Gear Watch Wednesday is a weekly update on the latest mountain bike gear releases and products that Singletracks has received for test. Have gear news to share, or products you’d like us to check out? Email [email protected].
Last TARVO V2 claims “lightest” enduro bike
German bike brand Last claims the V2 TARVO enduro bike is the world’s lightest, with a frame that weighs just 2,100g. The Last TARVO features 160mm of rear travel when paired with 29er wheels, or 170mm in mixed-wheel configuration. In case you’re worried the bike might be too light for hard riding, Last says the TARVO frame comes with a 6-year warranty and is “ASTM category 5 approved,” with a generous rider weight limit of 120kg.
- Price: €4,399 frame without shock; completes from €6,869.
- Buy from last-bikes.com.
Reeb Steezl is a steel enduro bike
The Reeb Steezl is a 155mm rear travel steel enduro “race” bike that replaces the SQWEEB, which has been discontinued. Buyers can configure the bike as a 29er or mixed wheel thanks to an integrated flip chip and the Steezl features size-specific chainstay lengths to give riders of all sizes a more consistent ride feel.
With a 3D-printed BB cluster, CNC’d rockers, and 4130 chromoly steel tubing, the Reeb Steezl delivers a unique frameset and promises to be highly capable on the trail as well.
- Price: Framesets starting $3,795, completes from $6,695
- Buy from reebcycles.com
Enve launches gravel bike
Even if you do live under a rock, you likely know about the Enve Mog. The brand had been teasing the all-new carbon gravel bike up until launch last week, and now we know a bit more about the bike.
- Price: $5,500 frameset
- Buy from Enve dealers.
The steel Surly Preamble gravel bike costs just $899
The Surly Preamble is the brand’s “most affordable steel utility bike,” and buyers can pick one up with flat ($899) or curly bars ($1,199). The frame is said to fit tires up to 47mm-wide 650b tires or 44mm, 700c tires. Size small and extra small builds come with 650b wheels and tires while the larger sizes get 700c.
- Price: From $899 for a complete, $549 for a frameset.
- Buy from Performance Bike and Surly dealers.
Next generation Cane Creek Air IL and Coil IL shocks debut
Cane Creek Air and Coil IL shocks received major updates with strengthened inner damper tubes and better frame clearances thanks to smaller air cans and valve bodies. The brand says the shocks offer the widest range of 4-way damping adjustability currently on the market.
- Price: $579.99 – $629.99
- Buy from Cane Creek retailers.
Tifosi Rail XC
Tifosi makes some of the best value-minded riding glasses in the market and now they have a new option out—the Rail XC. These rimless, shield-style glasses are nearly 7mm or ~11% shorter overall than the original Rail sunglasses for those not wanting to wear a full windshield. These are made of a lightweight Grilamid TR-90 frame with hydrophilic rubber for the ear and nose pieces and have a claimed weight of 31g. The lenses are interchangeable and come in a variety of colors, with the exception of the two styles utilizing Fototec lenses. The blue and red Fototec lenses are good low light options and become a darker mirrored shade in brighter conditions.
- Price: $79.95
- Available at Tifosi
Hydrapak reservoir updates
Hydrapak recently updated the Contour reservoirs for use in hydration packs for mountain biking. Enhancements include interior baffles to prevent filled bladders from taking up too much space in a pack and a new flexible handle. Hydrapak also moved the hose outlet from the bottom of the reservoir to the side which promises to simplify routing.
- Price: From $41.
- Buy from Hydrapak.
The Mondraker Dusty is brand’s first gravel bike, and it’s electric
Mondraker is getting into the gravel game with the Dusty, an electric gravel bike with a decidedly mountain bike flavor to it. The XR build features a SRAM Reverb XPLR dropper post and a Rock Shox Rudy suspension fork, and all the frames have clearance for 700c tires up to 47mm wide.
- Price: TBD
- Buy from Mondraker dealers.
Updated Olympia Hammer electric enduro bike
The Olympia Hammer is freshly updated with a lower standover and center of gravity along with a revamped rear triangle and shock position. Also notable for the carbon frame is a seat tube angle that varies based on frame size, which Olympia says provides a consistent weigh balance across the range. The 170mm rear travel bike features a 29er wheel up front and a 27.5 in the back.
- Price: TBD
- Buy from Olympia dealers.
Hammerhead Karoo 2 adds e-bike battery tracking
The Hammerhead Karoo 2 bike GPS is adding support for electric bike battery tracking. The feature is compatible with bikes that support ANT+ LEV and estimates the amount of battery range remaining, among other things.
- Price: Free update to Hammerhead owners.
- Buy a Hammerhead Karoo 2 from Backcountry.
Pearl Izumi launches spring Canyon, Elevate, and Summit MTB collections
New season, new looks. Pearl Izumi just launched a pile of new mountain bike clothing organized into three collections for men and women. The Canyon collection features items that transition between the trail and the bar, while the Elevate collection is designed to integrate with pads for more gravity-oriented riders. The Summit collection is the more technical of the three featuring high performance materials and bike-optimized designs.
- Price: Varies
- Buy from Pearl Izumi.
