First Look: KTM, Maxxis, Polygon - Taipei Show 2014
KTM Lycan LT 271
The Lycan name has been present in KTM's lineup in the past, but 2014 sees the platform offered in two flavours: the 125mm travel version that fits the trail bike bill, and the brand new Lycan LT range that sports 160mm of travel, 650B wheels, and a burlier build kit. As you likely guessed it, the "E" word gets dropped more than a few times in the literature from KTM, but the bottom line is that the LT looks like it would be a hell of a lot of fun regardless of if you're using it for enduro racing or reliving the glory days or our sport and only mountain biking.
There LT's aluminum front triangle has seen a ton of shaping, with not a round tube in sight, and the tapered head tube even sports a unique profile that actually looks pretty sharp. Is it functional? Like we said, it looks cool. It uses KTM's PDS II suspension layout, which is short for 'Pro Damping System 2', and the shock is attached to the rocker link at the top and an extension off the front of the chain stays at the bottom. That's not a groundbreaking layout these days, but KTM has gone about it rather nicely, and internally routed cables make for a clean look despite the lines for the bike's dropper seat post and front derailleur.
The top tier Lycan LT 271 pictured here uses FOX suspension, with a 34 Talas CTD fork and Float CTD shock combo, and a mix of Shimano XTR and XT drivetrain components. Interestingly, you'll find three chain rings fitted to the bike's XT crankset, an obvious sign of its European birthplace, as opposed to the single and double chain ring setup that you'll find on bikes common to the North American market. A KS LEV DX is used to get the seat out of the way when it counts, and KTM gets kudos for spec'ing a set of sticky Nobby Nic tires from Schwalbe.
KTM Scarp 29 Prestige
The Scarp's appearance will likely divide opinions, but you can't argue that it doesn't have you taking a second glance. The carbon fiber frame features similar lines to the longer travel Lycan LT, but KTM has exaggerated them on their 100mm travel race bike in order to tune the frame's ride characteristics. Suspension is a downsized version of their PDS II design, and the diminutive FOX Float CTD BV is controlled via a handlebar remote that does double duty at the fork as well, making it clear that the Scarp is intended to be ridden fast on a cross-country race course.
www.ktm-bikes.at
Maxxis Gets Fat
No, we're not about to start featuring much in the way of fat bikes anytime soon, but it's news when one of the most respected tire companies jumps into the fat tire game. The Mammoth (above left) is the big daddy of the two, with a full 4.0" width and massive volume. This isn't some run of the mill fat bike tire, though, as it features a lot of the technologies that Maxxis employs in their high-end tire lineup: a dual compound tread with more durable rubber is used down the center and a softer material for the sides; an aramid bead and either 60 or 120 TPI casings versions will be available, and a 'SilkShield' layer spans the entire width of the casing and Maxxis says that it allows them to build a lighter overall tire due to the protection it adds.
The other option is the Chronicle (above left), a 29'' x 3'' tire that fits into the small but growing 29er+ category that isn't quite full-on fat bike in size. It will be available in two versions: a dual compound, 120 TPI model that features Maxxis' mid-weight EXO casing; and a 60 TPI version that eschews the EXO casing but still gets the dual compound rubber treatment. Word is that both the Mammoth and the Chronicle will be available to the public this coming September.
Shorty for your Trail Bike
We already showed you Maxxis' soft conditions Shorty DH tire last year, but it looks like Maxxis is taking the design to shorter travel bikes with a handful of 2.3" wide versions in 26", 650B, and even 29" diameters under the Shorty TR moniker. Maxxis says that they started to see their riders use the original Shorty in much drier conditions than it was really intended for with great results, which kicked off the development of options for riders of bikes with less travel. The compound make-up of all three sizes is Maxxis' 3C Maxxterra, with it's laid over a mid-weight EXO casing. Downhillers don't need to feel left out, though, as there will also be a full-on DH version in a 2.4" width, 650B size that is being added to the standard 26" x 2.4" original. As you might expect, it uses their 3C rubber and rigid DH casing.
www.maxxis.com
We already showed you Maxxis' soft conditions Shorty DH tire last year, but it looks like Maxxis is taking the design to shorter travel bikes with a handful of 2.3" wide versions in 26", 650B, and even 29" diameters under the Shorty TR moniker. Maxxis says that they started to see their riders use the original Shorty in much drier conditions than it was really intended for with great results, which kicked off the development of options for riders of bikes with less travel. The compound make-up of all three sizes is Maxxis' 3C Maxxterra, with it's laid over a mid-weight EXO casing. Downhillers don't need to feel left out, though, as there will also be a full-on DH version in a 2.4" width, 650B size that is being added to the standard 26" x 2.4" original. As you might expect, it uses their 3C rubber and rigid DH casing.
www.maxxis.com
Polygon Prototype
Polygon's 140mm travel, 650B wheeled carbon trail bike caught our eye at the show, with the Indonesian brand getting closer to releasing a production version in the near future. The bike uses their dual link FS3 suspension layout that is an evolution of the FS2 system found on their 200mm travel downhill race bike, with two links that control a floating shock and an extremely low center of gravity. Pivot locations have been modified to better suit the 140mm travel bike's intention as a machine that can be pointed both up and down a hill, and the lower link no longer rotates concentrically around the bottom bracket. This latter fact not only helps to shed weight, but also means that Polygon was able to shorten the chain stays far beyond what would have been possible with the older design. Both the upper and lower links, which are single-piece units rather than being bolted or bonded together, rotate in the same direction to compress the shock.
www.polygonbikes.com
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www.ktm-bike.pt/fotos/XL/ktm-bicicleta-montanha-ultra-27-limited.jpg
Only after the restart in the 90 they started building what looked like decent bikes with aluminum frames and so on...
If you ask me their geometries still look like out of the nineties just with bigger wheels (yeah) and honestly when ever i had the pleasure to ride one in the last years they also did not ride much different then my old '94 Stumpjumper with Marzocci xc600 forks ...but my dad bought one recently... he is 67 and enjoys it on the way to the coffeehouse...
ktm designed PDS since 2005 on prowler bike !
but trek designed full floater since 2008 on remedy !
also you can see here
www.pinkbike.com/u/maziarn007/album/adrenaline
you join PB today(10 march) !!! and then I don't see any pics on your profile !!! you are dishonest !
you dot'n live in Austria ! please shut up !!
The trek even though it looks very similar to a 4-bar design visually it is working like a single pivot utilizing the rear axle as a pivot for a connection rod that actuates the shock but does not manipulate or influence the rear wheel path throughout the travel which would characterize a 4-bar. Split pivot is the correct marketing therm for this. Only thing similar is the position of the shock in the frame...
And jacksteel is right, nobody rides their free-ride and downhill bikes in Austria, even thou they do really try to dump them on the market with ridiculous cheap prices, but when it comes to KTM motorcycles Austrians are more than patriotic. Its the best selling Motorcycle in the Country outselling Honda and all the other big guys in overall numbers by far!
I only said about Full Floater system in TREK or PDS in KTM (shock between upper & lower link ) !!! not about whole rear suspension
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb10537247/p4pb10537247.jpg
TREK has used this tech in 2008 ! but KTM has used it in 2005 !
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about DH bike I agree with you ! I also don't like it but "jacksteel" said :"none of my buddies here in Austria is riding a KTM bike "
It means no hardtail no XC no 29" in Austria ! it is so fun !!!
but AM such as BARK 20 is ok !!!
www.pinkbike.com/news/KTM-Bark-20-Long-Term-review-2012.html
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@trailblitz
I think he has an account in PB but in other country !!!
Its a huge difference. You cant judge a suspension setup only by the way the shock is attached but have to look at the whole thing. There is completely different suspension and riding characteristics the way those 2 bikes are built.
Anyway if the key point for you is the fact that the rear shock is floating, meaning not physically attached to the front triangle this was not an invention of KTM either.
The GT LTS used a very similar 4Bar rear suspension design like your beloved 2005 KTM with the shock siting behind the seat-post instead of the front in the mid nineties. I believe it first showed up 95 but don't quote mo on that.
It might look more different because the shock floats on the other side but in terms of function the GT is much closer to the KTM than the Trek is...
And I am sure there where others that used floating shocks even earlier on...
I don't say KTM invented " full floating " rear suspension !!! I also know MOTO GP in 2002 !
www.fastdates.com/PLN.NewBikes/Ducati/2006DesmosediciRRStreet/D16RR20RearSuspCad.jpg
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or Rotec RL9 2005
fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/downhill-freeride/41122d1101604099-2005-rotec-rl9-rotec.jpg
but some poeple said KTM copied full floater system from TREK ! I only said KTM has used only full floating shock before TREK
and KTM has used shock between upper link and chainstay first
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but I think TREK use single pivot (David Weagle) + PDS = new trek in 2008
www.pinkbike.com/news/Court-Issues-Ruling-In-Split-Pivot-Lawsuit-2013.html
www.google.com/patents/US8002301
but nobody can't prove that because it's a new rear suspension
but TREK designed full floater since 2008 on remedy !
so TREK copied from KTM !!
also you can see here
www.pinkbike.com/u/maziarn007/album/adrenaline
I am a type of Giant bikes fan. I even own one. It's not so that every Giant is perfect to me. Even after years of trying to, I still don't appreciate any of the design of giant faith the previous one (e.g. 2008 ). Ugly as it is. Kill me for this, if you like. It is the same story with the polygon. I can even describe how to build an ulgy frame. Both, the old giant faith and polygon have too many elements running in different unharmonised directions. The centre of balance is not clear or too concentrated in wrong place. Then again this is my taste only. I have studied esthetics for years and I make my living in this field as well. To me the polygon is messed up almost everywhere. The back of the chainstay, around the rear axle bends strangly. There is this triangle thing near the seatpost clamp. The shock is not pararell to the downtube. The upper part of the swingarm is a disaster. Looks like a branch. Again maybe it works better this way. I am sure the designer had some purpose in shapping it this way, but it creates too complicated shapes and does not speak to me. The only thing nice to me about this frame is the smooth transition, where the toptube meets the seattube. Devinci wilson is a beautiful frame. m9, demo are beautiful designs. Antidote lifeline is marvelous as well. Some guy likes bonde and other brunette. I would not have the polygon even if it was for free.