New 'halo' bike sports 44mm head tube and new top tube
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Jon Cariveau with Moots’s new Psychlo-X RSL(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The fork offers massive mud clearance.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The new fork with TRP hanger and Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The new fork is designed to accommodate a crown mounted cable hanger; Moots choose a model made by TRP.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Indents behind the brake pad holders allow 2.5mm more splay for better tire clearance.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The new Moots-designed fork.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Ti stem and spacers on top of the 44mm head tube.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Moots’s dropout and plugged weld purge hole.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Another look at the chainstay bridge option.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
A Psychlo-X RSL without the chainstay bridge, which is an option for the bike; going without offers more mud clearance but the bridge stiffens the rear end for larger riders.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Another look at the flattened top tube.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The heavily manipulated top tube is formed by Reynolds in the UK.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Press-Fit 30 bottom bracket and a chainstay bridge on this model.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
All the details; notice the nylon plug in the weld purge hole.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
Moots also provided the frames for Shimano’s neutral service at the US cyclo-cross nationals; though it’s the standard Psychlo-X, it’s still a darn nice ride, should a one-bike rider need a rig during their race.(Image credit: Matt Pacocha)
The new bike, which was shown in pre-production form at Interbike, is built from US-made seamless 3/2.5 titanium tubing that's heavily manipulated to bring frame weight down to a claimed 3lb.
Moots ship the top, down and seat tubes to Reynolds in the UK to be mandrel butted, and have recently added a swaging machine to their workshop in Steamboat Springs, Colorado which allows them to taper the chain- and seatstays in-house.
Highlights of the new frame include a Press-Fit 30 bottom bracket, a dramatically shaped top tube and a 44mm steerer tube, which allows a tapered fork steerer to be used. "The head tube is impressive," Cariveau told Cyclingnews. "The bike tracks well; it's very tight." The Psychlo-X RSL also uses a 1-3/8in (34.9mm) seat tube to gain a larger purchase on the press-fit shell.
According to Cariveau, the tapered chainstays help mellow the ride, adding some comfort to offset the stiff front end. Riders can further tune the ride feel of their frames by opting for or against a traditional chainstay bridge, which limits mud clearance but is said to noticeably stiffen the rear end.
In classic artisan fashion, Moots pay attention to the details, including plugging weld purge holes with nylon plugs. There are also a plethora of options available, as with all Moots bikes, including internal routing for Shimano's Di2 electronic groupsets and disc brake tabs.
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A fork to match
Moots designed their own cyclo-cross fork last year, to fill the void left by Alpha Q. It's made in Asia by PMG to a proprietary Moots design. Right now it's only available with a 1-1/8in steerer, but with the RSL's upgrade to a 44mm head tube a tapered version could be on the horizon. Moots decided to produce the 1-1/8in version first so current Psychlo-X owners can use it as an upgrade.
The fork has a 395mm axle-to-crown measurement and 47mm rake, and Moots have paid special attention to mud clearance and weight. In designing the fork, the company went through a design process that included creating a plastic rapid prototype mock-up before rideable samples were produced. The rapid prototype allowed designers to put it on a bike and wheel to check tire clearances and the spec before cutting the mold.
The fork has provision for TRP's crown mounted cable hanger and has nifty indents that offer cantilever brakes – notably SRAM's Avid Shorty Ultimate – 2.5mm more splay when open to make tire clearance during wheel changes a non-issue.
Indents behind the brake pad holders allow 2.5mm more splay for better tire clearance during wheel changes
