Earlier this year at NAHBS Bikerumor checked out Wittson Ti Cycles’ Bestia, the company’s 27.5” or 29” wheeled cross-country racer and their only frame that comes in a stock configuration. While Wittson is always happy to customize any frame, some key updates to the standard Bestia were recently announced.
While they used to be optional add-ons, Wittson’s wishbone seatstays and Paragon’s Syntace X-12 thru axle dropouts will now be included on every frame. The 2017 Bestia’s geometry has also been tweaked to provide a racier ride versus the outgoing models. Finally, Wittson can now offer the addition of a Pinion gearbox at a much, much cheaper price than before…
The updated Bestia frame features Wittson’s cross-country race geometry, but now has a shorter top tube with a steeper downward slope than before. See the chart below for full specs:
Wittson is quite proud of the seatstay wishbone they’ve developed. Their wishbones are designed to provide a laterally stiff frame with supple vertical compliance, and they proved to be such a popular option that every Bestia will now be built this way.
Paragon’s X-12 thru-axle dropouts are also now included, bringing the frame up to date with current trends. Standard axle spacing is 142mm, and the rear stays accommodate tire widths of up to 2.25”.
If you’re considering adding a gearbox to your Bestia, that option just got about €1000 cheaper! This drastic price reduction is partly possible because the folks at Paragon Machine Works will now be manufacturing titanium yokes and bridges. Using those components, Wittson can build a Pinion C-Line gearbox equipped Bestia for a lot less dough than they could before.
Other key aspects of the standard Bestia include tapered head tubes with internal and external butting, integrated seatmasts with titanium bolts, internal routing for the brake and derailleur cables, PF30 bottom brackets, post-mounts for the rear calipers, and titanium head tube badges.
As always, buyers can customize any Wittson frame to their preferences. If you want an integrated headset, dropper post routing, BOOST dropout spacing, a T47 bottom bracket, belt drive, single-speed, or just about anything else you can dream up, ask and ye shall receive!
