Interbike Finale (Part 1)
SRAM, Avid, Canfield and Rocky Mountain, .

Words and Photos Cam McRae  (unless noted)

SRAM continues to push.  Their Boxxer World Cup, at a smidge over 6 lbs, was a big hit with the downhill crowd in 2006.  It remains unchanged for 2007 because everyone seemed to like it.  Product managers have caught the Totem bug as well and there were more 1.5" head tube bikes at Interbike than ever before - to allow the option of the Totem as a spec option and to allow for zero stack headsets and greater weld contact. Like the Boxxer WC the Totem is air sprung and it weighs in at 6.3 lbs.  Stuart Kernaghan saw all the new goodies in Moab this spring so if you want the details skip over to his article on the launch. He nailed pretty much everything but a few details caught my eye at the show and I'll lay them out for you below.


The Rock Shox Domain - a bargain fork that looks very promising.  Kyle and Kevin from Transition raved about this fork.


SRAM's rapid trickle down continues to bear fruit. The new X9 shifter employs SRAM's awesome zero loss technology (as soon as you begin to put pressure on either trigger the derailleur begins to move) and the X0's dual position adjustment.  It lacks the carbon cover and the adjustable thumb trigger of the XO but otherwise it's all there.


Two controls - one clamp.  Taking another page out of the Shimano book, SRAM/Avid is now offering a clamp that will hold your Avid brake lever and your SRAM shifter in place.  You can still mount the shifter either inboard or outboard by switching the clamps from the right side of your bar to the left. A very nice touch that will make swapping a bar very easy as well as keeping things clean and tidy on your bar.

We've been seeing the Totem for some time now but this is something I just learned. Using this drain/fill hole and the same syringe system used to bleed Juicy brakes, you can change the lube in a Totem without doing any dissassembly.  Nailing it for the home mechanic.

Here's a cutaway of a Code Lever.  Very John Dillinger.  Steve Peat and others are experimenting with a Juicy Ultimate lever and a Code Caliper. 

Here's a close look at the Juicy Ultimate Caliper.  This is not a DH or freeride designated product and the largest rotors available are 185mm.

Back to the cutaway theme - here's a Fox DHX Air shock cut right down the middle. 

And a look inside a Marzocchi Roco Coil.

The Canfield Balance is an almost 6" travel machine that can be spec'ed to suit your needs.  Here it is in XC trim with an aluminum front triangle.  Photo ~ David Ferguson


And here's a burlier beauty with a Chromoly front end.  All Balance frames have a 7005 aluminum rear triangle and 7075 link plates.  Thier Lucky Freeride frame is still in development.  Nice to see the brothers continuing to make killer frames.  Photo ~ David Ferguson


Here's another look at the Slayer SXC.  It's a pound lighter than the regular Slayer and a little steeper; as the name suggests it edges towards the XC side of the spectrum when compared to the 'regular' Slayer.

Here's a detail shot of the Slayer rear end - complete with carbon upper stays and a Fox DHX Air rear shock.

Here's the Saint equipped RMX 2.0 as piloted by Wade Simmons, Thomas Vanderham and Richie Schley - until recently at least.  The rear end now sports a 12 x 150mm axle and the stays are tapered.  The 2.0 also has a slacker head angle than other RMXs as well as a 1.5" headtube to make way for a close to zero stack height headset. 

Not everyone who purchases an RMX Saint will be eligible for a dream date with Jamie (right) and Tim.  You'll get the jersey for sure though. 

One of our readers was hot after a switch.  I can see his point.  A solid bike with a solid spec and a hue that would make Kermit proud.  It's certainly burlier than the Slayer and it sports another inch of travel on each end but it's also less versatile. 
I know, I know - I said this would be the last.  I don't think I'm done though.  Tonight I didn't get as much work done as a I thought because I was at the New World Disorder premiere.  The venue was tricky but it was a good time for sure.   I can't wait to sit down with the remote and really soak it in. 

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