KTM, the orange and silver brand that has been rocking the off-road moto world, displayed a massive number of bicycles at Eurobike ranging from carbon road racers, to all-out downhill racing rigs, to a wildly powerful electric-powered freeriding prototype. KTM’s downhill machines are regularly seen on the European DH circuit, and by the looks of ts lineup, we should expect a North American invasion soon.
Phinx 1.29Phinx is KTM’s name for its lightweight trailbike lineup that includes 29ers and 26ers. The Phinx 1.29 is a sharp looking 29er with 100 millimeters of travel on both ends, which is substantial for a big-wheel bike. The rocker-link, single-pivot rear-suspension uses a ‘floating shock mount’ with the lower shock eyelet pivoting on an extension of the swingarm, ala Trek's Full-Floater system. Lots of manipulated tubes and beautiful welding and construction on the Phinx chassis make it a stunner. The Phinx 1.29 features Shimano XT components, a Fox RP23 shock and 32 Float 29 RL fork, weighs a reported 12.7 kg (27.94 pounds) and costs 3,999 euros.
KTM Phinx 1.29:
(clockwise) Hydroformed tubes and beautifully curved, forged pivot locations and dropouts made the matte-finished KTM 29er stand out among the many clones at Eurobike • Ritchey’s no-rise handlebar is a perfect solution to compensate for the abnormally tall head-tube height of a 29er • KTM’s rocker link suspension keeps the weight low in the frame and the floating shock arrangement minimizes stress on the front triangle • Tubular, forged-aluminum dropouts are an original touch.
Aphex KTM makes a mean looking DH frame. The Aphex is a conventional single pivot suspension that drives a massive swing-link. Shock forces are captured by a massive, formed aluminum cross-member which should make the Aphex immune to flat landings of any magnitude. Two shock mount positions on the link offer 200 or 230 millimeters of rear-wheel travel, and there are additional adjustments for wheelbase (440/460mm) and head angle changes (64/66-degrees). The finished look of the Aphex is due to intelligent design and the use of dedicated forged parts at junctions, brake-caliper mounts, and dropouts. Drivetrain is Shimano Saint and suspension is split between a Fox DHX RC4 shock and a RockShox Boxxer World Cup fork. Cockpit and wheels are Syncros. Price was stated at 3999 euros.
Aphex Details:
(clockwise) Massive amounts of hydroforming gives the KTM Aphex a moto-looking chassis • Internal cable and hose routing (big fad this year in Europe) make for a clean profile • KTM’s choice of the RockShox Boxxer World Cup is not surprising – the WC fork has earned a lot of respect on the World Cup Circuit this season • Wildly tapered tubes beef up the Aphex bottom bracket area • A close-up view of the Aphex rear dropout shows KTM’s attention to detail.
EgnitionTheoretically, KTM’s Egnition electric freeride bike is a pedal-powered, electrically assisted bicycle. Its monster chainring and single, 24-tooth rear cog, however, hint at the awesome power of the Egnition’s 1200 watt drive motor. The 170-millimeter-travel chassis is the same as KTM’s Aphex DH racer, with a few mods to handle the added weight of a motor drive and the 48-volt battery pack which is ‘hidden’ below the downtube. Only 88 Egnition bikes are slated to be built in 2012. No price was mentioned, although the KTM official who showed the bike said it was less than 10.000 euros. He also mentioned that the Egnition was not intended to be a DH shredder, rather, it was designed for a rider who wanted to get to the top of the hill without a lift, and then enjoy the easier runs down the mountain. The battery is good for three runs up the hill as long as you coast the descents. Coast? Yeah, right!
KTM Egnition Details:
(clockwise) In profile, the Egnition looks a bit bulky, but far less so than any motorcycle • All the wires and cables running to the rear hub seem like a weakness in the design. Two housings drive the internally geared hub, one wire powers the sensor that governs the ‘Clean Mobile’ electric drive • How about this for single-speed gearing on a 60-pound DH bike? • The 1200-watt drive motor runs concentric with the bottom bracket and the 48 volt battery is protected by a plastic housing below the downtube.
ElycanAnd, KTM has an e-powered Trailbike as well. The Elycan is powered by an in-the-hub Bionix motor drive, so it can use all the normal gearing that one would expect on a 120-millimeter-travel dual-suspension mountain bike. The Elycan’s 40-pound weight figure is offset by the fact that you can climb with power assist for up to 100 kilometers. Suspension is by DT Swiss and the human-powered part of the drivetrain is Shimano XT.
Contact KTM Bike to view their expansive lineup for 2012. Any thoughts on the ethics of E-bikes in the back country? 
