Carbon Wasp Truffle Review: All the Speed

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The Truffle is Carbon Wasp’s first foray in to a full production MTB frame. Designed, made and tested entirely in and around Leeds, is this homegrown newcomer the highly prized item born from humble dirt like its namesake?

  • Price: £2800 with Cane Creek DB Air shock, £2400 frame only
  • From: Carbon Wasp

Three things I loved

  • All the speed!
  • Yorkshire designed and made for a competitive price.
  • Enough of everything you need in a trail bike.

Three things I’d change

  • A bit more tyre clearance would allow more tyre & rim options.
  • Finish needs improving for production models.
  • A little more dropper room would be useful.

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Geometry for our size L test bike:

  • Head angle // 65.5°
  • Effective seat angle // 76°
  • Seat tube length // 460mm
  • Chainstay // 440mm
  • Wheelbase // 1,227mm
  • BB height // 33mm BB drop
  • Reach // 480mm

While you’re here…

https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/internet-rummagings-queens-english-edition/
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/atherton-am-150-1-first-ride-review/

Review Info

Brand: Carbon Wasp
Product: Truffle
From: Carbon Wasp
Price: £2800 with Cane Creek DB Air shock, £2400 frame only
Tested: by Tom Howard for

Home › Forums › Carbon Wasp Truffle Review: All the Speed

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Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)
  • Carbon Wasp Truffle Review: All the Speed
  • survivor
    Full Member

    Rear clearance comement seems harsh.

    It’s clearly not a bike you’d put minions on.

    Posted 2 years ago
    finbar
    Free Member

    I can’t get over the name. It sounds like directions on that silly app we can’t decide if the emergency services like or not.

    Posted 2 years ago
    tomhoward
    Full Member

    It’s clearly not a bike you’d put minions on.

    2.4 Ardents would be pretty tight too. New swingarms are currently being tested though.

    Posted 2 years ago
    arrpee
    Free Member

    Carbon Wasp Truffle is the name of my new jazz fusion ensemble.

    Posted 2 years ago
    mashr
    Full Member

    I was absolutely not expecting a company called “Carbon Wasp” to be from Leeds

    Posted 2 years ago
    ouzel
    Full Member

    Sounds similar to a Canyon Spectral 125. That’s a category 4 bike. Is the Wasp lower in category, so lighter etc ?

    Posted 2 years ago
    dangeourbrain
    Free Member

    That’s a category 4 bike

    A what now?

    Posted 2 years ago
    torchtaylor
    Full Member

    Bikes have Category’s, I learned about this last week somehow – ASTM F2043-13 Standard Classification for Bicycle Usage ASTM

    Cat 1 – This is a set of conditions for the operation of a bicycle on a regular paved surface where the tires are intended to maintain ground contact.

    Cat 2 – This is a set of conditions for the operation of a bicycle that includes Condition 1 as well as unpaved and gravel roads and trails with moderate grades. In this set of conditions, contact with irregular terrain and loss of tire contact with the ground may occur. Drops are intended to be limited to 15cm (6″) or less.

    Cat 3 – This is a set of conditions for operation of a bicycle that includes Condition 1 and Condition 2 as well as rough trails, rough unpaved roads, and rough terrain and unimproved trails that require technical skills. Jumps and drops are intended to be less than 61cm (24″).

    Cat 4 – This is a set of conditions for operation of a bicycle that includes Conditions 1, 2, and 3, or downhill grades on rough trails at speeds less than 40 km/h (25 mph), or both. Jumps are intended to be less than 122cm (48″).

    Cat 5 – This is a set of conditions for operation of a bicycle that includes Conditions 1, 2, 3, and 4; extreme jumping; or downhill grades on rough trails at speeds in excess of 40 km/h (25 mph); or a combination thereof.

    Posted 2 years ago
    mrchrist
    Full Member

    Yes! New standards.

    I think i am a cat 4 biker then…

    Posted 2 years ago
    tomhoward
    Full Member

    I mean, I rode it faster than 25mph down rocky fire roads, and I’ve seen Mr. Carbon Wasp hit 5 foot+ high drops on it, soo…

    IME those categories serve more for warranty purposes than an actual description of what a bike is capable of.

    Posted 2 years ago
    preda0
    Free Member

    Anyone got a chance to ride the truffle?

    Posted 2 years ago
    survivor
    Full Member

    I couldn’t resist and ordered one.

    I’m hoping to have it by the weekend/early next week so watch this space!

    Posted 2 years ago
    tthew
    Full Member

    It sounds like directions on that silly app we can’t decide if the emergency services like or not.

    Heh, it actually is a place. Middle of nowhere, east of Bogota, Columbia. 😁

    https://w3w.co/carbon.wasp.truffle

    Posted 2 years ago
    Northwind
    Full Member

    survivor
    Full Member

    Rear clearance comement seems harsh.

    It’s clearly not a bike you’d put minions on

    I would. And besides, fast tyres come in wide too. Looks a brilliant bike to me and Carbon Wasp are awesome but, it’d probably put me off buying one if I was in the market.

    Posted 2 years ago
    ayjaydoubleyou
    Full Member

    Does anyone actually have one of these yet?

    @survivor     or anyone else?

    Do the production ones have the promised:
    38t chainring clearance
    bigger tyre clearance
    Improfed fit and finish of the storage door?

    Posted 1 year ago
    preda0
    Free Member

    Hello
    I’m still waiting my frame to be painted
    Ordered in august/september
    It took a while because of the modification of the swingarm
    I hope to receive the frame as soon as possible

    Posted 1 year ago
    Onzadog
    Free Member

    Just looking here as a recent thread elsewhere on this forum has me looking at this as an alternative to the Spur. Chainring clearance isn’t an issue but that tyre clearance comment would bother me. My fast tyres are ardents which actually take up more room on a 30mm rim that a 2.4″ WT DHRII.

    Plus, being a UK bike, a bit of mud clearance would be nice.

    Posted 1 year ago
    MrSparkle
    Full Member

    Ride the Truffle was a song by Spinal Tap.

    Or if it wasn’t it should have been.

    Posted 1 year ago
    survivor
    Full Member

    I cancelled due to the delay. I’d already been waiting for a spur for 18 months so was itching to ride something.

    They were cool about it and the revised back end sounded like it was going to cure the issues raised in the review.

    Lovely looking thing in the flesh.

    I’d consider it again next time I’m due a change.

    Posted 1 year ago
Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)

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