F - Bomb review from Sinister Team Rider Knight Ide

Sinister Team Rider, Knight Ide, has been testing the prototype F - Bomb for some time.  He has been providing FTW with design feedback and has written up a great technical review that he shared with us from Boulder City, Nevada.

Sinister Bikes recently unveiled the prototype of their newest offering at Highland MTB park’s end of the season party. There was quite a buzz created by the prospect of a new design from the legendary Frank The Welder. It was my first look at the F-bomb and I got pumped! My fervor could be attributed to the large amount of alcohol I had consumed, as was the 4 hours of dry heaving later in the evening. Beyond the inebriated zeal was a genuine excitement for a new Sinister downhill race bike

Imagine my level of stoke when Bruce asked me if I would test it out during my upcoming trip to Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, Nevada

F-bomb close up

• The v-truss design of the front triangle makes for plenty of stand-over. 
• A OnePointFive head-tube allows for a wider selection of forks.
• The 150-mm rear wheel is attached with Rock Shox Maxel, A huge improvement over the R9.
• The frame is 4 pounds, lighter than the R9 and the full bike was 39 pounds, 15 ounces, as tested

Descending

• The trails at Bootleg Canyon are steep and technical off the summit and this bike ate it up like a fat kid at a buffet. I was running the stanchions low and it was still slack enough for the numerous roll-down corners on Armageddon.
• Through the hurgle-durgle rough stuff it felt lively and nimble and the suspension remained supple under heavy braking.
• On Bootlegs lower trails, high speed berms and g-outs prevail. This machine was on rails and I was on cloud nine.

Pedaling

•  Anyone who owns an R9 knows that Frank found the sweet spot for the pivot to eliminate pedal bob. Now imagine the same feeling on a bike that is four pounds lighter.
• Steep climbs and slow speed switch-backs are where the F-bomb’s slackness is noticeable.

Jumping

•  I didn't spend much time on BC’s gnarly jump lines but I did get a handful of runs.
• The small cockpit and light weight of the F-bomb, combined with chainstays that are shorter than most downhill race bikes, make it nicely flickable.  In the air she was easily maneuvered and I predict some steezy finish line whips.

 Bottom Line

The R9 is the standard against which I compared the F-bomb and that is a high bar to meet. Bootleg is a yearly destination for me so I was familiar with the trails and the Vivid is the same shock I run so I feel the comparison is accurate. Here's how they stack up.

• I found myself skimming in the top of my suspension in sections where the R9 was in mid-travel. 
• The nimbleness of this bike is the most noticeable contrast. Gapping sections of trails where the R9 requires substantial rider effort, was a breeze.
• G-outs with roughness in the compression are common at BC and these are areas where, at top speed, I would bottom out and sometimes flat. The F-bomb felt bottomless and I felt like cheering. I’ve dropped the “f-bomb” after flatting in these spots before.
• The F-bomb’s geometry is oriented towards downhill racing. This was most noticeable when pedaling slow sections with tight corners. After talking with Frank its sounds like he would change the head angle by a degree on production models. This will allow for a steeper setting and make the rake I was, running the midpoint.
• This was a small frame, I am 5’ 10” and the cockpit is as tight as I could stand. Riders who like a lot of room or bigger people will want a larger size.
• This baby is fast! Look to see Gavin, Sky and the rest of the guys on the new Sinister satellite race team shaving seconds when these trophy machines make it to production!

Comments

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There was quite a buzz created by the prospect of a new design from the legendary Frank The Welder. It was my first look at the F-bomb and I got pumped! My fervor could be attributed to the large amount of alcohol I had consumed, as was the 4 hours of dry heaving later in the evening.