An anonymous reader has tipped us off via the e-mail link that Fisher’s newest full suspension 29″er, dubbed the Rumblefish, will be available for 2010 in two models. Here is what we know so far:
Rumblefish 1 & 2. Aluminum frame & swingarm(?), 110 mm travel rear ABP, 120 mm front thru-axle. Dual chambered Fox rear shock & linkage design like the Superfly 100. Think of a 29er Roscoe. The claim is that the Rumblefish is designed for more “technical terrain or more demanding rider”.
The Rumblefish 1 is slated to have a Shimano SLX drivetrain, the Rumblefish 2, a Shimano XT drivetrain.
When we know more we will post, but this will be a very anticipated rig. Rumor has it that it will replace the HiFi line. Stay tuned!
Awesome, sounds like a fun bike!
I would be surprised to see a 20mm TA as opposed to a 15mm TA. If it is due to replace the Hifi line, a 15mm would be more in line with current trends/thoughts. Sounds interesting either way.
As in “replace” the HiFi 29er line? Nope, not happening.
Funny, all this talk about travel. The first FS 29″ on the market had 125mm.
The 20mm versus 15mm thru-axle battle could be interesting. Fox and Shimano threw their weight behind the new 15mm standard, and it is a little lighter. Shimano’s support probably makes it the winner by default. Rock Shox and “the Ms” have had 20mm TAs on a lot of lighter trail forks already (my 26er uses a 20mm Maxle Revelation, which I love). I’d be sorta surprised to see Rock Shox move away from their very sweet Maxle design, but we shall see. Who’d have thought 5 years ago that post mount discs would become the standard over time?
Fox fork, 120 mm travel, 15mm thru axle … just a guess.
I suspect the low end bike will have a RS and the highend one will have a Fox fork just like the 2010 specialized FS 29ers (not that the fox are any better imo). So it is 15mm and 20mm. I’m sorry but the 15mm thing is just dumb. 20 works great and there was no need for it but if it kills the quick release then I can support it. Remember when Gary Fisher came out with the evolution 1 1/4″ headset/steerer standard and everyone said it was way too big and then made 1 1/8″ instead. Now everyone is making 1.5″ tapering headtubes. If we had just gone with the 1 1/4″ evolution we wouldn’t even have 1.5″ because we wouldn’t need it. So for Shimano to come out with 15mm to me is just the same as when the industry came out with 1 1/8″ steerers. It is just like they say that “people who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
I sure hope that they don’t axe the HiFi. That was a great bike and all it needed was the upgrades made to the superfly linkage. That and I always felt that the roscoe looked a little weird, but most people seem to like it though.
I hope they don’t axe the HiFi either – just add the geometry improvements from the SF 100. The niche for a lighter, aluminum, XC/trail bike seems to be going unfilled by Fisher otherwise. Frankly, there are a lot of AM/Big Hit alternatives out there already, and I doubt Rumblefish will bring more to the game against SC, Pivot, Niner WFO, and the perfectly stellar Lunchbox (especially in that latest, Mikesee configuration on the forum right now).
My ’08 HiFi29 Plus will not be on the market in favor of the Rumblefish we are contemplating here. It had a great Mammoth weekend a few days ago.
More likely, it would go in favor of the SF100 combined with the Lunchbox for purely heavier work.
The new Stumpy is 130mm travel in the rear and it definitely going to be light. The lowerend one does not have a brain so you don’t have to worry about some lame inertia valve, plus it is cheaper. Not sure why GT hasn’t covered that bike on here unless I missed it. The new suspension is just like the HiFi but without the bushings and a stiffer rear end.
A “29er Roscoe” should have five inches of rear travel. Why are so many bike brands scared to design long travel 29ers? I wish they would get over the whole thing about “big wheels are like having three inches of suspension”. A bump is still a bump and a drop to flat is still a drop to flat. “Rumblefish” sounds like it should be competing with the Niner WFO. Instead, it’ll turn out like a warmed over HiFi. Bring on the travel! Give us a hard core, meat-and-potatos, man-sized trail bike!
A “29er Roscoe” would be fun, I’ve taken the Roscoe for a ride here on the wet coast, a fun bike (would like a something a little slacker up front mind you), but I’ve also ridden the HiFI 29er on the Shore XC trails (i.e., roots, rocks, bridges, logs, long climbs and drops under 3 feet) and its been a blast, but boy walk into any LBS here and people look at it as if your mad — “no my rims did not crumple on the descents.”
It would be nice to have burlier AM 29er bike out here*, I like the 29er for its stability, and great climbing, but you feel like such a pariah riding one on a shore trail. Should I mention I also ride clipped in — ow the shame of it ;o)
* I noticed even Rocky Mountain is testing the Altitude 29er back East , bespeaks something there about where the companies are expecting sales.
Sweet. That will be the perfect bike for the technical gnarl here in BC….It’s bikes like these that will finally get the masses here to see the light on the advantages of a 29er. Already a few of the old school technical XC guys here on the coast are switching over…..It’s only a matter of time that 120mm 29ers will out number the 5-6inch trail-bike guys on Comfortably Numb in Whistler…they really are the best for BC trails.
love the name!
I just got mine two days ago. Been too cold to ride so far, but I think I might just get out today. It’s a beautiful bike (people say the II has a crappy paint job but I don’t agree). However, I do think that for the $4k you pay for this thing, it could have a couple more XTR parts on it, and it doesn’t come with tubeless ready tires, which is completely bogus as the rims are tubeless ready. Trying to save a little weight on the initial looks, maybe? Whatever the case, I can’t wait to get out on this thing. I’ll post again once I’ve done that.
Alright, so, ridden. And I’m quite certain I’ve just begun a new love affair. Luckily, my wife doesn’t mind.
I’ve actually posted a few times now in different places so I apologize if some of you see this and feel a sense of deja vu.
This bike is, quite simply, the most fun I’ve had downhill on two wheels. It plows through and over everything, is very, very stable, and is very agile for a 29er. My confidence has improved 100%, and I’ve only been on one good ride.
My Yeti 575 was a great bike, but this one just trumps it. Yes, the up is a little slower, but for what this bike is–part of a real biking revolution; long-travel 29ers–I’ve gotta say that it still climbs pretty darn well, and is actually quite light for what it is.
The wheelset that comes on it isn’t the best (at least IMO). I’m trading up for the next level of Bontrager wheels (the Rhythm Pros), in hopes that they’re a bit stiffer. Also, in a pretty lame move, Fisher doesn’t include tubeless-ready tires on their tubeless-ready wheelset. For the price of this bike (not cheap), one would think they’d at least give you some tires appropriate to the rims.
But those gripes aside, this bike is a keeper. I’ve been looking for the perfect bike for a while, and I’m confident in saying that I’ve found it. Rumblefish Dos!!
I took my Rumblefish 2 out for the first time yesterday, did 30 miles on fireroads and singletrack. This is replacing my 2008 HiFi Pro 29er so I think I can give an honest opinion as to the differences between them. I originally thought the RF1 looked better in Red, but this one looks really good in person. It looks beefy and serious, not like my bright blue HiFi. The HiFi climbs faster, but not that much faster. The HG61 cassette really works, I never left the middle ring and the pulse in your pedal when you are really draggin ass, it’s not there on this bike. I am going to add it to my HiFi and to my wife’s Stumpy 29er. The BB clearance is great. It doesn’t feel much heavier than the HiFi (3 lbs) but it feels solid. It really inspires confidence. They really upped the game on rigidity. The downhill performance blows away the HiFi. It is plush. The handling is better on my HiFi but the braking through the corners is so improved it’s not even funny. I love the Elixirs. I love the tires. The saddle blows. Crank Brothers Acid, everything else is stock. Bottom line, I won’t be riding my HiFi very often.