Knolly Endorphin - Close-up Look at a Pioneer AM/Trailbike
The Knolly (say, 'Know-lee') Endorphin has a cult following that ranges far from its Vancouver birthplace. The magnetism of the 140-millimeter-travel aluminum-framed AM/trail machine comes from the fact that its creator understands the Northwest riding style and his frame numbers are fine-tuned to the genre. The Endorphin uses Kolly's patented Four-by-4 linkage suspension, an improvement on the classic FSR/Horst-link four-bar design that separates the suspension metrics from the shock rate by means of an independent linkage that drives the shock. With a frame that weighs in at 6.55 pounds, including its Fox Float CTD shock, a complete Endorphin can be built up as a plausibly lightweight trailbike, or as a sturdy All-mountain ripper. Sizes are small, medium, large and X-large and the MSRP for the Endorphin frame and shock is $2250 USD. Kolly
![Knolly Endorphin]()
Knolly offsets the seat tube forward of the bottom bracket to exaggerate the seat angle. This anomaly moves the saddle 'forward and out of the way' when it is slammed to emulate the seating position of a dedicated big bike on the descents. The effective seat angle is 73.5 degrees and the head tube angle is 67 degrees with a 150mm fork, so the simple addition of a longer fork will slacken it out a half degree. Oddly, the Endorphin we shot did not have a dropper post, a sad omission for a machine tailored for the Pacific Northwest. The guides are there, however, and the seat tube is straight and reamed so a post will drop into its entire length. Another nod to the rain-forest slug-poppers in Knollyville is full-length cable housing to keep mud and crud from gumming up the shifting. Most Knolly owners will be adding a chainguide, and ISCG-05 tabs are standard equipment on the frame - as it should be.
![Knolly Endorphin shock]()
![Knolly Endorphin frame details]()
Those who wish to peruse the finer details of the Knolly Endorphin can visit its geometry page, but the highlights are not in any of its specific numbers. Instead, the Endorphin has been tweaked over time to be the 'one bike' for a talented trail rider who happens to huck, jump and drop on the way around the mountain. I have only a little saddle time on an Endorphin, but it was enough to understand its following. Every Knolly rider I have come across has gushed about the bike's handling. You can't buy that kind of advertising. As they say in sheep country: 'Eat more lamb - 10,000 coyotes can't be wrong.' - RC
Kelsey Hamilton photo
Knolly Endorphin Details:
-Frame: Aluminum, rectangular-tube, four-bar linkage suspension
-Sizes: S, M, L, XL
-Head tube: 1.5 inch zero-stack (tapered steerer compatible)
-Linkage: Patented and proprietary Four by 4 Linkage
-Tire Clearance: 26 x 2.5 inches
-Recommended fork travel: 140-160mm (5.5-6.3 inches)
-Rear Travel: 140mm (5.5 inches)
-Rear Hub: 142mm x 12mm thru axle
-Dropouts: 12mm pinch-bolt type with replaceable derailleur hanger
-Weight: Frame and Fox Float CTD shock - 6.55 pounds
-Price: frame and shock - $2250 USD
Knolly Endorphin Details:
-Frame: Aluminum, rectangular-tube, four-bar linkage suspension
-Sizes: S, M, L, XL
-Head tube: 1.5 inch zero-stack (tapered steerer compatible)
-Linkage: Patented and proprietary Four by 4 Linkage
-Tire Clearance: 26 x 2.5 inches
-Recommended fork travel: 140-160mm (5.5-6.3 inches)
-Rear Travel: 140mm (5.5 inches)
-Rear Hub: 142mm x 12mm thru axle
-Dropouts: 12mm pinch-bolt type with replaceable derailleur hanger
-Weight: Frame and Fox Float CTD shock - 6.55 pounds
-Price: frame and shock - $2250 USD
Knolly offsets the seat tube forward of the bottom bracket to exaggerate the seat angle. This anomaly moves the saddle 'forward and out of the way' when it is slammed to emulate the seating position of a dedicated big bike on the descents. The effective seat angle is 73.5 degrees and the head tube angle is 67 degrees with a 150mm fork, so the simple addition of a longer fork will slacken it out a half degree. Oddly, the Endorphin we shot did not have a dropper post, a sad omission for a machine tailored for the Pacific Northwest. The guides are there, however, and the seat tube is straight and reamed so a post will drop into its entire length. Another nod to the rain-forest slug-poppers in Knollyville is full-length cable housing to keep mud and crud from gumming up the shifting. Most Knolly owners will be adding a chainguide, and ISCG-05 tabs are standard equipment on the frame - as it should be.
Knolly's Four by 4 suspension linkage is CNC-machined. The main four-bar suspension ensures that the Endorphin remains active under braking and pedaling, while the secondary linkage that drives the damper controls the shock rate. Interesting that the Specalized Demo 8 frame also drives the shock separately from the four-bar linkage. Kelsey Hamilton photo
(clockwise) Endorphin frames use a straight 1.5-inch head tube so any steerer tube will fit - tapered, 1.5 or 1 1/8 inches will do. The Four by 4 suspension begins life as a FSR-style four bar as the rear dropout attests. Clamp-type dropout are a plus for rigidity. ISCG-05 tabs are a must in the single-chainring world of all-mountain and the threaded bottom bracket is compatible with almost any crankset. Kelsey Hamilton photo
Those who wish to peruse the finer details of the Knolly Endorphin can visit its geometry page, but the highlights are not in any of its specific numbers. Instead, the Endorphin has been tweaked over time to be the 'one bike' for a talented trail rider who happens to huck, jump and drop on the way around the mountain. I have only a little saddle time on an Endorphin, but it was enough to understand its following. Every Knolly rider I have come across has gushed about the bike's handling. You can't buy that kind of advertising. As they say in sheep country: 'Eat more lamb - 10,000 coyotes can't be wrong.' - RC
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All you whiners are doing is trying to present yourselves as web-savvy geeks, trying to show that somehow you are superior to Noel. I find it sad, pathetic, and childish. Just because you think the InterWebToobz are reality doesn't mean they are. If the Toobz suddenly stopped working, would you stop riding bikes? Or maybe would you actually BEGIN riding bikes then?
I assume that you had a bad day in the woods, crashed a couple of times and are frustrated that you didn't managed the last double, drop or road gap. But that's okay. Good criticism isn't my strong suite either when I had a bad day of riding. Cheers and take care.
So what you have "assumed" is completely wrong. I'm just commenting on the childish view that Noel's bicycle is somehow lesser because YOU don't like his website. You know what? The bicycle is not the website and the website is not the bicycle.
Those of you who neg-repped me because of my facebook comment are comical. Facebook is artificial socializing. It is not the same as meeting friends and talking to them in person or doing things with them in person, and the fact that you think it is and defend it as being such... that's just sad. It also shows your blind spot about human-human interaction and what matters.
Of course, I should expect a bunch of e-rider fantasy fools posting on pinkbike instead of riding their bikes would be the kinds of people who think facebook is reality.
I still try to find the spot were facebook came into the discussion. Oh, wait - it didn't cause you started this rant. Who do you think you are giving unqualified opinions about other peoples choices of how they ride, and when they ride and of course what they ride? Just go back in your sad little hole and log yourself out from that unsuccessful online dating site your on. And where do you see criticism against Mr Buckley? I used to own a Knolly Bike and my opinion: awesome bikes, awesome inventor, still shitty website. Deal with it. No go back outside and leave the internet alone.
People were complaining out of what sounded to me like sheer pity that a bike company that is so loved and pure is not living up to its full potential, not because anyone felt they could do better or were whining because their shiny silver spoon (the internet) fell out of their mouth.
It's hardship and haters that bring forth innovation and push boundaries. High standards and expectations are necessary.
They moved because nobody in NA could meet their needs especially QC.
What would you do if you had to write off an entire run due to bad QC from SAPA and it cost you the year on that model?
Add that to ongoing issues that were had with SAPA over a number of years - they could not guarantee either the quality or any volume. The choice was basically forced on them to go overseas. Noel is very happy as he now has access to materials and processes that were not available to him in NA.
As far as customer service goes, they once replaced a frame for me in an unusual way. Was the end of season and I broke my Delirium-T. Called Noel, he shipped a frame to me (Greyhound to Ontario), I built up the new bike, boxed up the old frame and sent it back. No money, CC, LBS or anything to guarantee the new frame. All done within a week. Broke the frame on Saturday, was riding the new one the next weekend. That said more than words in my opinion.
I am now on my 3rd Knolly - A 2010 Delirium - and I'm still very happy. The bike is bulletproof - have checked many times but every pivot and bearing is still as solid as new. Never had an issue with the pivots on this one or any of the others. INA bearing rock.
The new Endo is definitely on my radar, would allow me to run the Delirium in big-bike mode full time, and have a nice light snappy trail-bike for local rolling XC stuff...
As to interpreting what I "think you said," maybe you should learn to write better so that it's not as vague. As you typed it, it was only this: cable routing sucks, ruins cables. I'm afraid that's patently false and just a whiny little complaint.
Do you really think that comments on the internet are how Noel designs his bikes? You think he reads pinkbike to see how he should route cables?
Of course jealous e-riders and armchair engineers will take potshots at Noel by saying "cable routing sucks" or "what's with that crazy linkage" or similar nonsense. I wonder how many of these phonies have ridden one of Noel's bikes. I wonder when they will have the humility to shut their traps and step away from their keyboards unless and until they have actually ridden one of Noel's bikes. Probably not likely to happen. Too many phonies posting here.
been saving bout 3k so far want a 140-160mm full. Want one today....(29 or 26?)
but do you think 29er world will be at this level - and good at it any time soon?
love my stumpy hard tail 29er now..... Just sick of beating it on super fast ruff dh.
I ride bout 10-20 miles a day, rain or shine...work or play.... nothing stops my fun......
Really just need all around bike...do it all........ what ya think- is a do it all kind of bike.
my home town bike shops haven't a clue bout high end bikes that dont have a S on the head tube.
I would be happy to ride a frame like the knolly but for $2250 usd i could buy a super nice complete bike at the LBS. Unless something drastic happens to the industry soon, I see mountain biking becoming a rich white mans sport, cutting out the working class families like mine. It took me $4-500.00 to take my family camping and riding in Moab this year and i live in Utah 4 hors away. My kids are growing and will both need bigger bikes in 2013 which will leave us riding only local trails and no road trips with the new bikes that year.
Back on topic, The Knolly rocks, interesting rear linkage, I want to see more detail on the 2 pivot connection points at the top of the seat stay.
The double ring on this Knolly lets you get to the top with less pain (with a litte weight penalty compared to 1x10 stuff), and I like that.
How about using these threads for information sharing, rather than bragging and projecting that image of the Mr Tough Guy 1-By that you wish you were?
If you think your bike is improved by "less weight" from removing a front der, you're thinking about the wrong things and being an e-rider. You could shed more weight by taking a crap before you ride, and it would be far more noticeable... if you actually ride.
If you can't adjust a front der, the solution is to learn how. Or pay a good mechanic to do it for you.
Oh and Irritum, your 22Fx25R has you at .88 lowest gear, my 34F 36R is .94. stuff all difference really. In fact if I ran a 32T front ring (36R) I would be running an identical ratio..... food for thought
Back on topic, Knolly is hardly ever seen here in Australia, would be good to see more of them.
Never thought I would get sucked into these online arguments but there I go eh... might go for a ride.
Also Endorphin is an AM bike, so it just has to pedal up everywhere, letit be the Rockies or the Alps.
Enjoy your ride, I might as well go for one as soon as my new rotor arrives.
This thing is awesome for the exact same reason I love my Pitch (just a better version), it's a do it all with real ability to do everything on one bike.
Does any one have a Knolly and have bearing problems?
Or any problems with the bike?
www.redbubble.com/people/endorphin
www.pinkbike.com/buysell/1067405
forums.mtbr.com/29er-bikes/agile-monster-truck-nicolai-helius-am29er-685877.html
Yes the Knolly website is missing a lot of info right now - customer service was and continues to be impeccable though, even though you're unlikely to ever need it.