There were tight corners, a few drops, some sidehill sections that get trickier the faster you go, along with some higher speed, open corners.ĭon't forget that timing is just one of many ways to judge a bike, and fast doesn't always mean it's the best for everyone. The enduro bikes were all tested on a section of trail that included a mix of everything you'd expect to find on a race track. If you had told anyone five years ago that a 29er with this amount of travel would be so enjoyable to climb they would probably have you sectioned on grounds of insanity - but here we are. It's a mere 40g heavier than the Specialized Enduro and both of these outstrip something like the similarly weighted YT Capra because of the light footed characteristic that they offer. Some bikes ride as if they’re heavier than they are, and some bikes lighter. The high stack and relatively short 605mm top tube create a very upright position, which this put my contact points within a very useable range that worked well for me. I would often use the climb switch on the shock on fire road climbs but all in all I was very happy to leave it open on singletrack. The wheel does very well just getting up and out the way, and what stands out with the Spire is not how fast you can climb but rather how slowly you can go while the rear end maintains grip. Instead, it's a bike that likes to spin up climbs and offers huge quantities of grip. That traction does come with a fair bit of suspension bob, and the Spire isn’t something that offers you a stiff pedalling platform that will hold sway even under high-torque outbursts. On the trail, it quickly becomes apparent that it’s a lightweight bike that offers tons of traction. So what else does this Spire offer that separates it from the herd? It's got the steep seat tube angle to give you a great climbing position, and longer chainstays that again contribute to front wheel traction. How can a bike with 170mm of travel and 29” wheels ever be anything other than a school yard bully? Well, it’s a combination of several key factors, but let’s start with how it climbs.įirstly, it’s got the things that are important, even if they are ever more common. There is a word that is going to come up a lot both in this written article as well as the video, and that word is “versatile”. So, can the Transition keep pace with the idler-equipped sleds? How does it stack up against the more conservative numbers of the YT or the excellent suspension system on the WAO Arrival? Let’s find out. It also has a full Stans wheelset and even a One-Up 210mm dropper. The version tested here is the GX build, which features the top tier RockShox Zeb and Super Deluxe, GX drivetrain and SRAM Code RSC brakes with a large 220mm front rotor. Prices range from $5,899 - $6,599 for the carbon version and $3,699 - $5,399 for the alloy. ![]() It also doesn't lend itself to moto-style brake setups. It’s just frustrating that my brake routing will never be that neat. Some people will love this, but I’m not particularly a fan. The bike has internally guided cabling, except the rear brake which is housed externally. Not only that but it’s rated for a dual crown fork and can handle a reach adjust headset. That includes ample frame protection, SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger, size specific chainstays, Enduromax bearings throughout, and a gear accessory mount on the underside of the top tube. Although the geometry is one of the more radical areas of the bike, the Horst Link suspension layout is one of the more traditional of the test bikes on this year's field test. So, this carbon vessel is certainly slack enough for 2022, what else? Well, it sports 170mm of travel front and back, a 480 or 485mm of reach depending on the setting for a large and a rear-centre of 446 / 448mm. Flip chips can be good, but they should be there as a way to let a designer try something radical, not as a sticking plaster on something that’s 50 shades of beige. ![]() If you’re crying out for something half a degree slacker then the Spire can accommodate, but it’s great to see a flip chip being used to take a bike between a good place and an extreme one rather than from one slightly conservative place to another. Why? Because it’s a bike that is amply progressive in the steeper setting, with a 63 degree head angle combined with a 77.5 degree seat tube angle. ![]() This new 170mm 29er is one of the few bikes that doesn’t have me lamenting the flip chip.
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