Best of the Month! MTB Parts & Accessories (Ep. 2.22) [Video]

Saddle up for a fresh episode of Top MTB Products! This time around we've got some seriously good stuff on display, from SRAM's new HS2 rotors & GX AXS Upgrade Kits to suspension from Rockshox, tubeless valves from Reserve, as well as new goodies from PNW, Trail One, KETL, and more. You won't want to miss this one! 

SRAM HS2 Rotors

SRAM offers a variety of disc brake rotors, with their HS2 rotor being their newest offering. It comes in at a 2.0mm thickness which is thicker than the Centerline rotors which were 1.8mm as standard. This difference in thickness might not seem like much, but it translates to a claimed 7% increase in power and a nice, positive lever feel while descending. I've been running these rotors since their release and I'd say I've definitely noticed at least the claimed 7% increase in power as well as more consistent power on longer descents. The inside of the rotor features a heat dissipating paint which also helps with maintaining cooler temps on the rotor which also translates to less brake fade on longer downhills. We even wrote up an entire blog on these when they came out, so check that out if you are interested in more of the nitty gritty statistics on the differences between the HS2s and the older style rotors. With so many people wanting to get the most out of their brakes, the HS2 has been a top seller recently and the 200mm size has been the most popular. This also makes sense since the 200mm size is very popular and is used in various categories of bikes.

Reserve Wheels Fillmore Tubeless Valves

Sick of the same century-old Presta valve design, Reserve Wheels was determined to reinvent the mountain bike tubeless valve with their Fillmore Tubeless valves. These valves offer a massive increase in airflow (3X) over standard presta valves which seriously helps with installing tubeless tires and also allows quicker deflation. Hands down one of the coolest features of these valves is that you can slightly loosen the cap and press it down, releasing a bit of air from the tire without completely removing the cap. Mind = Blown.

OneUp Components EDC Tool V2

OneUp changed the game in the MTB space with their EDC Tool Kit. Forget wearing a backpack to bring all your tools and spares, OneUp has got you covered. The EDC Tool features essentially everything you would need in the event of a typical mechanical failure, with the likes of a chain breaker, tire levers, bacon strips + tire plug, C02 storage, as well as a multi tool and others, your bike is sure to stay dialed no matter where you are.

OneUp isn't one to stay stagnant and they have also recently added some new dropper posts to their range of droppers. They now have a 90mm dropper post as well as a massive 240mm dropper post in their lineup to cater to an even larger audience of riders.

SRAM GX Eagle AXS Upgrade Kit

SRAM's release of their AXS drivetrains a while back took the world by storm, although many riders were hoping for a more wallet friendly version of the wireless drivetrains. Now with the release of the GX AXS Upgrade kits, riders can adorn their steeds with this amazing tech for a fraction of the price. Some of the best features of the AXS drivetrains are that it stays properly tuned much longer than its cable actuated cousin, shifts nearly instantaneously, and you are also able to shift multiple gears at once while holding down your thumb with a feature called Multi-Shift. I've been running the GX AXS since its release and I have become extremely fond of its functionality and the lack of tuning - in fact, I haven't had to tune it at all since initially dialing it in. Many people worry about and ask about the battery life - I typically charge the battery every few weeks with a solid amount of riding in between, or if I know I am headed out a little farther from home I'll charge the battery the night before just to be safe. All in all, the GX AXS kit has been one of the best upgrades I've purchased for my bike.

RockShox Recon & Judy Suspension Forks

RockShox absolutely dominates the wallet friendly, high performing mountain bike suspension fork segment with their Recon and Judy forks, and for good reason. These forks are available in a wide vareity of sizes and configurations from QR & Straight Steer to Boost Thru Axles and tapered steer tubes, and at reasonable prices. Being an air fork that offers plush and adjustable suspension, these forks are a very common upgrade over entry level coil-sprung forks that often feel like a pogo stick going down the trail and probably hurt the rider more than help them.

RockShox Monarch RL Rear Shock

The Monarch RL Rear Shock by RockShox is one of the more popular rear shocks lately and you can see why when you take into account its impressive performance for its price. Many older bikes use imperial sizing, and replacement parts for those shocks are hard to find. That's part of the reason the Monarch has been so popular - it is available in common replacement sizes and frequently costs less than parts and labor for a factory rebuild for that old shock.

KETL Vent Pants & Tomfoolery Pants

The KETL Vent pant is the newest garment in our lineup, and we are very excited about it. This pant is extremely versatile and can be used on the bike, off the bike, or on the couch, we don't judge. They are very comfortable, lightweight and extremely packable which is ideal for all sorts of adventures. They are available in brown and black and sizes from S to XXL.

Speaking of pants, we recently restocked our Tomfoolery pants in new colors as well! This has been one of our best selling garments and we have gotten a ton of awesome feedback from them. They are comfortable, stretchy, and look great whether you are out on the trail, traveling, or at your friend's wedding. Talk about cross functional.

PNW LOAM PEDALS

PNW has been producing quality components for years now, so when we heard they were releasing their Loam pedals we were instantly excited. These alloy pedals offer a large platform with substantial pins and a concave design. The pedal body itself is convex, however combined with the pins the actual profile is concave. This pedal design is relatively unique and our experience with these pedals has been great since day 1.

Trail One Ti Stem Bolt Kit

Stem bolts are one way to instantly add some flash to your bike and color coordinate another part of your bike. Introducing the Trail One Ti stem bolts that come in a variety of colors (Rainbow, Gold, Raw Ti & Black) and also work with a number of stems listed below: