The Koba 29er carbon hardtail is already available from stock in Buchs. The mountain bike, newly integrated into the range for 2012, features internally routed brake and gear cables for a tidy look. The tapered head tube for the similarly shaped fork steerer tubes give the bike a modern look and ensure steering precision on the trail.

Bikes in custom-made construction
Every Koba bike is integrated into a custom-made system: the customer is free to choose which components are used on the bike. Starting from a basic model, customers can choose the frame size and color, forks and, in the case of fullys, shocks, various handlebars and stems as well as different shifting and brake groupsets. The à la carte program does not end there, as saddles, pedals, wheelsets, quick-release skewers and tyres are also freely selectable. An online configurator ensures that the equipment, weight and price remain in view despite the wide range of options.

Also new for 2012: 29er aluminum hardtail
The aluminum version of the 29er hardtail will also be available from the Buchs-based bike manufacturer for the first time at the beginning of May 2012. The "Big Racetool" off-road bike will be cheaper than the carbon version thanks to its aluminum frame, but also comes with a tapered head tube, custom-made construction and, of course, large 29er wheels, whereby here, as with the other 29er bikes from Koba, the company relies on "Crest" or "Flow" rims from the manufacturer Notubes.

100 millimetres of suspension travel for the aluminum 29er Fully
But the hardtails are not the end of the story - after an extensive prototype and test phase, Koba Bikes is adding a 29er cross-country fully to its portfolio for the 2012 season. The maker of Koba Bikes, former professional road cyclist Jan Koba, has some superlatives ready for the "Big Sentiero" with ten centimeters of travel at the front and rear: "The bike climbs sensationally, tight hairpin bends on the climbs are easy to ride and it's a blast downhill". Koba will be delivering the first 29er fullies to specialist dealers at the beginning of May. To shorten the waiting time, the manufacturer is making test vehicles available to specialist retailers and their customers.

Clear message for the right use
Despite the new expansion of the mountain bike range towards 29ers, Jan Koba maintains a differentiated view of the trend towards large-tired bikes. On the company's own website, Koba explains how he sees 29er mountain bikes being used sensibly: "At the moment, I personally consider the switch from 26 to 29 inches to be sensible from a height of plus/minus 175 centimeters. This means that I recommend a 26-inch bike up to 175 centimetres tall and a 29er from 175 centimetres tall - although this limit should not be interpreted so strictly that it no longer allows any individual leeway".

www.koba.ch
www.custommadebicycles.com