Tech

Bikes of the Epic: Hermann Pernsteiner’s Centurion Numis XC

· By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 29 comments

German brand Centurion are a little known name in the South African context, but have been producing bikes since 1976. We chatted to one of their engineers about the new Numis XC, a bike specifically designed around the riding format of events like the Absa Cape Epic.

The Numis XC is based on the Numis Team, a bigger longer travel brother which the Centurion Vaude team rode on some stages in 2015. The Centurion Vaude team are an integral part of the research and development for this and other Centurion bikes and no doubt the demands they’ve faced at the Absa Cape Epic have strongly influenced the direction of the Numis XC.

The Numis XC has seen about 100g shaved off the frame weight and features a more racey 100mm travel front and rear, down from the 120mm design on the version they rode in 2015. The update includes a redesigned suspension platform to accommodate a second bottle cage within the front triangle which is individually designed for each size of the bike.

The frame paint job and the decals on the SR Suntour fork and Tune rims are custom for this year’s Cape Epic.

Centurion Numis XC-1.jpg

Specification list:

  • FrameCenturion Numis XC
  • ForkSR Suntour AXON Werx
  • ShockSR Suntour UNAIR
  • RimsTune manufactured by Bike Ahead Carbon
  • Front HubTune Princess Skyline
  • Rear HubTune Kong Boost
  • Front TyreSchwalbe Rocket Ron Snakeskin 2.25
  • Rear TyreSchwalbe Racing Ralph Snakeskin 2.25
  • HandlebarsPRC Procraft Carbon
  • StemPRC Alloy
  • HeadsetTune Alpin
  • BrakesMagura MT8
  • ShiftersSRAM XX1
  • DerailleursSRAM XX1
  • CassetteSRAM X01
  • CranksetSRAM XX1
  • ChainringAbsoluteblack + SRM Powermeter
  • ChainSRAM XX1
  • PedalsLook S-Track Carbon Ti
  • SeatpostPRC Carbon
  • SaddleSelle Italia Team Edition

Centurion Numis XC-5.jpg
Centurion Numis XC-2.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-3.jpg
Centurion Numis XC-4.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-7.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-6.jpg
Centurion Numis XC-11.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-8.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-9.jpg
Centurion Numis XC-10.jpg

Centurion Numis XC-12.jpg
Centurion Numis XC-13.jpg

Related posts

Comments

Adrian Fogg

Mar 18, 2016, 12:56 PM

Got to love the Epic, all this bike porn!!!

chim50

Mar 18, 2016, 12:58 PM

Very Nice Bike..What does it weigh?

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 18, 2016, 1:01 PM

very similar to the VIPA, aesthetically speaking. 

robsc

Mar 18, 2016, 1:08 PM

Beautiful bike 

Guest notmyname

Mar 18, 2016, 1:10 PM

Chain ring chowing the swing arm.

nonky

Mar 18, 2016, 1:20 PM

Chain ring chowing the swing arm.

the chainstay?

Hilton.

Mar 18, 2016, 1:23 PM

I count a 32 tooth 1x round chainring there. If the chainring is already chowing the swing arm / chainstay, then they obviously can't run a 34t, even if they wanted to.

 

This makes me think that the bike wasn't designed with 1x drivetrains in mind. A boost frame design would likely help here, or a newer narrower chainstay, at least at that point?

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 18, 2016, 1:24 PM

the chainstay?

Yup 

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 18, 2016, 1:25 PM

I count a 32 tooth 1x round chainring there. If the chainring is already chowing the swing arm / chainstay, then they obviously can't run a 34t, even if they wanted to.

 

This makes me think that the bike wasn't designed with 1x drivetrains in mind. A boost frame design would likely help here, or a newer narrower chainstay, at least at that point?

They probably ran a 34 or 36 for a bit and then noticed the rub. It's just superficial, by the looks of things 

Guest notmyname

Mar 18, 2016, 1:25 PM

the chainstay?

Sorry. Complete brain far. You're correct, chainsaw. Must be this CT air.

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 18, 2016, 1:26 PM

Sorry. Complete brain far. You're correct, chainsaw. Must be this CT air.

don't blame us for your arsefartery

dev null

Mar 18, 2016, 1:34 PM

Interesting that they are using an X01 cassette, and not an XX1.

Guest

Mar 18, 2016, 6:09 PM

Sorry. Complete brain far. You're correct, chainsaw. Must be this CT air.

What?

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 18, 2016, 6:14 PM

What?

He means chainstay

Guest

Mar 18, 2016, 6:15 PM

He means chainstay

I know. Just kidding around. :whistling:

Eddie26

Mar 18, 2016, 6:28 PM

Nice to see the South African flag included in the paint design

DJuice

Mar 22, 2016, 4:27 AM

Thanks Nick.

Love this bike!

GLuvsMtb

Mar 22, 2016, 4:58 AM

Nice to see something else but an RS1 on a bike. I think the 120mm version may do well in SA.

Guest notmyname

Mar 22, 2016, 5:17 AM

don't blame us for your arsefartery

FML

raptor-22

Mar 22, 2016, 5:53 AM

Scott,centurion, momsen, swift, cannondale all converging on a very similar design of single pivot

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 22, 2016, 6:03 AM

Scott,centurion, momsen, swift, cannondale all converging on a very similar design of single pivot

yeah, pivot points above the chainring in order to reduce the effect of pedalling on suspension movement. 

NotSoBigBen

Mar 22, 2016, 6:14 AM

yeah, pivot points above the chainring in order to reduce the effect of pedalling on suspension movement. 

 

My son and I were surmising over the weekend that perhaps we won't see much 'real' development/change in frame design (including pivots etc. beyond what we know). Besides the styling and visual changes we see lately that is but rather see bigger steps in the development of the technology in forks/shocks?

 

man my engrish can be terrible but y'all know what I mean ;)

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Mar 22, 2016, 6:18 AM

My son and I were surmising over the weekend that perhaps we won't see much 'real' development/change in frame design (including pivots etc. beyond what we know). Besides the styling and visual changes we see lately that is but rather see bigger steps in the development of the technology in forks/shocks?

 

man my engrish can be terrible but y'all know what I mean ;)

yeah. Pretty much, IMO. Apart from things like the DELTA link, which is nothing more than an adaptation of the single pivot, designed to make the suspension curve more progressive than a garden variety single pivot design would be. 

 

It's all refinements at the moment. Not many more ways that you can suspend a bike than what there are at the moment. Obviously pivot placement and shock placement will always have a role to play, depending on what type of bike it is and what the designers want the characteristics to be, but for the most part it's pretty much the same. 

NotSoBigBen

Mar 22, 2016, 6:26 AM

yeah. Pretty much, IMO. Apart from things like the DELTA link, which is nothing more than an adaptation of the single pivot, designed to make the suspension curve more progressive than a garden variety single pivot design would be. 

 

It's all refinements at the moment. Not many more ways that you can suspend a bike than what there are at the moment. Obviously pivot placement and shock placement will always have a role to play, depending on what type of bike it is and what the designers want the characteristics to be, but for the most part it's pretty much the same. 

 

And then the cynic in me thinks that every year the bike manufacturers will come up with another 'TLA' to ensure future sales as well as the updated colour scheme so that people know we have the latest ;) .... oh and add a gear or few teeth here and there for the component manufactures as they are not immune  :ph34r:

 

I am as guilty as the next person for chasing those off course based on my limited resources where possible  :devil:

Add a comment

You must log in to comment