At the European Marathon Championships in Singen, Centurion presented its new Backfire Carbon - the race hardtail ridden by the professionals of the Centurion-Vaude team. Markus Kaufmann, Jochen Käß and Co. have already been using the carbon hardtail in races for several weeks. We at BIKE have also been able to test the Backfire Carbon on the middle distance in Singen. The We have already tested the predecessor of the 2016 Centurion Backfire Carbon in BIKE 1/2015.
Developed by ex-racer Hannes Genze
Looking back: At the BIKE Marathon in Willingen 2014 Hannes Genze won the long distance on a Centurion hardtail. Not just any bike, but the first prototype of the new Backfire Carbon, which the Magstadt-based company has now officially unveiled. Genze has since ended his active career as a racing cyclist. As an engineer at Centurion, he is responsible for the new Backfire Carbon, which is a 2016 model but should be in the shops this autumn.
200 grams slimmed down on the frame
The frame of the Backfire Carbon 29 has been redesigned from the ground up and slimmed down considerably. The chassis of the Backfire Carbon will be available in two carbon grades in future. For the two top models - the Team.29 and the 3000.29 - Centurion will use the highest quality carbon layup. The other two models - the 2000.29 and the 800.29 - use a somewhat simpler carbon mix, which totals a frame weight of 1100 grams. The high-quality frame is said to weigh just 950 grams, which in the Comparative test of the fastest race hardtails in BIKE 1/2015 would have reached the top value. To achieve this, they moved away from the curved tubular shapes of the previous frame. The design is simpler, sleeker and no longer quite so massive. Fully integrated bearing shells on the bottom bracket and headset also save a few grams. In addition, the rear brake calliper has been integrated into the frame triangle. The derailleurs on the new Backfire are mounted on the seat tube using the High Direct Mount standard.
Cable guide compatible with all gearstick setups
Hannes Genze is particularly proud of the new integrated cable routing: "You can route all shift cables in the frame, regardless of whether the derailleur linkage comes from above or below - or the electronic XTR Di2 is travelling. Nothing rattles." The derailleur cable for SRAM drivetrains can be routed to the derailleur from below via a removable carbon fairing under the bottom bracket. The new Shimano derailleurs such as XTR and XT, which are linked from the front, benefit from an exit on the top of the down tube. Only the rear brake line runs on the outside of the frame, which is convenient for maintenance work.
From four to three frame heights
Little has changed in the geometry compared to its predecessor. Only the top tube has become a little longer. This means you can ride shorter stems, which results in better handling. The frame heights of the Centurion Backfire Carbon 29 are new. Instead of four sizes from 41-56 cm, there will only be three for the time being: 43, 48 and 53 cm. The chainstays are a good deal shorter than on the predecessor, which was extremely smooth-running.
The four models of the Centurion Backfire Carbon 29
The top model, the Team.29, rolls into the shops with SRAM XX1, Shimano XTR brakes, Rock Shox SID WC fork and Fulcrum Red Passion wheels. With Procraft carbon add-on parts, it has a total weight of around 8.4 kg. On the second model with the 950 gram frame, you brake and shift on the new Shimano XT groupset. A Fox 32 is fitted in the head tube and Fulcrum Red Power wheels spin around the thru axles. Prices have not yet been finalised, as Centurion is also struggling with fluctuating exchange rates for the 2016 model year. The two cheaper models will also come with the new 11-speed Shimano XT. Forks, brakes and wheels, however, Centurion will be using cheaper groupsets and component series.
First test: How the Centurion Backfire Carbon.29 rides
We were already able to ride the new race hardtail on the 49-kilometre lap of the Hegau Bike Marathon in Singen. At 1.79 metres, I used to go for the 46 cm Centurion frame, now I go for the 43 cm frame height. The riding position is more compact as a result, and the saddle extension is slightly higher. But that's not a bad thing for a race bike, especially as Centurion uses 400 mm seat posts on all Backfire carbon models. On the first tarmac ramp up to Hohentwiel, I immediately lock the SID fork with a thumb click on the handlebar remote. Push, pull, push: the drive converts my power into propulsion stiffly and directly, the frame is beautifully rigid, as you would expect from a race hardtail. The handling is unagitated and pleasant, even if not as extremely smooth as its predecessor. But that's more of a positive, because the steering of 29-inch bikes doesn't necessarily have to be worlds apart from smaller wheel sizes. At the end of the short marathon, I'm disappointed that there are so few trail sections, as the Backfire Carbon would certainly have done well on more technical terrain. The extended 27.2 mm carbon seatpost effectively filters out small bumps and the Backfire Carbon offers sufficient comfort even on long rides. Conclusion: At just under 8.5 kilos, the Centurion Backfire Team.29 is a lightweight race hardtail for cross country and long marathons. There is room for two large water bottles in the frame triangle and the geometry and comfort describe the current state of the art.
