Mark,
What exactly did you do to the grip? Did you take a file to it or a saw? how did you re-finish when you were done?
Thanks,
Brent
nice quiver , mark !
Bottom line, find one of the new Bear TDs, feel the grip and then shoot the bow. If you like it, order one.
If you can't find one to shoot, if a TG member lives close enough to you (make the drive), ask him if you can shoot his new Bear TD.
As for the $800 price, I like to put things in their proper prospective which means......you're only on this Earth "one time".
Brent, I rounded the front of the grip, I did not really like the edges up there. Then I took a bit off the heal, you can see that in the pic of the bow hanging there, just up and right of the compass.
I did it with a dremel tool, sandpaper and steel wool, just sprayed with minwax poly afterwards. looks great and feels a lot like my old type 1.
Chad, the quiver has cost me several deer this year ! they just look up and see the ugly thing and run. At least that's my story LOL, hope john reads this. His quivers are great I have already bought three of them.
As for the limbs, I have 3 sets now:
#1 45
#3 50
#3 55
I guarantee the #45 have over a thousand shots, no cracks no marks. I have had the after market limbs too. I really don't think these stock limbs can be beat for the price. Not fancy but functional.
Does anyone know if the new Bears are CNC produced?
I've read mixed reviews on other sites about cosmetic issues with the limbs, however, I'm very pleased with my 2011 A riser and #3 limbs.
It's not a Widow...but then again, I did not want a Widow. Great bow in my opinion, but now got to save up and get that bubinga B riser.
No they are not CNC completely if at all. There was a televised tour through the plant not too long ago and they shape the handles with a duplicator tracing an oversize pattern. I can't remember if the blanks are bandsawed by hand or not, but overall the process is fairly old school. I was thinking it must have been basically the same equipment used in Grayling. Maybe someone who has done more than watch a tv show can chime in and correct me.