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For many, a dirt bike has been missing from the Propain product range. You can now order the 10.8-kilo Trickshot from Propain for 1499 euros. In terms of price, the aluminium bike is on a par with the competitor model Canyon Stitched 360 Pro.
The Propain Trickshot has a weight advantage, however: it is 750 grams lighter than the Canyon Stitched 360 Pro and 300 grams lighter than the YT Dirt Love. The frame kit is available for 599 euros. The customer can choose between the frame colours "Safari" and "Venomblack".
There will be two sizes of the Propain Trickshot: While the reach of the S/M is 400 millimetres, the reach of the L/XL frame size increases by 25 millimetres.
Gyro mount and adjustable dropouts
The Propain engineers have integrated two special features into their dirt bike: Threads in the head tube allow a gyro mount to be integrated. A gyro is a braking system from BMX sports that allows the rider to turn the handlebars as many times as they like without twisting the brake lines.
For this you have to buy a gyro system afterwards. For a complete gyro set with brake lever and brake calliper, you pay around 150 to 230 euros. As a further feature, the Propain designers have installed adjustable dropouts. These allow the chain to be tensioned.
The equipment is comparable to the competitor model from Canyon. The fork is a Marzocchi Bomber DJ with 100 millimetres of travel. Newmen took care of the wheels and developed extra 26-inch wheels. The cockpit is fitted with the usual Sixpack components and the brakes are Sram Guide T four-piston brakes.
An affordable entry-level model is missing
The price of the Trickshot is not prohibitive. It's a shame that there isn't an affordable model like the Canyon, for example. For the young target group Dirtbikes how the Canyon Stitched 360 for 1099 euros or the RoseThe Bruce 1 more favourable alternatives for 979 euros.
Interview: FREERIDE in conversation with Propain CEO and designer Robert Krauss
FREERIDE: Some say that dirt bikes are dead. Why did you still decide to build a dirt bike?
Robert Krauss: We have wanted to bring a dirt bike onto the market for a long time. But other projects and developments have always put it on the back burner. We did have a hardtail once, but that was more suitable for the fourcross sector. That's why we wanted to build a dirt and pump track bike this time. For us as a gravity bike brand, this was long overdue.
Pump tracks are booming, the demand for robust fun bikes is increasing. Who is the Trickshot for and what is it best suited to?
The bike is generally designed for dirt bikers, but the pump track aspect has also been taken into account. That's why there are two different sizes. The larger bike is more comfortable for racing and the smaller one is better for tricks.
How did you allow yourselves to be influenced in the development, and by whom?
We have a lot of dirt riders here at Propain who have given their input. Otherwise we worked with riders like Phil Atwill and Clemens Kaudela and took their feedback on board.
There is only one expensive model. Will there be a cheaper alternative?
Not at first. We wanted to offer a bike that is equipped with top components. So nobody has to change anything afterwards. If demand increases, we will think about a more affordable model.
Are suitable adapters supplied for the gyro mount or do I have to order them myself?
No, you have to get the parts yourself. But they are standard parts that you can get in any BMX shop.
Do you also hire suitable professionals for your new dirt bike?
We recently signed the Ruso brothers. They will produce videos and photos with the Trickshot. We also want to get involved in the FMB World Tour. Maybe we can sign a rider for it this year.
