Cove Bikes available at The Fix Bike Shop

The Fix is amped to introduce Cove Bikes into the line-up of manufactures.  It another great fit for us.  As an all mountain, dirt-loving shop, we welcome bike manufactures that solely focus on the mountain bike niche.

Cove Bikes have some great heritage.  Starting in 1981, Chaz and his bros started building trails and fabricating custom bikes that were more progressive to suit their trails and riding style.  This was the beginning of the famous North Shore trail system in BC that continues to push the limits of the best riders. 

Cove Bikes were first designed and made in the Cove Bike Shop on the North Shore of Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.  Each bike is custom built and handmade in Vancouver.  Using Easton tubing and aerospace heat treatment, Cove realigns every bike four times to make sure they’re super straight, stiff, and ready to take a beating and keep on rolling.

The pride Cove takes in building each bike is unprecedented.  Their continued success is attributed to their dedication to the sport and their customers.  For Cove bikes, it’s not about where you’re going or how fast you get there, it’s only about making sure you enjoy the ride along the way.

Shocker DH

The Shocker is Cove’s World Cup winning DH bike.  For 2011 it’s lighter, stiffer, and faster. The Cove Shocker DH has one of the best rear ends in the business with the World Cup proven Cove Dual Link suspension platform and a custom tuned Elka shock providing 8.2 inches of buttery smooth travel for your riding pleasure.

Keeping up with the latest in DH development, the Cove Shocker has a slacker headtube (64 degrees) and lower bottom bracket.  The slackened headtube helps the bike glide over rock gardens and other tough terrain while the BB placement lowers the rider’s center of gravity and rips around corners with ample control.

Cove makes great bikes that are built to last forever or at least until you want to upgrade to another Cove.  Designed and built by riders for riders. Cove bikes rip.  Call The Fix with questions and to get your own hand-built custom Cove Shocker.

STD FR

Based on the big daddy Cove Shocker, the STD has slightly less travel with 7.5 inches making it an awesome free ride bike with exceptional geometry.  As a shorter travel DH the STD climbs exceptional well with the dual link suspension from Cove.

Built to ride aggressively, the STD will please you on Enduro and DH courses.  It’s perfect for someone just getting into DH racing or riding.  The 1.5 inch headtube gives you al the fork options and allows you to run Cane Creek angle sets to optimize your slack headtube angle.

Like other STDs you’ll have it forever, but it’s definitely the only STD that will keep you grinning with every flare.  Can’t wait to contract your very own STD; The Fix will help you find the feeling.

G Spot

The G-Spot is the flagship do-it-all bike from Cove.  6 inches is the perfect amount of travel for an all mountain destoyer.  The dual link suspension delivers an extremely predictable linear suspension with good pedaling efficiency.  The G-Spot is well balanced so it rips corners and shreds technical trail making the trail more enjoyable.

The frame weighs slightly more than 7 lbs and climbs well as it doesn’t bob unless the suspension is needed to hug the trail.  The real fun begins when you drop in for the descent.  The G-Spot sucks up terrain and still feels lively and agile when pumping corners and popping off trail features.  Again it offers great balance of consuming all obstacles but giving the rider great feedback and understanding of the terrain.

The Fix’s own Alex Clark rides the G-Spot, and loves the feel of the bike on trail and around fast corners.  The G-Spot is super versatile and likes to play as much as possible.

Hooker

The Cove Hooker likes it rough and is always willing to put out.  It’s smooth, sexy, and is always ready for a good time.  The Hooker is at home and best turning tricks in the slopestyle park or 4X courses.

Developed from years of hard riding and work from top pro riders, the Hooker takes off like a hardtail yet provides the perfect amount of cush when it gets rough or you come up short.

The Cove Hooker is made to last and will make you feel good every time you ride her.  The custom tuned 4 bar suspension system, 4 inches of rear wheel travel, and race proven design with an 1.5 inch headtube and Easton RAD tubing make the Hooker a dream bike for any racer looking to make a statement in and out of competition.

Hustler XC

The Hustler from Cove Bikes blurs the line between an XC bike and all-mountain dually.  Ideally built for longer epic rides, the Hustler is stout and built to withstand beating after beating.  It’s truly a low maintenance machine.  We’ve never heard anyone break one down or have problems with any piece of the frame.  MBR Magazine in the UK gave the Cove Hustler a 10 out of 10 in their annual review.

On the trail, Cove’s proprietary four-bar suspension design climbs really well with the Fox RP23 rear shock.  With 5.5 inches of travel, it surprised some of our riders.  The Hustler outperforms competitors on descents.  Cove’s North Shore riding heritage shines through as the Hustler can devour gnarly descents.  Even on DH trails the Hustler was impressive.

Owning the Cove Hustler is simple; just change the brake pads and chain and you’ll be shredding trail for years.  True to its name, the Hustler is a go-getter, trail beast that makes riding more fun.

Stiffee FR

Cove’s Stiffee is ready to get it on.  One of the best aluminum hardtail bikes in creation.  Built to accommodate oversized beefy tires and most long-travel forks, this bike can be custom built for several purposes.

All Cove bikes including the Stiffee are hand made in Canada.  They are solid and won’t let you down out on the trail.  No little blue performance enhancement pills needed.  The Stiffee from Cove is an optimized blend between strength and performance and is guaranteed to please any rider.

Foreplay MX

The Foreplay from Cove Bikes is all about fun. Perfect for urban assaults, backyard dirt jump sessions, and bike park booter fests, the Foreplay will keep you wanting more.

Built with oversized Easton RAD tubing and extra gussets on the headtube and seat stay, the Foreplay likes it rough.  The precise geometry is designed to keep the rider low and make the bike more agile.  With ample tire clearance, you’ll be able to mount the rubber of your choice.

What else do you need for a 4X, park, dirt jumping machine.  The Cove Foreplay will keep teasin’ and pleasin’.

Sanchez

The Sanchez from Cove Bikes is an old school style dirt jump bike is tough and super stable at high speeds.  The slacker headtube angle and longer chainstay give it the old school feel.  The 4130 chomoly steel frame make it nearly indestructible.  Its horizonal dropouts and adjustable rear disc mount allow for 26 inch or 24 inch wheels as well as v-brake compatibility.

The Sanchez likes it dirty and isn’t sluggish or timid from the longer wheel base.  The taller front-end provides a comfortable riding position and ideal positioning for huckin’ air and whippin’ tricks.

The hand made Cove Sanchez old school feel, durability, and versatility set it apart from other DJ bikes.  You’ll love the feel and all your friends will want to see your dirty Sanchez.

Hummer XC

The Hummer started it all back in the day when mountain biking first gained popularity.  Today is no different.  A good hardtail titanium bike is still a great race bike that will last many lifetimes.  The resilience of Ti bikes is unreal.  Give a titanium bike a sand blast and it’s new again.

Cove has Lynskey Performance Designs hand build the Hummer from 3AL/ 2.5V Aerospace titanium.  Lynskey started Litespeed and has been in the titanium bike game since inception.  Standards are set and Lynskey bikes define quality.

Even though this hardtail ti bike is a racehorse, it’s still a Cove.  The Hummer is made to allow for 2.4 inch ties and longer travel forks for your custom setup for terrain.  Ride a Hummer and you’ll be feeling good from head to toe.

Handjob XC

Cove Bikes’ Handjob is one of the best hardtails available.  The geometry and construction are tested on the North Shore near the Cove.  Made from custom Tange Prestige cromoly tubing and finished with a powder coat paint that will last longer than you, the Handjob is built to be ridden forever.

As with all Cove bikes, the Handjob is hand built and tested to the extremes.  Most people refer to the Handjob as the best descending hardtail available.  The steel and geometry incorporates dynamic flex making the natural steel properties work for the rider.

Since the Cove Handjob is priced well and a bitchin bike that shralps all kinds of trail, it is one of the more popular frames they make.  What more do you need?  The Handjob is quick and dirty and provide the perfect amount of plessure.

Ellsworth Demo Day – A 29er Review

Big thanks to Ryan and Ellsworth Bikes for stopping by Betasso and bringing a fleet of demo rigs for our riding enjoyment.  I was stoked because this gave me a chance to test ride a couple of their 29ers in addition to an Epiphany.  Over the past few years the hype has continued to build about the big wheel 29er XC mountain bikes.  I had to check it out for myself.  Several articles have been written on the 29er subject and some speed and power tests show promising results.  Yet, I still wonder how much fun is it between my legs?

I have a bunch of friends racing 29ers and they absolutely love them.  I’ve resisted the 29er movement because of a lack of tire, fork, and wheel choices.  Now, there are many options across the board and 29ers are here to stay.

First I demoed the Ellsworth Evolve, a full suspension 29er 100mm XC trail bike.  The suspension design of Ellsworth felt supple and smooth as the bike gave me the sense I was riding a bike with much more travel.  The big wheels also could be part of this feeling as they do rollover rocks and roots with ease.  The front end felt heavier than I’m used to and the uphill acceleration was a bit sluggish.

Each lap I felt more confident and began to see the benefits of a 29er.  It rolls super smoothly and flies over technical sections both uphill and down without requiring work from the rider.  It did feel heavier uphill.  When I tried the Ellsworth Evolution, the 120mm 29er, it felt like a lot of travel for the Betasso loop trail.  Small features on the trail that used to be fun to jump off of and whip around were not the same.  I guess I would have to find other features that make the loop more exciting on a 29er.

The Ellsworth Epiphany, their 140mm trail bike, was super fun descending the Canyon Link trail although the ProPedal lockout wasn’t enough to eliminate the bob on the climb back up the hill.  This is their tried and true performer so it’s expected to ride well.

In the end, I’m still curious about the 29er and think I need more time riding one.  I’m not completely sold on them.  I like that they’re performing well and finally won a World Cup XC race as well as getting a ton of US national attention.  As an XC rider, I still struggle with its weight and handling.  Basically, my discovery is this: If you want to roll your bike over obstacles, the 29er may be for you.  If you like to place your bike and have control as you maneuver through obstacles, the 26” hooped bikes are still your best bet.

Dirt Jump Bikes – Specialized P2, Black Market Malice & Haro Steel Reserves

Specialized P2

Darren Berrecloth used his park and free ride experience to help design the P Series bikes for Specialized. The result is a great line-up of bikes that truly perform in the park and in the air.

The Specialized P2 is the mid-level bike in the P Series and offers great value. The tough Reynolds 520 Cr-Mo, chromoly, frame can take a beating. A MID BB, horizontal dropouts, and an integrated chain tensioner keep this single speed dirt jumper dialed. As with any dirt jumper the wheels need to be strong and be able to handle abuse. The P2 comes stock with super strong double-walled, 36 spoke wheels and a 80 mm travel Marzocchi DJ2 fork to cushion the big hits. The stock build also includes a rear Avid mechanical disc brake. The Marzocchi has mounts for a front brake but the front hub won’t take a rotor.

While test riders found this bike to perform best on jumps, on the pump track and in the park, they weren’t as satisfied on the dirt as an all around bike that climbs and descends well on anything.

Overall, if you just like to play in the street or park this bike is for you. Also, if you want to add a bike to your quiver, this is a good value to get a dirt jumping, whip that will last.

Black Market Malice

Unlike most urban, park, and dirt jump bike manufacturers, Black Market solely focuses on freestyle, dirt jumping, park, urban bikes. That focus and dedication shines through in their bikes. Every bike is made to be tough and lightweight with the best geometry to enhance performance.

In 2010 Black Market Bikes made the Malice available as a complete bike. For some reason, in 2011 the Malice is only sold as a frame with a build kit sold separately. For some this custom ability is great. However, there is huge savings when you buy a complete bike. Plus, the Malice had a sick build kit with Hayes Stroker brakes, 20mm thru axle Marzocchi DJ 1 fork, and Microdrive drivetrain. The Fix Bikes bought the remaining inventory of complete Black Market Malice Bikes so we could pass the savings on to you, our customers.

If you want a sick looking, tougher than nails, competition proven bike at a phenomenal price, get the Malice. These complete bikes won’t last long. Hit us up and we will take care of you.

Haro Steel Reserves

The Steel Reserve freestyle bikes from Haro Bicycles have some great advantages and are great all-around bikes. These complete bikes offer graduated specs with the Steel Reserve 1.1 being the most budget oriented and the 1.3 being the most tricked-out while the 1.2 provides great balance of budget and performance. Haro complete setups are rare in that they work well for tall riders or anyone over 6 feet.

All Haro Steel Reserve Frames use tough 4130 double-butted cromoly tubing. The 1.1 is ridged with a Cr-Mo dirt jump specific fork, while the 1.2 and the 1.3 are stocked with a little travel up front. Each bike only has a rear brake yet all have the ability to mount a front brake. Check out the individual product pages for complete specs of each.

As you go up in price, the componentry gets better. If you’re a big rider, you’ll want the extra strong crank on the 1.3 and the better wheels as well. As with most everything, you have to pay for what you get.

The bottom line is the Haro Steel Reserve bikes handle abuse, look nice, and are simple to maintain with good geometry. This bike is versatile too. Try it in 4x and even a little downhill riding and you’ll be surprised. Obviously, you can find a better bike for each condition but this bike will perform outside the park and urban assaults jumping and whipping around.

Downhill Exclusive – Specialized Demo 8, Intense M9 FRO, and Knolly Podium

Specialized Demo 8

Already boasting race proven, World Cup winning geometry, Specialized is known for pushing the limits and standards for race bikes. The all-new 2011 Demo 8 has several mentionable enhancements from its predecessor, which improve handling and makes it faster.  The first time on the bike feels stable, light, and more nimble than other DH bikes.  The 2011 Demo 8 is sure to have you pushing your limits as it begs for more speed.

The 2011 Demo 8 frame is ¾ of a pound lighter than the 2010.  The reduction in weight is from using M5 Alloy, shortening the chainstays and headtube, as well as trimming the sharp corners from the bike and reducing small crevices that harbor mud.  Each change helps this bike perform on the gnarliest trails and courses.

The shortened headtube (112mm) and lower bottom bracket drop the bikes center of gravity helping it handle corners and feel stable while the shortened chainstays increase the quickness.

The rear hub spacing is 12 x 150mm in 2011 to accommodate for more DH hub and wheel options.  However the hydro formed tubeset is formed precisely so you won’t hit your ankle on the chainstays while pedaling.

For 2011 the rear shock connects to a extension shock yoke allowing the shock pivot to line up beside the tire and move with bearings instead of the bushing.  Therefore the suspension rate is more progressive and finely tuned.

BB 30 comes standard on all new Demo 8s.  This will eventually allow for stronger and lighter drive options.  They are currently threaded to allow adaptors until DH BB30 technology is further developed.

Overall, Specialized sets the bar high with its out-of-the-box, finely tuned machine that yearns for speed.  You will feel more comfortable at higher speeds and this bike will make you faster.

 

Intense M9 FRO

As Intense’s new flagship DH bike, the M9 has been in the making for two years.  The Intense Pro Team riders have had great success on the new bike and it finally available to everyone.  The custom geometry adjustability allows each rider to fine tune so may aspects of this bike to make it the perfect ride.

The G3 dropout system has three options to fine tune your chainstay length and make minor bottom bracket height and head angle.  However, the Cane Creek Angleset headset can be adjusted in half-degree increments between -0.5 and +1.5 degrees.  Find your perfect setup for obliterating each course.

Intense uses a Travel Adjustment Module you can adjust to set you bike up with 8.5”, 9”, or 9.5” of travel.  Furthermore, the M9 has three options to adjust shock curve and change the progressiveness of the shock.  Cane Creek created the Double Barrel rear shock with dual valves, which keeps the M9 grounded in rough rock gardens and super steep sections.

The Fix has ridden and worked with customers for year to help find the perfect fit.  If the custom adjustability sounds too much let us help you make the correct fit for you, your riding style and terrain.  When tuned correctly, this bike flys downhill and feels completely stable.  It could be the best choice for you if you’re picky about your bike setup and obsessed with fine tuning for each race course.

 

Knolly Podium

Knolly is a small and growing frame builder in British Columbia.  The Knolly Podium is their standout purebred racing machine.  The 2011 Podium embodies everything learned from the start of Knolly three years ago.

The Knolly Podium has a good following of freeriders and racers as it offers versatility for a wide range of riding styles.  The bike feels strong and stable riding park, the Redbull Rampage, or World Cup circuit courses.

Built with racers in mind, the Podium is built long, slack and low to the ground providing 8.4” of travel using Knolly’s proprietary Four by 4 Suspension System.  You’ll be able to race this bike for years with all the CNC machined parts and INA bearings that are said to outlast other commonly used bearings.

With a coil shock this bike can weigh less than 37 lbs, but the frame is built to be durable and take a beating on the toughest trails.

The geometry of the bike allows the rider to be in a forward aggressive position and charge the trail with more traction and control.  The super stiff rear end and stroke of the shock with superior mid-stroke support improves confidence and stability while riding.

Specialized EVO Bikes – Redefining All-Mountain Trail Bikes

Specialized continues to evolve their mountain bike line-up in response to customer demands

For 2011 Specialized is introducing a new set of “EVO” bikes to complement their current lineup.  The new concept is designed into several of the standard mountain bikes Specialized has offered for years.  In recent years, many Specialized customers and riders would change or modify their bike build for a specific more aggressive/ trail focused riding style.

Combining the lightweight XC or freeride style bike with aggressive DH specifications and features is a natural progression of where the mountain bike industry is going.  Specialized is now offering their EVO lineup as a turnkey, out of the shop, ready to ride machine.  Within the Specialized EVO lineup are EVO-R, or Race, bikes that offer component upgrades, specific gearing and an overall lighter bike for the weight conscientious.

Taking trail aspects including a lower bottom bracket, slackened headtube, command seat post, wider bars, beefier wheels, a chain guide, and added travel equate to more trail capability and more fun!

Specialized Enduro EVO

Fully manipulated M5 alloy FSR frame with ORE tubing is the centerpiece of this incredibly versatile 160mm-travel design. The aluminum rocker link, sealed cartridge bearing pivots, ISCG mount, and replaceable derailleur hanger make this a bomb proof ride that can stand-up to the toughest rider on the most technical trails

Fox DHX RC2 coil rear shock with rebound/compression adjust and bottom out control offers 160mm of travel for high-speed bump mastery and large drop confidence.

Fox’s buttery smooth 36 Van R 170mm coil-sprung fork with 20mm thru-axle, tapered alloy steerer, and preload/rebound adjust is stiff, light, and beefy for all-mountain madness.

Newly revamped for increased stiffness, the Roval Traverse AL all-mountain wheelset, with DT Swiss internals and 20mm thru-axle, offers mountain-leveling durability at a reasonable weight.

Low-rise 750mm alloy bars with 8-degree backsweep and 31.8mm clamp increase strength and control on the nastiest trails.

The Specialized Command Post offers 125mm of travel with three adjustable height positions and a remote lever for rapid on the fly adjustments.

Specialized Stumpjumper EVO

M5 manipulated alloy frame for SJ EVO features slacker headtube angle of about 67 degrees and a lower bottom bracket with 145mm of rear travel.  The aluminum rocker link and sealed cartridge bearing pivots transfer small and larger impacts directly to the shock with a buttery smooth feel.

The custom tuned Fox RP23-S shock was made exclusively for the Stumpjumper and features position-sensitive Boost Valve damping, low-speed compression damping with 3-way adjustable “open” and “climbing” settings – equating to great bump performance and solid climbing efficiency throughout the entire ride.

Specialized chose the Fox F150 RL air-sprung alloy fork with 15mm thru-axle, external lockout, and rebound adjust based on Fox long history of building great reliable fork that feel super plush and can handle the biggest drops with ease.

Specialized Roval Control AL wheelset is much stiffer than the typical wheels on other Enduros.  With durable alloy hubs, oversized 28mm end caps, and stainless DT Swiss spokes these wheel provide better control over gnarly terrain.

The beefier 2.2 front and 2.0 rear tires deliver improved traction for conering and braking in variable conditions.

The Specialized Command Post offers 125mm of travel with three adjustable height positions and a remote lever for rapid on the fly adjustments.

Specialized Epic EVO

The Epic EVO is built for the XC rider looking for more trail capability.  The Expert has an M5 alloy frame yet with the 100mm suspension feels efficient and smooth.

Specialized and Fox collaborated to develop the Flow Control Mini Brain shock with Brain Fade inertia valve, air spring and adjustable rebound to deliver the 100mm of suspension.  The geometry and shock technology provide the supple feel over small bumps and bigger hit support when needed.

Specialized went with a Rock Shox SID RLT 120mm air-sprung fork with rebound, compression, lockout adjust and floodgate control dials to the perfect pedaling platform while keeping the bike light weight.

Specialized Roval Control AL wheelset is much stiffer than the typical XC wheels on race bikes.  With durable alloy hubs, oversized 28mm end caps, and stainless DT Swiss spokes these wheel provide better control over gnarly terrain.

The beefier 2.2 front and 2.0 rear tires deliver improved traction for conering and braking in variable conditions.

The Specialized Command Post offers 100mm of travel with three adjustable height positions and a remote lever for rapid on the fly adjustments.

2010 Intense Bikes at the The Fix! Tracer, Spider 2, Uzzi VP, Slopestyle

2010 Intense Bikes and Frames are in stock and looking awesome. The pictures don’t need much introduction on this one, all I can say is that as good as they look in the photos they are even better in person. Intense simply represents the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship in mountain bikes. Combine that with their unrivaled knowledge of how to make a bike ride and you get some of the best product available today. Enjoy.

Tracer VP
The Intense Tracer is a bit of a chameleon bike, it can be set up to be either a lighter xc shredder or a super fun enduro/all mountain bike. We have completes built up in both styles, one with a Fox 36 and the other with the lighter Fox 32 Talas in QR15. $4250 with the Talas, $4600 with the 36.

Intense Tracer Complete with Fox 36

Intense Tracer White with Fox Talas

Spider 2

The Intense Spider 2 comes in at an awesome price point for the XC and trail bike crowd, getting you legendary Intense quality and performance at a price that competes with the big guys. Spec’ed out with Intense’s SRAM kit and Fox F120 RLC fork, this machine comes in at $3400.

Intense Spider 2/ F120RLC/ Sram kit

Intense Framesets

If you already have your parts or are just looking to do a totally custom build on your new ride, all Intense bikes are available as framesets. Intense has a couple of hot new models out with the Uzzi VP and the as-new-as-it-gets park and play bike, The Slopestyle.

Intense Uzzi VP

All mountain destruction… this bike redefines what a trail bike can be. This one is for the off-road heroes, the guys that only need one bike for any descent, any climb, any trail, anywhere. Built to be as sturdy as any bike out there, this thing can climb all day but still let you send anything on the way back down with no fear of failure, and DH bike handling.

Intense Uzzi VP- Copper

Slopestyle

As the name implies, the Intense Slopestyle is built to shred the slope in style, meaning it’s perfect for jumping, freeriding, and just having a plain old good time in the bike park. 6.5″ of travel will get you down all but the roughest of trails without much trouble, and lets it maintain the maneuverability and flickability you need to keep it steezy on the way down.

Intense SS Orange

2010 Black Market Bikes- Malice, Soldier, Contraband, Killswitch

Black Market Bikes is back at it for 2010 with some awesome looking new product.  The big news is the introduction of their new full suspension frame, The Killswitch, which is already getting rave reviews from the lucky few who are riding it and looks absolutely sinister.  They also have a new 24″ hardtail frame with The Contraband, featuring a press-in Mid bottom bracket and integrated seat clamp.

Also in store for 2010 are the new complete bikes, The Malice and The Soldier, replacing the outgoing 357 and Riot completes with some seriously slick new graphics and the same can’t-be-beat pricing the old bikes were known for.

The higher end of the two bikes, The Malice, offers a butted cro-mo frame, a Hayes Stroker hydraulic brake, 20mm Marzocchi DJ 1 fork, Microdrive drivetrain, and of course the world famous Black Market geometry. $1300.

We’re taking pre-orders for all the new Black Market products at The Fix, check em out here!

Malice Tan

Malice Blue

Black Market’s entry level offering gives you the exact same geometry and toughness that made their frames famous, with a solid parts kit that keeps the price within reach.  You get a straight gauge cromoly frame, Marzocchi DJ 3 fork, Hayes Mechanical Brakes, and Microdrive drivetrain.  $1000.

Soldier White

Soldier Blue

The Contraband takes some features from the Mob and Riot frames, but it features new 24″ wheel geometry with nice short stays,  new Sanko tubing and a Mid BB shell for running a BMX style press-in bottom bracket.  Two colors for now to satisfy you 24-inchers out there, check em out.  Price is at $399.

Contraband Black

Contraband Green

Finally, Black Market’s brand spanking new full suspension frame, The Killswitch, is due to hit our shores within the next few weeks.  A totally new and in-house design, The Killswitch applies Black Market’s world famous geometry to the full suspension market, creating a bike that is perfect for slopestyle, dirt jumping, or general do-it-all goodness.  Combine that with ultra clean lines, interchangeable dropouts, and an exciting new suspension design called the hammerlink and you get one of the most exciting new bikes this season.

Killswitch

Tested- New Motocross Goods

Dunlop MX51 Geomax Tires

MX51 front and rear tires

Most of the track guys here at The Fix have been running Dunlop for a while now, mostly the 756s with an occasional 952 or 755 thrown in.  The general consensus has been that they offer some of the best grip available, the trade-off being fairly quick wear and a bit of squirmyness in the 756 and 755 front tires when the prep dries up and you hit the good old Colorado blue groove.

Tread close-up

When the new MX51 tire came out, everyone was stoked to try them out, and since then it has become the tire of choice for just about everyone.  The drive traction on the rear seems pretty comparable to the 756 to me, but it is wearing longer than I am used to.  Compared to the front 756, the MX51 feels a lot more solid and planted, especially if the surface is harder.  It gives up nothing in the soft, prepped conditions though, which was where the 756 really excelled.  Having ridden the Dunlop 742, 952, 756, 755, and now MX51 front tires, I can say for sure that this is my favorite.  On all but the wettest Colorado track days, you’re bound to be doing some hard packed flat-tracking, and this is the first tire that could really handle the transition from prepped to dry without a hiccup.

Nutech Tubeless

Nutech Tubeless System

This one came via a recommendation from Jeff Slavens at Slavens Racing, who has done a number of jobs on Alex’s KTM 300 XC.  The system replaces your rim strip and bead lock with a small, high pressure, inflatable tube with a rigid case.   You inflate your tubeless strip and the pressure sandwiches the tire bead to the rim wall, creating an airtight seal.  You then inflate your tire like normal through the main valve stem and voila, tubeless tires.

The system has a number of advantages, the primary one being that it allows for lower tire pressures with no chance of pinch flats.  The 110 psi rim strip also acts as a bottom out bumper, preventing rim im dents when running pressures as low as 8 or 9 psi.  Alex has been running the system for about 8 months, and has not gotten a single puncture.

Tire inflation valve goes through nice anodized beadlock

2010 Specialized P Bikes, Easy as P.1, P.2, P.3

The venerable Specialized P. bikes are back and better than ever.  Great looking new graphics, awesome specs and screaming deals are all here for the 2010 P. bikes.

Top o' the heap- the new P.3. Aluminum frame, Avid Elixer Brakes, Microdrive hub, 20mm thru-axle, bling. $1650. Color coordination has been taken to it's logical extreme here.

The P.2 model is offered in aluminum and cro-moly versions, giving some options for the multi-speed crew.

P.2 Aluminum. Multi-speed, lightweight, perfect for the rider looking for some versatility. $1350 gets you hydraulic discs from Avid, and Sram X.7 drivetrain.

P.2 Steel, gears on a budget. $1100 with all the goods from the P.2 Aluminum and Mechanical discs.

The P.1 is being offered in two color schemes, white with blue accents for those looking for some flash, and blacked out for those trying to keep it stealthy.

P.1 White. Steel, singlespeed... the classic dirt jumper. $940 price tag makes the P.1 a hard-to-beat deal.

P.1 Black. Bringing stealthy back.

Fresh Goods- Transition TR450

Transition Bikes is set to release their much awaited new downhill rig, the TR450.  Totally new and built from the ground up with input from pro racers including Lars Tribus, Byrn Atkinson, and Jill Kintner, the TR450 promises performance on par with any of today’s top level race bikes, at a price that undercuts much of it’s competition.  Transition has opted for a moto-link style single pivot, which should offer better rear end stiffness than their previous four-bar frames, as well as giving Transition the ability to tune their shock rate to perfection.  The TR450 offers adjustable geometry that allows you to go as slack as 63 degrees in the head angle and as low as 13.75 inches for the bottom bracket, giving you the option to set the bike to your personal preferences.The TR450 is being sold in three color options, racing stripe yellow (shown), racing stripe red, and solid white, and goes for the very impressive price of $2399 with a Fox RC4 shock.  Taking Pre-orders now, selling out fast!

TR450 in Yellow Racing Stripe Graphics

	SMALL	MEDIUM	LARGE
Reach (middle Geo setting)	366.22mm	391.62mm	417.02mm
Stack (middle Geo setting)	580.74mm
Top Tube (Effective)	22.4″/568.96mm	23.4″/594.36mm	24.4″/619.76mm
Seat Tube (center to top)	16.5″/420mm
Head Tube Angle	63°, 63.5°, 64° Adjustable
ChainStay Length	17.5″/444.5mm
Bottom Bracket Height	13.75″, 14″, 14.25″ / 349.25mm, 355.6mm, 361.95mm Adjustable
Wheelbase (middle Geo setting)	45.5″/1155.7mm	46.5″/1181.1mm	47.5″/1206.5mm
Head Tube Length	4.33″/110mm
Max Rear Tire Clearance	26″ x 3.0″
Rear Hub Spacing	150mm
Rear Dropout Axle Size	12mm
Head Tube	Tapered 1.5″ Lower / Cane Creek Integrated Top
BB Shell Width	83mm