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].
Starling Mega Murmur
The Starling Mega Murmur is a new, enduro-sized steel bike that builds on the popularity of the original Murmur. Featuring a single-pivot design, the Mega Murmur features 170/165mm of travel front and rear and longer chainstays than the standard Murmur which Starling says should fit taller riders better while delivering a more stable ride dynamic.
The Mega Murmur can also be configured for ‘trail mode’ which gives the bike 140mm of travel. Starling tells us the Mega Murmur frame is fully made in Britain, which includes both the front triangle and the swing arm.
- Price: Starting at £2,330 (about $3,000) for a frame
- Buy from starlingcycles.com.
Norco Fluid, now available in carbon
Last year Norco updated the Fluid trail bike, and at that time only aluminum frames were available. Now, buyers can choose a carbon Norco Fluid with the same geo and suspension design as the aluminum bike. With a carbon front triangle, the latest Fluid shaves 600g off the full aluminum frame, and C1, C2, and C3 builds are available featuring Rockshox Pike forks and various level SRAM drivetrains.
- Price: Builds from $4,099; frame kit is $3,299 CAD (available in Canada only)
- Buy from Norco dealers.
Smith Engage helmet gets the Koroyd treatment
The Smith Engage is the brand’s best-selling helmet, and now it features Koroyd impact protection just like pricier helmets in the line. Koroyd is designed to absorb impact energy through multiple crumple zones, while also providing good ventilation and minimizing weight. Look for an in-depth Singletracks review of the updated Smith Engage coming soon.
- Price: $130
- Buy from Smith.
New Roval Traverse trail wheels
The new lineup of Roval Traverse trail wheels feature three different models to fit most riding styles and budgets.
The Roval Traverse HD wheels are designed to be the toughest in the line, offering World Cup Enduro performance for racers and park rats alike. Specialized uses different layups for the front and rear wheels to optimize control and durability, and the rim features a “Flat Top” bead edge that reduces the chance of pinch flats.
Next up, the Roval Traverse SL II wheels are said to be the brand’s lightest trail wheelset to date, weighing just 1,645g for the pair. Like the HDs, the SL II wheels feature front and rear specific layups and are available at two different price points.
Finally, the Roval Traverse Alloy wheels are designed for durability first and foremost, and the rims use a new 6013 aluminum alloy. The 30mm internal rim width is a good choice for most trail and enduro tires, and the price is right at $850 for a pair. Available in 29″ diameters front and rear, and 27.5″ rear only.
- Price: $850-2,300 / pair
- Buy from Specialized.
All-new Giant and Liv Rail helmets
The all-new Giant Rail (and Liv Rail) half shell mountain bike helmets feature a lightweight MIPS Air Node liner and both earned five stars from the Virginia Tech helmet rating system. Giant says the helmets utilize a new head form for a more universal fit plus a height-adjustable retention system. Singletracks is currently testing the Liv Rail helmet and will have a full review later this year.
- Price: $190
- Buy from Liv and Giant dealers.
Mondraker launches lightweight eMTB, the NEAT
The Mondraker NEAT enduro bike is a lightweight eMTB designed to ride like a traditional mountain bike… with a kick. Starting with a 2300g carbon frame, the NEAT uses the lightweight TQ-HPR50 motor, the same as the Trek Fuel EXe released last year.
NEAT utilizes an all new suspension kinematic with the shock placed lower in the frame for improved initial sensitivity with additional shock absorption farther into the travel. Mondraker says complete NEAT builds can be configured to weigh less than 18kg (just under 40lb). Mondraker NEAT bikes come with a 360Wh battery, with an optional range extender adding another 160Wh.
- Price: TBD
- Buy from Mondraker dealers.
Bike shop flooded in Vermont, fundraiser to replace damaged items
Recent flooding in Vermont wreaked havoc on at least one bike shop, Onion River Outdoors, in Montpelier. Staff and volunteers worked to clean out the shop and salvage anything that could be saved, though much was lost including inventory, work benches, computers, and tools. Unfortunately insurance will not cover all the losses, and a GoFundMe to support the shop has been set up for those who would like to help get the beloved shop back up and running.
New e*thirteen Helix Race cassette one-ups SRAM XPLR for gravel bikes
The new e*thirteen Helix Race gravel cassette offers a full 500% gear range thanks to cogs that range 9-45t, compared SRAM XPLR cassettes than range 10-44t. According to the brand, the Helix Race weighs 319g and is compatible with SRAM XPLR and Eagle derailleurs.
- Price: $329
- Buy from ethirteen.com.
Outdoor Research launching MTB-specific apparel line
We got an early look at some new MTB-specific Outdoor Research pieces at Sea Otter earlier this year, and the brand continues to inch closer to a Spring 2024 full launch of their Freewheel MTB-specific collection. Last year Singletracks reviewed the Outdoor Research Ferrosi shorts which Matt described as “a casual pair of outdoor athletic shorts that are light, flexible, and breathable enough to ride in, but not so serious that you can’t wear them to the grocery store or while doing yard work”.
- Price: TBD
- Buy sometime next year.
Polisport Mud Guard
Sure, you can DIY a functional rear mud guard, but if you want one that looks good and is easy to install, the new Polisport X-Cape EVO seems like a decent choice. Pre-cut lines make it easy to customize the guard to fit your frame and rear tire combo, and no tools are necessary for installation.
- Price: TBD
- Buy from select Polisport dealers.
Rockshox Boxxer gets 38mm stanchions
Rockshox totally revamped the Boxxer DH fork with an eye toward World Cup racing, and it shows. The brand says they could have made the fork even stiffer, but instead they sought to find just the right balance for maximum comfort and control on course. The new Charger 3 RC damper is designed to mimic the feel of a coil shock and even the bottom-out bumper has been improved for softer landings. A travel change kit is available to set the fork to 180, 190, or 200mm of travel.
- Price: $1,899 (Boxxer Ultimate)
- Buy from SRAM dealers.
Honey Stinger reformulates hydration mix
Honey Stinger has new formulations of its hydration mix just in time for summer. The Pre-Exercise blend is designed to be easy to digest with a 3:1 potassium to salt ratio while the Peak Performance blend ups the electrolyte concentration and is available with or without caffeine.
- Price: $10
- Buy from Honey Stinger and REI.
