After a solid day of testing, we take a look at the first full suspension bike to come from Production Privée. Mid travel, mid sized wheels and a full steel frame construction. AN INCREDIBLY ENGAGING BIKE.
Words and Images: White and Jones
Steel has plenty of history in the world of mountainbiking. It’s the material that most of the early production bikes’ frames were constructed from, back in the days of a fully rigid ride. Evidently, the mainstream brands have now moved on from ferrous tubing. Suspension has been added too, and has rapidly evolved and so has geometry and sizing. The resulting developments are all rolled out in the carbon and aluminium trail and enduro bikes that most of us ride today. But is this the best approach?
It seems that in 2017, the renewed interest in steel has come mainly from frame building workshops (such as The Bicycle Academy), handbuilt bike shows or adventure riding. However, we were recently blown away by two machines from Starling, a frame builder based in Bristol. Both were full suspension trail bikes, the 27.5” wheel Swoop and the Murmur 29er, and instantly proved themselves on the hill. Then we heard that Production Privée had a steel trail bike in development…
‘I CANNOT WAIT to ride that bike!’ – Steve Jones, Dirt.
