Eurobike Retrospective 2011 Part 1- Complete Bikes

Okay, I know it’s over a week since Eurobike 2011 finished, but going through my photos from the event shows that there is still much more to share. This time, Bikes.*(Please note- all prices are given in Euros- we will have to wait and see how this converts to Sterling)

First off has to be the GT Fury Alloy. Whilst many brands (think Santa Cruz and Trek) are now offering carbon versions of their DH rigs, GT are doing the opposite and now offering an Alloy version of their previously full-carbon Fury DH frame. Past masters of Alu construction (how I lusted after the GT Zaskar frame in the early nineties!) the Fury Alloy looks to continue this tradition with a monocoque construction and neat TIG welds. The Fury range is made up of four models, two carbon and two alloy, from the top of the range Fury Carbon World Cup at 6199Euros to the more modest Fury Alloy 2.0 at only(!) 2499Euros.

Entry-level DH rigs seemed to be a theme at this year’s Eurobike and another manufacturer offering a more affordable option was Rocky Mountain. Their 2899Euros Flatline Park looked spot-on for the money, and is the same frame as the more expensive Flatline WC bike that retails for 5500euros, and that Maxxis/Rocky Mountain riders Ruaridh Cunningham and Mark Scott have been piloting on the World Cup circuit. Talking of Ruaridh, it was a shame to see him unable to compete at Champery due to a shoulder injury, I had predicted great things for him this year and I know how he loves the course, especially in the wet.

Keeping with the Canadian connection, Kona were also showing off the 2012 versions of their Operator and Supreme Operator DH bikes. The bikes looked great with attention in all the small details (like large bearings used in double-shear configuration), the polished frame and understated decals looked sweet too! The Kona boys also know how to set up a great trade stand, with a large tepee, live band and free beer! Rock-on.

Yet another Canadian brand now- Norco. Development of the Aurum frame has taken place with the Dirt/Norco boys of Ben Reid and Dan Stanbridge and has led to some really neat features. Features like Gravity Tune, where different sized frames take account of the differing Centre of Gravity of larger/smaller riders. Also, integrated seat clamps, fork stops and captive shock hardware all go to show that the devil is in the details. The entry-level Aurum 2 looks like a sweet deal coming in at 2899Euros but it is the top-of-the-range Aurum LE that looks most impressive, weighing only 34,7lbs for the entire bike! Wowsers!

Away from Canada now, and back to these shores. UK-based brand Identiti were showing off their new Mogul DH frame. Developed for UK courses the Mogul features 7.5 inches of rear travel and a revised head angle of 64 degrees (previous prototypes were much steeper). Geometry looks good, and although pricing has to be confirmed, look for this frame to provide outstanding value.

Another bike company looking to provide outstanding value is Canyon. This Direct-Distribution brand offers great value by cutting out the middlemen and selling direct to you, the customer. All this is useless if they don’t have the product to back up their sales model, but in this case the Canyon Torque FRX 9.0 Racezone was one of the best-looking and thought-out bikes at the show. Based on an FSR-type rear suspension the rocker-link features a flip-chip that offers four different rear travel/bb height/head angle settings. I also liked the neat little sag indicator, simply sit on your bike and look down to check you have the correct sag amount- this bike has great attention to details. Best news of all, however, (especially for us tight Scots!) is that even with a packed spec (think Cane Creek DB, Fox 40s, Mavic DeeMax, e*13, SRAM X0, etc, etc) the retail price for this beauty should be around the 3599Euros mark!

Finally, time for something different- have you heard of Polygon Bikes? No, neither had I until I came across their stand and interesting DH bike at Eurobike. Apparently, they are a large Asian bike builder (for other makes) and Polygon is their own in-house brand. They are trying to make a move into Europe in 2012 and if their Colossus DH bike is anything to go by, they may well succeed. Featuring a four-bar link rear suspension with BB mounted lower link and a floating-shock mounted on the upper link, the suspension design keeps the Centre of Gravity of the bike down low. Again, attention to detail seems good and the angular links and shock mounts remind me of a Mondraker or maybe a Commencal- the level of finish is that good. It would be interesting to try out and see if it rides as good as it looks. No word on pricing/availability but I will try to get some more info- watch this space……

Over and out,

Ian “large-frame” McIntosh