Airdrop Filter is a 27.5 lip-boosting backside-pumper

Don’t call it a comeback. Oh alright then, you can do. 27.5 is having a mini resurgence of late. Last week we had the Pivot Shadowcat. This week’s little wheeler is the Airdrop Filter.

Airdrop Filter deets

• 27.5in wheels!
• 6061 aluminium frameset
• 135mm rear travel (185x55mm trunnion mount)
• 150mm fork
• Air or coil shock friendly
• External routing
• Threaded BB
• CNC rear axle (Boost 148)
• Frames from: £1,149 (no shock)
• Complete bikes from: £3,099
• airdropbikes.com

The F-word makes its expected appearance in the description/explanation/excuse as to the existence of this 27.5in wheel bike. The F-word being Fun.

Airdrop: “The Filter is all about fun. Boosting lips, pumping backsides and slashing turns. The focus here is on agility and rider input. It’s a bike that’ll keep you on your toes and reward you for riding like your hair’s on fire.

“We took everything we’ve learned from four generations of Edit frames, stripped it right back and turned the fun dial up to 11.”

We’re not sure if the phrase pumping backsides is used ironically in a nudge-nudge wink-wink sense here but who cares?

We do like how it refers to the principal characteristic of smaller wheels; generating momentum from the exits of trail features (transitions, landings, rocks, roots, whatever).

Airdorp: “It’s aimed at riders who view the trail differently, seeking out doubles, high lines and insides on corners. Those who want a bike that gives back, pumps harder, boosts higher and changes direction quickly.

Not-so-obliquely referencing modern 29ers, Airdrop elaborate: “Yes we value stability, speed and grip. But we also accept we aren’t all riding the gnarliest, steepest terrain all the time. And we want our bikes to be easy to ride. If you feel at home on the bike you can push that little bit harder, be a bit more creative and just have fun with it. This means a balanced position on geometry; longish but not too long, lowish but not too low and slackish but not too slack.”

Incomplete builds

Frame only, £1,149

Frame & Cane Creek DBCoil IL, £1,399

Frame & RockShox Super Deluxe Air Ultimate, £1,449

Frame & RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate, £,1,449

Frame & EXT Storia Lok V3, £1,949

Airdrop Filter Luxe, £3,099

Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Select+
Fork: Rockshox Pike RC 150mm
Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle 1×12
Brakes: SRAM G2 RS
Dropper: OneUp v2 Dropper
Wheels: WTB Proterra Tough i30
Tyres: WTB Vigilante 2.4 High Grip / Fast Rolling
Bar & stem: Burgtec Ridewide / Enduro Mk3

Airdrop Filter Deluxe, £3,599

Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate 150mm
Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle 1×12
Brakes: SRAM G2 Ultimate
Dropper: Rockshox Reverb Stealth 1x
Wheels: WTB Proterra Tough i30
Tyres: WTB Vigilante 2.4 High Grip / Fast Rolling
Bar & stem: Burgtec Ridewide / Enduro Mk3

Airdrop Filter Works, £4,099

Shock: Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate
Fork: Rockshox Pike Ultimate 150mm
Drivertrain: SRAM X01 Eagle 1×12
Brakes: SRAM G2 Ultimate
Dropper: Rockshox Reverb Stealth 1x
Wheels: Hope Pro 4 / DT Swiss XM481 built in-house
Tyres: Michelin Wild AM Competition
Bar & stem: Burgtec Ridewide / Enduro Mk3

Preorders for the Filter start now. With orders expected to ship in 3-4 weeks.

While you’re here…

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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