Like we saw with their new 125th anniversary XC hardtail a couple of months back, Italian bike maker Olympia has also completely redesigned their F1-X full-suspension XC race bike. Developed closely with their pro racers, despite its short travel, Olympia says the tech updates to the new F1-X make it equally suited for racing the World Cup circuit as it is for longer marathon and grandfondo style mountain bike racing.
2019 Olympia F1-X carbon 95mm travel carbon XC race bike
Ridden to a number of podium spot this season by the Braidot twins, Luca & Daniele, the new F1-X was inspired by the recent F1 hardtail to create a short travel race bike with technically capable but lightning-fast handling. The bike gets substantial upgrades over its predecessor, the most obvious being the simplified rear end.
Much like a trend we have seen in a number of other World Cup level carbon XC mountain bikes this season (Like the Kross Earth, Canyon Lux, or WiaWis FS), the new Olympia F1-X eliminates a rear axle suspension pivot for a simplified, lower maintenance solution relying on carbon seatstay flex.
Olympia F1-X cross-country mountain bike – Tech Details
While Olympia says they built the new bike to be more capable for technical racing, it still sports just 95mm of single-pivot rear wheel travel with its linkage driven rear suspension delivering a progressive spring curve, and paired to 100mm forks.
The new F1-X also gets a lighter overall, with Olympia Cici claiming just 1800g for the new frame. The new flagship XC full-suspension bike features and updated ultra hi-mod UD carbon layup for the monocoque constructed frame, mixing Toray T1000, T800 & M40J fibers. There’s also a more affordable frame build, dubbed the F1-XN that shares the same mold, but gets a slightly cheaper hi-mod layup, topping out with the T800 fibers.
The new bike does feature modern tech details like the asymmetric Boost 148 spaced rear end, PF92 bottom bracket, and 1x only drivetrain setup. It does feature an integrated chain guide for improved racing security. And despite being a light XC race bike it gets a 31.6mm seatpost, but stealth dropper post routing.
Cable routing is of course fully internal, too. And it includes an integrated cable clamp to ensure smooth, consistent cable bends under & around the BB through the movement of the rear suspension.
Olympia F1-X & F1-XN XC mountain bikes – Geometry & Options
The F1-X & F1-XN both are available in four stock frame sizes, featuring a 70.5° head angle, steep 74° seattube for improved position when climbing, and short 437mm chainstays for the XC race 29er.
As always, Olympia offers plenty of build options to suit rider budgets. The top F1-X ultra hi-mod frame comes in a super premium EVO R1 with a new Shimano XTR 1×12 groupset, the pro team-level spec Race XX1E with SRAM XX1 Eagle, or the more affordable Race GXE with GX Eagle 12-speed.
In the lower cost F1-XN frame, groupsets options are also more affordable, including a Team 1S build with a Shimano XT 1×11 drivetrain, the Race NXE with SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed, or the Race 3 with NX 1×11. Wheel and fork selection also gives riders a bit more choice and control over their bike budget, as does the option for a dropper post or not.
