As is so often the case, Pilot Cycles stems from the bike enthusiasm of two friends. One is an engineer from the automotive industry. The other a bike shop owner and businessman. They currently only produce custom frames to order. No two bikes are the same, but they are all made of titanium. Our test bike was originally produced as a show bike for Eurobike 2014 and was intended to showcase the craftsmanship and creativity of the Pilot team. Equipped with the still rare 29+ format, a Pinion gearbox and the Gates belt drive, it does just that. The cables routed in the fork blades of the self-made titanium rigid fork and in the down tube set further accents.
In riding mode, the Twentynineplus is more of the leisurely variety due to the high total weight and the giant wheels. Riding stability at its best. Due to the very large contact area of the tyres at low air pressure, it takes some getting used to on hard surfaces. On trails and rough terrain, however, the 29+ wakes up. It climbs every nasty incline, surfs over root trails with maximum composure and spoils the rider with real fatbike comfort - not to mention the unique and cool look. The bike is designed for a rider weight of 80 kilos. Heavy riders will feel the flex of the rigid fork and frame. But this can be optimised at the planning stage. Not to forget: As a young custom forge, the waiting times are still quite short - three to four months. The pricing is also moderate. A customised titanium frame is already available for less than 2000 euros.
Test summary of the Pilot Twentynineplus
More individuality than a customised titanium frame is hardly possible. The 29+ knows how to show off its qualities. With its smooth ride and endless traction, it's a real high-end fun bike, but it still has some weaknesses in the details.
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