80 VELO BUYER’S GUIDE 2015 VELONEWS.COM

IBIS CYCLES TRANNY 29 X01 $4,800The Tranny 29 can easily be converted to a single speed, with chain tension provided by a unique structure behind the bottom bracket called the Slot Machine, which is lighter and quieter than eccentric bottom brackets and considerably stiffer than sliding dropouts. It’s also a lot more elegant. The clever seat stay attachment allows for the option of a Gates Carbon Drive belt for a super smooth, quiet, and maintenance-free singlespeed drivetrain.FRAME Carbon fiber; adjustable chainstays; 142x12 Maxle; BB92 bottom bracket; 160mm post-mount disc brakesFORK Fox Float 32 CTD; 100mm or 120mm travel availableCOMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS SRAM X01; Shimano XT brakes; Stan’s NoTubes ZTR Arch 29er wheelset; Ibis stem; Ibis 740mm Hi-Fi or Lo-Fi carbon fiber bar; Ibis forged seatpost; Ibis custom saddle with chromoly railsWEIGHT 1,398 grams (frame)

NINER AIR 9 RDO 5-STAR $10,000The Air 9 RDO is the latest incarnation of Niner’s flagship hardtail. The frame is beautiful inside and out thanks to Niner’s RDO Carbon Compaction, a process that results in increased precision in wall thickness and significantly reduced resin pooling in the final product, allowing for predictable ride tuning, increased strength, and significant weight reduction. The new frame is over 100 grams lighter than the previous edition, and now uses a 142x12 Maxle in the rear.FRAME Carbon fiber; PF30 bottom bracket; titanium frame guardsFORK RockShox SID XX World Cup; 100mm travel; remote lockout; 15mm Maxle LiteCOMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS Shimano XTR Di2; Shimano XTR Trail brakes; Niner XC Carbon wheels; 710mm Niner RDO Flattop Carbon handlebar; Niner RDO Stem; Niner RDO Carbon seatpost; WTB Volt Team saddleWEIGHT 20.7 lbs

MOOTS MOOTO X RSL $3,900 (frame, $10,100 as pictured)Designed as a quick, race-bred hardtail, the handcrafted Mooto X RSL 29 is capable of podium appearances and fulfilling singletrack adventures for years to come. Oversized Moots Ti tubing combined with a 44mm head tube and PF30 bottom bracket provide unparalleled stiffness, durability, and life-long ride quality.FRAME Titanium; 44mm head tube; PF30 bottom bracket; 30.9 seat post; 135x10 rear axle; 160mm post-mount disc brakesFORK Fox Float 32 CTD; 100mm of travelCOMPONENT HIGHLIGHTS Shimano XTR Di2; DT Swiss XR 1501 Spline One 29 wheelset; Moots Ti Stem; Moots 30.9 Ti Post; Fizik Gobi XM saddle (custom builds also available)WEIGHT 1,590 grams (frame); 23.0 lbs as pictured

HARDTAIL

VeloBG MTBHardtail.indd 80 12/17/14 11:05 AM