First Look: 2022 Propain Rage CF Downhill Bike
Propain is ready to release a new and improved sixth version of their Rage CF downhill bike. It has been under development for over two years and has been ridden and tested with the Propain Factory Racing team for over a year. We've seen it before, but now the new bike is ready for release. It's got more travel, greater adjustability and less weight, but the most noticeable change is the shock has been moved from behind to in front of the seat tube.
Details
• 215mm rear travel
• 29" or mixed wheels
• 445mm or 460mm adjustable chainstay
• Three sizes
• 16.9Kg claimed weight
• Shock inside the main triangle
• propain-bikes.com
• 215mm rear travel
• 29" or mixed wheels
• 445mm or 460mm adjustable chainstay
• Three sizes
• 16.9Kg claimed weight
• Shock inside the main triangle
• propain-bikes.com
The new bike is adaptable to fit either a 27.5" or 29" rear wheel, using a flip chip to accommodate the change in wheel size without affecting the geometry, along with a 29" front wheel. There's no longer a full 27.5" model. The chainstay length can also be adjusted to suit different riding styles or tracks from 445mm or 460mm (the old bike was 459mm only), with a two-position dropout.
The old bike...
... vs. the new one.
Another important change is the sizing. Previously, you could have a Large or XL Rage in 29"; or a Medium, Large or XL in 27.5", all of which could be modified with a +/-10mm reach-adjust headset. Now there are just three sizes (M, L or XL), all of which use a 29" front wheel and either rear wheel size. These have 440, 465 and 495mm reach measurements, respectively. That makes it slightly longer per size than the outgoing bike even in its longest reach setting. The reach-adjust headset is gone, but the frame is compatible with third-party adjustable headsets.
The geometry in the 29" configuration. With a 27.5" rear wheel, the only change is the BB offset (drop) is 3mm.
The frame sticks with Propain's PRO10 suspension system, which employs two counter-rotating links that compress the shock from both ends. This delivers a generous 215mm of rear wheel travel (the old bike had 210mm in 27.5" and 200mm in 29"). The leverage ratio drops by 38% through the stroke, making it quite progressive.
The bike uses what Propain call Blend Carbon, which they say offers a better balance of strength, stiffness and weight. Claimed weight for a size large frame is 3.7Kg and 16.9Kg for a top-spec size large bike.The internal cable routing now runs through internal channels to ease the replacement of cables in the pits and keep them from rattling on the track. The frame also features stainless steel bearings, bolt-on frame protection, a threaded bottom bracket and a 5 year warranty with a crash replacement scheme.
The Rage CF costs from 3,999 EUR for the "Start" option, which can be upgraded in Propain's online configurator. There's also the Performance and High-end models to choose from.
Rage CF Start
Rage CF Performance
Rage CF High-end
The new Rage CF can be ordered online from today.
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Member since Dec 29, 2014
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Strava does this and I'm okay with it...non-members still have access but subscribers get a bit more but its doesn't really exclude anyone from the essence of the app or community. If comments and participation are locked behind a paywall, then the site is done for. I only come here for the community interaction, I can go to any number of sites for product information.
Then again I don't know anything I just think it's fun to take part in the fear mongering. Same reason I read comments of random internet users shitting on e-bikes lmao.
(Though you may have just been going for the puns, in which case, carry on)
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I had never heard of Outside or any of the things they owned before buying PB. I guess PB will go the same direction as all their other products, invisible
Understanding the ins and outs of these new bikes has been helpful.
Component-wise looks solid.
Kilogram wise, not too bad.
Propain bikes have always been on my wishlist.
After all, I do like propain and propain accessories.
Yearly I look at their catalogue like a kid searching for their perfect christmas present.
Why do like these bikes?
Actually, it's the sleek designs.
Looks are a huge part of it.
Lately, I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on this bike.
Someday.....
What a minute... plus 20% import duty, plus 14% VAT, plus €199 shipping, now convert to GBP.... £4,750.
Thanks Boris.
Those are steeper angles than my 150mm travel bike that’s actually designed for pedaling. And seems way steeper than most other DH bikes I’ve looked at.
That’s my point.
Why bother with a steep sta on a bike hardly anyone will ever pedal. Most DH bikes have a super slack sta, to keep the seat out of the way when riding, so this seems noticeably different.
My last Propain was the Spindrift, 2017mod. 445cs, 445 reach , super nice..
I bought a Propain Frechdax for my little 6 year old racer and drove half a day to Germany to pick the bike up directly at Propain.
Paid in cash and my little one asked for a few stickers or similar.
Nothing, Nada, Njet! Not even one word to this little fella receiving his first bike and making his day a bit more special. Big fail, no matter how good the bike is, the little one will not remember Propain when he has grown up. it would have been a small investment for Propain to make this little boy happy by making him feel special for 10 minutes while in the Propain warehouse.
Sure, still a good bike but this is not how a brand creates loyal fans.
Kids at his age sometimes are more happy about the sticker or cap they receive on top of it. Strange, but that‘s how kids are
Go there and give them some traffic.
Let´s help build them up so we have a place to go after the inevitable pinkbike paywall gets raised.