POST EUROBIKE “On Test” Products: Coming Soon!: by c_g
Testing Products from FOX RACING, VREDESTEIN, SUNRACE (and a goodie from ACROS)
What a show! Those of you who have followed my Eurobike coverage, will know that this year 29″ers have landed here in Europe for good. In many cases when talking about new products, availability had been open or set to 2012. In some rare cases we heard them to be ready soon … here are some that have been ready even sooner :).
Additionally we give you some other product intro of pieces we picked up during or immediately after the show which might catch your attention.
1. FOX Racing F32 29 Talas Terralogic QR15 Factory Series
(http://www.foxracingshox.com)
Very hot and directly from the assembly line we received this top of the line suspension fork, that features all of FOX´s technology:
TALAS 2– adjustable travel 95 to 120 mm via blue knob on the upper left leg. Simple and easy.
FIT – damper cartridge for best performance and light weight.
TERRALOGIC – shock sensitive lockout, that promises a stable platform while providing active suspension when needed.
KASHIMA Coating – stanchion coating with the lowest friction index and smoothest suspension action (besides looking really cool, don´t you think :))
QR15 – thru axle dropouts with quick release convenience.
All that in a moderately heavy package of 1870 g (uncut steerer) and in a prestigious black/gold finish.
The only thing lacking is the new 34 mm casing and stanchions but given the 15 mm thru axle we see little need for more stiffness. Swapping the front axle on the AMERICAN CLASSIC All Mountain front wheel to 15 mm thru axle took me about 5 minutes and 2 narrow 19 mm open wrenches – not as easy as switching end caps but easily done and probably a bit stiffer.
The timing of the FOX fork´s arrival couldn’t have been better as I have just concluded review of the GERMAN:A Xcite Criterion 29″er fork (here). It will see some riding on my trusted OS Blackbuck steel frame before it will go onto another bike, which we hope to receive soon.
2. VREDESTEIN 29″er tires
VREDESTEIN have been awesome in sending us a set of samples of each tire they have in 29″er size just briefly after the show. These tires have been introduced already here in the course of my Eurobike coverage and now they are ours to ride.
The tires on test are:
Spotted Cat 2.0 (measured at 595 & 605 g)
Black Panther 2.2 (635 & 650 g)
Black Panther Extreme 2.2 (675 & &90 g)
(all are the tubeless ready versions)
While I have just come off reviewing a micro-knobby tire (the SNYCROS Flavor, final verdict here), I mounted the Spotted Cat first front and rear to prove its worth while the conditions are still more favorable. I expect it won´t be long before the trails call out for a more aggressive tread design.
3. SUNRACE driven MX drive train
Everyone knows the two big “S” in drive trains (SRAM and SHIMANO). SUNRACE – unfortunately another “S” 😉 – is still fairly unknown in the MTB world. The driven series is their first take in a performance group sets. It consist of two lines, the top end MZ group set which besides being more bling (by features like carbon reinforced cranks, titanium bottom bracket spindle and ceramic bearings) shares the identical shifting technology as the next in line MX group, which is what we will be riding. The groups are not brand new either (having been available in 2011 already) but we have been given the opportunity to run it on one of our bikes and see how it performs.
The parts we´ll be running are:
Alloy triple crank set (22/32/44, 175 mm, 6061 forged alloy, glossy black finish, Cro-Mo spindle, ~ 740 g)
MX External bottom bracket (for 68/73 mm BSA BB, 120 g, silver anodized bearing cups)
MX Long cage rear derailleur (251 g, 2:1 ratio, powder coated and machined over)
MZ 11-34 cassette (9-spd, 291 g, titanium-aluminum nitride matte grey finish)
MZ 9-spd chain (blingy gold finish that matches the FOX´s KASHIMA coating nicely :))
9-spd shifters (lower end – not belonging to the DRIVEN groups, 2 x 165 g)
(The front derailleur which we also received, doesn’t fit on my Blackbuck due to the narrow tire clearance and therefore had to be excluded from testing.)
I have to admit that a 9-spd drive train with a 2:1 actuation ratio is a bit outdated when introducing as a modern group set. Having only a BSA bottom bracket available in times where more and more frames are running on a Press Fit standard also is plain awkward – but that is not why we will be running these components. (Besides, for someone like me – who still favors thumb shifters over any modern trigger type – being modern is of little relevance :))
For me running this system is really to indicate what SUNRACE has already accomplished in terms of shifting action, reliability and overall performance. I am sure they are aware of the apparent shortcomings and have something 10-spd cooking already for next season. For me, if the system proves to be trail worthy, then I am happy to give it a go. If not, then it will not be on my bike for very long and I´ll return to the one of the BIG S-companies.
Wait for my experiences to be posted as the fall commences and riding conditions turn grimmer.
5. Goodie: ACROS logo grips (with laser etched end caps)
Last but not least we have picked up a set of cool personalized grips by German component manufacturer ACROS. These folks don´t only do high end precision headsets, bottom brackets and hubs – and lately a hydraulic shifting set – but also do a some branded bars, grip and other components. (They even have a 29″er wheelset to be released soon :))
As a special feature ACROS brought their laser etching machine to the trade show and you could get your personalized end caps laser etched and so we got ourselves a set with TNI specific end caps. But they offer this service to anyone year round: You can have them personalized on order anytime for a few Euros extra. The set A-Grips weighs 123 g and retails for € 17,95.
How about a personalized set for your riding buddy or club?
Wait for my ride impressions on these components in the coming weeks.
RIDE ON,
c_g
So if you don’t like Suntour’s stuff it it’s going the the trash?
FOX Racing F32 29 Talas Terralogic QR15 Factory Series
They look great – but how many riders will be able to afford them?
What frame is that? Is that an OS Blackbuck?
Yogi: Who said anything about SUNTOUR? It is a SUNRACE drivetrain we are running right now. Though the good´l SUNTOUR XC Pro Thumbies are still one of my most reasured remainders of the old days :-).
Clink: I agree that this is the top of the line fork with all features available and of course it comes at a elevated price, but thew idea really is to look at all these tech features individually and let you know my experiences and opinion on them. This way you may get some assistance in choosing whatever feature may be most beneifical to your ride, potentially saving on others that you don´t feel are needed.
Varaxis: Indeed it is an OS Bikes Blackbuck (Generation II).
… and I forgot to say this: The personalized ACROS end caps will cost a few € extra (don´t remeber the exact amount but it wasn´t that much :-)). The price stated is for the standard grips only.
Can you get us some tire widths of the Vredesteins?
JeroenK: At this point I can provide the measurement of the VREDESTEIN Spotted Cat: My two samples measured exaclty 49.8 mm and 50.2, so verry close to the stated 2.0″. Also re-reading my weight measurements I noticed, that I had stated a wrong weight for them. Mine came in considerably lighter than claimed at 559 and 565 g.
Sorry for the confusion.
(Measurements of the other two will follow as I mount and ride them later on.)
I’ve gotten too much sun, forgive me…
Are the Sunrace components related to Microshift Road components? Might be useful especially on a dropbar adventure bike or monstercrosser.
will you also test the fork on a fully ?! Id have it on my superfly 100 but can get it right
Maria: Yes, the next step in testing is to put it onto a full suspension rig. But first it needst do dpend some time on the hard tails to “whisper” me some of its sectrets and abilities. It will need you to be a bit patient but it will happen.
If you like, write us your issues with the fork and maybe we can even get some info/assistance to you earlier than the post itself.
I think the fork is ok but have it working with the fox shox rp23 without balancing difficulty is my problem.
Maria: I see. You know I have been riding the TREK/GF Superfly Elite 100 myself much this year and to me it fall into the categorie of a very “active” susoension feel (unless you run extremely high platform or damping,deteriorating the entire benefits).
While I don´t have it with me anymore to verify …. I´d say the more open side of the Terralogic settings is the only way to go. Try the first 5-6 klicks from open (anything between full open to moderately high compression damping), depending on your weight. and then play some with rebound damping.
This is only my preliminary opinion, based on my experiences with the Superfly 100 and the bit of riding on board the FOX Terralogic. Fell free to let us know how it worked out for you.
it could be nice to see a terralogic vs specialized sid brain.
I had the same idea, but the SPECIALIZED Brain forks come on SPECIALIZED bikes only – no aftermarket sales. Unless the opportunity arises unexpectedly – the FOX Racing Terralogic review alone will have to do.