Fresh From The Box

With not a lot to do the past week or so, we spent a lot of time sleazing around Facebook. Amid the “Happy New Year” status posts, and passive aggressive posts about Christmas gifts gone wrong, we plucked this little nugget off the Box Components page.

Behold, the first prototype of the first product, bolted up to Michael Gamstetter’s orange Speedco scoot. Some spiff styling, with what looks like a few points of adjustment to dial in your stoppage. Not much else to report, so we’ll let the picture do its thousand words.

Keep an eye on News for more from Toby and his crew.

Fight Velocity With Velocity

We first saw the Fly Velocity Neck Brace at Interbike a couple months back. At that point, it was a “coming soon, to a dealer near you” product…one to keep an eye out for. Well, here we are, only one page left on the calendar, and Fly is shipping the Velocity, ready to go under your tree, and over your shoulders for the new season.

We have seen a lot of go-fast injuries avoided this year, because the rider had proper head and neck protection. The Velocity Neck Brace is also adaptable to use with whatever you’re tricking out your torso with (body armor, chest protector, etc). Here are some bullet points from the Fly guys:

*Patented Alternative Load Path Technology™ helps reduce forces on the spine, and disperses energy away from critical areas, during impact. This principle is pivotal to the Velocity Brace design

*Padding is biomechanically designed to cushion the chin

*The thoracic member is engineered to keep the brace in position, so it doesn’t tilt forward or backwards during an impact

*The rear-upper support acts as a ‘crumple-zone’, giving way under a severe load

*CE certified: Personal Protective Equipment directive 89/686/EEC

*Two red-colored release clips identify emergency openings to paramedics

*Universal bolt heads require a single adjustment wrench, and are also compatible with multi-tools.

*Made using only high quality materials like Kevlar®, Carbon, fiberglass reinforced plastic, and shock-absorbing Biofoam. (Biofoam is also fully replaceable and machine-washable)

*Maximum adjustability is achieved through four independent adjustment points

Two sizes fit riders from 50lbs to 250 lbs, and you can choose white or black to match your race kit.

As presenting sponsor for Product Spotlight, J&R is offering a 10% discount on a Fly Velocity Neck Brace, through Dec 31. Use Discount code FLYBMXNEWS. A we said, they’re hitting the docks now, so brace yourself.

Industry Profile: Yess Products

Earlier this week, News brought you the first installment of our “Industry Profile” series. Today, the feature appears in its regular slot on our newly-devised editorial schedule. Each Thursday, we’ll bring you an insider’s look at some of the movers and shakers on the industry side of the BMX Racing scene. Lots of times, you see the brands out at the track, or here on the website, but you don’t know the people and the “why” behind a lot of it. BMX is a fun business to be in and here, you’ll meet the guys who are having the most fun.

Today, we’ll meet two guys who, one might say, are the ultimate “behind the scenes” guys–now taking a step out from behind the curtain. Renny and Bill Husada of Yess Products have, for a long time, made frames for top BMX racing brands–and still do. But earlier this year, they came to market with a Yess-branded line of frames. We caught up with Renny just before the Interbike trade show for some Q&A.

Introduce us to Yess Products

Yess Products started up back in 1994. It was an exciting time because
the bike industry has just started evolving really quickly. We had to
opportunity to build bike frames for some really great brands around
the world that really got our name out. Since then, we have built all
kinds frames, from full suspension downhill bike frames to trial bike
frames.

Yess BMX was launched earlier this year (2011) to fulfill what we saw was demand in the market. Although, Yess BMX has only been officially launched this year, we have been deeply involved with the BMX community for over 15 years. Through the years we’ve design many BMX frames. Each time learning more about how different riders respond to it, what they really like, and what can be improved.

And here we are, with the best frame we’ve built to date. And a new brand to launch it. Something old, something new. All exciting new frontiers.

Are you currently building frames for any other brands?
Yes we are! I would love to tell you all about them too. But we can’t.
You know, the whole client confidentiality thing.

What is the current Yess Product Line, and as a follow up, what are your plans for the future.
Our product that we’re coming out of the gates in 2011 with is our
bmx race frame. Comes in 5 colors. Very sexy, check out the site.

As for new products, we have been prototyping an expert-sized fork
which might have gotten a bit of attention at the Salt Lake ABA
Nationals and some of the Canadian ABA nationals. It’s a super
light-weight aluminum fork that will rival the weight of carbon fiber
forks. However, unlike carbon fiber, it has the predictability of
aluminum.  Our pro fork is also getting and updated overhaul. Its
going to have quite a few features of our original fork ( CNC’d Steer
tube with a machined (not welded or threaded insert) stemlock built
in; as well as the stiffness and strength of typical chromoly forks.

I have to tell you, these forks are sweet. And it is another product
we’re proud to add to our line-up. We’re getting close to going into
production, so expect these to be available in the not to distant
future.

Are there any special processes your production department undertakes in how they prepare, fabricate or finish the frames?

I don’t know if there is really anything overly specialized about how
we build our frames. But, I believe the reason that the quality of our
work has really stood out is because of determination and pride that
goes into every frame that leaves our shop. The level of commitment to
ensure that everything – down to every last detail – is executed with
such care and accuracy is rare in our industry. But that’s just been
the way we do things around here since day one.

What is your most popular size?

That would be the ProXL.

What would you say is the key difference between a frame that is made in North America, and one that is made in Taiwan or China?

I don’t know if the actual location has anything to do with the level
of quality of the frame. It really comes down to the people who are
involved in building it and how committed they are to the end user.

Is there a difference in the actual metal a fabricator can get here versus the stuff they use there?

There are differences definitely. A lot of it has to do with
accountability, we buy all of our material that is available in North
America, if it is not available, there is no choice but to conform or
not build bikes at all. Every Alloy has a formula, and there are
variable allowance for the grade of aluminum to be considered what it
is, just like two cooks that follow the same recipe. Even though they
follow the same recipe, their end product maybe the same but it might
not taste the same. It’s how close they follow the recipe and that
goes back to accountability.

What is your opinion on the lifespan of an aluminum frame? How often should it be replaced?

The lifespan of an aluminum frame really depends on its usage. With
the Supercross World cup gaining its popularity, the frames nowadays
are getting punished a level higher than it once did. I know riders
who have still use our frames produced before the turn of the
millennium with no issues (over 10 years!) however what type of abuse
does it go through? I would say one season of pretty serious
competition should suffice a well-made aluminum frame. I’m sure it
could go for longer but anything will eventually fatigue itself to
unsafe riding conditions.

How about your team…will you be adding any riders in the coming months?

It has been amazing the number of people who have expressed interest
in being part of our team. We’ve got a great team now that we’re very
proud of, but, we are always keeping our eyes out for just the right
candidate that is a good fit with our brand.

Are you offering co-sponsorship deals? If so, how does one get in on that?

Yes, we are offering co-sponsorship deals for teams who want to
promote our brand. The way we have been handling it is by getting to
know the team. I invite anyone who is interested to shoot me an email
that includes their team info, where they’re located, standings, and
anything else that would seem relevant. We look at every submission
and try our best to get a response out.

Where can our readers see the Yess product line…and just as important…where can they order one?

They can check out our website at www.yessbmx.com to learn about the
product and purchase frames through our online shop
(thebmxshoppe.com). Also check out our fan page which is always
getting updated with photos, news, videos and more at
www.facebook.com/yessbmx, and follow us on twitter @yessbmx.

Anything further to add?
We want to thank all our partners, friends and colleagues in getting
us to where we are now. We look forward to the future of BMX racing.
It’s going to be very exciting!

BMX Racing Products From Interbike 2011

Interbike is an annual Bike Industry tradition dating back to 1982. Of course, back then, there were also the Bicycle Dealer Showcase (BDS) shows in Long Beach and New York, and a host of regional shows, such as the Chicago Area Bicycle Dealers Association (CABDA) show.

It was an era when you could not see the newest and coolest stuff from the popular manufacturers unless you hit one of these shows–particularly Interbike, as its unique calendar positioning–in the fall- put it in the prime spot for dealers looking for the season-making trends leading into the Holiday buying rush.

Of course, with the Internet age, we can see the latest and greatest products literally minutes after they come off the CNC machine or out of the welding fixture for the first time. This puts a question mark on many people’s plans year after year, as to whether it is “worth it” to travel to a trade show, aside from the four days of socializing.

Notwithstanding the seemingly-valid argument on seeing the new products via Skype, that last point should not be minimized in any way. Business is done among the familiar, and the guy you shared a cab with on the way to the airport, or high-fived at the blackjack table (or other strictly “stays in Vegas” activities) could be tomorrow’s customer, partner or distributor.

In BMX racing, the need to attend the show could be seen as reduced even further by the fact that our segment of the industry is very tight-knit– when a manufacturer sneezes, a dealer on the other side of the country says “bless you.” Again, for all the above-mentioned reasons, even in the racing side of the biz, there are familiar faces at every turn.

For the Mountain Bike and Road Bike crowd, the show is a massively successful and well-attended event. The two days prior to the exhibit floor opening are devoted to the “Outdoor Demo” which takes place at Bootleg Canyon Mountain Bike Park in nearby Boulder City (a stone’s throw from the Boulder City BMX track–home of the Redline Cup Finals, West).

BMXNEWS returned to the aisles of the show this year, and brought back some choice morsels of new stuff you’ll be seeing on the bikes of the factory and well-informed in the coming months.

ANSWER BMX

John Sawyer and Ryan Birk welcomed customers and media into a private hospitality suite, where their plans for 2012 were discussed openly and freely, and with a “this is gonna be AWESOME” kind of energy. It’s remarkable that, only 12 months ago, a chance meeting on the way out of the show was what brought John into the then-ailing Answer BMX picture as its new owner. Barely 365 days later, it could not be a more different situation, and THAT is one of the wonders of the face-to-face business that is done at conferences like Interbike.

Historically, Answer’s line of components has been geared toward the younger racers (apart from its wildly-popular Scythe and now Dagger forks). For 2012, they are stepping up the game and expanding the line to include a bevy of options for the big guys.

Picture the above photo as including an outboard BB and a Rennen 44t chainring

The drawingboards in the Answer mission-control bunker were piled-high with possibilities for a pro-sized crank kit that had all the upgrades baked in. The goal was “making a crank that was just as light, just as stiff, and high-performance as a Shimano DXR or Saint,” and it was a core goal to differentiate the Answer offering from the several other brands that piled in with their own rendition, during the Answer development process. The result was a kit that features a ceramic-bearing bottom bracket and genuine, US-made 44t Rennen Chainring. They will offer a menu of sizes to suit all comers, with a 170, 172.5, 175, 177.5, 180 and a 182.5mm. Price point is still being penciled out, but look for it to be “sub-$400.” Finishes available will be black and white from the get-go.

As the big guy component line came to be, a headset was also among the items that was a must-have. The new Answer headset positions itself in the higher-strata of offerings from Cane Creek and some of the other “not Chris King” players. Colors will be Red, Blue, Black and Polished, and price point at about $49.

Along with the above, will be an Answer Pro stem. Innovation, again, takes center stage in the Answer line, with an included “spin-around” shim that allows you to extend or retract the reach on your controls by 5mm on the Mini and Pro sizes, and 2mm on the Pro XL. We love it when the inevitable condition of BMXers growing up is factored in to the design of parts, as it essentially gives you a national entry fee and some concession stand cash, just by turning that shim around! Available sizes: Mini (35-40mm), Pro (40-45mm) and Pro XL (50-57mm). As Henry Ford said: “You can have any color you want, as long as it’s black”…Available now for $67.95.

And finally, there will be an Answer brake set in both pro and mini sizes, with a cool-as-ice-cream lever. Watch BMX News “Product Spotlight” section for more on the stoppers, in the coming weeks.

STRENGTH BICYCLES

Along with his acquisition of the Answer BMX brand, John Sawyer also took possession of the Strength BMX brand (you may remember that name from the Luke Wilson/Bubba Harris era, as Bubba was aboard a Strength prototype during his most recent time in the Answer uniform).

John and Ryan are bringing Strength back to life for 2012, via an innovative frame constructed out of magnesium. You old schoolers will remember that magnesium has been used a few times in BMX racing’s history–most famously in the breakthrough Mongoose Motomags of the 1970s and 80s.

While doing some research into magnesium as a possible material for use in the Answer fork line at the Taipei Bike Show, Ryan spied some frame blueprints sitting on a side table. So began a six-month development cycle of prototyping and testing this largely-untested frame material. And from all appearances, they hit a rare tract of unexplored potential in BMX racing product evolution.

The Strength frame will be available in seven sizes (Micro-Mini to Pro XXL at launch, with a Pro Cruiser coming soon after), and will weigh in at right around two pounds for the larger sizes. Ryan added, not jokingly, that the micro and mini sizes will likely be as light or lighter than the carbon forks most riders would run with it. Price point is noted as “not cheap” (but the lightest, coolest stuff never is, right), but in line with top-line aluminum frames, at around $499 retail. They will also be offering the Strength frames as a kit, which will include the above-mentioned Answer headset and Dagger fork. On launch, the sole finish will be the pictured pearl white, with a broader palette probable down-range.

Ryan also clued us in about a later project of Strength complete bikes, with an aluminum frame.

YESS PRODUCTS

Canada puts the “North” in North America, and there are some sharp cookies up that way, with a budding BMX racing scene. Yess Products is one such cookie. Long an on-continent source for bike builders with a dream (their custom shop is a hotbed of two-wheeled-trickery in both MTB and BMX), Bill and Renny Husada brought their own house-made BMX racing frame design to market earlier this year. We’re starting to see more and more Yess frames under out-front crankers at nationals down here in the “Nifty-Fifty,” so the word is spreading fast! At Interbike, they were showing two of their latest.

The Yess frame comes in 10 Sizes (Mini, Junior, Expert, Pro-, Pro, ProXL, Pro XXL, Expert Cruiser, Pro Cruiser and XL Cruiser), with “Rider Area” lengths ranging from 18-22.5. On-site powder coating allows buyers to color their world in a wide range of finishes. Each and every one hand made, with pride, in British Columbia.

What is a killer frame without a killer fork. Yess is bringing the above expert fork to market, and is currently working to make some design refinements to the traditional Yess Pro-Sized fork. Shown in Expert size on the demo bike of Justin Hailey, the expert Yess fork is made of 7005 aluminum, weighs 410 grams and will retail for under $150. Stock finishes will be matte black and gloss white, but as noted above in-house powder coating allows Yess to do custom frame-fork color pairings.

ANARCHY BMX

BMX racing tends to play “hot-potato” with brand names. A brand may hop between four or five owners over the course of a decade. There are various reasons for this, but generally it involves an acquisition of one company by another, or the previous owner losing it in an all-night poker game after the NORA Cup (ok, maybe not so much the second one–usually it’s not poker).

Smilin Bill Ryan acquired the Anarchy BMX brand when they liquidated their assets in US Bankruptcy Court in 2009-2010. Reinvigorated by Bill’s vision, Anarchy is back for 2012 with a newly-designed frame, and designs on a new base of fans for the circle-A. The way Bill tells it, there will be an Anarchy team, with two pros repping the line. Five sizes will come to market (Expert XL, Pro, Pro XL, Pro XXL and Pro Cruiser), in three colors (“natural,” as shown, gloss black and acid green). The Anarchy avails itself of all the in-house tech know the Supercross BMX shop is known for, and that goes for materials too–with the familiar Easton Taper-wall downtube as the SX Envy, as well as the same head tube and seat mast. Of course, the Anarchy will be its own man, with an all-its-own rear triangle, top tube and optimized geometry. Streeting soon at $399.

SUPERCROSS BMX

While still hangin with Bill, we got some skinny on the weight-loss plan the 2012 Envy will be showin when it hits the track soon. Slimmed-down dropouts, with a stiffer, ovalized seatstay brace, ovalized flare at the junction between the seat mast and the bottom bracket, to allow for more weld area, and some advanced trickery in dialing in all the little details–this year the position of the clip-on brake cable guides was scrutinized and optimized to allow a better path from the lever to the “noodle” out back. Envy will stay at $499 for anodized colors and $549 for the mirror-polish (sunglasses not included).

Down the calendar a few pages, Supercross BMX will also be releasing its SLTi fork–which is the traditional SLT fork we all know and love, but with the addition of an integrated bearing race. The Blur line of frames will keep rollin strong as they have been, but with a re-jiggered 012 color palette (new colors: matte red–which gives you an ano look at a powder price, granny smith apple green, cola brown).

HYPER BICYCLES

After a good showing in WalMart (as BMX racing bikes go) last year, the mass market Donny Robinson bike is back for 2012, with a new paint-scheme which echoes that of the bike Donny will actually be riding (and that he just started talking about on Twitter yesterday). The all-white livery is said to be a silent tribute to dR’s decade-ago Powerlite AA-pro teammate, Mario Soto, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in his prime (at 22 years old) on January 16, 2001.

The 2012 dR replica will still retail for $99, but will be sold exclusively through walmart.com (and can be available for pickup at any local WalMart store in North America within a couple days). This, like the first dR replica, is an impressive starter scoot, and makes an awesome loaner bike at the local track. Think about going in with a buddy or two and donating a couple to your track.

Jud Ciancio, fresh off his NBL title win at this month’s Grand National tells us that we will see a renewed dedication to racing by Hyper in 2012, complete with a redesigned, reengineered frame. Though samples were not available to show in time for Interbike, News will get a gander at them in the coming weeks and post the first photos up for your droolage.

PROFILE RACING

A nice island plot of real estate in the “BMX Zone,” Profile had the full wagon rolled out at Interbike. All the freestyle goodies popular with that crowd, as well as the Elite hubs and classic Profile chromo cranks that racers of all ages put on their Santa list.

This time out, Corey, Gus and the gang had something ExtraSpecialPrimoGood to show: The new Profile Elite Cranks (main photo at top). We first saw these at last year’s Disney Cup under cloak of secrecy, and only after a John Gotti-esque vow of silence. For their first flash before a live audience, the Elites were gussied up in megabuck gold plating for show-goers to ooh and ahh over.

The Elite cranks were designed and prototyped by the hands of Profile Racing founder, Jim Alley–who was the creator of the earlier generations of Profile cranks as well. Awesome to see the long-time innovators of the sport’s favorite products still breaking new ground, 40 years after the first machines were turned on.

As with many new goodies on the racing side, the ABA grands is the target street date for the Elite Cranks, with many of the popular mail order vendors hand-shaking on their initial orders at the show.

On the come-out roll, Profile will release 175 and 180mm, but 160, 165, 170, 172.5, 177, 182 and maybe even 185 will be coming soon after. Street price is still being chewed on, but with indication they will be less than “the main competitor” (who do you s’pose THAT could be). The kit will includes bossless arms, outboard bearing bottom bracket, chromo spindle and four-bolt spider (optional Ti spindle will also be available).

Finishes are still being finalized, but it’s likely there will be a satin-nickel coating, an “ED coating” which has many properties of flat black oxide, and the rest is strictly on a “we’ll see” basis. Gus indicated that these new bad-boys would not be available in the signature “Triple Chrome” as many old schoolers might like to see. This is partially a matter of cost, but also owing to the fact that “show chrome” is not what it used to be. The EPA has imposed strict regulations on the process and materials platers can use, which has a dulling effect on both their business, and the end product.

CONTINUE TO PART II

2012 Redline Flight Frames

The 2012 Redline Flight frames are all dressed up, with someplace to go…and that is right to the front of your favorite local, Redline Cup, National, or Grands Main Event.

Be the first on your motosheet to gate up with the eye-popping 2012 livery–which reminds us of the reason we started loving Redline in the first place–the 1978 Pro Line. Of course, the oh-twelve model has all the speed-of-flight geometry you have been hearing about in the pits from top stars like Alise Post, Denzel Stein and another guy…what’s his name…oh yeah, the current ABA National Number One Pro, Sam Willoughby.

A dozen sizes guarantee that you can match-up with every member of your family, from 4-64

BMX photogs, the world over never tire of seeing a well-put-together Redline in the viewfinder–usually right up front, where the action is.

And at $269.95 at J&R Bicycles, it is economy class cash, with first class cred.

Get a load of the full sizing matrix and other scoop over on J&R’s site.

Product Spotlight is Presented by:

He Shoots, He Scores, With the Contour 1080 HD

Video is finding its game in BMX Racing, with homegrown rider edits popping up all over YouTube and, and the super-slick pro flicks produced by the likes Clay Porter and Corrine Walder’s Shanaze Reade series.

Freestyle has had the video thing wired tight for more than a few years, with companies, riders and fans all releasing their own “edits” to tell the world about their favorite scene, brand, rider, cause and undiscovered street spot.

As the name implies, Contour’s 1080P HD captures your action in 1080p HD video. It’s 135-degree wide-angle lens is great for placing strategically next to a jump, or on a first-turn hay bail to grab the pack thundering through in the main.

Of course, what would the sights be without the sounds? The Contour features an integrated, multi-direction microphone, to capture all ambient audio.

All this sounds spendy, right? Well, Contour says “CUT!” to that kind of thinking. The 1080 is only $249, and includes Camera, helmet mount, 2GB SD card, USB cable and rechargeable battery all in the box.

And if you’re thinking “outside the box,” then Contour has a ton of specialty mounts and accessories for your new cam, which will get your electronic eye in places your still camera could never creep.

Hit up J&R Bicycles for more info, and to get your 1080 on the road to your door.

Product Spotlight is Presented by:

VSI Serves Up Some New Haul-Axle Hardware

The rubber meets the dirt on two new frame incarnations from the folks behind Intense BMX and Speed Bicycles.

The “Intense Podium LTD” (above) brings the 20mm axle craze to the Intense BMX product line for the first time, with a run of modified frames (Pro-size-and-higher, including the Pro Cruiser (21″ TT) and Pro Cruiser + (21.5″ TT) frames). The LTD will tip the scales six-ounces lighter than the current mojito, and be dressed up in a special black, red and chrome paint scheme. Yes, you read that right…”chrome” paint. Coolness…just like those Vodafone F1 rockets! The one above is a pearl white paint-up done for Arielle Martin, and was seen today in the OTC bike rack chatting with the “old-new” AMV15 ride that we saw at the Chula Vista National, nine days ago. No word on which ride gets “top bunk” privileges, but we’re betting “newer is better.”

On the Speed side of the hizzouse, Marc Willers & ‘mates will be eyeballin’ what News is callin’ the “Black Speed” limited-edition of the M520 (Pro), M533 (Pro XL) and M546 (Pro XXL) on the 20″ line, and M534 Cruiser (21″ TT) and a new, larger M547 (21.5″ TT) among the big bikes. This Speed sports the same spiffy geometry and style points of the original recipe, but with the six-ounce subtraction also found in its first cousin, above (and, of course the 20mm axle we have seen before with the traditional Speed livery).

Each nameplate will get about 225 of these limited-edition lookers, and they’ll be ready to roll off your local dealer’s showroom floor, or hit the UPS jetstream from your favorite mail order in early June (just in time for the shank of the summer season).

MSRP will hold the line at $399, but due to increased manufacturing and materials costs, a headset will no longer be included. Both the Intense and Speed versions will come with necessary adapters to run a 10mm or 20mm axle in the frame.

In addition to the frame-only option, you can open up the throttle of coolness to full, and pick up one of their “Pro-Build” kits. The kits include a full range of THE, ITS and Sinz Elite items, like the new iHub straight-pull spoke wheels (used by David Herman, among others), Sinz Elite Pro Carbon CFC forks (10- or 20-Mil) or Sinz Elite XXX cranks. You can also get the DXR (crank) option.

Check out www.intensebmx.com and www.speedbicycles.com for a dealer near you. You’ll want to get yours reserved before Mayday.

Sneak Peek at Redline’s 2011 Race Completes

On June 8, BMXNEWS reported an early spy photo of the 2011 Flight paint scheme, from the ABA Summer Nationals in Roseville, CA. Yesterday, Redline posted a video preview of their 2011 Flight Pro XXL complete bike on their Facebook page. Awesome specs by the Seattle set!

Today, News brings you some static images of the Flight Pro XXL in the video (above), as well as the micro and the 24. Also, for those flying economy class, here is a shot of the Proline Pro XL, Micro and for those from-and-now-in the golden years of BMX racing, the gold-parts-laden Proline Pro 24.

Nothing in the way of detailed specs just yet, but you can bet your bottom bracket we’ll bring them to you once available.

2011 Redline Flight Pro Micro

2011 Redline Flight Pro 24

2011 Redline Proline Pro XL

2011 Redline Proline Micro

2011 Redline Proline Pro 24

Speedline Has the Silver Billet

Having the trickest scoot in staging is not always about maxing out your Centurion Card to get those depleted-plutonium brake studs. Lots of times, it is as simple as finding the “limited edition” runs of the products you already know and love. Back in February, BMXNEWS reported on some new-gen Speedline cranks which were being cranked out in black-only. Well, you know how that goes, as soon as you put black on the street, someone wants white (or, in this case “natural”).

Never one to overlook the wants and desires of the customer, smilin’ Bill Ryan whipped up a small batch of the natural “silver billet” edition. What these also have that moves the trickness meter ever further to the right is black-laser etching. Of the process, Bill says:

“It is a very costly and time-consuming process to do (black laser etching) on billet aluminum, so this may be the only run… or the price will be significantly higher to cover the extra steps to do the black laser.”

So if you like the look, now is the time to get them. They are available at all local Supercross BMX Dealers and of course J&R Bicycles the exclusive Mail Order Source for the Speedline Mini SX cranks in this Polished finish. And all of the Polished/Black Speedline Mini Cranks all come with a five-bolt spider. Sizes are from 140-170mm, in 5mm increments.

Speed Gets Speedier

When you’re rollin’, you’re rollin’. Only a calendar page or so has gone by since Toby Henderson’s “Speed” brand name hit the stores and tracks of America. Many thought we’d see some kind of news from Speed come next season, as the “2.0″ gets booted up. Well, BMXNEWS got wind of this exclusive, which will be danced in front of dealers at the upcoming Interbike trade show.

Toby took some tips from MTB tech to bring to BMX what they are calling the Speed “Rolling Chassis.” The centerpiece of this innovation is the hollow 20-millimeter axle (check it out in the photo…dramatic) and related hardware built specifically to accept the burly hub. The larger axle brings a heretofore unseen stiffness to the chassis. Toby explained it this way in a release prepped for News:

“This is the first, real, significant evolution in BMX frame design since the chromoly unicrown fork. Our testing indicates that a racer will have a significant speed advantage out of the gate, down the straight and while cornering over other racers on frames with traditional axle configurations.

With (the Rolling Chassis), you don’t lose valuable power through flex. We’ve had people testing this for the past few months and one thing they all agree on is that the bike accelerates fast. Because more of your power goes into propelling the bike forward, you can go down the track faster using the same or less energy as you would on a normal bike.”

In addition to the revolutionary axle system, the Rolling Chassis “iHub” also features straight-pull spokes, further boosting torsional rigidity, making for stronger wheels. Straight-pull spokes are approximately 30 percent stronger than J-bend spokes and there are no hub flanges to break. The six-double pawl cassette body fits Shimano-compatible cogs.

So, the inevitable question, whenever talking about “future-tech:” How soon, and how much? Well, let’s just say it looks like you’d be able to gate up at the ABA Grands aboard one. As for the how much, MSRP for the whole shootin match will be $1495. But remember that you’re getting frame, fork, stem, headset and wheels in the bargain.

Speed will offer the Rolling Chassis in five sizes including M 408 (Expert XL), M 520 (Pro), M 533 (Pro XL), M 546 (Pro XXL) and M 534 (24” Pro Cruiser). Here’s a little 007 for ya: the numeric names represent the length of the top tube, in millimeters (Pro XL is darn-near 21″).

More information will be available on the Speed Website (http://www.speed-bicycles.com/) in the coming weeks (Interbike is September 22-24 in Las Vegas), but News felt you’d want this info as soon as we got our hot little hands on it.

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