2012 Norco Product

So we are fair in the the halfway point of the brief with the purpose of is Crankworx in Whistler next to the flash with races every one daylight hours and parties every one night but aside from the usual whistler goings on, several vast news from this part of the pond came the recent past with the administrator launch of the further 2012 Norco bike range. This result line is headlined by the Aurum DH bike which is Norco’s further downhill bike pro 2012 and of point concern to us as this is the finalised version of the prototypes we hold been hard and mounting with Norco all over the ancient history day so we are very excited to consider it everything appear cool.

One of the vast skin tone which we hold not been able to deliberate nearly until at this instant is the ‘Gravity Tune’ classification on the Aurum which we hold been eager to deliberate nearly it as I think it is a pretty vast deal pro a production downhill bike. On other at this time open production DH bikes, the bike is often designed around solitary size (say a standard or often whatever other size bike the focal team test rider races on), after that to step the other sizes in the range the front outcome is scaled up or down to end more attain. Uniquely on the Aurum however all size in the range has an individually sized rear-to-centre and front-to-centre balance as well as faintly tailored suspension kinematics to match. This course every one size (small standard and Large) hold exactly the same performance characteristics so the ride is not compromised to shin up the design up or down. This is a really vast deal pro us as a team pro case as myself and Ben are both very poles apart sizes and hold very poles apart riding styles, however really the hard we hold been burden concluded the ancient history day has exposed with the purpose of I beg your pardon? We are as soon as from a bike’s conduct is the same. So pro the to start with occasion at this instant we are both able to step this as standard on the same production frame in poles apart sizes devoid of custom alterations indispensable to correct either the small or the considerable accordingly.

This belief sounds shared intelligence really, if years of hard and development hold been plant into getting the paramount geometry, import balance and proportions pro a downhill bike after that this be supposed to be scaled up and down pro all size in the range, not fair optimised pro solitary size and after that the front outcome stretched, however I suppose tooling expenses and occasion as well as production factors all be flippant a part. Anyway as a rider I am fair content to consider it the ride quality getting top priority on this bike and with several clever engineering apparently this has been through devoid of crazy prices too which is cool. (News recently has been released with the purpose of Fisher will veto longer be distributing Norco in the UK however I am told 2012 bikes will be open in the UK with the Aurum so I believe in attendance will be a press make public on this shortly.)

The gravity melody classification is really the standout characteristic with the purpose of has been held in reserve secret until at this instant however all the paramount skin tone from the prototype bikes we hold posted in the ancient history hold made it to production as well with the integrated bump stops, captive shock mounting hardware, ART suspension classification and Syntace axle and hanger combo.

In the role of well as the Aurum in attendance was and a sated line up of further bikes launched across the board but solitary other with the purpose of stood elsewhere to me was the Sight. This is a 140mm travel bike designed to be light import and pedal well but and to be able fun on the downhills. I can consider it this being a weighty trail centre and do-it-all bike pro the UK and as soon as having a allotment of fun on this bike recently I think this solitary will be a vast reach.

(dirt.mpora.com)

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GT Force Carbon Pro Bike 2012

The GT Carbon Force Expert benefits from a full 6" rear suspension in a world of 5.5" bikes. The I Drive design is noticeably efficient while the travel feels deep compared to similar bikes ridden including the Ibis Mojo and the Turner 5Spot. Once we swapped out the original bars and stem for something more suitable for a great trail bike we found the handling to be very predictable and the bike to pedal especially well over rough terrain. In fact I would venture to say that it pedals better over the rough than nearly any other bike we've tried. Frame rigidity is excellent with no noticeable rear end flex.

The bike is great on the down hills and climbs. I've had my bike for a year and it's beginning to creek. The bolts come loose in the pivot points so I'm always having to make sure they are tight so my bike can't be heard a mile away. I believe the bike should be serviced every 6-12 months. Grease needs to be added to reduce the metal on metal grinding. Overall it's a good bike but I'm not sure it's worth the price. It's a good intro bike for the beginner but I would not recommend it for advance riders.


Great bang for buck, gt rep told me lifttime warranty on frame. Which isnt much lighter than metal frame because its built to be strong not uber light weight. So a carbon force is stronger than metal force it should be up to par which sanction. With this understanding i hucked my stock bike over six foot no breakage. I wouldnt recommend that on daily basis though. im six foot two and got xtra large which i like cuz i can stretch out and earn my turns and when trails get tight and tech i drop my fork which sharpens handling. Get one while there on sale!


fter putting about 150 miles on this bike I wanted to write a review. I have the 2009, GT force carbon expert, size small, with all XT components. I am 5’ 7’’ about 140lbs.
I mostly ride XC single track but wanted a bike that rides more like an AM bike. I was looking for a bike that had more than 120mm travel but something I could still race on. I like the feel of the 69% head tub which gives it more of the race feel than a downhill or even AM bike. So this bike fix what I was looking for. The only thing I have changed are the tires to something lighter and now have the bike down to about 26.3 lbs.

First I love the carbon I have never rode on carbon before but it really dampens the ride and its not as bumpy. So far the carbon has been great and very efficient. Both Fox shock and Fork works really great with this bike. The fork can be adjusted to 110mm 130mm and 150mm but does not have any lock out which is a disadvantage if your use to one.
With any full suspension you will get some bob in the rear shock and that is true with the I drive design. But once I got everything set to what I like the bob was not bad, one of the best full suspension I have ridden. When going up a long climb you can always lock out the shock and this bike will really climb with the best of them. When riding with a group the group losses me when I am going uphill or starting to get my speed back from a turn. But once we go downhill or on a strait I catch up. Not the fastest or slowest bike but a sturdy bike. With that said this is a really fun bike to ride, you can ride it all day and throw just about any type of trail at it.

The one item I do not like is how GT brought the rear brake line through the seat tub and triangle. Because these parts move the cable started to wear the clear coat off of the frame. I ended up moving the cable outside so I don’t have this issue anymore I just zipped tied to the frame and works great.

Over all a great bike and I would suggest this bike to any one if it fits their needs. 


(mtbr.com, bikeradar.com)

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Fuji Bike Army on 2012

2012 Fuji Bike Grand Fondo 1.0
New to the Fuji line, the Gran Fondo endurance bike brings together the high-performance aspects of a lightweight carbon race bike and the design features of an all-day rider. Compared to the Altamira and the SST, the Gran Fondo has a taller head tube – which helps stave off upper body fatigue – and a bit more compliance through the seat stays - which helps smooth out the road.

2012 SLM 29 LTD SL
Introducing the newest model in Fuji’s hard tail lineup: the SLM 29. Built with ultra-light D6 carbon, the SLM 29 features a tapered head tube (1-1/8” to 1.5”), guaranteeing every bit of rider input gets transferred from the bars to the front wheel with minimal flex.

2012 Altamira CX 1.0
Ridden by elite cyclocross team KCCX, the Altamira CX sets the mud on fire. With top-end D6 carbon and tubing technology pulled straight for our flagship road bike, this all-carbon cross bikes is a serious, lightweight racer – and worthy of sharing the Altamira name.

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Merida's 2012 Mountain Bikes

Taiwanese bike company Merida launched their 2012 range this week on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Head of bicycle design Jurgen Falke took centre stage to unveil their new mountain bikes, including an updated trail bike, a new enduro rig and a headline 29er full-suspension cross-country racer.

Big Ninety-Nine 

Making the most waves was the Big Ninety-Nine 29er, which aims to build on the success of the 26in Ninety-Nine and offer cross-country and marathon racers a big-wheeled alternative. An aluminium prototype was on show at the launch; the bike is rideable and undergoing final tweaks before the final carbon production version, which the Multivan Merida Biking Team are helping to develop, is launched in time for 2013.

Jurgen explained that he believes 120mm of travel is too much for a 29er full-sus, because there's limited wheel and tyre clearance when the suspension is fully compressed, so this design offers a maximum of 106mm, via a 38mm-stroke shock. With the trend towards 2x10 drivetrains, the placement of the Big Ninety-Nine's main pivot is optimised for use with small chainrings (down to a 24-tooth inner ring) but the bike will still accommodate a triple chainset if preferred. 

Tube cross-sections have been increased compared to the Ninety-Nine to cope with the extra stress put upon the frame by the larger wheels, but Merida have still managed to omit a seatstay bridge without compromising stiffness. Combined with the curved seat tube, this provides clearance for up to 2.3in rubber. A 12/142mm through-axle helps resist torsion at the rear hub. Spec will be either SRAM 2x10 with RockShox XX suspension or Shimano 3x10 with DT Swiss. Remote lockouts for front and rear suspension will come as standard.

As if to fully test the new machine’s mettle, Mallorca blessed our test ride with heavy snow. The bike instantly felt secure and solid, allowing us to barrel into tricky sections with confidence. The usual 29er traits of improved rolling performance, traction and stability were evident in spades, and the limited travel of the Big Ninety-Nine means it climbs like a hardtail, even without locking out the rear shock. When flowing through corners, it breeds speed, and even accelerating from low speeds is less of a chore than usual due to its light weight and stiff frame.

Struggling to see clearly through the driving snow, our line choice was far from optimal, leading to several moments that might have undone a smaller wheeled machine, but the 29er just absorbed them and let us flick it back on line. Suspension bob was almost non-existent, and there was no trace of toe overlap. The Big Ninety-Nine has the potential to exceed the capabilities of the 26in Ninety-Nine and become a marathon racing benchmark.

One Sixty

At the other end of the scale comes an addition to Merida’s gravity enduro/all-mountain stable, the One Sixty. Building on the success of the One Twenty and One Forty trail bikes. As the name suggests, it offers 160mm of travel front and rear, from a sub-3kg hydroformed aluminium frame. 

Merida fit the One Sixty with a RockShox Reverb Stealth adjustable seatpost. The cable from its bar mounted remote is routed internally through the down tube and seat tube so there's no cable loop to get in the way when dropping the seat. In fact, with the Reverb fitted, the only external line is the rear brake hose. Other dropper posts can be fitted by running the cable externally.

Our test route, although tough, had nothing to really push the boundaries of the bike’s performance, but what we found was promising. With most weight and suspension load near the bottom bracket, the One Sixty feels planted and changes direction well, feeling nimble for a bike with 2.4in rubber. 

It has a neutral feel when pedalling in the saddle, with almost no bob. We returned with a grin and wanted more, so look forward to a future full test. The One Sixty is now at the pre-production stage and component specifications are being finalised – it'll be offered with three equipment levels.

Other full-suspension bikes

The One Twenty trail bike, the One Sixty's little brother, has had its suspension geometry reworked to maximise usable travel. It continues to be available in both carbon and aluminium, with the latter boasting an impressively light sub-2.5kg frame weight. With numerous specs available, it could be all the bike you'll ever need, whether you're into racing or all-day trail rides.

The Ninety-Six set the bar for cross-country race bikes when it was launched in 2008, and with the development of the Ninety-Nine Merida have raised it again. Optimised for a 2x10 drivetrain, and with 100mm travel of travel, claimed complete bike weight is just 8.9kg (19.6lb) without pedals. Despite this, the Ninety-Nine boasts incredible frame and bottom bracket stiffness. Available in carbon and aluminium framed versions, it should keep Merida competitive.

Hardtails

Not to be forgotten are Merida’s hardtails. The O.Nine carried Jose Hermida to his world championship victory in 2010 and will be the bike of choice for many of the Multivan Merida team in their chase for Olympic success this year. It's stiff and lightweight, with certified frame weights as low as 940g, but has buzz-damping flexible seatstays and a skinny 27.2mm seatpost to keep fatigue at bay. Optimised for a 2x10 drivetrain, and with a BB30 bottom bracket, it remains devastatingly fast.

Given the challenge of creating a 29er with similar performance to the O.Nine, Merida have come up with theBig.Nine. Bottom bracket stiffness is even higher than on the O.Nine and a similarly low racing position has been retained, along with a sub-1,100g frame weight. The 2012 Big.Nine Carbon Team-D will come with a SRAM X0 transmission and DT Swiss fork, and is stunningly agile for a large-wheeled machine.

(Find more at bikeradar.com)

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Mondraker Podium XC Race Bike 2012

The Mondraker Podium is a new XC Race Concept from Espana. For 2012, in pipeline, Mondraker have new carbon XC race bikes that called the Podium. In a few season back, Mondraket steal public's attention with their mountain bike.
In 2012, Mondraker offers an expended range of bikes. With Podium Carbon hardtail,  Lithium marathon racer Tracker trail bike build name such as the Summum, Dune, Foxy and Factor.
One of the lucky man to be the first man to test ride these are former downhill world champion Fabien Barel as we quote from bikeradar.com.

"New Podium carbon offers the ultimate XC racing geometry. The integrated stem technology allowed us to lower the handlebar position to find the better pedaling efficiency position on a Cross Country  bicycle", that said in Mondraker Podium is a new XC Race Concept press release. They also claims a painted size-large frame will weigh in less than 1,000 grams (2.2lbs).

"By spend about £2,799 you would get Podium Carbon Pro comes with some kit ready to, well, hit the podium, or at least be in with a fighting chance of doing so. The 100mm (3.9in) of front suspension travel is taken care of by a Fox Float 32 RL fork, which features the company's ever-impressive FIT damper and tapered steerer. There’s a remote lockout too, as befits a bike of this ilk". As we quote from bikeradar.com

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Specialized SX Trail 2 2011

With some changes came to the SX Trail 2011, it designed to help them polish their older air skills, comprise unfailing durability, and swear solid traction.

SX Trail Benefits

• Durable, yet maneuverable M5 alloy frame build with proven Freeride geometry
• Reliable strength merit to 32-spoke, 142+mm rear core and big-volume Butcher tires
• Big air capability with brand new, beefier 180mm-travel FSR suspension (fills the shoes of the Demo 7)
• Quality spec package, as well as FOX shocks and SRAM components

 (video pinkbike.com)

Details:

M5 Alloy Frame w/ Freeride Geometry. With Ultra-durable, yet small fry alloy frame with Freeride-focused geometry. It  used to hold up older jumps and highspeed hits, done and done again, while giving the rider superior management. By redesigning the frame, Specialized was able to put up scope in place of more travel and carefully manipulate the tubes to swear strength, while keeping load low. Their freeride geometry keeps the frame angles slack and low in place of well-behaved management.

With  Customized seat tube sculpt, achieved through hydroforming processes. Eliminates forgings and, therefore, reduces weight-all while maintaining the strength mandatory by aggressive freeriders. High pressure fluid is unnatural through all tube to eliminate welds and do more precise tube shaping.

Proprietary linkage logic featuring a most important pivot with eccentric spindle and wishbone shock repression. Creates a stiffer rear side in place of more dependable management in all place. The eccentric spindle uses an offset bolt location with the purpose of can simply explanation in on individual put, leaving the two sides of the link veto scope to twist. This prevents every not needed loosen or rotation with the purpose of might sacrifice precision and confidence on the rear side of the bike.

(sicklines.com)

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Cube AMS 110 Pro 2011

To accomodate the high demand of mountain bike, one of the best short travel alumunium bike variant is the AMS 110 Pro. By spending £1649 you will get reasonable spec plus – Formula RX hydraulic stoppers and custom Schwalbe rubber, 30 speed Shimano XT/SLX transmission, Sun Ringle custom color ‘bling’ red anodized tough yet light wheelset, Fox forks plus RP23 Boost Valve rear shock combo. 

Comes with well finished alloy, this bike boasting many features. This AMS is pretty light in this price and class, only 12.1kg (26.5lb) without the pedals.

Cube AMS 110 Pro 2011 is an ideal bike for anyone who’s searching his first nice full suspension MTB, a bike which will do it all.

Cube AMS Technologies : 

- HPA. High Performance 7005 aluminum alloy

- Efficient Ride Control

- Hydroforming System. A plain tube is placed in a mould with the specific form

- FSP4 link. 

- Press Fit BB. With press-fit bearings, the outer bearing ring is pressed directly into the frame housing and not screwed-in as usual

- Fox DTC. Connected with the new Fox Float RP23 Boost Valve shock and the DHX RC4 shock, we could achieve the best optimized performance

- FSS Frame Save System. built with the CUBE Frame Save System replaceable derailleur hanger.

- Laser Design Surface. 

- Wet Paint Surface.

- Integrated Post Mount.

- Integrated Cable Routing.

(img/chainreactioncycles.com)

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Colnago CX-1 EVO

A true modern classic road bike. It is that I want to say about this bike. With brand-new look for the 2012, CX-1 Evo has a  seasonbike series have been singled out at Giro d’Italia, Paris-Nice and Tour de France.

Designed with a monocoque front triangle with polygonal cross-section tubes moulded in one piece, combined with the square cross-section chainstays to maximize stiffness and give precise manoeuvrability.

The main feature of the CX-1 Evo is frame for a mechanical or electronic groupset. The rear brake cable routing is internal, while the mechanical groupsets cabling remain external under the down tube part.

roadbikereview.com reviewers gave some review of this bike.

Strengths
- Strong, excellent geometry, cool graphics
- Stable and predictable handling
- Fast, Responsive
- The Sloping Fit- awesome person of avg height - 5'9"
- Light considering the strength of frame
- Power transfer is awesome makes hills easier

Weaknesses:
- Short TT
- Cables scratch the clear coat though wish they'd run them inside
- Well it is expensive :D

(roadbikereview.com)

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