Look Closer: Sam Dale's Saracen Madison DH 27.5

Sam Dale is one of the famous professional downhill racer today and for the weapon for the race he have great machine; Saracen Madison DH with the 27.5 inch wheelset - the popular wheelset size today. This is very big machine, very suitable for his riding style; fast and wild, and because of that some call Sam Dale as like Grizzly Bear! So, want to get some inspirations from Sam Dale's bike setup? Check this out!

With the FOX suspension, this Saracen Madison DH is ready to down from any mountain and go as fast as possible. The FOX Rad suspension is chosen for the rear suspension in this bike. 

Then, for the drivetrain Sam Dale's Saracen Madison is using Shimano Saint drivetrain and brakes. Shimano Saint is one of the best groupset for downhill scene today and many professional racers install this stuff on their bikes. Shimano Saint brake is the perfect stuff to stop this machine on the downhill track, with ice-tech technology that keep the rotor cool even on the aggressive riding.

This is great machine, right?

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New Bike: Pivot Phoenix Carbon DH Bike

Okay, carbon bike is getting popular now on mountain bike scene, in any purpose - XC, AM, FR, or DH - but what makes new downhill bike for Pivot is different with other carbon bikes is that this Pivot Phoenix just have only 30.8 lbs or 14 kg! What is the secret of this bike? One of the secrets maybe is the frame which is only have 8.1 pounds including the shock, sounds crazy right??

The Pivot Phoenix Carbon DH have its first appearance on the Sea Otter 2014 event and now this bike is available on market at the price $3,299 frame only including rear shock. The fullbike versions also available with two different specs, and those are priced on $5,499 and $7,399. The highest price of the Pivot Phoenix Carbon DH have 33.5 pounds and regarded as the lightest downhill bike on market.

The list below is the highlights of the Pivot Phoenix Carbon DH bike;

- 204mm dw-link suspension 

- Full carbon frame featuring Pivot exclusive hollow box internal molding technology 

- 27.5” wheels 

- S, M, L, & XL sizing   

- Adjustable +/- .75 degree headset option 

- Full length internal cable routing with Pivot’s exclusive cable port system  

- Dropper post compatible with internal routing 

- Enduro Max cartridge bearings used throughout  

- Fox DHX RC4 Coil-Over rear shock 

- Frame weight from 7.1/3.2kg lbs (small w/air shock) or 8.1lbs/3.6kg (small w/coil shock) 

- Complete Shimano Saint equipped w/Fox 40 fork, Maxxis DH tires, and pedals from 33.5 lbs 

- Rubberized integrated downtube and swingarm protection. 

- Carbon ISCG-05 tabs 

- 157mm X 12mm rear end 

- 107mm full carbon BB shell 

- 180mm rear carbon post mounts 

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Product Tested: Race Face Turbine Crankset

Race Face is a famous product that consistent in producing mountain bike part, such as bars, stems, and also the crankset. Their products are good, and most used by professional riders to be installed on their bikes, and their crankset lineup are even more! They have released so many crankset series, and one of their most popular in their crankset lineup is their Turbine series. 

HIGHLIGHTS

Race Face Turbine Crankset actually for the XC, AM, Trail, and Enduro riding, because the three various size of the Turbine are good for that scene which has 170, 175, and 180 mm lengths. The complete highlights of this crankset is listed below;

#Intended for XC/Trail/All-Mountain/Enduro use

#Completely redesigned for 2015 to incorporate the Cinch system

#Crank arms are deep pocket forged and CNC machined to optimize stiffness

#170, 175, 180mm crank arm lengths

#Black, Blue and Red crank color options

#Protective ‘crank boots’ available

#Removable spider offers the ability to convert between 1, 2, and 3X chainring standards

#1X Narrow/Wide options: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36T

#2X 64/104 BCD options: 22/36, 24/36, 24/38T

#2X 80/120 BCD options: 26/38, 28/40T

#3X options: 22/32/42, 24/32/42T

#Industry standard 30mm spline interface CNC machined from 7050 alloy

#BB92, 68/73 BSA, 100mm BSA, and PF30 bottom bracket options

#MSRP $199.99 to $299.99, depending on chainring configuration

IMPRESSIONS

The Turbine can be said as the lower version of their premium crankset, the Race Face Next SL, and it can be seen on the chainring; they have same chainring, both Turbine and Next SL. Even, these two products have same on another aspect like on the crank extraction system, and the same locknut. The installation of Turbine Crankset also simple and quite easy, and overall the Turbine setup is easy!

RIDING TEST

Simple, performance of this crankset is awesome and superb! It smooth, without any disturbing sound, or creaks and the narrow chainring also gives another comfortableness on the trail.

The Race Face brand is the guarantee that their products are good product in any sectors, and they prove again on this crankset.

DURABILITY & IMPROVEMENT

This is great product and can be used for long time because of the material used, and in the proper use this product will be longer life! It's quite hard to find the cons on the great product like Turbine, and it just like searching a needle on the garbage! The price is good, with the amount $199.99 to $299.99, we can install great crankset on our bike, but let's try to find the cons; maybe the cons are proprietary bottom bracket tool, as well as having the crank arm auto-extractor cap un-thread itself once on the trail.

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Product Tested: New Downhill Wheelset ENVE Composites M90 Ten

ENVE is one of the most famous and high end wheelset on the market. With so many products out there on the market for various purpose - XC, AM, FR, or DH - ENVE compose a new product to fill the need of the good wheelset for the Downhill scene, and this new downhill wheelset from ENVE which is later known as ENVE Composites M90 Ten Wheels have fulfill the requirements for the downhill scenes; light and strong.

HIGHLIGHTS

ENVE Composites M90 Wheels are available on the market on two sizes, 26 inch and 27.5 inch - current popular size in any scene of mountain biking. It has 487 gr for the 26" and 509 gr for the 27.5" size with the internal and external width (both) 25 mm and 34 mm. The price of M90 Wheels on the market will be around $2,718.

IMPRESSIONS

This is one of the great product for the downhill scene today, and really worth to be owned and to be installed on the bike; it will make the bike look more better. As one of the leading brand on the mountain biking scene, actually there will be no doubt about this product, and just like its previous wheels, the M70 wheels, the M90 wheels also have technology that incorporated to get best result.

Basically, the M series on ENVE's wheels are designed for the riders to get new experience on any terrain; it will give more confident. One of the technology that applied in M90 Wheels are the usage of the conical spokes, and the result is the wheelset will be stronger, reliable, and saving weight. This is not a surprise because almost all ENVE's products, especially the wheelset light but at the same time also strong.

RIDING TEST

The lateral stiffness combined with the light weight of the wheelset really adds to the slingshot feeling out of corners - the harder this wheelset up, the down ride will be faster.

The first run of the year was down Ninja Cougar, a trail track known for some incredible berms with some serious spot and the benefits of the wheel under pressure were made very apparent. From here the wheels have been down everything from the full Oriental Express, Afternoon Delight and Tech Noir, to the Canadian Open, plenty of classic old school with Joyride and Schleyer, and everything in-between. This M90 Wheels are never disappointed.

DURABILITY & IMPROVEMENT

After beating on the M90s in the real trail and some local trails around home for a good amount of time baffled by the lack of maintenance required, "lack of" here translating to zero! Other than a few scuffs on the walls of the rims and on the stickers. If there any thing could be improve, maybe for the decal aspect - almost all ENVE's wheelset just got same decals one and another. But, this is just a little things on the great product, and for the simplicity fans, this wheelset is perfect and worth to be owned! 

Just to be remembered, this wheelset is build special for professional riders that maybe have been sponsored by the brand, so if you are just mountain biking fans without any sponsors, this wheelset maybe is too expensive though it worth with the technology - the price of a pair of this wheelset even more expensive than certain fullbike on the market!

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SRAM X01: 7 Speed SRAM DH Groupset and Price

One of the main player and the big brand in mountain bike, SRAM again releases their new groupset that special for the downhill race, and this groupset is called SRAM X01 DH Groupset. With seven speed, this groupset has been tested and be used by Steve Smith on 2013 World Cup Downhill Championship. 

These are the complete specification of the SRAM X01 DH Groupset, and the price:

XG-795 X01 DH MINI BLOCK 7-speed Cassette

10 to 24-tooth gearing (10-12-14-16-18-21-24)

2-tooth steps are safer in shifting than 1-tooth steps under big loads

Durable JET black finish

Currently fits any XD compatible wheel and driver body

Machined steel with JET finish, alloy spoke protector

Weight: 136 grams

Price: $303, € 269

X01 DH X-HORIZON Rear Derailleur

7 or 10-speed options

12-tooth X-SYNC pulley wheels

X-HORIZON technology

X-ACTUATION with more cable pull

Two cage lengths for various applications, including abnormally long chain stay growth

ROLLER BEARING CLUTCH

CAGE LOCK

Aluminum outer cage

Red and Black

Weight: Med cage – 263 grams // Short cage – 257 grams

Price: $277, € 245

X01 7-Speed Trigger Shifter

Multi-adjustable trigger shifter

MatchMaker X compatible

Aluminum cover and adjustable forged aluminum pull lever

Includes discrete clamp

Weight: 91 grams

Price: $143, € 125

X01 DH X-SYNC Carbon Crank

Carbon composite / aluminum spider

AL-7075-T651 CNC alloy single ring - 94 BCD, 30, 32, 34, 36, or 38 teeth

Compatible with SRAM 1X 7- and 10-speed DH drivetrains

Alloy pedal lug

165, 170 and 175mm arm lengths

Red and Black

Carbon guard available

Weight: 740 grams with BB

Price: GXP: $315, € 280 // BB30: $347, € 310

X-SYNC Chain Rings

X-SYNC technology with alternating thick/thin tooth profile

Tall, square tooth design

Rounded chamfer edges

30-, 32-, 34-, 36-, or 38-tooth single ring

CNC machined 7075, two-tone anodize

Mud-clearing recesses for the inner chain links and rollers

XD Driver Body

Allows use of SRAM cassette with a 10-tooth small cog

Provides a more stable hub connection

Weight: XD driver body is 6-8 grams lighter than a standard freehub body

PC-XX1 Chain

1X specific chain

HARD CHROME finish

11-speed power lock

Weight: 252 grams

Price: $63, € 57

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REEB: Hardtail for All Mountain

Bike technology is getting complicated today, and almost new bikes from whole brands are full suspension bikes. It means that the price will be growth for the additional parts, like the rear shock or rear suspension. This is an expensive part, especially when you buy it from the brands like FOX or Rockshox, the two main players in bike suspension technology. A high-end rear suspension maybe can be used to buy a starter bike or mid-end bike. With that fact, hardtail bike becomes more simple, and old-looked; with the off-roads riding trends today, hardtail slowly left and the riders start to use full suspension bike. But wait, dude! I hope you don't underestimate the hardtail bikes, even when you are off-road rider.

Hardtail is just for on-road, maybe light off-road. Better you erase that sentence, and open your eyes because there are many high-quality hardtail bikes that can be used even for all-mountain, even free-ride!

One of the brands that produce hardtail bike for all-mountain and trails purpose is the REEB, with their new hardtail product for all-mountain and trails! This is regarded as single speed chain 29er with steel frame. Why this bike is using single speed chain, it said by Chad Melis, the Marketing Manager, that they want something different.

The hardtail it stronger than full suspension bike in the ability to climb, and the REEB cycles make that the pedaling is smooth, with big chainring there. But, this bike also claimed strong in a down-way, though it is a single-speed, hardtail, and 29er bike. It may that the 140mm fork is very helpful for this bike for a down-way. For the information, this bike is using part:

Gates Carbon Centertrank Drivetrain

140mm travel FOX Float 34

Schwalbe Hans Dampf

X-Fusion Hilo Dropper

Photo Credit: Tal Robert and Pinkbike.com

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Eric Carter in Collaboration with SR Suntour

Eric Carter, the Californian rider has been testing the new downhill fork from SR Suntour, the newest SR Suntour RUX and SR Suntour Auron, a 200mm and 160mm fork travel. These forks are the most used fork by Eric Carter today, and he shared his impression when he rides with these two forks. Basically, Eric is asked by the brand to join a collaboration and develop these products. And then Eric tested the fork on his custom bike from Hyper, the Carter 650B prototype.

After tested the forks, Eric has an interesting statement about the competition in the high-end suspension technology, with the two main players, FOX and Rockshox. He said that SR Suntour will be able to enter to the competition between them, especially in the World Cup. He also said that SR Suntour is the biggest suspension producer in the world, but the brand needs to make some development and improvements for their products.

This will be interesting to see the competition between these brands to get the people's attention, and let's see what can be done by SR Suntour at the further.
Photo Credit: Dan Severson and Pinkbike.com

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