Mountain Bike Dream Machines
Knolly Chilcotin 167 DP $7,000
The Chilcotin 167 DP is Knolly’s version of the modern enduro race bike. The aluminum frame returns the Chilcotin name to the B.C. brand’s lineup completely redesigned for its new purpose, with 29" wheels and geometry meant for speed. As always, you get Knolly’s proprietary Fourby4 suspension. The DP build kit is what you’d expect for a race-focused bike: a Rockshox zeb Ultimate RC2 fork with 170 mm of travel; Spank bar, stem, saddle and wheels; sram Code R brakes; a Rockshox Reverb Stealth dropper post; and a largely sram GX Eagle drivetrain. Every Knolly comes stock with high-end bearings and titanium fasteners for long life. ( knollybikes.com)
Canyon Spectral 29 LTD $8,149
Canyon is landing in Canada on a high note with the Spectral 29 ltd. The top-end ltd comes with a wish-list build of Shimano xtr drivetrain and brakes, Fox Factory suspension and DT Swiss’s 29" xmc 1200 Spline carbon-fibre wheelset. With a parts kit balancing between lightweight and allmountain toughness, and a supportive pedalling platform, the Spectral ltd climbs like a seasoned alpinist: fast and efficient. Feathery parts are always going to feel better going up, sure, but they also match the Spectral’s descending characteristics particularly well. With progressive suspension, the bike is quick to change directions and accelerate out of corners. Backed up by a smooth 160-mm Fox Factory 36 fork and 150-mm Fox Factory dpx2 shock, the Spectral isn’t just playful: it has you covered when the going gets rough, too. ( canyon.com/en-ca)
Structure SCW1 Janus Series $6,995
Structure has eschewed the traditional double-diamond frame shape in favour of an integrated linkage full-carbon frame. The Calgary-based brand says this design matches leverage ratios and progressiveness between the front and rear ends, delivers significantly less friction than a telescoping fork and provides a consistent head-tube angle. Parts spec is creative for a 150-mm-travel, 27.5" trail bike at this price point: largely sram Eagle GX drivetrain parts; Magura brakes; a Oneup dropper post, bar and stem; and twin dvo Topaz T3air shocks. There’s a limited production run for 2021, so order early if you want a scw1. ( structure.bike)
Pivot Switchblade Pro $9,800
The latest iteration of the Pivot Switchblade gets a number of tweaks: 7 mm more rear travel, a seat-tube angle that’s steeper by 1 degree (75.5 degrees) and a head-tube angle that’s 1.25 degrees slacker (66 degrees). The Dw-link and rear shock have been reconfigured as well, the latter now running vertically. This model comes with sram X01 Eagle shifter, rear derailleur and crankset; a Fox Factory 36 fork with 160 mm of travel; a Fox Factory Float dpx2 rear shock; and a Fox Factory Transfer dropper post. The only real carry-over is the ability to run either 29" or 27.5" wheels. ( ontheedge.ca)
Norco Revolver FS 120 $12,499
The Revolver FS 120 is Norco’s spareno-expense cross country race weapon. The full-carbon frame and 120-mm Rockshox sid Ultimate fork are a given. What sets this bike apart is the sram Eagle axs wireless shifter and rear derailleur. The rest of the drivetrain is equally posh: XX1 Eagle crankset, an XG-1299 Eagle rainbow cassette, and XX1 rainbow chain. Brakes are sram G2 rsc with 180-mm front rotor and a 160-mm at the back, mounted on 29" DT Swiss xrc 1501 Spline carbon wheels. The last piece of bling is the Rockshox Reverb axs wireless dropper post. Absolute decadence, for sure, but a very nice add-on. ( norco.com)
Specialized S-works Stumpjumper EVO $14,999
The Stumpjumper name may be 40 years old, but the S-works Stumpjumper evo is a totally modern piece of bicycle engineering. You can adjust the bottom bracket height by 10 mm and head-tube angle by two degrees – independently. You can also run a 29"/27.5" wheel combo on the new Stumpy. Specialized has boosted the in-frame storage capacity, so there’s now room for a swat Bladder with 650 ml of water storage. If you’re not already sold, this premium bike comes with a sram XX1 Eagle axs wireless drivetrain, Reverb dropper post and Roval Traverse SL carbon wheels. ( specialized.com/ca)—sk