December 20, 2016
Bike Check is a new feature on our site. Whenever we put together an interesting or unusual build for a customer, or our demo fleet, we'll run through it here. It could be seen as simple drool material or a little bike geek inspiration for your own build, Kingdom or not.
First off, we have one of our 2017 Vendetta demo fleet, a bike that will be available to test throughout next year with a pretty bling specification.
The frame itself is a standard 2017 Vendetta in size medium. It's finished in raw, a finish option that took a bit of perfecting initially but will likely be back on the cards for 2017.
This demo bike features Fox 36 Kashima forks dropped down to 150mm by our suspension partner TF Tuned.
The medium 2017 Vendetta features the following geometry:
We offer a free customisation service with all our frames, so we use the above geo as a base setting for 2017 but customers can choose to adjust the angles, axle to crown dimension, rear wheel spacing and cable routing.
Weld quality on all our frames is always top notch with tight beads and nice custom CNC Titanium components unique to Kingdom.
For the all-important contact point of the feet, we stuck to what we consider the finest flat pedal available a Burgtec Penthouse MK4, with titanium spindle option of course.
The default Vendetta comes with 148x12 (Boost) rear spacing, which is perfect for a Sixth Element enduro wheelset. (Non-Boost options available if that isn't your cup of tea!)
The 50mm wide Toray T700 32-hole carbon rims were hand built in the UK on to Hope Evo4 hubs. The 50mm width gives them some real beef combined with the Schwalbe 2.6 Nobby Nic tyres.
Drivetrain
We wanted to try something a bit different so we built a drivetrain that mix and matches SRAM and Shimano technologies by using a Lindaret Goat Link 11.
This small devices replaces the existing hanger on a Shimano rear derailleur and allows the mech to become compatible to SRAM 11-speed cassettes.
It requires a compatible Shimano shifter, but opening up the possibilities for Shimano crisp shifting with XD 11-speed cassettes is too good an idea not to explore.
We decided to jump into the gear setup with both feet and didn't stop at just mix and matching the systems, we also added a larger Wolf Tooth GCX 44T to the XD cassette. This requires removing the existing 42T cog and clipping the new one in its place. The conversion only takes about ten minutes.
The Vendetta frame features a beefy chainstay plate that offers a mass of clearance between a 2.8in (maximum) tyre and the chainring.
This frame features a super-sexy stainless steel 30T drop stop Wolf Tooth chainring, that, while not as light as its alloy cousins, is super durable and also looks so clean and functional. We've only had good experiences with their products so far.
Completing the drivetrain is a 170mm Truvativ Descendant crank, a KMC DLC (Diamond Like Coating) 11-speed black chain.
Overall impressions are very positive for this hybrid mix-and-match drivetrain. While taking the best bits of different systems and shoehorning them together can be fiddly, this setup wasn't hard to install and so far has shifted super crisply through its added gear ratios.
We've been massive fans of 9point8's Fall Line dropper since we first tried it in the springtime: a solid performer, reliable, efficient and easy to service.
For this bike we installed a 150mm Fall Line with a different trigger, simply because the Matchmaker capability of the Wolf Tooth trigger cleaned up the cockpit.
Here's a full list of components:
Frame | Kingdom 2017 Vendetta Medium, Full Stealth, 148x12 Rear |
Fork | Fox 36, 150mm Travel |
Wheels | Sixth Element, Enduro 50mm, Hope Pro 4 hubs, Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.6 tyres, tubeless |
Headset | Chris King, InSet 2, 44/56 |
Stem | Burgtec 35mm Enduro MK2, 30mm spacers. |
Bars | Burgtec RideWide Carbon 800mm |
Grips | Ergon DH grips slim |
Brakes | SRAM Level levers with Guide callipers, 180mm/160mm rotors |
Crankset | Truvativ Descendant 170mm, 30T Wolf Tooth stainless steel GXP drop stop chainring |
BB | SRAM GXP ceramic, 68/73mm |
Chain | KMC 11 speed DLC, black |
Cassette | SRAM XG-1180 with Wolf Tooth 44T cog |
Rear derailleur | Shimano XTR 11speed, medium cage |
Shifter | Shimano XTR |
Pedals | Burgtec Penthouse MK4 |
Seatpost | 9point8 Fall Line, 150mm, 31.6 with Wolf Tooth remote trigger |
Saddle | Fabric Scoop, flat race. |
As for the cost of this build, we would say around €4500.
So to wrap the bike check up, this Vendetta is our first demo bike for 2017 and will be available to test ride in Denmark from Pedal and Co Copenhagen for the first half of the year, then it will be based the UK after the summer.
To arrange a test ride on a Vendetta click here.
For more information on 2017 Kingdom Vendettas click here.