With the Nera, Terra ticks all the boxes that make downhill technology so exciting: high-pivot with chain derivation? Check! Custom geometry? Check! A long-term durability guarantee? Check! The Italians have integrated all of this into a locally manufactured steel frame and added a drivetrain to boot. A great deal of development work went into the Terra Nera’s rear triangle. So for us, there were more than enough reasons to take a very close look at the details of this downhill powerhouse.
Conclusion
With its high rear pivot, wild chainstay angle and raw steel frame, the Terra Nera simply looks absolutely brilliant. Riders who queue up for the lift on this bike are sure to attract curious glances. This Italian downhill bike promises to last a lifetime, even under the toughest conditions. I think this approach is brilliant: Steel is real! - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
Terra Nera in detail
- Intended use: Downhill / Freeride
- Suspension travel: 200 / 200/210 mm
- Wheel size: 29” / Mullet
- Frame material: steel
- Weight: approx. 20 kg.
- Price range: approx. 3,400 euros excluding the gearbox / approx. 4,400 euros including the gearbox
- Special features: Pinion gear system, made in Italy
German steel for an Italian downhill bike
Terra Bikes is a relatively new brand based in Arezzo, Italy. The company was founded in 2020 by Lorenzo Cardeti, who has been committed to building high-quality steel frames from the very beginning. Under the guiding principle of ‘Radical Steel Bikes’, Terra combines traditional frame-building craftsmanship with contemporary suspension and design concepts. The brand develops and manufactures its frames in small batches or to order, thereby deliberately distancing itself from large-scale industrial production. All development, testing and manufacturing take place in-house. At the bike park near Arezzo, for example, fellow cyclists test all new developments. The park shapers, in particular, ride the Terra bikes day in, day out to put them through their paces.
The 25CroMo4 steel used for the Terra Nera downhill bike comes from Germany and is normally used to manufacture roll cages in motor sport. Terra has opted not to taper the tubes, a choice that saves a little weight but could compromise stability. The Nera is designed to be uncompromisingly durable – even during the toughest gravity riding. The integration of the Pinion gearbox ties in with this. It not only promises a low, central centre of gravity, but also low maintenance and long-lasting durability. Alternatively, the bike can also be ordered with an Effigear gearbox. Even the geometry can be partially customised by the customer. In consultation with Terra, you can choose the reach, stack, chainstay length and head angle yourself. You can even go really long: a maximum reach of 550 millimetres and chainstays of 465 millimetres are possible.
In total, the Terra Nera weighs in at around 20 kilos. Customers can opt for a clear coat finish, which leaves the welds and the workmanship of the steel frame visible, or they can choose a red paint finish. The steel frame, featuring custom geometry, is 100 per cent made in Italy and is expected to cost 3,800 euros. However, you’ll need to add around 200 euros for a gear system on top of that.
Complex kinematics
True to its downhill bike heritage, the Terra Nera features a double-crown fork with 200 millimetres of travel. At the rear, two different shock mounts allow a choice between 200 and 210 millimetres of travel. This also enables the rear suspension’s progression to be adjusted, allowing the chassis to be fine-tuned for jump lines or rough downhill terrain, for example. The Terra Nera utilises a virtual high pivot with a customised i-Track system. Terra has re-engineered the tried-and-tested rear triangle design – featuring a high pivot and chain guide – to suit its own requirements.
The aim was to position the pulleys higher up to create more space. Combined with the gear system, the Nera achieves enormous ground clearance, which can be an advantage on rough terrain. The Terra Nera’s rear axle moves up to 32 millimetres backwards when the suspension compresses. The gear ratio has been selected so that the rear suspension responds particularly sensitively in the initial range of travel and provides the necessary control as the travel progresses.
What do you think: would you invest your money in the ultimate durable downhill bike? Let us know in the comments.
Jan Timmermann
Editor