Tech

Africa Cycle Fair 2015: The Mountain Bikes

· By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 24 comments

The Standard Bank Africa Cycle Fair took place this past weekend at St Stithians in Johannesburg. As the biggest showcase of the South Africa cycling industry, Bike Hub were there to cover the products on display. First up are some of the mountain bikes (and a BMX) that were on display.

Yeti

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The Yeti SB6c looking menacing with it’s Switch Infinity suspension, Fox 36 fork and wide Loaded carbon rims.

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Getting up close and personal with Yeti’s Switch Infinity system.

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The ASRC cross-country race bike. Yeti claims that it descends as well as it climbs. This particular build features a mixed drivetrain: SRAM up front and Shimano Di2 in the rear.

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The SB4.5c is set to bring Switch Infinity to 29 inch wheels in a neat looking trail bike.

Pivot

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The Pivot Mach 429 features a 100mm DW-link suspension. A sag indictor allows riders to set the bike to their riding style (for a more XC or trail feel). Up front the Mach 429 is designed to carry a 120mm fork.

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The Mach 6 packs a punch with its 155mm DW-link suspension, slack and long geometry and Fox 36. It has the makings of a decent do-it-all enduro bike.

Specialized

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With a slacker head angle, shorter stays and a lower bottom bracket, the 2016 Specialized Camber promises to be a trail eater. It features the SWAT Door which allows you to stash your contraband (or tools) in the down tube.

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The Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie looks like a playful bike to ride with its 3″ 650b plus tyres.

Banshee and Transition

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One of the more vibrant stands at the fair was the Banshee and Transition corner.

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The brightness of this Bashee Darkside downhill was too much for our camera to handle.

Africa Cycle Fair Mountain Bikes-23.jpgThis Transition Patrol was one of the stand out bikes in the Best Bike of Africa competition.
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The Transition Scout has all the makings of a properly fun trail bike.

Giant

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This Giant Anthem X Advanced build is unique to South Africa. The bike retails for R74,000 and features Shimano’s XTR Di2 groupset, a Fox Factory 32 fork, and Mavic wheels. A sweet deal in that price range.

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The cheerful Giant Reign 27.5 2.

BMC

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The BMC Teamelite soft tail looked the part with it’s Micro Travel Technology (MTT) giving the bike 15mm of rear-end compliance.

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BMC Fourstroke 01, winner of the 2014 XCO World Champs under the guidance of Julien Absalon.

Momsen

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The Vipa Team Limited is Momsen’s new range topper. It comes kitted with SRAM Rise 60 carbon wheels, a XX1 drive train, and a RockShox RS1 fork.

Sunday

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Sunday BMXs look great and come with a lifetime warranty.

Cube

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Cube Stereo 140 Super HPC Race 27.5.

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The 2015 Cube 120 HPC PRO 29er (with a carbon front triangle) was one of the best bargains at the fair, retailing at R37,000. For this you get a RockShox Reba fork, Shimano XT groupset, Fulcrum wheels and a Reverb dropper post. There are still some sizes left. If you missed out, the local Cube distributor expects the 2016 model to come in just over R40,000.

Easy Motion and BH

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The Easy Motion Jumper Dual Sus MTB 27.5er e-bike. This machine might not appeal to most MTB enthusiasts but if Europe is anything to go by there’s a market out there.

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BH Lynx 4.8 29er.

Mercer

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As a rider of an uglier, less burley steel hardtail, I’m completely smitten with the Hungry Monkey. You won’t find any impartiality here, so moving along then.

Titan

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At the fair last year, fat bikes were all the rage. This year there were barely a handful on display. The Titan Whooper pictured above.

Cannondale

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The 2016 Cannondal Scalpel design remains the same as 2015. However, the paint schemes and components have seen a refresh for the new year.

Haibike

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The Haibike Sduro ebike was a surprise favourite of all the videos we produced from last year’s fair. It seems the Europeans are cottoning on to Bike Hub.

Swift

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The Swift Evil Twin standing proud at the Best Bike in Africa stand.

Merida

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The Merida Ninety-Six Team makes a return with an all-new design in 2016.

Pyga

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The Pyga team were swamped with interested in their bikes throughout the fair. Out back, the demo bikes saw countless laps of the St Stithians course. The Pyga Stage and Stage Max (pictured above) receiving much of the attention.

Comments

Odinson

Oct 27, 2015, 1:17 PM

Some gorgeous bikes on display there. 

 

"At the fair last year, fat bikes were all the rage. This year there were barely a handful on display." The fat bike trend fizzled out quicker than Vanilla Ice's music career. To all the guys who bought fat bikes last year and now want to flog them...

 

http://www.naoligo.com/kkk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ha-ha-nelson-Simpsons-nelson-ha-ha-93-p-672x480.jpg

Stevovo

Oct 27, 2015, 1:56 PM

Which one won the crown of "Best bike in Africa"?

Guest

Oct 27, 2015, 1:57 PM

who are the Pivot Importers/Distributors ?

Nick

Oct 27, 2015, 2:03 PM

Which one won the crown of "Best bike in Africa"?

 

We hear it will be announced on Friday. But will confirm once we get a definite answer.

 

who are the Pivot Importers/Distributors ?

 

Complete Cyclist.

Guest

Oct 27, 2015, 2:14 PM

thank you 

Yusufm_11

Oct 27, 2015, 3:36 PM

There's so much potential for the fair... Popped by there on Sunday afternoon and being a roadie, I found that majority of the products were MTB related. It could grow to huge heights if a lot of exibitors that we see at 94.7 or the argus expo join as well as other brands in the cycle industry but nonetheless it was really a good experience and vibe

nathrix

Oct 27, 2015, 3:55 PM

We hear it will be announced on Friday. But will confirm once we get a definite answer.

 

 

Complete Cyclist.

 

You guys should've snapped some pics of the bicycles parked at the bicycle park, there were some beauties parked there, especially on Sunday :drool:

raptor-22

Oct 27, 2015, 6:59 PM

can't say that the fatbike trend ending sooner rather than later wasn't unpredictable

EmptyB

Oct 27, 2015, 7:07 PM

Heard some talk at the cycle fair that fat bike sales have plummeted....I wouldn't know but I wouldn't be surprised either.

Fr33rider

Oct 27, 2015, 7:13 PM

I secretly lust after a fatbike [emoji85]

Spokey

Oct 27, 2015, 9:45 PM

And this plus size 650b....whatever it is..thoughts on that? just another fad? It is, however, not for me.

Odinson

Oct 27, 2015, 9:53 PM

And this plus size 650b....whatever it is..thoughts on that? just another fad? It is, however, not for me.

 

I think that 27.5+ and 29+ is more useful to more riders more of the time than fatbikes. However, time will tell what kind of consumer buy-in there will be in the medium and long term. 

Flippa

Oct 28, 2015, 3:54 AM

I think that 27.5+ and 29+ is more useful to more riders more of the time than fatbikes. However, time will tell what kind of consumer buy-in there will be in the medium and long term.

A year ago I was looking for a geared bike as a more "trail" oriented ride. Tried a few fat bikes, but couldn't get over how cumbersome they were. Traction is immense, but they are, for want of a better word, "lazy"?

 

I've been riding my 29+ Krampus for a year now, and it's brilliant. More grip than I'll ever need, but it rides like my other 29er in terms of getting up to speed, etc.

 

Much as it pains me to say it, I think 27+ will get much more traction[emoji1] in the market due to the buy in from bigger manufacturers like Spez, etc

amasendeinja

Oct 28, 2015, 5:57 AM

And this plus size 650b....whatever it is..thoughts on that? just another fad? It is, however, not for me.

I think 27.5+ may just be the sweet spot for lots of traction and not too much added weight. Particularly if bike brands start building in space enough to add them on standard 29" frames, which some already are. Gets you 2 bikes in one and pretty different rides on each with very little impact on head angle and BB height . 29+ is ok, but for any kind of trail riding the compromise of some pretty long chainstays to make space for those Tyres, makes for a bit of a lumbering hulk of a bike,

Flippa

Oct 28, 2015, 6:07 AM

I think 27.5+ may just be the sweet spot for lots of traction and not too much added weight. Particularly if bike brands start building in space enough to add them on standard 29" frames, which some already are. Gets you 2 bikes in one and pretty different rides on each with very little impact on head angle and BB height . 29+ is ok, but for any kind of trail riding the compromise of some pretty long chainstays to make space for those Tyres, makes for a bit of a lumbering hulk of a bike,

 

I also had the same initial thoughts about the 29+. However, my Krampus is a lot more nimble than its dimensions and look suggest.

worriesnot

Oct 28, 2015, 6:35 AM

Pyga really impressed me.

Was lekker to be able to chat to Pat Morewood about some of the/his bikes and also giving advice to a friend on which model to get. 

Pascoe now firmly in my sights. 

 

oh, and that Hungry Monkey is just an absolute thing of beauty...

BenGraham

Oct 28, 2015, 6:59 AM

I just watched this http://www.bikemag.com/gear/exclusive-yeti-launches-new-switch-infinity-suspension-platform/ and tried to understand what the heck they were on about. Eventually I realised that this is why I ride a hardtail. All this mumbo jumbo about small bump compliance and etc etc. I'll keep using my legs as my suspension thanks, they are much cheaper and as yet the maintenance costs have been quite low.

Beer4Recovery

Oct 28, 2015, 10:17 AM

What is the price on a new Yeti SB6 in SA??

NicoBoshoff

Oct 29, 2015, 4:56 AM

What is the price on a new Yeti SB6 in SA??

MOre than Zuma can pronounce.

MTB0007

Oct 30, 2015, 5:34 PM

I read the Fat Bike bashing with amusement

I rode one of the Fatties at the fair ON Sunday

Enjoyed it so much I came home and sold my road bike

And purchased a fatty

Not the El cheapo but a mid range Mongoose Argus

Added a FUNN Stem Seatpost and handle bars plus a sella italia saddle.. rides like a 4 x 4 29er .. love it

Bought her so I have one bike for all

I will never race after my accident in the Juma last year so this

Beast will keep me fit and having fun while I ride

KarlvN

Nov 2, 2015, 6:36 AM

Now, for the all important question?

 

Why is Cape Town excluded from all this fun, eh?

MTBeer

Nov 2, 2015, 7:33 AM

I just watched this http://www.bikemag.com/gear/exclusive-yeti-launches-new-switch-infinity-suspension-platform/ and tried to understand what the heck they were on about. Eventually I realised that this is why I ride a hardtail. All this mumbo jumbo about small bump compliance and etc etc. I'll keep using my legs as my suspension thanks, they are much cheaper and as yet the maintenance costs have been quite low.

I ride a dual sus and don't know what okes are on about half the time with suspension settings. I just get on and ride the bloody thing as fast as possible. I change the odd setting occasionally - can't feel any difference - so don't bother to do it again for many moons.

Carelpieterse

Nov 7, 2015, 8:18 PM

Some gorgeous bikes on display there.

 

"At the fair last year, fat bikes were all the rage. This year there were barely a handful on display." The fat bike trend fizzled out quicker than Vanilla Ice's music career. To all the guys who bought fat bikes last year and now want to flog them...

 

http://www.naoligo.com/kkk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ha-ha-nelson-Simpsons-nelson-ha-ha-93-p-672x480.jpg

Silverback can't keep up with fatbike orders for November and Desember ...........! For most people this would be the second bike and not the only bike........! Try one and you will know what I mean! Long live fatbikes!
MTB0007

Nov 29, 2015, 2:13 PM

FatBike my only bike ..

Makes riding a Blast again

No road bike no Mtb just a cool fun ride ..

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