The concept of a 29” wheeled downhill bike isn't new – we've seen prototypes from companies like Trek, KHS, and Intense pop up over the last six years, but none of them ever made it into full production. You can now add Alutech to that list, except that there's one notable difference – the German company's new Sennes DH 29 isn't just a concept, and interested riders will be able to order one very soon.
On paper, the aluminum framed bike looks like an absolute beast, with a 62-degree head angle, 445mm chainstays, and a reach of 458mm for a size medium. A Horst link suspension design handles the 204mm of rear travel, and there's a Fox 40 Float up front that just barely has room to accommodate a 29” tire. The claimed weight of 32 pounds is extremely reasonable, a figure that's made possible via the liberal use of carbon fiber components, including the seat post. Read on for the full press release from Alutech. - Mike KazimerPress ReleaseEveryone in the Alutech Cycles Team has made their passion into their profession. Alutech is a rider owned company, we are colleagues and friends, real mates who do their jobs with pride, dedication and idealism. We are all individual character and entrepreneurs and everyone is a specialist in their field. We have a personal, open and honest working atmosphere and appreciate the freedom that means for us.In short: we live our dream
One of this dreams was an enduro bike with 29" wheels. This dream has become reality - our Tofane bike was born. We had this vision of a bike with big wheels back in 2013 and tried our best to make the bike perfect. Since the release of our Tofane Bike we are in love with the 29“ concept.
For this reason we worked on new concepts and ideas. As a result of our hard work, we can present you today a new bike. A bike which will totally change the game. Our Sennes DH 29" isn´t just a downhill bike with big wheels. We changed the geometry to ultra slack 62 degrees and lower the bottom bracket to 356 mm. This bike makes us really proud and the best thing on it is - you can buy it in a few days on our homepage.
alutech-cycles.comPhotos by Joerg Wohlfromm.
Those were a mistake from the word 'go'.
26" was Never a bad idea.
just sayin
However, a vast supply of 26" beach balloon tires for Schwinn was available, a much safer choice in 26" for launching new business venture - business decision rather than performance.
It's all in the history books.
Its come full circle in some ways?
I tried mine down Hamsterly and TBF was shocked how well it went...
Apart from the wheel to butt contact issue the wheel size is not the issue for DH really.....its the wheelbase length, something bigger guys who ride 29ers have to adapt to anyway...
Only way to find out is to give to a tall pro dude like Minnaar, who has the brains to analyse it, and see what he says....
I wonder what they will come up with when we all had bought a 29"dh? maybe a come back to 26, telling us that we need LIGHTER, STRONGER, FASTER ACCELERATING wheel, thats the future guys...
as always, marketing bullsh....
If you wanna go faster, train, improve, dont ride bigger wheels on bikepark "dh" tracks... thats liying to yourself.
@DMdh some of you conspiracy theorists need conspiracy so bad you find it in thin air.
One of the many things the 26 4 Lyf brigade look right past is the fact that manufacturing techniques improve with time. There once was a time that the 26" wheel was the best possible choice for strength: weight: agility: speed: etc (it still is in certain aspects of mtb) but we're now able to produce a larger diameter rim and tyre, chainstays, etc allowing for improved rollover without the associated trade offs from the past.
I don't believe that 29ers necessarily make for a better bike but if I had the ability to chose the wheel size for the race or track I was riding their would often be times when the 29er would be first choice - long, rough tracks...not dissimilar to a DH track...
Did you say the same when disc brakes were introduced? V brakes worked just fine...but discs work just finer for most applications.
smaller diameter means that its stronger, less flex, lighter, and faster accelerating, its not conspiracy, those are facts dictated by the laws of physics.
And as you say, given that manufacturing techniques improved, a 26 wheel could be made even lighter/stroger.
rough tracks are just that, rough tracks, racing tracks not flowy bikeparky ones, they are meant to be tough. so...
a) if you need to change your wheel size to feel confident riding them.. you should stop racing or try another sport.
b) if you need to find and advantage over the competition with a larger diameter wheel you arent pretty wise, because all competitors will spawn at the next race/year with wagon wheels and your advantage will be over. So train harder, and ride more.
If tracks are meant to be tough why aren't we racing klunkers down em?
Why did we need disc brakes?
Why did we need suspension improvements?
Why did we any improvement at all since the klunker days?
If you're racing a klunker fair play, I'll shut up.
Why do you suppose racers try to find advantages?
Nobody is suggesting that improvements in our gear is a substitute for skill on the bike, they go hand in hand.
I am 6'1.... and I feel the same!
But the physics don't lie about the pros and cons of each wheels size.
I like bikes. I want to try one. I don't do flips or spins. So I don't have to worry about moving them around that fast.
-1 for opinions not based on trying things
You are incorrect about associated trade-offs going away with improved manufacturing techniques. The trade-offs are based on physics, therefore you cannot manufacture out the differences. I have ridden all 4 wheel sizes and can tell you that they are all good AND bad at different aspects of riding. Full-suspension basically equalizes all the sizes anyway. Disc brakes are a major improvement in every aspect of mountain biking, adding 1/2" to the outside diameter of a 26" (interior ) wheel is not...
P.s. the real reason they used 26" wheels originally was because it was considered a child's size bike wheel and had a different/ cheaper import tax at the time .
I'm not particularly pro 29er, I'm not anti 26" but most importantly I am not against change, progression and innovation in the sport especially when there are such glaring benefits to be tapped.
PS a rider that thinks full spenna bikes 'basically equalises all the sizes anyway' clearly is unable to appreciate the nuances of bike design. Some people don't, that's cool, some people just rip. But you can't then tell a guy who can tell when a gnats pissed on his front tyre about the differences in wheel size.
It was Richard Cunningham, who said that full suspension eliminates most of the draw backs of the 26" wheel size. But clearly you must know more than him too.
32lbs is insane for an 8" travel do bike let alone one with aluminum frame.
I wouldn't use the wheels myself but then I cant afford to toss them in the bin after one race like Gwin (he uses TSR)
But the E13 tyres are fierce (I use them and think they are tougher than Mary SG) and tubeless is a no brainer for weight saving (no manufacturer actually else supplies a DH bike set up tubeless right?) so 1.3kgs of the 1.8kg saving is "real" IMO
Larger frames generally break faster than the smaller sizes because they are stiffer. Which is funny as the stiffer frames are ridden by smaller/lighter riders in general.
26 for fun, playful and for a quick sudden changes of directions.
I also have 2015 Santa Cruz Nomad CC 650B. I have been doing tricks to the Nomad and I have a hard time compare to my 26 bike, to each own has its pros and cons. The best wheel size is what you have and just enjoy what it can do.
We were never told what tire width can fit the back!
I love how people hate on different wheel sizing even though they can offer one of the biggest performance changes to a bike available - If you dont like it you were not the target market anyway!
Great to see 29er Dh testing, certain tracks will see a 29er dominant in the future i am sure, especially the way course design is going.
delusional!
Just look at all the bike parks. I just cannot imagine riding those jump trails on a 29er. Maybe it's just me but jumping a 26" trail bike felt fun, flickable, and nimble in the air. 650b feels a little different, but still can have that same feeling.
exactly!
There are no drawbacks to the bigger wheels now.
Although not liking the idea of 29" DH bikes, I would most definitely go for a testride if I had the chance... just for curiosity.
I guess they were aiming to be radical and unconventional hoping that there might be a potential crowd that only waited for a really aggressive 29" DH bike.
It's a Boxxer but you get the point:
www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/G-Out-Project-Lourdes-World-Cup-DH,10000/Banshee-Bottom-Out-at-Lourdes-World-Cup,103683/sspomer,2
fun doesnt sell in mountain biking, race results do.
and remember there is no best wheel there are just certain use cases for certain wheels. 26" for nimbleness and 29" for raw speed.
Ummm.....my dh bike would be 32lbs if it didn't have wheels, tires, fork or cranks......I think 32lbs is amazing.
Vallnord is not that insane with roots and rocks but it's so steep that every cx rider would go over the bars immediately... or at least from the mid-section (the top section is not steep at all)...
The Fox fork clearly wasn't intended for 29er wheels(even though it fits)..due to the different tolerances,stiffness-or not,just a bigger wheel being built into a 27.5 fork,are these builds still covered by warrany if something goes wrong? Fox clearly designed this fork around a smaller wheel...
The forces on the tubes must be harder on the fork,no?
Glad on your feedbacks guys.
It would look sick though.
reviews.mtbr.com/prototype-29er-fox-40-mounted-on-evil-wreckoning-spy-shot
It's weird how people are so against change, even when the change doesn't affect them.
Too risky sry, 27 not the better option here?
That is, unless the frame is so thin it twists into a pretzel any time you corner the thing faster than 5mph.
Either way, no thank you.
www.pinkbike.com/news/arbr-bikes-launch-2016.html
I repeat: somebody needs to kill it!.. before it lays eggs...
Show that b*tch leaned the f*ck over on a fast downhill run!
Show her plowing down a scree field with reckless abandon!
Show me the mon....... sorry, got carried away for a minute.
An I've heard this argument before " your bike isn't really a good representation of a modern 9er " well, anything that can be done to a 9er to make it handle better can also be done to 26 to make it even MORE RAD!!!
Case in point my SX
I don't think fox provides support if a fork gets damaged by using a 29" wheel because that's not the intended use of the product
...
Yeah, probably.
They did it with XC when the 29'er nonsense started & they will do it again in DH if certain people have their way.
I realize 29'er HD will happen & if it becomes the dominate form it will ruin DH for me & prob a lot of others as well.
Hey I tried to like 29'ers & have ridden many, in fact, I rode some of the latest ones very recently & I just don't like them. Some of my 29'er loving friends tell me I would get used to them & that is prob true. I could get used to someone poking me with a stick over & over as well but why would I want to?
We are only talking downhill right? no confusion. you added the word "only".