REVIEWED
Black Market Roam
WORDS Jordan Carr
PHOTOS Colin Meagher
Black Market was founded in 2004 when Carter Holland lusted after a bike that was somewhere between the current 26" wheeled offerings and the BMX bikes he enjoyed riding so much. The first fully suspended result of that thinking was the Killswitch, a 100mm travel bike that was designed to slay dirt jumps and slopestyle courses, with the brand gaining a good following in those circles. In 2012, Black Market stepped up to the plate with their Roam, a trail bike with 120 - 160mm of adjustable travel. Despite being touted as an all-rounder, the Roam certainly carries some of the DNA found in the Killswitch. 2014 sees a number of changes implemented on the Roam, including to its geometry and the frame's ability to be easily configured to accept 26", 650B, and even 29" wheels thanks to its 'All Wheel Drop-Out System'. Offered primarily as a frame-only (
without the shock), the Roam is available in extra-small, small, medium, and large sizes for $1,999 USD. Our test bike was assembled with a custom mix of solid components and 650B wheels that reflect its intentions as a hard charger, and we ran it in the longer 160mm travel mode for the duration of our time on it.
Black Market Roam Details
• Purpose: trail / all-mountain
• Rear wheel travel: 120 - 160mm
• Wheel size: 26", 650B (tested), and 29"
• 6061 T6 aluminum frame
• 'All Wheel Drop Out System'
• ISCG 05 chain guide tabs
• Weight: 33lb (medium, w/o pedals)
• Sizes: XS, S, M, L
• MSRP: $1,999 USD (frame w/o shock)
Frame Details The Roam frame is constructed from large diameter 6061 aluminum tubing, and much like the Killswitch, a priority has been placed on both stand over height and having a low center of gravity. A cutout near the bottom of the down tube is home to the bottom shock mount, with it being compressed at the other end via a floating link activated by the rear triangle. Out back, the All Wheel Drop Out System allows for chain stay adjustability, as well as the acceptance of the three wheel sizes - one set of dropouts will take care of 26" wheels, while 650B and 29" wheels are accommodated via an optional dropout set that can be installed in place of the stock units. Moving to the front of the bike, a tapered head tube that uses pinch bolts to hold both the top and bottom cups has been employed, a design Black Market claims helps to greatly limit the chance of ovalizing a head tube, as well as making installation and removal much easier.
The bike's cable routing is relatively clean and easily accessible, with the brake and derailleur cables routed on the top of the down tube, while the dropper post housing sits nicely on the underside of the top tube. A traditional thread-in style 73mm bottom bracket allows for endless crank options, and ISCG 05 tabs give riders the option of easily installing a guide (
our test bike featured an MRP G3 SL chain guide) or bash guard should they require one. There is a spot to bolt on a direct mount front derailleur as well, although our single ring setup left it as a bit of an eyesore on an otherwise great looking bike.
Suspension Design The 120 - 160mm travel Roam utilizes a longer stroke version of the Hammer Link suspension layout found on the Killswitch, with the stout linkage that compresses the shock almost completely hidden by the forward section of the swingarm. This gives the bike an incredibly clean appearance that makes some of the other designs out there look a touch cluttered in comparison, and access to the linkage hardware is still possible thanks to small openings machined into the system. Linkage aside, the Roam's swingarm rotates off of a single pivot located just above the top of a 36 tooth chain ring, with gold anodized aluminum hardware holding everything together. Suspension travel is adjusted by way of a shuttle mount that moves the shock either forward or back in order to alter the leverage.
| Getting the Roam to drift across the trail quickly became a predictable and controllable action, and it wasn't long before we had enough trust in the bike to push hard through each dusty and loose corner. |
Climbing / FitThe Roam’s cockpit has a very compact feel that riders who prefer the playful feel of a smaller bike will appreciate, although those who would rather have a more stretched out position for longer rides could find themselves a touch cramped. Our medium sized test bike featured a virtual top tube length of 22.9" that put us in a relatively upright riding position, but it did prove to be comfortable, even after a few hours in the saddle, so long as you take a more relaxed approach to the day's plans.
Taking a relaxed approach is helpful when climbing as well - we found that the Roam felt a bit sluggish when gassing it uphill, something that could be attributed to the bike's somewhat hefty build (
our test bike weighed in at 33 pounds), and the slack 66° head angle. An ultra savvy singletrack climber the bike is not, but we also don't believe that was Holland's intention when he listed out his wants and needs for the Roam. The middle compression setting of the RockShox Monarch Plus became our go-to position whenever the trail pointed upwards, since the firmed-up ride this provided allowed for a bit more jump to the bike's progress. Long gradual climbs required a little extra effort aboard the Roam as well, with its weight becoming even more noticeable on ascents that had a good amount of mindless pedalling. Granted, our test bike had a 36 tooth front ring and a parts kit geared towards durability and strength, not setting hill climb records - do yourself a favour and lean towards a lighter build kit if you plan on doing exactly that.
Descending / Technical TerrainForgetting about the gripes with the Roam's climbing ability happens to be easy once the trail starts to head the opposite direction - cut the Roam loose through a few choppy turns and its design philosophy becomes much more apparent. Short-ish chain stays keep the rear wheel planted as the Roam cuts smoothly from one side of the trail to the other, instilling a new level of confidence through tricky turns. Getting the Roam to drift across the trail quickly became a predictable and controllable action, and it wasn't long before we had enough trust in the bike to push hard through each dusty and loose corner. Once opened up, the Roam's slack 66° head angle became beneficial, and kept us confident in pushing the pace on unfamiliar trails, and all levels of riders will benefit from the bike's deft handling abilities in this regard. We did notice the FOX Float 34 seemed a bit under-gunned compared to the frame's extra-zealous attitude while descending, and a FOX 36 might better suit the Roam's downhill strengths more than the lighter 34. That's not a slight against the 34, though, just that the bike's handling allows for some seriously hairball speed, and a really aggressive or larger rider might benefit from a burlier fork chassis.
Stability became the key term that resonated over and over with us while aboard the Roam, and its stout tubing and low shock position offered an extremely rigid feel. This, despite the rear quick release axle that is a bit of an oversight in our minds given the bike's intended use and overbuilt feel elsewhere. While it's a bit of an over used term, labelling the Roam a downhiller's trail bike would be an apt description of how we feel about it. It is the kind of machine that won't make you pause when rolling into that large jump or drop, even more so than many other bikes in the same class, and it can rail any turn you aim it through.
Component Check• Novatec Diablo wheels: Giving us the power of the Devil, the Diablo wheels performed flawlessly as we thrashed the Roam. The hubs were smooth, with great engagement even when we found ourselves pushing too big of a gear through steep pitch changes.
• Avid Elixir 5 brakes: Although we've certainly experienced some Avid brakes that offer an inconsistent feel from the stock bleed, the brakes on our Roam were firm and reliable throughout testing.
• Shimano Zee derailleur: The Shimano Zee Shadow Plus rear derailleur performed extremely well during testing, and is a great example of how clutch derailleurs really improve the on trail experience by reducing chain movement when the things get rough.
• Profile Racing cranks: Although it's not a crankset we see spec'd too often on trail bikes, and certainly not the first choice of anyone concerned about weight, we were pleasantly surprised with the Profile arms' stiffness and stout aesthetics.
Pinkbike's take: | The Roam is a breath of fresh air in a trail bike market filled with weight weenie hype and carbon frames. Riders looking for a machine to flog hard on rowdy downhill runs will find the Roam to be confidence inspiring and durable, no matter how many times you let it fly. And although its weight and so-so climbing abilities could be a deal breaker for many riders, larger and more aggressive pilots will find its heft well balanced and its low center of gravity to create an amazingly nimble ride. We appreciated the DH mentality we developed aboard the Roam, and found ourselves looking forward to picking the rowdiest line on the way down. - Jordan Carr |
www.blackmarketbikes.com
I would be really interested in how same chassis is handling both wheel size options and this bike looks to me like a very appropriate instrument for that purpose.
Not talking volumes, widths, traction or anything. just basic size.
A 650B x 2.35 like a Pacenti Neo Moto is equivalent to 27.5" diameter and weighs about 750 grams for a single-ply XC/Trail foldable tire. The only 26" tire made in a similar construction and inflated diameter is the new Surly Dirt Wizard 120tpi foldable 26 x 2.75 they made for the new Instigators at 850 grams. Anything else on the market is a DH tire and 1 kg plus per tire. 650B is superior because the tire weight is the last thing you want to add to for wheels and the difference in tire weights is greater than the rim/spoke weight change. There are some 650B tire models available now (Schwalbe Hans Damf 2.4, Nobby Nic 2.4, and the Kenda Nevegal 2.35) which are closer to 28" than 27.5" thanks to taller tread blocks and larger volume casings.
makripper - I believe you on your word from now on... seems unlikely but I'm not going to bother to measure it myself. I can only promise you to not say a single word involving any number related to 650B wheels... "All comes down to a preference" - that shuts up a lot of blokes aye? I ride my Enduro 29 with Hans Dumbs at 4 bars and stop hating man! I prefer higher pressures as I puncture less and roll faster! What else? Everyone is a winner? Well yes we are all entitled to our our preferences but that argument doesn't make some of them any less stupid. For instance Fox states that they developed CTD because according to their research, the vast majority of people rode their forks and shocks on wrong compression settings, didn't they set their suspension according to their own preference?
www.marzocchi.com/template/detailProdotti.asp?LN=UK&idIU=2463&idC=1713&IdFolder=113&idMY=55897&uf=IU&IdOggetto=55970
http://www.pinkbike.com/u/allridersagency/blog/Enduro-in-26-275-or-29--Allriders-Pro-tries-out-Videos.html
For the record, british usage/adoption of tyre was wrong from the start. The word tire was the original historic one, and even the great british inventor dunlop himself used that spelling on his patent application for pneumatic tires.
You'd have to add 3/4" the wall height of a 26" tir, which would look, feel, and ride rediciously.
A 27.5 tire is 27.5" and a 26" tire is 26"
The aspect ratios are different, but the 650b/27.5 mtb "standard" is half way in diameter between a 26 and a 29, not "a lot closer to 26" as many keep claiming.
^some other scientific pros and cons:
From 3 tests posted in this thread each has different overall winner which just proves that it all comes down to what do you expect from your bike.
There is enough information out there to help you decide so pick up your wheel size and STOP being dick about it.
Don't be afraid of change like some eldery farts, there are and WILL be many options to choose from any riding style/wheel size/looks/price tag.
622 mm 29'er
584 mm 650b
559 mm 26'ers
650b IS closer to 26. Half an inch closer.
Kirk Pacenti never should have labeled the tires at the handbuilt bike show as "27.5" when he showed his original model tire, the Neo-Moto 2.35 because that's where it got started. Simply saying 650B knobby was in betwee 26ers and 29ers would have been fine (and more accurate as many 29er labeled tires aren't 29" either).
And yeah MOST 26in tire are NOT 26in exactly they vary. Some downhill 26in tires even measure over 27in eg Muddy Mary 2.5 is 27.2" (690mm).
And some 650b tires measure closer to 28in eg Magic Mary 650bx2.35 (709mm)
Now inorder to get a 26in tire that has the same diameter of a 650b you'd have to compare a 26x3.0 (Duro) with a 650bx2.1 (Pacenti NeoMoto)!!!
And as long as we are on about diameters ROAD wheels don't measure 28in then measure 26in and a bit!
All the comparisons I have seen have said that 650b makes a difference since you get some inside the bike feeling mixed with still having an easier time pulling up the front end.
It's a question of taste.
Lets get back to fighting about 1x11. That one still has some piss and vinegar left in it.
PS. Godwin is one smart guy. i'm suprised that it's on wikipedia. then again so am I.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Gene_Bollea
Is the 29er option even viable? How can a bike run 26 and 29 inch tires effectively?
I really shouldn't give PB too much crap about the dogshit review. Itis a free publication and we get what we pay for.
taletotell - yes, but if we talk 26>29 there is quite a lot that is different... BB goes ca 3cm lower, head angle goes even 2 degrees steeper (as you must destabilize that freight train), Reach goes shorter, stack goes 3cm higher. These are "contradictory" design changes (one goes up when the other goes down) which cannot be done wit head angle adjustment or shock placement (offset bushing)
The only solution is Geo-djuster 2679!
DrSanchez - Why? Some people actually like analysing things and find satisfaction in understanding why something works the way it works.
Pick a wheel size. Be a dick about it.
And you can huck shit to flat on it to.
BASTARDS!
And the next bike company employee who wants to make a brand new "Standard Size" anything please eat a bucket of golf balls until you choke to death.
We don't need it,thank you.
If I'd still ride kids bikes I'd happily run a Saint, even for street riding.
@ dirtbiker100: If I were in need for 160 mm travel back I would go with the Banshee Rune instead of the Last Herb. I like Banshee´s versatility and adjustability for geometry and wheelsize on the V2´s. Plus the KS-Link-Suspension is really awesome performing.
1. It would be taking money out of their own pockets (why throw an adjustable bike in their line-up that would be directly competing with at least 2-3 other models for the "big guys"). Also, the $$ for R&D for a larger company on technology they aren't sure is going to go well is a large turn-off for the bigger players (more to invest & potentially lose).
2. In my opinion & experience as a rider & mechanic, thru-axles aren't overrated (front or rear). I've seen more than one rider racing an enduro or downhill event go over a feature with a quick-release rear just to watch their rear wheel fall out of the dropouts (I know for a fact that the lever was tightened properly. Front wise, it is a known fact that a thru-axle dramatically increases stiffness & therefore control, durability, etc.
Just my $0.02. This bike is pretty badass & looks like a ton of fun, I would love to get the chance to ride it. Good job Black Market
The short top tube is not a detriment to downhill. It means you can't really straight line plow through stuff, but it is better for jumping/ drops and changing direction.
did i miss it or is there really now word about them? would be interesting to hear/read how they ride
At 6', I bet I couldn't ride the large.
Large should be at least 24" tt...but 24.5 is modern geo w/shorty stem on enduro/130-160 bikes.
SC Bronson alloy frame - $1 950 with Fox CTD Shox! You really think your Roam better? I do not think so!