New Bikes, Wheels, Stems, Tools and More - Eurobike 2014

Aug 30, 2014
by Mike Levy  
Rocky Mountain Attitude

Rocky Mountain's Altitude 799 MSL

Matte carbon and blue simply works, doesn't it? Rocky's 150mm travel go-anywhere bike looks about as clean as a bike can get thanks to its internal cable routing and matching decals, and we know that it has the trail manners to back up those good looks. 2015 FOX suspension, a mix of SRAM and Race Face for the drivetrain, and a set of high-volume Maxxis tires mounted to Reynolds' BlackLabel carbon wheels doesn't leave you with much to upgrade, either.



Spank

Spank Spike 25 / 30 Director Stem

Spank's had their 50mm Spike Director stem available for awhile now but riders have been asking for shorter and shorter direct mount stems as the front ends of downhill bikes have grown over the last while, a change that has created a need for even shorter stems that compensate for the length added in the top tube. The 2D forged and CNC'd Spike 25 / 30 Director stem offers, as its name suggests, either 25mm or 30mm reach mounting positions, and also comes with a set of Spank's Ultralite stem risers that take it from 28mm to 33mm of rise. Spank has put some good thought into the Spike, with a massive 62mm wide bar clamp to offer more support, and have also taken the time to chamfer all of the edges so as not to create an stress risers that could effect the bar. Weight sits at 125 grams.



Giant wheels

Giant's TRX 1 Composite 27.5'' Wheelset

Giant probably isn't the first name that comes to mind when thinking about wheelsets to upgrade to, but their new TRX 1 Composites do look pretty damn nice if you're going for a more understated appearance. The 25mm deep carbon fiber rims sport an internal width of 21mm - we'd like to see them wider, to be honest - and come from Giant with the required rim tape and valves to make tubes a thing of the past. Giant assembles them with 28 Sapim Race spokes done up in a two-cross pattern and finished off with alloy ProLock nipples, and the hubs can converted to fit either quick release or thru-axle configurations front and back. Claimed weight sits at 1,590 grams.



100

100% Goggles

Goggles, anyone? 100% had their entire range on display - the Racecraft, Accuri and the Strata - in pretty much every colour option under the sun.



Unior

Unior Tool Kits

Blue tools but not the ones that you're thinking of, Unior manufactures their lineup in Slovenia, with a massive range of products that to look after everything from axle to axle on a bike. They're all available individually, of course, but Unior is also now offering complete kits that come equipped with pretty much everything you need to get very specific jobs done and dusted. The box pictured above is for pressing bearings, be it into a bottom bracket shell or suspension pivot bore, and it comes with different sized adapters that Unior says will work on most of the bearings sizes common in the industry - they press on both the inner and outer races to evenly distribute pressure during installation so as not to damage the bearing. The kit also comes with Unior's clever Slide Lock handle that lets you release its tension to position it quicker rather than having to spin it all of the way up or down the rod. It works by utilizing twin sliding mechanisms that, when pushed forward, bring the two halves of the threaded insert together, or back them out instantly when the pushed back.

Unior

Unior also has a suspension service kit that comes with all of the doodads to get you into most forks, and even some shocks, that are on the market. This includes sockets to fit the top caps of most common suspension forks, the right hex key sizes to fit the set screws that hold on the compression and rebound knobs, and even a strap wrench for when you need to perform an air can service on your shock. Four different bullet tools have been added as well that will make seal installation jobs a snap - pretty clever.

Unior

Like to build your and maintain your own wheels? This kit comes with everything you'll need to do exactly that: spoke ruler, a bunch of different nipple drivers (both socket and flat blade style), and three top quality spoke wrenches. That's not all, though, because there's also a slotted puck that can be used to keep bladed spokes from twisting as you turn nipples, and tools to fit both Shimano's and Mavic's oddly sized nipples. No excuse now, right?



Easton 27.5 Havoc wheels

Easton's Havoc 27.5'' wheelset

Those who were paying attention might have spotted Easton's new 'tweener wheelset on Damien Oton's Devinci Spartan race bike when we profiled it during Crankworx, but here's an even closer look. Just as with other rims in Easton's range, the new Havoc's features a UST certified rim design, complete with the requisite sealed rim and bead hook shape, and also comes with the proper valves to get them rolling sans tubes. The rear wheel fits both 12 x 150 and 142mm axles, and the front can be swapped between 20mm and 15mm adapters as needed. Internal rim width measures in at 23mm, and the set weighs 1,940 grams.

View entire Eurobike 2014 Product Gallery Here

Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

89 Comments
  • 60 1
 Offer! 30% off 100% goggles!
  • 86 0
 coupon works 60% of the time....every time
  • 5 4
 "Nice googles! What are they?" "70% The Accuri!"
  • 7 0
 100% pure? Pretty sure that is only legal in Europe.
  • 48 3
 Nothing is legal in Europe. There are more rules here than there are possibilities.
  • 32 1
 ...says the guy who has never been to Amsterdam...
  • 44 0
 I'm not always feeling 100%. Is there an 80% goggle for those days when you're a little off?
  • 14 2
 When you only want 80% goggles, you can take your 100% goggles and a roll of masking tape and mask off 20% yourself.

This means you can easily revert back to 100% next time you're on it too.
  • 5 26
flag IllestT (Aug 30, 2014 at 9:35) (Below Threshold)
 60% of the time it works every time.

(sorry, too obvious?)
  • 9 1
 Im waiting for an Enduro model
  • 10 1
 I need some that are 650b specific.
  • 40 0
 I am pretty impressed by the Unior tools.
  • 5 0
 Yeah they looked great, shame no prices offered.
  • 6 13
flag jesse-effing-edwards (Aug 30, 2014 at 9:49) (Below Threshold)
 Just can't get why they HAD to be "Blue" tools. Literally any other colour would have been appropriate, unless they are intentionally trying to syphoning off Park users.
  • 7 0
 We had some Unior tools in a shop I used to work in, quality stuff!
  • 28 1
 Unior is mutch older firm then park tools and their logo was always blue.
  • 4 2
 Hmm, interesting. Good to know. Unfortunately they don't seem to be as well known, least not in Canada.
  • 3 0
 as cebelar said, also the spoke wrench is excelent, been using it for year and a half in shop and it's as good as new, i can totaly recomend it Smile
  • 4 0
 They do look great. I'm surprised the topcap sockets aren't ground flat though. 2-3mm of squishy aluminum topcap does not play well with the chamfered end of hard steel sockets.
  • 1 0
 the presentation stinks of a high price tag
  • 1 0
 Does anyone have a link to awebsite where I can find/buy that suspension rebuild kit?
  • 2 0
 Unior Tools are proudly made in Slovenia and offer a lifetime warranty. The company has been around for more than a lifetime so you can count on that! Tools are available now in Canada from s4suspension.com and will soon be available across the USA. Unior is competitively priced for the North American Market.
  • 26 0
 My god that altitude is incredible!
  • 3 0
 $10k though. Mercy.

Classiest looking plastic frames (IMO of course) out there right now.
  • 1 1
 No reservoir shock tho ?! Turn off for me .. especially at that price point
  • 4 0
 Silliker269 that's what the Altitude 790 MSL Rally Edition is for! Smile
  • 1 0
 But it should be what the carbon slayer is for Smile
  • 1 0
 after owning Santa Cruz, Ibis, GT.......and being Canadian I think I found my new ride with pride. Giddy up.
  • 8 0
 The new Havocs are looking good! :O
  • 4 2
 I am really amazed at how long it is taking big companies to produce properly wide rims for all the fat rubber that everyone loves. Has anyone ever ridden a rim and thought it was too wide? Is there something they know that we don't, or are they in denial? Giant, Mavic, wake the ef up, seriously.
  • 3 2
 I prefer the handling of 21mm internal width rims. So thank you Giant and Mavic.
  • 3 1
 Without be facetious, why?
  • 12 1
 Maneuverability mainly. I find that the 21mm rims create a tyre profile that allows the bike to lean over easily or violently, however i wish. I've found that rims wider than 25mm can feel slow to lean and can make that bike feel cumbersome and locked into a straight line. For me its also about the location of the side knobs. With an extra wide rim i feel like the side knobs engage too early and this can stop me from cornering harder. With a 21mm rim the tyres Grip Gap is more noticeable and i can feel the bike transition over to the side knobs at a more extreme lean angle and when those side knobs bite i can really feel the tyres edge dig in. What im poorly attempting to say is that i feel more confident pushing harder in corners with 21mm rims than some super wides. When i was using 25.5mm rims i still had to run the same psi for casing stability that i do with 21mm rims.
  • 1 0
 Some valid points. What kind of riding? I could see this for more gravity oriented stuff where you are likely not running tires at low pressures. One thing Im surprised by is how you don't find greater sidewall stability with wider rims. I recently upgraded some old arches (int19mm) with KOMs (23mm) on my 29er and the sidewall stability increase was huge, even with a jump in tire size up.

I think ideally tire manus would accomodate for wider rims and their benefits with tread patterns that are optimized for the width.
  • 5 0
 panaphonic - thank you for such a well thought out reply
  • 5 0
 My riding type, is to suffer the ups so i can enjoy the downs as much as possible. I will add that i have noticed some increase in stability when going up from 19mm rims to 21mm. My experience tells me that when when running the same size tyres i find that the advantage of wider rims drops off after 21mm internal width is exceeded. Perhaps if i ran larger than 2.5 types i might prefer something more like 25mm internal width. I think that the law of diminishing returns applies here. I also understand that others with different tyre casings or preferred pressures may have different conclusions. Oh and thanks leelau.
  • 4 0
 That was by far the most civil comment thread I've ever seen on Pinkbike.
  • 1 0
 Panaphonic, this makes more sense to me. Im a trail/xc guy. Ive as many ups as I do downs, and also ride a hardtail. For me, getting away with as little tire pressure and most volume is key, while wanting to keep weight as light as possible. I also don't think I could notice the effect on my tread of a few mm of width, but I definitely notice the sidewall stability.

Nice chat
  • 1 0
 which tires does panaphonic use?
  • 2 0
 Highroller 2s for most of the year normally. But i can also be found on a magic Mary of Dhr2 combo for when i want a very predictable bike in winter.
  • 2 0
 I'm using Nobby Nic 2.35 29ers with Snakeskin, in case anyone cares. I'm 200lb without any gear, and run the back around 29 and the front about 26 psi, depending on conditions. Under 28 on the back and the squirm makes me feel a little funny on hardpack and on g-outs, but I will dip under that sloppy days or snowy days. Also, these tires are tubeless. Sorry if this is TMI.
  • 1 0
 panaphonics point is a good one i guess. im not sure. but i know that narrow rims are lighter or stronger when the weight is equal to a wide one. and thats important.....some dh wc guys seem to like deemax ....others like to ride on 30mm rims wo a tire Big Grin .... strange world ... noone seems to know it for sure
  • 1 0
 I think that was an commercial.
  • 1 0
 Totally, but nonetheless he's got a point.
  • 6 0
 Thank you Spank!
  • 4 1
 Havoc, 3079,80€ for almost 2 kg wheelset. Some one has lost it big time. For that kind of money one should get bomb proofness and lightness in the same package.
  • 3 0
 ITS 1079,80 euros
  • 2 1
 Only 1079.80 Euros? That's $1418.44usd!

Wheel sets should not be half the price of a frame.
  • 1 0
 Sorry. My bad. Watched this from a small display. Anyway. Same kind of set of Hope Hoops is only half of that.
  • 2 0
 These are a lot stronger and better built than Hope hoops. The Hope wheels have their spoke tension all over the place from new and the only rim they have available that is comparable in strength and weight is the en521.
  • 2 0
 I have a set on Flow EX's. Been riding them for three years now. Straight as an arrow. Numerous tyre shredding hits on them. Havocs look a lot nicer though.
  • 2 1
 If as you say the rear wheel is only a 12x150 then how the hell did they manage to shoe horn it on to a 12x142 bike like the Devinci Spartan... I think you may need to check your info on that one!
  • 4 0
 Easton comment in www.pinkbike.com/news/devinci-spartan-damien-oton-whistler-ews-6.html

"Those wheels will be launched at Eurobike / Interbike. Front is available as either 15x100 and 20x110 (convertible between each other) Rear comes 12x142, or as a seperate wheel as 12x150/157. Internal rims width 23mm, full sealed UST rim bed. Weights are: 845g Front 20x110, 980g 12x142 Rear, Total 1825g. Available at your local Easton dealer Sept-Oct"

"We will also be offering 26""
  • 2 0
 I've been a fan of the Havoc line for several years. Relatively light, super durable and most of the Havoc parts are reasonably affordable. These sound like they will be nice too but he price of new wheels the first year they hit the market is always HIGH.
  • 1 0
 I like the idea of that Spank stem!!!! Definitely giving it a shot as my DH bike (L - V10c) always feels nose heavy and long.
  • 3 0
 People say I have "oddly sized nipples"...
  • 2 1
 Thew Altitude is nice, but with the carbon wheel set the price jumped up to $9999 CAD. Was new Flatline there? What about the Slayer?
  • 1 0
 I talked to a RM guy at Crankwoks. He told me no new Slayer this year and maybe new Flatline this year. And new Flatline is a totally new bke.
  • 2 0
 Pretty sure the new DH bike is carbon but not sure if they're renaming it after the flatline. I hope they do.
  • 5 2
 感觉好像lt700
  • 9 0
 Sure.
  • 10 0
 Well everybody knows that.
  • 4 0
 beautiful... i love his sarcasm Smile smiled for hours
  • 3 0
 The only time anyone will agree with you on Pinkbike is when they don't understand the language you're speaking.
  • 1 0
 Does anyone know where I can find that junior suspension tool kit online? I can't even find it on Unior's website...
  • 2 0
 s4suspension.com
  • 3 0
 UNIOR!
  • 3 0
 I want those wheels.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what that front tire is on the Altitude? Looks like a Minion but higher volume, maybe a 2.4? Sure hope so!
  • 1 0
 It's a minion dhf I'm gonna guess u can see the "minion dh" in the pic
  • 2 2
 I wonder if the Havoc hubs still explode when you glance at them sideways...
  • 1 0
 Nice to see another short direct mount stem option, looks good spank
  • 1 0
 I want to ride the trail in the picture behind the Altitude.
  • 1 1
 nice tools very pricey a truing stand is over $1100.00
  • 3 0
 Somebody must be earning a ridiculous margin... usually MRSP for our truing stand is around $320
  • 1 0
 A quick search shows that link must be a pricing error. Here it is for not much more than £200... www.amazon.co.uk/Unior-URT669-Professional-Wheel-Centering/dp/B00649K8OO
  • 1 2
 Im wondering why Unior chose to use blue as the color they fly?
  • 4 0
 Unior is manufacturing the tools since 1919.... and their logo (...and tools) was like cebelar said, always blue !!! Smile
  • 3 6
 Am I the only one who do not understand why they put this shitty fork on this amazing bike ? They could at least put the new 36 or the PIKE
  • 8 2
 So what's that fork like then? have you even tried Foxes 2015 range? Or are you just another fool who just thinks it's still crap cause the 2013 one wasn't the best.
  • 5 0
 The 2013 hole is deep for Fox and so it should be.

There is nothing wrong at all with the '14 product. I would assume the '15 is unchanged (or better?).

@GS, the new Rally version of the Altitude is running the 36 this year.
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