Dialled 4X

UK based Dialled Bikes are currently in the middle of test phases on their dedicated 4X frame.

The Dialled line already includes MTB frames in the shape of the Prince Albert and the UK Flow, as well as the titanium Technique and cro-moly MX20 BMX frames but after Dialled rider Steve Taylor managed the highest ranking of any rookie Pro in the 2005 NPS 4X series, Mike at Dialled decide it was time to make something a little more specific.

"When Steve rode a Prince Albert xc frame to 6th in elite last season I thought he deserved a dedicated 4X frame, so over winter we exchanged ideas and he told me what he liked about the Prince Albert, what he would like to see on a 4X frame".

So with Steve on board and Mike drawing up designs, the project was underway. But, as with all good and thorough prototyping, the frame needed something a tad more rigorous than just the 'skill test' Steve could provide. Enter Paddy Baker. The 'stress test'.

Steve Taylor (Left) and Paddy Baker (right). The official Dialled Bikes Skill and Stress test dummies.

Sneak peek. Paddy's mk1 frame kited out at a secret Dialled test ground somewhere outside Sheffield. Steve's Mk 2, with new one piece 3D dropout and brake mount, should be ready soon.

Apart from the rigorous testing though, the thing that makes this project so exciting is that Dialled are a UK company giving serious thought to UK riders as well as to the specific requirements of a 4X frame. All of which becomes clear when you let Dialled head honcho Mike explain the aims himself:

"The frame is 2 inches smaller than a 15.5" Prince Albert, so 13.5 inch seat tube centre to top. Top tube is 21.75". And the back end is super short (just under 16 inches for good snap and manualling).

Basically, a lot of concepts from BMX frame design went into this frame but it's still very much a mountain bike, as a lot of companies just make big BMXs and call them 4X bikes, and I didn't want to do that.

Tubing is Reynolds 520 as used on the Prince Albert and MX20 frames, which is basically a nicer and better quality tube than standard 4130 cromoly that most other companies use, and people know they can trust something with the Reynolds name on it as Reynolds is probably the best steel bike tube maker in the world, and is British too.

The frame is designed to run on 100mm suspension forks (though the rider could go down to 80mm or up to 125mm to get a slacker or steeper angles if they wish). Geometry is 69 degrees head and 73 degree seat angle on a 100mm fork.

The ones that Steve and Paddy are currently on are mk1 prototypes. Steve will be getting a slightly tweaked mk2 in a month or so which has a new one piece 3D dropout and brake mount I've designed, so he'll test that for a few months and if it's running good, the frames will go into production."

So keep a lookout at www.dialledbikes.com for more information, as with a thorough prototyping process like this and a very competitive target price of 280GB pounds, there should be plenty more news surrounding this frame.

Mat.

Note. 'Steve-Skill-Test-Taylor' and 'Snap-Daddy-Stress-Test-Paddy' are trade marks of Dialled Bikes and can be seen in real life at most NPS 4X races.