Kansai Plascon arrived at the 2017 Absa Cape Epic with two teams riding FRM’s Anakin full suspension cross-country race bikes (with the exception of Max Knox who is sponsored by Rocky Mountain). While there were a collection of Anakin’s to feature: Mirko Pirazzoli’s bike was the pick of the bunch with the most exotic technology at this year’s Absa Cape Epic.
The reason this bike is fitted with all the FRM wizardry is because Mirko Pirazzoli is the company’s CEO. He is also no slouch on a bike, having raced professionally in the past, and placing 27th in the men’s category at this year’s Cape Epic.
FRM is obsessed with lightweight mountain bike components and Mirko’s Anakin is a prime example. He claims that his dual suspension Anakin weighs in at 9.2 kilograms (excluding bottle cages and pedals).
The carbon components are all hand-made in Italy and it takes an entire work day to create a single Anakin frameset, partly due to the six-hour carbon bake time.
The golden weave is apparently not simply an intricate paint job, but a material called Zylon which has a greater breaking resistance than kevlar. It is also used to make the cables on Formula One cars to ensure that the wheels do not detach in crashes. The gold colour is similar in appearance to the skin of the Cape Cobra, explaining the bikes name.
Mirko is proud of the special touches FRM can add in the manufacturing of their the carbon components, including the embossed FRM logo on the side of the top tube which he claims no factory in the East can replicate.
The Anakin features a lightweight DT Swiss X 313 shock with a carbon sleeve which DT Swiss claim weighs 165 grams. Mirko has tuned the bike and shock in a way that he can run the shock with no sag but it will still produce a supple initial travel: or so he claims. The fork is produced by fellow Italian brand Formula. Mirko’s Thirty3 (a reference to the stanchion diameter) is set to 120 mm travel.
The derailleur, cassette, chain, and shifters are from SRAM’s XX1 Eagle groupset. The gold option a (rare) appropriate choice for the Anakin frame. The FRM cranks are made from scandium alloy and are fitted with an oval FRM chainring with a narrow-wide tooth profile. Mirko has also fitted a small prototype chainguide and a SRM power meter.
The wheels are also built up with FRM components. The Evo Carbon rims have a 30 mm internal diameter and weigh 375 grams. The hubs carry the Meteor name, and like the rims, are also made in Italy. The hub bearings, and those on the frame, have undergone treatment by Zero Factory which promises a 35 percent decrease in friction and improved wear resistance.
The FRM Vader saddle uses a carbon monocoque shell with a strip of rubber placed down its length for some cushioning. The saddle is said to weigh 80 grams. Then there is the seat post on which the Vader sits. It is a carbon adjustable seat post (simply labeled JBG 2) with 60 mm of vertical travel. Mirko explained that it weighs a mere 220 grams.
Chatting to Mirko Pirazzoli, it is clear that he is very proud of his creation.
Full specifications:
- FrameFRM Anakin Cape Cobra
- ForkFormula Thirty3 120mm
- ShockDT Swiss X 313
- Rear DerailleurSRAM XX1 Eagle
- ShiftersSRAM XX1 Eagle
- CassetteSRAM XX1 Eagle
- ChainSRAM XX1 Eagle
- CranksetFRM CU3
- ChainringFRM N-C Power NS Boost 34 tooth
- ChainguideFRM Prototype
- PowermeterSRM PowerMeter
- BrakesFormula R1 Racing
- Brake RotorsFormula 160mm
- RimsFRM Evo Carbon i30
- HubsFRM Meteor (bearings treated by Zero Factory)
- SpokesSapim CX Ray
- HeadsetFRM D-Set
- TyresSpecialized Renegade 2Bliss
- HandlebarFRM Carbon
- StemFRM HS-M156 ti
- SaddleFRM Vader Carbon
- SeatpostFRM Prototype with 60mm travel
- PedalsShimano XTR
