REVIEW - Knolly V-Tach

[stuart@nsmb.com]

It's big, it's red, and apparently it's a lot of fun to ride.

Check out the details (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/knolly_review_01_07.php).

[Silk]

Awsome Article!

I have always wanted to get a Knolly, now I want one even more.

[nimzie]

did I read that correctly? $3595 frame only?

[dirty deeds]

what's 4x4 suspension and what distinguishes it from a 4 bar linkage with a horst link?

[TheGiggler]

what's 4x4 suspension and what distinguishes it from a 4 bar linkage with a horst link?


i know it has slightly different pivot points than your standard horst link, but beyond that Noel would have to comment. this means it is supposed to ride slightly different than a Specialized horst as Noel has custom tuned the pivots for how he wants the suspension to work both climbing and descending.

the other big thing is the linkage which drives the shock. the linkage allows for:
1. full seat tube
2. shock placement is easy to remove or tune (how hard is it to adjust settings on a demo?)
3. rear end is stiffer than almost anything else out there and shock sees no sideways load

it's different enough that Noel has been awarded a patent on it ...

[Wayne P]

Noel's smarter than all of us combined, he'll tell us the goods....

[stuart@nsmb.com]

did I read that correctly? $3595 frame only?

Yup.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

what's 4x4 suspension and what distinguishes it from a 4 bar linkage with a horst link?

Here's the overview from the Knolly site - details (http://www.knollybikes.com/engineering/four-linkage-technology.aspx).

[hecklin at y'all]

Thanks for the review. I'm glad the frame was well liked.
As for the price, the price for the V-tach, as well as the other Knolly Bike models, has actually gone down for 2007. The V-tach is now CDN $3395 with the Fox DHX 5.0 Coil, and CDN $3495 with the Rocco WC Coil.
We expect to have the new pricing and build kit info on our site in the next few days. The bang for the buck aspect far outweighs the initial sticker shock. Take one for a demo ride and you'll see.
As for the suspension, I'll leave that to Noel. He will give you the goods on it.
Thanks,
Tim

[TheGiggler]

We expect to have the new pricing and build kit info on our site in the next few days.


can you let us know the new retail on the delireium-t? i can't wait a few days :rocker:

[hugo03]

taking delivery of one in april/may. couldn't be more fired up after reading the review.

[hecklin at y'all]

can you let us know the new retail on the delireium-t? i can't wait a few days :rocker:

Send me your email address and I will send you a complete price list with build kit info. murf at kollybikes dot calm.
Thanks for the interest.
Tim

[hecklin at y'all]

taking delivery of one in april/may. couldn't be more fired up after reading the review.

Cool seeing you on the board. I won't let those at Crankfire know you have been slumming.
I got your email. I'll get Noel to respond rgarding the set-up of the V-tach.
Tim

[Karen]

Just a warning about the Knolly folks...once you ride one you'll want one. Great people to deal with....test rode a medium Delirium-T. Great ride, but felt the bike was too big for me. Noel set up a small for me to test ride. Sold.

[Knnn]

Just a warning about the Knolly folks...once you ride one you'll want one. Great people to deal with....test rode a medium Delirium-T. Great ride, but felt the bike was too big for me. Noel set up a small for me to test ride. Sold.

Exactly the reason I dare not even look at them on the web site let along try one out!

Have you got it yet? If yes, where is your review? :)


PS nicely written article, thanks.

[Couch_Surfer]

Should've had Noel really pimp it out for the review....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Couch_Surfer/spypics/IMG_4279.jpg

[M@M]

thanks for the solid review. but now I need a Knolly.

[Hack On Wheels]

Haha, well, I don't need one exactly, but after reading that I would sure love the chance to try one!

[Geologyboy]

beautiful bike...no doubt.

[TylerDurden]

Noel's a great guy with the guts to "break trail" in the frame design arena. Ya have to take your hat off to anyone with this much drive, awareness, and love for the sport.

It's really cool to watch Knolly bikes grow, and that white one is pure sex.

Anybody who eats, sleeps and breathes aggressive trail riding should be on a Knolly - it's the only bike that can take the punishment day after day and keep you riding. The guys I've seen riding them have harder time keeping their body going!

Want to ride 20-30 days at bike park and not be sidelined with frame issues? get a Knolly. Plus if your ever did short that road gap - the guy is right here in town to help get the rig back on the trail. Again, if this is you: save your pennies, eat KD and eat out of bulk bins all winter so you get pick one of these sweet frames up.

Keep it up Noel !

[Mic]

Nice one. Makes me wanna go and buy one. :S
But...isn't that an awful lot of money?

[hecklin at y'all]

Nice one. Makes me wanna go and buy one. :S
But...isn't that an awful lot of money?

Depends. I'm going to try to not get all sales man on you, but here are the facts. I'll let you base your opinion on that.

All frames are welded in the US, of American tubing and Vancouver, BC CNC machined parts. Final assembly is done here in Vancouver.

We use brand name Stainless steel or grade 12.9 hardware, depending on use. These are expensive, but are the best. If there is a problem, all hardware is available from any better hardware supplier. There is nothing proprietary in that regard.

We use INA bearings on all pivots for the Delirium T and V-tach, using angular contact bearings on the swing arm. Final fitting is done using very expensive precision spacers. These features, plus the choice of hardware, make for a very laterally stiff and durable rear end. Case in point, we have several bikes that logged in over a million feet of vert last year in Whistler, and the rear ends are still super tight, with no appreciable play.

The V-tach and Delirium T both have adjustable chain stay length, adjustable head angle, and replaceable derailleur and disc brake hangers. All CNC machined.

The Delirium T has built-in ISCG-05 mounts, and the next run of V-tach will be 05 as well (V-tach is regular ISCG pattern).

We spec the DHX 5.0 coil on the V-tach, and the DHX 5.0 Coil or Air on the Delirium T. Either frame is available with a Rocco WC if you choose. If we know the end user’s weight, we will ship the bike with the correct spring weight at no extra charge.

We do a 2-pass powder coat as opposed to the regular one-pass, and we do not charge extra for anodizing.

1.5 head tube is standard in the V-tach and Delirium T.

I guess I could go more and more, but what I’m saying is every little thing we do, we do for a reason. We could cut corners by specing low-priced hardware and bearings, but that is not what Noel set out to do when designing a bike. He wanted to make the best bike possible with no compromises that would hold up to B.C. riding.

Yes, we are at the upper end of the price mark, but when compared to other high-end brands, we are on par when comparing apples to apples, yet we often offer a few more features.

There are many lower priced products out there that work just fine. All we set out to do was work the best for our type of riding.

Is it worth the money? That is for you to decide.

Tim.

PS: mods, and fellow NSMB members, if I have over stepped the boundry of self-promotion, let me know and I will either modify or delete this reply.

[Smoke]

That's OK Tim, I'll just re-post it for ya......

I'm getting all excited about mine over here.

Oh, and about hte linkages.....

If you do a Horst style, you still have to compromise something to get the braking and pedaling forces balanced (usually this means an interrupted seat tube so you can angle the rear sock correctly).

With the Knolly design, you can tune the braking and pedaling forces independently so you can angle the rear shock to where you want it, and you get the benefits you want without sacrificing anything. It's slickster with a capital Slick....

[Joe Dick]

stop it, I have way better things to spend my money one, and I'm this close to buying one...

[TheGiggler]

Noel has thought of every conerivable detail...

take cable routing for example. the Knolly's have the best cable routing I have ever seen on a full suspension and are fully setup for full housing rear derailleur.

take the adjustable head angle - no bolts to remove, it's super fast and easy and you can set it anywhere in between +/- 1 deg. most bikes you get like 2 or 3 bolt holes and they make a large 1 deg diff. not so on the knolly where you can fine tune head angle much more closely.

i'll also vouch on the tightness of the rear end. grab the rear end and pull/push sideways as hard as you want and only the rear wheel will deflect, the frame itself will not flex. land really sideways on some nasty chunder and while your wheel may not like, it the bike will suck it up like butter without nary a complaint.

i'm sure i could fine more things but that's enough for now.

[DaveM]

When they first came out I thought there's no way a bike frame is worth that, I don't care if he made the aluminum himself and handcrafted the tubing.

Now I just want one.

[Knnn]

Send me your email address and I will send you a complete price list with build kit info. murf at kollybikes dot calm.
Thanks for the interest.
Tim

God i'm almost afraid to ask this question, but here goes....

What colours do they come in?

AND before you lot ripe me a new asshole, the reason I ask is that if I can get one in the company colours (dark burgundy red) with our company name on it somewhere discrete, I may be able to write off some (all?) of the cost of the bike on the company books. :shhh:


Sigh .... why do I raise my hopes so high only to have them shattered like an 80 year old hip at the bottom of the stairs?

[KenN]

We use INA bearings on all pivots for the Delirium T and V-tach, using angular contact bearings on the swing arm. Final fitting is done using very expensive precision spacers. These features, plus the choice of hardware, make for a very laterally stiff and durable rear end. Case in point, we have several bikes that logged in over a million feet of vert last year in Whistler, and the rear ends are still super tight, with no appreciable play.

On that note, I ride one a V-Tach from the first production run. It's almost exactly two years old and has a lot of mileage, both shore and whistler. I don't baby the thing, and I'm slightly lazier than I should be on cleaning/maintenance.

Every single pivot bearing is still tight as the day it was new. There's no play at all in the back end. Compare that to just about any other bike - you'd be in for about $100-200 in new bearings every year because the cheaper bearings were out so fast. Subtract this cost of maintenance from your purchase price to get the "real" cost of the bike.

Kn.

[hecklin at y'all]

God i'm almost afraid to ask this question, but here goes....

What colours do they come in?

AND before you lot ripe me a new asshole, the reason I ask is that if I can get one in the company colours (dark burgundy red) with our company name on it somewhere discrete, I may be able to write off some (all?) of the cost of the bike on the company books. :shhh:


Sigh .... why do I raise my hopes so high only to have them shattered like an 80 year old hip at the bottom of the stairs?

So who is going to rip you? Asking for a desired colour for a multi thousand dollar bike is totally fine. We are not, after all, Henry Ford.

We do make one in red. You can see it here. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=233102&highlight=Free+Radical, or you can just look at the bike in the NSMB review. That is our red.

Of course, custom painting is always possible.

Tim

[Knnn]

We do make one in red. You can see it here. http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=233102&highlight=Free+Radical, or you can just look at the bike in the NSMB review. That is our red.

Of course, custom painting is always possible.

Tim

OMFG that's exactly our company colour, well it is now. OK joking aside, please check your email.

[hecklin at y'all]

OMFG that's exactly our company colour, well it is now. OK joking aside, please check your email.

Email checked. I don't know if is from you, but no, I'm very happy with my sexual drive, and my investment portfolio is quite happy the way it is.
Should I be expecting something else?
Tim

[baloom]

Awsome Article!

I have always wanted to get a Knolly, now I want one even more.

thanks....I hope you enjoyed reading about it as much as I did riding it....

[Jerry-Rig]

curious on whats the weight of the frame with the shock ?

[APT]

I believe the article says 12.7lbs (not sure if it's with or without the shock).

[Mic]

Depends. I'm going to try to not get all sales man on you, but here are the facts. I'll let you base your opinion on that.



wow. this is an impressive post and very nice indeed. If I had the money, I'd buy one, cause I like the design. Had to ride one sure, but nice.
Nice to see that not every bike is built in taiwan or somewhere else.

Have to check the Euro converter...how much that is in Euros...around 2365 euros acording to yahoo finances.

[baloom]

curious on whats the weight of the frame with the shock ?

12.7lbs with coilover shock (I'll defer to Noel or some of the other Knolly-ites as this info is what I got when the bike came to me for testing). As I said in the article, this weight puts it solidly in the big bike camp....You won't be building this baby as a trail bike. That isn't where it shines anyways.

I purposely did not weigh the bike on my digital scale in its fully built state. This would not necessarily have been a fair representation of the Knolly V-Tach that any one of you might choose to own. You can build this up in whatever way you like; build it heavy or build it not-so-heavy. You choose.

[Spaz]

I just rode a Knolly for the first time (a delerium not a V-Tach) and this is the nicest bike I have EVER ridden. The back end is stiff, it tracks very well and pedals great for what I consider a heavier trail bike. After just one ride I now know what my next bike will be...when I get money.

[Rexthespeedster]

I just rode a Knolly for the first time (a delerium not a V-Tach) and this is the nicest bike I have EVER ridden.

Where'd you ride? I thought pretty much everything was snowbound still.

[DaveM]

You won't be building this baby as a trail bike. That isn't where it shines anyways.


Someone oughta tell Noel that :lol:

Check out the pic from the 2004 Test of Metal. I think it was still pre-production then.

http://photos.nsmb.com/files/2/5/4/8/3/8087NoelBuckley_edited-1.jpg

[Spaz]

Where'd you ride? I thought pretty much everything was snowbound still.

I did a ride/hike up Old Buck to Pangor. Top 1/3 is pretty tough riding, but not too bad below that.

[Rexthespeedster]

Check out the pic from the 2004 Test of Metal. I think it was still pre-production then.

I've been toying with the idea of riding my V-tach in this year's TOM. We'll see how much training I can do...the more I do, the more likely I'll ride the V-tach.

[baloom]

Hey, I would be the first in line to ride a big bike uphill (guess what, I did it regularly on the V-Tach......see the article...). The thing is, most people interested in riding big bikes aren't interested in riding them uphill, at all. How do I know this, because I spend day after day after day riding just those kinds of bikes in that way, all by myself. Sure, there have been several V-tachs spotted in TOM and other enduro races (heck, I remember being passed while racing XC at Apex (Challenge of the Universe) several years ago by a dude on a Norco VPS. Mountain bikers do know how to punish...

I'm not going to argue that the V-tach can't be ridden in this way. But just as I said before, this is not where it shines. And don't get me wrong; this in no way detracts from what I have called "the incomparable V-tach".

[Mic]

I just rode a Knolly for the first time (a delerium not a V-Tach) and this is the nicest bike I have EVER ridden. The back end is stiff, it tracks very well and pedals great for what I consider a heavier trail bike.

this is what I consider my scream. But since it looks soo nice (the V-tach) that I want to test one when I get to Vancouver.

[TheGiggler]

I'm not going to argue that the V-tach can't be ridden in this way. But just as I said before, this is not where it shines.


the thing is, it DOES shine on the uphills.

point the vtach at a really nastly climb with loose rocks and if you've got the legs to pedal it, it will hook up better than most smaller travel duallies. something about the way it pedals means you can pedal on loose rocks without even disturbing them, it feels like you're floating over everything and traction is amazing.

honestly, if you've got the fitness and legs this bike excels at everything. in the short chainstay and steep headangle settings it's like a long travel trail bike on roids ...

[Sethimus]

At the time of writing, Noel Buckley was preparing to re-fit the incomparable V-Tach with the 2007 DT Swiss wheelset, Marzocchi 888, Kenda rubber, and the new 2007 Magura Louise stoppers. A long-long-term follow-up with the new parts spec will follow...stay tuned!

is this long-long-term follow-up still in the works?

[baloom]

is this long-long-term follow-up still in the works?

unfortunately the refit never occured and the test ended with the review article. This bike still stands as one of the best bikes I have ever ridden (either personally owned or as a tester). I have no doubt that it would have stood up well over time.

[Couch_Surfer]

I have no doubt that it would have stood up well over time.

Mine's going on 4 years now.

Tore it down to frame over Christmas to give her a complete inspection and see if the bearings were anywhere near needing replacement. Nope. Built her back up and she's running like she's new.