BARNOLDSWICK’S BEST ARE BACK!
UK master builders Hope have released their HB.130 trail bike – here are ive reasons to be excited…
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The geometry is improved Our main complaint with Hope’s debut bike – the 160mm-travel, 650b-wheeled HB.160 – was its somewhat conservative sizing. This new 130mm-travel, 29in-wheeled trail ripper overcomes these issues with aplomb, with longer reach measurements (up to 495mm on the XL size) and low seat tube heights across the range that allow riders to upsize for even more length. A linkage flip-chip lets you transform the HB.130 from a long-distance mile-muncher into a gravity-loving hard descender, with a 66-degree head angle and 39.5mm of bottom bracket drop in the ‘low’ setting.
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But it’s still true to form While the HB.130 is slimmer and sleeker than its predecessor, the improved frame’s construction is very similar. The front triangle is comprised of three different carbon weaves to create a chassis that’s both strong and beautiful. Out back, the stays are aluminium and serve as a reminder of Hope’s mastery with the stuff. The chainstays are fully CNC-machined, while the seatstays use a machined yoke and dropouts, which are then bonded to extruded sections. The four-bar Horst link suspension platform has only been minorly tweaked to improve pedalling efficiency.
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New standards, but not just for the sake of it The HB.130 uses several proprietary components, most notably a rear hub that’s just 130mm wide (rather than the more common 142 or 148mm) for improved foot and obstacle clearance, and because Hope reckon symmetrical dishing makes for a stronger wheel. The brand include their own Pro 4 hubs with both framesets and complete bikes, with a beefy 17mm rear axle that should offset any reduction in stiffness. A 46mm BB shell is another unusual feature, but the cups come pre-installed in the frame and it uses standardsized bearings. There’s also a neat integrated chain guide, internal cable routing and – a welcome addition over the HB.160 – bottle mounts.
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Quality without compromise
Nothing’s changed about Hope’s ethos of manufacturing all they can in-house. From the machining of the moulds to the laying-up of the carbon fibre, it’s all done at their Lancashire HQ, and the own-brand parts they use on the complete build (wheels, brakes, bar, stem and grips) are made there too. Hope are so confident in the HB.130 that they’re offering the bike with a lifetime warranty and bearing replacement bundled in.
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Lancashire hotchpotch Customisation comes as standard on the HB.130. Colour choice may be limited to plain carbon, but buyers can select from up to seven different hues for the anodised parts. Factory-level Fox suspension (a 36 fork paired with a DPX2 shock) comes as standard, or you can swap to Öhlins units with no increase in price. Included in the standard spec is more scope for fine-tuning, with options for different rim widths, brake rotor sizes and stem lengths. Spend a bit more and you can add SRAM AXS wireless shifting and Santa Cruz Reserve carbon wheels to an already boutique ride.