It was only a question of time until Propain's latest design generation of their PRO10 suspension system was going to find its way into the rest of their lineup. The Spindrift is their big-hit single-crown model, featuring 180mm of rear wheel travel, with 29", 27.5, or mixed wheel options available. There's also now a full-carbon frame to go along with the aluminum models.
Wondering where the name Spindrift comes from? It actually wasn't dreamed up in a marketing office. When founders Robert Krause and Markus Zander were on a road trip on Vancouver Island a while ago they decided at some point that the next crossroad would decide their next model's name. Lucky for them, it was Spindrift Road, and not Ragged Ass Road in Yellowknife.
Spindrift Details• Intended use: enduro, freeride
• Wheel size: 29"/27.5"/mixed
• Rear wheel travel: 180mm
• Carbon or aluminum frame options
• 64.5° head angle
• 78° seat angle
• 445mm chainstays (29"), 435mm chainstays (27.5"/Mixed)
• Frame weight (w/o shock): 3,000g / 3900g (alloy)
• 12 x 148mm rear spacing
• Sizes: S-L (27.5"), M-XL (29"/Mixed)
• Price: €2,599 - €7,904
•
www.propain-bikes.com Frame Details As mentioned, the Spindrift is available with a full-carbon or aluminum frame. The carbon version is constructed with their Blend Carbon process, utilizing different fibers and cloths of carbon for different areas of their frames depending on the requirement of stiffness, impact resistance, flexibility, weight, strength or stress direction.
The aluminum version uses more than one type of aluminum depending on the need, thereby dubbed Blend Alloy. Frame parts like rockers and axles that have to endure high stress use 7075 T6 aluminum. Their tubing features more fatigue resistant 6066 T6 aluminum, whereas forged parts are made out of 6061 T6 aluminum.
Both aluminum and carbon are available as a 29” version, a 27.5" version, or as a mixed-wheel version (29" front triangle and 27.5" rear end).
All their pivots are protected by Propain Dirt-Shields, a second seal to further protect the Acros bearings from the elements.
The rear disc brake attaches to a 180mm post mount. A chain protector with ribs and integrated softer material on top is in place to minimize the noise from chain slap. The lower down tube is also protected by an extra layer. The rear end features the 12 x 148mm Boost standard. New is the use of SRAM's standardized UDH derailleur hanger, something that will also be used on other Propain models in the future.
Cables are routed internally, but the routing near the bottom bracket has been adjusted, compared to the Tyee, and is now located alongside the lower link rather than traveling under the bottom bracket.
Attached to the bottom bracket are ISCG chainguide mounts, but with Propain's twist. They slide an ISCG adapter onto a counter-piece of the CF's aluminum bottom bracket insert or respectively the AL's bottom bracket tube. If a bash guard is mounted, impact forces are spread over a larger area, protecting the frame. If the mounts do get damaged they can easily be replaced.
Propain has tested their frame beyond the required standardization values, and the Spindrift frame is designated up to category 5 use, so it's perfectly fine to take it to the bike park. You could even mount a dual crown fork up front, if you felt like it.
The 29" carbon frame in size L weighs 3,000g without shock, the aluminum model without shock 3,900g. Color options for the CF are Carbon Raw, Moongrey Dark and Lime. The AL comes in Raw, Venomblack and Petrol. Their frame decals and even Badge colors are also customizable.
And yes, there's room for a water bottle.
Geometry The 27.5" model is available in size S, M and L. 29" and the mixed-wheel bikes come in M, L and XL. Compared to their previous model, reach has grown slightly at 5mm for the size M, 10mm on the L and 15mm on the XL frame size. The Spindrift's reach measurements still fall into the moderate category, with 450mm for M, 475mm for L and 500mm for the XL on the 29er and Mixed version. 27.5" comes to 425mm for a size S, 450 for M and 475 for L.
One of the biggest differences between 29" and the 27.5"/Mixed option is the change in chainstay length. 29" uses 445mm stays, the 27.5" and Mixed rear end a short 435mm length.
The head angle is sitting at 64.5 degrees with the 180mm travel fork, and at 64 degrees with the available 190mm travel option for the RockShox ZEB. The effective seat angle is angled at a progressive 78 degrees. With that combination, the horizontal top tube length is up to 25 mm shorter (except for XL, which is the same due to the longer reach), compared to the older model – something to consider when picking the right size.
The Spindrift's seat tube length is at the longer end of the spectrum, which means shorter people wanting to use a larger frame might not be able to run longer travel dropper posts.
CF 29" CF 27.5" CF Mixed Suspension Design The PRO10 suspension design is based around a virtual pivot system with two counter-rotating links, activating a floating shock from both sides. With the new Spindrift, the linkage assembly has moved from behind the seat tube inside the main triangle for better protection.
The bike's has a progressive leverage curve a steady drop from beginning to end. That means the Spindrift can be run with either a coil or air shock without fear of bottoming out harshly.
The Spindrift uses a 230 x 65mm stroke shock, delivering an average leverage ratio at 180mm of rear travel of 2.77 : 1 and thereby lowering the ratio from their older model slightly, since that was using a shock with 60mm stroke.
Anti-squat at the recommended 30-35% sag sits at around 120%, having been raised considerably from their previous version, which was located at 60%.
Specifications Propain offers many options for their bike specs with their online configurator. Almost all components can be altered, starting with one of the three differently priced starter packages.
As far as the choice of suspension forks goes, you can either pick between RockShox' ZEB or Fox's 38 burly single-crown models. For the rear shocks, you can pick from air or coil models from both makers.
The cheapest version of the carbon Spindrift CF starts at €3,199, going all the way up to €7,904 if you deck it out with goodies like Crankbrothers Synthesis Carbon wheels, AXS shifting and Fox Factory suspension.
The aluminum Spindrift AL can be had from €2,599, going all the way to €7,304.
One of my medium sized test bikes with 29" wheels, coil shock and a spec list similar to the Performance package had a weight of 15.7kg (34.54lbs.) without pedals. According to Propain, the top spec would bring the bike's weight down to 15.1kg (33.22lbs.), which sounds about right.
The Spindrift CF can be ordered from their website beginning September 28th 2020, the aluminum bike from November 2020. By November 2020 the Spindrift will also be available in North America, with prices in dollars being announced by then.
I love bikes with lots of travel that you can still pedal up the hill without much hassle to then blast down on whatever trail you find. While that could be said for many enduro bikes these days, bridging the gap to a burly downhill machine is still as enticing to me as it's ever been. As a matter of fact, I can still remember the days when I lovingly called my 180 mm travel bike with a single crown fork my cross-country ride, almost two decades ago. We've come a long way since then.
After having ridden the Tyee's PRO10 suspension system, my expectations in the Spindrift's capabilities were high, and I wasn't disappointed. Propain has found a formula that just works for a wide range of riders, and in case of the Spindrift especially for aggressive pilots, thanks to a nicely progressive suspension curve.
I set up the air shock suspended rear end at the recommended sag of a bit over 30% (ending up at 32%) and never looked back. That provided enough plushness for plowing through roots and rocks, while keeping it from bottoming out at bigger drops or hard landings. At the same time, the suspension still provides enough support for the bike to remain playful enough to pop it off lips or other obstacles on the trail without it feeling like a waterbed on wheels.
Running a coil shock the next day, and running slightly less sag, still worked out fine, although I felt that the extra sag from the day before did cater to the bike's character well.
In terms of handling, I was first assigned the 27.5" size medium version, and to be honest, I had a hard time getting used to that setup. Now, that's not to say that there was anything wrong with it design-wise, but the smaller wheels and agile handling of the bike was far off from what I was used to riding lately. It was a blast to throw from corner to corner and nimble in the air, I didn't feel comfortable pushing it past a certain speed, missing the stabilizing effect of a bigger front wheel and longer chainstays.
The moment I jumped on the 29er after about a half day's ride - also a size medium - my frown literally turned upside down immediately. Stable at any speed with lots of cornering traction, I was able to push harder into corners and gained that extra bit of confidence that makes a good day on the bike great.
I was also extremely happy about the slightly longer chainstays, balancing front and rear center better and putting my body more centered over the bike. You'd be surprised how much those 10mm extra in chainstay length can affect the handling – in my opinion, in a positive way. I was blown away myself how much of a difference in handling the two versions provided. I did try the mixed-wheel setup for a really short stint, and while I felt much more at home than on the 27.5" version with the extra stability the front end provided, I couldn't shake the feeling that the shorter chainstays wouldn't make me happy in the long run either.
Wheel size and geometry is a highly immersive topic and with so many choices on the Spindrift it sparked a lot of different discussions. In the end, I'd say the only conclusion that is safe to come to is to ride whatever you feel most comfortable on or that you have the most fun with.
For me, my favorite setup with the Spindrift CF was to run the 29" frame with longer chainstays for higher balance with a 27.5" rear wheel, dropping the head angle to about 63.1 degrees with the 190mm travel fork and lowering the bottom bracket to about 340mm (at least that's what the squiggly measuring tape told me when I grabbed it to check). I was able to readjust the seat angle to its intended measurement by sliding the seat forward on its rails and I was standing in front of what I felt was a near perfect setup for me. Not just in theory, but also out on the trail.
Glued to the ground when cornering, adding a bit more responsiveness overall, being able to push the smaller rear wheel into corners harder with no tire buzzing my rear end in steep sections either was just what I was looking for. Unfortunately, my experiment is not a setup that can be ordered from Propain's extensive menu, but that doesn't mean that the Spindrift couldn't be run like that.
Maybe climbing is not your first concern when considering a 180mm travel bike like the Spindrift, but the little climbing we did showed the bike's potential. It really feels like a Tyee with more travel and probably a bit more weight due to the components. My test bike with mostly aluminum parts weighed about 16kg including pedals and felt far from sluggish or being a pain to pedal up the hill. The steep seat angle helps enormously, and if you feel like it, you can always activate the pedal platform lever on the shock to reduce bob.
I don't care if freeride ain't dead or not. To me, the Spindrift CF represents a very versatile bike, built to excel in the gnar but still light enough with smart geometry to pedal to the top. I'm certain that there are quite a few people out there that are going to enjoy that idea.
For a more detailed review, we already have Propain's new Spindrift CF in for an upcoming Field Test - stay tuned for more ride impressions, timed laps, and comparisons.
Bike looks killer.
"Sounds like: I really liked your chocolate brownie recipe, but i used almond milk instead of soy milk, i added 3 cups of sugar more, i did not use hazelnuts but walnuts and i used dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Anyway good recipe"
Great the Spindrift allows these kind of configurations!
I'll give you guys a list of random things to whine on: no enough bottle mounts, cable rouing, name, shock placement and mud, ec.
A few notable exceptions are: Ibis (bushings on one link), flex stays (mostly XC bikes), Spot (living hinge), Specialized Enduro (6 bars linkage)...
If I’m reading their site correctly, 160mm max on the XL?? enough to make it a no deal for me unfortunately.
Sweet looking bike otherwise
Well, I should hope so! And isn't this true of pretty much every aluminum bike on the market? Would be pretty half-assed engineering to just smack same alloy into all those applications.
7075-t6 is used in the links and axles because they're not welded, since 7075 is a pain to weld. I'm sure they'd love to make the entire frame out of 7075, but doing that assembly would be cost-prohibitive. 6066-t6 isn't more fatigue resistant than 7075-t6 (which is stronger in almost every aspect), just more resistant than other alloys or heat-treatments, and more easily weldable.
youtu.be/vS-zEH8YmiM?t=31
@mikeKazimer any hints on which bikes will be there? Sounds like its going to be a long travel test if the spindrift is going to be in attendance.
I'll start by saying a few of the new mainstay/well known brands. I'd bet that we'll see a Process X, and the Slash at least. And maybe the new Norco Range or Shore?
Then apparently the spindrift... and maybe the Mega would fall into that category (slightly less known in the US/direct to consumer brands)? Same with the Meta AM?
What about the more obscure stuff like the Gnarvana, or Titan?
The VP Free/Totem was so far ahead of its time. The modern bike is just longer,slacker with more stand over.
Seriously? You guys have previously picked on bikes for weighing a hair over 30 lbs, or said an additional ~10-15mm more travel makes something feel "inefficient" and not the choice for a pedally day, but now a 35 pounder with 180mm travel is "far from sluggish" and not "a pain to pedal". Come on, stop treating us like idiots.
If you think that's a problem, wait until you see his profile pic.
Most of his kind fail to realize the fact that because ppl like him/they exists on this planet, we, as a whole, are so (currently)f-ed up from a civilization/society pov.
Am a slow af/mediocre type of rider(no drops bigger than 4 ft, medium tts, shite-scared even by the small gaps) and going from a 180-165mm 27.5 bike to a 150-130 29er, I can tell you that I am 95-99% as fast on the rough suff and faster on the tamer parts trails. What I mean is...29" wheels makes for a faster bike. Stop with the biased BS!
As soon as I go down steep and technical sections the back wheel kicks my butt. Not happening with my transition patrol and its 27.5
Seeing all 1.80m riders on the WC circuit have tyre marks on their butts I think the good riding technique is not the problem
I guess it depends of how low the ST is and how long is that FC. In a modern geo bike with a long WB, a long FC and a low/very low ST with 1 meter of dropper post, you don't need to go low behind the sadle. You can go low enough while being centered.
(unless, which is my case, you have a short travel bike that packs its susp. if you're not properly placing your weight on it...and because of that, on the real steep stuff, I do get the occasionally buzz)
no, being affraid and not understanding the world in which you live is not something one can call it "ideology". Then, it is also about the character of the person you choose to represent you. If he/they are shite..and you identify with what they say or do...well, guess what that says about you?
I will keep using 29er for XC and 27.5 (or mulet) for everything else.
Human behavior is really simple when you know how to connect the dots.(the reason for your dumbf&ckistan attitude)
Also, there is a thing or two about what is legal and allowed to do or say in a modern society.(that is way beyond of what I, personally, say or believe..."MY opinion", as you've mentioned)
Also 2., education will tell that while probably every butcher can cook a piece of meat, 99.99% will not be able to make a plate you could consider 'fine dining'. So, in the same way you don't want a butcher as a chef, you really(I mean really) don't want persons with ...lesser character traits and a low ethic standards to be able to influence the course of the world.
And if nothing I have written here does not make any sense to you, start educating your'self a little, read a book ffs, read 100 books and realize that the 1700s and 1800s are loooong gone and this society is much-much different from the one in the wild west period, where you, presumably, belive you are living. Or you were more of a sugar-plantation master and less of a gunslinger?
I'm only interested in the US presidency from the global implications. The point was that our guy here said with conviction, believing he owns the truth on the matter, that 27.5 win and that 29ers are silly.
One can observe that this type of (not-so)critical thinking is recurrent on multiple levels, not only to a wheel size choice for a bike . That is where the discussion took a side turn.
Anyway, I appologise about insisting on the matter.
As for the bike, it looks pretty interesting with the exception of the small-ish reach and steep HA for such a long travel bike. The set-up with a 190mm Zeb and a 27.5" rear wheel inside the 29" rear triangle looks like a blast but, for all intented purposes, I will probably be will be ever more prone to OTBs, as the reach will surely go even smaller. Also, there is too little rearward wheel path motion and that's a bummer because big susp only cannot make square hits feel seamless. #that'smy2Carmchairreview.
Over at bikemag.au they startet these identity politics with an lgbtq activist. They want to make everything political today.
Let's just ride our bikes and have fun.... Riding and reading this hilarious stuff. Nachos are here with me :-)
Be carefull with south of boarder type of products. Your comrade @richochetrabbit might build a wall around you. his u s of a needs protection.
Excellent!, do look out for some lebanese and turkish at the joint as well...., they were some of the best meat dishes I've had in my life!
Every test of the Tyee CF I've seen mentioned negatively that the rear triangle has lots of flex. Checks out, because the seat stays are really long and don't have a bridge or any other type of support.
Granted, i would love to try the new 29" model, or any 29" 180mm bike for that matter... but the old spindrift certainly isnt any worse than the new one.
too much typing not enough proofreading!
How about the extra ~20mm of wheelbase?
"I was also extremely happy about the slightly longer chainstays, balancing front and rear center better and putting my body more centered over the bike."
The 29er also has a ~10mm longer front-center, so how much "more centered" was it really?
Enjoy
Lucky they weren't halfway across the continent?
Step/year 1: hey components improved, here is your old bike with 20mm less travel but it will be the same downhill and so much better uphill or the other way around.
Step/Year 2: hey here is the same frame but with 10mm more travel so you can do even more rad stuff with the "new" bike that slightly heavier bc it uses worse components for the same price . and we want to earn more money with the mold
Step/Year 3: the bike last year was shit bc 0.1°more or less of an angle was really bad. so here take the new frame. Now with even more or less travel and a decent seated position. And it is so much lighter than the bike from last year.just slightly more expensive aka 1000€ more
Instant buy.
I even need to remove some shocks to change the pressure..
I'll be watching them in the future though as they look like cool bikes.
Then they actually entered the market with prices so much higher than their european prices that they didn't come close to matching companies for value that they had been smoking in Europe. Oh well. Thankfully there are so many great bikes around these days.
The below stuff is for a Propain Tyee 2019:
Good stuff:
* The configuration utility was awesome, got me most of the components I wanted.
* Good value when it comes to component selection
* The Newmen wheelset I got with it has been really good, it's stood up perfectly to my abuse. I'll likely be a returning customer on those.
* Propain support has been friendly and helpful!
Stuff that's good to be aware of:
* The raw finish really is raw aluminium, no coat of any sort. Beautiful but somewhat difficult to keep clean. Silicone polish has done wonders to keep the bike more easy to clean.
* Frame shape can be tricky to hang on some car holders (for trailer hitch mount that is), not a problem if you put bikes on the roof.
As for the actual things I've bumped into and annoyed me:
* Leverage on the rear and me being a ~100kg rider (distributed over 186 cm/6"1 feet) has resulted in shock pressures at ~21-22 bar (305-320 psi) which is above your standard shock pump (max pressure for the DPX2 is 350psi/24.1bar). The old-style propain frames are pretty space limited, so shock options are limited if I want to switch to a higher-volume shock.
* Bearings, all of them turned into bushings within one year (not that strange). The replacement set I got from wasn't exactly the same as was delivered with the frame. Also had to make tools to fit the rather non-flat surfaces around the bearings, so I could extract them.
* Axles for the linkage required *a lot* of percussive persuasion to get out, more than I would think reasonable.
* Shock position has me turning the bike upside down when adjusting pressure so that I don't fill my shock pump with oil.
* Limited technical archive information, it's basically a exploded view and a generic users manual.
* The bottom bracket cavity actually turned into a dirt collector somehow, which I found out when replacing my failed bottom bracket (failed seal, probably not related).
So, returning to the frame, I think it's a case of one getting what one pays for. There has to be a reason that the Propain aluminium framesets hoover around ~1000€ whereas for example a RAAW Madonna or Transition Patrol alu frameset clocks in at ~2200€.
That and all people being slightly different, I believe there will be just as many experiences as there are people. Had I been 20kgs lighter, I'd likely thought less about the shock pressures for example.
So in the end, it's been ups and downs. I see my Tyee continuing to be my main for the time to come, just upgrading it part by part. Frame might be upgraded at some point too but it's not that urgent. The new Propain frames look pretty good too.
Probably forgot something, but that's my two cents.
I like the ratlook and never polish it, i just scotch brite scars.
So the frame is far from perfect but i have been riding bikes for 25 years now and all of them had their downsides and little (or big) problems. In a List of my favourite bikes i am pretty sure it would at least be Top 2