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News | Back to the Roots – New Enduro Hardtail from LAST Bikes

10.08.2015
by

A heated discussion arose when our eyes were firmly set on the new hardtail from LAST bikes…not one of disgust, but over who would be the lucky SOB to get their hands on the sleek and sexy steel exterior and shred the trails.

A truly beautiful bike...we cannot wait to get our grubby mitts on it!
A truly beautiful bike…we cannot wait to get our grubby mitts on it!

Jörg Heydt’s PR Statement

“A good twenty years have passed since Jörg Heydt and I did our first downhill races – back than on hardtails of course. In 1993, I bought a Yeti Ulitmate second-hand – in fact a cross-country bike, and this steel hardtail should become my downhill bike for the next two years.”

In late 2014, the guys at LAST bikes came up with the idea to put the fun back into riding, where as much can be had on the uphills as well as on the descents. They saw both advantages of the 27.5+ wheels and 29”, so what could be better than combining the two?

“When it came to geometry we took a leap of faith. The trained eye will recognise the flat steering angle. Or rather… the very flat steering angle!”

Because of their almost identical outer diameter, it’s possible to use both on the same bike, or even different sizes on the front and the back wheels – without messing up the geometry.

Black on black - a viable color scheme which the entire bike follows, especially the SRAM XX1 groupset.
Black on black – a viable color scheme which the entire bike follows, especially the SRAM XX1 groupset.
Classic: the horizontal dropouts that were previously used as chain tensioner, today serve as the adjuster to the wheelbase .
Classic: the horizontal dropouts that were previously used as chain tensioner, today serve as the adjuster to the wheelbase .
A RockShox PIKE completes the look of the prototype and clearly underlines the potency of the new hardtail.
A RockShox PIKE completes the look of the prototype and clearly underlines the potency of the new hardtail.

The frame is made from high-quality 4139 steel that LAST bikes have been using for years with their dirt hardtails. Due to its smaller pipe diameter, the frame gains some flexibility compared to frames made with aluminium or carbon. The classic-timeless looks are included.

At the moment, this bike is just a prototype and every different customization is being tried and tested to find out what works best, so if it ever goes into full production there will be an alteration or two. Until then, this’ll just be an image on the wall we’re all dreaming will some day become a reality.

For more info, visit: last-bikes.com

Words: Daniel Schlicke / Last PR Photos: Last PR

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