Knolly has announced the release of its new Chilcotin. The bike comes in two travel options (170mm and 155mm) and Knolly has packed in a load of upgrades making it the Canadian brand's best enduro bike yet.
The Chilcotin is a long travel aggressive 29er trail bike, both travel options use the same 6066 aluminum materials decked out with custom titanium hardware. Knolly continues using its Fourby4 suspension linkage which has a refined leverage curve for more sensitivity and better pedaling response. There is also a new unified Monoblock rear link to increase rigidity and reduce lateral stresses on the rear shock. The updated lower shock mount now uses a 30mm axle which is compatible with Fox’s Roller Bearing Shock kits.
The big improvement for this generation of the Chilcotin is the expanded size range, with both travel options now ranging from Small to X-Large. It's not just the addition of a new smaller size either, the rear end now comes in size-specific chainstay lengths too which should allow a more uniform ride feel across the full range of sizes.
Both travel versions use the same frame but have slightly varying geometry, although only by around half a degree or a few millimeters. The most striking number on the geometry chart is the reach, which is now huge. Even on the small size, the reach is around 462mm – which is pushing on a medium for some other brands. Chainstays vary between 438mm and 450mm as you move up the sizes, as does the standover height which is measured between 724mm to 773mm. The Chilcotin features a flip-chip that adjusts the head angle between 63.75 degrees and 64,25 degrees on the 170mm bike and 64.75 degrees to 64.25 degrees on the 155mm bike. Seat tube angle is 77 degrees (170mm) or 77.5 degrees (155mm), steepening by half a degree when put in the slack position. The bottom bracket height also changes by 10mm, measuring 339mm at its lowest.
On to the drivetrain and that unusual feature that was previously mentioned. As you would expect the Chilcotin is now SRAM UDH compatible, but oddly, Knolly lists the Chilcotin as being Di2 compatible too. If like us, you have your fingers crossed for Shimano's return to electronic MTB tech in 2024, don't start getting too excited that Knolly knows something we don't as this spec is listed on all its bikes.
Knolly has taken full advantage of the best dropper posts growing in length, with all frame sizes getting equipped with 200mm to 240mm of drop.
Both the 170mm and 155mm Chilcotin come in four build specs and two frame-only options. The bikes can be purchased built up with Deore/Marzocchi ($4,499), GX/Fox Performance ($5,299 155mm, $5,399 170mm), GX/Fox Factory ($5,499 155mm, $5,599 170mm), and XT/Fox Factory ($5,799 155mm, $5,899 170mm). Frame only you can spec either a RockShox Super Delux Ultimate RCT shock for $2,399 or Float X2 Factory for $2,599.
The new Chilcotin will be available in four colors: Raw, Laguna Blue, Kelly Green Fade to Black, and Ano Black.
For full details, head over to Knollybikes.com
