Spotted in the field at the Trans-Sylvania Epic was this new looking Trek Superfly 29er. The frame differs from the current Superfly AL models in several ways, most importantly a thru-axle rear end and more heavily shaped hydroformed tubes. It also gets revised cable routing with internal runs for shifting. Graphics and naming scheme are also different.
No one was really talking, but we managed to overhear something about this being the 2014 version with possible geometry tweaks. Check all the grainy shot-with-a-phone-cam-at-dusk pics after the break…
Up front we see their E2 tapered headtube with rear shift cable entering the downtube. Brake hose runs externally under the downtube.
The top tube looks super slim with a flattened shape…
…with a nicely formed section where it meets the raised seat tube. The chainstays seemed slightly ovalized, too.
Thru-axle rear end.
Rear brake is now mounted inside the rear triangle instead of outside the chainstay.
PressFit bottom bracket. Hard to see here, but the rear shift cable pops out just below the top of the left photo, then runs externally to the derailleur. Brake mount is a nicely formed dropout piece.
Reasonably good tire clearance with no chainstay or seatstay bridges.
Similar color scheme to an existing model, but new graphics and a “Superfly 9” naming scheme give it away. More as we get it!
