Sport And Biking Talk: 10 great upgrades for your bike

Interbike Mtbr

When walking the aisles at the Interbike trade show, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest new products. But it’s very possible your best option is not buying all new gear, but upgrading your current equipment. Indeed, it is often cheaper to upgrade then buy new. Take PUSH Industries, which offers custom fork or shock tuning to your exact riding style, terrain, and specifications.

Or maybe you’ve heard the hoopla about 1x drivetrains, but haven’t jumped on board yet. Why buy a new bike when you could upgrade your drivetrain with SRAM’s new Eagle set-up (just make sure it will fit your current steed).

Wheels and tires are another great place to upgrade. So why not a set of new ENVE M60 Forty plus carbon hoops or a pair of Maxxis Minion DHF in 27.5×2.80” tires. Then you can find out why some are raving about the plus size revolution. We also have upgrades for your hydration pack, SUV, pump and more.

Although many riders have yet to try a 1x10 drivetrain, SRAM’s Eagle already goes to 12. Upgrade to a 1x system and find out why riders fall in love with the simplicity of a single front ring.

Upgrade to a 1x system and find out why riders fall in love with the simplicity of a single front chainring.

SRAM Eagle 1×12 Drivetrain

Drivetrains are a hot topic these days. But there are plenty of riders still riding 9 (or in some cases 8) speed drivetrains and they are left to wonder what all the hype is about. With the advent of the 1×10 drivetrain, riders realized that simplifying the front of their drivetrain simplified life. One less shifter on the bar opened up better ergonomics for dropper post levers. Also, shifting and thinking about shifting became easier. But there were some sacrifices that had to be made. Whether it be at the top end or the bottom end, 1×10 didn’t have the same range as 2x. But with a 1×12 setup and a huge 50-tooth rear cog, you don’t have to lose gear inches any more. Read Mtbr.com’s first ride review of SRAM’s Eagle 1×12 drivetrain here and learn more by visiting www.sram.com.

Upgrade your seatpost – dropper posts have gained in popularity such that no serious trail/all-mountain rider would be caught dead without one.

Dropper posts have gained popularity with trail/all-mountain rider and almost all bikes in that category now come spec’d with one.

Fox Transfer Dropper Post

Dropper posts are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your bike, although you will have to pay attention to things like cable routing (especially if you are looking to go with an internal routed version). But once you use one, you will never go back. The Fox Transfer is available in two different models. The Factory version retails for $ 314 and has internal routing. The Transfer Performance comes in black with no Kashima coat and retails for $ 264 (external routing). Both come in 30.9mm and 31.6mm size and 100mm, 125mm or 150mm of travel. To learn more, visit www.ridefox.com.

PUSH Industries has been in the suspension tuning game for a long time. They now offer complete rear shocks, fork seal kits and suspension fluid.

PUSH Industries has been in the suspension tuning game for a long time. They now offer complete rear shocks, fork seal kits, suspension fluid, and more.

PUSH Industries Suspension Upgrade

PUSH Industries is a Colorado based company that made its name providing custom suspension tuning services. PUSH now sells its very own ELEVENSIX rear shock as one of the most sought after upgrades. PUSH also sells tools and kits to help the DIY mechanic tune and maintain their own suspension parts.

Although that may seem like a stretch for many riders, custom suspension work has been an industry standard in the motorcycle world for years. Why buy new when you can make the fork or rear shock you have work exactly to your needs and demands? To view more of the latest products and services from PUSH, visit the PUSH Industries Interbike Virtual Trade Show Booth.

Upgrade your hoops – ENVE introduced their all new M60 Forty Plus carbon plus size wheels at Interbike. Available in 27.5+ or 29+, wide wheels are here to stay.

ENVE introduced the new M60 Forty Plus carbon wheels in 27.5 and 29.

ENVE M60 Forty Plus Carbon Wheels

The Forty Plus is the widest wheel in ENVE’s M Series lineup. Available in 27.5 or 29, plus set-ups offer more traction and comfort. The M60 Forty Plus is optimized for tires in the 2.8” to 3.0” range. External rim width is 49mm, internal width is 40mm, and rim depth is 25mm. These wheels are available with 28 spokes and feature the boost standard axle width. Price starts at $ 2718. To learn more, visit www.enve.com.

Upgrade your tires – tires are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your ride. The Maxxis Minion DHF pair up perfectly with the ENVE M60 Forty Plus above.

Tires are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your ride. The Maxxis Minion DHF pair up perfectly with the ENVE M60 Forty Plus above.

Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5” and 2.8” Tires

The Minion has been a staple in Maxxis tire lineup for years. Now they have a new version called the Minion DHF in either 2.5” or 2.8” for 27.5. The 2.8” plus size has a 120 TPI dual ply casing, and features an aggressive knob profile for good grip in a variety of conditions. It also features Maxxis 3C Maxx Terra compound and EXO protection. These tires are tubeless ready and have a claimed weight of 980 grams. To learn more, visit www. maxxis.com.

Electronic shifting is the future and Shimano is on the cutting edge.

Shimano Di2 XTR

Whether it is the world of professional road cycling or World Cup mountain bike racing, electronic shifting is the future and it will eventually trickle down to the weekend warrior. So why not upgrade to wireless now? No, it won’t be cheap, but proponents swear by the slick shifting action. Sure charging batteries is no fun, but there’s a cost to high tech. Speaking of cost, Di2 is not cheap, but just as Dura-Ace Di2 for road spawned Ultegra Di2, XTR Di2 has yielded XT Di2. Look for more trickle down tech in even lower cost groupsets in the future. Read Mtbr.com’s long term test of Shimano’s XTR Di2 here and to learn more, visit www.ridextr.com.