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Brakes & Gears Etc

Funn release ‘UpDown’ dropper post

Updates on DH stem and pedal range too

It’s been seventeen years since Funn first started making components – for mountainbikes only – and in that time many riders have won numerous World Cups and World Championships running their hardware.

Funn were on the ball early with the movement to wider bars and now in a market place flooded with similar products it’s good to see them still making high quality, well finished components for the hardcore rider. We met up with Dominic from Funn on his recent visit to the UK, to get a full insight on their latest developments. With Funn being a component sponsor of the ‘Propain Dirt Zelvy’ team you can guarantee they’ll be getting plenty of real world feedback from the boys.

“Another welcome partner to the team is Funn Components who we have signed with for both seasons and I’m pleased to say they will be decking our bikes out with their bars, stems, grips, cranks, chain guides, chainrings, seat posts, saddles and seat clamps. Funn is a company I used ride for myself back in my Iron Horse days; for me these guys really set the standard with modern handlebar geometry that a lot of companies seemed to follow. I remember getting way too attached to my Funn ‘Full On’ handlebars and have since found it hard to have the same comfortable feel.”  Ben Reid, Dirt Propain Zelvy Team.

Here’s some key products from the current range, with new additions being launched at the forthcoming Eurobike show.

RSX STEM

This is Funn’s direct mount DH stem and it’s constantly evolving, getting lighter in weight, stiffer and stronger. It’s a best seller for them and a core component within their range. CNC machined from 6061 aluminium, this stem is two separate pieces (rather than a one piece lower like the Renthal Integra) and is adjustable between 45mm and 50mm in length, very similar in design to Easton’s Havoc 35 DM stem. There are options for the rise – 20mm or 30mm – and also a bar clamp diameter of either 31.8mm or the more recent 35mm size.

Weighing in between 137g and 160g, the RSX stem is competitively light and compares well to the Renthal which hits the scales at 131g -179g depending on spec. The Easton Havoc equivalent weighs 110g.

There’s plenty of choice when it comes to colours too, with red, orange, blue, black and gunmetal grey (as shown here) all being available. With plenty of spec and finish options, this RSX stem would sit well on any premium downhill bike.

PRICE: £54.99 (35mm clamp)

UPDOWN DROPPER POST

Funn’s first dropper arrives at a time when there’s a flood of new posts hitting the market. Dropper posts have been growing in popularity for years and most new designs are solving the problems which put riders off the early designs. ‘A design for riders by riders’ is Funn’s tagline for the simply named UpDown post and they’ve had plenty of feedback from their test crew.

Built with AL7075, it keeps the weight of the post realistic (considering the price) but doesn’t compromise the strength that is required for abuse. The cartridge design means easier maintenance and servicing – and for a long life. Replacement cartridges are readily available from Funn.

Though it’s built for external cable routing only, a unique cable guide system is design onto the dropper post to give slickly integrated and tidy routing on the bike. Not everyone is running a ‘stealth’ type internally routed dropper post and indeed we’ve had test bikes recently in at Dirt that stick with this easily maintained external cabling.

External routing may seem more vulnerable to damage but it’s easily accessed for maintenance and trouble shooting. The Airdrop Edit and many of the 2017 Marin range stick with this set up.

We’re seeing the ergonomics of the lever design getting much more attention with weight and bulk dropping too. The UpDown’s remote lever is a full CNC 4 way mount system that allows you tweak the remote position on your handlebar for optimal control.
Another key performance characteristic in the UpDown is that you won’t have a situation of a saddle pulling up when the post is in the lowerest position while you lift the bike from the saddle – a problem we see on a few of the posts currently on the market. A one piece forged head and single bolt clamp aims to give easy adjustment and keeps things simple.

Funn’s dropper is available in one length (422mm) and with a 125mm stroke – good for most trail bikes. Will we see a longer 150mm+ post from Funn in the future? It seems more brands are giving this option, which certainly suits taller riders. Seatpost diameters of the usual 30.9mm and 31.6mm are offered. Weight for the UpDown post and lever is 605g.

Available in the UK from end of August.

PRICE: £196.99

BLACK MAGIC FLAT PEDALS

With a body made from fibre glass reinforced thermoplastic, derived from recycled PET drinks bottles, these flat pedals give a good blend of affordability and functionality with a sound environmental slant. Eight ‘Mount Everest’ pins on each side are removable but not adjustable in height, giving good traction. A concave platform centre and no inner bearing bulge (to interfere with foot placement) is a real plus point for us here at Dirt. These pedals are available with different coloured pins for to add that custom touch to your transmission.

The shape and size of this pedals is good – with dimensions of 103mm x 98mm x17mm they compare well to our Dirt 100 favourites like the DMR Vault and NS Radiance. These Black Magic pedals roll smoothly on a chromoly steel axle with a self lubricating DU bushing and cartridge bearing. A small socket tool is included with the package – this slots over the pins and aids removal and adjustment; a nice touch.

At 360g, these Black Magic pedals are lighter than many of the more expensive options on the market. If they go the distance and shrug off the beating of a British winter these could be a sound choice for a lightweight yet affordable pedal.

PRICE: £40.99

PYTHON FLAT PEDALS

New to us here at Dirt and looking very promising are Funn’s Python flat pedal. Fully CNC’d from 6061 aluminium, these flats have a low profile keeping your feet placed close to the axle. Like Funn’s Black Magic pedals, these don’t have the inboard bearing bulge that often disturbs foot placement. Traction and grip is good, with the machined body has a concave central section with additional grooved and ridged sections working well with each side’s twelve pins. There’s plenty of space for mud to drop through, and with high quality, self-lubricating cartridge bearings make these Pythons a sound choice for wet riding conditions.

The size of these pedals stacks up well against the best out there, with measurements of W101mm x L101mm x H11mm – slimmer but a touch narrower than the benchmark DMR Vaults.

Not only do the dimensions and the bearing stack up, but also the weight too. These Pythons are only 375g a pair which compares well considering the Nuke Proof Sam Hill Horizons we’ve grown to love are 423g/pr with Cro-mo axles.

A good shape, quality bearings and a low weight – these look promising.

PRICE: To be confirmed.

MAMBA CLIP PEDAL

For those DH and gravity riders ‘clipping in’ there is an ever increasing range of pedals to choose from. We’ve always rated the Crank Brothers Mallet DH highly but more recently the HT X2 pedals (Gwin’s choice) have earned themselves a place in the 2016 Dirt 100 selection. Now Funn have the Mamba pedal, which is aimed at this market – DH racing and those trail/enduro riders looking for more support when riding clipped in, with shoes such as the Giro Chamber.

Unusually, these Mambas are available with a double or single sided clip-in mechanism, giving the rider the option for a pedal that is flat on one side (with pins) but with a binding on the other; an interesting option. We’ve got the double sided in to test – and we feel this is what most riders would choose – and is comparable to the two key players on the market.

With an adjustable spring on the binding (as with the HT pedals but not the Mallets) you can vary the release tension, adding more security in race conditions or easier exit if you’re new to clipping in. The 6061 aluminium platform is huge… at W101mm x L102mm x H13.4mm these are much longer and wider than the comparable HT pedal. Testing, with various shoes on a variety of tracks, will prove whether this increased size has a benefit. Four pins (there’s one at each corner) give added traction –  these pedals will suit the largest of feet and give support to the most flexible soled SPD shoes. The slim profile keeps you planted close to axle, an area where this style of pedal is an improvement over early examples.

Mud won’t be a problem with these Mamba pedals – there’s very little area for it to stick to, and with high quality bushings and bearings (as on all Funn’s pedals), longevity should be good year round.

Although the release tension is adjustable, some riders may find it a touch too easy to exit the pedal. Our main test rider reported this as his only real criticism and ultimately it comes down to personal taste. With the Crank Brothers Mallet DH (and Mallet E) you are stuck with the factory setting, whereas with these Mambas you can at least experiment with what suits you best.

PRICE: £119.99

We’ll be fully testing this hardware over the next few months and reporting back with the results.

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