BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Kinesis UK has revealed its latest XC frame, the X.
The X is an alloy frame, which Kinesis says was a very conscious decision: “Whilst other manufacturers focus has been on carbon, we believe that by putting the same development into alloy tubing, we have created a frame that rivals carbon in many ways, and hands down beats it on price.”
Damian Mason of Kinesis UK added “Kinesis is the only frame manufacturer to use Super Plastic Forming on its alloy frames. Most manufacturers use Hydroformed tubes but with SPF, we can create lighter tubes and more intricate shapes that will build into a lighter and stiffer frameset.”
One of the X’s design features is an oversized downtube with an SPF created hexagonal cross-section, an ultra-flat top tube and seat stays with a flat diamond cross section. These tubes combine to give a frame that is stiff laterally, whilst vertically compliant.
Kinesis UK will offer the X in a full-size range from XS through to XL. The XS frame is designed around 27.5” wheels, whilst all other sizes have 29”, to minimise stand-over height and toe overlap.
The X has been designed to be compatible with a 100-120mm suspension fork, a Lauf Trail Racer fork or the Maxlight Carbon rigid fork. It also features internally routed full-length gear outer, which has the added benefit of making an internally routed gear cable change simple and quick.
Kinesis has integrated the replaceable rear derailleur hanger into both the thru axle and the dropout of the frame. This increases the rigidity of the rear hanger, without compromising its ability to break away in an emergency.
