Why Cycles Supple 7
Titanium Plus-Size Shredder
The titanium hardtail was long thought of as the unicorn of bikes, offering the ultimate in strength-to-weight ratio with durability that was hard to match, albeit at a price that made it nearly impossible for most to own. Fast-forward 20 years and these bikes are still relatively expensive. But, in a sea of disposable carbon super machines, the titanium hardtail remains one of the most trusted chassis to bolt your wheels to. It’s like a sharp chef’s knife next to a pile of electric carving knives with busted motors. It doesn’t need much maintenance, works flawlessly every time, and will last a lifetime if taken care of properly.
Why Cycles was started in Ogden, Utah, by Adam Miller and Ben Craner, both veterans in the cycling industry. They sought to build bikes that would be beautiful, functional, and lifelong companions for the people who ride them. This is one of the first machines they decided to build: the Supple 7.
WHO IS IT MADE FOR?
Hardtail trailbikes have become a versatile option for recreational riders, and the S7 is about as versatile as they come. Between the titanium frame, progressive geometry and plus-size tires, the S7 will roll as a trailbike and even work for bikepacking adventures. The frame has options for several frame packs and various rack mounts. The titanium tubing will appeal to riders who place a premium on ride quality and are willing to drop the coin to get it.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
It’s just so clean: The S7 has full-internal cable routing through the top tube with a couple of very clean transitions to the seatstays. We did get some noise from the cables slapping the inside of the frame, but the overall look justified it.
Titanium is known for being incredibly strong and very lightweight. There are a couple combinations of Ti that frame builders use: 3/2.5 and 6/4 are the most common. The numbers refer to the ratio of aluminum to vanadium, which alters the strength and feel of the titanium. 3/2.5 is known for providing a smoother feel, while 6/4 is stiffer. Why Cycles uses these two combinations in different areas on the S7 frame to give riders a balanced feel.
The S7 uses 6/4 on the bottom bracket shell and head tube to ensure that there is no unwanted flex in these areas while using 3/2.5 on the rest of the frame tubes to provide plenty of compliance. The frame uses full internal cable routing and Boost spacing, allowing for clearance for tires up to 2.9 inches wide. Why designed the frame with a threaded bottom bracket shell and three different spots for bottle cages.
Riders can purchase the S7 frame for $2250, while complete builds start at $4200. Our test bike is the top of the line and retails for $6600.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
Made for the trail: Threaded bottom brackets often get overlooked, but their durability is second to none. The S7 uses a 73-millimeter threaded bottom bracket shell and has three different water-bottle cage mounts.
Enough to roll anything: Between the massive 10-50 cassette and 2.8 tires, our test riders felt that they had everything they needed to conquer any climb. At times we would have liked a slightly larger front chainring during faster descents.
Convert it anyway: Our test bike came with a SRAM Eagle drivetrain, but with the sliding dropouts, riders will be able to run single-speed and a belt drive down the road.
There was plenty to admire about the component spec of our test bike. Between the RockShox Pike, SRAM Eagle drivetrain and Knight Composite wheels, our test riders weren’t sure if this bike was meant to be ridden or hung on the wall as art. Plenty of shredding occurred, and the Eagle drivetrain performed flawlessly, along with everything else. Why Cycles is a consumer direct brand that offers incredible attention to detail. Instead of shipping its bikes in cardboard boxes, Why use EVOC bike bags that can be reused.
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
The S7 has a very progressive geometry combined with a short 60-millimeter stem and 760-millimeter wide bars, providing our riders with a very comfortable position on the bike.
Suspension Setup:
The Pike is one of the best trail forks on the market and is a favorite of some of our test riders. We set up the sag at 20 percent and set the rebound in the middle. After a few rides, we left the sag where it was but sped up the rebound two clicks. We ran our fork with two bottomless tokens to give the fork a more progressive feel.
Tire Pressure:
Plus size tires can be fairly sensitive to pressure changes. The Maxxis Rekon tires have a max pressure of 35 psi, but during our testing we ran pressures from 15–19 psi, depending on the terrain and rider weight.
Lean it over: One of the biggest benefits of plus-size tires is the endless traction. The S7 felt right at home being pushed over when cornering at high speeds, especially with the 760-millimeter Race Face bars.
Cornering:
The S7 is a rowdy bike that loves to be pushed hard on high-speed descents and in tight turns. The plus-size tires gave us endless traction, and the wide bars provided plenty of leverage to rip through corners. Some of our test riders complained about the high standover when leaning hard in turns, but the S7 still cornered like a beast, thanks to the dialed and aggressive geometry and ample traction from the tires.
So slack: Why designed the S7 with a 67.5-degree head angle and a 73-degree seat tube angle. This complemented the trail feel of the S7 and gave us a rowdy hardtail that delivered on the descents.
Climbing:
The SRAM Eagle cassette has a massive gear range, and our test riders felt that they could climb just about anything. With the tire pressures dialed in, we were able to tractor up steep climbs with ease. The S7 isn’t an XC race bike on the climbs, but it will conquer some of the more technical and steeper hills. Out of the saddle, the frame was fairly stiff and kept up with our harder efforts.
It does the work: At high speeds, the plus-size tires gave our riders plenty of stability and control. With the Reverb dropped, we had plenty of clearance to get behind the bars and roll steep sections of trail.
Descending:
The Supple 7 is a seriously fun bike to rip down- hill. The big tires and 130mm of front travel generated plenty
of smiles from our test riders when the trail pointed down. Our groomed, flowing trails complemented every piece of the S7. The slack head angle gave the front end plenty of stability, and the Rekon tires held the trail like a raccoon’s paw stuck in a butter churn.
At high speeds, the S7 felt stable and inspired plenty of confidence. Some of our test riders were looking for more gears after spinning out with the stock 32-tooth front ring.
That titanium ride quality:
Titanium has a very unique feel that can’t be replicated. The combination of the alloys gave the S7 a very smooth sensation that was only magnified by the plus-size tires, as if the two were made for each other. On rougher sections of trail, we were reminded that we were riding a hardtail, but over- all we were treated to a seriously smooth and comfortable ride.
TRICKS, TIPS OR UPGRADES?
A couple of our more aggressive test riders would have liked the ability to run a bigger rotor in the rear. Right now, the S7 will only accept up to a 160-millimeter rotor, which might hold back more aggressive riders. Stronger riders will most likely want to opt for a larger front chainring than the stock 32.
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BUYING ADVICE?
BUYING ADVICE?Why Cycles has a strong offering with the Supple 7. This is the brainchild of a couple guys who knew what they wanted when it came to building a bike, and it shows in the finished product. Titanium can be a bit of a tough sell, but the Supple 7 has plenty of potential for riders looking for something to ride as a daily driver on everything from aggressive trails to long bikepacking adventures. This bike is up to the challenge for nearly everything except cross-country racing, where every gram counts, and riding downhill trails, where you’d need more travel. Anything in between is fair game. Bottom line, it’s a very versatile bike that will always be waiting and ready for the next ride.
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