The Turbine name makes a comeback as
Race Face debuts new cranks and a stem bearing the popular moniker from the past. They were showing off the new machined bits at Eurobike 2010, as well as their carbon SIXC and Next SL cranks. Inside you can find all the info and photos.
Read on...Race Face ComponentsThe SIXC and Next cranks may be the attention getters, but there was some eye candy in aluminum as well. Race Face's Turbine cranks - you may recognize that name - replaces the Deus in the line up and certainly has some of that unique Race Face look from back in the day. Coming complete with their matching Turbine rings, these cranks are available in both triple, double and two ring and guard combination options. Riders can choose between a 6AL-4V titanium axle that has been sourced and and machined in North America or a more economical steel spindle version. Claimed weights range from 755-780 grams, which includes bottom bracket and puts them firmly in the ballpark of SRAM XX despite the aluminum arms. Expect the new Turbine parts to be available late this year.
Another shot of the Turbine cranks. Color options are black, red, and the Pewter seen in the earlier photos. The other bit of news with these cranks, as well as the Next and SIXC, is the new bottom bracket which comes in at a scant 85g. The cups feature some interesting extreme machining and are loaded with Race Face's titanium coated bearings which are serviceable with RF's own tool.
SIXC cranks. While not a new product for 2011, these beauties deserve some attention regardless. Aimed at the lucrative and ever demanding All Mountain market, they are made using Race Face's Optimized Carbon Technology and fitted with a steel axle. The ring options on these are 22/32 combo, a 24/36 and bash guard for those looking for a bit more ground clearance and not the top end gearing, as well as a model with a traditional big 'ol 44 tooth ring. Despite being designed to easily stand up to anything that you'd ever want to do on your 6" travel bike, the triple ring version weighs just 760 grams. Looking like a great option for those who are looking for some carbon for their do-everything bike.
Keeping on with the carbon theme, the Next SL cranks feature the same rings, bottom bracket and titanium axle as the new Turbines, but come in at meager weight of only 652g for the triple set up shown here. For the lighter 2x10 options this weight decreases to between 595 and 625g, not forgetting of course that this includes their ultra light 85 gram Turbine bottom bracket! A slightly cheaper option for those looking at carbon cranks is the "standard" Next model which features a steel axle and is not much heavier, being around 700 grams depending on ring choice. I want.
Chainring options abound for these cranks, with ratios in line with what has become the accepted norm for 10 speed double ring setups. That means 26/38, 28/40, and a tall 30/42 for those who can push it. The All-Mountain option features 24/36 and Race Face bash guard. These cranks use the now standard 10 speed 80/120 mm bolt pattern so no fretting about compatibility issues down the road either. Riders who want to run a traditional 24/32/42 combo are not left out either.
These are Race Face's mega light downhill rings. Mega light as in 40 grams! Machined in their Vancouver facility, these feature a 4 mm cross section as opposed to the standard 3 mm found on most other rings. Options include 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 tooth, all in 104 mm 4 bolt pattern. There are a bunch of neat colors to pick from Rum Red, Tooth Blue, Bad Ass Black, and Gold Member. All of these rings are reversible, as well as compatible with both 9 and 10 speed setups.
Stealthy. Not much change to the Atlas riser bars, but this new stealth finish looked too nice not to show you. With a shotpeened finish inlaid with gloss markings and black anodizing, it was subtle, but oh so neat.
There is no excuse for making a mistake here. Cut line graphics mean that you have even less chance of screwing up when trimming your bar, but you'll also know how much the weight loss will be. More neat than useful, but cool regardless.
This is the new flat Atlas bar. It may have taken Race Face several years to get in on the truly flat bar market, but this is their offering and it's a good one. Utilising the same sweep as the much liked riser, but without the rise, this is sure to be popular with those looking for a bit less height.
Lots of stealth looking parts coming for 2011. This Atlas FR Direct mount stem isn't new, but the finish is. It is also one of the best looking direct mount stems currently out there and carries some tidy tricks up its sleeve so we have no qualms about showing it again. Available in one iteration, it covers two sizes, a 30mm with minimal rise and 50mm with a 15mm drop simply by flipping it upside down. Its at the lighter end of the pack as well, which makes it great for the weight weenies, while still packing the punch for those who take the big hits in their stride.
Turbine extends past cranks. Here is the new stem with machining work aplenty. No exact weight without the Pinkbike scales in hand, but it feels damn light. The interlocking face plate is a design seen on Race Face stems in the past and aims to provide even clamping forces around the bars and minimize stress building in one specific area.
Check out the
Race Face website to see their entire lineup.
Stay tuned for more Eurobike coverage!
This is a product article, I would like to see the product, not just a small part of the product in focus.
Not the same quality snaps as your dad takes Ali.
Just to explain myself: "I believe in carbon fibre" - as some might have noticed from my previous spamming of comment boards. I'm totaly with that material but for big things i.e. frames, rims, handlebars. Would be interesting to see a one piece CF fork uppers crown and steerer.
For what it's worth I bent an XT left crank arm there earlier this year, and I think of XT as a benchmark for AM strength/weight. Carbon isn't scary if done well.
I'm 200lb too ride trails that seem sometimes to be made of rocks and roots rather than normal flat path.
I would go SixC for your description. Sounds like we ride similarly, and I like the additional stiffness of the SixC compared to the NextSL (which I have also ridden on a demo bike). The SixC handlebar is exceptional too, perfect rise/sweep/width for a real AM bike.
They look better, are lighter, stiffer, last longer, have much more high-tech (like hollow forging) and even cost less.
What have Race Face got to offer in comparison to that? Marketing I suppose, but its not much
If they happen to make the Turbine 2X10's a 180mm lengh those will get thrown on the Tallboy also.
Any more specs on the Turbine cranks or pics of the BB?
bike.shimano.com/publish/content/global_cycle/en/us/index/products/mountain/deore_xt_with_dyna-sys.html
Black is back! These other color fads may come n go, but Black is here to stay!