2012 Trek Superfly 100 AL Elite Full Suspension 29er
Trek have made it pretty clear where they believe the future of XC racing is at…29ers. With 29ers making up 80% of their XC offering you really have a full choice of styles and models to fit any budget. Kicking off the full suspension line up is the Superfly 100 AL Elite. 110mm of rear travel and 100 mm up front is controlled via custom tuned Fox suspension that provides a snappy but smooth ride. Everything about the Superfly 100 AL Elite's frame including the suspension is designed to be as stiff as possible by using the latest available technology. These frame technologies include the E2 tapered head tube, ABP Race dropouts, press fit  bottom bracket and a magnesium top link, all of which add up to create a responsive and controllable chassis that feels planted over rough terrain. We are big believers in getting yourself on the best possible frame & fork combo possible for your budget, as these components are by far the most important parts of the bike and have the biggest affect on the ride quality. This is why we believe this little trail/ XC gem will be popular for 2012.

Coming into its 5th year, the Active Braking Pivot (ABP) rear suspension design consists of a concentric pivot that rotates around the rear wheel axle as oppose to being above or below it. This simple tweak has a massive effect on the Superfly 100's ride quality, as it isolates braking forces from the rear suspension and allows the shock to move freely whether the rider is on the brakes or not. With other suspension designs, there is an inherent amount of stiffening of the rear shock when the rear brake is applied and this results in the rear tyre skipping around like a hardtail on loose terrain. Due to the ABP design, the Superfly 100 maintains its supple suspension even when you're hard on the brakes and you'll notice less skidding and more traction as you're bombing down steep chutes. Combined with the grippy 29er 29-1 Bontrager tyres, the Superfly 100 will give you a stable and planted feel that will keep you in control for longer.

Components finishing of the AL Elite comprise of a slick Shimano SLX 3x10 drivetrain and the impressive new SLX brakes that feature a light and responsive feel that will see you braking comfortably while maintaing a good grip on the bars. The wheels are a combination of serviceable Shimano M525 hubs and Bontrager tubeless ready rims that build up into a stiff and durable wheelset that will take a thrashing. Fox suspension front & rear both utilise lightweight air springs so you can adjust air pressure to set up the bike for your weight and riding style, and with external lockouts and rebound adjustment you have plenty of control over each damper. Overall the Superfly 100 AL Elite is ready for all day epics across your favourite mountain range, or cutting hot laps at your local enduro. Either way get ready to be riding faster than ever as you climb aboard the most refined and technologicallly advanced 29er on the market.  

 

Our favourite features of the Superfly AL Pro

FCC MTB Oversized hub, flanges, and end caps create a flex-free 29" wheel capable of chewing through technical terrain. With a 29er wheel that has Wider and taller flanges with outboard J-bend spokes you get a stiffer wheel system.  FCC wheel system pushes the wheel flanges out and up, improving the bracing angle between flange and rim also adding strength and rigidity to the wheel.  A stiffer and stronger 29er wheel, that’s the result.

Top swing magnesium link   Minimizes material and weight while maintaining a strong bracing angle for a more rigid frame.  One of the design challenges with 29ers is to keep a stiff, responsive feel, Trek’s top link goes a long way towards the overall snappy feel you get with the Superfly models.