Intro
Type X: Extra light, Extra Fast.
The Type X carbon hardtail isn't your run of the mill carbon race bike. It has been specifically designed to be ultra-light yet provide a high degree of lateral rigidity and vertical compliance. Frame weight is a low 1.1kg (medium size) and the ride quality is beyond your expectations: smooth as silk in the rough and light enough to make your legs feel invincible. If you are serious about making the top step of the podium, arm yourself with the best possible bike: the Tomac Type X.
I raced the Type X the entire race season, even winning the 2009 U23 National Championships on it, and it is beyond doubt the smoothest, quickest, lightest carbon hardtail out there.
Colin Cares, Team Kenda Tomac, U23 National Champion.
Overview
One of the lightest hardtails on the market at 2.4 pounds for a large-size frame
The Type X is the choice of team Kenda Tomac riders Colin Cares and Andy Schultz.
Features
- Designed for 80 or 100mm travel fork
- 2.4 lbs/1100gram frame weight, medium size
- High modulus carbon fiber tubes
- CNC aluminum dropouts and brake bridge
- Short chain stays and longer front end
- Accepts dual water bottles on all size frames
- Available in medium, large and extra large
Tech
Does the world need another hardtail? Well, the simple answer is no. But the world does need a carbon hardtail like the Type X.
The Type X isn't just your run of the mill bike. It took over two years to develop, and the result is a large frame that weighs a scant 1.1kg (2.4 pounds), which allows you to easily build up that superlight race-level World Cup hardtail you've always wanted.
But, making it light wasn't the only priority with the Type X. For starters, we wanted to make sure it provided excellent lateral stiffness at the bottom bracket (to maximize power output). This meant going through multiple prototype iterations to ensure that the high modulus carbon wrap achieved the intended goals. We think you will be hard pressed to find a bike that better turns your wattage into forward momentum.
The advantage of carbon versus other materials is that you can provide a high level of lateral stiffness, extreme light weight, and excellent vertical compliance. The lateral stiffness both provides that BB stiffness and pedaling stiffness, but in the case of the front and rear triangle, translates into rider control when steering. But, this is all for naught if that same stiffness bounces you around over bumpy terrain. That's where the vertical compliance is. The Type X maintains a high degree of side to side stiffness, while doing an excellent job of damping vertical vibrations and taking the edge off rough terrain. This helps to lessen rider fatigue of course, but it also provides more comfort during the process.
Specifications
| Type X 1 | Type X 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| FRAME | 2.4 lbs / 1100 grams | |
| COMPLETE | 21 lbs / 9.5 kg | 22.5 lbs / 10.25 kg |
| FORK | Fork: Fox 32 F100 Fit RL, 100mm, 9mm | Fox 32 F100 RL, 100mm, 9mm |
| R/DERAILLEUR | Shimano XTR 10-Speed | Shimano XTR 10-Speed |
| F/DERAILLEUR | Shimano XTR 3-Speed | Shimano XT 3-Speed |
| SHIFTERS | Shimano XT 30-Speed | Shimano XT 30-Speed |
| BRAKES | Avid XO | Avid Elixir R |
| CRANK | Shimano XTR 175, 42/32/24 | Shimano XT 175, 42/32/24 |
| CASSETTE | Shimano XT 10-Speed | Shimano SLX 10-Speed |
| CHAIN | Shimano XT 10-Speed | Shimano SLX 10-Speed |
| WHEELS | Easton EA90, 9mm x 100mm Front, 10mm x 135mm Rear | Easton EA70, 9mm x 100mm Front, 10mm x 135mm Rear |
| TIRES | Kenda Tomac Blue Groove 2.0 DTC Folding | Kenda Tomac Blue Groove 2.0 DTC Folding |
| HANDLEBAR | Easton EC70 Carbon 5D, 610mm, 31.8mm | Easton EA70 5D, 610mm, 31.8mm |
| STEM | Thomson Elite, 31.8mm, 90mm | Easton EA70, 31.8mm, 90mm |
| SEATPOST | Thomson Elite, 30.9mm | Easton EA70, 30.9mm |
| SADDLE | Fizik Tundra 2 MG | Fizik Tundra 2 |
Geometry
| Small 15.7" | Medium 17" | Large 19" | XLarge 21" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shock ETE | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Rear Travel | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fork Travel | 100mm (3.9ins) | 100mm (3.9ins) | 100mm (3.9ins) | 100mm (3.9ins) |
| Head Tube Angle | 70° | 70° | 70° | 70° |
| Seat Tube Angle | 73° | 73° | 73° | 73° |
| Head Tube Length | 95mm (3.7ins) | 110mm (4.3ins) | 130mm (5.1ins) | 150mm (5.9ins) |
| Seat Tube Length | 400mm (15.7ins) | 440mm (17ins) | 490mm (19ins) | 530mm (21ins) |
| Effective Top Tube Length | 555.9mm (22ins) | 579.9mm (22.8ins) | 595.3mm (23.4ins) | 605.3mm (23.89ins) |
| Wheelbase | 1024.5mm (40.3ins) | 1058.4mm (41.7ins) | 1079.5mm (42.5ins) | 1095.6mm (43.1ins) |
| Chainstay Length | 415mm (16.33ins) | 420mm (16.5ins) | 425mm (16.7ins) | 430mm (16.9ins) |
| BB Height | 299.5mm (11.8ins) | 299.5mm (11.8ins) | 299.5mm (11.8ins) | 299.5mm (11.8ins) |
| Standover Height | 722mm (28.43ins) | 749mm (29.5ins) | 782mm (30.78ins) | 810mm (31.89ins) |
Sizing
| Sizing | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 5'0" to 5'4 | 1.54m to 1.65m |
| Medium | 5'4' to 5'8" | 1.65m to 1.77m |
| Large | 5'8" to 6'0" | 1.77m to 1.82m |
| XL | 6'0 to 6'6" | 1.82m to 2m |
Setup Guide - Suspension Setup
For a handy graph of our suggested suspension setup, please click here:
One of the best ways you can maximize the performance of your bicycle is by ensuring correct rear shock sag. To set sag, sit on the bike in a normal riding position near a wall to steady yourself. Without bouncing on the saddle or pedals, distribute your weight on the saddle and pedals in a normal riding position while holding the handlebars. Have a friend measure the distance between the front and back shock mounts.
Automatic/Carbide XC: This measurement should be between 153 and 155mm for the Carbide and 173 and 175 for the Automatic. This measurement means that approximately 25% to 30% of the total shock travel is used as sag. This is appropriate for cross country riding.
Recommended Sag Applications
Cross Country (Automatic/Carbide XC) 25-30% Sag
Spring Adjustment-Air Shocks
To install air pressure in the main air spring, remove the air cap from the Schrader valve located above the large air spring canister. Attach the pump to the Schrader valve. The hiss you hear when unscrewing the pump is only the air left in the pump itself and not from the shock. This does not affect your pressure setting in the shock. Likewise, when you install the pump, the shock will fill the pump and reduces the registered pressure previously installed in the shock. This usually is a 10-15 psi difference between what was in the shock and what the pump is reading. This is all normal procedure when adjusting the air spring pressure. After removing the pump, be sure to reinstall the Schrader valve cap.
Preload Adjustment - Coil Shocks
Coil spring preload adjustments are done with the spring preload adjustment ring. Adjust the spring preload adjuster up or down to achieve the desired amount of sag. Never exceed 8 mm/.325" of preload on the coil spring. Always make sure that you have a minimum of 1 mm of preload on the spring. If you reach the maximum spring preload (8 mm) and the sag is too much, you'll need to go to the next higher spring rate. If you reach the minimum amount of spring preload (1 mm) and there is not enough sag, you'll need to go to the next lightest spring rate.
Rebound Damping Adjustment
The rebound damping controls the return rate of the shock after it has been compressed to absorb a bump. Rebound damping can be adjusted for different spring rates, terrain, and rider preferences. Rebound on shocks can be adjusted by the red knob on Fox shock and the blue knob on Manitou shocks, which is located on the shaft eyelet mount on coil shocks and the air canister eyelet mount on air shocks. As a general rule, rebound that is adjusted too fast will exhibit a springy ride that has excessive pedaling movement and kick up the rear end on multiple bumps and big hits. Rebound that is adjusted too slow will exhibit a packing of the rear wheel that is identified by a low ride height, stiff feeling on multiple bumps and the rear wheel drifting to one side on stutter (braking) bumps. A good rebound starting point is to set the shock to achieve a return movement that is just short of "snapping back".
