Pennsylvania designed and built mountain bikes for aggressive style. 

EWR Bikes
North Wales, PA
United States
ph: (610)659-4430
alt: (610)417-6493

Proto Ride Notes

 

 

 

 A rare glimpse of sunlight on the Proto Test Ride.... 

 

Two solid days of testing in pretty harsh east coast crappy conditions (where most of  you would be riding these).  Varied conditions from smooth rolling in frozen ruts to test high speed drift stability and cornering prowess, to nasty rocky slimy climbs and descents of the Wiss in Philly,  dirt jumps, some street, all kinds of stuff.  We got a bunch of people on them, too, but for me, the interest was "would the updates I wanted, thought out, put on paper transfer into the desired ride?"
1)  Disc brake mounts:  no comment required here
2)  New 12.25" BB height: 
This was necessary as the old frames were based off of a 1994 standard 3" fork -- when running more current forks it would jack it up too high.  The new BB height is lower, utilizing the current engineering process for a 100mm fork.  It is awesome how much better the bike corners.  Stable when drifting, glued to berms, can still pedal deep through corners.  You are more in the bike than on top of it.
3) New 69 degree head angle:
This really rips. adds a little wheelbase for stability, and, with the longer top tube lengths, is perfect with a 20mm or so shorter stem that your used to running.  Still quick and responsive, and not at all floppy on slow speed.  Wicked at ripping corners - just pitch it in no brakes, lean and pin it!
4) Longer top tube lengths:
I really love this.  Longer front centers, more stability, more platform for creeping over steeps ledges and drops.  These bikes are steered really well off of the back wheel (that is why I always wheelie around corners -- feels so good...), and the longer front end allows for more leverage for turning wheelies and manuals.  Also, the length is nice for steep step-climb ups.
5) Columbus Nivacrom and True Temper Super Therm double butted tubing:
Very lively, snappy, stiff for acceleration and a slightly springier rear end.  The tubes have a perceptible compliance and dynamic  feel to them.  Snappy and fast.
6) Larger Diameter seatpost:
Needed  29.4mm Thompson, light, stiff.  Better than the old 26.8.  Nuff said.
7)  Conventional head tube:
Yup, not going to run integrated head tubes.  Too inconsistent and, well, so many of you run King headsets.  They are the king, and that is what you wanted...  The frames have a brazed on reinforcing ring on the bottom of the head tube to help prevent ovalization.
OVERALL it was a huge success!  I cannot tell you all how stoked I am -- I have wanted to make these updates for years, dreamed about it, and talked with so many of you about what we'd all like to see changed/updated.  The first impression tells me that we nailed it!  The bike climbs like an atlas missle, jumps and whips so nicely, rips downhill, slices corners, is stable, lively, ripping and nimble.  All the things I wanted in a do it all trail bike, so it really has come to fruition after all these years! 
There are many little tweaks to be made, but the spot on success here surprised even me.  We have some more testing and tweaking before production, but we are pushing forward.  The construction method is sound -- we are testing for handling and detail stuff.  Please write us with you comments.  We really want to get you out on these demos for your impressions.  We are pretty close to offering our old school rich-orange as well as high reflective white as stock colors.  What do you think?
Thanks for reading.
Kenn, Don and Jay from EWR Bikes

Medium:
Large:

EWR Bikes
North Wales, PA
United States
ph: (610)659-4430
alt: (610)417-6493