Kenda, Easton, InterLock, SEQLite, TranzX - Taipei Show 2014

Mar 7, 2014
by Mike Levy  
Taipei Bike Show

Kenda Honey Badger DH
Previously only available in a smaller volume size, the Honey Badger goes big in 2014 with a new 2.4" width in 650B diameter. Unlike the more all-around 'Badger that has been in Kenda's lineup for awhile now, this new DH version features a full-on downhill casing that it deserves and revised lugs that better suit its intentions. Two different rubber compounds are used for its construction, with the usual softer make-up on the shoulders and a stiffer rubber found down the center.

www.kendatire.com


Taipei Bike Show

Easton Lock-On grips
Grips are like saddles and shoes in that it really does boil down to personal preference, but Easton's Lock-On grips have been universally accepted by most of the Pinkbike staff as THE grips to have. The are offered in two diameters - 30mm and 33mm - and are made from a different material than the usual Kraton rubber, with Easton saying that makes for ''increased comfort and durability.'' We'd tend to agree with them, and a set usually ends up on most of the test bikes that we spend time on due to both their comfort and great traction. Their aluminum lock-on clamps also sit outside of the split plastic internal barrel, meaning that they won't damage carbon handlebars, and both inside and and outside collars are protected from making contact with the rider's hands by grip material that extends up and over them. And there's colours, lots of colours.

www.eastoncycling.com



Taipei Bike Show

InterLock
Okay, so a bike lock might not be as interesting as a wireless electronic dropper seat post or new downhill fork, but we think that the InterLock is clever enough to warrant showing off. What makes it interesting? It's a short but burly looking cable lock that is stowed inside of a special seat post, and you simply pull it out and run it through your frame, rear wheel, and bike rack when it comes time to leave your rig outside. The lock's head slides into a storage position atop the post, and we couldn't get the stowed cable to make any rattling sounds when shaking the bike hard so it shouldn't make any noise when riding. The cable isn't long enough to run through your front wheel, though, so keep that in mind if you live in a high-crime area. Post sizes currently available are 25.4 and 27.2mm, with a 31.6mm option to be added soon.

www.the-interlock.com



Taipei Bike Show

SEQLite Racing Cassette
It's been interesting to see drivetrain development over the last few years, with single ring setups proving to be very workable for average riders in real world settings now that wider range cassettes are being used. Cassette conversions that see a small cog swapped out for a dinner plate sized one on the opposite end are also helping matters, but we came across a number of complete cassettes at the Taipei show that feature an 11 - 40 tooth spread that will do the same. The SEQLite Racing Cassette is one such example, with 10 cogs and a two-piece design that uses steel for the smaller cogs and aluminum for the larger ones. Gearing options include the aforementioned 11 - 40 model, as well as an even wider 11 - 42 spread.

www.seqlite.com



Taipei Bike Show

TranzX electronic dropper post
TranzX might not be known for causing a stir when it comes to mountain bike components, but their JD-YSP06 dropper seat post looks likely to do exactly that. No, it isn't its sexy name, but rather its wireless electronic control that allows the seat to not only extended with the push of the handlebar mounted remote button, but also be lowered without requiring the rider's weight to be on the saddle! The un-weighted lowering is courtesy of a small electric motor - that's the rather unsightly package at the post's head - and the remote communicates via a 2.4GHz signal that does away with any cables. No word on when it will be available, but we're hoping that it's soon.

www.tranzxpst.com

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Reviews and Tech First Looks Kenda


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95 Comments
  • 54 0
 Loving that cassette. It's about time someone came up with a proper wide range 10speed cassette that doesn't cost the earth.
  • 7 0
 Haha, it's even beating the not yet officially disclosed XTR with 11-42! OK, possibly not in terms of pricetag height and quality but who knows?
  • 11 1
 sooooo many companies offering 10 speed bodges for cassettes to go with nw rings without paying hundreds of quid for 11 speed why wont shimano just bring out a 10 speed 11-40T at XT level, theyd sell shitloads! ill bet the xtr is 11 or 12 speed though and require new shifters and derailier maybe even hub too like sram!
  • 3 0
 But no price yet though.
  • 4 0
 yeah cheaper cassettes, been a long time coming
  • 5 0
 still have my hopes high that Shimano might be in the works of releasing an 11-speed XTR. What they can do better than Sram is to introduce a 9t-last kog that has no issues with durability. Canfield has been doing this for some time now. Smile
By using a 9t, they can lower the front ring's size and thus be having a smaller biggest cog at the back, therefore lowering the weight. Smile
  • 3 0
 The leaked XTR press release was an 11 speed, 11-40. the crankset options made it pretty clear that they're still considering it to be a 2x setup. Of course, it's a leak, so we'll see if it pans out as true. Also, who knows if the DH group is the only thing SRAM has up their sleeve this year.
  • 6 0
 The cassettes are actually made by a company named Recon, they rebrand for others, and you see Recon cassettes all over ebay. I have one of their 11-36 Al alloy TiN coated cassettes on my fatbike and it works great. You can find their hybrid Steel-Ti-Al 11-40 cassettes on ebay already, 325 grams @ $340. The three largest cogs are aluminium, the next four are titanium, and the smallest four are steel.
  • 4 0
 Get your hands on one of these and give us some real world testing PinkBike!
  • 1 0
 If i remember correctly, Recon also makes the cassettes Canfield is using for their 9t capreo setups. edit:Yup.
  • 1 0
 Not quite sure about that it's a Recon cassette, it looks a bit different from the larger cogs. Seqlite uses a different design for the largest cogs, where it looks like Recon has a machined alu block.
Recon 11-40 picture:
files.feathery-carbon.com/produktbilder/recon/mtb/titan/shimano/10_11-40/11-40_01.jpg
  • 1 2
 Either Recon or Seqlite looks to be SRAM's manufacturer of cassettes. Similar example is I believe Wellgo makes a good % of Shimano's pedals
  • 5 0
 $340 for full recon cassette or $150 for oneup ring+new cassette... I know what I would rather spend (and have spent) my money on
  • 2 0
 Pavlovic...that's the hybrid Al/Ti/St cassette photo you referenced, this is a recon 11-36 10 speed on my mukluk.. If you look closely you can see how the backside of the cassette is... all the load is actually carried ONLY on the largest cog and the final couple cogs.. there's no splines in between just like with SRAM's powerdome cassettes.


yoda.densan.ca/kmr/bikes/mukluk7.JPG

yoda.densan.ca/kmr/bikes/mukluk10.JPG

You can also just search ebay for recon 11-36 and you'll find examples with pictures to show the backside closer in.
  • 1 0
 mattvanders - how are you finding your set up? My wife is running a oneup cog with an X9 type 2 and a locally made narrow wide chain ring on her Nukeproof Mega TR, it took about two minutes to adjust the B screw and tune and runs sweet, have wonder why I spent money on XX1!
  • 2 2
 The advantage to these cassettes mattvanders is that you don't have any stupid gaps between the cogs like all the wolf creek/one up conversions. The only conversion that comes close to preserving good shift gaps is the general lee ones. Also you can still use these with a narrow-wide chainring and get a very useful and wide range. Being able to go 4T lower in back you can increase the ring tooth count and not need to have a 10T cog.
  • 4 0
 I'd have to say that riding my XX1 equipped bike and my wife's Oneup equipped bike the 'stupid gaps' as you call it isn't particularly noticeable. Not to be rude deeeight but have you ridden a decent amount on these 'stupid' designs? Or are your comments based on the maths / science of it all?
  • 2 0
 Finally, more choices! Thank you SEQLITE! You just saved everyone a ton of money!!
  • 5 1
 I was building my own cassette spreads decades ago... until shimano started using alloy cog carriers, all their cassettes were screwed together with three bolts. It was routine among xc racers at the time to yank the bolts and build your own cassettes from individual cogs to suit your own preferences. Later shimano put an end to that by rivetting the cassette cogs together or mounting clusters on alloy carriers that limited how you could mix & match. It spead up assembly and discouraged people from simply replacing individual worn cogs and forcing them to buy completely new cassettes in whatever range closest to what shimano thought best.
  • 2 0
 deelight, I believe matthill1971 is specifically asking if you've ridden a cassette with a jump from 36-42 etc. Yeah, we get it, you're core because you built your own cassettes decades ago. However, I don't believe 42 tooth rear cogs were available then. So, have you actually ridden xx1 and compared it to the oneup or wolftooth offering? I would imagine with the advanced ramping on the teeth (compared to what was available "decades" ago), it mitigates the large jump, as matthill1971 has commented on. I'm curious as I've tried neither setup. Being broke, if the oneup option works "almost" as efficiently I'll spend my money there.
  • 1 1
 Then yes, because while shimano never made anything larger than a 34T cog, Suntour went up to 38T and Regina freewheels went higher still. I have done the 5T jump in the middle of a cogset and its not particularly pleasant a transition. Ramping has not actually gotten anymore advanced since shimano's HG ramps 25 years ago. Oh sure companies claim advances, but nothing has done it better, and the HG patent has actually expired now.
  • 6 0
 10 speed 11-40 XT would be absolutely fantastic.
  • 1 1
 Also when we used six speed and seven speed rear ends, a 5T gap was actually better than today on a 10 or 11 speed because the derailleur actually moved more on the wider spacing from cog to cog, which also moved the upper pulley downwards. Today with the tighter cog to cog spacing, a large jump in the middle presents a bigger change than the derailleurs are really designed to handle properly.
  • 4 0
 Half the planet are waiting for XT 10 speed 11/40. Obviously Shimano isn't interested in that boat load of cash.
  • 2 0
 markcjr, sorry in the delay commenting, I've been out riding my bike! To take away all the science and what other people think they know but haven't experienced I'd give the Oneup component ring a go. I'm lucky enough to afford XX1, it's bloody good but in New Zealand dollars it nearly $2000, the Oneup ring was $100 US, about $130 NZ and I sourced an NZ made narrow wide chainring for $90. I had a type 2 X9 derailleur and was lucky to have a compatible cassette that I could split. It's running we'll without a chain guide. I was worried about two things, the jump from 15 to 19 and 36 to 42, neither are a problem, you hardly notice and the derailleur was easy to adjust, it stays in tune and runs sweet. Who knows the longevity of the derailleur being 'outside' its spec but I say it's worth the risk. If it had been around before I got the XX1 I would have saved the money and had it on my bike too!
  • 2 0
 Some people solve the issue with the 15-19 gap by removing the 15t-cog and replacing it with a 16t one - meaning you get a 19t-16t-13t. Smile
  • 1 0
 In my opinion there's no issue to solve really. You actually don't feel this gap.
  • 1 0
 @matthill1971 - I got my upone straight away when they come out at the cheaper price. I rate them/the idea really highly and would reconmend. I'm running 1x10 on a hardtail 120mm 29er, 32T front ring and 11-3.6 Main reason for me buying it was because I felt with old set up I would struggled on the long steep mud climbs to keep momentum going, in these sort of situations I would of dropped the to the granny ring on a 2X10 set up to keep riding rather than walk up. Anyone that has ridden with me before will know I've got a fair amount of fitness and normal attack the hills rather than just try to get up them (hell I rode up Snowdonia before)

First impressions when it turned up were good, you can easily see why it costs what it cost with a lot of machining done to keep the weight down but strength up. Installation was a piece of cake, I had left enough links in my chain for the new ring when I had converted the bike to 1x10 so no need to plan around there. Quick play be the b tension screw and it was running smooth straight away.

The two aspects of the conversions that worth talking about is how the 42T ring and the 17T missing ring affects riding. Yes the bigger ring is less smooth in the changing gear (both selecting and disengaging) compared to the rest of the cassette but one you plan the gear changing a little it before you need to its fine (think off it the same way you select the right height on a dropper post before the obstacle). I only tended to use it as a bail out gear than as the main port of call on all climbs, it just allows you to keep renching the bike up the climb rather than get off and walk. Because it is not use all that often I can see myself transferring it over when the rest of the cassette has worn out so it should last for years.
  • 1 0
 The missing 17T ring is an interesting one, on a normal trail ride I found I never really got down as far as the 15T ring so was unaware of the gap in the cassette. On the urban rides, it was more noticeable as I would spin along on 19T and 15T on the flat (11T on anything with a slight gradient going downhill and eventually running out of gears). The gear changing between the 15T and 19T was still smooth other than the jump in the gears. I can't see why you would not be able to make your own custom cassette up to lessen the jump in gears (e.g. put a 16T instead of 15T) or remove the 15T instead of 17T.

If I had the money would I go for a 1x11 set up? Yes, the 42T-10Twould works for most people's riding and be a better system that is smotherer and more professional but the cost is far too high at the moment for most riders budgets. Would I go for a 10-40T proper recon cassettle? Yes but it costs way too much for me at the moment in the ti set up, even with the ti, steel and alu mix it still cost a lot more than a regular cassette. Would I recommend one up 42T ring (or hope's new 40T ring), yes. It's cheaper by a long way, works just as well if you are willing to live with the lag in time for changing gears and the jump in teeth size.
  • 1 0
 And what about the Leonardi Racing's cassette? There were pics of a 9-42t 10-speed cassette some time ago, compatible with a XD-driver body. Does anyone know what happened with it? that 9t cog would be sweet and would let you use even smaller front ring while keeping a good ratio for faster speeds. Smile
  • 1 0
 I had only problems with the Leonardi adapter to convert to 11-40 but some are happy with it. Considering the price or xo1 i gave a go to a one-up 42t adapter. As said above shifting is a little less smooth but only on the last cog and still works well enough. Really happy with it.
  • 1 0
 great cassettes, better then buying a single 42T for 100$ really?
  • 22 8
 Just don't let your bike outside alone, even with locking devices. I have learned that in "developing countries" in the bad way. So stop doing that or going to places where you are allowed to get in with your bike and keep it safe. Thieves are always one step ahead of us. -btw, sorry for my negative approach, but it is indeed realistic.-
  • 4 4
 Its true, the safest place to leave bikes is in a busy area, or inside.. Yes you need a good lock, but common sense as to where you leave it is important
  • 27 9
 bicycle lock has only one function and it does not matter where you put it. It is meant to make the thief look for another bike, be it a bike with no lock or a bike with no lock. Comment about developing countries is utterly unnecessary and far from truth, unless you consider France, UK or Germany as developing countries. Been to Tunis and been to Marseille, Manchester, Madrid and so on - do I have to say more?
  • 3 0
 Lots of bikes are being stolen also in quiet Switzerland.
  • 1 2
 I know Geneva is working on this matter as in later months/years has increased in a enormous way
  • 14 0
 To right WAKI. There are thieving bastards wherever you go. Standard.
  • 4 0
 *too
  • 3 0
 But the lock is perfect for that 'I need to pop in here for a sandwich/cake/coffee' or if 'I need to stop of at the shop on the way home for milk/bread'. I have secure storage at home and at work (in the office) so have no need to carry a lock normally, so this would be brilliant for those irregular stops whilst commuting/while out doing a casual loop on the roadie with a group of mates.
  • 2 0
 it's not a "developing country" issue. i lost three bikes to thieves in Canada and the states. I was stupid enough to leave it locked outside, when i should have brought it in or take the bus.
  • 3 0
 bike thieves are relentless and can take whatever they want. They will use car jacks to pry open u locks and battery powered angle grinders for big chains.

intereseting article about it:
www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/biking/Who-Pinched-My-Ride.html
  • 4 1
 Jesus People, Gastonbx obviously meant developed not developing...
  • 1 0
 HarrDog, thanks for posting that article. Great read. As someone who regularly locks up his only mountain bike, it makes me really nervous...
  • 9 1
 Bikes don't get stolen in America, cuz it's against the law.
  • 2 6
flag stevesmith-ss (Mar 7, 2014 at 8:38) (Below Threshold)
 So all I need is a allen key to loosen the seatpost and then im away with the bike? Better still.. what about quick release. Not the best idea imo
  • 1 0
 If someone really wants your bike he or she is going to get it anyway... see all the stories about broken vans and garages.
All a lock can do is slow down the process of stealing a bike and avoid "oportunistic" thefts. At times I just use Paracord and knot my cheap old banger to a post so it would not be gone after i get out of the store or bar and it worked so far...
For that mater i think its a great product and i anyway doubt that someone with a nice all carbon 20 pound super expensive bike or any other kind of serious mountain bike would install this post thinking the real issue is the post and the weight.

I am pretty sure My mum and my dad would love this lock on their daily used 500 bucks cruisers. Something for the next birthdays!
great!
  • 3 0
 scary1 you are funny......... Steve-sxt you must not have read the article, the lock comes completely out of the seatpost then you put it through the frame. You dont lock your bike to your seatpost. And of course anyone can steal anything if they want it bad enough so always take it with you if possible
  • 2 0
 Ignore me Its been a little long day. I completely missed the bit saying it runs through your frame etc.
  • 3 0
 rather than a super expensive lock just get a beater bike that nobodys gonna wanna steal leave the pride an joy at home!
  • 1 0
 Bike thieves are not renowned for their taste and knowledge of bikes. If your bike isn't locked well it doesn't matter if they can get 20 quid or 2 grand for it. They will take it.
  • 2 0
 Story: my sister locked her custom-made steel road bike with a d-lock at one of the busiest areas of the university. She lost the key and had to leave it overnight. The next day we could see someone had tried to steal it (funny that no-one stole the parts) but it was our turn to get through the lock - with an oxy acetylene torch! It took a good while for the torch to cut through it, especially since we had to be careful not to hurt the bike.

A hundred people saw us (and the smoke and sparks) and NO-ONE asked a question. She had her receipt with her just in case.
  • 13 1
 What if someone hacks your seatpost bro? They could wirelessly jackhammer your balls!
  • 1 0
 hahahahahahahaha
  • 5 0
 Giggity
  • 4 0
 The InterLock is genuinely the most interesting new part I've seen recently, a simple solution to a common issue. I'd be interested to know what sort of security rating it would get. Becasue its no good if it can be easily cut..
  • 2 1
 Personally I'd rather use a proper chain than a cable for locking up a half decent bike. The cable doesn't look that thick on that InterLock.
  • 2 0
 Yeah it depends what you're riding, I mean for a cheapish fixie i find lugging around a big U lock a bit of a hassle, I do it because I know its safe, But the idea of having something so quick and easy is interesting. It doesn't look thick enough though. but i suppose you have to sacrifice strength for size
  • 1 0
 Yeah, I bought an Abus chain after I had a bike stolen, it's solid and I definitely trust it with my bike, but it's a pain in the ass lugging it around if you don't have a rucksack. It is a good idea from a practicality standpoint.
  • 1 0
 Most of the time its not a problem because I'm commuting to uni and so have a rucksack, but sometimes i find myself taking a rucksack purely to carry to lock. plus its so heavy! Might look into if I can find a UK supplier
  • 1 2
 That seat lock is just plain useless!!! that cable could be cut real quickly!
  • 2 0
 Cable locks are worth their weight in chicken shit.
  • 4 0
 All locks can be broken. They deter, not prevent bike theft.

I don't even buy into the argument that having a bike locked up in a busy, open place is safer… most people wouldn't intervene in a major crime let alone say anything to someone who is obviously stealing a bike and most thieves know this.

The best deterrent is to use an absolute piece of shit bike with a lock that takes more effort to cut than the bike is worth.
  • 1 0
 I'm with six66 in that cable locks are chicken shit. We had four of these 'securing' our bikes and they were left like hair clippings on the floor when the bikes were nicked. I personally wouldn't leave a decent bike locked up anywhere and expect it to be there when I got back. If you have to, the bigger the chain the better.
  • 3 2
 better hope the seat post collar isn't a quick release...
  • 1 0
 That's only a problem if you're a moron, you'd obviously still have to put the lock through the frame and wheel to secure them too.
  • 1 0
 its not lookin like that cable is long enough for that
  • 4 0
 There's a video on their website where they demonstrate using it, it's longer than it looks.

(that's what she said)
  • 5 0
 I hope the Honey Badger tire is as bad ass as the one Randall talked about.. "The Honey Badger doesn't give a shit." - Randall
  • 1 1
 Anyone get a count on the teeth on all those cogs? That would have been the key piece of info to include if you were taking the time to photograph and write about such a cassette. Your shot angles don't make counting very reliable either.
  • 2 0
 Just got some of those Easton grips: freaking awesome so far. Isn't it kinda weird that they offer colors, though, when you can't get anything else Easton in colors?
  • 2 0
 ...and I just remembered that you can get their stems in colors. I'm an idiot. This what happens when you have seen a brand around for a decade and a half, and remember thinking their stuff was ugly for years because it had that ugly "monkey-lite" logo forever.
  • 5 1
 Dropper post that goes down on its own!!!!! Finally!!!!
  • 1 0
 about time, wonder if this will pressure KS to release the electric remote dropper next year instead of 2yrs from now. Will the other companies offer this soon.
  • 2 0
 Weight? Reliability? Serviceability? I realize those details aren't in the article but as the motor is right under the seat and the Wet Coast is muddy 99% of the time, I'll stick to my hydraulic post which I can bleed and do basic maintenance on well into the forseeable future.
  • 2 0
 True, was getting way to tiresome having to sit down to lower it. Now we can lower it and then sit down.
  • 1 0
 Never use a cable lock, those things are not even a deterrent here in the SF bay area. Some thieves cut through my cable lock in under 5 minutes a month ago....
  • 1 1
 Kenda Badger Dh is interesting to me. It would probably be a cheaper alternative for maxxis wetscream. I don't ride much in mud, so it is a nice offer for my outumn rainy sessions.
  • 3 0
 The Honey Badger and the Wetscream have the following things in common: 1) they are both mountain bike tires 2) they are both made of rubber 3) they are both listed in this post.

However, this is where the similarities end. If you would examine a honey badger, you would notice the very short knobs excreting from its carcass. Unfortunately, this means that they are definitely not mud spikes, so don't waste your money friend if you're expecting them to hold a line during a wet autumn day.

You should look elsewhere for cheap rainy tires.
  • 1 0
 Thank you for your lecture. People cut down knobs of wetscream tire to make it better for medium wet mud. I mean mud that is partially dry and partially wet. The knobs are cut down to the height of the Kenda shown above. The Kenda tires are new and I shall wait for reviews and tests before shopping.
  • 1 0
 Never leave your bike out of sight its the only way
  • 2 4
 WHAT IF THEY JUST ROMOVE THE SEATPOST?!!!! it's quicker than cutting the cable and easier too, they do it in nyc all the time, you will come back to find your stripped bare frame locked to something....
  • 5 0
 Not a really good answer for people that live in NYC or similar, but I've always found that using candle-wax (burn and drip it) to seal a ball bearing where your hex key should go in your seatpost collar (DO NOT USE A QR SEAT COLLAR) has helped fairly well. Two years ago someone came up on a thief trying to steal my Brooks saddle off my Thomson post on my bike by loosening the seatpost clamp bolts. Would have been gone had I not stuck a ball bearing in there along with my seatpost. Lucky for me, he came up just in time and he ran off.

Carry a lighter to remove candle wax.
  • 1 0
 It is my understanding that the seatpost only houses the cable. The entire cable comes out of the seat post and voila, a regular cable lock.
  • 1 0
 interlock, awsome idea! congratulation...
  • 1 0
 More eletronics, where's TESLA at on this game?
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