No one would argue that Rampage is the place for a downhill bike. Every rider in the event besides Graham Agassiz is on one. Since Evil Bikes doesn't have a downhill bike in their line-up however, they've custom-built a 29er Wreckoning LB frame with 161mm of rear travel for Graham Agassiz to ride today. The 29er trail bike frame is fitted with 27.5" wheels, a 200mm fork and a 1.5 degree angleset to give it a 63° head tube angle. The bike is in the low setting, not extra-low, to keep the bottom bracket at the stock 348mm height despite the modifications.
Push Industries made a custom Elevensix rear shock specifically for Aggy's bike with a Supercross tune in it, which they have never done for a mountain bike before. The 29-year-old says he has yet to bottom it out despite some gargantuan hits in practice.
We caught up with Aggy and Callum Jelley from Evil Bikes as the freerider from Kamloops, BC made a
couple of last-minute tweaks to the bike yesterday afternoon ahead of finals at the SRAM tent. He went from 170mm to 165mm XO1 cranks, got the new SRAM oil-slick chain installed, and put a 5mm spacer under the stem to lift their height and added a bit more stanchion through the clamps to make it stiffer.
| Nobody at Evil has ever tested a bike at Rampage so it's a serious thing for us as designers of bikes as well as Aggy riding it. No big bottom outs. Still hasn't bottomed out the 161mm rear end which is crazy.—Callum Jelley, Evil Bikes |
| I guess it's not really a trail bike anymore. It's funny because there were some chirps at the beginning and everyone else is bottoming out and buzzing their tires on their seat and I have the quietest bike out there.
It's performing really great, we have a great dialled set-up on it and it's blowing my mind, blowing everyone else's mind. It just goes to show what that suspension design can do out here.—Graham Agassiz |
A tribute to Jordie Lunn and some custom snakeskin vinyl decals. The 1.5 degree angleset gives the Wreckoning LB a 63 degree head tube angle.
Chromag saddle and pedals.
Aggy will be running the 200mm Boxxer with 160psi and 5 tokens, a set-up that has loads of ramp for the big landings of Rampage.
Sensus grips are the only thing that are showing a bit of wear, but Aggy says it's not because he's superstitious.
| I have some fresh ones. I haven't really thought about it too much actually. Maybe I'll put some fresh ones on but I like them just a little worn in like that. |
The 161mm Evil Wreckoning has a custom Elevensix rear shock with a Supercross tune in it, which Push Industries says they have never done for a mountain bike before.
Aggy chose a Maxxis DHR 2.4 rear tire to help with braking and is running a 220mm rotor in the front and a 200mm rear rotor.
165mm cranks for finals day since you don't need the length for pedalling in a Rampage run and the shorter cranks give Aggy an extra bit of security with the low bottom bracket.
| I was pretty nervous this morning but then we finally hit everything on the line. We have arguably some of the biggest hits on the whole course so it feels great. Huge weight off the shoulders. Last year I wasn't mentally there, body wasn't there, but this year I feel really good. It's been great.
My goal is just to get down. I mean now that I've hit everything, that was the biggest goal. Now I've just got to put it in a line and get down. It's a heavy line, it scares the shit out of me, but I'm feeling good about it. Stoked to get down and make it home safely.—Graham Agassiz on Thursday afternoon |
horses for courses though, I love hardtails. But I also like landing sideways without a care in the world. And ploughing through rough stuff without my eyeballs shaking lol.
You certainly don’t. Actually, none of you would know it if I slapped you in the face, which would compress and rebound it. But, that’d be forked up, and a little shocking.
But, seriously, do any of you even turn the twisty dials and actually know what suspension even does? You shouldn’t have 160mm of travel and set it up with 10+ mm that can’t even be touched.
Suspension is about control,not comfort.
If you have to bottom out your suspension every run, maybe try riding smoother and quit smashing into everything on the way down.
Youll be faster and wreck less
I tend to go to 95% and save that last 5% for the wtf sh!t my pants time and save I hope
See how this works?
2001 Stinky's were only 150mm.
2002-2004 they were one 160mm bike.
2008 - Chris Van Dine was on a Cannondale Claymore (Trail Bike) with 180 mm , Kona Stinky's again with 170mm at the time.
2013 - Messere and Groves were on Morpheous Loki's 130mm
@sriracha - nah 8 inches at the time.
I was taking this seriously as I read it.
I’m not familiar with the moto world.
In case of a mtb-shock on a normal bike I imagine that would ride pretty terrible, hence why Push hadn't done it before.
Feel like it would have been more honest if they just said "it's got a really f*cking stiff tune in it" and left it at that
Weren't these bikes getting warrantied like crazy at one point? That might be the more risky thing here than the 'trail' bike claim.
They are made in the same factory that's making Santa Cruz frames now and seem to have moved past all the early troubles. Most owners are pretty happy with them.
I've seen that info repeated over and over again on forums but after looking deeper into it I cant find the original source for that claim.
I still stand by the rest of my original post. The frame breakage problems were primarily back in the early days of the company. They've moved well past those issues.
Re the 27.5's though - I was hoping to see a pic of the rear end - specifically how they got enough clearance where the chainstay's pinch in... How did they manage to fit the tire adequately (the rear swinger looks stock / unmodified). On closer inspection in the only close up of the rear tire - I do see what could be 'tire contacts chain stay' mark around the perimeter of the tire.
Anyways - stoked to see a Wrecker taking on huge lines. Will always have a soft spot for that bike...
All Mountain bike > 150-180mm
One of the only times the marketing makes sense. A trail bike has to more or less climb as well as it descends. Take a Wreckoning out and to a 30k ride and then do the same on a Offering if you think otherwise.
doesn't mean i haven't, either...
Well, that's my though.
Shit company, shit bikes, shit warranty. Cocksuckers