BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
19 exhibitors, over 120 journalists from around the globe and one gondola connected mountain. Eurobike’s first ever Media Days provided the perfect platform for 2016 bike launches. Here’s the third instalment of our product round ups.
For part one – featuring Kalkhoff, Ghost, Merida and Polygon – click here.Part two carries Corratec, Giant, Liv and Stevens bike launches. For a full gallery from Eurobike’s Media Days, click here.
KTM
Plenty new and interesting from KTM was debuted in Kirchberg. Starting with cross country, the Myroon will be available in a variety of builds ranging from €2,599 to €6,799, with the latter XTR Di2 build sporting Rock Shox’ flipped fork and coming in a total weight of just 8.9 kilograms.
The full-suspension Scarp 29er is your best bet for bump absorption, with 100mm front and 90mm rear travel. For 2016 the damper is no longer in front of the seat tube, instead moved horizontally underneath the top tube. Upgraded double sealed and larger bearings in the shock mount should offer a long life.
On the plus size tyre front, KTM joins the party with the Kapoho trail build. Based largely on the aluminium Lycan, the frame accommodates 3-inch wide tyres and sports Shimano’s 11-speed rear groupset.
Merckx
Eddy Merckx Cycles has made the jump into high-end aluminium for those who are looking for top performance but not worried whether that’s delivered by carbon or metal.
The 1,150 gram Blockhaus 67 frame, named after Eddy’s famously unexpected domination of the Giro D’Italia peleton in the mountains, comes built with triple butted 6069 aluminium alloy tubing, which the firm says is substantially stronger than 6061. As a bike paying homage, the frame’s attention to detail is superb, with smooth double-pass welding, internal routing for the mechanical brakes and some clever working of the seatstays for enhanced comfort.
On the gravel bike front, look out for the Strasbourg 71, offering 40mm tyre clearance, as well as the 69 Mourenx, now available clad with Shimano 685 discs.
Scott Sports
On the wish list of anyone who needs a bike capable of high speed no matter what the terrain, Scott’s new Genius Plus is a thing of beauty.
As just one of four models in eleven builds utilising the plus size tyres, Scott have placed great faith in trailblazing 27.5+ builds, including the power-assisted E-Genius.
The Genius Plus 700 Tuned and 710 plus builds both utilise carbon frames, while alloy comes into play in the 720 Plus build. A new alloy rear triangle accommodates Boost 148mm wide hubs and keeps chainstay length as short as possible at 445mm.
The ergonomic Twinloc Lever has been re-engineered for MY16 and is now found underneath the handlebar, with travel adjustable between full lockout, 90 or 130mm.
On the hardtail front, you’ve the Scale Plus, which Scott say is best suited to anything from aggressive cross country to trail riding in comfort with its relaxed geometry.
Cube
Key to Cube’s 2016 launches was an update on the downhill front, with the Two15 HPA 27.5.
This aluminium rig will start at €4,500 and span €6,500, depending on the build kit. The top model comes in at a little over 15kg all in.
There’s been some clever engineering applied with internal routing applied for braking and gear cables and kinematics optimised for the new Fox downhill shocks. A new streamlined four-bar frame design is built for big hit durability.
Rumour also has it that, come Eurobike, Cube will reveal a 27.5 150mm front and rear travel rig.
Hardtail bikes from the manufacturer remain unchanged as most were significantly revamped not too long ago.
