February 08, 2011

Rawland Strikes Back!

I absolutely failed to bring the Drakkar to the spotlight at 650BPalace, so I REALLY didn't want to pass up Rawlands redesigned Sogn. Dubbed the "rSogn."
This time around the rSogn is still geared specific, offers a pump peg, f&r rack ready and rim brake only. It has a lighter gauge steel tube set, TIG welded main frame, stainless steel dropouts, added headtube rings and the good ol' Rawland Bi-plane fork. The headtube has been modified, whereas previous models the headtube extended high over the toptube joint. The rSogn will be offered in 5 sizes, C-C being 43cm, 51, 53, 55, 57, all will be 650B specific. Ready for road duties with Pacenti's Pari-Moto and will easily accept the 2.3" Neo-Moto.
The rSogn hasn't yet landed, and is still in PRE-ORDER mode, but expect to see it soon. Retail is currently $625.







February 06, 2011

White Bros Loop 650B fork.


White Brothers no longer have the profile they once did in the mountain bike suspension fork market, with RockShox, Fox and Marzocchi having a virtual stranglehold on aftermarket sales. But if first impressions of the new Loop are anything to go by, they could soon regain a foothold.

The Loop looks very different from previous White Bros forks, with stiffer one-piece cast magnesium lowers and none of the CNC machining that used to be their trademark. It's available in a variety of different configurations to suit different wheel sizes, head tubes and types of riding.

All models have 32mm aluminium stanchions and come with the Colorado-based company's new QtapeR15 system – their take on the 15mm quick-release through-axle, which uses a tapered head and dropout to ensure a secure fit.

White Brothers' new Aura TCR damping is used throughout the range. All models have adjustable spring rate (via an air valve on top of the left leg), rebound damping (bottom of the right leg), compression damping and (magnetic) lockout threshold (top of right leg).

Forks are available with either 80/100/120mm of internally adjustable travel or 130/140/150mm. When you buy a Loop, you can specify how much travel you want it set to out of the box. Adjusting it simply involves changing the position of a circlip – this takes roughly 15 minutes.

Versions are available for 1-1/8in and tapered (1-1/8 to 1-1/2in) head tubes, and 26in/650B and 29in wheels. The Loop is available in black or white. There's no word yet on weights.
By James Costley-White