bki e test - pivot cycles · bki e test mid-travel full suspension (frame only) (full bike)...

Bike Testm i d - t r a v e l F u l l S u S p e n S i o n

( F r a m e o n l y ) ( F u l l b i k e )£1,999-7,000

118 Mountain Biking uk

MBK284.biketest.indd 118 11/1/12 10:19 AM

Mountain Biking uk 119

big money, top Speed trail

blaSterS

Words Guy Kesteven Pics Russell Burton

Whether it’s cars, buildings, burgers or self-opinion, Americans have always had to have the biggest of

everything. That means it was no surprise when we started seeing bigger than average wheels on the Nevada desert test trails a few years back.

While we’ve taken longer to jump on the bandwagon than

they normally do to join a World War, the smooth rolling, high-speed confi dence of 29ers has caught on globally like the biking equivalent of a Big Mac.

With every booth now offering a selection of wheel sizes – or not even bothering to bring 26in wheeled bikes, Dirt Demo was the perfect chance to fi nd out what’s happening with some of our favourite 29er rides for 2013.

Guy KestevenEven for a tester as prolifi c as Guy, the Interbike Dirt Demo is a feeding frenzy of dusk till dawn riding on the latest and greatest mountain bikes.

theteSter

B I K E T E S T

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS STUMPJUMPER FSR CARBON £7,000(FULL BIKE)

DEVINCI ATLAS CARBON £1,999 (FRAME ONLY)

TURNER SULTAN£2,199 (FRAME ONLY)

PIVOT 429C PRO£4,950 (FULL BIKE)

T H E L I N E - U P


SO GOOD

Confi dent handling on fast open trails

US handbuilt, detail-laden alloy frameset

Neutral DW Link suspension

125mm travel, slacker angles, long fork compatibility and ISCG mounts

NO GOOD

Weight/stiffness ratio can’t match similarly priced carbon fi bre frames

Small batch hand building means a price premium over mass produced alloy bikes

D ave Turner’s Sultan was one of the first full suspension 29ers. This updated version is a beautifully made and immaculately conceived

frameset that harks back to old glories, but is still a confidence-boosting, technical trail cruiser if you prefer hand-built alloy art over carbon fibre clarity and woven weight loss.

The frameThe Sultan frame was extensively updated last year. The 44mm head tube is compatible with tapered forks, and there are ISCG mounting tabs around the bottom bracket shell. There are still gussets – rather than hydroformed tubes – reinforcing the down tube and bridging the steeply-sloped top tube to the seatpost.

Rear end detailing includes cable- and brake-hose routing through the stays, replaceable thread barrels for the rear brake mount and a super neat combined end cap/rear mech mount for the 142x12mm screw-through rear axle. Giants will love the rare XXL size.

The kitFull bikes from Silverfish are likely to be Shimano-based, but our demo

model was loaded with SRAM’s carbon-rich X.0 stop-and-go gear. SRAM also supplied the Truvativ bars, stem and seatpost, which are fine for cross-country work, but we’d definitely stick on a wider bar and shorter stem for technical singletrack.

Apart from the cost, we’ve zero complaints about the ENVE-rimmed, Maxxis-shod wheels.

The rideSlipping the best wheels you can onto a demo bike is a very wise move, and there’s no doubting that the Sultan was getting a serious boost from the ENVE carbon wheels.

As soon as we passed the ‘Walk, don’t ride’ line of the demo compound, the Sultan spun up to speed with an insolent ease that belies the hefty frame weight. Despite the raised asymmetric chainstays, cantilevered dropouts and relatively slim box-section alloy swingarm there’s no obvious loss of power between pedal and trail either.

The combination of the DW Link and the Monarch rear shock means minimal movement in the big ring. Whether you’re spinning the pedals on smooth hardpack or chopping out

desperate one-at-a-time revs trying to get to the far side of a gravel trap, it always remains impressively stable and solid underfoot.

The only time we flicked the Floodgate compression damping on was when long, slow, small-ring climbs snaked up the canyon sides ahead of us, and a noticeable pulse from the rear end began to match that hammering in heat-shrunk helmets.

The combination of long chainstays and stable pedalling is a great platform for tackling technical climbs on too. There was less loose terrain spin from the Ardents than the other DW bikes here when we were sessioning steep sections for head to head comparison. The long back-end also offsets the fact the Sultan had the longest fork, shortest top tube and slackest head angle of the quartet, keeping the front tyre in consistent contact with crumbling desert corners.

That same long and lazy front end syncs with the controlled but not over-active 125mm (4.9in) of rear wheel travel to provide an equally easy ride back down. When buddying up for twin shots on the opening spread of this feature, it was no drama to push the front wheel right into the roost of

Delicious detailing and warmly honest ride from an iconic alloy alchemist£2,199 (frame only)

turner Sultan

dW linkThe asymmetric DW Link rear end gets a 142x12mm rear axle to increase stiffness.

FloodgateRockShox’s name for their externally engaged low-speed compression damping switch.

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Bike Testm i d - t r a v e l F u l l S u S


big WheelSBig wheels are obviously a big part of the Sultan’s control and composure and they don’t get better than ENVE carbons.

iScg mountSISCG tabs are waiting behind the triple chainset if you’d rather run fewer rings and more retaining rollers.



BIKE TEST


ThIS IS a claSSIc ThaT’ll BE a SupEr confIdEnT and capaBlE companIon for yEarS To comE

Not the lightest or stiffest but an impeccably neutral, lazily confident and beautifully made technical trail cruiser

Delicious detailing and warmly honest ride from an iconic alloy alchemist

Alex or Doddy in front. When we were totally blinded by dust, but still tipping into the backlit turn smoothly, the Sultan soothes what should be screaming nerves. While the big wheels dampen the sense of speed, there’s no denying the fact that the brakes need to be dabbed to stop the Sultan rear-ending whoever is dropping down in front.

There are inevitably limits to be found. The low-slung alloy tubes do start to sway and twist if you really drive it hard through corners, but it’s a

grip growing, tyre growling compliance rather than loading up and letting go. There’s a bit more stiction in the bushings than the bearings of the other DW Link bikes on high-speed hits, but the extra travel helps off bigger drops. Hard anchoring definitely slams the Revelation through its travel too easily. That long back -end means you’ll be taking some liberties with the outside edges of corners to get it round tight switchbacks too and the jacked up bottom bracket can feel a bit tippy at stalling speed.

The Sultan rarely loses its sense of Regal composure though – it just suggests that you’re about to overstep the mark, like a true friend would. It might not be light, but this is a classic that’ll be a super confident and capable companion for tackling technical trails for years to come.

B I K E T E S T


SO GOOD

Excellent handling balance

Seamless adjustable auto lockout BRAIN suspension control

Full tamed chain, ISCG mounts and dropper post

Top Shimano and own-brand kit

Impressively light complete bike

NO GOOD

Not the lightest or stiffest 130mm travel 29er chassis

£7,000 is a huge amount of money

Specialized have rolled out all their chassis, suspension, transmission and wheel innovations for the S-Works Stumpy. It all syncs to create an

easy-to-ride yet capable machine.

The frameSpecialized’s highest grade FACT 11m carbon fibre brings the S-Works frame and shock in at 2.69kg (5.94lb).

Routing the cable/hose under the down tube provides protection from rocks, and there’s an ISCG mount on the press-fit bottom bracket and 142x12mm screw-through dropouts.

Specialized’s evergreen FSR/four-bar/Horst Link chainstay pivot suspension is also slaved to their unique BRAIN shock actuation chamber just ahead of the rear brake rotor. This uses an adjustable spring-loaded inertia valve (floating weight) to lock and unlock the shock in response to vertical impacts or sudden compression loads. The shock also has Specialized’s proprietary AutoSag feature for simple pressure set-up.

The kitThe top-of-the-range, Kashima-coated, travel adjustable FOX TALAS fork gets

a normal CTD compression damping circuit rather than a Terra Logic inertia valve version. XTR Trail clutch gears and fin-cooled brakes are similarly superb top of the range equipment for hard riders.

Apart from the super light Syntace stem, the rest of the kit is all top drawer Specialized own-brand equipment. This includes the super light FACT PF30 carbon crank arms, Dangler under-chainstay chainguide, lightweight carbon-rimmed wheels, fat and light Purgatory and Ground Control 2.3in tyres, and 720mm low-rise carbon bars. Even the fast-returning, testical-threatening 125mm (4.9in) travel Command Post dropper under the titanium railed Specialized saddle is their own design.

Unsurprisingly this carnival of carbon means a super high complete bike price but it also makes it seriously light for a 29er with 130mm (5.1in) of travel. In fact the complete bike is only 368g heavier than the 26in version.

The rideThanks to the auto lockout from the BRAIN there’s certainly nothing to betray the extra travel in the way the Stumpjumper pedals and the cranks

transfer power well. The lightweight carbon wheels with DT Swiss Star Ratchet freehub pick up speed very easily for a big-wheeler too.

The TALAS fork can be slammed down to 105mm (4.1in) travel for really steep climbs, although we never actually bothered because the overall balance of the bike was excellent in both the L and XL sizes we tested.

Despite super short chainstays, the saddle is still centred rather than cantilevered over the rear axle, which means reliable steering contact even on the steepest climbs. The fat and tough dual-compound Specialized tyres meant we never wanted for grip or cushioning, however gravelly or sharp and rocky the Nevada desert trails got. The combination of chain-bounce reducing clutch rear mech, chainstay chain roller and carbon chainguide on the outer chainring meant the transmission never skipped a beat, however much we chucked it around or rattled it through rock gardens either.

The low weight dropper post, long front end and short back end, make the FSR a bike that you can’t help taking liberties with. It’s a testament to its totally sorted geometry that we

Specialized’s flagship is a truly innovative, but massively fun super bike£7,000

Specialized S-WorkS Stumpjumper FSr carbon

BRAIN FadeThe adjustable spring tension in a BRAIN shock. The more you add the bigger the force needed to open the shock and the faster it closes when things smooth out.

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oWn-brand kitSpecialized carbon crankarms save weight and the carbon wheels are own-brand too.


no brainerThe Fox Kashima fork has TALAS travel adjust for climbing and CTD damping rather than anything BRAIN related.

inertia valveDamping on the Fox rear shock is remote controlled through an inertia valve actuated BRAIN chamber.

B I K E T E S T


wE had no TrouBlE ThrowIng around, maKIng ShapES In ThE SKy or JuST lETTIng ThE BIg whEElS TaKE carE of TraIl carnagE

Loaded with technology and technical terrain mastery, the S-Works Stumpy is an enjoyable, responsive and efficient all-rounder

had no trouble throwing it around, making shapes in the sky or just letting the big wheels and impressively controlled suspension take care of trail carnage with minimal input from us.

We expected benchmark composure and damping accuracy from the Fox Kashima fork, but the smooth control from the back end surprised us. It takes a bit of riding to find the level of BRAIN Fade that suits your riding style, but there’s no obvious composure-threatening transition from locked to open. It

swallows big hits and sustains speed through ragged, rocky terrain well too.

But while the 32-spoked wheels are stiff enough, there is a pliable feel to the whole frame, and the fork if you really start to twist it between tight, rutted lines or warp it through a corner on the grippy tyres. It’s just slightly feedback dampening rather than line-losingly loose though, and in many cases this friendly flex will actually help you swim through the line of least resistance rather than slamming and slicing off random rocks.

So although it’s not the stiffest or lightest long-travel 29er frame, the S-Works Stumpy doesn’t shy away from any challenge. All the proprietary technology it’s loaded with genuinely helps you concentrate on enjoying the ride rather than nursing gears or flicking shock levers.





SO GOOD

Impressively light carbon mainframe

Lifetime warranty

Monarch shock works with the Split Pivot suspension

Naturally agile handling

Excellent value

NO GOOD

Needs more careful pressure tuning than ‘basic’ DW bikes

Not as stiff as some carbon frames

Flexy wheels

Devinci’s alloy Atlas was already near the top of our 29er charts, and the new semi-carbon version is significantly lighter for not much more money,

making it a high-performance bargain.

The frameThe new carbon mainframe follows the existing alloy Atlas template but loses nearly 290g in mass, despite claimed stiffness gains and 140mm (5.5in) travel fork compatability.

There are dropper post cable hose guides on the top tube as well, while the rest of the routing on top of the down tube is pragmatic if not necessarily pretty. The bottom corner has two wing gussets to support the shock, while the rocker pivots are two separate carbon fibre triangles that rely on a cross-brace on the double-headed Clevis pivot ‘seat’ stays to keep them working together.

The rear end is the same asymmetric alloy structure as the original Atlas with Offset pivot inserts allowing a very subtle change (0.6 degrees) in overall geometry in the high or low settings.

Dave Weagle’s Split Pivot design puts the rear pivot concentric to the

rear wheel, with a 142x12mm through-axle pinning everything together.

Despite the low frame weight and very competitive price, the bike is still covered by Devinci’s lifetime warranty scheme, which is very rare for a carbon fibre bike.

The kitOur Dirt Demo sample ride was US spec with an upgraded Kashima fork. UK bikes will have an Evo fork but SRAM X9 transmission, Easton EA90 cockpit and Formula RX brakes upgrades for a bargain £3,399.99.

There’s also a RockShox Reverb dropper post option.

The rideDespite the fact our demo bike had the most down-to-earth spec of any of the bikes here, it’s still the lightest complete machine. It needs more tuning time than the other bikes here, but the reward for patience with a shock pump is well worth it.

While mid-weight wheels in the larger 29er diameter inevitably take some of the sharpness off acceleration through the first few pedal strokes, the low overall weight is definitely apparent on extended altitude gain

sections. There’s plenty of length in the top tube to fill your lungs up with hunching, and there’d still be spare breathing space with a short stem on to lighten up the steering character.

The Split Pivot design is definitely more tolerant of torque in the big ring than the small ring though. To be precise, there’s an obvious bounce in its lower gear pedalling stride unless you flick the Floodgate compression damping on or spend a while fettling the shock pressure into its fairly narrow sweet spot. Once you’ve got it dialled though, it tracks the ground beautifully wherever you are in the power stroke, and there’s less need to feather your muscle flex in response to trail surface changes compared to simpler swingarm set-ups.

It’s a tribute to how smoothly the Split Pivot design operates that the 110mm (4.3in) of rear travel and Monarch shock synced really well with the class leading Kashima-coated fork. This was particularly noticeable in terms of soaking up chatter and rock ripples, whether we were cruising or clattering into pre-corner braking bumps. The Monarch also holds the back end of the bike up better than Fox damper-equipped alloy Atlases

A lighter, updated version of one of 2011’s best big wheel introductions£1,999 (frame only)

devinci atlaS carbon

careFul Set-upThe Atlas also uses a Dave Weagle design but the more sensitive DW Split Pivot needs slightly more careful set up than DW Link machines.

Clevis pivotA stiffness boosting double-sided pivot joint pinned through the centre by an axle.

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WheelS’ limitThe confident low- slung handling of the Atlas took the Easton wheels to their tracking limit on the technical desert trails.

carbon FrameDevinci’s carbon mainframe saves significant weight but still comes with a lifetime warranty at a cracking price.


B I K E T E S T


wE wErE happy lETTIng go of ThE BraKES and lETTIng IT run Through

morE SaVagE SEcTIonS of TraIlS

Devinci’s 29er trail tamer is impressively light, super smooth and immediately responsive, at a bargain price

we’ve ridden when we were really squeezing it hard into berms and compressions. It doesn’t push as far through its travel on moderate hits either, although that can be remedied on Fox bikes anyway by fitting an internal volume reducer.

29ers definitely roll over rocky trails better than smaller wheels too, with the overall feel and control of the Atlas definitely more in the 120 to 130mm (4.7 to 5.1in) conventional bike camp. Kenda Slant Six 2.2in tyres add useful cushioning without cramping mud

clearance and we were happy letting go of the brakes and letting it run through the more savage sections of the Bootleg trails. Even when we had to rein it in, the short back end and steep angles meant it snapped round tight lines and turns without the usual big wheel delay. It whips and flares better than most big wheelers if you get some air under the wheels.

Pushing it hard does accentuate the flex of the 24-spoked Easton wheels, but frame flex is within acceptable limits for its race-ready weight.

The low cost of the Atlas is backed by a lifetime warranty that makes it a proper bargain too. It’s impressively light, responsive and tight-turning, and its neutral suspension response and through-axle future-proofing give us confidence well beyond normal cross-country expectations.





SO GOOD

Stiff full carbon frameset

Well balanced, neutral suspension

120mm travel fork plus reinforcing panels equal trail toughness

ISCG and dropper post mounts give all-mountain versatility

NO GOOD

On the heavy side for a 100mm travel carbon chassis

Top quality costs top money

Doddy’s burly but super stiff Pivot 429 long-termer was the bike that switched him onto the benefits of big wheels. Pivot’s new 429 carbon version still

isn’t a featherweight but it’s a shockingly stiff and properly tough piece for pushing your fast techy trail riding to whole new limits.

The framePivot only claim a 15 per cent bottom bracket and 12 per cent head tube increase in stiffness over the alloy bike, but compared to the other bikes here it feels as though it’s hewn from granite.

Pivot have also used the strength and stiffness gains of the material for practical benefits. Standover clearance is increased by 1.5 to 0.5in depending on frame size. The chainstays are also 8mm shorter than the alloy bike while still giving triple chainset and 142x12mm screw-through axle clearance. The DW Links are super short too, with the lower one swinging inside pockets that are sunk into the massive base of the seat tube.

While 2.61kg (5.75lb) is slightly heavy for a 100mm (3.9in) travel cross-country bike, Pivot provide ISCG tabs on the press-fit bottom bracket,

and there are dropper post cable guides. There are big ‘armour’ patches on the down tube belly, chainstays and inner face of the dropout too.

The gear cables are routed internally through the mainframe and there are also up and under bottle cage mounts.

The kitWe tested the Pivot in complete XT Pro format, and the Shimano XT stop and go kit (with XTR rear mech highlight) is an excellent match for such a tough and capable bike.

The 120mm (4.7in) travel Fox Kashima fork is the default too despite the Fox CTD can out back only having 100mm (3.9in) travel.

We like the KS seatpost, with its neat collar-mounted cable stopping paint scuffing. Thankfully the style cramping FSA bar and stem will be replaced by a more ‘power assisted’ trail friendly cockpit on UK build kits.

The rideThere’s no doubt that one word outweighed all others during our test time on the 429C.

Whoever was riding it attached every possible superlative (and a fair amount of swearing) to the basic

bottom line of ‘stiff’. Load the pedals into a corner, shove the inboard tip of the bar towards the trail, flare the back end broadside and slam land it sideways. Whatever we did with it, the frame didn’t flinch an inch.

Add a low bottom bracket and super smooth Fox Kashima fork and shock action, and this translates into phenomenal cornering accuracy and tenacity on the trail. Whatever lines the other bikes were holding through corners, the Pivot consistently carved inside them with an aggression that stretched our trust in the tyres to the limit. Despite the uptight cross-country cockpit, the slack angles made for easy high-speed confidence, which its smoothly controlled reaction to rocky sections did nothing to undermine. The super short back end still means you can whip it through tight stuff very smartly, and it transfers power outstandingly well.

Unfortunately this super aggressive cornering character had dire implications for the rear wheel, which barely wobbled past the frame stays by the time we’d finished with it. It was stiff until it started to warp and dismantle itself though, and it was one of three wheels that Alex destroyed in

Pivot’s new carbon framed trail bike is as tight and tough as they come £4,950

pivot mach 429c

StiFF chaSSiSIt’s another 142x12mm bolt through axle at the back, but the overall chassis stiffness of the Pivot is outstanding compared to other bikes.

DW LinkTwin linkage system developed by suspension guru Dave Weagle, who liked it so much he gave his initials to it.

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Fork choiceSThe 429 frame only delivers 100mm of travel, but it’s designed to run a 120mm fork.

riot gearISCG mounts and dropper post cable guides built into the frame prove the Pivot is ready to riot as well as race.





BIKE TEST


ThE SlacK anglES madE for EaSy hIgh-SpEEd confIdEncE, whIch ITS conTrollEd rEacTIon To

rocKy SEcTIonS dId noThIng To undErmInE

Phenomenally stiff and sharp handling from a smooth riding, trail tough, race-light 29er

Pivot’s new carbon framed trail bike is as tight and tough as they come

just two days, so the end result is more a sign of the abuse it was getting rather than any specific weakness.

The stiffness also affects shock set-up, in that we had to drop the shock and fork pressures to take the inherent sharp sting of the frame out of the ride. Once we’d done that though we never really thought about the suspension again.

Set the CTD shock in the middle Trail mode and there’s certainly very little trace of rear wheel movement through the pedals, whether you’re

spinning from the seat or standing up and stomping. Just consistent ground connection and rich traction that you’ll soon learn to trust whatever the surface underneath. It sucks up drops and square edges well enough for the 100mm (3.9in) of rear wheel movement to feel totally in sync with the 120mm (4.7in) up front as well, making it totally suitable for fitting up with a chain device and dropper post for fast, technical trail-blasting.

This carbon speed machine has taken a smoothly neutral suspension

design and bolted it into one of the stiffest 29er frames we’ve ever ridden. When you add a full all-mountain/future-proofing feature list that includes extensive frame armouring, the result is a super precise, trail tough, high velocity weapon that aggressive riders will love.

B I K E T E S T


WHAT OUR SCORES MEAN: We give each bike one overall score to sum up how it performs and its value for money. If a bike gets a score of fi ve, it really is the best you can get in terms of both

turnerSultan

devinci atlaS carbon rc

Specialized S-WorkS Stumpjumper FSr carbon

pivot429c Xt pro

PRICE £2,199 (frame only) £1,999 (frame only) £7,000 (full bike) £4,950 (full bike, £2,350 frame only)

DISTRIBUTOR www.silverfi sh-uk.com www.havendistribution.co.uk www.specialized.com www.upgradebikes.co.uk

WEIGHT 12.65kg (27.9lb) no pedals 12.16kg (26.8lb) no pedals 12.29kg (27.1lb) no pedals 12.84kg (28.3lb) no pedals

FRAME Zen alu DeVinci Carbon mainframe, alu rear

FACT carbon Pivot hollow box carbon

SIZES (*TESTED) M, L*, XL, XXL S, M, L* S, M, L, XL* S, M, L*

FORK RockShox Revelation, 140mm (5.5in) travel

Fox 32 F29 CTD TA Kashima, tapered, 100mm (3.9in) travel

Fox TALAS, CTD Factory Kashima tapered, 105-130mm (4.1-5.1in) travel

Fox 32 F29 CTD TA, Kashima, tapered, 120mm (4.7in) travel

SHOCK RockShox Monarch, 125mm (4.9in) travel

RockShox Monarch RT3, 110mm (4.3in) travel.

Fox Remote BRAIN Autosag Kashima shock, 130mm (5.1in) travel

Fox Float CTD TA shock, 100mm (3.9in) travel

HEADSET Cane Creek 40 Cane Creek 40 1.125in and 1.5in threadless Pivot Integrated

WHEELS Hubs: Chris King ISO disc 15mm, 142x12mmRims: ENVE XC29 CarbonSpokes: Sapim CX RayWheel weight: F: 1.86kg, R: 2.13kg

Hubs: Easton EA70 XCT discRims: Easton EA70 XCTSpokes: Easton double-buttedWheel weight:F: 1.76kg, R: 2.03kg

Hubs: Roval Control Trail SL 29 15mm front, 142x12mm rearRims: Roval Control Trail SL Carbon 29Spokes: 32 DT Swiss Super Comp triple-buttedWheel weight: F: 1.76kg, R: 2.07kg

Hubs: Pivot/DT Swiss disc 15mm front, 142x12mm rearRims: DT Swiss XR 400Spokes: Black DT Swiss Supercomp double-buttedWheel weight: F: 1.95kg, R: 2.18kg

TYRES Maxxis Ardent, 29x2.25in Kenda Slant Six DTC, 29x2.2in Specialized Purgatory Control 2Bliss front Ground Control 2Bliss rear 29x2.3in

Kenda Slant Six DTC, 29x2.2in

CRANKSET/ BOTTOM BRACKET

SRAM X0/28-34T/SRAM GXP SRAM S1400 36/22T/SRAM PF92 Specialized XC Trail OS carbon Bash/36/22/SRAM PF30

Shimano XT 24-38T/PF92

DERAILLEURS SRAM X.0 F: SRAM X7, R: SRAM X9 Shimano XTR F: Shimano XT, R: Shimano XTR Shadow Plus

SHIFTERS SRAM X.0 SRAM X9 Shimano XTR Shimano XT

CASSETTE/CHAIN SRAM 1080, 10-speed 11/36T/SRAM PC1080

SRAM 1050 10-speed 11/36T/SRAM 1050

Shimano XTR M980 10-speed 11/36T/Shimano XTR M980

Shimano XT, M770 10-speed 11/36T/Shimano HG82

BRAKES Avid X.0 hydraulic disc 180/160mm rotors

Formula RX XTR Trail 203/180mm rotors Shimano XT hydraulic disc 180/160mm rotors

BAR/STEM/GRIPS Truvativ Noir T40 carbon low riser 700mm/Truvativ AKA, 70mm/lock-on

Devinci Skipper fl at bar 700mm/Truvativ Stylo T20,100mm/Devinci Performance lock-on

Specialized XC Mini-Riser Carbon, 720mm/Syntace F109, 90mm/Specialized Sip Grip lock-on

FSA SL-K carbon fl ats 685mm/FSA SL-K, 100mm/Pivot lock-on

SADDLE/SEATPOST

WTB Rocket V/Truvativ Stylo T30 Selle Italia Q-Bik XC/Truvativ Stylo T20

Specialized BodyGeometry Henge Expert Ti/Specialized Command Post BlackLite, adjustable height

WTB Volt Race/KS dropper post

DIMENSIONS

FRAME ANGLES Head 69.5° Seat 73° Head 70.6° Seat 72.2° Head 69.8° Seat 74.5° Head 69.3° Seat 71.9°

VERDICT

the Spec deckBike Testm i d - t r a v e l F u l l S u S


Loaded with technology, the S-Works Stumpy is a responsive and efficient all-rounder

Devinci’s 29er trail tamer is impressively light, super smooth and responsive, at a bargain price

Phenomenally stiff and sharp handling from a smooth riding, trail tough, race-light 29er

Not the lightest or stiffest but a neutral, confident and beautifully made technical trail cruiser

599mm

Standover 800mm

387 mm

1,095mm

462mm

620mm

Standover 745mm

330 mm

1,097mm

520 m

m

430mm

648mm

Standover 764mm

335 mm

1,203mm

523 mm

450mm

682mm

Standover 752mm

330 mm

1,142mm

508

mm

448mm

48

3 mm



Final verdict

Alloy construction inevitably makes the Sultan heavier than the carbon bikes on test here. It rides with a

superb warmth though, and you’re never going to look at a mass produced bike and marvel at how beautifully made it is like you will with a Turner.

That’s not to say the carbon bikes are ugly though, and Devinci’s Atlas is particularly pleasing on the eyes, the scales and the pocket. It offers

masses of technical trail control at a racer weight once you’ve set it up right, and it comes at a bargain price.

A simple set-up process is also a surprising benefi t of the techology-loaded Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper.

And we love the fact that all their unique innovation creates a bike that’s just an absolute blast to ride whether you’re racing up, whipping along or blasting down the most technical trails you dare.

All bikes on this test score highly, but if we had to pick a favourite frame from the foursome though it would have to be Pivot’s new 429 Carbon.

It’s not heavy, but it’s perfect proof that weight isn’t everything when you’re trading it for proper trail toughness and jaw dropping stiffness.

Add super controlled suspension and a spot-on handling balance and you’ve got a bike that’ll properly reset your fl at-out riding limits.

B I K E T E S T

WINNERpivot

429c Xt pro

NEXT MONTH wEEKEnd warrIor full SuS BIKES on SalE 14 dEcEmBEr


bki e test - pivot cycles · bki e test mid-travel full suspension (frame only) (full bike)...

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