{"id":64912,"date":"2024-06-01T10:50:39","date_gmt":"2024-06-01T08:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/caa8e157-92e8-4e6e-b920-33c288460509"},"modified":"2024-06-01T11:25:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-01T09:25:29","slug":"5-of-the-fastest-bikes-from-red-bull-hardline-2024","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/5-of-the-fastest-bikes-from-red-bull-hardline-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"5 of the fastest bikes from Red Bull Hardline 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trout-inspired paint, super hard suspension setups and more from the world’s hardest downhill race <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 01 June 2024 at 08:50 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Red Bull Hardline is widely regarded as one of the gnarliest and most demanding race tracks in the world, combining elements of freeride and downhill racing. <\/p>

Hardline has expanded in recent years, with events now taking place worldwide, but it returns to its native Machynlleth, Wales this weekend, with invited riders already taking to the famously challenging course.<\/p>

We\u2019ve been sniffing around the pits, checking out how the fastest contenders have set up their bikes.<\/p>

Hardline is a great place to scope out weird and wonderful setups, with the huge features requiring high pressures in suspension, and tough tyres to deal with large impacts.<\/p>

Here are five of the hottest bikes from Red Bull Hardline 2024.<\/p>

Ronan Dunne’s Mondraker Summun<\/h2>
On the back of his wins at Hardline Australia and his first UCI World Cup in Bielsko-Biata, Ronan Dunne looks in good form. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Red Bull Hardline Australia winner, Ronan Dunne, is riding the same prototype Mondraker Summun as spotted at recent downhill World Cup rounds. <\/p>

\"Ronan
These cups are interchangeable. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The frame features extensive inbuilt geometry adjustment.<\/p>

To start, the switchable headset cups allow for reach measurements to be altered. The rear axle features a flip chip<\/a>, enabling chainstay lengths to be lengthened or shortened.<\/p>

The bottom bracket can be shifted fore and aft to adjust the bike’s front centre.<\/p>

\"Ronan
The bars brace the rear triangle increasing stiffness. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

By fitting swappable plates, the stiffness of the bike’s rear triangle can be adjusted.<\/p>

We saw Dakotah Norton running the plate in the middle setting at Fort William<\/a>. Dunne has been experimenting with running the bike with no plates fitted for Hardline.<\/p>

\"Ronan
Midas has had his way on the front fork. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The bike features full Fox 50th-Anniversary Factory suspension with a 200mm 40 fork up front and a DHX2 shock out back.<\/p>

He’s also using e*thirteen\u2019s unreleased SideKick hub. This acts like a chain decoupler<\/a>, isolating the chain from the suspension linkage.<\/p>

This works similarly to Ochain\u2019s Activer Spider<\/a>, mitigating the effects of pedal kickback.<\/p>

\"Ronan
Dunne keeps it all Saint. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Many Shimano-sponsored riders opt for XTR brakes over Saint brakes, but Dunne paired a full Saint groupset with Saint brakes.<\/p>

\"Ronan
Ronan Dunne’s handlebars are pretty normal compared to his downhill teammate. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Finally, finishing kit is supplied by Mondraker\u2019s in-house OnOff brand, with Dunne forgoing the ape-hanger 75mm rise handlebars we saw on Norton\u2019s bike.<\/p>

Alex Storr\u2019s Forbidden Supernought<\/h2>
\"Alex
Storr has only dabbled with downhill racing to date. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Local rider Alex Storr lines up as a wildcard to Hardline, with most of his two-wheeled palmares from enduro racing<\/a> with team Forbidden Synthesis.\u00a0<\/p>

Storr will swap his usual Dreadnought enduro bike<\/a> for the Supernought \u2013 Forbidden\u2019s downhill bike released last year.<\/p>

\"Alex
Storr will ride this white Supernought on race day. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The frame uses Forbidden\u2019s high-pivot Trifecta suspension system, as seen on its enduro bikes. This reduces pedal kickback to provide more supple suspension performance.<\/p>

\"Alex
The dropouts are easily replaced. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Like many of the best downhill bikes<\/a>, the Supernaught features an array of geometry adjustments. <\/p>

Modular dropouts enable Storr to adjust the rear centre by +\/-10mm from a neutral position.<\/p>

This also gives the option of running the bike in a mullet setup, which Storr has decided to use for Hardline.<\/p>

\"Alex
The Supernought features an 80s-inspired colourway. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Storr is running a 200mm RockShox Boxxer Ultimate up front with 170psi and three tokens. A Vivid Ultimate Coil with a 450lb spring controls the 205mm travel rear end.<\/p>

The bike rolls on Crankbrothers Synthesis DH 11 carbon rims laced to Chris King hubs and booted with Maxxis rubber<\/a>.<\/p>

He’s running an Assegai inflated to 23 psi on the front and a DHR II with 26 psi on the rear. The rear is backed up with a Cushcore tyre insert<\/a>.<\/p>

\"Alex
The red Mavin Ultimate brakes are colour-matched with the Boxxer forks. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Braking comes courtesy of SRAM\u2019s new Maven Ultimate brakes<\/a>. These said to be the brand’s most powerful stoppers ever.<\/p>

The drivetrain is also from SRAM affair with a full X01 DH groupset.<\/p>

\"Alex
Flat pedals win medals. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Storr is an increasingly small minority of riders opting for flat pedals over clipless pedals<\/a>. He’s running Deity\u2019s Tmac pedals for Hardline.<\/p>

Jono Jones’ Propain Rage 3<\/h2>
\"Jono
Jono Jones was wearing a baseball-inspired kit. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Jono Jones\u2019 is riding a custom-painted London Underground map-inspired Propain Rage for Hardline. <\/p>

\"Jono
Going underground. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

There\u2019s no sign of the Central Line, however, with the stations instead renamed after some of his favourite riding locations, events and sponsors.<\/p>

\"Jono
Jones’ bike is set up as a mullet. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The paint job continues onto the 200mm Fox Factory forks and we\u2019re told the rear triangle was also sporting the colourway before a crash earlier in the week forced Jones to replace it.<\/p>

\"Jono
The rear shock stands vertically in the frame. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The Rage uses Propain\u2019s PRO10 suspension system, which gives the bike 215mm of rear suspension travel. This is controlled by a Fox DHX2 Factory rear shock with a 550lb spring on Jones\u2019 bike.<\/p>

\"Jono
A lot of riders chose XTR brakes over Saint brakes. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Jones joins other riders in ditching Shimano\u2019s Saint downhill brakes in favour of XTR stoppers.<\/p>

Elsewhere, he uses a Saint drivetrain with 165mm cranks.<\/p>

The bike sits on a mullet Mavic Deemax DH1 wheelset wrapped in Goodyear rubber.<\/p>

A 27.5in Newton MTR features on the back with a 2.4in width and downhill casing, while the front appears to be a prototype.<\/p>

Jones uses OneUp\u2019s Carbon Handlebar, which should provide buzz-killing forgiveness on the big hits.<\/p>

Szymon Godziek’s Specialized Demo<\/h2>
\"Szymon
Szymon Godziek is a Red Bull sponsored rider. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Polish rider Szymon Godziek is riding Specialized\u2019s current Demo with a custom marbled paint job.<\/p>

\"Szymon
The speckled paint looks amazing. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Godziek’s Demo is setup in a mullet configuration, made possible via flip chips in the bike’s linkage.<\/p>

\"Szymon
Godziek has matched his spokes to his frame. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

A 200mm RockShox Boxxer Ultimate supports the front of the bike while a Super Deluxe Coil Ulitmate sits in the frame damping the 200mm of travel.<\/p>

\"Szymon
Godziek isn’t running the top-spec Maven brakes. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Staying with SRAM Corp, Godziek uses the company\u2019s X01 DH drivetrain and Maven Silver brakes.<\/p>

Up front the bike is specced with a Reverse Nico Vink Series handlebar and Black-One stem.<\/p>

\"Szymon
Godziek is well known for his Red Bull Rampage runs. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The bike rolls on Industry Nine Grade 300 wheels wrapped in Continental Kryptotal tyres front and rear.<\/p>

\"Szymon
The saddle has a BMX-inspired shape. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Godziek opts for a Reverse Nico Vink Shovel and Shred saddle, which features plenty of cushioning \u2013 good heavy landings and cruising around the pits.<\/p>

Adam Brayton’s Nukeproof Dissent<\/h2>
\"Adam
Brayton has leaned into his other love, fishing, for his Hardline outfit. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

While the ultimate destiny of Nukeproof is unclear following the closure of its parent company<\/a>, Wiggle Chain Reaction, Adam Brayton continues to ride his Dissent.<\/p>

\"Adam
Brayton is running a 29in wheels front and rear. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The bike features a trout-inspired custom paint job. This is complemented by Brayton\u2019s angler-inspired racewear, which sees waders superimposed onto the kit.\u00a0<\/p>

\"Adam
Fox has gone all golden with its Anniversary edition forks. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Brayton has specced his bike with 200mm Fox 50th-anniversary Factory 40 fork with a DHX2 in the frame delivering 200mm of travel.<\/p>

\"Adam
Brayton has a habit of sending big jumps to flat landings. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

As a sponsored Hope rider, Brayton receives custom Tech 4 V4 brakes with his catchphrase engraved on the reservoir cap.<\/p>

These are bolted onto a Renthal Fatbar and matching stem.<\/p>

\"Adam
Decouplers look set to become a big talking point in downhill tech. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Brayton uses Ohain\u2019s Active Spider decoupler. This is said to reduce pedal kickback, allowing the rear suspension linkage to articulate with less interference from the chain, improving performance. <\/p>

\"Adam
Hope’s Fortus 30 rims have an internal width of 30mm. – Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The bike rolls on Hope Fortus 30 rims laced to Pro 5 hubs and fitted with Maxxis tyres.<\/p>

An Assegai 2.4in features on the front while a 2.4in DHR II is used on the rear.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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