Talk Wrench

Don't get me started fellas. As one person of many that has the challenging task of speccing bikes, I can tell you it is no easy feat. Spec is driven by demand, but demand is tempered by price. Brakes are expensive, yes, and we as a brand always try to spec as well as possible within the pricing constraints. The real challenge in the market is the perceived idea that bike parts don't get more expensive as time goes by and therefore there should be stasis on bike pricing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Last year Shimano had a global price increase for OEM producers, factories increased their labour charges ( the Chinese are pretty well-paid) and shipping costs all increased. This does not even take into consideration the depreciating currency value for SA market. What used to be a R8000 bike is now about R11-12k just a few years down the line. The reason for decreasing spec so blatantly on brakes and other places, is because the consumer generally expects to see a certain spec level on fork, cranks, shifters and rear derailleur for a given price, year model irrespective. Coupled with demand for other features (tubeless rims and tyres) on low to mid value bikes but expectation of the same retail price and something has to be compromised. The easiest place is brakes, cassette and chain. For us as Saffers, the position of our currency makes it really difficult to ride what we really want. Yet, in the global market, yes, there are unscrupulous manoeuvres to reduce bill of material cost for the sole purpose of profit increase. Our brand has always- and will always drive prices down through cautious speccing, negotiation and reasonable margins. We are not trying to retire off the first bike we sell. AND, we have still been winning design awards while providing the best tech possible for the category while not smashing the consumer's piggy bank.

I know of somebody that bought it for precisely that kind of reason. He is pretty much over the moon with his choice. What size do you need?

Like the video and the kid can ride, with style. This is the second video from SA that I have watched that has "speed" sound effects added. It detracts from the video, if you are going to add something, put in a good soundtrack, but leave electronic "wooshes" out.

Hey Crosschain, Did you get your Sido 1 yet? What's your opinion?

These bikes have a suggested retail of about R33k. Average weight for a medium is 12,12kg, give or take for manufacturing variances.

Because OMX is sponsored by SRAM and opted for the lightest available option at that time. BTW, XX brakes work great if you know how to bleed them. The team had to have a number of Guide brakes replaced by SRAM at last year's Epic.

There will be. For now SB are doing complete machines. Find a mate that needs a components upgrade and split the complete bike between the two of you.

Check what Matthew Keyser and company's parents have ponied up for...Sesta.

That's the problem with most of the lighties and Saffers in general. They have one pair of favourite tackies for their bikes and don't take mud tyres to races. I have changed tyres minutes before the start at Nationals in the past, people looking at me like they know I am mad, only for them to later wonder how the heck did I manage the mud so well. Locals have also not learned from the up and coming has-beens with a very bright future behind them. If it is stupid-muddy, then you wipe the whole frame down with silicone spray (dispense onto cloth first) or spray and cook. Mud tyres are not open tread 2.25" tyres. They are open tread 1.8 or 1.95 max. My personal favourite is/was the Bontrager Mud-X. Personally, I ride a Sesta. I might not be as fast on a flat or a climb as I used to be but most of the time and especially on the descents I ride it like I stole it and these sleds rock(et). This bike has a sense of poise, balance and unreal tracking on a descent that I have yet to encounter in another competitor. Best handling 29'er I have ridden, and I have ridden many.

Preach it Mr X

Well, it looks like these Silverback Sesta bikes are really gaining traction (pun unintended but nonetheless enjoyed). This is no phantom bike and there are plenty of these slick sleds headed to SA. Currently in stock with a consistent stream of continuity planned or at worst, never out of stock for more than two weeks. There have been some brilliant race results on these bikes both locally and internationally now and some of the local youngsters have hit top step on the XC race podiums of late on these awesome machines too. Many non-Silverback dealers are paying attention and signing up too I hear. That is a very good sign. I have reliable info that the 'Hub will be posting a review in the not too distant future as well. They have one in their grubby mitts as we type... Must be a very good reason why certain well-seasoned (and well-known) riders are forsaking their Big C surgeon's tools and Big S full sussers.

Sesta Concept 1.0 size medium. Anybody keen? Somebody caused a small amount of damage to two cable guides in transport but its fully serviceable. In the background the luscious Slider 1 2016 with dropper post and stealth cable routing...

Check Post by Talk Wrench

Here we go. The bike won its first award at Eurobike in concept status (yes, I know, the word "Concept" appears in the name also). (The second award was recently given by the German Design Award council.) Then after further significant development and testing the bike was produced in a limited quantity for the OMX Team to race experimentally in 2015, which they did and very successfully (Prologue win Cape Epic, two top ten overall Cape Epic, other podiums in Cape Epic as well as podiums and wins in Swiss Cup etc.) Not satisfied with the stiffness to weight ratio, SB continued further testing under newer more stringent standards for bikes destined for Euro market. (Most brands on the market likely have not needed to submit existing rigs to be tested with the new standards.) After almost two years of development, SB decides that the current version is market ready, unfortunately testing and remanufacturing with new layups on carbon etc take a lot of time and manufacturers oftentimes take longer to fill the process than stated or desired, this is not the fault of the bike brand generally speaking. Sometimes test-lab equipment even fails and has significant down-time before being redeployed, this did happen in the train of events for Silverback. Currently, the Sesta frame exceeds the industry standards requirements to make certification by about 200%. That is significant especially in light of the new standards. There are a good number of a Ltd edition Sesta landing in the first week of December and then the bulk should arrive in January. As for cost, there is nothing anybody can do about the mighty US $. Check the currency rates a year ago compared to now. Unfortunate collateral damage of politics is bike prices for Saffers.

I see that Silverback made a top-10 honourable mention for one of their fat bikes. Seems like Silverback has done really well at Eurobike this year... What is the feeling about fatbikes in SA? I would love to ride one of these beasts in the dunes.