Felt 2011 Lineup Preview

For the Felt Edict LTD, the company switched to a single-pivot design that relies on flexing carbon stays, which offer strong lateral stiffness. Cutting out the extra pivot and its associated pivot hardware brought the bike down to 5.5 pounds. In Felt's Virtue line, they’re offering cost-friendly aluminum models and a new all-carbon model with a frameset weight of 5.5 pounds. The 29er line also gets updated with a 4.1-pound aluminum frame and a three-pound carbon model.(www.bicycling.com)

Scott's Genius LT

Scott's Genius LT, $6799 (full build)

The all-mountain Genius LT, with 185 mm of rear travel and a claimed frame weight of just 6.2 pounds, claims one of the top travel-to-weight ratios, but the bike delivers in many more ways. A handlebar-mounted Twinloc lever can select between three modes: a lockout mode that simultaneously controls the fork and the rear, a traction mode offering 20 percent rear sag, and a full-open mode offering 30 percent rear sag. The bike's engineers have flipped the orientation of DT Swiss-made pull shock so the shock body doesn't move with the rear end, allowing the wheel to respond without the added weight.(www.bicycling.com)

Cannondale Jekyll

Cannondale Jekyll, $5,349 (Carbon 1 full build)

One of the central features of the redesigned Jekyll 90/150mm travel trail bike is its all-new Fox DYAD-RT2 shock that switches between two modes using a handelbar-mounted switch. “Elevate” mode makes climbs quick and efficient, reducing sag by 40 percent for a more efficient climb. “Flow” mode turns the bike into a plush and capable descender by lowering bottom bracket height. Using military-regulated BallisTec carbon, Specialized reduced the frame weight to 2,060 grams, with promises of much greater durability than conventional carbon. Aluminum models come in at a claimed weight of 150 to 200 grams heavier than the carbon models.(www.bicycling.com)

25th Anniversary Yeti 575

25th Anniversary Yeti 575, $2,999 (frame kit)

Yeti overhauled its 575 trail bike for its 25th anniversary. Besides the retro yellow-turquoise paint job, Yeti modified the 5.75-inch rear-travel frame so that it could accommodate longer-travel forks while not changing the overall nimble feel and ride of the bike. Yeti opted for beefier chainstays, which have slightly increased the weight of the frame to over seven pounds. The main pivot area is stiffer, with more clearance, but these changes mean riders need a direct mount for the front derailleur. The frame updates aren't limited to the anniversary edition; the changes have been made across the entire 575 line. (www.bicycling.com)

Specialized's 2011 Demo 8 frame

Specialized Demo 8, $2,500 (frame)

Developed with input from Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough, Specialized's 2011 Demo 8 frame helps fast riders go faster and gives slow riders greater confidence and stability. Changes include lowering the bottom bracket, adjusting frame geometry and shaving off three-quarters of a pound. A shorter 112mm head tube (down from 120mm) provides a solid ride. With an increase of rear end hub spacing to 150mm (up from 135mm), riders can use a wider selection of hub and wheel options. (www.bicycling.com)

Giant Glory Mountain Bike 2010

First Look: Jared Rando’s 2010 Giant Glory downhill bike

Last weekend Giant Bicycles introduced its 2009 factory riders at Woodward West in Tehachapi, California. Over the course of two days an assembled group of bike media folks met and mingled with the team riders and took turns trying to hurt ourselves on Woodward West’s giant foam pit. Giant put the weekend event together to introduce team riders Oli Beckingsale, Adam Craig, Carl Decker, Kelli Emmett, Jeff Lenosky, Jared Rando and Kurt Sorge.

After watching Adam Craig send if off 10-foot hucks on his Trance X, the Bike magazine covet ops team was able to infiltrate the deepest levels of Giant Bicycles security, and, under the cover of darkness, we wrangled these spy shots of Giant gravity rider Jared Rando's new 2010 downhill race sled.

Giant's Maestro linkage manages the Glory’s 8 inches of travel, nearly an inch less than the current model. Titanium fasteners rack up extra weight savings.

Giant wasn’t able to give us exact specs but says the bike is a fair bit lighter than the current Glory DH model and equally stiff. This new model will be named numerically, as most of Giant's other bikes, instead of using the current "DH" nomenclature.

By Ryan LaBar
Photos: Jake Orness/Giant

Source: www.bikemag.com

Kona Hei Hei 2008

Hei Hei means race in Hawaiian. Every part is picked to keep the weight down. Then we limit the rear suspension to 2.5 inches, and apply just a little bit of paint on the superlight Scandium frame tubes.

Made from Light Scandium Butted tubing and featuring their Dual Suspension system to offer a fast responsive ride. Up front can be found a pair of Rockshox Reba Race forks with 85mm travel.

Features

• Kona 2.5" 4-Bar Scandium butted frameset/Magrockers
• Fox Float RP2 rear shock
• Rockshox Reba Race 85mm travel fork
• Race Face Evolve XC X-Type crank/BB
• FSA XC-300 wheelset
• Wiggle price: £1,267.39

Source: www.wiggle.co.uk

Felt Compulsion 2 SE 2008 Mint Sauce Ltd Ed

An Efficient, Aggressive Trail & All-Mountain Machine with 145mm / 5.7" Travel.

Designed in collaboration with cartoonist Joe 'Mint Sauce' Burt for MBUKs 20th anniversary. Only 300 have been made so this is your chance to own this awesome limited edition upgraded version of Felt's best selling full susser.

Upgrades include RockShox Pike 409 front forks, WTB SpeedDisc All Mountain double wall rims and 2009 Felt All Mountain bars and stem. This bike is an incredible purchase at full price and with this big discount the limited stocks will not last long!

Features

• Limited Edition decals uniquely numbered
• Limited Edition Mint Sauce certificate
• Limited Edition white gloss finish and upgraded components
• Limited Collector's Edition 20th Anniversary Mountain Biking UK Magazine
• Fork Travel: 140mm
• Frame Travel: 145mm
• Wiggle price: £978.70

Source: www.wiggle.co.uk

Giant Trance X3 2008

There's no feeling quite like the rush of sweet single-track. And there's no better way to sample delicious trail all day than onboard the Trance X3.

The ultimate trail bike, Giant's new Trance X3 delivers 5 inches of Maestro suspended confidence to daring trail riders and tireless singletrack. The all-new, super light Aluxx SL alloy Trance X frameset produces a plush 5 inches of Maestro travel to conquer steep climbs and tame rough descents with ease. Up front can be found a pair of RockShox Recon 335 Air forks with a full 120mm of travel, these have the added benefit of RockShox Turn Key lock out system.

Features

• MODEL: Trance X 3
• SIZES: 16", 18" & 20"
• FRAME: ALUXX SL aluminium, Fluid Formed, Maestro suspension system with 5'' / 130mm of travel
• FORK: RockShox Recon 335 Air 120mm travel, Turn Key lock out
• SHOCK: Fox Float R
• HANDLEBAR: GIANT A5 aluminium riser
• STEM: RaceFace Ride XC ahead
• SEAT POST: RaceFace Ride XC
• SADDLE: WTB Devo Team, CroMo rails
• PEDALS: N/A
• SHIFTERS: Shimano Deore 27 speed RapidFire Plus
• FRONT MECH: Shimano Deore
• REAR MECH: Shimano XT Shadow
• BRAKES: Hayes Stroker Trail hydraulic disc, 178mm/152mm discs
• BRAKE LEVER: Hayes
• CASSETTE: SRAM PG950 11-34
• CHAIN: Shimano HG73
• CRANKS: FSA Alpha Drive 22/32/44
• BOTTOM BRACKET: FSA PowerDrive
• RIMS: Alex DP-17 26"
• HUBS: Formula
• SPOKES: Black stainless steel
• TYRES: Kenda Nevegal 26x2.1'' Stick-E (F) DTC ®
• Wiggle price: £929.77

Source: www.wiggle.co.uk

KHS Lucky 7

Specifications

Frame
New Design AL6061, 4-bar Horst bearing linkage, 7.3" travel

Rear Shock
FOX Van R, rebound adjust

Fork
Marzocchi 66RCV, 180mm, rebound & compression adjust

Headset
Cane Creek Pig, 1-1/8" Threadless

Rims
WTB Dual Duty FR, Doublewall

Hubs
Front: Formula Disc, Sealed Bearing, 20mm through axle
Rear: Cassette 12mm x 150mm

Tires
John Tomac Nevegal 26x2.5, Kevlar bead

Spokes 14G black, 32°

Front Derailleur
Shimano Deore

Rear Derailleur
Sram X-7

Shifters
SRAM X-7 Trigger

Chain
KMC Z9000

Crankset
Truvativ Hussefelt w/guard, 36/24t, 175mm

Bottom Bracket
Truvativ Howitzer outboard bearing splined

Cassette
Shimano HG50, 11-34 9-Speed

Pedals
Alloy platform w/crmo axles & replaceable pins

Seatpost
Truvativ XR

Saddle
WTB Pure V Comp

Handlebar
Truvativ Hussefelt, 31.8

Stem
Truvativ Hussefelt, 50mm

Grips
WTB WeirWolf dual density

Brake Levers
Hayes Stroker Trail

Brakes
Hayes Stroker Trail, 8" rotors

Color
Red

Frame Size
S, M, L

Prize
$2839

Source: www.khsbicycles.com