The Radavist thanks 1-Up USA for sponsoring our Sea Otter Classic 2024 coverage!
Josh and John are out at Sea Otter this week, covering people, products, and bikes on display. We’re starting the show coverage off a little differently this year with a feature on Neuhaus Metalworks’ newest offering: the HBSL Titanium XC Race 29er. Read on for a look at this new titanium Superleggera chassis and a comparison to the steel Hummingbird hardtail 29er…
Neuhaus Metalworks 120 mm Hummingbird Steel in peach powder coat and the Titanium HBSL 110 mm XC Race bike in blue cerakote…
John here, reporting from Sea Otter, where yesterday I meandered the aisles during the showcase setup day, looking for familiar faces and getting a lay of the land. One of the folks I bumped into was Nick from Neuhaus Metalworks, who was swapping out a fork at the MRP booth on a beautiful peach-colored Hummingbird 29er.
Daniel, the other half of Neuhaus, wasn’t on deck at the show today, but don’t worry, we’ve got something special planned with him!
We’ve written extensively about Neuhaus and the Hummingbird, so check out these articles for the 411 on the brand and its flagship 29er hardtail:
- Inside / Out at Neuhaus Metalworks and a Look at the Hummingbird Steel Hardtail 29er
- The Current Hardtail Moment: Hailey Reviews the Neuhaus Metalworks Hummingbird 29er Hardtail
The All-New Titanium HBSL 29er XC Race Hardtail
Today, I’m sharing the latest model from the brand: the HBSL or Hummingbird Superleggera. The intent of the HBSL is to offer a made-in-the-USA production stock-sized titanium XC racing hardtail with cerakote to match MRP’s color offerings, priced competitively at $3,000 for a frame.
HBSL Quick Hits:
- $3000 MSPR frame
- Titanium (is immortal!)
- US built from international components
- 110 mm travel
- 2.4″ tire clearance
- 14 stock sizes
- Cerakote colors match the MRP custom program
- Size-dependent butting profiles for tubing
- 67º head tube angle and 74º seat tube angle for M/L
- 3.3 lb frame for size M/L
- As built size M/L – 22 lbs with Gulo carbon wheels or 24 lbs with Astral and White Industries wheels
- Fewer “customized” options to keep production costs down
- Non-sliding dropouts
The original Hummingbird is specced with 80-130 mm travel (based on frame size) trail/all-rounder hardtail. Hailey lauded its abilities in her review, and I even I felt it to be incredibly balanced for a travel spec I don’t normally ride. The HBSL and its 110 mm travel is meant to be just a little bit faster and lighter than its Hummingbird 120 mm cousin.
“You could run a 110 mm air-sprung, tuned MRP Ribbon SL or a Fox 34 Stepcast fork and hit the rowdy stuff, and then for ultralight racing, run a Fox 32 or RockShox Sid Race Day.” Explained Nick from Neuhaus as we wheeled HBSL to a photo shoot location.
One place that Neuhaus didn’t skimp on weight was the 3D-printed components the brand is known for. This chainstay yoke isn’t as lightweight as a simple crimped and shaped chainstay, but it is crucial to the brand’s multiple-size offerings and faster production.
The HBSL uses size-dependent, custom-drawn, and butted tubing sourced from Taiwan, along with the 3D printed/sintered components made in Shanghai, China. It’s all welded together in batches in Marin County, California, the home to many mountain bike innovators.
If you’re going to the Sea Otter Classic this year, be sure to swing through the MRP booth to see a steel Hummingbird and the 5Dev booth to see the all-new HBSL on display.
Check out more at Neuhaus Metalworks.