The new trials range developed by Thibaut Marriaux arrives at the start of June. The new range, as we all know, has been baptised Evo 3, and will be "100% TMS". It marks, in effect, an end of Thibaut’s collaboration with MBK as he embarks on a solo project, developping his own brand which has come to be seen as somewhat of a benchmark in the trials industry.
The Evo 3 range with comprise two models:
The Evo 3 S,, which has 380mm chainstays, a +20mm BB and a 1065mm wheelbase and comes in pearl white,
The Evo 3 L, which has 380mm chainstays, a +50mm BB and a 1085mm wheelbase and comes in either pearl white or brushed aluminium.
There will also be a third ’street’ model added to the range: Thibaut Marriaux and his team are developping a 24" model designed exclusively for street trials!
Below is an exclusive look at the frames and the specifications of the full bikes, which will be available in double HS33, double disc and HS33/disc versions. The published weight of the HS33 version is 9.3kg, which is a remarkable weight that constitutes a new standard for top-of-the-range trials bikes! Read what Thibaut had to say in our last article: Le futur TMS Evo 3 2009 !
The production frames:
The frames will be finished in TMS colours, very simliar to those on the protitypes used by Nicolas Luque, Florian Tournier and Thibaut Marriaux...
The Evo 3 and its specifications...
Here are the full specs of the full-bike options in the Evo 3 series; double HS33, double disc and HS33/disc:
- Material: Aluminium 7005, Magnesium alloy and silicon
- Weight: 1.780Kg (Brushed Alu version)
- Cut-away headtube
- Sliding CNC rear dropout, adjustable via a 5mm tension bolt. This system allows the wheel to be fitted and removed very simply.
- Chainstay yoke: CNC machined aluminium, cut away in neutral areas.
- Seatstay yoke: hollowed out plate, acting as HS33 mount and booster.
- Price 790€ (about 700 pounds), including headset and BB.
Specifications...
- Fork: TMS straight blade pearl white / brushed Alu, 410mm threaded and CNC machined Alu steerer, black anodised top-tube cap and International Standard disc mount.
- Headset: 1"1/8 semi-internal ring bearing.
- Handlebar: TMS oversize 730mm carbon riser.
- Stem: TMS black 120mm, 30° (also available - 130mm/30° and 135mm/25°)
- Spacers: TMS black anodised Alu (10mm)
- Grips: Caoutchouc special trial (white).
- Bottom Bracket: TMS ISIS ring bearing (140mm)
- Cranks: TMS CNC machined (175mm)
- Chain: KMC K810
- Freewheel: Tensile 18 tooth 6 click sealed bearing.
- Rock-ring: Tensile 85mm
- Front brake: MAGURA HS 33 limited edition white, long lever
- Rear brake: MAGURA HS 33 limited edition white, long lever
- Pads: TMS red, soft compound
- Pedals: TMS magnesium (Alu colour)
- Cog: TMS 15t
- Front rim: TMS 39mm 28 hole, hexagonal holes, pearl white
- Rear rim: TMS 47mm 32 hole, hexagonal holes, pearl white
- Front hub: TMS 28 hole, anodised red, rapid tightening
- Rear hub: TMS 32 hole, anodised red, threaded
- Front tyre: MAXXIS mobster 26x2.1
- Rear tyre: MAXXIS High Roller 26x2,5 super-tacky (soft compound)
- Chainstay protector: TMS.
Weights and prices of the different versions
- Double Magura HS33: 9.3 Kg / 1790€ (about 1,580 pounds)
- Magura HS33 / Magura Louise: 9.42 Kg / 1890€ (about 1,670 pounds)
- Double Hope Mono Trial 180mm: 9,6 kg / 2190€ (about 1,930 pounds).
Photos...
While we wait for the photos of the production models, here are some photos of Nicolas Luque’s prototype. From an aesthetic point of view, the curves of the frame are very seductive, and the wishboning of the stays will only improve the fluidity of these lines! Technically speaking, the bike is very much up to date with today’s tastes, with its cut-away headtube and yokes and even pushes these boundaries and conventions with its clever sliding rear dropout system, which as far as we know is the only system of its kind currently on the market.
A little aside concerning the recent test of the Evo 3 in Trial Mag Zone 40: the lack of stiffness mentioned by the tester is apparently due to the way in which Thibaut Marriaux prototype, which was used in the test, has been built. It uses bolts to join the seat and chain stays, something that will not feature on the production models, which will feature a construction more like that of Nicolas Luque and Florian Tournier’s prototypes. We asked Nico’ about this and he had this to say: "the rear end of the Evo 3 does not suffer from any flez at all, on the contrary! Mine is like concrete - the stays don’t budge! This, I think, is one of the strong plus points of the frame!"
Full bike:
Closeups:





Nico’ in action in the Masters de Montauban, by Jérôme Catois !



