STEEL IS REAL...
And so is carbon-fibre, on Production Privée’s latest material-melding trail bike
Most brands like to pick a material for a new bike, then stick with it. And until now, Andorra-based Production Privée was one of those brands, happily making hardtails and a full-suspension bikes from MCS 4130 heat-treated steel. The new Shan 5 changes that; it keeps the steel-framed front triangle and swaps in a carbon rear end, the idea being to save weight and increase stiffness.
“The Shan was already a good bike, but we wanted to reach a good ratio in terms of mechanical performance and excess weight,” explains Damien Nosella. “We chose carbon composites for the swingarm and dropped the weight to 840g from 1.6kg.”
A lighter back end with less sprung mass makes for better dynamic suspension behaviour and an increase in actuation of the bike, Damien says. “It’s even more versatile, it pedals better, and descends better,” he says.
That back end is stiffer than the old steel version then, Damien says, which accounts for the better actuation.
But overall the bike has remained roughly the same, or “6% more flexible axle to axle”.
The Shan 5 is an interesting bike then, built by a bike company doing things a little differently. Mixing carbon and steel or carbon and titanium isn’t unheard of, but it’s usually the reserve of artisanal companies producing a few handfuls of bikes a year. Not big brands like Forestal Group, which owns PP.
“There is absolutely no judgement there, it’s totally valid,” Damien says about small brands building everything in house. “For the size of our brand we need to reach a reasonable amount of volume of frames. But we need to be able to manufacture that, we invest in technology but also rely on the know-how of our team.”
The Shan 5’s steel front triangle is built to the kind of tolerances reserved for carbon bikes, because of course it has to accommodate the rear end without misaligning. Adding carbon to steel does something interesting to the performance of the bike and demonstrates just why steel is so important to PP, Damien explains. “When you bottom-out the bike, the down tube is flexing because the shock is pushing right into it,” he says. “But that flex will actually increase the travel by 10mm.”
This is why steel is the material of choice for PP, its softer ride characteristics and comfort are ideal for Andorra. Indeed, Damien’s ethos is that he’d rather design bikes for feel than for ultimate stiffness or weight saving.
“We tend to ride natural trails, and of course you need good suspension and