Feature Articles , Pro Reviews

Rotor 3D+ Mtb Cranks and Q-Rings Review

By Francis   May 15, 2012

Rotor is a company from Spain that manufacturers very high end components. They’ve been making waves with with their 3D+ crank system and Q-Rings and they sent us a set of of their 2×10 crank to try out.

I’ve been using the 2×10 crank for about a month and it has been a revelation.  First off, the cranks are incredibly stiff. They are able to fit a 30mm crank spindle on to my old Santa Cruz with standard bb shell.  This spindle with these crank arms is stiff and it is noticeable. The system is light too at 690 grams complete with BB so it’s a few grams lighter than the Shimano XTR 2×10 crank and BB.

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29er , Feature Articles , Parts , Pro Reviews

Bontrager XR4 and 29-4 All Mountain Tire

By Francis   May 03, 2012

Trek mountain bikes have improved dramatically over the past few years.  Bikes like the Remedy, Fuel and Slash have been introduced to compete well in their categories. The Bontrager tires have lagged in this revamp a bit and some might say that they have held back the bikes from their full abilities.

Trek knew of this and they have installed members of their A-Team to work on the Bontrager tires and components.  The goal was not only to bring the bikes to their full potential but also to make some of the best tires available for the aftermarket.  Michael Browne, formerly on the mountain bike group, called to say that he was genuinely excited about this year’s tire line. He said the XR1 and the XR4 tires have been revamped and invited us to push them on some dirt corners.

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29er , Feature Articles , Pro Reviews , Video

Transition Bandit 29er First Looks

By leel   May 02, 2012

This is a “First Looks” article. Its intent is to give the reader an overview of Transition’s Bandit 29er; a 130mm rear travel dual suspension mountainbike. An in-depth review canvassing, (among other things) the bike’s uphill, downhill performance and nit-picking its abilities in excruciating details will follow —- I promise!

The reason for such long-winded explicit babbling is that casual readers flipping through quickly will lambast “First Looks” articles for not having enough detail. Please be advised that the Bandit 29er is a new bike from Transition for 2012. I have had the bike for a grand total of 12 rides! While I realized that many other websites and magazine article writers will call it a day and proceed to write a definitive pronouncement with just a few rides that is NOT the way I do things and I accordingly refuse to crystallized definitive opinions about the Bandit 29er till I (and my guest author Kevin Bazar of Tahoe area fame) have given the Bandit 29er a thorough beating.

So, be patient. Take this for what it is; an overview of the frame and its components. Also some superficial first impressions about the Bandit 29er from someone who’s had experience with a few 29ers and many many mountain bikes but who doesn’t own the Bandit29er and who accordingly, is unbiased by not having invested money in it.

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Bikes , Feature Articles , Pro Reviews

2012 Norco Sight Review

By Steve Sheldon   April 30, 2012

Norco has been a household name for mountain bikes here in British Columbia, Canada for as long as I can remember. They are a company that is continuously evolving and innovating to meet the demand of the riders, as well as building a bike that can take the punishment of the local terrain.

The Sight is the evolution of the popular Fluid; a 140mm trail bike that is intended to be as happy on the climb up as it is on the descents. There is a lot of new technology that has been packed into the frame, all of which is covered in this previous article. The shorter chainstays, slacker head angle and lower bottom bracket are some of the more notable geometry changes from the Fluid.  It’s offered in five sizes:

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29er , Feature Articles , Pro Reviews

2012 Norco Revolver 1 Review

By Cory H   April 17, 2012

Photos by: Dave Mackie Photography


The 2012 Norco Revolver 1 after a few months’ worth of testing in one of British Columbia’s wet and wild winters.

MTBR.com covered the Norco 2012 Product Launch in Whistler, BC last August, where we introduced all of the company’s bikes that were slated for release over the coming months. Along with all of the bikes from Norco’s existing lineup, a number of new models made an appearance at Whistler: the dedicated downhill sled that is the Aurum; the 140mm travel Sight; the 29”-wheeled, 100mm trail-ripping Revolver.

That summer week during Crankworx provided me with a brief introduction to the Revolver but, while I was impressed by the bike’s performance during a brief demo ride, it was determined that a real test needed to take place on my home turf during a wet West Coast winter, when the dry and dusty trails I rode in and around Whistler would be a long and distant memory. I picked up the Revolver 1 from Norco in early November and spent the next few months giving the bike the gears.

Frame
The Revolver is a new model for Norco in 2012, and the frame is jam-packed with all of the features that grace the company’s recent offerings. The most notable of these features is the Advanced Ride Technology (ART) tuned FSR linkage which uses optimized pivot placement to increase pedaling efficiency, improve braking performance, increase square-edge bump compliance, and create a suspension system that is easier to tune while providing travel that feels bottomless.
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Feature Articles , Gear/Apparel , Pro Reviews

Jett Combat Ice Glove Review

By Brian Mullin   April 13, 2012

This top insulated glove is an excellent cross seasonal product, and is in their prime in cooler, windier, and more inclement weather conditions, and as a backup for high country adventures. They’re extremely durable, and are breathable, water resistant, and featured loaded, which all combine for a great all-season and all-weather glove. Prepare for Combat!

They are constructed with a Clarino synthetic leather palm, with a double layering between the palm and finger, and another one at the outer bottom. The overall palm thickness is moderately light, and it’s sufficiently thin to provide a good tactile feel, while thick enough for durability, and the doubling at key spot’s aids toughness. The backside uses a windproof and water resistant material that utilizes a Hipora liner, and its inner section has a fleeced-lined backing for warmth and comfort. The outside of the thumb has a soft microfiber section, which was extremely functional for wiping up sweat, and other bodily fluids. The glove has a slight pre-curve for an ergonomic fit, and to prevent bunching during usage. The long wrist cuff uses stretchy neoprene, and closes with a stretchable Velcro strap. The gloves come in S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and retail for $40.00.
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Lights Shootout , Pro Reviews

JetLites X-51 – 2012 Mtbr Lights Shootout

By aquadog   April 06, 2012

Jet lites does not mess around. The proprietor, David Joseph solves problems then he iterates over and over until the solution is as good as can be for his customers.  He pays deep respects to the work of  the founder Jim Taylor as he keeps Jim’s legacy alive with quality and safety for the mountain biker.

We spent hours talking to David on the phone and many months testing his lights.Some of the highlights we’ve noticed are:

  • Lights are designed and manufactured in the USA
  • Casing is CNC’d to the highest standards to be durable and to have the best heat dissipation
  • LEDs and boards are optimized to transfer heat efficiently to the casing and protect the LED
  • Electronics protect the LED from overheating
  • Batteries are tested and the best available are used.
  • Handlebar mount is quick release  and can hold two light heads. Adaptors may be available to mount a GoPro or Contour camera in the future.
  • Helmet mount features a breakaway design to protect the rider’s neck in the event of a crash.
  • Charges are well designed and extremely safe.  They optimize safety of the user and long life of the battery.

So what’s not to like? It’s US made, well designed by a company that knows their stuff and backs up the product for years to come. Jet Lites, based in Reno Nevada is conservative about making claims about their products and they always try to ensure their customers are taken care of. They’re very active in the local mountain biking scene too as they support local groups, events and festivals.

So is the light any good? That’s where mtbr comes in. We’ve ridden this light and the predecessor A-51 for many miles.  The design is solid as the light is robust and the mount is one of the best.  This version of the light comes with the latest CREE XM-L led and that really is the brightest emitter available today. We ride, measure, ride photograph. Read on and find out.

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Feature Articles , Gear/Apparel , Pro Reviews

SKS Aircon 6.0 and Airbase Pro Floor Pump

By Brian Mullin   April 06, 2012

SKS is a German company that is best known for their bike fenders and mudguards in the US, but their product suite also includes pumps, saddle bags, multitools, and chainguards and water bottle cages. They have been manufacturing bike pumps for 80 years, and originated the mini pump, and last year sold 7.8 million pumps and 4 millions fenders/mudguards worldwide. The US general manager for SKS, Mark Burgener went through part of their products one evening at the Magura 2011 Sedona press camp, and I was amazed at the breadth of their line relative to mountain biking, and to a lesser extent, the commuter and urban bikes.

Floor Pumps
Their floor pumps include their 40 year old prestigious Rennkompressor, the top of the line Airbase Pro, the entry level Airwork and the mountain bike specific Aircon. I used the Aircon quite a few times at the Sedona camp, and the large stable base, and the ability to add monstrous amounts of air volume with each stroke was perfect for inflating fat mountain bike tires. All the pumps include their EVA (Easy Valve Access) head, which auto detects the valve type, whether it’s a Schrader or Presta. All their pumps are engineered and made in Germany.
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Feature Articles , Gear/Apparel , Pro Reviews

Miveu – iPhone Mounting System creates POV Camera

By Francis   April 03, 2012

Update April 6.

Oscar from Miveu sent us the latest optics for the Miveu. It is getting clearer now. Optics quality was my initial complaint as there was a bit of distortion. They’re spending R&D on that part and videos and photos are getting clearer. It also allows the iPhone to autofocus better it seems.

The other cool development is there’s now a handlebar mount for the Miveu. Now, it is a riskier place for your iPhone to be mounted at, but this gives another option. And it’s easier to manipulate the iPhone controls and see the screen with the phone on the bar. Here’s a test of the bar mount.

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Update: Feb 24

We got to play with the Miveu at the local trail here called Waterdog in Belmont, CA. The camera did really well as the outdoor light allowed the camera to focus and perform a bit better than indoor. The iPhone 4S camera is really surprising.

The strap mount is a bit cumbersome compared to the slick GoPro chest mount. You have to form an ‘x’ pattern on your back and shoulders and you have to cinch down the straps pretty tight to reduce camera shake. At the same time, you still need to be able to move your upper body freely. Elastic bands would have helped but these bands have no stretch. We couldn’t tell if the camera was on, so we had to peek in there to see the phone  counter running. Aim was good as we tilted the pivot ball all the way up and the angle was perfect.

All in all, we were very pleased with the video and the wide angle. Here is the unedited video of one of the descents. Select 1080p to get the best quality.

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First Impressions: Jan 20

We took some photos and a short video of us shredding at the office with the Miveu.

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Our friend Oscar from Miveu sent us one of the very few pre-production prototypes of the Miveu system. We had a bit of trouble understanding what it was when explained over the phone. But the minute we opened the package, we had that ‘aha’ moment. It is an Iphone case that transforms the Iphone into a POV camera. It has a special wide-angle lens that gives the Iphone a much wider field of view. It also serves as protection for the camera in case of impact.

The other key feature of this system is a chest- mount harness that puts the iPhone right at the person’s chest. The iPhone and holder lens snaps in to place and can be adjusted on a pivot ball mount to get the proper angle.There is a button on the case that allows the user to start and stop the recording once the phone is in camera mode.

The user can view the video a little bit when the camera is in position and get some idea if the camera is pointed in the right direction or not. There is a plastic mount covering most  of the middle of the screen however so it’s best to unmount the camera holder from the chest mount and review the video to ensure proper camera aim.

Promo video produced by Miveu (select 1080p for best quality)

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The Miveu system also comes with a lens cap and an extra mount to mount the camera in different locations, perhaps on a bike handlebar or other places.

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Feature Articles , Gear/Apparel , Pro Reviews

kuat Bottle Lock Review

By Brian Mullin   March 22, 2012

The kuat (koo-at) company is best known for their excellent bicycle hitch racks, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my long term time with their superb NV rack. They have slowly been expanding into some other products, and one of the most interesting items is their new Bottle Lock, which is a water bottle that has an integrated 5 foot long x 8mm cable that locks back onto itself. The cable wraps around the inside circumference of the bottle in a sort of helix pattern, and it easily snakes in and out for usage, and is very convenient since it goes into a water bottle cage. This is a great item for commuting, going to the grocery store, school, etc. The bottom of the Bottle Lock has a compartment for the keys or other paraphernalia (college memories), and it comes in White, Black, Pink and Rasta, and retails for $34.00.
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