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Interbike show
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, September 22-26, 2008
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Part 9 - September 29, 2008: More ride reports from the Outdoor Demo
By James Huang in Las Vegas, Nevada
Trek Top Fuel gets a dose of nitrous
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Trek introduced its revamped Top Fuel to the world two months ago but this year's Outdoor Demo provided the first opportunity to actually throw a leg over one. Thankfully, it was well worth the wait.
We extend our apologies to current Top Fuel owners as the new version is no simple evolutionary step forward. The 2009 Top Fuel's substantially lighter weight is substantial (and noticeable) but we're far more excited about the vastly improved overall feel and suspension performance.
The stiffer chassis accelerates more enthusiastically yet the new carbon frame also provides a far smoother ride quality as opposed to its forebear's occasionally chattery feel; the word 'glide' wafted through our minds more than once during our two-hour ride through Bootleg Canyon.
While it's difficult for us to say whether or not Trek's ABP (Active Brake Pivot) system offers a real-world advantage in this shorter travel application, the new rear end is still clearly better able to keep the wheel firmly planted than before. It's still effectively a single-pivot system but careful tweaks to the suspension rates and Trek's Full Floater dynamic shock mounts seem to be doing their job.
Our Outdoor Demo tester wasn't in full production trim, though: the flat bar was swapped for a wider Bontrager carbon riser and the high-zoot carbon clinchers were traded in for more standard Bontrager Race X Lite wheels with aluminum rims. Both changes were clearly geared towards better survivability amongst Bootleg Canyon's endless minefield of jagged rocks. We expect things to get even racier once we get a hold of a properly outfitted long-term tester but for now, our initial impressions are very favorable.
Up and down (and up and down) on SRAM's new road gear
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On paper, SRAM's revised Rival group had already struck us as 2009's performance value leader with its more Red-like function and feel but an unrelentingly undulating one-hour test ride on the roads surrounding the Outdoor Demo venue definitely reinforced our hunch.
The most significant change is to the DoubleTap lever shape which is now a virtual carbon copy of Red. The curvier lever blades (now made of carbon) offer a more natural fit and they're also about 10mm longer for an easier reach while in the drops. The larger Red-like shift paddle shape is also more accessible from all positions.
Rear shift performance remains the same as before but front shifts have quickened with the addition of Red's Zero Loss internals which also now yields an outer trim position.
Not to be overlooked is Rival's new black finish which, at least in our eyes, looks decidedly more upscale than the original's polished silver.
Our late-morning spin also included a set of SRAM's new S60 60mm-deep aluminum-and-carbon clinchers. Though they're not particularly light at a claimed 1750g per set, the weight really isn't all that noticeable once you get moving.
Instead, the S60s mostly struck us as fast and smooth. SRAM borrows the S60 rim's toroidal cross-section from Zipp's analogous Flash Point model and the Sapim stainless steel spokes are deeply bladed. Though it's hard to say how effective the built-in vibration damping features really are, we'd ridden the Scott Addict frame of our test bike enough times in the past to suggest that something might actually be happening here.
Even so, we'll reserve final judgment for when we get a test set of our own and have more control over tire and pressure variables but so far, so good.
Hot laps on BMC's new Trailfox
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BMC improves on the promise shown with last year's Trailfox trail bike platform with an all-new version for 2009. BMC continues on with its dw-link-esque APS (Advanced Pivot System) suspension design but travel on the top-end TF01 now grows to 140mm. The revamped rear end also thankfully cuts the chain stay length to a far more reasonable 433mm (17.05"); last year's Trailfox was a rangy 450mm.
Frame weight has dropped, too, and is now down to 2.55g (5.62lb) without the Fox RP23 rear shock. There's extensive use of hydroformed triple-butted 7005 aluminum, the bottom bracket and main pivot are forged in halves and then welded down the middle to yield a hollow shell, the upper link uses similar forged-and-welded construction and the rear brake is now post-mount for use with 185mm rotors. Pivot hardware has also grown in diameter and now uses Loctite to prevent loosening.
Hopefully BMC will use a little more Loctite than what was used on our Ourdoor Demo tester, though, as the main pivot backed out about 10mm during our quick trial. To be fair, Outdoor Demo bikes tends to be the most heavily thrashed of any demo fleet but this raised our eyebrows nonetheless.
Save for some nasty creaking (we didn't notice the loose pivot hardware until nearly finishing the ride), the APS rear end still did a good job of hugging the terrain and it also pedaled pretty well considering our hasty shock setup. The shorter chain stays also make it easier to loft the front end when needed.
Overall handling seemed reasonable enough even with the odd setup of our demo ride: the zero-offset post was paired with a long 120mm stem that yielded a decidedly forward weight orientation. Production units are more likely to come with layback posts but even so, the top tube felt shorter than the 590mm (23.2") figure quoted for our medium size.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Trek promises noticably lighter weight and a faster and more competent ride for its new Top Fuel and our two-hour test ride through Bootleg Canyon suggests that it has hit its mark.
- Full Floater dynamic shock mounts provide more control over spring rates throughout the travel range and the difference in feel from last year is noticeable.
- We couldn't tell just yet if ABP works as well in this shorter travel application as it does on the Fuel EX trail bike so we'll have to reserve judgment for when we get a proper tester.
- The integrated seat mast offers a discernable amount of rearward flex, adding to the smooth ride of the new rear end.
- A bigger head tube reinforces things up front.
- Legs not included: the top-end Top Fuel 9.9 SSL will come with a 2x9 FSA crankset with more narrowly set arms.
- Trek had a carnival-type 'crane game' trucked into the Outdoor Demo.
- There were lots of lucky winners throughout the day such as this woman who took home a Trek baseball cap.
- The Outdoor Demo also provided us with our first on-bike taste of the heavily revamped Rival group.
- The new Rival levers are near carbon copies of Red save for the lack of Zero Loss internals on the right-hand side. Otherwise, the longer lever lengths and bigger shift paddle make for far easier access.
- SRAM's new S60 wheelset is similar to Zipp's equivalent Flash Point model though a few hub tweaks apparently make this version a little quieter. Even with its modest weight, the S60 felt fast and smooth on the road.
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- BMC launched a all-new Trailfox at this year's Outdoor Demo.
- We had some assembly issues with our particular tester but suspension and pedaling performance of the revised APS rear end seemed very good.
- BMC continues to use the dw-link-esque APS suspension system with good results.
- The upper link is now forged as two halves and then welded down the middle for a lighter and stiffer unit than before.
- A handy sag indicator makes for easier setup.
- The bottom bracket shell and main pivot also use the same construction methods as the upper link.
- Revised linkage geometries have allowed BMC to cut chain stay length by a substantial 17mm from last year.
- The front triangle makes liberal use of hydroforming for its triple-butted 7005 tubes.
- As usual, the top tube bears the signature 'T'-shaped cross section that we've come to expect from BMC.
- A tidy welded crossmember on the seat stay assembly keeps thing tight out back and there's now more tire clearance than before.
- Full-length housing is used to keep out crud.
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Mongoose prepared a special high-end version of its Teocali trail bike complete with beautiful candy apple red paint. Unless the company hears from consumers that they're willing to pony up for something like this from Mongoose though, this one was just for show.
- The top-end spec included SRAM X.0 shifters and rear derailleur, Avid Elixir CR disc brakes and an FSA carbon riser.
- Mongoose even colored the shifter clamp logo just for this one-off special.
- Hutchinson Toro tires are wrapped around a pair of Mavic Crossmax SLR wheels.
- The red and white theme continued with the FSA K-Force Light crankset.
- We guess this chain stay protector says it all.
- A RockShox Revelation 426 fork holds up the front end.
- Hear, hear.
- Lapierre has a new carbon 'cross frame available just in time for the season.
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- The El Rey from Ventana pairs the company's trademark faux bar rear suspension system with four inches of travel and 29 inches of trail stomping wheels.
- Sealed cartridge bearing pivots are used all around.
- The heart of the El Rey joins the bottom bracket shell, main pivot and lower shock mount all in one beautifully CNC-machined chunk of aluminum.
- The wraparound head tube gusset is joined with Ventana's perfect 'Electric Sex' welds.
- Ventana also showed off a new El Chucho with a 26" rear wheel and 29" front.
- Ventana says the El Chucho is possibly its favorite new bike. Out on the trails of Bootleg Canyon, we felt instantly at home but it'd take us a little while to get used to the differential wheel sizes.
- This year's Outdoor Demo seemed busier than ever and countless riders took advantage of the opportunity to try out a wide variety of machines.
- The demo area even included a well-constructed dirt jump park.
- Mmm… berms.
- Bootleg Canyon offered a mix of terrain to suit nearly any skill level of rider. Watch out for those sharp rocks though!
