First Ride: 2021 Propain Spindrift – 180mm of Travel & Lots of Options

Body Particulars

As talked about, the Spindrift is accessible with a full-carbon or aluminum body. The carbon model is constructed with their Mix Carbon course of, using completely different fibers and cloths of carbon for various areas of their frames relying on the requirement of stiffness, impression resistance, flexibility, weight, energy or stress course.

The aluminum model makes use of multiple kind of aluminum relying on the necessity, thereby dubbed Mix Alloy. Body elements like rockers and axles that must endure excessive stress use 7075 T6 aluminum. Their tubing options extra fatigue resistant 6066 T6 aluminum, whereas solid elements are made out of 6061 T6 aluminum.

Each aluminum and carbon can be found as a 29” model, a 27.5″ model, or as a mixed-wheel model (29″ entrance triangle and 27.5″ rear finish).

All their pivots are protected by Propain Dust-Shields, a second seal to additional defend the Acros bearings from the weather.

The rear disc brake attaches to a 180mm submit mount. A series protector with ribs and built-in softer materials on prime is in place to attenuate the noise from chain slap. The decrease down tube can also be protected by an additional layer. The rear finish options the 12 x 148mm Enhance normal. New is using SRAM’s standardized UDH derailleur hanger, one thing that may also be used on different Propain fashions sooner or later.

Cables are routed internally, however the routing close to the underside bracket has been adjusted, in comparison with the Tyee, and is now situated alongside the decrease hyperlink fairly than touring underneath the underside bracket.

Hooked up to the underside bracket are ISCG chainguide mounts, however with Propain’s twist. They slide an ISCG adapter onto a counter-piece of the CF’s aluminum backside bracket insert or respectively the AL’s backside bracket tube. If a bash guard is mounted, impression forces are unfold over a bigger space, defending the body. If the mounts do get broken they will simply get replaced.

Propain has examined their body past the required standardization values, and the Spindrift body is designated as much as class 5 use, so it is completely nice to take it to the bike park. You may even mount a twin crown fork up entrance, should you felt prefer it.

The 29″ carbon body in measurement L weighs 3,000g with out shock, the aluminum mannequin with out shock 3,900g. Shade choices for the CF are Carbon Uncooked, Moongrey Darkish and Lime. The AL is available in Uncooked, Venomblack and Petrol. Their body decals and even Badge colours are additionally customizable.

And sure, there’s room for a water bottle.

Geometry

The 27.5″ mannequin is accessible in measurement S, M and L. 29″ and the mixed-wheel bikes are available M, L and XL. In comparison with their earlier mannequin, attain has grown barely at 5mm for the scale M, 10mm on the L and 15mm on the XL body measurement. The Spindrift’s attain measurements nonetheless fall into the average class, with 450mm for M, 475mm for L and 500mm for the XL on the 29er and Combined model. 27.5″ involves 425mm for a measurement S, 450 for M and 475 for L.

One of many largest variations between 29″ and the 27.5″/Combined possibility is the change in chainstay size. 29″ makes use of 445mm stays, the 27.5″ and Combined rear finish a brief 435mm size.

The pinnacle angle is sitting at 64.5 levels with the 180mm journey fork, and at 64 levels with the accessible 190mm journey possibility for the RockShox ZEB. The efficient seat angle is angled at a progressive 78 levels. With that mixture, the horizontal prime tube size is as much as 25 mm shorter (apart from XL, which is identical as a result of longer attain), in comparison with the older mannequin – one thing to contemplate when selecting the correct measurement.

The Spindrift’s seat tube size is on the longer finish of the spectrum, which suggests shorter folks wanting to make use of a bigger body may not be capable of run longer journey dropper posts.

CF 29″

CF 27.5″

CF Combined

Suspension Design

The PRO10 suspension design relies round a digital pivot system with two counter-rotating hyperlinks, activating a floating shock from either side. With the brand new Spindrift, the linkage meeting has moved from behind the seat tube inside the principle triangle for higher safety.

The bike’s has a progressive leverage curve a gentle drop from starting to finish. Which means the Spindrift might be run with both a coil or air shock with out concern of bottoming out harshly.

The Spindrift makes use of a 230 x 65mm stroke shock, delivering a mean leverage ratio at 180mm of rear journey of two.77 : 1 and thereby decreasing the ratio from their older mannequin barely, since that was utilizing a shock with 60mm stroke.

Anti-squat on the beneficial 30-35% sag sits at round 120%, having been raised significantly from their earlier model, which was situated at 60%.

Specs

Propain provides many choices for his or her bike specs with their on-line configurator. Virtually all elements might be altered, beginning with one of many three in another way priced starter packages.

So far as the selection of suspension forks goes, you possibly can both decide between RockShox’ ZEB or Fox’s 38 burly single-crown fashions. For the rear shocks, you possibly can decide from air or coil fashions from each makers.

The most affordable model of the carbon Spindrift CF begins at €3,199, going all the way in which as much as €7,904 should you deck it out with goodies like Crankbrothers Synthesis Carbon wheels, AXS shifting and Fox Manufacturing facility suspension.

The aluminum Spindrift AL might be had from €2,599, going all the way in which to €7,304.

One among my medium sized check bikes with 29″ wheels, coil shock and a spec record much like the Efficiency package deal had a weight of 15.7kg (34.54lbs.) with out pedals. In response to Propain, the highest spec would convey the bike’s weight down to fifteen.1kg (33.22lbs.), which sounds about proper.

The Spindrift CF might be ordered from their web site starting September twenty eighth 2020, the aluminum bike from November 2020. By November 2020 the Spindrift may also be accessible in North America, with costs in {dollars} being introduced by then.

I really like bikes with a lot of journey which you can nonetheless pedal up the hill with out a lot trouble to then blast down on no matter path you discover. Whereas that might be mentioned for a lot of enduro bikes today, bridging the hole to a burly downhill machine continues to be as attractive to me because it’s ever been. As a matter of truth, I can nonetheless bear in mind the times after I lovingly known as my 180 mm journey bike with a single crown fork my cross-country experience, nearly 20 years in the past. We have come a great distance since then.

After having ridden the Tyee’s PRO10 suspension system, my expectations within the Spindrift’s capabilities had been excessive, and I wasn’t disenchanted. Propain has discovered a formulation that simply works for a variety of riders, and in case of the Spindrift particularly for aggressive pilots, because of a properly progressive suspension curve.

I arrange the air shock suspended rear finish on the beneficial sag of a bit over 30% (ending up at 32%) and by no means seemed again. That supplied sufficient plushness for plowing by means of roots and rocks, whereas conserving it from bottoming out at greater drops or exhausting landings. On the identical time, the suspension nonetheless supplies sufficient assist for the bike to stay playful sufficient to pop it off lips or different obstacles on the path with out it feeling like a waterbed on wheels.

Working a coil shock the following day, and working barely much less sag, nonetheless labored out nice, though I felt that the additional sag from the day earlier than did cater to the bike’s character effectively.

When it comes to dealing with, I used to be first assigned the 27.5″ measurement medium model, and to be sincere, I had a tough time getting used to that setup. Now, that is to not say that there was something improper with it design-wise, however the smaller wheels and agile dealing with of the bike was far off from what I used to be used to driving currently. It was a blast to throw from nook to nook and nimble within the air, I did not really feel snug pushing it previous a sure velocity, lacking the stabilizing impact of a much bigger entrance wheel and longer chainstays.

The second I jumped on the 29er after a couple of half day’s experience – additionally a measurement medium – my frown actually turned the wrong way up instantly. Secure at any velocity with a lot of cornering traction, I used to be capable of push more durable into corners and gained that further little bit of confidence that makes a superb day on the bike nice.

I used to be additionally extraordinarily blissful concerning the barely longer chainstays, balancing entrance and rear middle higher and placing my physique extra centered over the bike. You would be stunned how a lot these 10mm further in chainstay size can have an effect on the dealing with – for my part, in a constructive means. I used to be blown away myself how a lot of a distinction in dealing with the 2 variations supplied. I did attempt the mixed-wheel setup for a extremely quick stint, and whereas I felt rather more at residence than on the 27.5″ model with the additional stability the entrance finish supplied, I could not shake the sensation that the shorter chainstays would not make me blissful in the long term both.

Wheel measurement and geometry is a extremely immersive matter and with so many selections on the Spindrift it sparked lots of completely different discussions. Ultimately, I would say the one conclusion that’s secure to come back to is to experience no matter you’re feeling most snug on or that you’ve got probably the most enjoyable with.

For me, my favourite setup with the Spindrift CF was to run the 29″ body with longer chainstays for increased stability with a 27.5″ rear wheel, dropping the pinnacle angle to about 63.1 levels with the 190mm journey fork and decreasing the underside bracket to about 340mm (at the least that is what the squiggly measuring tape instructed me after I grabbed it to verify). I used to be capable of readjust the seat angle to its supposed measurement by sliding the seat ahead on its rails and I used to be standing in entrance of what I felt was a close to good setup for me. Not simply in idea, but in addition out on the path.

Glued to the bottom when cornering, including a bit extra responsiveness total, with the ability to push the smaller rear wheel into corners more durable with no tire buzzing my rear finish in steep sections both was simply what I used to be searching for. Sadly, my experiment shouldn’t be a setup that may be ordered from Propain’s in depth menu, however that does not imply that the Spindrift could not be run like that.

Possibly climbing shouldn’t be your first concern when contemplating a 180mm journey bike just like the Spindrift, however the little climbing we did confirmed the bike’s potential. It actually looks like a Tyee with extra journey and possibly a bit extra weight as a result of elements. My check bike with principally aluminum elements weighed about 16kg together with pedals and felt removed from sluggish or being a ache to pedal up the hill. The steep seat angle helps enormously, and should you really feel prefer it, you possibly can all the time activate the pedal platform lever on the shock to scale back bob.

I do not care if freeride ain’t lifeless or not. To me, the Spindrift CF represents a really versatile bike, constructed to excel within the gnar however nonetheless mild sufficient with good geometry to pedal to the highest. I am sure that there are fairly just a few folks on the market which are going to get pleasure from that concept.

For a extra detailed assessment, we have already got Propain’s new Spindrift CF in for an upcoming Area Take a look at – keep tuned for extra experience impressions, timed laps, and comparisons.