Product Spotlight- Framed Alaskan Carbon
By
JP Syverud
The story of how I became the test pilot that gets to field test the new Framed Alaskan Carbon goes back to last winter. Tio Gomez and I were sitting at the bar at the Sawmill Saloon up in Seely, Wisconsin. It was the day of the Fat Bike Birkie and the Sawmill was rock’n! The place was filling up with racers and bike industry peeps there to enjoy some post-race beverages and help raise funds for the Chequamegon fat-bike trails at a silent auction held by the local trail organization. Gomez introduced me to Geo from Framed Bikes who was showing off some serious dance moves while holding a tray full of beers with nary a drop spilled! Geo started telling us about what Framed had in the pipeline and the next thing you know…Old JP’s (a millionaire) signed up to test Framed’s top of the line fatty.
The Alaskan Carbon we received is a two-tone matte Black/Grey, with white badging. She sure is purdy. I fell in love with this color scheme right away. We received the NX Eagle version. The bike weighs in at a hefty 30.6 pounds sans pedals; with my 45nrth flat pedals, it just topped 31.1 pounds. This seems heavy for a carbon bike with carbon wheels. But hey, I think it had something to do with the almost five pounds of Manitou Mastodon Suspension fork and OE tubes. What is most impressive on this bike is its price tag. This bike will be sold at the amazing price of $2500 USD. That’s a heck of a deal folks. Especially when it comes with a Manitou Mastodon Fork and Pub carbon wheels.
Let’s take a look at the tech specs of this rig we received:
Frame: Medium FRAMED Exclusive Carbon Frame 197×12. EFBE approved, integrated headset, replaceable derailleur hanger, water bottle cage braze-ons, internal cable and housing routing
Headset: FSA Headset Orbit C-40-Acb Integrated 1 1/8″ – 1 1/2″
Grips: Raceface Half Nelson lock on grips
Stem – Framed 80mm, 4 bolt plate
Handlebar – Framed Alloy Riser – 710mm, 12 Degree Sweep
Saddle – WTB Volt
Seat Clamp – Promax Seatpost Clamp MX-86
Pedals – N/A
Thru Axle
Spokes – 14G 2.0 Black Stainless Steel with Brass Nipple
Tires: Terrene Cake Eaters Light Fat Bike Tire 27.5 x 4 120TPI
Fork: Manitou Mastodon Suspension Fork 100mm
Crankset: Raceface Turbine 30t
Bottom Bracket: Race Face 100mm External Cup
Cassette: SRAM PG 1230 11-50
Shifters: SRAM NX Eagle 12 speed
Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX Eagle
Chain: SRAM NX Eagle Powerlock
Brakes: SRAM Level T Hydraulic
Brake Levers: SRAM Level T
Rotors: SRAM Centerline Centerlock 180mm/160mm
Seat Post: FRAMED Carbon 31.6 x 400
Carbon Wheelset: PUB Carbon 27.5 Rims with DT Swiss Big Ride 350 Hubs, 150x15mm/197x12mm.
I’m going to set up the wheels tubeless. That should help a bit with the overall weight. I wish the stock aluminum bars and stem were carbon. It would be worth a slight increase in the base price. Other than that this is a very solid build.
Framed does provide several different build options and price points for you to choose from when ordering.
Well, enough of my yammering. I need to get out and put more time behind bars riding to bars and some trails up north. I’ll have a more in-depth review of the Alaskan in a month (or so). I’m really looking forward to giving this Mastodon a try. I have some plans for the Alaskan to test almost all of its capabilities (take it off some sweet jumps). Too bad there is currently no snow! I think this bike would excel at fast races like The Birkebeiner.
Happy Trails! ~ JP
For more information about Framed Bikes visit – https://framedbikes.com
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