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TrueBike adds suspension option, carbon wheels to 36″ alloy mountain bike

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype
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If you think your 29er hardtail already has good rollover, the Slovak bike builders behind TrueBike and their 36ers have something to make you rethink even bigger wheels. Showcasing a new frame, new wheels & an adapted DH fork, the new TrueBike prototype moves in a higher performance direction than their other steel bikes for true trail riding.

TrueBike 36er aluminum hardtail mountain bike prototype

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype
photos courtesy TrueBike

The most obvious difference to their current 36″ wheeled mountain bikes is the addition of a suspension fork to replace the semi-truss steel fork that they typically build with. Of course there aren’t any suspension forks for 36″ wheels on the market, so TrueBike repurposed an MRP Groove inverted DH fork.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype

To make it work they slid the double crowns a bit closer together and internally limited the stock 200mm of travel down to a more reasonable 100mm for general trail riding. And since it won’t be bashing downhill as hard as a DH might be used to, TrueBike pulled the guards off the lowers so you get to see all of that inverted fork goodness.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype
c. Alchemist

Not to be missed under the reborn DH fork are a new set of carbon 36″ wheels made for TrueBike by Alchemist wrapped in 2.25″ Vee rubber tires. They share the typical reinforcement design at each nipple as found on regular size Alchemist carbon rims. Rotating weight is obviously a huge concern for a 36er, so these carbon hoops likely shave tons off the standard double-wall alloy Nimbus Stealth 2 rims that are claimed at 1173g a piece.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype

While the fork isn’t actually new (or even currently in the MRP catalog any more), this prototype gets an all-new aluminum frame, handmade in Slovakia.

TrueBike usually custom builds each of their steel 36ers to order (including custom geometry). But this new high chainstay alloy frame will be made in small batches and in a few stock frame sizes to fit riders from around 165cm / 5′-5″ and up.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototypeTrueBike builds a number of singlespeed complete bikes. (Let’s face it, this totally looks right up the alley of some nutty singlespeeder you know, right?)

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototypeSo the new alloy bike will use an elevated chainstay design that will be compatible with both geared and singlespeed setups, and even belt-drives. Gates makes some crazy long belts for other atypical applications like tandems, so you could probably find a combo that would work here.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototypeSliding modular dropouts make chain tensioning possible, and a bit of chainstay length adjustment for geared setups (although I doubt it would have much impact on what already must be a monstrously long rear center.) But modular dropouts also mean multiple thru-axle compatibility, with this needing at least Boost if not Super Boost rear spacing.

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype

All of the cable routing is external to keep things simple, and there is ample clearance around the tubeless-ready 2.25″ Vee tires (with few other tire options available.)

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototypeAlready one of the big obstacles to creating a 36″ wheeled rigid mountain bike was getting a bar position low enough for comfortable handling & control. The use of a double crown DH fork actually offered a solution. And TrueBike created a two-piece motorcycle style bar with two stem stubs that bolt right to the fork, actually giving more fit flexibility even with the additional 100mm of front wheel travel.

How much does it weigh? How much does it cost?

TrueBike 36er MTB 36in 36" aluminum alloy hardtail big-wheeled mountain bike prototype

So how heavy is it, how much will it cost you, and when can you actually buy one? The alloy bike with a suspension fork is still technically in development, so there isn’t a set date. But TrueBike says that after building 36ers for years, they turned this from idea to rideable prototype in just a couple of months. So hit them up now if you are interested, and you might be riding one sooner than you would think. Standard TrueBike custom delivery time is approximately 4-8 weeks.

As to weight, the complete bike should come in under 16kg/35lb, making it more than 3kg lighter than their rigid steel 36ers. And price isn’t set, but TrueBike expects it to come in under 5000€ fully built with an XT drivetrain, the adapted inverted fork & carbon wheels.

TrueBikes.eu

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24 Comments
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Eggs Benedict
Eggs Benedict
4 years ago

Good looking bike.

Matt
Matt
4 years ago

Dang! Dig the front setup.

TheKaiser
4 years ago

That thing is unconventional and weird, but I love it! It is the first 36er that I could actually see making sense for the type of trail riding I do, with its lower weight, and front suspension.

Big Randy
Big Randy
4 years ago

(deleted)

BMX
BMX
4 years ago
Reply to  Big Randy

(deleted)

JVG
JVG
4 years ago

Makes me regret selling the 2 groove 180’s I had! It took a bit of fiddling to get setup, but best forks I’ve had where early MRP/White Bros

Stu
Stu
4 years ago

Rode it at sea otter Girona. Designer is a nice guy. Head angle way too slack physically difficult to turn the bars (like bad 29ers of the past). Top tube crazy high. I’m 205cm tall and could only just touch the floor without crushing my Balls. I’ll love the next version of this bike I’m sure though.

David Folch
4 years ago
Reply to  Stu

At your height Stu, you should look into the only expert that has been making big 36er bikes for the NBA => DirtySixer. 🙂 (Full disclaimer: my company). David

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago

That’s pretty cool!

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago

They’re not called “Double Crowns”. They’re triple clamps.

Greg
Greg
4 years ago
Reply to  Jason Etter

Often also called “dual crown”

Jason Etter
Jason Etter
4 years ago
Reply to  Greg

95% of two wheeled contraptions call them triple clamps. Or triples.

thesteve4761
thesteve4761
4 years ago
Reply to  Jason Etter

(deleted)

Brad Sedola
Brad Sedola
4 years ago

What’s that thing above the front chainring?

Dockboy
Dockboy
4 years ago
Reply to  Brad Sedola

Looks like some sort of adjustable guide mechanism? It seems to run off of a dropper remote.

Tim
Tim
4 years ago
Reply to  Brad Sedola

It’s a special device that allows you to replace cheap single chainrings instead of multi-hundred dollar cassettes, and also allows very large gear changes with a single shift.
Seriously, thoug-h the smallest gear ranges on a 1x bike are still going to end up quite high for a bike with 36″ wheels, so having a front derailleur is a real plus for bikes like this.

Matt
Matt
4 years ago

Cool bike. Does it come with a nard protector.

Me
Me
4 years ago

Too bad you cant get nice tires for it.

Jason Rico
Jason Rico
4 years ago
Reply to  Me

That Vee Tire Co T-Monster is actually a pretty good tire in this application.

Ol' Shel'
Ol' Shel'
4 years ago

Please, will somebody who knows the folks who keep funding these horrible ideas, to please get in touch with me. Most of my ideas are quite good -but I have a few lousy ones- and I’d like funding, too!

AJ
AJ
4 years ago

i’d love to see wide mountain bike 700B tire.
maybe it will come to 30 inch?
30er?

Terry R Peterson
Terry R Peterson
4 years ago

If running tubeless, what is the max psi you can run with a nightrider tire and the 36er carbon rim? The sidewall max rating is 65 psi do you think I can safely do 50 psi? It will be for road riding only so I’m trying to get the higher psi for the lowest rolling resistance.

daveb
daveb
3 years ago

@David Folch – Although TrueBikes are available to purchase today.

Julliet Romeo
Julliet Romeo
2 years ago

How flexy or rigid is this frame?
Is a geometric table available

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