[KRob]

I'm super intrigued by this new long front/short rear/low/slack trail 29er category that the Following, Canfield Riot, and now the Ripley LS (and to a lesser extent the Process 111 and Pivot 429Trail) are occupying. I think Noel has said in the past that he has no intention of building a 29er..... but it's gotta be hard to ignore the buzz around this genre.

Any thoughts? I know my Interbike/Outerbike dance card will be filled with 29ers this year.

 

[mrniceguy42]

A knolly 29er would be one of my first picks. I loved my chili until I rode a 29er for the first time. I went from a fully built, avy-ed chili to a $700 used giant trance 29er, for wheelsize alone.

Personally, I hope what is taking so long to get the endorphins out for release is the making of a new 29er.

 

[DirtMerchantBicycles]

Sign me up! I've really been enjoying my Banshee Phantom. I'll admit that I was previously a wagon wheel hater.

Climbing with 29" wheels and Knolly's 4x4 suspension would be unstoppable.

 

[RideEverything]

I would LOVE it if Knolly made an aggressive 29er!

 

[archie]

I thought 27.5 killed both the 26 and the 29 wheel sizes. Just like video killed the radio star...

 

[Muttonchops]

Add the Trek Remedy 29'er to that list. I recently rode with a local rider on the Shore...and was blown away by how smooth and fast he was on his Remedy. Also hucked some pretty big drops. He was complaining a bit about flexy wheels and tight corners and things...but I was breathing too heavily and shaking my arms loose to tell him to stfu.

 

[bubba13]

Yes PLEASE! My Warden needs a proper stablemate. I have looked hard at all of the bikes mentioned above. If I had to choose right now it would be the Canfield Riot due to it's geometry and aluminium frame. My main reservation is there could be more overlap between the Riot and Warden than I would like.

Here in Oregon we have a good mix of terrain throughout the state. About half of our trails are moderate and beg for a fast short travel bike that can hold good momentum. I am sure the new Endorphin would be great on these trails, but I want that extra momentum that a 27.5 just can't match. It would be nice to have clearances for 2.4 29 and 27.5+ option built into the frame.

There is so much I like about the Warden, it is hard not to imagine it's DNA infused into a short travel 29er. If there is no way this is going to materialize, please let us know.

 

[KRob]

Add the Trek Remedy 29'er to that list. I recently rode with a local rider on the Shore...and was blown away by how smooth and fast he was on his Remedy. Also hucked some pretty big drops. He was complaining a bit about flexy wheels and tight corners and things...but I was breathing too heavily and shaking my arms loose to tell him to stfu.

Yes! It's a little longer travel/AM (like the Riot) but I rode the Remedy 29 at the Sedona MTB Festival and was really impressed. Climbed very well. Tires stayed glued to the ground (even on small jumps... didn't feel real "poppy"). Plush. Didn't feel awkward or 29ery in corners and absolutely steamrolled the chunk.

Banshee Prime is another one.... although it did feel a little long and more awkward in tight spaces, it had most all the same qualities of some of the other new school 29ers.

Impressive bike. The Boost 148 and Re' Activ shock seem to be the real deal.

 

[KRob]

Yes PLEASE! My Warden needs a proper stablemate. I have looked hard at all of the bikes mentioned above. If I had to choose right now it would be the Canfield Riot due to it's geometry and aluminium frame. My main reservation is there could be more overlap between the Riot and Warden than I would like.

Here in Oregon we have a good mix of terrain throughout the state. About half of our trails are moderate and beg for a fast short travel bike that can hold good momentum. I am sure the new Endorphin would be great on these trails, but I want that extra momentum that a 27.5 just can't match. It would be nice to have clearances for 2.4 29 and 27.5+ option built into the frame.

There is so much I like about the Warden, it is hard not to imagine it's DNA infused into a short travel 29er. If there is no way this is going to materialize, please let us know.

I think the Riot (much like the Remedy 29) will occupy the same space as the Warden for the most part. To complement the Warden I would go with the Mach 429 Trail or Ripley LS.

 

[Oppet]

I think the Riot (much like the Remedy 29) will occupy the same space as the Warden for the most part. To complement the Warden I would go with the Mach 429 Trail or Ripley LS.

Thats the way I will be going.
Also I will test Process 111
And wait for other 2016 models to come(Knolly?)

 

[islander]

I thought 27.5 killed both the 26 and the 29 wheel sizes. Just like video killed the radio star...

Ok, I know this was said in jest (in part), but for a minute or 2 I want to poll this thread's readers. Is the 429Trail, Evil Following, Riot, and new RipleyLS, all pointing to a loud message that 27.5" isn't pushing 29ers out of the picture any time soon?

I mean, these companies, like Knolly, don't have gobs of $ to waist on designs for dead-end platforms. Last year, there was much hand-ringing on the future or 29. Can we put this uncertainty to rest? I read KRob getting pumped about outerbike's 29er offering, and see it as yet another signal that 29er are still generating buzz and consumer spending.

This is a good thing IMO, despite more sku's for the lbs to stock. With lesser fickleness, a guy like Noel could build a 29er w/o fear of havin the next Betamax...

 

[knollybikes.com]

I'm replying to this thread with the fear that my reply will kill the thread as it seems to often do (i.e. the "santa thread" from a few weeks past). I'm just one guy, so debate away regardless if I reply or not - ha!

Re: 29er: I think this would make a ton of sense for Knolly and we can absolutely do it "the Knolly way", no doubt about it. Obviously, it would fit in as a lighter duty bike below the upcoming Endorphin in travel / application. Timeline would be a while because - as I mentioned a week or so ago - while we've been very quiet lately, we're actually smoking busy with new products right now. There is a lot going on, but again, first things first, and that's getting Endorphins into the market...

Cheers,

 

[KRob]

I'm replying to this thread with the fear that my reply will kill the thread as it seems to often do (i.e. the "santa thread" from a few weeks past). I'm just one guy, so debate away regardless if I reply or not - ha!

Re: 29er: I think this would make a ton of sense for Knolly and we can absolutely do it "the Knolly way", no doubt about it. Obviously, it would fit in as a lighter duty bike below the upcoming Endorphin in travel / application. Timeline would be a while because - as I mentioned a week or so ago - while we've been very quiet lately, we're actually smoking busy with new products right now. There is a lot going on, but again, first things first, and that's getting Endorphins into the market...

Cheers,

Thanks for responding Noel! And thanks for opening the door a crack. Now that we know it's a possibility, we can continue to debate what form it should take. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts. ("Just one guy".... ha, ha. That's funny)

I believe it should be 115-125mm travel designed around a 120-130mm fork, but approved for 140mm fork. It should be reasonably slack but not crazy. Say 67-68 degrees with long reach and short chainstays (Is 17.0" doable with the Fourx4 linkage?). It should have ample tire clearance for 3.0-3.5" 27+ tires. Frame weight should be around 6lbs in alloy and 5.5 lbs in carbon.

In the mean time, yes, keep that Endorphin coming. Can't wait!

 

[knollybikes.com]

Ha ha - frame design by consensus!
The reality is that we're very much aware of this emerging trend for fun xc / trail 29ers and this would fit nicely into the Knolly linage: frames like this are perfect for BC Bike race and similar events, while still being usable for a wide variety of trails.

Re: chainstay length: because Knolly frame designs don't have "mini links" between the rear swingarm and the front triangle, we can achieve among the shortest chainstay lengths possible as there is very little interfering with the tire and chainstay pivot. At a certain point, chainstays can be "too short" especially for bikes that do need to have very good climbing characteristics, so there is a balance to be struck for sure; but it's all possible.

 

[slider_phil]

Exciting stuff! I've recently built up an Evil Following and I haven't had a chance to give it a proper shake down but from the trails I've ridden I'm in love. I've got a 26" endorphin here at home which is the wife's bike so it's a bit small for me, but I have ridden it and there is a pretty big difference in feel for Knolly to justify putting a slack short travel 29er under the Endorphin.

I'd certainly be interested, especially if you can avoid the issues with the STA that Evil and Canfield have to contend with to keep the chain stays short.

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

 

[Apache1]

27.5 able to accept 3" tires, mid travel would be better

 

[mtndude23]

Personally, I've been waiting to see if knolly brings out a 29er, I've been drooling over the Lenz Lunchbox and the Specialized enduro. I'd really like to see/buy something in the 140-150 range.

 

[KRob]

Personally, I've been waiting to see if knolly brings out a 29er, I've been drooling over the Lenz Lunchbox and the Specialized enduro. I'd really like to see/buy something in the 140-150 range.

Hmm. Maybe you're right. A 29er Chilcotin replacement more in line with the Riot might be awesome. 140-150mm travel; 67.5- 66.5 degree adjustable HA; 13.3" BB height; 16.9"-17.3" adjustable CS length; 74.5 degree effective STA. Clearance for 29+ tires; 160 fork. Boo Yah!

What do others think?

 

[Colin+M]

Exciting stuff! I've recently built up an Evil Following and I haven't had a chance to give it a proper shake down but from the trails I've ridden I'm in love. I've got a 26" endorphin here at home which is the wife's bike so it's a bit small for me, but I have ridden it and there is a pretty big difference in feel for Knolly to justify putting a slack short travel 29er under the Endorphin.

I'd certainly be interested, especially if you can avoid the issues with the STA that Evil and Canfield have to contend with to keep the chain stays short.

Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

The Riot is similar in seat angle compared to the Warden. The Following is much slacker at 72.7 degrees. Not really an apples to apples comparison.

The Riot I think has the best 29er geometry on paper regardless of frame material. I personally prefer a steeper seat angle to help keep the front wheel planted on a slacker head angled bike.

 

[Colin+M]

Personally, I've been waiting to see if knolly brings out a 29er, I've been drooling over the Lenz Lunchbox and the Specialized enduro. I'd really like to see/buy something in the 140-150 range.

You need a Canfield Riot...that is until Knolly rolls one out