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Interbike 2004
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Dirt Demo |
A Class-DT Swiss |
Ellsworth-Hayes |
Intense-Marzocchi |
Maverick-Scott |
Shimano-Yakima
Only Santa Cruz and Intense hold the key to the VPP, if you know what I mean. This Intense XVP is in response to the number of riders looking for more than a 4" travel fork on a 4" VPP frame. Similar to Santa Cruz's Blur 4X, the XVP is a beefed up version with slightly modified geometry. If you have to have more travel, look to the Uzzi VPP.
Knolly Bikes is a new company out of B.C. Noel Buckley, from the new B.C.-based new company Knolly tells me this about his V-Tach bike: "the basis of the Four by 4 Linkage is that it allows four bar linkage bikes to run a full length seat tube, while keeping the linkage low. This enables several additional design features such as high lateral rigidity, being able to manufacture the frame in very small sizes and ensuring that the rear wheel and linkage don't end up hitting the frame or saddle."
Right on. The 7.5" (190mm) travel bike is designed to make the back of the frame highly maneuverable at slow speed, while still allowing for a stable design at high speed. Expect to shell out about $3000 for the V-Tach frame and Progressive Suspension 5th Element rear shock.
Kona's been making jumping bikes for years now, and they've learned a thing or two—such as, it's a good idea to sponsor a dirt jump park at the Outdoor Demo. The jumps were too much for this author to attempt, but able riders were pulling all sorts of tricks for which I lack the vocabulary to describe!
Downhiller Fabien Barel recently won the World Cup Finals on this Stab Primo, which Kona prominently displayed at their Outdoor Demo booth.
Last year, LeMond abandoned their line of steel bikes. But they're back this year, and with a singlespeed, no less. The Filmore uses True Temper OX platinum steel matched with a slew of select Bontrager parts. The cool thing about this frame is that it utilizes disc housing guides for the rear brake routing rather than conventional rear brake cable mounts, allowing for an ultra-clean look once you shed the rear brake; cause you're probably not a lawyer. Look to pay around $1000 for this one...
Light and Motion has taken advantage of LED technology to bring you the Vega. This $175 , 218g light pushes out 85 lumens using industrial AA NiMH batteries and includes a handy recharger.
This is a Look track bike. I really don't know much about it since track bikes aren't my specialty, but Brad and I thought you might find it interesting. Note the adjustable stem and aerodynamic everything.
The Big Ego (left) and Thor (right) make up Magura's freeride line. The Big Ego gets 185mm of coil sprung travel, a 20mm axle and double piston damping with triple bushings. It comes at a price though—4300g and around $1400. The Thor shares many of the same features as the Ronin, reviewed in Dirt Rag issue #107, but touts 110Ð150mm of travel and a $1100 price tag.
Magura's brakes are nice. They use non-toxic mineral oil, they're fairly easy to work on and they've been around for a while. The Gustav takes on downhill braking, while the Louise handles freeriding.
Manitou realized that there are lots of big hit riders on a budget. To this end, they created the Metel series, which uses the same oversized body and steel damper shaft used in their Swinger line. The Metel RP has an adjustable Platform Plus damping system and retails for $249.
You've read about this fork in Dirt Rag, but not until now has Manitou pulled out their Nixon forks for the world to see (and buy). Nixon is available with a number of different options, including a thru-axle and handlebar-mounted remote travel adjuster. Look to pay anywhere from $550 to $900, depending on your preferences.
This special edition paint job was a one-off design specially-made for Vegas. The stanchion artwork is an artist's interpretation of the athlete's persona. In this case, that athlete was Darren Barrencloth, considered by Manitou to have started the freeride revolution.
The Splice Super is another attempt to give you big travel on a budget. It should run around $330 and includes a number of things that make Manitou's forks, well, Manitous—reverse arch, 30mm stanchions and TPC damping.
Eddy Merckx rode this exact bike to victory. Thanks to a certain collector's generosity, this bike sat on the show floor with a subtle "DO NOT TOUCH" sign placed below. Notice the spankin' clean white bar tape, for which Eddy is famous.
It's no secret Marzocchi thinks 1.5" steerers aren't necessary. That's why they brought this six inch travel single crown fork to market. The coil sprung, 20mm axle 66 VF uses and air assist rebound with SSVF (speed sensitive valve floating) damping that allows both small bump sensitivity and big bump performance.
Marzocchi's All Mountain forks. The SL model (left) has 110Ð130mm of air sprung travel with the new Doppio Air system. The All Mountain 1 (right) comes in either 110Ð130mm or 130Ð150mm of adjustable travel and sees the new Terrain Selection Technology (TST).
Marzocchis's bladder damper, featured on the Terrain Selection Technology (TST) damping system, lets riders select different damping settings for whatever terrain they're on.
Marzocchi Dirt Jumper forks get steel steerer tubes and 100mm of coil sprung, SSV damped travel. The DJ 1 sees a 20mm axle and the DJ 3 has standard dropouts. Also available in a 24" wheel, 80mm travel verion dubbed the D-Street.
Not only is the M shape good for keeping your fork from bending (Marzocchi's trademark arch casting), apparently it's good for biting dirt, too. The 2.6" or 2.3" tire is made by Nokian and comes in either 32 TPI ($50) or 22 TPI ($35).
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