GEAR
2021 BUYER’S GUIDE
MTB DREAM MACHINES
Knolly Chilcotin 167 DP $7,000 The Chilcotin 167 DP is Knolly’s version of the modern enduro race bike. The aluminum frame returns the Chilcotin name to the B.C. brand’s lineup completely redesigned for its new purpose, with 29" wheels and geometry meant for speed. As always, you get Knolly’s proprietary Fourby4 suspension. The DP build kit is what you’d expect for a race-focused bike: a RockShox ZEB Ultimate RC2 fork with 170 mm of travel; Spank bar, stem, saddle and wheels; SRAM Code R brakes; a RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post; and a largely SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain. Every Knolly comes stock with high-end bearings and titanium fasteners for long life. (knollybikes.com)
Canyon Spectral 29 LTD $8,149 Canyon is landing in Canada on a high note with the Spectral 29 LTD. The top-end LTD comes with a wish-list build of Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes, Fox Factory suspension and DT Swiss’s 29" XMC 1200 Spline carbon-fibre wheelset. With a parts kit balancing between lightweight and allmountain toughness, and a supportive pedalling platform, the Spectral LTD climbs like a seasoned alpinist: fast and efficient. Feathery parts are always going to feel better going up, sure, but they also match the Spectral’s descending characteristics particularly well. With progressive suspension, the bike is quick to change directions and accelerate out of corners. Backed up by a smooth 160-mm Fox Factory 36 fork and 150-mm Fox Factory DPX2 shock, the Spectral isn’t just playful: it has you covered when the going gets rough, too. (canyon.com/en-ca)
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Canadian Cycling April & May 2021
Photos: tktk
Structure SCW1 Janus Series $6,995 Structure has eschewed the traditional double-diamond frame shape in favour of an integrated linkage full-carbon frame. The Calgary-based brand says this design matches leverage ratios and progressiveness between the front and rear ends, delivers significantly less friction than a telescoping fork and provides a consistent head-tube angle. Parts spec is creative for a 150-mm-travel, 27.5" trail bike at this price point: largely SRAM Eagle GX drivetrain parts; Magura brakes; a OneUp dropper post, bar and stem; and twin DVO Topaz T3Air shocks. There’s a limited production run for 2021, so order early if you want a SCW1. (structure.bike)
