SUPERBIKE SEMENUK’S TREK SESSION PARK
A Red Bull Rampage-winning one-off with some unique features
Brandon Semenuk is always inventing new ways to win Red Bull Rampage. This year, the Canadian freeride colossus didn’t just work on his tricks and his line, but his bike set-up, too. With help from some industry heavyweights, his mechanic Sean Murphy transformed Brandon’s extra-large Trek Session DH bike into the unique machine seen here, with its single-crown fork, ‘mullet’ wheel set-up and barspin-friendly cockpit. And it paid off, with Semenuk taking his fourth win.
Sean has been wrenching Brandon’s bikes for six years, in between shifts at Fluid Function bike shop in Squamish, BC, so he knows just how the Red Bull rider likes things set up. The aim with this year’s Rampage rig was to build a versatile bike that could take the hits but, unlike a full-on DH sled, would also make tricks such as tailwhips possible. Trek’s Session normally has 650b or 29in wheels at both ends, but Semenuk opted for a 26in wheel at the rear, to allow faster rotation, paired with a 650b up front, both made by Industry Nine.
The bike doesn’t have a BMX-style gyro to allow barspins. Instead, Sean was able to remove gear cables from the equation by fitting a SRAM AXS wireless drivetrain. Not just the standard XX1, X01 or GX set-up, but a BlackBox version (the brand’s elite development programme, reserved for their top riders). The mechanic left the rear brake line long enough to allow two full bar rotations, and ran the front hose through the fork steerer and headset top cap, using RockShox’s Turncoat system.
All of that would be no use with a dualcrown downhill fork in place, with its upper clamp limiting steering lock, so Brandon opted for a burly RockShox ZEB Ultimate single-crown instead, with 190mm of travel
and 38mm stanchions. Out back, this is paired with an air-sprung RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH shock. You’re not going to be changing gear much on a freeride run, so Semenuk uses a seven-speed SRAM X01 DH cassette, matched with an XX1 Eagle AXS BlackBox short-cage mech. He runs 165mm crank arms on his SRAM X01 DH crankset, which also features a custom crank damper.
Stopping this trick missile are some previous-generation SRAM Code RSC brakes with the new 200mm HS2 rotors. Interestingly, Brandon runs an EXO-casing Maxxis Assegai front tyre, with a beefier DH carcass on the rear Minion DHR II to keep him rolling through the rough. Chromag’s Synth pedals and Overture saddle keep him planted on the bike. The Canadian brand take care of steering too, with their OSX bar, Clutch grips and Ranger V2 stem. Semenuk travels with two complete bikes with the same build, just in case something goes wrong in practice or during the event.
After a record four wins, what’s left for Brandon and his sponsors? “He’s very motivated and is constantly pushing the boundaries. Whether it’s on two wheels or four, if he puts his mind to it, he can win anything,” says Sean. Add a riding style like a knife cutting through butter, and we can’t wait to see what Semenuk pulls out of the bag next.