Eurobike - Bikerumor https://bikerumor.com/event-coverage/eurobike/ All the best cycling news, tech, rumors and reviews Fri, 08 Nov 2024 14:08:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bikerumor-favicon-144-1-120x120.png Eurobike - Bikerumor https://bikerumor.com/event-coverage/eurobike/ 32 32 190730048 Allpacka Folding Basket Transforms Commuter Bike’s Rack into a Cargo Box in 1 Second https://bikerumor.com/allpacka-folding-basket-transforms-commuter-bikes-rack-into-a-cargo-box-in-1-second/ https://bikerumor.com/allpacka-folding-basket-transforms-commuter-bikes-rack-into-a-cargo-box-in-1-second/#comments Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:42:37 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=367592 The Allpacka One is a smart folding cargo basket that transforms a regular commuter bike rack into a proper cargo box, literally in a second…

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Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, expanded

At Eurobike we got an early sneak peek at the small German startup Allpacka transformer commuter bike folding rack basket, and got to play with just how easy it is to use. It’s a great piece of plastic origami. A smart reimagined, readaptation of a classic folding plastic crate, Allpacka created a sturdy wide basket to fit on almost any normal bike rack, that quickly folds out of the way in a literal second when not needed.

And now, you can pre-order One through Allpacka’s Kickstarter, to be ready to cart around your commuter bike cargo next year.

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, folded down
(Photos/Cory Benson

It’s this simple. When you don’t need it, the Allpacka One folding cargo crate collapses onto the top and down the sides of your run-of-the-mill bike rack.

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, inside detail with shopping bag stoage pocket

Then, when it’s time to haul some cargo, you pull up on the sides and the spring-loaded design, transforming into a rigid cargo box 3x the size of your rack’s original footprint.

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, collapsed closed side

Back home then with your cargo successfully hauled, just press in from the outside corners and the Allpacka One rack basket collapses back down onto your rack, and out of the way.

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, full of a crate of beer

When it is open you can store up to 30L and 20kg of goods with secure tie-down & bungee points inside. And once it’s folded flat again, there’s a set of 4 bungee straps built-in to carry simple things like a rain jacket. There are even small pockets inside to stow a reusable shopping bag so you are always prepared for grocery shopping. Plus, there are even standard mounts to secure a set of panniers on without removing the foldable cargo box.

Tech details

  • Compact and practical: Stowed compactly on the carrier for everyday use
  • Immediately ready for use: Folds into a large cargo box within a second
  • Generous 50x31cm cargo space: 30+ liter volume in the basket for a wide range of transport options
  • High load capacity: Carries up to 20kg, enough for a crate of drinks (read: beer)
  • Universal fit: Fits all standard luggage carriers (8-15cm wide, with 8-16mm tubing diameters), simply clamped on top
  • Compact design: 26cm wide when folded, 59cm wide x 18cm tall when opened, 2.5kg in weight
  • Pannier compatibility: Fits many QR pannier clips from Ortlieb, Thule, Vaude & more
  • Maximum flexibility: Always with you, always ready for use
  • Accessories: cargo net, shopping bags, rain cover
  • Weight: with a net weight of only approx. 2.5 kg, you can continue to ride with agility

Allpacka One folding cargo box – Pricing, options & availability

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, folds flat in a second
(Photo/Allpacka)

The smart collapsible Allpacka One folding cargo box is available for pre-order now via Kickstarter with estimated early-bird savings of 40-45% off the final expected retail price. That means a folding rack basket will cost you about 120€ including a set of adjustable bungee cords designed to secure whatever you need hauling on your city commuter bike.

Allpacka One folding commuter bike rack cargo basket, loaded with groceries
(Photo/Allpacka)

We talked to the Allpacka team earlier this summer, and they expect to manufacture the folding rack basket entirely in Germany from recycled plastic. And it’s already blown past its funding goal, in just one hour, so it looks like the Allpacka One folding cargo box will be real at the start of next summer, with shipping throughout continental Europe and the USA.

Allpacka-box.de

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Amflow PL First Look: All-New All-Mountain eMTB Powered by DJI’s Avinox eBike-drive https://bikerumor.com/amflow-pl-first-look-all-new-all-mountain-emtb-powered-by-djis-avinox-ebike-drive/ https://bikerumor.com/amflow-pl-first-look-all-new-all-mountain-emtb-powered-by-djis-avinox-ebike-drive/#comments Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:40:14 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=363226 DJI shook up the ebike world with their all-new lightweight Avinox motor, and this all-mountain Amflow PL Carbon is the first eMTB that will feature…

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Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB

Earlier this summer, DJI introduced us to their first foray into ebikes with the light but powerful Avinox motor, set inside an all-new carbon Amflow PL eMTB. We’ve known and flown DJI cameras and drones for years, but Amflow is a completely new and unknown upstart to the world of bike manufacturing. So we wanted to take a closer look at their first-generation Amflow PL Carbon to see what we can expect from the first platform for the new DJI ebike powertrain…

So, who is Amflow, again?

The first important thing to note about Amflow, is that the new bike brand is not actually a part of DJI. And it’s not necessarily going to be exclusively an eMTB-only brand. Amflow was incubated by DJI. The drone, camera, and now ebike drive system manufacturer needed an eMTB platform to launch their new motor. So to keep development under wraps until they were ready to launch, DJI started with in-house technology experts who rode mountain bikes, and brought together a group bike design and carbon manufacturing experts to create that eMTB platform.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, cutaway detail
(Photos/Cory Benson)

So yes, the bike products of Amflow began as a platform to test and showcase the DJI Avinox system within a customized and seamlessly matching design. But then, they quickly split off Amflow to develop bikes on their own. And going forward, Amflow is slated to grow increasingly independent in all business aspects, from product development to day-to-day operations.

So now the ebikes are designed by Amflow separate from DJI, with material and manufacturing support from existing specialists in the bike industry – think geometry & kinematics optimization and shock tuning. And Amflow make the PL Carbon frame in Asia, in cooperation with experienced carbon and bicycle manufacturers.

Amflow PL Carbon all-new lightweight 150/160mm eMTB

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, complete

OK, so let’s take that closer look at the Amflow PL Carbon ebike itself.

This is meant to be a lightweight full-power all-mountain ebike. It is capable of taking on everything from classic trail riding to bigger mountain rides and more technical tracks that border on the edge of enduro. For that, you get a classic Horst link 4-bar suspension design with 150mm of rear wheel travel, paired with 160mm forks. Amflow lists the PL Carbon frame weight at a claimed 2270g.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, flip-chip

And a relatively progressive slack geometry, with a lower shock link flip-chip that lets riders pick their preferred 29″ or 27.5″ rear wheel size. Either full 29er for more stability… or a mullet setup for a more playful agile ride.

Geometry & Tech Details

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, progressive geometry

Generally speaking from a geometry perspective, the Amflow PL Carbon seems pretty progressive for a modern trail / all-mountain ebike. Its 64.5° head angle is plenty slack, and the steep 77° effective seat angle should make climbing up hills a breeze. The 445mm chainstays are even quite short for a 29er ebike. And its 4 stock sizes seem like a good spread. But I get the feeling they were mislabeled in the table sent to me (M-XXL) probably overestimating their size. Amflow would better label the sizes as S-XL.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, UDH

Looking a bit into the ebikes details, we first see a UDH at the end of the Boost rear thru-axle that gives both conventional mechanical and SRAM direct mount T-Type Transmission compatibility.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, tire clearance

Beyond that, Amflow gives the PL Carbon 2.4″ tire clearance out back, Post Mount 180 rear brake set up with 203mm rotors in the complete ebike builds, integrated chainstay, downtube & motor protection, opening up to an alloy heatsink on the motor body, and integrated mini upper chainguide bolts to the main pivot.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, angled frame detail

The ebike features conventional internal cable routing entering the frame on the sides of the headtube, compatible with mechanical or electronic groupsets, and a main battery charging port on the lower non-driveside of the seattube.

There’s a single water bottle cage mount inside the main triangle under the Trunnion mount shock.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, non-driveside frame detail

Plus, Amflow provide another tool carrier mount under the toptube, where a semi-rigid custom bag fills the space in front of the shock.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, custom frame bag
(Studio photos/Amflow)

Powered by DJI Avinox

all-new DJI Avinox ebike lightweight drive system full-power motor, exploded view with composite planetary gears
(Photo/DJI)

The main selling point of the Amflow PL Carbon’s new DJI Avinox ebike drive system is its unique combination of lightweight and high power output. A claimed 105Nm of torque from a motor that weighs just 2.5kg, and 600Wh or 800Wh batteries that claim higher energy density (Wh per gram) than anything else on the market. But there’s also some unique smart tech tucked into the Avinox system.

DJI Avinox ebike drive system’s smart tech features

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, Auto pedal-assist mode

Most interesting it seems may be the smart Auto pedal-assist mode. You can stick with conventional Eco, Trail, or Turbo. But switching to Auto is said to leverage DJI’s expertise in power management, by collecting inputs from position/accelerometer/torque/cadence/rider input sensors, to let the algorithm-tuned mode automatically determine motor output. DJI says Auto will provide extended range compared to standard Trail or Turbo but still with powerful pedal-assist when you need it.

Dual wireless Bluetooth controllers next to each grip, let you easily cycle through support & display mode, while also putting Boost mode at your fingertips. Hit the Boost button, and the DJI Avinox motor cranks out a peak assist of 850W for a few seconds, before dropping back to whatever mode you were already using.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, touchscreen control display

Then, integrated into the PL toptube, Amflow places DJI’s 2″ full-color OLED touchscreen control display. It shows you all the ride metrics you’d want from a conventional cycling computer, plus easy-to-navigate real-time activity data, mode info, and estimated range. And it logs it all with your GPS data to sync with the Avinox app and 3rd-party apps like Strava.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, touchscreen control display, with USB-C charging port

Plus, the display has a USB-C port that you can use to charge your connected devices while riding – like while navigating with maps is your smartphone.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, custom assist modes

The Avinox smartphone app also give users the ability to fine-tune each pedal-assist mode more than pretty much any other ebike drive on the market. You can pick how much power it delivers relative to your pedal input, max torque level, how responsive motor output is from a start or while pedaling, and how long the motor continues to output power after you stop pedaling.

Amflow PL Carbon – eBike Options & Pricing

Amflow PL Carbon ebike
Amflow PL Carbon

The first new ebikes from upstart Amflow include two models of this all-mountain Amflow PL, each sharing the same full carbon frame with 150mm of rear travel powered by the DJI Avinox ebike system. And either available in silver of black.

The slightly more affordable end of the spectrum like we took a closer look at… will stick with a mechanical SRAM GX drivetrain, Fox Performance suspension, alloy wheels, and an 800Wh internal battery.

Amflow PL Carbon Pro ebike
Amflow PL Carbon Pro

Then, the top Amflow PL Carbon Pro will upgrade to an X0 AXS transmission, Fox Factory suspension, house-brand carbon wheels, and the option for either the big range 800Wh battery or a lighter 600Wh variant.

And Availability?

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor

When, where, and how much exactly it will cost you to get a new Amflow PL ebike with the latest DJI Avinox system remains vague.

Amflow tells us official pricing is still “TBD”, but expected to have both bikes in the 7000-12,000€ range. Yes, that sounds quite high for a company and motor that we’ve never tried, but it’s certainly on par with the top-tier light ebikes we’ve ridden from the likes of Scott, Specialized, Focus, even Merida.

Amflow PL Carbon lightweight 150mm all-mountain eMTB ebike, powered by lightweight powerful DJI Avinox motor, angled

What we do know though, is that Amflow will first roll the new PL Carbon out in Germany, the UK, and Australia by the end of this year – sold primarily through classic independent bike dealers. In fact, Amflow now says the first Amflow ebikes should be sold to German & Australian consumers as early as October, while the UK should get these first DJI-equipped ebikes in November. Then, Amflow ultimately plans to broaden availability throughout Europe and North America, although without a firm timeline yet. Amflow also mention availability through other “alternate dealer paths“, but haven’t elaborated more yet. We’ll keep our eyes out for what that will mean.

And maybe most importantly in the meantime, we expect to have a new Amflow PL Carbon ebike with the DJI Avinox motor to test in less than one month’s time. Stay tuned, and we’ll report back with our on-trail impressions very soon!

AmflowBikes.com

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First Look: Trickstuff Maxima MTB Brakes Now Available in Black, and Now Actually Available! https://bikerumor.com/first-look-trickstuff-maxima-mtb-brakes-now-available-in-black-and-now-actually-available/ https://bikerumor.com/first-look-trickstuff-maxima-mtb-brakes-now-available-in-black-and-now-actually-available/#comments Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:00:28 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=366091 Trickstuff's maximum stopping power Maxima mountain bike brakes now come in all-black, and they are actually available to buy now...

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Officially, the big news from ultra-premium German brake specialists Trickstuff at Eurobike was that their super-powered Maxima mountain bike brakes were now available in all-black. But the bigger news in my mind really, was that they were actually available now. So we decided that after years of lusting after Trickstuff brakes, it was time to give them a try…

Trickstuff Maxima mountain bike brakes, now in all black

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, on Scott Ransom with Formula Belva fork
(Photos/Cory Benson)

Trickstuff’s maximum stopping power Maxima brakes were first teased to us back in the summer of 2018, before getting an only slightly more official launch in a crowdfunding campaign later that year. Being hyped as the “world’s strongest hydraulic disc brakes” at the time, they also turned out to be both incredibly expensive and incredibly hard to get a hold of. It wasn’t unheard of to hear about 9-12 month lead times if you wanted to purchase a set of Trickstuff brakes. Fast forward to 2022, and DT Swiss acquired Trickstuff, with what seemed pretty much like a primary goal of making it easier for consumers to get ahold of a set of Trickstuff brakes.

A couple of years late and seems like that’s worked.

What’s new?

From a technical perspective, the only real new feature of the Trickstuff Maxima Black brakes is that they are black vs. the original silver & orange. Trickstuff already offered their long-running, most popular Direttissima in mix-and-match silver and/or black anodized finishes. And their lightweight Piccola Carbon brakes also come in shiny silver or black. Now their top gravity brakes get stealthy in all-black too.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, cokcpit

One other small recent update is that the Maximæ also now get a 5mm black Kevlar hose option, too. That’s important for a lot of modern bikes (like mine) because their standard Goodridge braided steel hoses measure 6mm in diameter and oftentimes will not fit inside bikes with guided internal cable routing. Trickstuff used to offer a bare 5mm braided hose without an outer plastic coating, but is happier with the new 5mm Kevlar hoses. In either case, Trickstuff assures that the Kevlar hoses deliver the same braking power, just a slightly different bite point feel.

Tech details

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, studio shot

The 4-piston Trickstuff Maxima brakes are CNC-machined in Germany from 7075 aluminum, and now everything anodized black.

They feature a 9mm diameter master cylinder pump with low-friction Polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic pistons, and ball-bearing pivoting brake levers with tool-free reach adjust. Inside, they push special environmentally-friendly vegetable oil Bionol brake fluid (like mineral oil) to the caliper. Trickstuff also says the made-in-Germany low-viscosity Bionol has a higher boiling point than conventional mineral oil or DOT fluid.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, how stainless piston detail

Inside the 2-piece calipers held together with steel bolts, there’s a combination of 16mm & 17mm hollow stainless steel pistons, optimized for equal braking pressure through both pairs of pistons and reduced heat transfer from pads to the actual braking system hydraulics.

Two-piece clamshell bar clamps also feature optional Matchmaker or I-Spec adapters to mount modular shifters or remotes for a clean cockpit. The brakes come standard with steel-backed Trickstuff 730 Power+ organic resin brake pads.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, rotors sold separately

But they do not include rotors, or caliper mount adaptors which you need to purchase separately.

Here are my 203mm Trickstuff Dächle rotors in either HD heavy-duty (390 g for the pair) or UL ultra-light (304 g for the pair), both 2.05mm thick in this diameter.

Actual weight

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, 543g actual weight for the set

Trickstuff claims brakeset weights starting at 540g in total for the Maxima, with my Black+Kevlar build said to be 262g (front) plus 278g (rear). On my scale, they came in at literally just a few extra grams over that at 263g & 280g, respectively. 543g in total for my Trickstuff Maxima Black brake set with uncut hoses.

First Impressions, in the workshop & on the trail

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, unboxing

Update: I’m going to change how I first referred to the bleeding process, below. My initial impression was that it was “quite fiddly”.

That’s partially because the Maxima does have a very basic bleed procedure that requires the open bleed ports to be facing up while bleeding. That means that both lever & caliper need to be detached from their final mounting position and strapped to the bike in a vertical orientation. That is unique to the Maxima, while Trickstuff’s other brakes have bleed port valves that mean you can bleed them however they are mounted to the bike.

The other reason was that after bleeding the brakes, I wasn’t 100% confident that I did it correctly. That’s because, after the bite point, these brakes are literally so powerful that you can still slowly pull the levers to the bar. That seemed disconcerting. But in reality, it’s a sensation you only get on the workstand. That movement happens after the brakes have already pulled the brake pads so firmly against the rotor that they are fully stopped, and further movement is the ‘ramping up’ of more progressive force that can ultimately even flex the super stiff caliper. On the trail, what this translates to is a feeling of easy movement to the powerful bite point, and then less force required at the lever to add even more power. You will never actually pull the lever to the bar while riding. And this is said to reduce arm pump significantly.

It’s just an unfamiliar feel at the end of the otherwise familiar bleeding procedure, unlike pretty much any other brake I had ridden or bled previously.

The Trickstuff Maxima Black brakes come packed in a nice wooden box, so the first impression of unveiling them feels suitably premium to match the price. The machined alloy brakes feel so precise in hand, and look great on the bike. Their bleeding process though is quite fiddly different, with a successful result that feels unlike almost any other brakes on the market. I still would think most mountain bikers willing to pay this much for a brakeset would be willing to pay a professional to install them and setup them up on your bike. But, as long as you can accept that the correct feel after bleeding them will be different than what you are used to… it’s a simple procedure that any capable home mechanic can tackle.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, super enduro riding

The feel at the lever almost felt too light at first, making me think I might have needed to rebleed them or something. But out on the trail, the effortless stopping power was pretty impressive from the get-go. Getting my new 16.5kg Scott Ransom + Formula Belva super-all-mountain enduro test bike up to speed in our local bikepark, the Trickstuff Maxima Black brakes brought it back to a stop in an instant.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, Czech Enduro Series training

After a few days riding, it feels like the light action, massive power, and smooth modulation of these brakes will encourage higher speeds on familiar tracks. And maybe forearm pump is a thing of the past? Only time will tell.

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, Jested enduro racing DH

Trickstuff Maxima brakes – Pricing, options & availability

Trickstuff Maxima Black MTB brakes First Look, now actually available, brakeset on bike

The rub with the new Trickstuff Maxima brakes is that they are expensive, costing 1300€ for the pair in either new black or classic silver. Technically there are 5 different combinations of black vs. silver brakes, and Goodridge braided steel lines in raw/black/carbon effect or black Kevlar hoses. And then you pick which lever to actuate which brake. All options are available now, and should be able to be sourced through your local Trickstuff DT Swiss dealer bikeshop in a relatively short time span.

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DT Swiss Honors 30 Years with Retro Limited Edition Modern Carbon Wheels & MTB Hubs https://bikerumor.com/dt-swiss-honors-30-years-with-retro-limited-edition-modern-carbon-wheels-mtb-hubs/ https://bikerumor.com/dt-swiss-honors-30-years-with-retro-limited-edition-modern-carbon-wheels-mtb-hubs/#comments Fri, 09 Aug 2024 10:02:13 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=365999 DT Swiss celebrates 30th anniversary in cycling with retro logos, silver spokes & polished hubs in limited edition carbon wheels & a MTB hubset.

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Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, view throuh the valve hole

DT Swiss has made bicycle components since 1994, and to celebrate their 30 year anniversary, they’ve brought back some retro logo styling and shiny silver for some limited edition wheels and hubs. For wheels, DT built up two of their flagship carbon wheelsets with silver spokes and polished silver hubs – the ultralight & aerodynamic ARC1100 38mm aero road wheels and the bombproof & fast-engaging EXC1200 enduro wheels. And for a hubset alone, they picked their latest 90 POE fast-engaging 240 DEG hubs with classic high flanges so you can build up your own 4° engagement MTB wheels…

DT Swiss’ 30th Anniversary in the cycling industry

DT wireworks (that’s what the D&T stand for in their native German & French – Drahtwerke/Tréfileries, respectively) have been manufacturing Swiss wire since the 1600s, originally for fencing. But they turned that wire into bicycle spokes in their modern form, starting 30 years ago now in 1994.

We actually toured their Biel/Bienne HQ and spoke, rim & wheel factory in Switzerland back in 2017 to see how our wheels get made. And that’s still how they do it, although they have since added a couple new high-tech cold-forged spoke types like the latest fluted RevoLite since then.

But, back to the 30th-anniversary kit…

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, old school 1990s DT Hugi MTB hub
(All photos/Cory Benson)

The reason we are writing (and you are reading) is shiny silver hubs, shiny silver spokes, and retro red DT logos. There’s too many all-black bike and components these days, and so DT is bringing back some flash. Just like those original DT Hugi hubs… before matte black ano became a thing.

DT 240 Classic DEG 3 Dec hubs

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, 240 DEG 3 Dec 90POE MTB hubs

Tech-wise, these limited edition DT 240 Classic DEG 3 Dec hubs are the same that I reviewed last week. Their big update is essentially 3x the engagement of a standard DT hub, or almost 2x the max possible engagement from any previous DT hub, but while retaining the same proven Ratchet mechanism and unrivaled freehub durability. The 240 DEG hub features a pair of oversized 90T ratchet rings delivering quick 4° engagement, perfect for the most technical mountain biking.

These shiny polished silver hubs with retro DT logos sell for $230 / 170€ front and $500 / 377€ rear. They are available now in limited numbers through DT distributors for Shimano MicroSpline or SRAM XD in 6-bolt with Boost MTB spacing only, drilled for 32 J-bend spokes.

DT EXC 1200 Classic DEG 3 Dec

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, EXC1200 3 Dec enduro MTB wheels

On the complete mountain bike wheels side, you can get a limited edition EXC 1200 Classic DEG 3 Dec wheelset. This $3000 / 2500€ carbon enduro wheel features DT Swiss’ revamped carbon molding tech and internal protection layers that promised to build much tougher lightweight carbon mountain bike wheels – debuted just over a month ago. I’ve been riding the lighter all-mountain set since the start of summer trouble-free.

The 1756g EXC enduro MTB wheels feature a 30mm internal and are built on those 90POE fast-engaging 240 DEG hubs. You can pick full 29er or mullet setups, and they come with both MicroSpline & XD freehub bodies.

ARC 1100 Dicut DB 38 3 Dec

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, ARC1100 3 Dec road wheels

And lastly, roadies get a lightweight aero wheelset, too. The latest Aerodynamic Race Carbon road wheel series added this 38mm deep x 22mm internal hooked tubeless wheel to the line-up this year at a weight of just 1292g. The ARC 1100 Dicut DB 3 Dec also sells for $3000 / 2500€, and includes both Shimano HG & SRAM XDR freehubs, plus a custom padded wheelbag made by EVOC to keep your light aero wheelset safe in between wheel swaps.

Limited edition 30th Anniversary DT Swiss hubs & wheels, ARC1100 3 Dec at the 2024 Tour de France

In fact, we already spotted these ultralight aero wheels last month fitted to a spare bike on the roof of a Uno X team car at the Tour de France. Ready for some high-speed climbing!

Snap them up now, before they all are gone. Or just join me in trying to convince DT Swiss that every wheel looks faster with silver spokes and silver hubs!

DTSwiss.com

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Superior XR GR is Czech Bikemaker’s Fastest, Lightest, Most Aero Gravel Bike Ever https://bikerumor.com/superior-xr-gr-is-czech-bikemakers-fastest-lightest-most-aero-gravel-bike-ever/ https://bikerumor.com/superior-xr-gr-is-czech-bikemakers-fastest-lightest-most-aero-gravel-bike-ever/#comments Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:45:20 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=365423 Superior are set to debut all-new faster, lighter XR GR aero gravel bikes this autumn at Gravel Worlds, but we already got a sneak peek…

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2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike

Czech bikemaker Superior tease an all-new aero XR GR evolution of their versatile gravel bike. Superior is set to be one of three main sponsors of the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championship this October in Flanders – together with Skoda & Lotto – and that’s where the new gravel bike will see its official launch. So, details remain a bit at the moment on this model year 2025 bike. But we’ve got a pretty good close-up look at it in both gravel and road builds, and know the key upgrades over its predecessor…

2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike

(Photos/Cory Benson)

“The fastest and lightest gravel ever by Superior”

Superior is pretty excited about their new XR gravel & all-road bike. It’s not a major departure from their current X-Road model – first introduced back in 2016 – now sharing a simply tweaked name.

But the new bike takes a big leap forward in performance and versatility.

And at a claimed 827g for the new hi-mod carbon frame, it certainly falls now into the lightweight gravel frame category. And with that comes an apparent boost in both stiffness for power transfer and refined handling.

What’s new?

2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike, angled detail

At first glance, the big changes focus on aerodynamic optimizations – more integrated fork crown-to-downtube shaping, deeper truncated airfoil tube shapes, a bigger rear wheel cutout, more aero fork blades & dropouts, and dropped seatstays, for example. And of course, completely integrated fully internal cable routing through the headset.

2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike, aerodynamic seattube cutout

But the most important change was really a shift to bigger tire clearance. Now, it officially sports clearance for up to 45mm tires. That means the new Superior XR GR can be built up with popular 40mm tires for fast-paced racing, but bigger knobby 45mm tires give it more versatility and comfort for recreational gravel riding, as well.

Tech details

2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike, 1-piece carbon cockpit

Other key features include new integrated rubber downtube & chainstay protection, a SRAM UDH, and a sleek Litemove LED taillight that is neatly attached to the back of the aero seatpost.

Plus, there are plenty of carry-over tech details like the 12mm thru-axles, flat mount brakes, PressFit bottom bracket, removable front derailleur hanger for 1x or 2x builds, electronic or mechanical shift compatibility, and an internal wedge-style clamp for the proprietary aero seatpost.

On both road & gravel builds, Superior’s own aerodynamic 1-piece carbon One ICR integrated carbon cockpit with 10° forward sweep to the tops and gentle 4° flare in the drops.

2025 Superior XR GR lightweight aero carbon gravel bike, UCI approved #001

Superior says the new XR road and gravel bike is UCI-approved, although we haven’t seen it in the official list yet. And this UCI sticker listing the bike as Superior-001, does not follow the current UCI frame code standard (which would likely be SIP-XR-GR)? So, perhaps this is just a placeholder for the time being.

The flagship gravel bike build will be this 2025 Superior XR 9.8 GT that will sell for 5000€ with a Shimano GRX Di2 1x groupset, 1-piece carbon cockpit, and carbon DT Swiss GRC 1600 gravel wheels wrapped in 40mm Schwalbe G-One Allround tires.

XR GF gran fondo all-road version, too

2025 Superior XR GF gran fondo all-road bike version, too

Just like the X-Road before it, Superior offers this new XR evolution in more traditional road builds, too.

It again adds a gran fondo name, as the XR GF will feature bigger road tires for more comfort and more all-road versatility. Plus, it’s still the same 2-in-1 frameset, so the XR GF is still gravel-ready for buyers who want to mix it up between road and gravel.

2025 Superior XR 9.8 GF gran fondo all-road bike 6000€

As for specs on the road, the builds will lean towards traditional 2x road groupsets, although mostly with compact or mid-compact gearing. The flagship road build for 2025 will be this Superior XR 9.8 GF, selling for 6000€ with an Ultegra Di2 2x build, 1-piece carbon cockpit, and carbon DT Swiss ERC 1400 endurance road wheels wrapped in 32mm Schwalbe Pro One tires.

Superior XR GR gravel bike – Gravel World Championships & availability

Superior says they will officially launch the new XR GR gravel bike at 2024 Gravel World Championships in Halle-Leuven, Belgium this coming October 5-6th. So we’ll have to wait until then for more concrete details on what’s new – like updated geometry, additional spec options, and a full pricing breakdown. Officially, it is a model year 2025 bike, so we expect availability of the new models no earlier than the end of 2024, with some models likely only arriving in the start of next year.

SuperiorBikes.com

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RST Teases LTD Team Stitch Pro Enduro Fork, Electronic Control Prototype & AirTag Tracker https://bikerumor.com/rst-teases-ltd-team-stitch-pro-enduro-fork-electronic-control-prototype-airtag-tracker/ https://bikerumor.com/rst-teases-ltd-team-stitch-pro-enduro-fork-electronic-control-prototype-airtag-tracker/#comments Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:53:06 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=365405 RST is bringing back their classic Team edition silver forks, but will you be able to get one? Plus, budget prototype electronic suspension is in…

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RST Limited Team Edition mountain bike forks, Stitch Pro enduro fork

We’ve spotted these classy silver lowers on the bikes of their pro athletes this year, but maybe you too will soon be able to get ahold of a limited pro edition RST fork. A little further down the development pipeline, RST are also working on wireless electronic suspension controls.

Plus, they have a tidy AirTag tracker that securely fits into your tapered steerer and will help keep tabs on your beloved bike. And you can already get that one now…

RST Limited Team Edition mountain bike forks, coming soon?

RST Limited Team Edition mountain bike forks, Stitch Team silver vs. standard black enduro fork
(Photos/Cory Benson)

RST is certainly most known for affordable suspension forks that get heavy OEM spec on entry to mid-level bikes. But while a lot of their forks focus on affordable value, their internals and performance still seem pretty solid. So in a move to shift a bit away from the budget feel of black decals on black forks, RST has been giving all of their sponsored athletes special edition forks this year.

Bringing back a look I remember from their team XC & DH forks in the late 90s (when 26″ wheels were big and 180mm travel seemed unbelievable) these new pro Team forks get classy silver magnesium lowers and shiny retro red decals. And wow, do they look a lot cooler.

RST says the feedback has been great from their sponsored athletes. And fans of the brand also seem pumped. Silver forks are faster, right?

RST Limited Team Edition mountain bike forks, Team silver Stitch 29 Air 180mm enduro fork

So, now RST are toying with the idea of releasing a limited team edition of the silver forks. And they showed us this 38mm stanchion Stitch 29 Air enduro fork, which would likely be the first one available to consumers – in 160, 170, or 180mm travel.

Electronic suspension control

RST Electronic suspension control prototype, wireless remote

Again, RST makes us think about value-oriented suspension, not necessarily the cutting edge, right? Well, it looks like even mid-tier suspension is going to be getting electronic damping controls in the near future.

In fact, we’ve seen RST working on affordable electronic controls for years – like their Elev8 E wireless dropper. And this wireless prototype electronic fork damping controller has been in the works for several years too.

RST say they have sorted out all of the electronics inside the fork leg, and paired it to an existing wireless remote.

RST Electronic suspension control prototype, wired battery

And now, they are really just refining the installation.

This prototype used more complex system wiring that allowed for multi-directional communication. But RST thinks they will move to a simpler setup that will allow for slimmer wiring and connectors to a battery pack that sits securely inside the bottom of the fork’s steerer tube.

No official word on how long it will be until this makes it to market. But since it’s targeting affordable OEM spec, we’d expect it wouldn’t be until at least MY26.

RST Smart Tag system Apple AirTag bike tracker

RST Smart Tag System wireless Apple AirTag tracker in the fork steerer tube

And finally, while you’ll have to wait for the RST Team fork, here’s something you can buy from RST right now.

Their latest Smart Tag Platform bicycle tracker has a fun PR campaign right now, with your bike’s fork sending you a postcard from a tropical beach somewhere.

Hopefully, the idea of securely mounting an Apple AirTag inside the steerer tube means you will be able to get back a stolen bike or ebike quicker than it can travel around the world on holiday, though.

RST Smart Tag System wireless Apple AirTag tracker in the fork steerer tube, detail

The ~$20 / 20€ Smart Tag holder bolts almost flush into the 1.5″ opening at the bottom of your fork’s tapered steerer with a tamper-resistant Torx security bolt. It’s a simple solution, with an open expander layout designed to be both secure and to allow for good wireless antenna communication.

It should help keep tabs on your bike in populated areas where bike theft is most common. And if you act fast with tracking, you should have a good chance to recover your bike before the tracker is discovered and tampered with or disabled.

RSTsuspension.com

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Intense M1 Pinion Prototype Teases Gearbox DH Bike Future of Electronic & Auto Shifts https://bikerumor.com/intense-m1-pinion-prototype-teases-gearbox-dh-bike-future-of-electronic-auto-shifts/ https://bikerumor.com/intense-m1-pinion-prototype-teases-gearbox-dh-bike-future-of-electronic-auto-shifts/#comments Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:12:07 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=365078 Spotted, tucked into a corner at Eurobike, was this slick aluminum Intense M1 Pinion DH prototype sporting a gearbox and their latest Smart.Shift electronic shifting.…

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Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH mountain bike angled

Spotted, tucked into a corner at Eurobike, was this slick aluminum Intense M1 Pinion DH prototype sporting a gearbox and their latest Smart.Shift electronic shifting. Now, Intense already has a recently updated M1 DH bike with a new high-pivot, 6-bar adjustable travel suspension design that’s been proven by their Factory Racing team on the DH World Cup circuit. So, what is there to gain by recreating that bike with an electric shift gearbox and a belt drive?

Besides a 100,000€ reward from Gates… a lot of performance benefits, too!

Would you ever think of automatic shifting on a DH race bike?

Intense M1 DH electric shift gearbox mountain bike prototype

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, complete mountain bike
(Photos/Cory Benson)

We often hear about the low maintenance benefits of gearboxes and belt drives. But there are fewer real deep dives into the true racing benefits of such a setup, as well. Gates has certainly sparked some good discussion with their offer of a 100k€ bonus purpse to the first Elite DH World Cup win on a Gates belt-drive mountain bike. And Gamux Factory Racing with their production Sego have gotten a good head start.

But count this high-pivot Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike as further proof that a gearbox may be able to help you go faster in the type of races where a fraction of a second makes all the difference in the world.

Better weight distribution. Reduced unsprung mass. Lower center of gravity. No vulnerable derailleur to bash against the rocks.

What’s new, turning a World Cup DH bike into a gearbox bike?

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, 6-bar linkage

It’s no simple or cheap project to design, develop, and build a World Cup DH racing prototype. But Intese is all-in.

It certainly helps that their latest World Cup DH race bike – the M1 – is already made of more-prototyping-friendly 6061-T6 aluminum. And it doesn’t hurt that it recently got a complete high-pivot, idler pulley, 6-bar suspension update that lends itself well to strapping a gearbox underneath.

To make that work, Intense really only needed to reshape its chainstays and rebuild an all-new bottom bracket cluster to house the Pinion. Effectively, it looks like all of the suspension linkages and much of the shock tunnel carry over. And Intense keeps the seatstays, toptube, headtube, and most of the downtube from the regular M1, too.

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, with idler pulley and Gates belt tensioner

Still, creating the new bottom end for Intense’s M1 Pinion DH gearbox prototype was no easy feat. So, Intense turned to the German rapid prototyping experts of Trumpf to 3D-print a number of elements in weldable alloy to complete this project bike, and hang a Pinion gearbox off it.

Then, of course, they had to create a new Gates centerline-compatible idler pulley for it, and rig the Gates tensioner pulley off the motor to keep belt tension through 202-212mm of rear wheel travel.

Pinion C1.6i 6-speed electronic Smart.Shift gearbox

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, c1.6i Pinion

Interestingly, most performance-focused gearbox bikers are usually trying to get the most gears and the biggest gearing range possible. But in DH racing where special 7-speed derailleur systems already abound, Intense opted for the simpler and lighter C1.6i 6-speed gearbox.

The magnesium casing C1.6i still gives the Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike a wide-enough 295% gearing range. Plus, it’s almost 15% lighter than the 12-speed version, and a claimed 1800g for the regular gearbox. But that little i also means that this is an electronic shift Smart.Shift version.

This adds back some weight – with an internal battery and electronic actuator – but replaces the sometimes sluggish feel of the Pinion twist-shifter with a push-button electric trigger shifter. It also means that Pinion times your shift to the dead spot in your pedal rotation if you are pedaling. So, you can shift under load better than ever (as much as a gearbox can ever really be shifted under load).

The entire gearbox setup gives this Intense M1 Pinion DH prototype an incredibly clean and simple rear end, with no derailleur to worry about. And also you still get to choose your desired hub, like this fast-engaging Onyx.

One more thing…

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, is that a speed sensor?

Pinion actually debuted their electronic Smart.Shift shifting system a couple of summers ago on bikes, where it could plug into their big onboard batteries. And they could be configured for some automatic shifting functions too – along the same lines as the Shimano eMTB-specifc AutoShift & FreeShift modes we’ve tested, but here since the gearbox can shift even when you are not pedaling it could apply to regular bikes, as well.

Pre.Select would automatically shift you into an ideal gear based on speed as you coast, and Smart.Select would automatically shift to a preset gear for starting from a stop. Neither of those really made it to any pedal-powered bike because you needed a speed sensor to make it work.

But do you see that wire running on the inside of the non-driveside chainstay (above)? We don’t know why that would be there, unless it was a speed sensor.

Intense M1 Pinion prototype gearbox DH bike, same M1 but different

So it looks to us like Intense created their M1 DH race prototype, not with only electronic gearbox shifting, but automatic Pinion Smart.Shift gearbox shifting.

We can really see that Pre.Select function coming in handy for certain racetracks, where a racer could program it to automatically have the perfect gear set to attack out of a super technical section, letting them concentrate on controlling the movement of the bike.

Intense says only, “We’re true to our core values, constantly evolving, pushing boundaries, and developing our bikes.” Bringing automatic gearbox shifting to the DH World Cup sounds like pushing boundaries to us too…

IntenseCycles.com

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SON 29 S Creates Dynamo Hub So Tiny, It Disappears Behind Your Brake Rotor https://bikerumor.com/son-29-s-creates-dynamo-hub-so-tiny-it-disappears-behind-your-brake-rotor/ https://bikerumor.com/son-29-s-creates-dynamo-hub-so-tiny-it-disappears-behind-your-brake-rotor/#comments Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:33:58 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=364607 The bulbous dynamo hub is dead. Long live this new sleek SON 29 S hub dynamo that you won’t even see hidden behind your disc…

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SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo

The bulbous dynamo hub is about to be a thing of the past, thanks to this sleek SON 29 S hub dynamo. With all-new narrow electronics inside, SON Nabendynamo tucked the dynamo generator into an enlarged flange behind the 6-bolt disc brake tabs that could be easily missed. With more performance all-road, gravel & adventure touring bikes with ever-expanding electronic gadgets these days, SON is making a better case for unlimited power on the go!

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo, oversized flange
(Photos/Cory Benson)

Can I just start out saying that I am a big fan of dynamo hubs. Even if I don’t put in as many kms as I’d like, on the one gravel bike I have set up with a dynamo, at the moment. In a time where daytime running lights will keep me safer on the road, GPS mapping can lead me to discover new places to ride, my smartphone is an excellent mobile camera to share those rides, and derailleur batteries are quickly recharged via USB… the idea of self-sufficient power as I pedal is always enticing. I’ve had every type of electronic device die on a ride before. But never on my dynamo-equipped bike.

So now SON Nabendynamo has their first new hub dynamo in several years.

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo hidden behind the disc brake rotor

The SON 29 S is a lower-profile hub with a new generator design tucked into an oversized disc-side hub flange, developed for the performance-oriented adventure market. On the bike, it almost disappears behind even a small disc brake rotor, giving you a more modern aesthetic.

Tech details

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo, 6-bolt disc

The generator inside the SON 29 S dynamo hub may be narrow, but it is still designed to put out the same 6V/3W power as a regular dynamo. Like the 28, SON again optimized the 29 S for power output at relatively low speeds and 29″ wheel – outputting 6V from around 15km/hr (StVZO-compliant). According to SON, “together with smart charging electronics, it enables especially high power output” so you can not only power your lights but also recharge all of your gadgets once you are riding at a constant speed.

SON meant the 12mm thru-axle 6-bolt disc 29 S hub for road or gravel wheels, with straight-pull spokes. It features radially lacing on the driveside, and 2x on the disc side. The 29 S offers symmetric 32-hole drilling or 2:1 drilling for 24-spoke wheel builds, and comes only in black.

The new dynamo comes standard with SON’s easy-plug coaxial connector (like shown above).

SON SL Connect
(Photo/SON)

But it will also be possible to get one to work with SON’s self-connecting SL interface that integrates a powered ring directly into the dropout (like on this red fork that comes on Urwahn bikes). Then you don’t even need to unplug the dynamo to remove the front wheel.

SON 29 S dynamo – Pricing, options & availability

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo, 12mm thru-axle with stright-pull spokes

Since the straight-pull hub design requires a bit more expertise to build up, at first SON is only offering the new SON 29 S dynamo hub in wheels built by them now in Germany. Complete front wheel builds start at 550€ with an alloy DT Swiss rim for road or gravel.

With that said, expect the new hub to also be available soon to reputable professional wheelbuilders for custom builds. And with its narrow design and 2:1 24-hole option, we expect to see a number of carbon road, all-road, and gravel wheels built up with the new SON 29 S hub dynamo in time for the start of next year’s adventure racing season.

New Ladelux LED dynamo headlight, too

SON 29 S sleek low-profile hub dynamo powers new smart Ladelux LED high-beam USB-chargin headlight

In addition to the innovative new dynamo hub, SON also has a smart new Ladelux dynamo-powered headlight, with low & high beams. SON designed the Ladelux for smooth output USB-charging of your electronics with a small internal buffer battery. And SON claims it is able to draw more power from a hub dynamo than any other charging device on the market (from 700c riding speed of >30km/hr) making it perfect for the adventure racer with lots of gadgets to keep juiced.

The 480€ Ladelux puts out 120/180Lux at any speed, backed by a 1200mAh battery inside, and includes a handlebar switch and magnetic charging cable for your smart device.

NabenDynamo.de

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Leatt Enters MTB Component World w/ Vibration-Absorbing Stems, Grips, Pedals & Full Face Bidon! https://bikerumor.com/2025-leatt-all-new-mountain-bike-components/ https://bikerumor.com/2025-leatt-all-new-mountain-bike-components/#comments Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:45:00 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=364042 5 pedals & 2 stems in magnesium or aluminum, multiple grips & bars, plus super affordable riding clothing & more women's kit... 2025 Leatt will…

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(Photo/Cory Benson)

Clothing and protection maker Leatt had interesting new riding gear to show at Eurobike last week, but it was their all-new mountain bike component line-up that stole the show. With several all-new clipless pedals, platform pedals, traditional & direct-mount stems, and MTB bars that come with vibration-damping lock-on grips, Leatt drops in with commitment to the mountain bike component segment. Plus, there’s multiple levels of components, from mid-level performance spec alloy, up to top-tier lightweight Ceramag ceramic-coated magnesium & titanium components.

Let’s take a closer look…

2025 Leatt all-new mountain bike components

2025 Leatt MTB Components line-up
(Photos/Cory Benson)

It’s the 20th anniversary of Leatt – founded on the concept of the safety of a neck brace. And now the South African company is breaking away from soft goods that you wear, to hard goods that connect you to the bike. On offer are 5 completely new product categories.

Connecting your feet to the bike, there are 4 lines of pedals – 1 flat and 3 clipless pedals from XC to DH – each with two or three spec levels. In between your hands and the bike are ergo grips in 2 thicknesses, alloy bars in 2 rise options, and conventional or direct mount stems in a few lengths. And lastly, a couple of new water bottles, with one being uniquely full-face-friendly.

Ceramag tech or classic alloy

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Ceramag magnesium stem in white

Both the pedals and stems have a few performance tiers, with ceramic-coated magnesium Cermag being the top-level – in black or white – promising super light weights, gravity-ready strength & stiffness, and the ability to damp more vibration than aluminum. Or you can pick from traditional aluminum alloys – 6061-T6 for pedals and 7075-T6 for stems in black, silver, or bronze – sharing the same shaping, just at a higher weight and more affordable price points.

Lightweight and high strength are the big benefits of the use of magnesium for Leatt. Then, improved ride comfort comes as an added bonus due to the material’s vibration-damping properties. But its susceptibility to corrosion means the protective finish is extra important.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Ceramag magnesium tech details

So Leatt first gives the magnesium components a ‘plasma ceramic corrosion seal’ treatment, then a ‘high wear resistance’ coating on top of that.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Ceramad All-Mtn clipless in black

The result is a matte white or black finish with a deeper texture to it.

But that ceramic coating does appear quite resistant to regular MTB trail wear. We had a sneak peek at these same white Leatt 8.0 Ceramag flat pedals back in March. And they have some visible signs of wear, including tiny dents from rock strikes, but look great and protected nonetheless.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Ceramag gravity flat pedal in white

Leatt says the Ceramag construction also has the side benefit of being more eco-friendly than traditional aluminum. At its core, magnesium is abundant and easy to source from the environment. It can be 100% recycled. And refining and processing it is less energy intensive than aluminum.

Mountain Bike Pedals

2025 Leatt MTB Components, wide flat & clipless pedal family

The biggest spread of new kit in the 2025 Leatt MTB Component line-up are 5 all-new mountain bike pedal designs. Starting with the more burly gravity sector that is kinda the root of all Leatt gear and expanding all the way to their latest endurance family for XC and maybe even gravel.

All Mtn flat pedals

2025 Leatt MTB Components, gravity flat platform pedal in Ceramag black

All of the pedals – from platforms to clipless – include a top tier with Ceramag magnesium bodies (above) or more affordable aluminum bodies (below).

And most have a titanium spindle version too. Or you can always upgrade the standard hardened chromoly axle to ti down the road for $129€.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, gravity flat platform pedal in alloy

The Leatt All Mtn flat pedals have a 114mm long platform in two widths – 107mm or 100mm – so you can pick what best matches your shoes and the cornering clearance you prefer.

The 16mm thick platform pedals have a concave profile – 5mm thinner at the axle (when factoring in the pins) – and 10 replacement traction pins.
Pricing starts at $169 / 169€ for the aluminum Leatt MTB AllMtn 6.0 version (381g). Or $259 / 249€ for AllMtn Ceramag 8.0 Flat in magnesium (309g), then $319 / 319€ in magnesium with a titanium spindle at just 256g for the pair.

Gravity Clip pedals

2025 Leatt MTB Components, gravity clipless pedal

Next up are large-body 110x88mm Gravity clipless pedals, or what Leatt calls just Clip type. Their whole new family of clipless pedals use a pretty standard adjustable-tension Shimano SPD-style engagement, and are compatible with regular SPD cleats. And all pedals share the same axle/spindle structure – inboard glide bushing, middle needle bearing & outboard roller ball bearing, all extra sealed.

The Leatt MTB Gravity Clips feature 6 pins per side standard (only 4 shown, above), but also include the option for rubber traction pads in lieu of pins. They are available in 6.0 aluminum for $199 / 199€ at 522g, or in 8.0 magnesium for $269 / 269€ at just 419g. There’s no ti spindle option here, but you can always upgrade axles if you want.

All Mtn Clip pedals

2025 Leatt MTB Components, all-mountain clipless pedal

Then there are All Mtn Clip pedals. At 95x70mm, they aren’t a ton smaller, but offer much lighter weight and improved ground clearance to bridge the gap between trail and enduro riding. The all-mountain clipless pedals get 4 traction pins per side, set wide apart for positive grip whether you are clipped in or not.

The Leatt MTB All Mtn 6.0 pedals start at just $189 / 189€ in aluminum (466g), or at $259 / 259€ in All Mtn 8.0 Ceramag magnesium (364g).

Endurance clip pedals

2025 Leatt MTB Components, XC endurance clipless pedal

The smallest and lightest of the all-new Leatt MTB Components family is the Clip Pedal Endurance 8.0 Ti. These Ceramag magnesium pedals with titanium axles are just 58mm wide x 48mm from tip to tail on the engagement mechanism, and weigh <300g in their lightest configuration. Designed for XC & Marathon riding to support Leatt’s latest move into the realm of endurance mountain bike racing, they’ll likely also be a popular gravel choice, too. Especially, since they’re a claimed 12g lighter than XTR or 44g lighter than XT – the benchmark of pedal performance for much of gravel & XC.

The Leatt MTB Components Clip Pedal Endurance 6.0 starts out at just $159 / 159€ in aluminum (382g, claimed). Or go Ceramag magnesium for $219 / 219€ in the Clip Pedal Endurance 8.0 (354g) or spare no expenses for the Clip Pedal Endurance 8.0 Ti at $339 / 339€ (298g).

35mm Gravity mountain bike cockpits – stems, bars & grips

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Ceramag black gravity mountain bike stem

Pedals are a big tech-heavy way that we interface with our mountain bikes. But while MTB cockpits tend to be more simple, there’s plenty of room for refinement. Leatt this their new MTB Components can offer up something unique, again leveraging the light weight and natural vibration damping of magnesium to dial in that perfect balance of comfort and control.

Their new Ceramag Gravity 8.0 Ti stem is the top tier, blending a wide magnesium frame with titanium bolts for XC ready weights as low as 93g, but DH-ready performance. Yes, these ultralight stems are EFBE Tri-Test certified for Category 5 gravity riding, even if they are lighter than anything else you’ll find on a trail bike.

The 4-bolt removable faceplate Leatt MTB Components Gravity 35 stems come in 33mm, 45mm & 50mm lengths, with a 65mm wide x 35mm diameter clamping area.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, mountain bike stem and bar cokcpit

The shot-peened anodized Gravity 35 6.0 stem in forged & machined 7075 aluminum sells for just $129 / 129€, at weights of 141/149/63g, respectively. Jumping up to Magneiusm in the Ceramag Gravity 35 8.0 stem costs $199-229 / 199-229€ but saves a good bit of weight – 107/109/117g, respectively. Then, going all in on titanium bolts, the $239-259 / 239-259€ Ceramag Gravity 35 8.0 Ti stem weighs just 93/95/103g, depending on length.

There’s also a 171g aluminum-only direct-mount Gravity DM35 6.0 stem for dual-crown riders. At $159€, you get a 70mm wide x 35mm diameter clamping area, adjustable 45/55mm length in one stem and a +5mm stack spacer to help tweak your position. No Ceramag magnesium option though, because your DH bike is already heavy to start with, right?

35mm aluminum handlebars with grips included

2025 Leatt MTB Components, mountain bike cockpits - stem, bar & grips

Bars are a relatively simple thing, but not overlooked in the all-new Leatt MTB Components line-up. Leatt goes light & strong with a 7050 aluminum handlebar Tri-Test-ed to Cat 5, but still just 285g. There’s a 100mm wide 35mm clamping area for max stiffness and compatibility with all stems. And the 800mm wide bars in silver or black get 9° backsweep, and mid 23mm rise or high 38mm rise options to dial in your fit.

Pick up a Leatt MTB Components “Handlebar Kit” for $119 / 119€ and you get the Launch Control 35 6.0 bar of your choice (284g) , plus a set of all-new vibration-damping Reaflex 6.0 Grips (106g) for free. (Included grips will be black and standard thickness.)

Ergonomic vibration-damping MTB grips

2025 Leatt MTB Components, Reaflex vibration damping mountain bike grips

Yes, Leatt has all-new grips that use the same non-Newtonian elastomers from their soft protection to damp vibration in their new ergonomic mountain bike grips (previously called Airflex, now redubbed Reaflex to sate the lawyers for some military gear producers).

The $29 / 29€ grips get two Reaflex inserts (top & bottom) between the grippy outer rubber and the rigid plastic internal lock-on structure – designed to reduce arm fatigue. The grip themselves are not quite round (but almost) with a “variable diameter taper profile” that puts more solid rubber on the outer edge of the grip and under your palm. Pick them in regular 33/31mm diameter, or a slightly thinner 31/29mm version, still with Reaflex inside.

The grips feature thin, flexy ribs under your thumb and forefinger for positive grip, and waffles under fingertips for extra control. Plus, there’s just an inboard lock-on ring and a padded outer bumper to protect your bar – whether in a crash, laid on the ground (gasp!), or to protect a wall or your car when you lean your bike against the first inanimate object you find after a tough ride.

2025 Leatt MTB Components, pedal and grips tech details

Check out a closer look at what’s inside all of the pedals and the new grips.

Full-face-specific water bottle

2025 Leatt MTB Components, standout full-face-specific water bottle with Hydrapak extension
(Image/Leatt)

This one feels almost silly to get excited about, especially since I haven’t seen it in person yet. But after a few hot summer days testing enduro gear in bikeparks, I long for a water bottle that’s easy to drink out of when wearing a full-face helmet.

The secret to the all-new $30 / 30€ Leaat Steady-Sip Convertible water bottle is that there is a tube inside that draws water from the bottom of the bottle and some sophisticated valves to keep it ready-to-drink at all times. What you get is a bidon you can sip from without turning it upside-down. And there is either the standard Hydrapak Blaster bite valve on the top cap. Or… the new Leatt water bottle also includes a short Hydrapak extension tube that you can leave attached to the bottle, and can be angled inside of a full-face helmet for easier mid-ride refueling.

Now, I’ve been drinking in between runs where I take my goggles off and squeeze a normal bottle in above my chin bar. But the thought of quick and easy mid-ride rehydration kinda sounds like a dream during this hot & sweaty summer of bikepark riding!

Affordable All-Mountain to Gravity riding kit – Ride Kit MTB 1.0

I briefly mentioned riding apparel. And while that makes up the bulk of Leatt’s product SKUs, they were also light on the detail at Eurobike here, too.

But what stood out to me was this $100 / 100€ Ride Kit MTB 1.0. Sold as a set for a hundred bucks – including a long-sleeve jersey and a pair of long pants – you get a solid all-mountain to enduro to DH set of riding gear for a super reasonable price. Fabrics are simple but durable synthetics – and Bluesign certified! – and based on the higher-end Leatt gravity riding gear. The feature list reads like something out of Leatt’s much more pricey lineup, and we’re psyched to give it a test.

Plus, there’s a kids version too, for just $90 / 90€ for the jersey & pants pairing. Bonus for enduro parents!

Lastly, Leatt says they’ve greatly expanded their trail clothing offerings for MY25, making sure that women get parity with men on options at all levels We’ve tested a number of the higher-end women’s gravity clothing options from Leatt over the last couple of seasons and have always come away pleased, but wishing there were as many options as there were for men. It sounds like our concerns are being addressed. We’ll be keeping an eye on it!

Leatt MTB Components – Availability

2025 Leatt MTB Components line-up

All of the all-new Leatt MTB Components, the new affordable gravity wear, and the updated men’s & women’s trail kit are officially model year 2025 products. That means officially you won’t be able to buy it until the start of next year. But, we’ve seen in the past that Leatt manages to sneak some of their next year’s kit out to dealers in early winter. And we’ve heard that some of the new MY25 gear – like the Ceramag components, for example – should be available earlier in the fall. Hit up your local Leatt distributor or dealer to get updated delivery timelines in your market.

We’re especially curious to try out the Ceramag kit to see how it stands up to real-world (ab)use, and to see if the budget gravity wear is as good as Leatt’s more premium enduro riding clothing.

Leatt.com

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ReTyre Unveils ‘World’s First Carbon-Neutral Tire’ with Unique Construction at Eurobike https://bikerumor.com/retyre-unveils-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-tire/ https://bikerumor.com/retyre-unveils-worlds-first-carbon-neutral-tire/#comments Thu, 11 Jul 2024 19:11:28 +0000 https://bikerumor.com/?p=363484 Meet the world's first Carbon-Neutral bicycle tire by reTyre.

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ReTyre carbon neutral bicycle tires

Norwegian tire company ReTyre has been on our radar for several years, with their unique approach to tire construction. First, it was zip-on tires. Now it is a completely new continuous injection-molded construction from pre- and post-consumer materials that create tthe world’s first ‘Carbon Neutral’ bicycle tires.

ReTyre World’s First Carbon-Neutral bicycle tires

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire stock on Frog bikes
(Photo/ReTyre)

Oslo, Norway is home to reTyre, a company that has recently shifted to mass-producing sustainable tires in 2022. At this year’s Eurobike, they’ve announced the “world’s first carbon-neutral tire”, made of a mix of recycled and reclaimed materials combined with a by-product of restoring aquatic ecosystems – all in an effort to use cutting-edge manufacturing technology to reduce emissions from bicycle tire production.

ReTyre world's first carbon neutral bicycle tires, infogrpahic
(Photo/Cory Benson)

ReTyre claims that the tire is crafted from groundbreaking materials, and the innovative concept marks a monumental step in sustainable tire production.

A Revolution In Tire Manufacturing

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire rubber free
(Photo/ReTyre)

The first step is the raw materials that make up the new tire – but it’s a unique construction that makes it all work. Instead of a conventional fabric casing wrapped around a mold and then overwrapped with one natural rubber tread at a time, ReTyre continuously molds a giant spool of flat tire.

The casing feeds through a mold, where a thermoplastic mixture with a consistency and durometer somewhere between rubber and TPU is injection molded directly onto the casing. Then the casing rolls a bit further, and the next set of tread is co-molded on. The result is up to 1-1.5m of tread molded at a time, with relatively smooth seams or transitions from one to the next, right out of the mold.

ReTyre carbon neutral bicycle tires, overlap seam
(Photo/Cory Benson)

The tire is then rolled onto a giant spool.

Only later is it cut to length for the desired tire diameter, and the casing and tread are bonded into a loop to form a single tire. This method is said to further reduce emissions from the shipping and distribution process. So while the spool of tire is manufactured in Norway, ReTyre can finish tire manufacturing with more simple tooling in the local market.

Unique recycled and reclaimed ingredients

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire hero
(Photo/ReTyre)

ReTyre’s Carbon-neutral tire incorporates several unique materials in its construction, each chosen for its ability to minimize environmental impact:

The ReTyre tread includes algae harvested from out-of-control blooms that were damaging the local ecosystem. By removing the problematic algae, it halts the eutrophication process that chokes out native fish, disrupts natural ecosystems, and emits methane into the atmosphere.

That algae is mixed with post-consumer recycled plastics to create the tread. Interestingly, it seems the algae binder + plastics recipe is more flexible on what materials can be added.

Recycled casing & protection, too

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire rubber free balance bike
Rubberless Balance Bike tires (Photo/ReTyre)

Utilized from used body armor in a closed-loop recycling process, ReTyre incorporates renewable carbon in recycled para-aramid fibers back into the tire beads and its puncture protection layers. And then the fibers of the casing itself are said to be woven from used fishing nets at the end of their life. Recycling the nets is said to reduce emissions by 49% and energy use by 15% vs. using virgin nylon materials.

The Path to Carbon Neutrality

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire Friedmann Ohse
(Photo/ReTyre)

The person who is leading the Carbon Neutral Tire Project at ReTyre is Froiedemann Ohse. He elaborates on the meticulous process that goes into achieving carbon neutrality. “The product carbon footprint of this tire is based on our third-party verified LCA, including the end-of-life, which is how we measure all our products. Our production and transportation processes are optimized to be close to zero emissions“.

Ohse continues, “End-of-life is reduced to almost zero due to the recycling of the tires. The algae used in the tire has a negative CO2 equivalent, balancing any remaining emissions to achieve a net-zero impact. In this way, we have a carbon-neutral product without using any of the well-known shortcuts, such as carbon quotas, subsidies, or other non-product related contributions.

A Global Effort in ReTyre Carbon-Neutral tires

reTyre World's First Carbon-Neutral Tire the Bio-Based Tire
(Photo/ReTyre)

ReTyre collaborates with global suppliers to responsibly source their materials. For instance, the algae used in the process is harvested from lakes and oceans worldwide and is supported by the UN Ecosystem Restoration Program.

Unique Materials + Manufacturing Possibilities

ReTyre carbon neutral bicycle tires, color options
(Photo/Cory Benson)

Using its 100% sustainable product portfolio, ReTyre can offer brands a wide range of sustainable tires without compromising quality. By using bio-based and 100% renewable materials that have never been used before, ReTyre significantly reduces emissions and produces fully reusable tires. They can even make the rubber or main casing structure in a wide range of colors.

This approach reduces GHG emissions by up to 82% compared to conventional tires. Friedmann Ohse also said, “This carbon-neutral tire is at a concept stage and it is a result of continuous innovation that shows what our unique manufacturing is capable of“.

Eurobike’s ReTyre Carbon-Neutral tire lineup debut

ReTyre carbon neutral bicycle tires, kids bike range
(Photo/Cory Benson)

Within the concept of their groundbreaking carbon-neutral tire concept, ReTyre showed the wide range of sustainable products possible with this new construction at Eurobike. That includes a new City Range tires designed for the urban cyclist and Children’s Range of tires meant for low-cost OEM kids’ bikes.

reTyre.eco

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