Just wondering if anybody's got their new 725 PA yet?
I've pretty much decided on getting one to complement my Cotic Simple, but I'd like to see some photographs of the frames out in the wild (or even better, built up with reviews) before I buy one!
They're available for £235 instead of the usual £280 until the end of this month.
Oh, and Orange or Green? 😛
People only started receiving them this week, so maybe some will be built up in time for a good thrashing this weekend.
Visually, there's very little difference between the previous 520 version and the new 725 version.
My frame arrived this week - green, very 😀
Not yet built, but bits are on their way, pics as soon as......
picked mine up yesterday, built it up and was out on the trails this morning:
frame only with one of my Mk1 frames
using the wife's kitchen scales to check the weight 😉
finished the build in my garage last night around 11pm
in the woods this morning
and on the trails
Brilliant! How does it feel in comparison to the Mk1?
[b]MTB-Idle[/b], Intrigued if you notice a difference too as I'm still riding a Mk1. Do you know the weight of the Mk1?
Do a search on here...mate of mine JPCapel has a proto frame and posted a few thoughts vs Mk1 a month or so ago.
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/prince-albert-reynolds-725-vs-853 for those interested.
Can't recall the weight of the Mk1 but it's in the garage. I will weigh it some time and post back here.
As for the ride, I know the changes Mike has made but not sure I'm a good enough rider to actually notice the difference. suffice to say the Mk 1 has been a firm favourite since i bought it six years ago and it was still my regular ride up to last weekend.
I swapped all the gear over from the Mk1 to the 725 and it rides really well. Compliant in the way that you expect steel to be but difficult on the basis of one ride to judge whether one frame is better than the other. will need to ride it more over the coming weeks to really get to know it.
However I definitely had that 'new bike' feeling and it was good!
For the record the changes between the Mk1 and the 725 are:
- Reynolds 725 heat treated tubing (stronger than 520 resulting in a lighter frame)
- Smaller diameter top tube (more compliant ride)
- 1 degree steeper seat tube (improves climbing)
- 73mm BB shell (for slightly better tyre clearance)
- back end is same as previous Prince Albert but lighter than the MK1
- Plates to bridge stays instead of tubes (slightly lighter)
- CEN compliant
6 years! How time flies!!





