Last weekend’s Fort William Round of the British National Downhill Series was a star-studded affair; Greg Minnaar, Matt Walker, Laurie Greenland, Camille Balanche, Loris Vergier, Amaury Pierron, Nina Hoffmann, and your current reigning World Champion himself, Loic Bruni, were all looking to get their eye in on the track that will host the 2023 World Championships this coming August. For the second time this year, the latter was seen aboard a Specialized Prototype DH Bike.
This is an all-new frame construction from Specialized, with carbon tubing and what-could-well-be 3D printed lugs, suggesting the brand is getting into Additive Manufacturing. Indeed, its construction seems not dissimilar to that of Atherton Bikes . It’s not often we get to see the full picture with any of Bruni’s bikes; they are usually covered around key areas of the suspension. Alas, last weekend was no different. Is Loic Bruni on a 3D Printed Downhill Bike from Specialized?
Realistically, there isn’t a heap we can glean from the few photos we managed to snap of Loic’s bike as he crossed the line into the finish arena. However, it is immediately clear that this bikes represents a grand departure from the current Demo DH Bike that was underneath Loic’s team mate, Jordan Williams.
At the front on the bike, the carbon fiber top tube and down tube appear to insert into what could be a 3D printed headtube lug. A similar fitment is seen at the junction between the top tube and the seat tube; the top […]
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