With hundreds of tents crammed into the center of Laguna Seca speedway, all kinds of new things are hiding at Sea Otter. From high-tech new shocks and wireless dropper post options to new solutions to nagging problems with existing products. If you know what you’re looking for, you can find almost anything. Here’s what caught our eye in Monterrey over the weekend.
Cane Creek Tigan air-charged coil shock
Cane Creek has two very different suspension parts showing at Sea Otter. On the one end, its new inverted gravel fork. On the other, the Tigan, an air-charged coil shock. Cane Creek’s aiming to improve on the grip and end-stroke support that draws so many riders to coil by adding the mid-stroke support of an air shock. This should add support to keep riders higher in their bike’s travel, taking advantage of the whole travel range and preserving the bikes geo instead of sagging in.
Maxxis Minion vs. Aspen ST
Maxxis also had a few very different tires debuting at Sea Otter. We covered the Aspen ST release and limited Team Issue version release. But Maxxis also finally released a 2.5” version of its venerable DHR II rear tire, in all the flavours. DD to EXO and all the rubber compound options, meeting demand from riders for a beefier tire and adding OEM options for eMTBs.
Giant Trance X Advanced and Trance SX
Following Liv’s release of the Intrigue X, Giant dropped the new Trance X and Trance X Advanced. In carbon fibre and aluminum frames, the Trance X adds travel and, in a bigger change, adds an reach-adjust headset to allow riders to change the bike’s geometry and fit. It comes in carbon fibre and aluminum and in a longer travel SX version that further extends the bike’s 140mm rear travel to 145mm.
Rab adds to Cinder line
A full-length zipper on the vest, but the shirt has a more casual look to it
Pockets add options. There’s another on the shirt underneath.
When we tested Rab’s Cinder line, we were super impressed. The mountaineering brand is adding, slowly, to the range. A new synthetic merino shirt breaths well and, apparently as a fringe benefit, really doesn’t show sweat. The vest brings its excellent technical fabric to the vest crowd. There are also new colours in the super-packable Phantom jacket and a few others in the range.
KS LEV Circuit wireless dropper post
KS Lev Circuit adds options to the wireless dropper market. There are a few key details that separate KS from the competition. The…
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