Eurobike 2012: Nukeproof gets beefier, Polygon comes to Europe & more
The Nukeproof Mega TR is one of two new Nukeproof Mega models. With 130mm of rear travel and 150mm up front, it’s intended as a burly trail bike that excels downhill but can still be ridden back up.
The annual Eurobike trade show and jamboree is underway in Friedrichshafen Germany, on the shores of the Bodensee.
After a planes, trains, boats and automobiles trek across Europe, the Bikemagic krewe had a quick jog round the opening day Demo today and a few things caught our eye, in particular some beefy new trail and downhill bikes from Nukeproof.
Lots more tomorrow, but meantime, here’s a gallery of things we spotted today. Check out Stevens’ take on a super-light rigid 29er, Polygon bikes from an unexpected new player, Indonesia, nifty details of Ritchey’s Superlogic stem, and a bike that shows gearboxes aren’t just for downhilling. Enjoy!
Stevens didn't have this superlight Sonoroa 29er on a scale, but we can confirm from hefting it that it weighed three-quarters of bugger all.
The Stevens' rigid carbon fork is clearly designed to fit a frame built for a suspension fork, but it's a good way of slashing weight for a show bike.
Insanely light (and expensive) Clavicula cranks are a common sight on weight weenie road bikes at Eurobike. Now you find them on mountain bikes too.
The Clavicula crank is held in place by this cleverly engineered pinch bolt, which spreads the loads around, rather than concentrating it all into a fragile carbon
Internal cable routing on the Stevens Sonora SL
The cable on the Stevens Sonora SL couldn't pop out any closer to the rear mech really.
The Nukeproof Mega TR is one of two new Nukeproof Mega models. With 130mm of rear travel and 150mm up front, it's intended as a burly trail bike that excels downhill but can still be ridden back up.
The Nukeproof Mega TR will take a chain retainer or a direct mount front mech.
Plenty of metal; there's nothing panty-waisted about the Mega TR.
The low main pivot. We're loving all that JCB yellow too.
Lots of hydroforming.
Logos logos everywhere.
Nukeproof Mega TR front end.
The Nukeproof Pulse is the CRC team's latest downhill weapon, derived from the successful Scalp, but with plusher travel, a longer front end and adjustable rear-dropouts. The complete Comp spec bike here is £3000. The Scalp remains in the range for just £2300.
Nukeproof Pulse down tube
The Pulse has a huge, beefy single pivot and a linkage-activated shock.
The RockShox Vivid shock's tucked into the down tube. The Pro spec gets a Cane Creek Double Barrell.
Swap the drop-outs round and you get 10mm more wheelbase and 5mm more travel for ultra-fast downhill bombing run courses.
Slopestyle bikes like the Rook don't need many gears.
To stop the rear gear cable getting tangled during slopestyle moves, the shifter's been moved to the down tube on this tidy mount.
Another angle on the Rook slopestyle bike's shifter mount.
Nukeproof's new Rook slopestyle bike sports this unique - as far as we know - integrated hydraulic rotor. Nukeproof has a patent pending on this beast.
Big brother to the Nukeproof Mega TR is the Mega AM with 160mm of travel.
Front end of the Nukeproof Mega AM.
Nukeproof Mega AM transmission.
Nukeproof Mega AM rear dropout with above-axle pivot.
Nukeproof Mega AM single main pivot.
We got very excited about the Epsilon 29 belt-drive bike by Mi-Tech which uses a Pinion 18-speed gearbox for its transmission. It's great to see designers still trying to fix one of mountain biking's biggest problems - that damn fragile rear derailleur - while still crafting fully-capable bikes, though we suspect an integrated rear triangle frame won't be the final answer...
Pinion chainset with Gates Carbon Drive sprocket and toothed belt
Carbon Drive rear sprocket and tension adjusters in the frame.
Tension adjusters in the frame mean you can still use a quick release rear wheel.
The Pinion gear box uses two sets of internal gears to give a full range of 18 ratios and a 636 percent spread, which is slightly more than a traditional 11-34 cassette and 44/32/22 triple set up.
Pinion control cables vanish into the Mi-Tech's frame.
One control to rule them all - 18 gears from the twist of a shifter.
Seperable rear triangle for belt drive changes.
This rather feathery Polygon Cozmic hardtail caught our eye too. Nice lines!
Ritchey's new Superlogic stem and bars were spotted on a few lightweight builds. At 132g and £230, the stem is for serious weight weenies only.
Three small bolts on the Ritchey Superlogic should spread the clamping forces better than two larger ones, but we hope you can take out the middle one and point them all the same way for spannering convenience.
The Ritchey Superlogic stem has reversed bolts so that the threads are in the front cap. That way, if you stuff up and strip them, you just need a new cap.
Polygon is an Indonesian company that manufactures for a few well-known brands and is now following companies like Giant and Merida into selling bikes under its own name. European and UK distribution is still being arranged, so we've no price yet on this rather tasty looking cross-country suspension bike.
Polygon's FS2 suspension has two linkages. This one pivots round the bottom bracket.
Polygon 'diablo' shaped taper head tube.
If you are making a rigid bike give it shorter forks – they work much better! (e.g. Jones, Genesis Fortitude)