Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Is that all you read? Yes, a new paint job. Other manufacturers also do it annually, and if you remember there was also a "first look" on the new Giant bikes for 2016 - and some of those ONLY had new paint jobs and a slight difference in componentry This has a new paint job, new componentry & the ability to fit 2 bottles in the front triangle through a new adapter (brand new) No new geo. So no, not a full launch, but a launch nonetheless.

I've been eyeing this one out...

Sweet. It definitely suits the terrain up in Jozi though. Down here, not so much...

As far as I know, yes. Pizza stone on the weber should be used with the indirect method.

It's not a full launch. It's a new paint scheme, with a few extra features. Same geometry and handling characteristics of the original one. Just a few extras, and a new paint scheme. Still prefer the original paint scheme.

Maybe because the Carbon version was 2015 stock, and they're obliged to get rid of old stock to make way for the new? It's called discounting. Common practice in every single industry where there are material goods. And Giant cannot be accused of implementing hugely exaggerated pricing. Far from it...

You're right, my bad... Edited post.

ouch!

what a shot! http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb12517125/p5pb12517125.jpg

awesome http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb12517611/p5pb12517611.jpg http://ep3.pinkbike.org/p1pb6168857/p1pb6168857.jpg Not only do Chris King make some amazing components, but Chris King himself is at the event making breakfast for everyone. Pancakes, eggs and bacon for the win!

Barzo looks to be a more aggressive tread pattern, so should offer a bit more grip than the Segauro (which is generally touted as an XC tyre or a tyre for the rear)

Brilliant

sounds like you have a master builder on your hands, and not just an Emmett!

R 70k to repair that!? BAHAHAHAHHAHA!!! Someone's spinning a few fairies... One Bogus sprayjob and it'll be all better.

no mmatter how completely you build a particular set, they always seem to pack spares...

sid / reba / rev / sektor / XC 32 (new tora) = 32mm Pike / Lyrik / Yari / boxxer = 35mm (lyrik has slightly thicker gauge stanchions though) Totem = 38mm

Look at 1m05 of ratboys run for the sharkfin drop...

Ratboy's run

those look awesome...

I know where I'll be...

I'm borrowing the monkey from Iwan for a while, and I took it to Hoogekraal for a quick spin in the wind yesterday evening. What follows is an accurate representation of my experience and thoughts on the bike... Oh. My. ****. Wow. Just, wow. The stiffness of the frame fork & wheel combo was evident from the get go, and I didn't know quite how to react. It's easily the stiffness bike I've ridden, and I include my old schwinn carbon roadie sled in that list. Granted I'm not the fittest rider out there, and Raydek blasts me on the climbs but it truly was evident in it's climbing prowess. Took a bit of time to get used to, and a bit if time to get used to climbing a hardtail again (bounce bounce bounce over imperfections instead of just absorbing all of them with the rear squish) but when I got enough energy to get out of the saddle, this thing just took it as an invitation to mimic a top fuel dragster. The very short (but adjustable) chainstay length meant I had to keep my wits about me on the steeper switchbacks and hunker over the bars to prevent the front from lifting, but that for me is just a sign of how playful it could be on the way down, and something I can live with in the pursuit of more smiles. Again, it took a bit of getting used to being on a hardtail again, but on the way down this thing excels. The numbers say that with the pike set at 150mm, the head angle is 66 degrees. What those numbers don't tell you is that even though its slacker than most modern day trail / all mountain bikes, this thing turns in like an xc weapon with a 71 deg head angle and the wheelbase of a mosquito. The combination of the Pike, 750mm carbon bars, 50mm stem & ridiculously stiff 40mm carbon Derby wheelset on that sublime steel frame means that the turn in is razor sharp and almost surgical in it's precision. So much so, in fact, that I nearly lost it about 3 or 4 times by over-turning - having to correct my course out of a corner because the bike had been that quick to change direction that it had caught me by surprise. To be honest, I truly don't know how much of that stiffness and accuracy is as a result of Mr Mercer's wizardry in designing such a sublime frame, or whether it's got something to do with those ridiculously stiff Derby wheels, carbon bar & pike, but it's something that I'm going to have to determine by swapping out the wheelset with something a little bit less... boutique. If Iwan lets me, that is. What I do know is that this bike is a RIDICULOUS amount of fun to ride, and (like the reign) is just begging for a fitter rider to be able to wring its neck. Just on those Derby rims... 34mm internal, 40mm external. Almost plus sized dimensions. Hans dapmf tyres, which i don't normally like as they don't grip as well as the magic and muddy Mary. Running them at about 1.3 bar... The grip, she is amazing. I was expecting more grip than usual with the write ups that we've seen on wider rims and their qualities, but goodness gracious this was a surprise. Grip. For. Days. I NEED those rims. I don't just want them, I NEED them. After just 60 minutes on the bike, they made themselves that well known. The hype is real. In closing though, this is one helluva bike. Capable (in the right hands) fun and just razor sharp. I'll be taking her out again tomorrow afternoon and Sunday, as well as through the next few weeks as I borrow her from Iwan. I really am looking forward to my time with this black vixen

Wider, longer, lower. I like it

Ebay

Looks flippin awesome

Beautiful