Corebike2016 Part 2

Some more morsels of gloriousness from last week’s 2016 Core bike show:

Ghost

Perhaps Ghost haven’t had the same exposure in the UK as certain other continental brands recently – could this be the year that all changes? There’s certainly some lovely-looking kit in the offing:

160mm of travel for the FRAMR Enduro machine. Pikes at 160mm, XX1, Guide RS brakes. And it looks the business. That subtle curve in the top tube up to the head tube is pretty. This one (carbon, natch) goes for £4,599.99. This and the SLAMR (and the SLAMR X, below) share the same main frame; mounts and shock lengths alter the travel available. Intriguing…

Here’s the SLAMR X. Similar deal, but with 145mm rear travel and a 150mm fork up front. Yum.

The SLAMR (not pictured) has 130mm of travel. We like the idea of a 130mm bike you can potentially boost to 160mm by swapping out the shock and mounts.On something more of a hardtail tip, here’s the Asket 5 LC. Fox 34 130mm fork, 1x 11 XT drivetrain,  XT brakes. Looks ace. £2099.99.And to fully XC up proceedings, here.s the Lector 6 LC. fox Float 32 in 100mm flavour, XT 1×11, XT brakes, and a full-on nose-to-the-front-wheel aspect to proceedings. Looks fast as ‘owt. Not sure about that saddle angle, mind. £2,099.99

More info from Ghost

Lapierre

We covered the Lapierre Zesty XM and AMs when they were launched, but this is the first time we’ve seen them on UK soil, including the aluminium models.

Here’s the Raid +. It’s not 27.5+ or anything; just a slight upgrade on the Raid. RockShox 32 fork, Deore and SLX drivetrain. A tidy looking bu1dget bouncer. £1,049.99
The Zesty XM427 comes in this frankly lovely yellow and black paintjob. we’d show a pic of the whole bike, but our camera was misbehaving. You’ll have to be content with this snapshot. £2,499And here’s the Lapierre Zesty 327 XM. All the Aluminium bikes have the same geometry as the carbon numbers, and 27.5in wheels. Booyah! £2,249.99

For more information on Lapierres, see their website

Kona

Not much change for the Processes, you might think – but you’d be wrong. They’ve been substantially lightened with a lighter seat-tube, seat tube gusset (ooer) and chainstay. Lighter back end means theoretically more responsive suspension, and more manoeuvrability. £3,500.

Here’s the 153. Bold New Graphics too – but it’s still a sweet looking bike. £2,999
The Precept is a pretty neat idea. It takes ideas from the Process and the Operator – 120mm all the way up to 200mm of travel in an affordable package (this one is the 150mm bike). RockShox Sektor fork (150mm), Monarch RL shock, £1899.We covered the HeiHei when it launched – but it’s a very tidy looking beastie. This one is the DL Trail. The same racey frame as the Hei Hel – er – Race,  you get a Fox 34 120mm fork and a more trail-able component package. Looks ace. Price TBC.I do like the Honzo Al. Named after a nicotine addicted, alcoholic monkey, his name was accidentally entered into Google when in fact Kona folk were trying to spellHattori Hanzo. It’s an updated version of a previous model – but it’s quite the update. The old frame was a porky steel number; this one is aluminium. It’s loads lighter. In fact, it’s essentially a Process 111 without the suspension – a Process 000, if you like. Same front-centre, same reach. Short back end. Looks like fun. £1,799.

There’s a lower spec one too, for £1,199.

And then, there’s the Ti version. Oh, yeah. Same angles, same ripper 29er attitude, but made in Ti. Want. Hard. £TBC

Want more info? Click here.

Vaaru

and speaking of Ti loveliness, these hardtails from Vaaru caught our eye…

The 650 Switch is designed less for racing and more for singletrack shredding. 69degree head angle, long top tube, short chainstays, room for a dropper post and it’ll run forks up to 140mm. Plus it looks lovely (I’m a sucker for a nice Ti frame, I really am). £1,699 frame only.
Cute welds.The Switch is made from 3Al/2.5V Titanium, which is more compliant, and ‘whippier’ than the 6/4 stuff, which is harder, tougher to extrude and machine, and makes for a harsher ride.Lovely machined head-tube, with engraved bits.  One by? But of course, sir.They also do somewhat more racey ones: this one is the V:29. Rarrr. £1699 too.

More info from Vaaru.

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

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