The 2018 Moots Routt 45 is the first bike they’ve shown with internal brake hose routing, but it’s now an option on all of their bikes. It also switches to a flat mount rear brake, using a new 3D printed titanium dropout. Which is one of two printed pieces they’re introducing at Eurobike.
The Routt and Routt 45 gravel adventure bikes get a 3D printed disc brake mount “stub” to connect the chainstay to the Breezer-style dropout.
Why? Because they like the way it looks and works for flat mount brakes, and it’s easier than trying to miter and machine flat mounts into round tubes. Which is also harder on assembly because those cut & mitered tubes are harder to keep in alignment.
For internal rear brake hose/cable housing, they put a port at the top of the down tube…
…with an exit just in front of the bottom bracket (it can’t go thru the BB because of their construction method), then runs under the chain stay back to the brake. Mechanical shifting is still only offered as external with downtube cable stops. This feature is a $300 upcharge.
Moots has also updated their carbon cyclocross fork. This new version weighs in at a claimed 450g, gets internal brake line routing, and a 395mm axle-to-crown measurement.
It has hidden eyelets at the dropouts and a fender mount on back of crown. Tire clearance is recommended at 45mm, but they’ve fit a 50 at the office and rode it. Price is coming soon, and it’s available soon, but they’re filling dealer and complete bike orders first.
The Vamoots Disc Road DR (meaning, not the RSL, which is what’s actually shown above) version gets a new fast back seat stay (which is what’s shown) rather than a monotube design. The old design had simply grandfathered itself along, but now it’s updated to match the rest of the road line, including a switch to flat mount brakes.
Shown at NAHBS, Moots is finally letting you add a little color to your frame. Using an electric anodizing process, you can choose from frost blue, rosé, gold, grape, and root beer. The color will be used for the logo, bike model name, Moot’s alligator icon, plus seatpost and stem logos for $525. The price can include a shop or team logo somewhere on the frame…or your name on the top tube. Go nuts.
They have to treat it with chemicals and then hit it with a current. Higher voltage yields the brighter colors, lower voyage is darker. They give themselves about a week longer to do it, too, so it adds a week to your lead time. Yes, expensive, but they say demand is surprisingly high. Other premium finish options include polished and etched logos.