Lone Bicycles have updated their Parabellum enduro bike for 2021, adding a new mullet-optimized MixED frame that sits between the L and XL sizes. The Parabellum V2 is a really interesting full suspension mountain bike; its modular design and adjustable chainstay lengths and BB heights mean riders can choose to run it with 27.5″, 27.5+ or 29″ wheels without changing the geometry.
2021 Lone Bicycles Parabellum V2
Lone Bicycles’ Parabellum V2 maintains its unique modular frame design – with so-called Nique All System Technology. This allows the one frame to be compatible with the three main wheel standards on the market (27.5″, 27.5+ or 29″) without significantly affecting geometry figures.
Across the S to XL frame sizes, the head tube angle is a conservative 65.5° when running 27.5″ wheels. This changes negligibly to 65.6° when you swap them out to make it a 29er. The seat tube angle sees a bigger difference. As a 27.5″ bike, the SA is 74.8°. Switching them out for 29″ wheels (and fork) steepens it up to 75.3°.
Key to this functionality is the sliding dropout(s). Two of these, offset from one another in height and distance from the BB, allow adjustment of the effective chainstay length. The one closest to the BB is intended for smaller 27.5″ wheels, with the shortest possible rear centre measuring up at 439mm. The one furthest away from the BB is intended for a 29″ wheel with the longest rear centre length at 459mm; pretty generous by most standards.
According to Lone Bicycles’ Parabellum V2 geometry chart, they recommend only the small frame for the 459mm chainstay, while quoting 449mm as the longest rear centre that should be run on the M-XL frame sizes, no matter the wheel size. That’s true for the symmetrical wheel-sized bikes, at least. More on that later.
The second piece to the modular puzzle is the bottom bracket height adjustment. A mechanism concentric to the BB alters the position from low, for 27.5″ wheels, to high. for 29″ wheels. The alteration is a simple process whereby you loosen two screws to release the system, turn the assembly by hand until it stops and then tighten it again.
Parabellum V2 MixED Mullet
For 2021, Lone Bicycles have added a new frame size option that slots in between L and XL. The MixED is a frame optimized for running a mullet set-up; i.e. A 29″ wheel up front and a 27.5″ wheel at the rear. The guys at Lone say its geometry also suits a full 29er.
This is the slackest configuration of the Parabellum V2 with a 65° head angle. That said, the seat tube is at its steepest on the MixED mullet, at 75.5°. It also has the lowest BB at a height of 334mm. Reach measures up at a conservative 467mm.
Pricing & Availability
Lone Bicycles are now taking pre-orders for the 2021 Parabellum through HXR Components, with expected deliver in March/April of next year. Pricing starts at €1,499.17 for the frame only (€1,582.50 for MixED). Complete bikes start from €4,082.50.
