KHS DH 650 Prototype - Interbike 2013
KHS showed a pre-production prototype of its 2014 DH 650 at Interbike Dirt Demo, and it looked very promising. Logan Bignelli's success at the Red Bull Rampage and his prominent results on the World Cup DH circuit have underscored KHS's efforts to be recognized alongside the big brands as a contender in the gravity game. The Southern California brand has been in the mid-sized wheel game since Kirk Pacenti released the first true mountain bike-specific 650B wheels and tires. It's first downhill racer was the 26-inch wheel DH 300, and team manager Quinton Spaulding admitted candidly that it was good, but not an exceptional competitor. Spaulding says that when KHS added 650B wheels and adjusted the frame geometry, that everything worked better. The 2014 DH 650 is the second version of KHS's mid-size-wheel downhill racers and it is longer, a bit slacker, and its suspension travel has been extended to 9,3 inches. Two builds will be offered: a pro-spec model at $6499 and a slightly more affordable version at $6299.
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 KHS is close to production with the new DH 650. The aluminum chassis features a dual-link suspension, one of the longest wheelbases on the World Cup DH circuit and 27.5-inch wheels. |
The bigger story is the 'Neutral Link' rear suspension. The dual-link suspension's lower link pivots concentrically with the bottom bracket. The link, which houses the bottom bracket assembly has a knuckle machined into it that forms the lower shock mount. The upper link compresses the shock from the top, while the lower link participates by compressing the shock from the bottom. We surmise that the two actions are tuned to control the suspension's leverage rate as the wheel moves through its travel. The concept of compressing the damper from either end is shared by a handful of DH designs - Trek and Commencal come to mind. The damper is a Fox DHX with a Ti. spring - a pro-only perk that should change to a steel spring by final production. Up front, Spaulding says that KHS will probably stick with the Manitou Dorado fork, in spite of the fact that both Fox and RockShox have 650B DH forks coming down the pipe for 2104 model bikes. He insists that the inverted fork is a better performer.
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| (Clockwise) KHS chose the race-proven Fox DHX shock for its nine-inch-travel rear suspension. Note how the bottom bracket revolves inside of the lower link pivot. The pivot rocks on large bearings clamped by the twin-spar frame members. The chainstay bridge is squished to provide frame clearance at full suspension compression. A look between the the twin-spar frame members reveals the articulating lower shock mount. |
When asked about KHS's long-time commitment to 650B. Spaulding says that the DH Team had problems initially finding tires that were race worthy and resorted to using one-off tires produced by Vee Rubber until its official sponsor could deliver a race worthy design in the mid-diameter format. This season, however, Maxxis is KHS' tire sponsor, so with the world's most popular DH tread profiles available in 650B, that issue was put to bed. With no further technical impediments to 650B downhill bikes, the new KHS DH 650 should be a promising step forward in the evolution of the species.
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| (Clockwise) Final spec has not yet been decided, but KHS plans to stick with the inverted-style Manitou Dorado fork. A look down the DH 650's top tube reveals its hydroformed construction. Beefy through-axle rear dropouts and a sturdy derailleur hanger are lessons learned on the pro DH circuit. Stan's tubeless ZTR Flow EX rims and Maxxis High Roller tires are a welcome sight for 650B fans. |
While the DH 650's frame numbers may change as final testing draws to a close, presently the team settled on a 63.5-degree head angle, 17.5-inch chainstays, a 14-inch bottom bracket height, and a long-ish, 49.5-inch wheelbase. The DH 650's axles are in line with the center of the bottom bracket (zero bottom bracket drop), which is no possible with 26-inch wheels. The effect is more stable cornering, better suspension performance over square-edged bumps and better roll-over across chatter sections. The sum of the DH 650's numbers indicates that it is a dedicated race platform than it will be a playful park bike. It's long wheelbase, roomy cockpit and slack steering geometry are designed keep the bike glued to the ground at speed, over terrain that would intimidate all but the most accomplished bikehandlers. The Devinci Wilson has similar numbers and handling traits. Of course, that is all speculation, but we will keep tabs on KHS' 2014 DH 650 as it reaches final production and prepare a ride-report when it comes on line.
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It's nice for some, and they are here to stay. But not everyone who spends legitimate time on one likes them. I know a few guys who own them that are not very stoked at all. In fact, I know more owners of 650b who are unhappy than owners that are happy. If you can't convince some people who own them, how are you going to convince the guys who want nothing to do with them in the first place?
I was very concerned about 26 dying until I spent some time on a 650. Now I know they are different enough that there's always going to be a fair size group of riders who will be '26 for life'. Not because they are stubborn, but because they have legitimate reasons for preferring one over the other. Just like some will prefer 29 over 650. I cannot imagine ever buying one myself, and I'm far from alone. At least in this part of the world.
A little like 142mm, 15mm etc.
Once you have saturated a market, tell the punter they must have something else.
Shame i fell for 10speed, fitted a 9 speed xtr, saint setup to my 2nd dh bike, the shifting is so much smoother and easier than 10 speed xtr,xtr or xtr,saint clutch.
For gravity events 26 is still the fastest according to results. If 650b is the best as we are told, gee and stevie will be kn it this weekend....
Lets let the ultimate marketing speak for itself... what happened to stevie at worlds, mitch at worlds, minnaar for a dh bike, graves for a small bike. End of argument.
Racing dh is a results based industry and the results currently suggest 26 is fastest. (So is coil out back, air up front).
No, that comes from the guy behind intense. I'm not saying all there frames have issues but it's a fact that they had problems.
"Two builds will be offered: a pro-spec model at $6499 and a slightly more affordable version at $6299."
Well still dont get these marketing strategies!
www.astroeng.com.tw
Ps: let the hate begin
I don't think 650b really makes enough of a difference with 26" still hitting the podium.
I'd say it would be more down to rider preference and what they feel they can ride better on.
But I think rider performance is more an aspect than the wheel size they are on. (At least in regards to 26 vs 650b for DH)
Yes it's possible. But what's he point? Avoid OTB while hitting a 30 cm high rock??? You're obviously anyway on the wrong line so what the f*ck?
i wish there was a design like this in 98, khs would have ruled pro dh racing for a decade instead of the shitty dominatrix that ripped off the derailer with chain growth.
pros like tomac and lopes would have been painting up these instead of the original intense M1 frames.
not my first choice , but they work well and seem to be getting them on the podiums in the states, logan at this point would have the choice to move to another team if he was not liking the bikes.
no i am not a fan of KHS, but i also dont make up hate and bs about a company that works hard to come up with well priced products.for the non-doctor/rich person that has to go to work and watch how they spend there pay checks.
www.astroeng.com.tw/products_info.php?kind=1&series=6&id=38
Astro is a sweatshop in Tw and Vietnam with a subscription of MBA as their chief research tool. Otherwise design clues of Intense, Commencal, Foes, Knolly. What a hotchpotch of design insecurity. The Astro design team is happly sketching away with no aim and no expertise - pretty petty.
@bikersl:Shopsize and floorcleanliness is not an issue, once a sweatshop always a sweatshop.
Zeroddrop BB means s...t as soon as you put your weight a.. on the bike. Just looks stupidly steep HA when standing still.
6.3k - and I know the factory pricing of the previous Astro dh-frame for a small batch - is ludicrous.
KHS is obviously more along your lines and you are ready and eager to shell out lots of cash for a mediocre product that has a gigantic markup and will make a fat cat even fatter because his earnings are moved offshore and wont be taxed like your income which will not be enough to cover the cost of a single foot of single track in the crappy community that you live which is now derelict because of all the cash flowing out of the communitiy. KHS - incorporated in L.A would have built many miles of Singletrack or added to the sport with great bikes at meaningful prices - which they did not. So yes, KHS is an epic fail on many levels and wasted opportunities.
It seems that this would make the bike ride very tall?
Do you preferr to be called goon boy or Joey ? Haha
Anyone who hasn't rode it really shouldn't say anything Especially if you have a old pos bike
I just posted pic. of Steve Smith's Devinci on Instagram . user name:
enricodesoto
KHS is one of the brands on the market I owned a dh300 and it was one of the best bikes I've owned looking forward to getting a 650