Scott Lumen, the latest Fox Dropframe Pro helmet and more

Plus a look back at the best stories of the week.

Liam Mercer

Jan 19 2024

In this week's Five Cool Things, we take a look at our second test bike of the year, as well as fresh goodies from Fox, Zefal, Lizard Skins and Fidlock. We'll also be taking a glance at the week's best stories and features.

The week kicked off with Michelin's introduction of the E-Wild e-MTB-specific tyres followed by the YT Capra Core 5, a new high-end enduro bike dripping with Ohlins goodness. OneUp Components lifted the lid on its newest V3 Dropper Post and Lazer launched the new Lupo and Finch helmets. Already, 2024 is shaping up to be quite the year for product releases.

We also brought you a quick guide on how to maintain your disc brakes, highlighting one trick that everyone should know about keeping your brake calipers in tip-top condition. And the Merida EX Enduro announced its return for 2024 having scrapped the e-MTB-only idea owing to demand to keep the classic mixed-bike format.

The reviews have been streaming in, too, with the SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission groupset – an item we praised for its slick shifting and maintenance-free setup. We also took a look at the Fearless Bikes Vulture Titanium frameset.

Fox Dropframe Pro

£270

Hot off the heels of the launch of the Fox Crossframe, the brand introduced an eagerly awaited update to the Dropframe. Most notably it dons a similar look to the Fox Proframe RS.

The Dropfame Pro occupies the middle ground between full-face and open-face helmets and gets even more coverage than before with a closed-ear design. It gets a lot of the features found on the burlier Proframe rs such as the Boa fit system, Mips low-friction liner, and a three-position adjustable visor.

The helmet benefits from big-bore front vents which include recesses for eyewear storage, increased ventilation with decreased surface contact area, and Fidlock magnetic closure. For the e-bikers out there, this lid meets NTA-8776 e-bike certification.

Included in the box are two sets of thin and thick cheek pads, and two extra sets of Ionic+ anti-microbial liners, also in thick and thin sizes so owners can dial in their fit perfectly.

foxracing.co.uk

Scott Lumen eRIDE 900 e-MTB

£9,300

Scott's Lumen eRIDE takes a huge swing at the e-MTB heavyweights. It uses the solid foundation laid by the Spark 900, boosts its travel up to 130mm at each end, and bolts on TQ's HPR50 motor, making it possibly the lightest e-mountain bike on the market at 16.3kg.

Its motor kicks out up to 50Nm of torque and it's powered by a 360Wh battery which offers up to 66km of range.

The Scott Lumen eRIDE 900 is the range-topping bike and it comes with a spec to suit, although it's clear that the brand hasn't gone too crazy to keep things somewhat grounded. So there's a SRAM GX Eagle AXS drivetrain, a Fox Float 34 Performance Elite fork, and hidden inside the frame is a Fox Nude 5T shock. The suspension is locked out thanks to Scott's TwinLoc remote lockout.

Despite being kitted with a cross-country/downcountry-like spec, its geometry is set up for steeper gradients. A large frame benefits from a 476mm reach, a 65.5-degree head angle, and a 77.2mm seat tube angle, all of which are very modern and respectable numbers.

www.scott-sports.com

Fidlock Twist Bottle 750 Compact

£50

The Fidlock Twist bottle 750 compact is exactly what it says on the tin, more compact. Instead of longer, it's fatter which is a godsend for bikepackers or those who regularly ride with a frame bag as it opens up more space above or below it.

It'll make loads of sense on full-suspension mountain bike frames as it allows more water storage without running into frame clearance issues.

Fidlock claims that it fits in the same space as the Twist 590 bottle and comes with its magnetic retention system and easy twist movement. Included in the pack is the bike base that bolts onto the frame.

www.fidlock.com

Zefal Shield G50 gravel mudguard set

£40

This Zefal Shield G50 set boasts a universal fit system, meaning it doesn't require any bolts or mounting points. Instead, you use MD-Fix fastening to attach the guards on the seat stays and the fork. The guards sit close to the wheel which should make them efficient but also look discreet.

The max recommended tyre width for these is 50mm and you can adjust the length of the rear guard with the three different "mud flaps" provided in the package.

This mudguard isn't available just yet, but will be from April

www.zefal.com

Lizard Skins Gradient grips

£35

The Lizard Skins Gradient grips take a step away from the brand's more conventionally shaped grips with a winged or contoured design.

Lizard Skins says it's the most ergonomic grip it's designed, which benefits from a multi-directional grip surface for better traction. The flare of the grip provides better comfort than before, as well as a hint of vibration damping. The grips also utilise a single-sided lock-on interface.

www.lizardskins.com

Author block

Liam Mercer

Since beginning his mountain biking career while working as a resort photographer in Greece in 2014, Liam became a freelance contributor at off.road.cc in 2019. From there, he’s climbed the journalism job ladder from staff writer to deputy technical editor, now finding his place as technical editor.

Partial to the odd enduro race, heart rate-raising efforts on slim-tyred cross-country bikes, hell-for-leather e-MTB blasts or even casual gravel jaunts, there’s not a corner of off-road cycling where Liam fears to tread. With more than 40 bike reviews under his belt and hundreds more on MTB, e-MTB and gravel parts and accessories, Liam’s expertise continues to be cemented and respected by the industry.