The new Fly “Circulo” sprocket is a remake of the old Suelo Circular sprocket. The Circular sprocket was loved amongst many riders, and it drove Fly to make a bit beefier one for all around use. The new Circulo sprocket is made of 6061 T6 aluminium and CNC machined. The Circulo sprocket weighs in at 65 grams or 2.2 oz ... this weight is for the 25t. The new Circulo sprocket will be available in mid December in 25t, 28t, 29 and 30t in Black, Wite, Raw, Purple and Red. It will be found anywhere Fly is available. If you want your shop to carry Fly products, hit up their Info section on the Fly website to find out where shops can get their products in your country.
PROPER BARS, GRIPS AND HUB GUARD
posted 3 weeks, 4 days ago
These Proper TTL and Team bars come in new copper and chrome colors.
The TTL bars are designed by Mike Miller and feature multi-butter chromoly tubing, 8.25” rise, 28” width, 1 degree of upsweep and 11 degrees of backsweep. Weighing in at 30.4 oz (863 grams) and available in black, chrome, clear raw and now copper. The Team bars come with the same features but 8” rise.
The Proper team grips have plenty of options. These mushroom style grips come with removable micro flanges and the nylon bar end plugs. Coming in black, blue, teal, red, purple, white, translucent red, clear black and clear. Keep those paws soft.
Proper is also offering a hub guard. It’s a pretty basic and straight forward screw in hubguard that will work with the Proper hub and many other BMX hubs. The guard is small enough to fit under the drop outs of a TTL frame (tiny drop outs) and made out of 7075 to keep it light! The hub is available in multiple colors so you can coordinate and keep things clean.
Season Bikes have been busy revamping their line up for 2010! They brought to the table these new Bigberg Bars. These big 8.25” rise, 28” wide bars are looking for a new home. Weighing in at 24.62 oz (698 grams) and available in Ed Black, Rust Brown, and Chrome. You know you like shiny stuff…
It really is time you get yourself a new rim. That hop is horrible, and the scratches in it don’t make you look tough. The new Season Eclipse rim is an alloy 7075 double wall rim that comes in 36 hole only. Weighing in at a lightweight 16.45 oz (475 grams) with Black, Brown, Gun metal grey and Orange as color options. I’m sure this will catch the attention of the ladies you ride by too… Isn’t that the point of having a nice bike?
Hit up the Season Bikes website to check out more products on SeasonBikesBMX.com
Shops can get ahold of Season products through IMG Distribution.
FLY 2010 TIERRA LINE
posted 2 months ago
Fly just released the spec’s on Kevin Porter’s 3rd version Tierra frame that will be available in the next few days! There are a couple of changes they made for this year that they think you will like. The Tierra comes with the long awaited integrated dropouts. This makes for a smooth, clean, and very small dropout. Fly had to put in an integrated chain tensioner because a removable one would be too big! Fly put in some tapered top and down tubes to save weight in some places, while building up places like the head tube junction. They also put a cut under the integrated seat post clamp to decrease the chance of breaking your bolt while tightening. Another feature is the new rounded shape of the bottom bracket and head tube.
The Tierra frame comes in 20.6”, 21” and now 19.6” top tube lengths so even the little guys can shred like Kevin. The color options are black and mint, and are the same for the bars. Weighing in at 4.7lbs (2.135 grams) you can’t go wrong with this one…
Here are a few more photos of the frame and the bars.
Mankind have these fancy new nylon bar ends (which if you haven’t had the chance to use nylon plugs yet, they are pretty awesome) and Asadi grips for you to get maximum grip to rip. They come in multiple colors (red, black, brown, purple, green, light blue, and white) and when they are paired together make a winning combo. The Asadi grips come in thick and thin versions in a soft Krayton rubber compound. Available now.
COLONY THE PHANTOM
posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Liam Fahy-Hampton’s signature frame “The Phantom” is far from being mysterious. The Phantom is a full post heat treated Colonized CroMo frame (Tubing diameters - TT 33.0mm, DT 36.0mm, SS & CS 19.0mm). It has features like Integrated head tube, mid bottom bracket, and 5mm CNC machined dropouts. It also has offset internal gussets on the top tube and down tube, built-in seat post clamp with a replaceable nut and bolt, along with removable brake mounts and hardware.
The frame comes with a 75.5 degree head tube angle, 71 degree seat tube angle, 13.75” rear triangle, and an 11.5” bottom bracket height. The stand over height is 7” flat. After all is said and done, it clocks in at 4.8 lbs (2,200 grams).
It will be available in 20.5, 20.85, and 21.25 top tubes. However, if you live in France and Australia you get the special edition option of 21”. The Phantom will come in Matt Black, White, Candy Red, Purple Storm, and Silver Storm (As seen above)
These are Howies’ first men’s stretch jeans and they are looking good! Howies have engineered it to “give a little” with the rider in mind, but they still look super tough as you would expect from Howies. These are perfect if you like riding in jeans but sometimes feel a bit restricted.
Here are some details:
-Five-pocket jeans
-Button waistband and fly
-Two front hand pockets, coin pocket and two rear jeans patch pockets
-Triple needle stitched on the inside and outside leg
-Stretch slim fit
-12oz organic denim, 99% organic cotton/1% polyurethane
-Eco-ball washed for softness
Relentless have recently released their new Energy Shots drink, a concentrated 50ml bottle providing the same amount of caffeine as the original 250ml Relentless along with vitamins B6 and B12. It seems like a pretty smart idea as the last thing you want to do when you’re on a ride or a roadtrip is take a few big cans of Relentless in your bag, which will usually already be full with things like tools, clothes, etc… It’s the perfect hit of energy to keep you going all day. Of course, if you’re thirsty this isn’t going to do much, but that’s not really the point of the Energy Shot. Also, prices are good ranging from £1.69 - £1.99 per 50ml bottle.
Fly has a new brake lever, and just like everything else Fly, they started from scratch and went from the ground up to create a very Fly-esque brake lever with no added BS. To begin with, it is forged and CNC’d just like Fly’s brakes, so it has a stiff feel. Secondly, there is no old screw in barrel adjuster. Fly felt the brake lever barrel adjuster was unneeded since most brake setups have a barrel adjuster on the frame already. And since there are no internal threads on the lever, Fly was able to make it smaller. The lever will also come with an adapter designed to run a detangler with the lever, and will be available in a wide range of colors to choose from. You should buy it, and pull it often if you’re riding in close proximity to bad traffic.
More human than human? Maybe not, but this is the brand new frame from Volume Bikes and Rob Wise, and in case you didn’t get that first reference, it’s there because the frame is called ‘Rob’s Zombie.’ According to Volume, “Shooting guns, watching horror movies and living the heavy metal dream is the definition of Rob Wise.” And that works for me. Details of the frame include two top tube sizes (20.5, 21"), 13.75” chainstays, removable chainstay or seat stay brake mounts, an overall weight of 4 lbs. 8 oz., and the knowledge that if this frame can withstand Rob Wise’s riding, it’s going to hold up to almost anything in BMX. Except maybe bad horror movies made by Rob Zombie. I don’t know anyone or anything that can withstand that kind of abuse.
The Forward frame is Jeff Klugiewicz’s signature model from Mankind. The frame features 100% fully heat-treated cr-mo, which makes for a very light (4.48lb) and strong frame. It’s available in three top tube sizes (20.5”, 20.8” and 21.1"), comes with or without brake mounts and is now available in pearl blue. Not only that, the Forward frame features a Brewers-inspired baseball glove chain stay brace, micro dropouts and integrated seat clamp. Need a place to sit on that new frame? Pick up the new Mankind Icon Pivotal seat, available in black or white and weighing in at 9.31 oz. Need some bars to hold onto? Check out the Forward bars. 13 butted, heat-treated, 12 back, 2 up and tons of colors to choose from. Need some grips to round out the package? The Asadi Phase 2s are for you. Thick or thin versions, soft krayton rubber, Mankind bar ends and tons of colors. Support Mankind. They are nice guys and they make good stuff. Plus Mankind makes living on this here Earth kinda interesting.
New cranks from Profile. Well, not really. Profile’s cranks are good enough already and it’s been that way for a long ass time. But Profile knows that polished crank arms aren’t for everyone, and so they’ve consistently offered new colorways over the past few years. The latest additions to the Profile crank collection include mint, purple, red and sparkle lime. Each Profile crank arm weighs just 10.8 oz. And each Profile crank arm is hand-inspected by Matt Coplon, the owner of one of the sassiest mustaches to come out of the Tampa Bay, Florida area. Here’s some unique facts about Profile. Did you know that Profile originally was a race car manufacturer? And did you know that Profile first made BMX cranks in 1980? I think it’s safe to say that Profile knows what they’re doing when it comes to manufacturing US-made cranks, so if you’re in the market for a quality crank set in a new colorway, Profile has what you need.
For years now, our neighbours BSD have been pumping out quality sprockets and other assorted components, but they’ve recently jumped into the frame game. And the result is the Forever frame. The Forever frame is a quality-built frame with four top tube size options (20.5”, 20.8”, 21” and 21.2"), a 74.5 degree headtube, 13.75” chainstays, and a weight of 4.8 pounds. The Forever frame is also now available in ‘Riot Red.’ But that’s not all that’s new from BSD. The Ghetto fork has been refined to feature smaller dropouts. The Ghetto fork is full heat-treated, with tapered legs, integrated race, 7075 top cap, 35mm offset and a weight of 1.88lb. Colors for the Ghetto fork include black, white and raw. Pick up the Forever frame, a Ghetto fork, some Sleazy bars and deck your bike out to the fullest. Or something like that. I get a little dumb writing these things. But hey at least I never compared anyone to the UK version of Joe Rich.
I was with Klaus from Wethepeople in lower Manhattan last night. We spotted a fluorescent bike across the street, and we were pretty surprised when we realized it was actually Aaron Ross in the middle of NYC. After catching up, we bid Aaron adieu so he could eat pizza. And now, I’m writing about his Sunday frame, the Funday, which is now available in ‘Fluorange,’ which is basically safety orange. The specs are as follows: top tube (20”, 20.5”, 20.75” and 21"), head tube angle (74.5), seat tube (71), rear end (13.5"). The frame is designed around the 30-10 gearing that Aaron uses, but it is possible to run the frame at 13.25” with the wheel fully slammed. Final weight is 4.8 lbs. And since Aaron is awesome, and since awesome is cool, there’s a full-on kit you can buy to make your bike as Aaron Ross’d out as possible, including Aaron’s Odyssey Spacebar and Odyssey classic forks, which are both also available in ‘Fluorange,’ which again, is basically safety orange. I need some rest.
Maybe it’s cause I’m getting old, but I think of Kink as a parts company first and a bike company second. The reason being, when Kink started, it was all about sprockets, chains and pegs. They’ve grown a lot though, even introducing complete bikes into their line a few years ago, but not forgetting about the parts range that got them to where they are now. So yeah, Kink makes components. In purple no less. The Relief stem, Sound sprocket, Ti ceramic headset, grips and seat clamp are designed with love in Rochester, NY, and if they can handle the rigors of Chris Doyle and Darryl Tocco, then they’ll probably work for everyone that bothers reading this.
The new Fino grip from Fly Bikes is now on its way to distributors. Fino, which means ‘thin’ in Spanish, is a thin but durable grip with thick flanges. The Fino grip is also fully customizable. You can cut it as long or as short as you like, for use with or without flanges. It comes stock as a one-piece design that’s 350mm long. The Fino grips are sold with a pair of nylon Fly bar ends and are available in black, white, grey, green and rubber. Bonus info: This is not a sex toy, and Sean ‘Elf’ Walters seems to really like them.
The Justice cranks are a two-piece design with a 19mm, 48 splined hollow cr-mo spindle. The arms are constructed of tubular, heat-treated cr-mo and the cranks are available in 160, 170 and 175mm sizes. Weight is a low 1.84lbs and colors are flat black, gloss white, pearl blue, pearl red, shining raw and metallic coffee. That’s not all, the new Mankind Archangel Frame has been slimmed down in height, weight and overall shape. The ‘09 Archangel features new micro size dropouts with sink cuts on the inside, a MK cutout logo seat stay bridge and removable gyro mounts. Lengths are 20.2”, 20.5”, 20.8” and 21”. Colors are black, light silver grey, shining raw, white, metallic coffee and purple. It comes in at 4.72lbs. If that’s not enough, there are new top fork caps and a brand new Forward Pivotal seat to complete your ‘09 Mankind package.
No, no, notorious. I liked Duran Duran, sorry. And Federal has a new ‘09 version of their Notorious frame now available. This is a trails-specific frame built strong enough to withstand whatever you can throw at it. There’s two versions, full heat-treated (20.75"-4lbs 6oz) and non heat-treated (20.75"-4lbs 9oz) to choose from. Top tube sizes include 20.75”, 21” and 21.25”, headtube is 74.5 degrees and seat tube is 71 degrees. Chainstays are 13.75” slammed, and Chris Harrison has ensured that all the bells and whistles of a proper ‘09 frame are intact, including double butted top and down tube, tapered seat and chain stays, Mid B/B, removable brake mounts, gyro mounts and cable guides. Of course, if you’re already rocking a Federal and just wanna represent, Federal has a wide selection of new soft goods available that sure beat the “Bethlehem/Austin” shirt from a few years ago....
Are you a WeThePeople fan? Do you like anodized blue? Well, this write-up is for you then. WeThePeople has been manufacturing a quality line of components for as long as I can remember, and the stuff is always built to last for an affordable price. Not too much new to report here really, because let’s be honest, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, WeThePeople made good on a few new colorways, including this nifty looking blue which would match great on Bjoern Elvering’s set-up. Pick from the Supreme stem or sprocket, or the world-renowned Everlast front and rear cassette hubs.
Get the fork outta here, Eastern has a new fork. The Hawkeye fork is unlike any other fork out there. It’s constructed of 100% heat-treated chromoly, with a one-piece CNC’d inside and out steerer tube, integrated bearing race, hardened CNC’d chromoly dropouts with Eastern Hawkeye cut-out and Eastern’s ‘Hangfree’ dropout design. Final fork weight is 31.8 oz., and the Hawkeye is available in black, white, red, yellow and blue. Wasn’t the Hawkeye a comic? Moving right along, the Moray cable is a brake cable that’s manufactured to auto-industry standards, with a super long housing and cable, linear routing, teflon coating and a huge assortment of colors. Basically, the auto industry is required by law to make sure that their brakes work, and this cable follows in that path. Besides, Ramsdell likes it.
Lots of newness to get through from Colony, so let’s get it going. Have you been waiting for the Fantastic Plastic pedals? Well, they’re just about here, and they feature a lightweight design made from polycarbonate, with a knurled body, 12 molded pins per side for traction and a rounded design. The pedals weigh in at 12.6 oz and are available in a wide range of colors. If that wasn’t enough though, there are some new Colony colorways to choose from, including the Bloody Black and Polished selection, which features the Official Forks, Bloody Oath Bars, Official Stem, Clone Cassette Hub and Official Sprocket, as well as the Fluro Yellow colorway, which features the Official Bars, Official Sprocket, Official Stem, Slim Pivotal Seat & Clone Front Hub.
I got stuck in the rain today, far from home, with my bike. I had a waterproof windbreaker, but aside from that, I wasn’t at all ready for the rain. The result of my several mile ride home was a selection of extremely soaked clothes. What made it even worse was the trail of wetness that comes up off the back tire. After peeling off my wet pants, socks and sweatshirt, I sat down at my computer. Then I got an e-mail with this selection of new soft goods from Carhartt, and I immediately started to pine for a selection of new Carhartt clothes to make its way all the way from Europe to New Jersey. Included in this selection is the Active jacket (cypress), slim pants (black), Warm-up jacket (olive), Discovery jacket (black, caper, metal) and the Moonhand t-shirt. Mike Emde, Carhartt TM, hear my words and send me some dry clothes for tomorrow!
Welcome to the non complete bike side of Verde. The Cartel series is Verde’s new premium line of frames, forks and bars, designed to work together, providing a clean and consistent overall look for your bike. The frame features 100% cr-mo tubing, double butted top and down tube, externally machined B/B shell, tapered seat and chain stays, removable brake mounts and guides, arched seat stay bridge and large rear tire clearance. Specs are as follows: Top tube (20.5”, 20.75”, 21"), chainstay (13.75"), head tube (75) seat tube (71), weight (4.8 lbs). The Cartel fork is again constructed of 100% heat-treated cr-mo tubing, with a 1-piece machined steerer tube, integrated bearing race, triple butted and tapered legs, and an overall weight of just 32 oz. Rounding out the Cartel package are the Cartel bars, constructed of 100% heat-treated cr-mo tubing, with an 8.25” rise, 27” width, 10 degrees of backsweep, 4 degrees of upsweep and a weight of 27 oz. The entire Cartel package is color coordinated as well, available in aqua, ti or black. Give Lou a call if you’re interested…
FOR MORE INFO: www.verdebmx.com
UK DISTRO: Shiner Ltd. 0117 955 6035
US DISTRO: Greenhouse BMX (614) 777-0900
DUO STUNNER TIRE
posted 10 months ago
A new tire from Duo, designed to work great on all surfaces. The Stunner tire features a wide center tread for trouble free manual balance, knurled multi-level side treads and a durable, super light sidewall that’s available in a Kevlar foldable version as well as a wire bead version. The Stunner tire is also available in two sizes. 2.20 for front or rear, and a 1.95 version with a tighter tread designed to work as a rear tire. Ready for street, park, trails, cement or whatever you can think to get into.
The 2009 Envy frame is for riders that want a good looking solid frame, only without too many high-tech innovations or the price attached to such luxuries. It takes successful elements from WTP’s other frames and some individual detailing to ensure it remains a standout frame, only with a more affordable price tag. The frame remains totally high-end; with the same attention to detail but without the heat-treatment process used on the rest of the WTP range. Using the tried and tested full 4130 Sanko cr-mo, the Envy is available in two top tube sizes (20.75” and 21.25"), featuring a 75° head angle and a short chainstays(13.5” to 13.75”) The frame also features the ultra-slim removable brake hardware, integrated head tube, integrated seat clamp, machined Mid B/B and all the quality you’ve come to know and expect from the WeThePeople line. Final frame weight is just 4.91 lbs, even without heat-treating…
FOR MORE INFO:www.wethepeople.de UK DISTRO: Hot Wheels 01202 732288
US DISTRO: System Cycle (937) 746-9075
MANKIND STEMS
posted 10 months, 2 weeks ago
If your bars are slipping and you don’t know where to turn, Christoph Huber and Mankind have you covered. Mankind currently offers two stem models. First up is the Archangel stem, constructed of CNC’d 7075 T6 aluminum, machined out on the inside, with a 50mm reach, the Mankind logo on the front plate and a weight of 11.57 oz. The Archangel stem comes stock with a laser etched gyro plate and is available in black, polished silver, green, gold and white. Next up is the Kingdom stem, Mankind’s classically styled frontloader, constructed of CNC’d 7075 T6 aluminum, machined out on the inside, with a 51mm reach, rounded edges, Mankind logo and overall weight of 11.57 oz. Colors are black, silver, green, gold and white. So there you go, a selection of quality stems from Mankind BMX.
FOR MORE INFO:www.mankindbmx.com UK DISTRO: Zeal BMX 020 8428 6107
US DISTRO: System Cycle (937) 746-9075
ODYSSEY PIVOTALS
posted 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Pivotal seats, it seems, are everywhere nowadays. Well almost everywhere. There have been a few companies out there that, instead of rushing out and throwing their logo onto an already designed Pivotal seat, chose to go back to the drawing board and refine the seat as thoroughly as possible. And of course, Odyssey was the one leading the charge. They took their time working on a Pivotal seat design, but the wait was well worth it, and their first Pivotals are now available. The ODSY Pivotal shares the same shape as their already popular Senior 2 saddle, only it now features a unique, reinforced Pivotal base. And there’s two versions to choose from: padded and the very first pre-stripped plastic Pivotal version on the market. The plastic version was made to be a raw plastic seat from the get go. And if you get the padded version, you can strip that to find the same plastic shell underneath. It’s like two seats in one. So if you get tired of the padding or it eventually rips to shreds, simply tear it away and start fresh. Available in a wealth of colors as well, including black, red, clear, white and brown for plastic, and black, red, white and brown for padded.
FOR MORE INFO:www.odysseybmx.com UK DISTRO: IMG 01243 268075
US DISTRO: Blackout, SBS, QBP, CCS, J&B (562) 623-9995
FEDERAL 4 PIECE BARS
posted 11 months ago
Four-piece bars are all the rage, again. Who would’ve thought? I guess we’re going to have to blame Bob Scerbo, but I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing. Four-piece bars look pretty cool, and hey, it’s a bit of a departure from the countless Slam bar styled models currently on the market. Federal’s version incorporates the classic appearance of four-piece bars, but with the feel of a bigger, wider bar. The 20/20 four-piece are 100% heat-treated and constructed of 13 butted 4130 cr-mo. They feature an 8” rise, 28” width, 12 degrees of backsweep and 1 degree of upsweep. Final weight is 2 lbs. even and colors include ED black, translucent teal, chrome, pearlescent white and pearlescent black/red. Give (four) piece a chance…
FOR MORE INFO:www.federalbikes.com UK DISTRO: Seventies 0845 3103670
US DISTRO: Tip Plus (800) 821-9443
SUNDAY ‘MODEL D’
posted 11 months ago
The Model D frame, new from Sunday, really should’ve made it into our Trails issue. Why? Well, it’s Sunday’s first crack at a frame designed specifically for the trails, featuring a longer rear end, higher B/B height and mellower head tube angle. But Sunday is smart about things, and they chose not to attach the “Trail” tag on the name, since most people automatically assume that a “Trail” name means ultra lightweight and built for graceful landings. You can beat on this frame. After all, it is a Sunday frame constructed of 4130 cr-mo and heat-treated using the proven 41-Thermal process. Backed by a lifetime warranty, featuring three top tube sizes (20.75”, 21”, 21.25"), the Model D also sports a 74 degree head tube angle, 71 degree seat tube, 14” chainstays and a weight of just 4.65 lbs. A few things to additionally note is the lack of a waved down tube, and smaller dropouts. Colors so far include olive green and silver. If you’re a street fan wanting a frame with more traditional geometry, or do ride trails, the Model D is for you.
FOR MORE INFO: www.sundaybikes.com
UK DISTRO: IMG 01243 268075
US DISTRO: Blackout (585) 654-5250
FLY SUELO SEATPOST
posted 11 months, 1 week ago
Here is the brand new Suelo seatpost from Fly Bikes. Fly decided to make a variation of their clamping system so that you can tighten it from the outside. This means you can run a really long seatpost, perfect for a lot of flatland riders. The Suelo post is available in black and purple and weighs in at just 280 g/100 oz.
For those wanting something just a little bigger than the Badger bars, Kink now offers you the Lynx bars. I think there’s a play on words in there, but I can’t really figure out if a lynx is in fact bigger than a badger. Anyways, the Lynx bars clock in at 8.25” tall, with a 28.5” width, 1 degree of up sweep and 12 degrees of back sweep. The Lynx bars are constructed of 13 butted tru-therm post-weld heat-treated cr-mo, with a slimmed down 19mm cross bar and an overall weight of just 23.8 oz. Colors, as pictured, include black, white and chrome.
New from Demolition are the Concorde forks, a signature fork from Chris Doyle. No one is gonna argue with Doyle’s trails skills, which this fork is a testament to. Constructed of 100% 4130 heat-treated cr-mo with tapered legs, a one-piece steerer tube, 32mm of offset, 4mm dropouts and an aluminum compression bolt. Final fork weight is 31.7 oz, ready for the trails or any other terrain you wanna hit up.
This is Mark Mulville’s signature stem. Named after his favorite trails, the Push stem is Profile’s latest top load stem. It comes in two lengths (48mm or 53mm) with an assortment of colors to choose from. And since it’s a raised topload, the Push stem enables you to raise your bars just a bit higher than usual (or lower them if you run it upside down.) Not only that, you can choose from either cr-mo bolts (9.9 oz) or ti bolts (8.9 oz.) Just make sure to tighten whatever bolts you happen to choose…
Steven Hamilton’s signature frame from Federal has been in production for a few years now, and the latest version features two varieties (front triangle heat-treated- 4 lbs 11 oz. and regular- 4lbs 13 oz.) Constructed of 100% 4130 cr-mo, with double butted top tube, down tube and seat stays. Top tube sizes are 20” and 20.5”, with a 13.75” rear end, 75 degree head tube, 71 degree seat tube and removable brake mounts, cable guides and gyro tabs. Rounding out the Hamilton frame are two color choices (Ed black and black/red) with Hamilton-inspired graphics and nose wheelie steez. Ready for anything, including unusual blog updates.
FLY COMPLETES
posted 1 year ago
Fly Bikes have come out with 2 more custom complete bikes. This time it’s a Campillo frame with coffee colour parts and a raw Pantera frame with red parts. According to Fly Bikes’ David Quesada, “These completes have the new Fly Bikes prototype chain as well so only the brake casing and spokes are not Fly! We are closer!”
For more info head over to the Fly Site.
PROFILE PUSH STEM
posted 1 year ago
New for 09’ is Profile’s latest top loading stem. The Mark Mulville “Push” stem which is named after Mark’s favorite trails, comes in two lengths and a load of colors. It enables you to get your 28x8 bars that much higher, or lower, if you choose to run it upside down. It also comes in either 48mm or 53mm reach, and is available with cr-mo or titanium bolts. The stem weighs in at 8.9oz/254g with Ti bolts and 9.9oz/280g with CrMo bolts. For more info go to the Profile website.
ECLAT TIBIA CRANKS
posted 1 year ago
Éclat are NOT at it again; this stuff is all new from the new components wing of WeThePeople. The Tibia crank features the modern twist of a two-piece design. The ultra hollow 4130 cr-mo 22mm spindle is permanently fixed to one of the arms, thus making bike maintenance that much easier. Choose your colour as long as it’s soot black, flat white, flat eggplant or flat brown. Lightweight at at only 887g/31.3 oz and also comes with the necessary assembly tool and 8mm allen key. Yowzers! So there you have it, fashionably light and stylish new cranks from BMX boutique brand éclat (definition: brilliant success.) -Grant Smith
New from Fit is Dakote Roche’s brand new signature frame. Made in the USA from heat-treated, butted, air-hardened Supertherm tubing with dent-resistant top and down tubes, removable brake mounts, micro dropouts, laser cut, vented seat and chainstay bridges and an integrated seat clamp. There’s three top tube sizes to choose from (20.5”, 20.75”, 21") with a 13.65” back end, 75 degree head tube, 71 degree seat tube, Dakota-inspired graphics and a complete weight of just 4.2 lbs. Available now, worldwide in raw, black or red.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that maybe not every last one of us is riding big bars circa the end of December, 2008. I’m also gonna go out on a limb and guess that not everyone cares about having bars with as much butted tubing as possible in them. Finally, I’m gonna guess that some of us might appreciate components that have become classic but still do the job pretty good…
Such is the case with T-1’s classic Small and Medium bars. Around the turn of the century, everyone and their mother rode these bars. Through the years, the trends have turned towards bigger bars, but you can still get your hands on these classic US-made bars from T-1 for an affordable price. There’s two types to choose from. Small (1 lb. 15.5 oz.) features a 7.375” rise, 3 degrees of upsweep and 12 degrees of backsweep. They’re 24.5” wide with .065” tubing, available in black and navy. Medium (2 lb. 0.125 oz.) bars are 7.75” high, with 3 degrees of upsweep, 12 degrees of backsweep and a 24.5” width. Again, made out of good ole .065 wall tubing with no butts about them. Available in black and brown. And hey, if it works for Joe Rich, it’ll probably work for anyone…
The WeThePeople Arcade 18” complete was made with the younger rider in mind; aspiring BMXers that aren’t quite ready for a full-sized 20” complete. Built around a WeThePeople 18” frame featuring 18” top tube, 13.25” chain stays and a 74.5 degree head tube angle, the Arcade 18 features an array of Salt components (Salt frontload stem, Salt front (3/8, 36h) and rear (14mm, 36h) hubs, Salt AM rims, Salt 3-pc 152mm tubular cranks, Salt front and rear brakes and levers), plus WeThePeople’s railed Beatnik seat and Defcon grips (designed for smaller hands.) Not only that, the Arcade 18 features Odyssey Twisted PC pedals and Odyssey 13t freewheel. And to finish off the package, the Arcade 18 features a pair of steel Salt pegs and a detangler. Right out of the box, the Arcade 18 is ready to ride on a variety of terrains, boasting a perfect setup for younger riders looking to grow into a 20” ride. Available in black or white.
Let’s face it, winter is here whether anyone likes it or not. The days are shorter, the temps are colder and the riding time, well, it’s been cut virtually in half. Knowing that winter can be a trial for the average BMXer to get through, Animal designed the Upstate Jacket from the ground up to keep the warm in both on or off your bike. The Upstate Jacket is constructed of a 100% nylon shell, featuring a quilted liner that’s printed with Animal’s familiar wood grain pattern. To top it off, there’s a wraparound hood that covers the neck area and features a removable face mask, an iPod pocket with headphone routing, a wind skirt, thumb hole cuffs to keep your hands warm and plenty of pockets for tubes, tools or whatever you might need to stow away. Colors are black with gold trim and sizes are small, medium large and XL. Don’t face the winter in a zip-up sweatshirt if you don’t have to. Or as Ralph would say, “Hook it.”
The hardest thing in the world might be writing product write-ups while Anchorman is on television. Don’t blame me, blame TBS. But I’m gonna try to knock this out without laughing. As Ron says, “When in Rome.” The Scarab IL complete is a new addition to the complete range of Hoffman Bikes. It’s a quality bike without a huge price tag; one you could ride as is or upgrade at your leisure. Built around a Hoffman Bikes team-designed frame with cro-mo mainframe, integrated head tube and Mid B/B, the “IL” series features 100% cro-mo HB forks, 8” rise HB handlebars, compact 25/9 drive-train with fully sealed cassette hub, Alienation Rims, HB Skidmark and Kenda tires, 3-piece cro-mo tubular cranks and HB’s new Pivotal Repeater Circle seat and Pivotal seat-post. I love lamp.
Specs:
TT: 20.5”
HT:74.5°
ST:70°
CS:14”
BB:11.4”
Weight: 28.5lbs
Colors: Bright Green or Jeweled Violet
I’m really really surprised that it took someone so long to use the name “First Blood” for a signature frame. Fortunately, Rob Wise got around to it with his first signature frame from Volume, which is stacked with new mercenary-inspired features. For starters, the seat tube is drilled out to resemble a silencer from a gun. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a laser cut grenade in the seatstay brace. But this frame is far from a gimmick. We all know Rob goes big and this frame is built to withstand some abuse. Built around full 4130 cr-mo tubing, the First Blood features an integrated headtube drilled for gyro tabs, removable brake mounts that can be placed on the seat or chainstays, externally butted and drilled seattube, 4mm thick dropouts and drilled seat and chainstay end caps. As far as specs go, the frame is available in two top tube sizes (20.5” & 21") with a 13.75” rear end, 75 degree head tube angle and 71 degree seat tube angle. Full frame weight is 4 lbs 11 oz., and the First Blood is available in either flat black, flat blue or flat grey. Plus its able to evade the clutches of Sheriff Will Teasle with ease. (Sorry, that’s a bad joke inspired by the Rambo movie. Maybe I should’ve said that it was Colonel Trautman approved...)
Two new tires from Snafu (Malcolm-top, Sanford-bottom), both available with lightweight, foldable Kevlar beads. To begin with, we have what could very well be the first bike component to borrow its name from a civil rights advocate. The Malcolm tire features a multi-directional textured “X” pattern, suitable for use on parks and pavement of all kinds. The tire tread reaches from bead to bead for full wraparound coverage, with raised outer micro knobs for turning traction. Two sizes for the Malcolm tire (1.95”, 2.10"), with a weight of 592g for the 1.95 version.
Moving right along is the Sanford tire. I don’t know where the Sanford tire’s name comes from (maybe Redd Foxx’s character Fred Sanford from Sanford and Son?), but that’s not really important anyways. The Sanford tire features a multi-directional interlocking cross pattern for traction on parks and trails, with a smooth center ridge for low rolling resistance. Two sizes available (1.95”, 2.10"), with a weight of 617g for the 1.95 version. So there you go, two new tires from Snafu along with the only time I’ve ever mentioned Malcolm X on a BMX Web site. Sounds like fun to me…
Last winter, a good part of the floundering airline industry came together (well, not really but it almost feels like it) and decided to increase the prices on the cost of traveling with a bicycle on a plane by between 30 and 50%. Ridiculous, I know. It used to be, if you were traveling with a bike, you’d buy a duffle bag from the Army/Navy store for $20, break down your bike as much as possible, tell the airlines that it was promotional equipment (which is kinda true, to a point) and enjoy the comfort of avoiding extra charges on traveling with a bike. Not so anymore. These are dark times for air travel with a bike. Knowing that, DK decided to construct a bike bag, working around the newfound regulations of the airline industry. To begin with, the DK Flight bag was made using durable rip stop Cordura, with padded sides, padded pockets, heavy duty zippers and rolling wheels at the base. So it’s strong, versatile and big enough to fit a partially disassembled BMX bike. And to top it off, the bag is embroidered with a “DK Golf” logo. So you can pack your bike up, seal it with some zip ties, dress nicely when you get to the airport (that’s more important than you probably know) and hopefully get off from paying extra to travel with a bike. Available in black/green color combo only, well worth the investment even if you only take one trip with it…
The 2009 Envy complete bike has been something that many of you have asked about, and now the frame is available as an affordable aftermarket option.
For this frame, we wanted to bring something into the range that allowed those who want a good looking solid frame but without too many high-tech innovations nor the price attached to such luxuries. It takes successful elements from our other frames and some individual detailing to ensure it remains a standout frame but with a more affordable price tag. The frame remains totally high-end; with the same attention to detail but without the heat-treatment process now used on the rest of the range. Using the tried and tested full 4130 Sanko cr-mo.
With two top tube length options (20.75"TT and 21.25"TT), the 75° head angle and some short rear end specs (13.5” to 13.75”).... it’s every bit the ride you’d expect from us. The frame also features the ultra-slim removable brake hardware that we’re also now featuring on the more expensive frames. We also offer a complete replacement kit for the brake hardware which includes screw-on gyro tabs, cable guide, cable stopper and brake pivots.
Frame: 4130 Sanko Cr-Mo
Toptube: 20.75"TT and 21.25"TT
CS Length: 13.5” to 13.75”
Angles: HT 75°, ST 71°
B/B: 11.75” height, new shape Mid size B/B
Headtube: Int. Headset, drilled for included gyro tabs
Dropouts: Lasercut, 5mm, heat-treated, 4130 CrMo, 14mm slots with unique tech sink cuts
Weight: 2.23kg (4.91lb)
You really got to hand it to Redline. Over 30 years in the biz and they’re still kicking out quality complete bikes at affordable prices. Plus, on top of their quality freestyle program, they still sponsor some of the world’s top racers. Not that the RL-7 is ready for the track, but it’s respectable to see a BMX brand embracing every discipline. Anyways, the RL-7 is built around a full cr-mo Device frame, cr-mo forks and bars, Redline cr-mo cranks, Sun double wall 36h rims, Device 25-6 micro gearing, Tektro brakes and Redline’s Device series Pivotal seat and seat post. The top of the line Device frame features a 20.75” top tube, 74.5 degree head tube, 14.25” chainstays and butted tubing throughout. Basically, you could ride this thing straight out of the box without a worry.
The Wallstreet, as one might expect, is Nigel Sylvester’s signature complete bike from Mirraco. And it’s packed with everything you’ll ever need to hit the streets running. Built around a 100% cr-mo frame with 20.75” top tube, double-butted down tube and heat-treated integrated head tube, the Wallstreet features an array of top of the line components from Mirraco’s M3 line, including 3-piece cr-mo cranks, alloy pedals, 2-piece bars, hubs (36h front and 36h, 14mm axle 9t driver cassette rear) and a Wallstreet edition Pivotal seat and post. But that’s not all. Since Animal is Nigel’s component sponsor, the Wallstreet comes complete with Animal GLH tires front and rear, 25t Animal Sprocky Balboa sprocket and Animal Edwin grips. Rounding out the package are four Snafu cr-mo pegs, a caliper brake in case you still wanna fufanu and a complete bike weight of just 26.3 pounds. Street ready, right out of the box. Just don’t take the Wallstreet complete to Wall Street in Manhattan, cause it’s a bust…
Nike 6.0 has now paired up with Nike ID, meaning you can take an action sports ready Nike 6.0 shoe and add your own personal touch through Nike ID. In this case, the Nike 6.0 Mogan can now be completely personalized - from the colourways on the upper materials right through to the outsoles and laces; even allowing for an embroidered text application that really adds to the uniqueness. The Mogan is one of the most popular shoes in the collection; with an encapsulated air unit built into the heel and hidden lace system. And now you can design your own. The formula is simple; a one-to-one appointment with a trained design consultant helps prospective shoe owners maximize their time whilst a 3D image of the shoe is shown on screen enabling you to follow the progress. In the end, you get a one of a kind shoe from Nike 6.0, Nike ID and whatever your mind comes up. Pictured above are shoes designed by UK Nike 6.0 riders Harry Main (black, pink) and Leon Perkins (green trim) at Niketown in London.
The Hell Stallion is the signature frame of Colony’s own Liam Fahy-Hampton (yeah, the rail ride guy...) The Hell Stallion offers the lowest standover height of any of Colony’s frames, making it tailwhip friendly. And the Hell Stallion is fully post heat-treated using Colony’s Colonized heat-treating process, meaning it’s light and strong. (The Hell Stallion even comes with a lifetime warranty against breakage to the original owner.) But let’s get down to some specs. The Hell Stallion is built around fully heat-treated cr-mo tubing, with an externally machined seat tube and B/B shell, built-in seat clamp, plus seatstay mounted removable brake mounts and guides. Top tube sizes include 20.85” and 21.25”, with a rear end of 13.75”, a head tube of 75.5 degrees and a seat tube angle of 71 degrees. Overall weight (for the 20.85” version) is just 4.76lbs, and the frame is available in a variety of colors, including lighter black and white with grey, tangerine, fluorescent yellow and bloody black, with limited edition colors to follow. And if you don’t believe us, just check out what Liam Fahy-Hamton does on the Hell Stallion. This frame is built to stand up to the demands of a serious ape…
Federal’s latest freecoaster (V2) was designed around patented KHE internals, utilizing a new feature which allows for the user to adjust the freecoaster slack without dismantling the hub. It used to take some pretty intricate fine-tuning to adjust freecoaster slack, but V2 puts an end to that; V2’s slack can be simply adjusted by inserting an allen key into the end of the axle. But that’s not the only feature on Federal’s latest freecoaster. The V2 is available in RHD with either a 9t or 10t driver, and 36h or 48h options. The internals are built around a 14mm heat-treated hollow cr-mo axle, the shell is available in black, red or white, and the weight is 1lb 7.7oz. Available now from Federal…
The Asadi Phase 2 is the newest frame in the Mankind lineup, featuring a slim frame design, integrated seat clamp, smaller dropouts and a laser cut Mankind seatstay bridge. The Asadi Phase 2 frame is built around Sanko 4130 heat-treated and double butted cr-mo top tube, down tube, seat stays and chain stays, giving the frame an overall lightweight feel. And in case you need options, Mankind has you covered, as the Asadi Phase 2 is available in four top tube sizes (20.2”, 20.5”, 20.8”, 21"). Chainstays measure in at 13.75” - 14.25”, head tube is 74.5 degrees and seat tube is 70 degrees. Of course, if that’s not enough, the Mid B/B and dropouts are heat-treated, the cable stop for the chain stay mounted brake mounts is angled and the overall frame weight is 4.96lbs. Basically, the Asadi Phase 2 frame features tons of technological advances circa ‘09 while still retaining traditional geometry and setup options. Meaning you get a tough, stable, lightweight frame for an affordable price. Colors for the Asadi Phase 2 include black, white, raw, grey, pistachio and purple.
Maybe some of you hadn’t heard, but Fly Bikes have been actively pursuing a flatland division of the company dubbed Suelo for more than a few years now. Suelo’s range includes flat-specific frames, forks, bars, stems and a wide variety of components that are expertly designed to work well in parking lots from here to Japan and back. New from Suelo, and debuting in Vegas last week, was Suelo’s Simple 3 frame. The Simple 3 frame retains the traditional look of a double-diamond BMX frame. Available in two top tube sizes (18”, 18.6"), the Simple 3 is constructed of 100% heat-treated cr-mo with a 13” rear end, 75” head tube angle, Spanish B/B and a slew of removable options to customize your setup (removable chain tensioners, brake mounts, brake tabs, gyro tabs.) Colors are black and yellow and the final weight is just 3.7 pounds.
Moving right along is the Tubo grip. It’s one very long grip that you can cut to your own desired length, available in black, white and pink and very comfortable to the touch. Naturally, the Tubo grip can be used on bikes that aren’t made for flatland, so if you’re in the market for the most customizable grip on the planet, Suelo has you covered…
I know what you’re thinking. Why in the heck is Dig devoting an entire product write-up to a piece of velcro? So let me explain. It’s Interbike week. If you check out the Dig This section, we’re doing daily updates of all things new in the BMX product world, so there’s no shortage of new goods to check out on the Dig site in the coming week. And besides, sometimes the little things get overlooked, like cable straps. I personally think velcro cable straps add a nice, simplistic touch to a bike (if you use brakes) and unlike a zip-tie, it’s reusable. So Kink made these nice velcro straps to ensure that your cable isn’t hanging off your bike like a drunk sorority girl on a Thursday night. Anyways, if you’re still not convinced that a cable strap merits an entire product write-up, I apologize. It could’ve been worse though. I was originally planning to do a write-up on either Utz potato chips or just socks in general…
Most folks seem to equate Metal Bikes with high-quality American made frames, including the Rebel Contender and the Blood Wolf, but Metal has been manufacturing a small line of refined components for quite a while now. And recently, they’ve made some changes to the line, including two new seats, the Featherlight (railed) and the Bonesnake (Pivotal.) The Featherlight is a traditional railed seat with Metal Bikes graphics printed on padded vinyl, 8mm cr-mo rails and a weight of just 7.9 oz. The Bonesnake is Metal’s Pivotal model, featuring snakeskin effect vinyl and a weight of just 9.3 oz. So no matter what kind of seat post you’re riding, you can show your support for Metal Bikes through their simply-designed, lightweight range of seats. And if anyone wants to hear the Mike Lausman train surfing story, let me know....
Two new offerings from the upcoming Fall ‘08 Orchid line, including some new colorways in the ever popular Vandever 2 series. The Vandever 2 is Van Homan’s second signature shoe from Orchid, and the rust/gum version pictured here features a suede upper, Internal EVA midsole and Orchid’s proven pedal-friendly 400 NBS gum outsole. Also on deck from Orchid are a limited edition high-top version of the team-designed Break model. The Break High features a leather upper, Internal EVA midsole, Orchid’s proven pedal-friendly 400 NBS outsole and no ankle bites to be had for the life of the shoe. Oh yeah, this is apparently the last time you will see the Vandever 2 in Orchid’s line, so if you’re a fan of Homan (and who’s not!), this is your last chance to own a proven shoe design from Orchid and the man himself.
Can you believe that Fit Bike Co. has 15 completes bikes in their 2009 line? Yup, it’s true (unless I’m messing up my count somehow...) Fit seriously have a bike for everyone, from street to trails to park, young to old and in between. New to the ‘09 range for the aspiring trail rider is the TRL 18 complete. This is a scaled down version of Fit’s Trail complete, perfect for younger riders that haven’t quite hit their growth spurt yet. Designed for riders approximately 44-54” tall, the TRL 18 features a hi-tensile steel frame with 18” top tube, standard 1-1/8” headtube, Fit fork with cr-mo steer tube, Fit two-piece bars, Fit grips, frontload alloy stem, Tektro brake and lever, 3-piece tubular 150mm cr-mo cranks with Mid B/B, 25/10 micro gearing with cassette hub, Kenda tires and alloy platform pedals. All this for a low, low price that boasts Fit’s quality reputation. Oh yeah, color is flat black and complete weight is 24.5 pounds. I guess it’s never too early to instruct the younger riders in the way of Aitken, and the TRL 18 is the perfect vehicle for the beginning of the journey…
I have seriously had the same complete Demolition front wheel for like two years now. It’s simple, lightweight and not overdone. This write-up of course has nothing to do with my front wheel, but I figured I’d throw that out there since the stuff is built to last. Anyways, new to the Demolition line are front hubs. Named for waifish child star Mary Kate Olson, the Mary Kate hub features a low flange aluminum hub shell, a hollow alloy 10 mm axle with steel stud bolts and a thread on 7075 aluminum hub guard. Weights are 265 grams without the guard, and 282 with. The MK hub features 36h lacing, two super smooth sealed bearings and tons of colors to choose from. Plus all that, this is the only BMX component that has ever indirectly referenced the ABC sitcom ‘Full House,’ and I think Bob Saget would approve…
New for the upcoming ‘09 season are complete bikes in the FBM line, and they’ve got everything covered, from trails to street to park, from the beginner up the seasoned vet. I’m picking the brakeless Marauder to profile here, but if you’re looking for a “killer” deal on a lower-priced FBM complete, be sure to the check out the FBM Executioner. (And feel free to laugh at my bad jokes too.) Anyways, the Marauder is stacked, featuring a 100% cro-mo FBM frame with a 20.5” top tube, 100% cr-mo FBM fork, 8” cro-mo, dual radius FBM bars, an assortment of Nice Components (FBM’s new component brand) including stem, grips and Pivotal seat, a 25-9 gearing, 3-piece cro-mo cranks hooked up to a sealed Mid B/B, four steel pegs, Animal Hamilton plastic pedals and Tioga FS-100 tires. Basically, this thing is good to go straight out of the box and ready for the streets after a quick assembly. The brakeless Marauder model is available in a red splatter/flat black color combo, and in case you didn’t know already, FBM’s completes just landed at distros throughout the world. So get off your ass, pick up a Marauder and do it for Albert Street…
We got a pretty big box of Zoo York product in last week, and they’ve seriously stepped it up with their footwear line. Included in the package were Zoo York’s Skol shoe, a midtop designed shoe constructed of a premium leather/textile upper with a durable and very grippy vulcanized rubber outsole. The Skol shoe additionally features smooth lining, plaid and splatter detailing, plus a padded collar and tongue. Good to go right out of the box for riding, walking or whatever else you might get into both in and out of the city that never sleeps.
And I hate to be that guy, but the days of summer are soon to be waning. Soon it’s gonna be dark at 7 PM and the sound of ice cream trucks will be nothing more than a distant memory. So it’s not too early to be thinking about bundling up. And with Zoo’s new Wheat Paste Chill hoody, the dark days a coming don’t have to be so dark. Zoo York fleece is insulated, built for warmth and available in any size you can think of. Good stuff coming from Zoo York. Now just get that Bomb Down Broadway online already!
New from Fly Bikes; a simple, straightforward front hub. As with all things Fly, they didn’t just go to the Taiwan Buyer’s Guide, point out a hub and throw their name on it. Instead, Fly started from the ground up, redesigning their front hub to be stronger, lighter and simpler to work with. The CNC machined 7075 aluminum hub features extremely small flanges, a wider distance between flanges for stronger lacing and an exclusive 1-piece axle nut design, which makes this hub easier to tighten down and less likely to break an axle. The weight of Fly’s front hub is nominal (200 grams/6.8 oz.) and the hub is featured in black, white, coffee, red and grey. In stores now, worldwide.
A classic frame in the S&M line is back and better than ever. The Dirt Bike frame had previously been a long-standing member of the S&M range, and over the years, had seen its fair share of refinements (including ‘97’s beefed-up Next Generation series) but we haven’t heard much from the Dirt Bike in the past few years. That all ended a few months ago when S&M announced the return of the Dirt Bike.
Here’s what S&M had to say about the return: “We’ve been getting requests for basically the same frame for awhile now and this is it. The Dirt Bike has a 74.5 head tube, taller stand over and a 14” rear end. Built with SuperTherm tubing, this frame is light and strong. It’s not available brakeless, it uses a regular seat-clamp, there aren’t any holes drilled in it for lightness. This thing looks like a regular BMX frame that wasn’t designed specifically for tail-whips, nose wheelies and hang fives! In other words it’s a fu*king Dirt Bike.”
Basically, S&M didn’t mess with the Dirt Bike’s classic design too much. It is updated with an integrated headset, removable gyro tabs, Mid B/B and 990 mounts on the seat stays, but it still looks like the good ole Dirt Bike we’ve come to know and love. Top tube sizes include 20.5”, 20.75”, 21.0” and 21.25”, weight is just under 5 pounds and it’s available in black, yellow and red with retro Dirt Bike graphics. If you’re looking for a classic frame with controlled geometry, this is your frame. And oh yeah, like all S&M frames, the Dirt Bike is made in the USA.
Rich Hirsch just received a few new signature parts from Mosh. First up are Rich’s Street Bars, a fairly simple bar with an 8.10” rise, 12 degrees of back sweep, a 28” width, 11-butted tubing and colors including satin black, galvanized raw and orange. Rich’s Pivotal seat features soft, perforated synthetic leather, white or black color options, custom stitching and an embossed Mosh logo. Finally, there’s Mosh’s Pivotal post. (That’s not a signature part. In fact, I’d be a little alarmed if someone was getting a signature seat post, but anyways...) It’s compatible with all Pivotal seats, simply designed, short, lightweight and available in copper brown, which you can find on a few other offerings from Mosh. Oh yeah, there’s been a Mosh Web site change, so update your bookmarks!
Eddie Cleveland’s first signature shoe from Lotek, The Coastal, is a slim, stylish mid top constructed of canvas, with detailed stitching throughout the upper. The EVA midsole provides durable, lightweight and responsive cushioning, while the vulcanized outsole offers you excellent pedal feel and traction. All together, Eddie’s first shoe is a comfortable and grippy alternative to the moon boots that skate shoe companies have been selling us for years. The Coastal is available in black and white, and if you’ve been paying any attention to the Web lately, you’ll see that the white colorway provides an excellent canvas for aspiring artists and dye-ists. Get em while they’re hot.
The Odyssey Mike Aitken Nightwolf signature seat features Nightwolf artwork from Mike Aitken’s Lotek Nightwolf t-shirt. According to Lotek’s Rich Hirsch, “Jim [Bauer] from Odyssey hit me up one day with the idea to put our Nightwolf shirt graphic on one of there Aitken seats. I sent over the art and a few months later the samples arrived and they look great.” So I guess you could call this a collaboration of sorts between Odyssey and Lotek. The Nightwolf seat features a black base, hollow cr-mo rails, a non-slip top and Aitken’s exclusive Lotek Nightwolf print. So if you’re a fan, this is one more way to show some Aitken love. Available in purple or grey.
The 4130 is a team-designed shoe from the Duffs BMX crew. The upper is constructed of action leather, featuring a high profile mid-top design with thick ankle padding to provide added support and comfort. The action upper features perforated leather, detailed stitching and a mesh fabric tongue, which is complimented by elasticized keeper straps, padded tongue and collar, smooth lining and a compression-molded EVA insole with arch support and heel safe gel. The 4130’s outsole is a tried and trusted design which has been in the Duffs family since the company’s inception way, way back in 1993. It’s grippy, long-lasting, flexible and proven to be BMX friendly. The 4130 is also available in a variety of color combos, including Ryan Metro’s black on green and a grey/black/red combo. The 4130 shoe is currently available worldwide. If you’re a fan of Ryan Metro, Jimmy Levan and the rest of the Duffs crew, then this is your shoe…
Animal’s new rim was designed from the ground up for the evolving needs of the mostly brakeless Animal team. Since most of the team doesn’t use brakes, the rim could be designed without traditional sidewalls, which become the primary braking surface for a bike with brakes. The LM rim is a 36-hole rim with short, angled sidewalls that add lateral strength to the wheel. It’s lightweight (16.1oz) and features angled nipple holes that are setup to cross over the opposite hub flange. But this is not a brakeless bike only rim. It will work with brakes; you’re just going to have to align your brake pads a little more accurately. And that’s not all. Animal are also releasing the LM-R rim (not pictured), which incorporates the same design of the LM rim, but is drilled out in the angled sidewalls to reduce weight. The LM-R weighs just 15.6oz. And both styles are available in four colors to choose from, including green, purple, black and chrome. Look for both rims in stores soon.
When Hoffman Bikes first began in 1991, Mat and company sought out Kevin Jones, the most prolific flatlander in the world, to design their flagship flatland frame, the Big Daddy. Known as the father of modern day flatland, Jones designed the Big Daddy from the ground up, producing a no-nonsense flatland frame that hit legendary status in a matter of months. Over the years, Jones dodged the limelight, producing video parts for the Dorkin’ series and remaining highly elusive. But now he’s back, again teaming up with HB to design a new flatland frame. Enter The Strowler. This simple, flatland specific frame design is light, responsive and exactly what a rider needs to excel in the flatland game. Featuring 100% 4130 cr-mo construction, single and double-butted tubing, removable brake mounts and cable guides, Mid B/B and integrated headtube, the Strowler is available in two sizes (18.75” top tube with a 12.9” rear end, or 19.75” top tube with a 13.5” rear end.) Head tube angle is 74.5 degrees, seat tube is 70 and B/B height is 11.75”. You also get three colors to choose from, including midnight blue, bee yellow and forest green. Final weight for The Strowler is 4lbs 14.5 oz, and that’s all she wrote…
Twenty Bikes is a long standing rider-owned company from France that manufactures a ton of impressive high quality bikes and components. You might also have seen the amazing Twenty team section on the most recent Props Euro Megatour, and if you were paying attention, then you could see that the Twenty line takes some hefty abuse but comes back for more. Included in the latest assortment for ‘08 are two new frames (French Kiss: Top Tube: 20.8, 21.00, 21.25”, Chain stay: 13.5”, Headtube: 75°,Seattube: 71°, Machine: Top Tube 20.8, 21.0”, Chain Stay: 13.5”, Headtube: 75°, Seat-Tube: 71°), Highland handlebars (8” rise, 13-butted tubing), Reverse cranks, Jingle cassette hub and Unidos Pivotal Seat/Post combo. Twenty knows what’s up, and their current line boasts something for everyone. So if you need it, Twenty’s got it.
The Chocolate frame is designed and ridden by Mirraco’s Nigel Sylvester. It’s a simply designed street frame, strong enough for the streets, but refined enough to withstand anything you can throw at it. The low-slung frame features 100% seamless butted 4130 chromoly tubing, 6mm cr-mo dropouts, Mid B/B, integrated headset, CNC machined headtube, removable gyro tabs, seat stay bridge caliper brake mount (no u-brake mounts), a 21 inch top tube length and an overall weight of 4.66 pounds. The Chocolate is ridden by not only Nigel, but a select crew of rippers in the NYC area. Plus, I just dig the Hershey-inspired graphics…
The Cobra Low is Matt Beringer’s latest edition of his signature shoe from Orchid Footwear. The Cobra Low is a lower cut version of the original Cobra shoe, constructed of genuine leather (brown version) or suede (black/red version), with Orchid’s trusted, pedal friendly outsole. The black/red version of Beringer’s Cobra Low is a collaboration with S&M Bikes, Matt’s bike sponsor, and like all good collaborations, it’s limited edition. So if you’re a collector of S&M paraphernalia, or just appreciate Matt Beringer and Orchid’s dedication to BMX a whole bunch, get out to your local shop and pick these up sooner than later. I guess I should also say that you don’t need a water slide in your backyard to ride the Cobra Low shoe from Orchid Footwear.
Two brand new tire designs from Fit featuring Fit’s FAF (Fast As Fu*k) tread. The FAF tires are available in two different styles (wire bead or lightweight folding Kevlar bead) and come in a variety of sizes, including 1.95”, 2.1” and 2.25”. The 20 x 2.25” size also features a more aggressive tread pattern for better traction on the front of your bike, kinda like how some people run a more knobby-style tire up front. As for tire technology, the FAF tires are dressed to the nines, including a puncture resistant Kevlar belt and tear resistant Silkworm technology. And just as the name infers, the FAF tires from Fit are designed to go fast, just like the Fit team. I still can’t help but think that S&M should’ve used this tire name for their next race frame though...
The DK Alpha line is an assortment of high quality components, including a front-load stem with extensive internal machining and six hollow bolts to keep the weight down. Rounded edges make it knee-friendly and there are two reaches to choose from (45 or 53mm.) Then there’s the Alpha sprocket, machined from 6mm thick 7075 aluminum with an area that is machined down to 3mm around the spindle to save weight. Available in 25, 28 and 30t in coffee, black, green or blue. Rounding out the DK Alpha line is a lightweight, simple and strong seat clamp. It keeps your seat post in place. Get them all on a Brian Kachinsky signature frame and you’re good to go. Big things from the DK crew!
Redline’s infamous Device frame has undergone some changes for the new year. Generation 5 (G5) of the Device frame features heat-treated Sanko cr-mo tubing, a new integrated head tube shape (with removable detangler tabs), a lighter, butted top tube, a lighter down tube, an externally CNC machined seat tube, CNC machined Mid B/B with a lighter ovalized B/B yoke and a new laser cut seat stay brace. The changes all add up to one thing: a weight of under 5 pounds.
But those aren’t the only changes. The Device frame now features removable/blot-on brake mounts, cable mounts and gyro tabs. And the down tube is now internally gusseted. Finally, you’ll probably notice the limited edition black crackle paint job. Also new. But just in case you want something different, Redline also offers the Device frame in blue fade and white/green. Oh yeah, the Device now comes stickerless. The frame comes with a decal pack, and you can leave it untouched or decorate it however you please.
As for geometry, Redline has all the bases covered. Top tube sizes of 20.5”, 20.75” and 21”. Head tube angle of 75 degrees, seat tube angle of 71 degrees, chainstay length of 14.25”.
Ian’s frame is exactly the same as the upcoming Second Wave frame, but Ian wanted to have a Pivotal Post welded on. The height of the post is about an inch from the top tube. It’s available with brakes in 20.5” 20.75”, 21”, or brakeless in 20.5”, 20.75”, 21”. Head tube is 74.5 degrees. Chainstays are 13.75”. It’s offered in White and Black Magic, which will be complimented by Sunday kits consisting of bars and forks in the same color way. Weight is just under 5 pounds, and each graphic is a die cut sticker with a hand drawn sharpie look done by Ian himself. The downtube has different graphics on each side while the headtube has a pair of bars as a lure for the fish on the downtube. What more do you need? It’s a Sunday and it’s never going to break. But just in case you have any problems with the frame, it’s covered by a lifetime warranty.
New from The Shadow Conspiracy are lightweight Little One’s pegs available in a wide array of colors. These park and light street specific pegs are constructed of 4140 heat-treated cr-mo weighing in at 6.7 ounces per peg. They come spec’d with an anti-rotation pin, sizes of 14mm or 3/8” and colors of black, white, blue, green, purple or red.
As for the Undertaker tires, they’re an all-purpose tire with a a directional tread design that comes down on the sidewall for better turning, small knurling for better traction and Aramid foldable Kevlar bead technology to save weight. The Undertakers are designed around a super grippy rubber compound and can be pumped up to 110 PSI. You have a choice of sizes (1.95” and 2.25"), one color choice of black and in the end you get a lightweight tire (1.6 lb for 2.25, 1.2 lb for 1.95) that has been tested to stand the test of time.
A slew of new products from United, including two brand new frames and two styles of grips. Let's get it started.
The 40HT frame is Kye and Leo Forte's signature frame, featuring full post-welding UV1 heat-treating, double-butted tubing, laser cut and treated bridge stays, laser cut dropouts with cut outs and an integrated seat clamp. You get two top tube sizes to choose from (20.6" and 21"), a chainstay length of 13.75" and one color choice of heat-treated raw. Did we mention this thing weighs just 4.4 pounds? Well, it certainly does.
Next up is the latest colorway in the Ricky Feather Feva Squad line, featuring Ricky Feather's latest color choice (trans green) and graphics. Feva's Squad also features a 20.6" top tube, 13.75" chainstays, no brake mounts or cable guides, a curved chainstay brace, laser cut seat stay brace and heat-treated headtube, B/B and dropouts. Overall weight being just 5.2 pounds, with a free poster and DVD included.
Finally are United's latest grips. Repeat features a dual ply compound, medium thickness and a micro fine surface, while U Jive features soft krayton rubber and a slim diameter. Both style grips are available in black, white or green. And if you're looking at the photos above, Repeat grips are first and U Jives are second...
SUPERSTAR BMX SPRING 2008 LIMITED EDITION COLORWAYS
posted 1 year, 10 months ago
New products on the rise from Superstar's brand new spring 2008 line, including two new frames and stems. For the spring line, Superstar chose special colors for their frame and stems, then produced limited amounts of both. And according to Superstar, "When we say very limited quantities, we mean limited edition." The limited colors available include purple frames and black and green stems. Check the product details below each product, and if you're feeling any of Superstar's frames or stems, better start searching them out now, cause supplies are extremely limited.
BSD is the long-running Scottish components company headed up by Dinosaur Jr. fan Grant Smith. For many years, BSD was mainly known for their infamous sprockets and jams, but Grant stepped it up big time in the past few years and started manufacturing components across the board. He also recruited some new French rippers for the team (including Anthony Lille and Julien Leyleroup) and went on a Christmas vacation that lasted like three months.
First up in BSD's latest assortment are handlebars in two varieties. The Too Loose bars (a pun on Anthony Lille's hometown of Toulose, France) feature 13 butted tubing, an 8" rise, a 28" width, 13 degrees of back sweep and 3 degrees of up sweep. They weigh in at 1.45 lbs. The Variety bars are fairly close in size. They additionally sport an 8" rise, but they're narrower (27" width) without as much back sweep (11 degrees).
Next up is the BSD hub guard, designed by Mike 'Jersey' Taylor. The Jersey 2 is constructed of a 7075 aluminum interior with a high grade plastic exterior. It protects hubs and fits all sorts of axles.
Finally is the beast that got BSD here in the first place, the BSD sprocket. Well, not this one. It's been highly refined since the early days of BSD. The latest sprocket featuring 7075 aluminum construction, sizes of 23, 25, 28 and 30t, and colors of black, brown, grey and silver. It's called the Light Sprocket, and it's light.
There you go. New stuff from Scotland's premiere parts company. I would say get it while it's hot, but it never gets hot in Scotland, so I'll instead say to get it while it's wet...
For as long as I can remember, axles pegs have been constructed of either steel or alloy. There was one Tioga peg in the '80s that was alloy with a rubber cap on the end that spun, but that was about as crazy as axle pegs have gotten since they were introduced over twenty years ago.
The Pleg from G-Sport changes all that though. This revolutionary peg is constructed of a proprietary polymer blend of plastic which allows the peg to slide well on all surfaces, including aluminum, brick and rough concrete. The benefits to this are vast. The peg is park friendly (in case your local park enforces a "No-peg" or "Plastic Peg Only" policy), the peg can grind on more surfaces than steel, the grind is quieter, and just in case you get caught grinding by the police or a security guard, the Plegs do a lot less damage than ordinary steel pegs. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that each Pleg weighs just 4.3 ounces.
The Plegs are sold separately, available with a small steel insert that increases strength at the base, and when you've worn down your Plegs, affordable replacement sleeves are available. Designed for park and light street use. 3-15/16 x 1-5/8". Will not work with 14mm axle nuts that use a 19mm socket.
Lightweight, affordable, quiet, park and private property friendly, available from G-Sport now. Go get em.
Subrosa's second signature frame currently in the prototype testing stages (but soon to be available) is the Eli Platt Armada frame. And much like Ryan Sher's signature Pandora frame, this thing keeps it lightweight and simple without sacrificing strength or costing an arm and a leg.
Constructed of 100% 4130 Sanko cr-mo, Eli's frame features double-butted top tube, downtube and seat stays, an internally and externally butted seat tube (with built in seat clamp) and your choice of four top tube sizes. The Armada will be available with either 20", 20.5", 20.75" or 21" top tube, all spec'd with a tight 13.75" rear end.
The head tube is CNC'd and heat-treated, featuring removable gyro tabs, integrated headset and a 75 degree angle. The Mid B/B is also CNC'd and heat-treated, featuring an 11.5" height. The compact 5mm thick dropouts are also CNC'd and heat-treated. And before you start wondering where this is all headed, the final weight of the Armada frame is 4.9 pounds.
As with all things Subrosa, the color choices are pretty simple. You get either black, white or matte raw. And if you were worried about those cable guides and brake mounts, you can rest assured knowing that the Armada frame will be available with a brakeless option.
And there you have it for Subrosa's new Eli Platt Armada frame. I'm going to bed now. That John Adams mini series on HBO really did me in...
First there was the 'Heavy As Fu*k,' a circa 1994-95 S&M frame that weighed close to 8 pounds and was indestructible. Then more recently, S&M introduced its counterpart, the 'Light As Fu*k,' which was a good deal lighter but just as strong. And now comes a new addition to the S&M family of frames with names that boast cuss words and adverbs. Only now, they've added a preposition instead of an adverb, and put a hell of a lot of work into creating one of the most lightweight frames on the market. Without further adieu, this is the S&M LTF frame, or 'Lighter Than Fu*k' for everyone that wanted another cuss word in this write up.
The LTF frame is constructed of butted super therm chromoly tubing. It features an integrated head tube, Mid B/B, externally butted seattube, bullet-tipped seat and chainstays, laser-cut seatstay brace, embossed downtube gusset, laser-cut dropouts and wishbone chainstays that clear large tires. Top tube sizes available include 20.5", 20.75" and 21", with a very small run of 19" top tubes making the rounds on the Web. The chainstay length is 13.65", the head tube angle is 75 degrees, the seat tube angle is 71 degrees and the overall weight is 4.2 pounds. There's also some options you can look into, including a brakeless version of each size, and color selections of black zinc or gold zinc. And as with all S&M frames, the LTF is made in the USA.
Plastic pedals are all the rage lately, and for good reason. They're light, not nearly as deadly on your shins and seriously quiet your bike down when you drop it on its side. Knowing this, and already having a proven pedal design, Eastern Bikes sought out an inexpensive method to manufacture their well-known pedals in plastic.
The result are the CFRP's. CFRP stands for "Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic," and this new technology allows Eastern to manufacture a pedal that's extremely lightweight, durable and inexpensive. The CFRP Pedals are available in either black, white or brown, and weigh just 7.4 ounces each (for a final weight of 14.8 ounces per pair.)
The CFRP pedals feature Eastern's True dual-concave design, an unsealed 9/16" cr-mo axle and a knurled pedal surface. The CFRP pedals are then constructed using a carbon fiber reinforced plastic, which comes complete with molded pins for traction. Durable, inexpensive and lightweight. What more could you want in a pedal?
Colony BMX is the brainchild of one of Australia's most talented and technical riders out there, Clint Millar. Clint rode for Wethepeople for years and years, but left on good terms to start Colony just a few short years ago. And right out of the gate, Colony started big. Clint gathered together an impressive team of rippers from all over the world, and started manufacturing frames, forks, complete bikes, bars and a wide assortment of components to compliment the line. Part of that line is the MVP series, a signature frame and fork from Wisconsin tech legend Dave Freimuth. You might remember him from Etnies Grounded, Road Fools 1 and about 15 million clips from Props over the years. The MVP series is the latest frame to grace the Freimuth name.
The MVP frame features a fully post heat-treated Colonized cr-mo, heat-treated integrated headset, Mid B/B and 5mm CNC machined dropouts, externally machined seat tube and B/B shell, built-in seat clamp and seatstay mounted brakes. The frame is available in two top tube sizes (20.25 inch and 20.75 inch) featuring 14" chainstays, a 74.5 degree headtube angle, a 71 degree seat tube angle and a 11.5" B/B height. The frame's overall weight is just 4.5 pounds, and the colors include dark blue, white, metallic silver and limited edition colors. The MVP frame also comes with a one-year warranty.
As for the MVP forks, these also feature Colony's fully heat-treated Colonized cr-mo, with tapered fork legs, double butted legs with angled bottom caps, lightweight 5mm dropouts and Colony's specially designed top cap for front brake use. The MVP forks are available in either 10 or 14mm axle sizes, with or without brake mounts and weigh just 1.96 pounds. Color options include black, white, metallic blood red and limited edition colors. The MVP forks also feature a lifetime warranty.
Of course, the MVP series is just one small part of Colony's very extensive product line, so your options are wide open just in case the MVP series isn't your thing. But as we've always been huge Freimuth fans around here (despite how impossible it might be to get him to answer some questions over e-mail about Road Fools 1), we're gonna have to say that the MVP series is sweet...
Duo is a new-ish grip and tire company headed up by Chris Doyle, Steve Buddendeck and Cory Muth. The team consists of Doyle, Scotty Cranmer, Van Homan and Corey Bohan, but so far, Duo's output has only consisted of signature grips from Doyle, Cranmer and Homan in addition to soft goods.
That's about to change though, as Duo's product line expands into the tire realm, beginning with the Duo Gunner tire. The Gunner tire is a trails specific tire that's only available in one size (20 x 2.20"), but two styles (wire bead or kevlar folding.) It's lightweight (wire bead is 23.9 ounces, kevlar is 18.4 ounces), designed for the trails and sure to be accompanying the front wheel of the Duo team and many more once it's released.
For up to date release information on the Duo Gunner tire, along with daily updates from the team, check out http://www.duodaily.com
Beloe Footwear's first range of shoes are soon-to-be available, and included in the range are four very clean and versatile models that work well whether you're riding a bike, walking down the street or dancing at the club.
In case you didn't know, Beloe Footwear is a new brand that launched last Fall. Headed up by Brian Osborne, a veteran BMXer from the Louisville area, along with Russ Pope, a veteran skater/graphic artist from CA, Beloe is a cooperative effort to provide the BMX and skate world with shoes that offer smooth lines and versatility in all walks of life. The complete line of Beloe will consist of signature skate shoes, signature BMX shoes, artist collaborations from both industries, shirts, hats, hoodies, belts and more to come in the future. The BMX team, so far, consists of Jim Cielencki, Nathan Williams, Kevin Kiraly, Sean Sexton and Karl Poynter. But for now, we'll investigate their first range for the Spring 2008.
THE ETHAN
Upper: Suede or Leather
Midsole: Internal EVA
Outsole: 400 NBS
Colors: Suede (blacktop) or Leather (White)
THE STITCH
Upper: Action Leather
Midsole: Internal EVA
Outsole: 400 NBS
Colors: Black Coffee/Latte or Black Top
THE MIGUEL
Upper: Synthetic
Midsole: Internal EVA
Outsole: 400 NBS
Black Top/Racer Red or Steel/Cyan
THE X (Collaboration between Beloe Footwear and Odyssey's Jim Bauer)
Upper: Suede/Action
Midsole: Internal EVA
Outsole: 400 NBS
Colors: Black Top/Bauer, Brown/Bauer or Kool Gray/Royal
Oh, and in case you ever wondered about the technical mumbo jumbo, I did some research and got some answers. In regards to outsoles (the bottoms), NBS is a numeric rating of the density and abrasion-resistance that is given to rubber. 400 NBS is the highest grade of rubber that allows a shoe to be flexible and avoid cracking. So you can still feel your pedals, stop on a dime and not feel like you're wearing bricks on your feet. And in regards to midsole, EVA stands for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate. It's used in footbeds for plush, cushiony support. So it means that your feet are being protected from the inside out.
And finally, look for a Jim Cielencki signature shoe from Beloe in the near future as well.
A brand new assortment of Volume-related product just arrived, including the recently released signature frame from Jason Enns (The Ends), Volume's new heat-treated Genesis forks and their ever popular bar ends. But for all intents and purposes, let's begin with Enns' new frame.
Jason Enns was the first rider to receive a signature frame under the Volume name many years ago, and his legacy as an influential rider continues with The Ends. His latest signature frame features two top tube lengths (20.6" and 21.25"), 13.75" chain stays, 74.5 degree head tube, 71 degree seat tube, removable brake bosses, cable guides and gyro tabs, nternal headset, Mid B/B, laser cut dropouts, laser cut "$" insignia on the seat stays and an overall weight of 5 pounds 3 ounces. The Ends is heat-treated for strength using Volume's exclusive T3 process, and the color choices include red, orange and blue.
Moving right along is Volume's latest fork, the Genesis. Not named for the Phil Collins band, these forks are heat-treated using Volume's exclusive T3 process, allowing for reduced weight and increased strength. The forks feature a 1 piece CNC full cr-mo heat-treated steer tube, 4130 cr-mo legs and dropouts, a notched lower portion for peg clearance, 5mm cr-mo dropouts with the Volume speaker logo cut out, a 6061 compression bolt and an overall weight of 33 ounces. The Genesis forks are available in black, white and purple.
Finally, it's those bar ends I mentioned way back in the beginning. They're lightweight, cut out to feature the Volume speaker logo and will keep your bars from gashing apart your body should anything go wrong. Everyone should be using bar ends, and Volume's got you covered....
The latest in a long line of quality, hand built, American-made frames from FBM is The Howler. Named for a Binghamton bar room legend, The Howler is constructed of aircraft grade 4130 cr-mo and features a low standover height for easier tailwhips and a sleek appearance.
As for fine details, The Howler is constructed using double-butted top and down tubes, an externally machined seat tube, integrated head tube, Mid B/B, sleek tapered chain stays, 3/16" thick heat-treated drop outs and custom laser cut gusset and seat stay bridge. Head tube angle is 75 degrees, chain stay length is 13.375" slammed and overall weight is 5 pounds. The Howler is also heat-treated using FBM's exclusive 'Roasted' heat-treating technique.
There's also a few options on The Howler. If you want to use brakes, you get a choice of seat stay OR chain stay brake mounts. And if you don't use brakes, there's also a brakeless version. Then there's top tube sizes, which include 20.5", 20.75" and 21". And finally, there are two colors to choose from: matte black or chocolate brown.
The Howler is hand built in upstate New York by people that ride and abuse FBM frames daily, so they know what they're doing and they never skimp on the craftsmanship. The end result being another quality frame from Big Dave and the folks at FBM, ready for street, trails, skateparks and whatever might arise along the way...
Up until the beginning of this year, Mirraco has focussed on complete bikes and not much else. (Well, I mean "Not much else" in the sense of products. They've also been focussing on assembling a kickass team, taking some good trips and spreading the word of Mirraco.) But aside from a fully decked out line of complete bikes, Mirraco hasn't really done anything else in the way of products. That all changes with the introduction of four new high-end frames from Mirraco (four to choose from, including the Chocolate, Black Pearl, Blend Lite and Fivestar, all weighing in under 5 pounds) along with the following M3 component range, including forks, seats, pedals, sprockets and handlebars. Here's the full scoop on Mirraco's M3 line...
M3 Black Label Forks
The M3 Black Label forks feature double-butted tubing, an internal threaded steer tube with alloy threaded cap, 4130 cr-mo CNC'd 5mm dropouts with 10mm axle slots, a weight of 2.23 pounds and are fully heat-treated after welding. The fork legs are cut out at the base to sync up with pegs easily, and they're available in a raw sandblasted finish.
M3 Seat
This seat features a small, lightweight design, with 8mm cr-mo rails, two different cover choices, along with molded nose and edge guards.
M3 Gas Pedal
The gas pedals feature a low profile, lightweight design, with a knurled central surface, removable (and replaceable) allen head traction pins, 9/16" cr-mo spindles and color choices of raw or black. Weight for the pair is 19.4 ounces.
M3 Sprocket
This M3 sprocket is constructed of CNC'd 6061 T-6 aluminum. It's 5mm thick with a dual crank bolt hole so you can rotate the sprocket for longer use. Sizes are 25T, 28T, 33T and 36T. And color is black anodized only.
M3 Black Label Behind Bars
Finally, the Black Label Behind bars are constructed of 7/8" 13-butted cr-mo tubing. These bars are heat-treated after TIG welding for strength and are available in three rises (7 inch, 7.5 inch, 8 inch). Color is electroplated black, and the weight is 22.9 ounces (for the 7" version.)
Bell Helmets recently sent over two models, Faction (skate-style) and Drop (full-face). For 2008, the Faction is adorned with artwork from legendary Santa Cruz area artist Jimbo Phillips. Those familiar with the skate scene of the '80s will recognize Jimbo's iconic artwork from his days at Santa Cruz Skateboards. He's also designed artwork for Fox Racing, Fat Wreck Chords and even Snickers. These days, Jimbo stays busy between working on new designs for Santa Cruz Skateboards/Surfboards and Bell Helmets. And recently, Jimbo was commissioned by Bell to design the '7 Deadly Sins' series of graphics, with each rider’s graphic depicting their own individual sin.
You might also not know that Bell boasts a pretty extensive BMX team, including Dave Mirra, Chad Kagy, Steve McCann, Ryan Nyquist, Morgan Wade, Allan Cooke, and Jamie Bestwick. Their signature color way in the Faction are pictured below, along with details on the helmet's construction.
Bell Faction
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Colors: Black Mirra, Matte Blue Kagy, Matte Bronze McCann, Matte Grey Nyquist, Matte Khaki Wade, Matte White Bestwick, Neon Green Cooke, Matte Black Tony Hawk, Matte Olive, Red Tony Hawk, Titanium, Silver / Pink, Sparkle Magenta, Matte Black
Details: The versatile Faction sets the standard in skate-inspired helmets with superior style, fit and comfort. Old school style and dual certification, makes the Faction perfect for bicycle or skate use. Constructed of ABS Hard Plastic Shell.
Weight: 14.8oz./422g
Certification: CPSC Bicycle Safety Standard Certified, ASTM 1492 Skate Certified
But that's not all, there's also the Drop, a full-face Bell helmet designed for taking some pretty harsh falls. If you're in the market for a new helmet and not about to rid in an open face, this is a great option. Check the details. below...
Bell Drop
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Colours: Black/White Crest, Olive/Black Crest, White/Green, Red/Black, Matt Black, White/Blue
Details: Hand-laminated fibreglass shell was designed by the same team behind the now legendary Bell Moto-8 MX helmet, eight vents and internal channelling for cooling air to pass through the helmet, Flying-bridge 2 bolt adjustable visor allows infinite adjustment with no central bolt to get lost or broken, Bolt-on mouth piece, EPS foam liner with EVA lined chinbar and plush, technical padding to ensure an excellent fit and maximum protection
Weight: 1007 grams
Certification: CPSC Bicycle Safety Standard Certified, ASTM DH Certified
It's a new year for Attila, and that could only mean one thing; new products. To begin with, Attila has two handlebars to choose from, including the Hot Bar and the Hot Bar XL. Hot Bar XL are constructed of 11 butted tubing and feature an 8 inch rise, 12 degree back sweep, 2.5 degree up sweep, a 28 inch width, a weight of 1.71 pounds and color choices of black, white and silver. Good ole regular Hot Bars also feature 11 butted tubing, but the sizes are scaled down a bit, including a 7.8 inch rise, 12 degree back sweep, 3.5 degree up sweep, a 26.5 inch width and a weight of 1.5 pounds. They also come in black, white and silver.
Moving right along are Attila's original product, WahWah Pedals. These things have gone through some changes over the years, and the newest line of WahWahs feature a fully CNC machined body, removeable pins, sealed (weight of 8.4 ounces) or unsealed (weight of 10.7 ounces) versions and color options of black, white, orange, silver and grey. But you can only get the sealed version in black or white.
Next up is the Frontin' Stem. It's a frontload stem constructed of full CNC 6061 aluminum, with a reach of 48.5mm, a weight of 10.9 ounces and color choices of black, silver and white. And finally, to round out the line are clothing choices, including t-shirts, hoodies and more to come in the future, including a pivotal seat and post, pegs, and Slamdown pedals (WahWah's little brother).
If you're looking for a subjective look at this military style jacket from UGP, you're going to need to go somewhere else, cause I wear this thing everyday and love it. I've never been in the military, but between the beard, the disassociated look on my face and the new UGP Storm jacket, people avoid me on the street like the plague. That's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. It just means that this jacket makes you look tough. OK, I'm kidding. Only about the tough thing though; I don't know if that's up to a jacket.
But I can vouch for this jacket being swell. Available in sizes S, M, L and XL, the UGP Storm jacket is constructed of 100% cotton, featuring both zipper and button fastening, customized UGP military-inspired patches, four pockets and color availabilities of military green or brown. The UGP Storm jacket is cut just big enough to fit a sweatshirt underneath for the colder nights, and the material is flexible enough to ride in without feeling too bundled up. In all, a perfect way to ring in the new year if it's cold out...
How uncool am I to feature brakes in the most brakeless of recent years? Well, I am, so don't be angry. Some people still use brakes. Some people still like to stop, and some people still like to do abubacas and fufanus.
To help with that crusade are the Demolition Vulcan brakes. These brakes are high tech, quality constructed and not priced through the roof. The Vulcan brakes feature 6061 aluminum arms which are CNC'd to reduce weight, low profile top bolt and spring for better chain clearance, bottom sealed bearings to reduce friction on brake mounts, a stack heigh of 21.7 mm, a weight of 6 ounces and color choices of black, white, yellow, polished, purple and green.
As with all product write-ups, bad puns aren't out of the question. And with that said, what's stopping you from getting some new Vulcan brakes from Demolition?
Nike 6.0 Oncores arrived at my house a few weeks back in a box full of fake feathers. Upon opening the box, feathers went everywhere in my apartment, and my cat saw an open box, so he darted into it and spread even more feathers all over the place. Finally, after retrieving the shoes, I cleaned up the feathers and threw the box out in the garbage. But still, a bunch of feathers fell everywhere next to the garbage cans. A few hours later, I was in the laundry room when a neighbor came out into the backyard and said, "Holy crap, someone killed a chicken out here!"
But back to the shoes. Nike 6.0 Oncores are comfortable, breathable and grippy, with just the right amount of tech features to keep Nike 6.0 at the forefront of superior footwear construction. Some of the features of the Oncore model include: Low Profile design without sacrificing cushioning (Zoom airbag in heel), Flexible grooves set into the forefoot allow flexibility, Reinforced toecap uses TPU injection to help resist blowouts, Thick padded perforated breathable tongue with internal stabiliser straps, Padded heel collar, Internal lower lace loops help protect laces, and an availability in cool, unique color schemes.
That's not all though. The Nike 6.0 BMX team endorses the Oncore, and all of those dudes are jumping down more stairs than my knees are allowed to walk down, meaning they can take some hard landings and deep impacts without blowouts. In fact, "Worn by Garrett Reynolds" is a feature of the Oncore. If you're in the market for quality engineered footwear that keeps style, function and flexibility in mind, then check out the Oncores...
Fit's 2008 line of complete bikes are now available. Featuring updated graphics, updated specs and the same brand of quality that has made Fit a world renowned name in BMX, Fit's 2008 line is sure to fly out the door of bike shops around the world...
To begin with, we've chosen to highlight Fit's AM complete. The AM is a great introductory bike ready to go straight out of the box for anyone just stepping into the BMX field. Equipped with a 20" top tube frame, 4130 cr-mo fork, Mid-sized Fit handlebars, tubular cr-mo 3-piece 175mm cranks, Fit 1.95" tires front and rear, Fit Key grips, Tektro U-brakes and lever with gyro, two pegs and a weight of 30 pounds. The AM is available in three color choices (black, blue and matt grey), and fits conveniently next to most Christmas trees throughout the world. The AM is designed to withstand the abuse of both the newcomer and the mid-level BMXer, but it's also a comfortable ride if you're just in the market to cruise down the street in style. The AM is pictured below.
If you're searching for something a little more on the high end of things, Fit's also got you covered with their Pro Line. Featuring bikes designed for both park and trails, the Pro line gives you more bang for your buck without breaking your bank account. We're highlighting the Pro Trail complete here, and this thing is seriously stacked. The Pro Trail features a 20.5” top tube, 4130 cr-mo fork, Fit High handlebar, tubular cromo 3-piece 175mm cranks with sealed Mid B/B, Fit 25t sprocket, 9t driver, 36h Alienation rims, sealed front hub, 14mm axles, micro adjust seat-post, Odyssey Dirt Path 2.2" front tire, Fit rear tire 1.95", Fit Original grips, Tektro U-brake and lever, Odyssey Linear cable and a complete weight of just 28 pounds. It's available in black and olive green, and decked out with Fit's new '08 graphics, which look awesome. The Pro Trail is pictured below.
If you're in the market for Fit's top of the line bikes, there are two additional lines to check out (Team and Flow), but the AM and Pro lines are nothing short of amazing for the price and durability. Fit's complete line of 2008 bikes are now available at better bike shops throughout the world. If you've got Christmas money coming, keep Fit in mind...
MACNEIL FACE PEDALS, COLLIER SEAT, 330 PIVOTAL SEAT POST
posted 2 years, 2 months ago
Macneil and innovation go hand in hand. When Macneil makes a new component, or new anything for that matter, you know it's going to be smart, technologically advanced and something that the manufacturing facility probably said, "There's no way we can make that!"
But if you know Jay or Darcy from Macneil, then you know that they said, "Bullshit" and got to work on figuring out how to make whatever they believe in. And it's this commitment that has given Macneil such a distinctive reputation.
New to the Macneil component line are the F.A.C.E. pedals. They took a solid block of aluminum and CNC'd it into the perfect shape, size and concave. It features eight removable and replaceable traction pins, one bearing and one bushing per pedal, colors in black, orange and white and a weight of 8.3 ounces each. Light, simple and not overdone or tailor made for people with basketball player sized feet. Just a good, clean pedal that works everywhere.
Also new to the Macneil line are some flatland specific parts, including the Travis Collier signature Pivotal seat and the 330 Pivotal seat post. Travis' seat features a hand-friendly under carriage and a great shape for flatlanders, plus it utilizes Pivotal technology. The 330 seat post is a long Pivotal seat post. Flatland frames feature extremely low stand over heights, and this seat post caters to that type of frame, which now also includes some of the newer street frames such as the S&M LAF and Fly Tierra. The 330 post weighs in at 8.3 ounces, and when combined with the Travis Collier seat, the combo weighs in at just over a pound. If you're in the market for a Pivotal post but don't want your seat slammed against the frame, then Macneil's got you covered.
This is the long overdue Kevin Porter signature frame from Fly Bikes. It features a low stand-over height for easier tailwhip-ability and an offset seat tube which makes the frame's front end feel a little more roomier. The frame is constructed of 100% heat-treated chromoly, features an integrated headtube, Spanish B/B, double-butted seatstays and removable cable guides for custom cable routing.
The offset seat tube allows for a shorter than normal rear end while making the actual top tube measurement 0.4" longer than the rideable measurement. Want some more measurements? How's this. The chainstays are 13.25", the head tube is 75 degrees, the dropouts are 14mm and the weight is 4.65 pounds. It's available in three top tube sizes as well (21", 20.6", 19.8"). And the colors are nature green, sky blue, earth brown and limited edition raw. Oh yeah, seatpost clamp and gyro tabs included.
A few weeks ago, HB team rider Brad Simms bike went missing during an airline flight. Upon arriving in NJ for the Red Bull Down and Dirty comp, a call was put in to HB. After a few days, Brad had a new bike, complete with HB everything, including the Hoffman Loyalty frame and Hoffman Buxom bars.
To begin with, the Loyalty frame is the signature frame of Japanese HB team rider Kazuo Okada. Kazuo has been a part of the HB team for over ten years, and this frame's ightweight, sturdy design can withstand the many elements of modern day BMX, from vert to street to park to dirt. It's constructed of 100% 4130 Cr-mo, available in three top tube sizes (20", 20.5", 20.875"), boasts removable brake mounts and cable guides, a 74 degree head tube angle, 13.66" chainstays, a Mid B/B and an integrated headtube with removable gyro tabs. Colors are terra and alabaster white. Weights are 4.9 pounds for the 20" top tube, 5 pounds for the 20.5", and 5.1 for the 20.875". And if it stands up to Brad's riding, it's good enough for anyone.
The Buxom bars are HB's big bars. Available in black, white, stone or terra, they feature an 8" rise, 4.5 degree up sweep and 10 degree back sweep. They're constructed of 11 butted 100% 4130 cr-mo, and weigh in at 1.44 pounds.
Once again, if they can stand up to Brad, they're good enough for anyone. Hoffman Bikes Loyalty frame and Buxom bars are available now. Check out better bike shops everywhere for the complete Hoffman Bikes line.
Man, though it kills me to admit it, winter time is almost here. I'm about to come down with a cold, all the windows are closed and it's become pressingly apparent that we seriously need a coat rack in our house.
Knowing that the changing of the seasons was fast approaching, United created a new line of cold weather apparel, including sweatshirts, knit hats and long sleeve shirts. The designs are bold, the color combos are engaging and the quality of United's clothing line is second to none.
The new zip-up hoodies available from United (and pictured below) include the 'Split' and 'Base.' Both are available in fully-lined soft cotton and size choices of small, medium and large. The 'Split' model is available in black and athletic grey, while the 'Base' model is available in black and blue.
But that's not all. If it's winter head gear you're in the market for, well, United has you covered with the 'Packed' beanie (picture below). One size fits all, and the colors available are black and military green.
And finally, if it's time to forgo t-shirts everyday for some long sleeved shirts, check out the 'Stripe' model and the 'United' model (pictured below). Both are available in small, medium and large. 'Stripe' is available in black and white, while 'United' is available in black and heather grey.
United also recently added some new t-shirt designs and hats to the line, so check out the United Web site for everything United, including new frames, components and some sweet downloadable vids. Then, take some time and thank United for keeping you warm during those miserable cold months...
Med from BMX Groupment, the company behind the Superstar and St. Martin BMX brands, sent over some wild new info about the latest Superstar frame to be released. Dubbed the New Deal, it's a pegless street frame, complete with compact dropouts, Superstar's exclusive internal seat clamping device and more. The New Deal is available in a variety of sizes, including 20.7" and 21" top tubes (with a 13.4" rear end) and 21.4" top tube (with a 13.6" rear end). But that's not all, the head tube angle is 75 degrees, the seat tube angle is 70 degrees, the tubing has been thinned out in areas that aren't under stress and there's all sorts of options in the way of colors, plus the choice of either brake mounts or brakeless. Colors include black, green clear coat and cream white, but the brakeless version only comes in black. Read on for all of the tech specs explained in full detail, but a shot of Anthony Lille's Superstar New Deal completely built up with micro pegs at a serene pond setting. Oh yeah, the frame weighs in at 5 pounds. Can't forget that without getting crucified these days.....
