Stolen just release pictures of the new colorways for the 2019 Saint XLT 24: Espresso and Velvet Red.
You could say you have the option of “mild” or “wild”….that Velvet Red with Red tires is a bold look!
What do you think?
I’m still a sucker for those tanwall tires tho…
If you’re old school fool (like me) you probably remember the old Bully handlebars (and the Redline Forklifter Bars that inspired them) fondly.
I had a pair of the Forklifter bars back in the day…and like a fool (I’ve a got a theme going here) I sold them for a song sometime in the 90s.
A bad move on my part.
(Freestyle legend RL Osborn with a pair of Redline Forklifter bars)
Thankfully, the dudes at Snakebite have stepped in to save guys like me for our previous bad decisions.
That’s because Snakebite has come out with the “Meth bar“…a 4-piece bar with the classic Bully/Forklifter styling but updated with modern geometry (featuring the same upsweep and backsweep as the equally iconic S&M Slam bars).
Here’s the lowdown on the specs:
Height: 8.9 or 9.2″
Width: 29″
Upsweep:1 degree
Backsweep: 12
Available in black or chrome.
So much radness.
And now, the obligatory action shot:
Sean Yarroll showing you what’s what.
So good.
Interested? Snap ’em up at Goods.
I don’t want to say I told you so…but I kinda told you so.
Well, maybe I didn’t so much as tell…but maybe I asked the question:
“Padsets: poised for a comeback?”
And if not the entire padset…maybe just the crossbar pad.
In that prescient post, I noted my own journey that culminated in me digging up a cross-bar pad to run on my bike.
But it’s not just me who’s holding a torch for the crossbar pad.
Shawn Mac is rocking one proudly these days on his 2018 MAC Signature Complete bike.
And now The Shadow Conspiracy is jumping into the crossbar pad game!
They just introduced a limited edition crossbar pad. (Only 50 sets exist).
According to Shadow, it’s a”callback to classic race pads. [It] features a velcro closure and a custom camo crow print.”
Friends, it’s starting to look like we might be at the cusp of a crossbar pad renaissance.
Remember, you heard it here first!
Freestyle legend, Martin “The Chairman” Aparijo, and Gary Turner (a legend in his own right) have teamed up to produce a 26″ freestyle cruiser fit for “The Chairman” himself.
Martin Aparijo, who earned his Chairman moniker (and legend status) in the go-go ’80s, helped design the frame over a three-month period with Turner to produce what he says is a “fully functional freestyle cruiser”.
In other words, even though this frame’s got a lot of old school flair, it’s also built to shred.
Spec wise, the frame lines up like this:
The frame is full cro-mo (made in the USA) with dropouts available in 14 mm or 10 mm.
Pretty sweet…and I mean that in both respects….the bike itself and Martin Aparijo still busting out tricks after all these years (but this time on a 26″)!
Photos: Gary Turner, BMX Museum
Colony BMX updated their Eclipse 24 with a sweet looking colorway for 2018: metal red.
Spec/geo-wise, it’s pretty much the same setup as previous iterations.
With a steeper-than-most head angle, high bottom bracket and short rear stays…this is a great 24 if you’re more street-oriented in your riding (or just prefer a quicker steering bike).
Did I mention I’m digging the metal rad colorway?
So nice.
Subrosa is no stranger to the collab game…last year’s Subrosa/Slayer collaboration cruiser being case in point.
More recently, Subrosa has dived back into the collab scene with two new collab models with Nuclear Blast: the “Blast Beast 26” complete bike and the “Blast Beast DTT” double top tube frame.
However, this is going to be an extremely limited run for both collab options.
Just 30 of the Blast Beast 26″ complete bikes and 30 of the Blast Beast DTT frames will be made available.
And not only that, the Blast Beast 26 complete will also come with:
That’s a pretty sweet package.
But I think I’m more excited about the “Blast Beast 24” double top tube frame.
I’ve always dug the short-lived Subrosa DTT TTWOFOUR frame.
This looks like it may share some of the same attributes of that frame (unfortunately, no confirmation on specs/geo from Subrosa ).
If it is an updated version of that frame…whoa, would this really be a rare gem.
Anybody got an in at Subrosa to confirm the geo?
Update:
Turns out the specs are pretty much spot on to the short-lived Subrosa DTT TTWOFOUR frame! Yowza! Check out the comments for the spec list.
All pics: Subrosa
When we learned that GT was upsizing the Pro Performer to a 29″ version for 2018…we wondered (or should I say doubted) if people were ready for a such a big freestyle bike.
(It does seem freakishly big for a freestyle bike)
Yet, if my Instagram feed over the last few days is any indication, it looks like they are.
Case in point, Mark Flip of Albes BMX busting out a decade aboard the 29er earlier this week.
Then later in the week, the artist/rider Chris Piascik shows up with some 29″ radness of his own.
This Greg Hill style tuck is all sorts of good!
I guess it just goes to show that no wheel size has a monopoly on radness.
Big wheels keep on turning!
If you’re low on dough, new to riding or making a comeback to the sport, you might not be able to pick up the latest high-end cruiser with all the bells and whistles.
But even with that being the case, you still want a cool looking bike that’s fun to ride…you just have to do it on a budget.
If that sounds like you, DK has got you covered.
On the freestyle side of things, the 2018 DK Cygnus 24″ clocks in at around $360 US (complete!).
Built around a “chromoly main frame”, the Cygnus sports tall bars, 170 mm cranks and the choice of teal or beige colorways.
The geo looks pretty good too:
On the race side of things, the 2018 DK Sprinter Cruiser 24″ is also an excellent value for what you spend ($419.99 US).
Built around a 6061 alloy frame, 100% chromoly forks and double-wall rims, there’s a lot to like here.
The royal blue colorway with red ano accents looks pretty dialed too…more befitting of a bike with a much higher price tag, but extra cool to see on a bike at this price level!
The geo checks out on this one too:
All in all, some pretty cool rides for not a lot of dough.
Either one would be a perfect entry point to riding and both can be upgraded as the need arises and your skills progress. Definitely some solid choices if you find yourself wanting to fly in the economy class.
The Saint XLT 24 has returned to the Stolen Bikes lineup again for 2018.
For this go-around, Stolen stuck with the geometry of the previous year’s model (which they updated for that model year).
For your reference, it breaks down like this:
And like it’s predecessor, it continues to hit all the high notes: Full chromoly construction, sealed components and 48-spline cranks.
New for this year (and similar to the Zeke XLT) is the addition of the long-ish 300mm Pivotal post.
Two new colorways for this year too.
First off, the Trans Black/Gold Fade.
And next, the stealthy flat black.
Nice looking rigs!
I know I’ve said this before, but the Saint continues to be one of the best spec’d, best value 24s on the market. Hit up your Stolen dealer right quick if you’re looking for a good new school 24.
The Stolen Zeke XLT is back for 2018 and, may I dare say it, looks better than ever.
Granted, not a lot has changed spec or geometry-wise from the previous model year, but hot dang is it a looker.
It comes in two colorways this year.
The first, and my personal fav, is the gun metal with dark red tires.
Yowza, does that look bad ass!
Next up, black with matte orange rims.
I would have liked to see a bit more in the way of orange components on this one but nonetheless I’m digging the matte orange wheels.
Stolen also added a longer 300 mm Pivotal post to the Zeke XLT this year, which was a nice touch.
Here’s how the geometry breaks down:
With all that being said, if you’re looking for a 26er this year the Zeke XLT should definitely be on your list.
cruiser revolution 
