We’ve been following the development of this new Origin 8 model for almost a year now. finally we are able to show you a pre-production prototype titanium hardtail 29″er that should be very close to what you will see coming from Origin 8 in late February 2009.
As you can see, the bike is a combination geared/single speed rig with sliding drop outs that appear to be in a Paragon style. Chainstay length can be adjusted from 16.85″ to 17.35″. The frame features a slight bend to the seat tube and a lowered top tube with a seat tube brace, ala the steel Scout. Unlike that bike, this titanium model promises ample tire clearances. The Lynskey produced frame will have a slightly flattened area on the downtube to accomodate suspension fork crowns, much like what has been seen on Lynskey’s own 29″ers of late. The frame is being produced in the U.S.A. and will retail for $1999.00.
As of now there are no other geometry numbers to report, however, when they are available we will post an update.
Me likey!
Straight alu handlebar? Disappointing from them.
Sweet. The LBS by Oleta River State Park here in Miami stocks Origin 8 – they had 4 Scouts on the floor. I hope they pick this one up too – not enough 29ers down here in South Florida.
Cloxxki: It’s a prototype and a company guys personal build. Besides, its going to be offered as a frame only, so folks can do what they please.
GLG: Keep yer eyes peeled! This rig is reportedly in your neck-o-the woods.
Handlebar is actually a 15′ bend……!
wow… that’s hot.
reminds me of the profile of a first-gen el mariachi… only in ti. dreamy.
Recon + carbon fork (& post/bars/crank) = a whole lotta single speed goodness
You can get this frame now from on one (also produced by Lynskey) I’m sure the numbers may be a little different, and they have the on one dropouts not paragon, but I’m sure it’s a little cheaper…def looks to be a nice ride tho.
*EDIT*
The on one doesn’t have a sloped top tube either, so maybe they aren’t that much alike after all…my bad
Will do. I don’t see many 29ers (if at all) during normal recreational riding, but the race scene is chock full of them. Only Ti I’ve seen lately is a sweet Eriksen single speed – if it’s around, I’ll find it!
So is this the mystery company that is getting the good folks at Lynskey to produce a Ti rigid fork? And to think I just sold off my Scout for a Superfly. So would you want to drop the part no. for this wonderful fork? Our favorite Island Importer rep hasn’t been through in a little while….Tell Tom I’ll have some questions for him……
ia_ss157: Correction: This is the “mystery company”, but the fork is not from Lynskey. Also, “our favorite Island Importer rep” isn’t “Tom” anymore.
(At least not here he’s not)
Hold on! The fork isn’t coming till late winter/early spring. I’ll be getting more info as it becomes available and posting it here.
I talked to ***** ***** today and he forwarded me to ****. He seems to be the man and filled me in on the details. He didn’t divuldged who the fork is being produced by, but I hope it’s no XACD or wherever those infamous Snapping Forks came from. Hopefully they are well speced as far as tubing diameter and thickness. Here’s to hoping.
ia_ss157: Cool! I’m glad you scored some info. I can also assure you that these forks are not Chinese in origin, according to my spies.
Are you limited on tire size with the overlap on the front derailleur? It looks like it would rub like crazy when in the granny.
Big Dave: Well, it’s not uncommon to see that situation on 29″ers. The latest trick is to use a new SLX front mech which has a neat angle to the cage in the rear and is a bit shorter in length than most compact front mechs. While you still might experience rub on a geared drive train at the shorter chain stay lengths, the single speeders will be able to take advantage of it with no issues.
Run gears and think that sucks? Well, that does suck, but remember, short chain stays aren’t all they are cracked up to be on geared hard tails nor on many courses. In other words, just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
GT – a couple of weekends ago, I met two guys on the trail – one who works in the “industry” down here. My assumption is J&B – I have yet to see this prototype but he was riding a different Ti proto – probably older b/c it was well used (and he rode the snot out of it)!
GLG: Cool! I do know that there was an early proto that had a much more “Lynskey-like” look to it. (It didn’t have the top tube to seat tube brace, for instance.) So, it is entirely possible that you saw that bike. I have seen a photo of it, so I am aware that it actually exists.
Hi,
any updates about this frame?
GT – I haven’t seen my J&B guys at the local trail lately. Actually – in a while. Hearing any more scuttlebutt about this?
GLG: After coming so agonizingly close to producing that titanium rig, J&B killed the project.
I also hear that they are getting out of 29″ers entirely.
Guitar Ted,
by “getting out of 29ers entirely”, I hope that means, just stopping production of the Scout.
the fork is Sweet, and I was just thinking about getting a wheelset, although I have a few questions about them,
do you know the with of the rim?
also the weight?
Desert9r: Yeah, I believe it just refers to both Scout models. The wheel set I have not seen. I understand it weighs nearly 2000 grams though. I will try to get more info on that again.
Origin-8 is not getting out of 29′ers. There will be a brand new Scout29 chromoly frameset launched at Interbike 2009!
Good info….thanks. I hope the Scout remains an option……