Licks Cycles: First Look: Geometron G2 Pinion gearbox bike 2024

The age of the gearbox is upon us, Geometron reckons, with reliability, value and efficiency prime of the pops

Neglect excessive pivot idlers, Geometron goes again to the gearbox with a Pinion drivetrain on its newest G2 bike.

Have to know

Geometron G2 comes with a Pinion gearbox possibility, with selection of something from 9-18 velocity
G2 will probably be accessible from summer season 2024, as soon as remaining testing on shock positioning is full
The G2 goals to compete with the greatest enduro mountain bikes, from Trek, Specialised and Nukeproof
G2 ought to value across the similar as a G1, with a small premium for the Pinion gearbox… £8,000 maybe
Journey ranges from 160-180mm, G2 comes with mullet, 29er or 27.5in wheels as required
Full customized geometry, and Geometron’s mutators on seat keep and chainstay effective tune BB top, rear triangle size and head angle

Geometron G2 retains the identical geometry as the unique bike, and now brings the Pinion gearbox to the design

Geometron is without doubt one of the most influential manufacturers in mountain biking. Alongside Mondraker, a lot of the credit score for in the present day’s trendy sizing and geometry should certainly go to the Forest of Dean model, which for a decade or extra instructed all of us we had been using bikes too darned small. After all they had been proper, the business and riders slowly crept nearer to the geometry charts of Geometron’s now-retired G13, a motorcycle constructed by Nicolai however radically slackened and lengthened by Geometron.

Job carried out then. Besides, the longer, decrease and sooner philosophy was solely half the theme dreamed up by Chris Porter and Geometron. That left the complimentary different half, the eventual elimination of the rear derailleur, hanging within the breeze.

The unique Nicolai Ion GPI in motion in 2016, the bike used a belt drive and was optimised for a 10-speed drivetrain

Half two begins proper right here, with the model’s newest and as-yet unnamed new bike, which for comfort’s sake we’ll name the G2. At present only a take a look at rig, therefore the a number of shock place factors, the concept is to carry the bike updated and add a Pinion gearbox possibility. Historical past buffs amongst us will know Geometron already went down this street with a modified Geometron/Nicolai Ion GPI (look it up on mbr.co.uk) some seven years in the past. So why now? In spite of everything, Pinion has made no main adjustments to its gearbox in need of reinforcing the chain tensioner and Good.Shift digital shifter as a substitute for grip shift.

“It does really feel a bit bit like going again to our roots the place we began seven years in the past,” says designer Marcel Lauxterman. “The principle drive is that we need to do what excites us to journey for the following 5 or 6 years.”

Pinion chain tensioner is a extra strong affair on the brand new bike

Again to the ‘field

The unique Geometron bike with its Pinion gearbox and belt drive was designed round a ten or 11 velocity drivetrain and subsequently simply wasn’t optimised for the straight chainline a gearbox with its single rear sprocket calls for. “The G1 and the brand new bike are designed for 12 velocity and a 52 cassette, and that adjustments all of the anti anti squat values.”

The gearbox’s time has come eventually then, Geometron says, the brand new G2 is constructed to benefit from the brand new components accessible to bike designers (shocks, drivetrains and hardwear) and integrating the higher climbing effectivity developed for the G1 and adjusted by way of the a number of shock positions on the take a look at rig.

A number of shock mounts on the G2 permit Geometron to effective tune the suspension and placement of the EXT Storia shock

“We’re actually pleased with the kinematics of the G1 and all of the adjustability of it and having the ability to alter the chainstay size,” explains Sam Robson from Geometron. “Integrating the Pinion gearbox was one other step ahead as a result of we’ve now acquired a constant chainline to make the suspension platform extra constant, with out the chain flapping about.”

The purpose then is to make the G2 Pinion bike really feel precisely the identical as the present G1, so a present Geometron rider want solely get used to the gearbox, without having to adapt to a brand new bike’s suspension really feel or geometry. “That mentioned, we’ve acquired completely different suspension layouts that we will take a look at to additional optimise the bike,” Sam explains.

Geometron’s mutators, right here on the chainstay, let riders tweak the geometry to resize the again finish and alter the BB top

Why the drive in the direction of a gearbox within the first place although? Easy, it results in higher suspension efficiency, which Geometron has all the time pushed for, and the impact may very well be as pronounced as ditching the entrance mech some 10 years in the past, in line with Marcel.

“With the usual 10-51 tooth cassette now gone from the bike there’s no must compromise the suspension efficiency and attempt to optimise it for 12 completely different gears,” he says. “It’s good from a body designer’s perspective then and it’s much like after we ditched the entrance derailleur, it opened up so many various variations on body format.”

Newest Pinion gearbox can ship its energy by way of 18 gears if required, however Geometron suggests 12 is about proper for energy supply

Geometron’s authentic gearbox bike was forward of its time and arguably too early for riders to get behind, whereas the fee was prohibitive. “The market has positively modified now although,” Sam says. “The bike design remains to be the biggest value however the second largest value is now the drivetrain. With SRAM T-type the second costliest factor in your bike is now a wearable half. For those who’re spending £2,000 on a drivetrain per 12 months then the market is prepared for a extra strong drivetrain bundle you get extra worth for cash from. Lots of people would relatively spend £1,500 on a gearbox that’s acquired a ten,000 mile service life on it.”

Geometron has all the time been an unorthodox model, doing issues otherwise to not make a splash however in the hunt for a greater method. So whereas loads of manufacturers are including complexity to their enduro bikes with excessive pivot loafer designs Geometron is transferring the opposite method. Is a gearbox a greater strategy to management the chainline and thus enhance suspension efficiency? In all probability. Are riders able to throw out the one constant half they’ve ever identified, the derailleur? Maybe.