Throwback Thursday: 9 Bikes Turning 10 in 2023
As we kick off 2023 and await all of the exciting new product developments, let's look back through the archives at some of the bikes turning 10 during a year when we saw the beginnings of the EWS and the mainstream introduction of 27.5" wheels.
1. Santa Cruz Blur TR Aluminum
Launched as one of the last full 26" bikes from Santa Cruz, the aluminum Blur TR aimed to offer the same performance as its carbon companion but in a cheaper package. The bike was built up with 125mm of rear travel and could be paired with a fork from 120 to 150mm of travel. A lot has changed in trail bike geometry since the Blur TR with a 68-degree head angle, 72.5-degree seat tube and a reach of 426mm on a size large.
As with most Santa Cruz launches at the time Josh Bryceland put the bike through its paces.
Read more here.
2. Specialized Enduro SX
Launched in 2013, the Enduro SX was purposely designed by Specialized for gated racing with a lowered bottom bracket and 100mm of travel. The SX branding from Specialized has been featured on a number of bikes from the longer travel SX Trail range to the original SX Trail which the Enduro SX evolved from.
The Enduro SX used the FSR suspension platform with the chain/seat stays and rocker link borrowed from the standard Enduro models, but the travel dropped to just 100mm at the rear. Initially Specialized made just 100 frames in a limited run of the model. Although more would be made, and now the Enduro SX has built a cult following as the bike of choice for dual slalom and 4X racers.
Read more here.
3. Ibis Ripley 29
While a lot of brands were releasing 27.5" bikes in 2013, Ibis launched its 29" Ripley trail bike with 120mm of rear travel. Unlike other brands who were releasing 29" bikes in sizes medium and up Ibis managed to create the Ripley in a size small, allowing smaller riders to test out the larger wheel size.
Work on the Ripley reportedly started as early as 2005 when Dave Weagle came up with the idea that you could replace the linkages of his signature rear suspension design with eccentric, rotating cams.
Read more here.
4. Pivot Firebird 275
Launched as the brand's first mid-size wheeled bike, the Pivot Firebird 275 had 167mm of rear travel although it was not too different from the previous 26" offering. Interestingly, the 26" Firebird was able to fit certain 27.5" wheels and tires unchanged but for the official model from Pivot there were a few changes to make it work slightly better.
For the 275 production model, the Firebird swingarm remained unchanged with enough room for 2.5" 27.5" tires, and the BB height even stays the same as the 26" wheeled bike at 14 inches. To keep a similar ride height the head tube was shortened slightly and the head angle was slackened out slightly using a Pivot-designed headset cup to create a 66-degree head angle.
Read more here.
5. Redalp Enduro Bike
After launching a downhill bike the year before, 2013 saw Redalp launch its take on an enduro bike with the 180mm Cascadeur FR. Developed by Redalp to take on the then newly-formed European enduro races and the EWS, the bike used the same frame as the previous downhill bike including the high pivot layout and the unique chain drive system.
Read more here.
6. Santa Cruz Bronson 650B
The Bronson formed part of Santa Cruz Bikes' first steps into 27.5" bikes after previously being reluctant to step up to 29" wheels. The new Bronson was said to be part of a move to take on the new enduro races and EWS. The fresh Bronson frame uses design improvements first used by the Tallboy LTC with a simplified swingarm design, sturdy aluminum rocker links, and adjustable angular contact bearings in the suspension pivots. New for the Bronson was internal dropper post routing and a direct-mount front derailleur.
Read more here.
7. Devinci Troy 650B
2013 saw Devinci launch its 140mm 27.5" Troy trail bike. While sharing a similar appearance to Devinci's Dixon, the Troy was designed fresh for the largest wheel size with slightly less travel although both bikes used the same Split Pivot suspension layout. With less travel than other bikes in its range and the slightly bigger wheel Devinic altered the pivot locations.
The 27.5" Troy was also the first carbon bike from Devinci to use internal cable routing with entry points just behind the head tube with port exits near the bottom bracket.
Read more here.
8. Liteville 601 Mullet
Offering a look forward to the present the 10-year-old Liteville 601 MK3 offered up a scaled sizing system with three different mullet wheel options from 26/24 to 29/27.5" pairings.
Liteville offered up its 190mm 601 mullet with a 26/24" front and rear wheel combo on its extra small sizes with a bump to 27.5/26" wheel on medium frames with then a bump up to 29/27.5" on the larger shorter travel versions of the bike. Liteville said at the time: "The answer to the question of the correct wheel size (front and rear) is always dependent on the frame - and hence the rider size."
Read more here.
9. Orbea Rallon
Another bike being redeveloped with the rising popularity of enduro racing in 2013 was the Orbea Rallon. Previously the brand's longest travel offering maxed out at 150mm and found its current lineup leaned more towards trail than true enduro racing.
At the time Orbea MTB Product Manager, Xabier Narbaiza, said: "We asked our dealers and our riders what they were looking for. We realised that our previous bike was more of a trail, or all-mountain bike and it wasn't right for enduro. The seconds in the race are won downhill, but it needs to be an economic bike going uphill. You don't want to waste energy, so you have 100-percent for when the timing starts, but we really wanted to make it fast, to perform going downhill. And uphill, you will have to sacrifice. Whether it's the main pivot point or taking a fork that isn't lockable, we'll do that."
To fit the growing enduro market the Rallon saw a bump to 27.5" wheels and travel increased up to 160mm front and rear. The head angle could be changed between 66.5 and 66 degrees with the seat tube angle also adjusting from 75 to 74.5 degrees.
Read more here.
1. Santa Cruz Blur TR Aluminum
Launched as one of the last full 26" bikes from Santa Cruz, the aluminum Blur TR aimed to offer the same performance as its carbon companion but in a cheaper package. The bike was built up with 125mm of rear travel and could be paired with a fork from 120 to 150mm of travel. A lot has changed in trail bike geometry since the Blur TR with a 68-degree head angle, 72.5-degree seat tube and a reach of 426mm on a size large.
As with most Santa Cruz launches at the time Josh Bryceland put the bike through its paces.
Read more here.
2. Specialized Enduro SX
Launched in 2013, the Enduro SX was purposely designed by Specialized for gated racing with a lowered bottom bracket and 100mm of travel. The SX branding from Specialized has been featured on a number of bikes from the longer travel SX Trail range to the original SX Trail which the Enduro SX evolved from.
The Enduro SX used the FSR suspension platform with the chain/seat stays and rocker link borrowed from the standard Enduro models, but the travel dropped to just 100mm at the rear. Initially Specialized made just 100 frames in a limited run of the model. Although more would be made, and now the Enduro SX has built a cult following as the bike of choice for dual slalom and 4X racers.
Read more here.
3. Ibis Ripley 29
While a lot of brands were releasing 27.5" bikes in 2013, Ibis launched its 29" Ripley trail bike with 120mm of rear travel. Unlike other brands who were releasing 29" bikes in sizes medium and up Ibis managed to create the Ripley in a size small, allowing smaller riders to test out the larger wheel size.
Work on the Ripley reportedly started as early as 2005 when Dave Weagle came up with the idea that you could replace the linkages of his signature rear suspension design with eccentric, rotating cams.
Read more here.
4. Pivot Firebird 275
Launched as the brand's first mid-size wheeled bike, the Pivot Firebird 275 had 167mm of rear travel although it was not too different from the previous 26" offering. Interestingly, the 26" Firebird was able to fit certain 27.5" wheels and tires unchanged but for the official model from Pivot there were a few changes to make it work slightly better.
For the 275 production model, the Firebird swingarm remained unchanged with enough room for 2.5" 27.5" tires, and the BB height even stays the same as the 26" wheeled bike at 14 inches. To keep a similar ride height the head tube was shortened slightly and the head angle was slackened out slightly using a Pivot-designed headset cup to create a 66-degree head angle.
Read more here.
5. Redalp Enduro Bike
After launching a downhill bike the year before, 2013 saw Redalp launch its take on an enduro bike with the 180mm Cascadeur FR. Developed by Redalp to take on the then newly-formed European enduro races and the EWS, the bike used the same frame as the previous downhill bike including the high pivot layout and the unique chain drive system.
Read more here.
6. Santa Cruz Bronson 650B
The Bronson formed part of Santa Cruz Bikes' first steps into 27.5" bikes after previously being reluctant to step up to 29" wheels. The new Bronson was said to be part of a move to take on the new enduro races and EWS. The fresh Bronson frame uses design improvements first used by the Tallboy LTC with a simplified swingarm design, sturdy aluminum rocker links, and adjustable angular contact bearings in the suspension pivots. New for the Bronson was internal dropper post routing and a direct-mount front derailleur.
 | Two decades of evolution at Santa Cruz brought us here. An entirely new frame, new wheel size and new perspective on what a 6" travel bike can conquer. Bronson is not some rehashed 27.5" tribute act to anything else in our range. It stands alone as testament to the years of designing and refining at our old Bronson Street facility. Locked up for months of secret testing, Bronson breaks straight onto the scene as the Syndicate's race bike for their Enduro World Series campaign. From Tazmon to Bronson... Santa Cruz continues to lead each new era in mountain bike design. |
Read more here.
7. Devinci Troy 650B
2013 saw Devinci launch its 140mm 27.5" Troy trail bike. While sharing a similar appearance to Devinci's Dixon, the Troy was designed fresh for the largest wheel size with slightly less travel although both bikes used the same Split Pivot suspension layout. With less travel than other bikes in its range and the slightly bigger wheel Devinic altered the pivot locations.
The 27.5" Troy was also the first carbon bike from Devinci to use internal cable routing with entry points just behind the head tube with port exits near the bottom bracket.
Read more here.
8. Liteville 601 Mullet
Offering a look forward to the present the 10-year-old Liteville 601 MK3 offered up a scaled sizing system with three different mullet wheel options from 26/24 to 29/27.5" pairings.
Liteville offered up its 190mm 601 mullet with a 26/24" front and rear wheel combo on its extra small sizes with a bump to 27.5/26" wheel on medium frames with then a bump up to 29/27.5" on the larger shorter travel versions of the bike. Liteville said at the time: "The answer to the question of the correct wheel size (front and rear) is always dependent on the frame - and hence the rider size."
Read more here.
9. Orbea Rallon
Another bike being redeveloped with the rising popularity of enduro racing in 2013 was the Orbea Rallon. Previously the brand's longest travel offering maxed out at 150mm and found its current lineup leaned more towards trail than true enduro racing.
At the time Orbea MTB Product Manager, Xabier Narbaiza, said: "We asked our dealers and our riders what they were looking for. We realised that our previous bike was more of a trail, or all-mountain bike and it wasn't right for enduro. The seconds in the race are won downhill, but it needs to be an economic bike going uphill. You don't want to waste energy, so you have 100-percent for when the timing starts, but we really wanted to make it fast, to perform going downhill. And uphill, you will have to sacrifice. Whether it's the main pivot point or taking a fork that isn't lockable, we'll do that."
To fit the growing enduro market the Rallon saw a bump to 27.5" wheels and travel increased up to 160mm front and rear. The head angle could be changed between 66.5 and 66 degrees with the seat tube angle also adjusting from 75 to 74.5 degrees.
Read more here.
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208 Comments
The rest is "aaaaw, f*ck, how could we ride this stuff" (apart from the spesh).
BUT: Liteville a nice outside the box thinking, German engineer run brand has been sold end of last year,
now belonging to Pierer Mobility (Austria), better known in EU for Husqvarna & GasGas Ebikes, plus they bought FELT.
Syntace (lightweight but super solid/robust) was the component branch of Liteville and is under same umbrella as well, now
The Liteville / Syntace team is still the same, let's see if they get more momentum on an int. level with the new owner, focusing on development and rides, less the daily business hassles like accounting & sales.
imgflip.com/i/ozx8k
Yes, Pierer owns KTM Motobikes,
But KTM bicycles is a totally different brand, even if they both come from the same, small town in Austria,
don't ask, its a loooong story.
The Spesh Enduro then took on the X-Wing look and I really wanted that frame! Now, they've redesigned the Enduro and it looks like any other modern day MTB.
I can't believe all the bikes here are classified as throwbacks. The only one I'd classify as a throwback is the Redalp Enduro Bike. That thing looked like it's from the 80's/90's!
the bike in question
i.imgur.com/urxn9sm.jpeg
Apart from people riding these bikes for 4X I think they were used as Downcountry bikes before such a thing actually existed.
Good luck with your universe.
how on earth can a bike be "26" specific" if it can run both wheel sizes? yall talking out of your asses, the bike was by necessity designed for both wheel sizes and therefore cannot be "26" specific". go on worshipping what the internet tells you, bootlickers.
You're talking to me through the internet too, but I won't be licking anything.
but again, like you said, front derailleurs are useful only on road bikes, so im not sure why we're even talking about them here.
seriously though, all the rattling and clanking and dropped chains doesnt bother you about using a front derailleur? again, makes sense on a road bike where nothing dynamic is happening anyway
Before this, I indeed used a bottom swing front mech (22t, 32t and bash ring) with the shortest cage SRAM X9 rear mech I could find with a 11-34t 9sp cassette. This X9 rear mech didn't have a clutch so yeah, it wasn't as silent as a setup with clutch. Won't blame that on the front mech. As for the rattling, as I said the grip shift allows you to put the front mech exactly where it should be. If you hear a rattle, shift it one click and you're good. I preferred a bottom swing front mech as it was more open (hence easier to clean out) than the top swing ones but I have no experience with the modern side swing ones. They're said to be better, but I can't tell. As for dropping chains, how? One side has the bashring. I can't imagine how a chain would cross that. The other side has the granny gear as a catching net so even if it does drop, you can quickly put it back on with the front mech shifter. But the front mech is a top guide. The chain doesn't just drop. But see, I'm currently using a top guide and bash protection (mounted to the ISCG05 tabs). Nowadays I'm seeing loads of bikes without any guidance nor protection. I can't see how they're less likely to drop a chain (or damage a ring) than with the setup I had.
So yeah, I am worried about smaller mechs and am just using the smallest I can get. The question is, if you also want a bigger gearing range. I'd prefer to keep the small cage and consider a dual ring setup whereas others accept the big modern cages to keep the single ring setup. It is also a matter of money. Cassettes for 12sp drivetrains are incredibly expensive and you can't replace individual sprockets as far as I know. The 32t steel Deore chainring was 9 euro a piece to replace. And on my 10sp XT cassette I can still replace individual sprockets for which the smallest ones are about 3 euro a piece (or 6 euro if you go for XTR).
As for the XTR 11-36T cassette, it's one of the lightest and high durability cassette I've had. However, the only flaw in it is the constant creaking it makes on the last 4 rings because of the rivets. I tried putting in lube or anti-seize but man, the constant creaking drove me nuts. This was a known issue for the Dura-Ace cassettes for road bikes as well.
I'd go with XT and buy some SLX for that gear range. Why SLX? the last 5-6 biggest rings are interchangeable and are XT chainrings on the SLX and the whole cassette is like $10-$30 less. The smaller ones on the SLX cassette are heavier than the ones on the XT cassette. You can also interchange pieces from the XT/SLX with the XTR but it won't look as nice. The XT's biggest rings are titanium.
11-spd Shimano cassettes still have interchangeable cassette rings. It's too bad the 12-spd versions are all one single unit.
Results? I did the best sub 1 hour Downieville run of my life, despite stopping multiple times to make sure my friend was still alive.
My takeaway:
Friends>Strava times
Short travel > Long travel (on this route)
and... old tech was stunning with some tweaks!
www.mtbr.com/threads/wrecked-car-stolen-bronson-new-nomad.977596
I should add that someone found the stolen bike (frame only) about a year and a half later on Craigslist and was suspicious, did a search, found my post, and called the police. They recovered the frame and, with my permission, auctioned it off with proceed going to charity to help local kids in Eugene, OR.
*Marty, we have to go back"
Doesn't seem like a 10 year old bike! Can't imagine a faster XC bike (for me). Feels to me like it was ahead of its time with 29" & G2 geometry.
1x conversion and upgrades, 19" frame=- 22.2 lbs with pedals. I don't think I can buy a current bike that gets down to that for under $10k. I'm $2k all in.
I love going back and reading descriptions/reviews of it when it came out since it’s always described as having ‘aggressive trail’ geometry, and these days it’s not even as ‘aggressive’ as an XC race bike.
Absolutely stupid and definitely wasn't worth that, but people were willing to pay...
In short, make more Enduro SX bikes specialized, ya jokers. Maybe that'd fix your money woes.
I’d love to take one down a mountain one day, kinda suspect it probably rides deceptively well.
It was also a crazy fast on climbs and rolling terrain.
Descents were a different story...
when other brand had already slacker and way longer (reach) bikes....
m.pinkbike.com/photo/23190090
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