of the 24-inch began about 2 years ago when Juanda de la Peña (former official Monty driver) decided to bring together the good things of the 20-inch and 26-inch. To do this, it mixed a series of measures from both categories and The first 24″ pure trial bike was born: the Kabra F-24.
Since then, several brands have released chassis for this new segment, but one of the most accepted has been the 24″ Echo. In this report we will try to give you the keys to its success through a multi-day test, both natural and street.
First of all, we need to explain what we’re supposed to be looking for in a 24″ that the other two categories don’t offer. From the 20″ we look for ease of movement and that ability to put it “anywhere” in an area, in short, ease of handling it.
From the 26″ we look for the ease of chopping, lengthening the steps (jump length from one place to another) and that extra climb that it offers you by performing more leverage because it is bigger. Obviously, in the 20 we don’t have the good things of the 26, and vice versa. Therefore, I want to emphasize that it is a test where we do a “comparison” with 20 and 26, so that people can get a better idea of what this intermediate wheel diameter represents.
That’s all of what the folks at Echo have achieved in their new model. We received the bike with mid-to-high range components, with Affordable components that we break down below:
SHEET
Chassis: Echo 24″
Address: B-Pro
Handlebar: Chorrillas
Stem: Rockman 3d 150mm 30º
Fists: Chorrillas model 2012
Fork: Echo SL Disc/ Because Hydraulic-Disc
Brakes: Hope Front with Ashima Disc & Echo TR Rear Rockpads/ Dual HS33 2011, Dual Tnn LGM
Rings: Echo Tr
Bushings: Echo Tr
Covers: Front: Moe Jow, rear, Fat Albert, both from Schwalve
Connecting rods: Rockman 165mm
Pedals: Echo Tr
Pinion: Echo Tr
Chain: Shimano XT
To assemble this model sent exclusively by one of the best stores in Spain Racingtrials.es, we went to the Salamanca store in Apiñón, where they always treat us spectacularly and where we have to thank the time and quality they invested in the assembly of the bike by Adrian Martin (Buddha), A true specialist in trial bike preparations.
AT THE CONTROLS
Of this first day in 24″ we can only say one thing: surprising.
We had previously ridden and tested a 26 and although we liked it, it became “big”. That was the biggest fear on this Echo 24.” A fear that disappeared in a few jerks. The ease of climbing with all the techniques far surpasses the 20″ and everything previously tested. You quickly adapt to its controls and in 4 literal pulls we found ourselves climbing even higher than with the 20″.
The sensations were so good that we decided to put it to the test with all kinds of climbs; It certainly did not disappoint. It has really big potential. It makes it seem easy to do certain things that are more difficult in other categories, without feeling penalized by dimensions in any area. From the front to pedals and going up from boats to the rear it is fantastic, since its 18/14 development, added to its length and size of wheels, makes it develop enormous strength allowing it to reach places better. On the other hand, the confidence offered by having more wheels available is a value to be taken into account.
There were 3 things left pending: the lateral climb, the dives and the climbing.
– Going up laterally gives you more leeway than a 20″. This wheel diameter offers the possibility of entering first supporting the front, very 26″ style, and at the same time climbing to two without any problem, so, depending on the type of obstacles, it is something very important.
– Chopping, thanks to its successful geometry , it really gets precisely where you want it, both pedal and stationary. It is one of the things, together with climbing from the front, that a user coming from the 20″ will notice that it is done more easily.
– The arm pull was something that we thought was lost, but we were pleasantly surprised, being able to perform it without having to leave your kidneys to lift it. It’s really amazing how it lifts up without problems, giving you ease to just think about lifting the rear. On the other hand, both with arms and pedals, it offers the possibility of rolling up with both wheels in a comfortable, easy and agile way, avoiding the crankcase where we were used to hitting it.
After having tested it for days on the Street, the sensations are obvious: the potential of this bike probably exceeds any 20″.
NATURAL TEST
In a natural area, the test was carried out in the “italiano”, a well-known area of rocks in Valladolid. In this area, the bike offers all kinds of solutions and resources to the most diverse obstacles that we may face. From the front, with arms, with a run and ramp, or with the kidneys, it is a festival where the extra in diameter allows us to do practically everything, but without getting into the field of the 26″, where you cannot play in difficult areas.
or boxed.
The steps, as in Street, are made easier and with greater arrival, but with the advantage that you can enter on two wheels with much more aplomb and distance than with the 20″. That’s where we need to lean on as we make zones. The two-wheeled entrance will be the basis for ensuring steps that are really long. Everything else is the same as the Street: it is placed where you want it and at the rear it is a pleasure to be anywhere thanks to its bottom bracket at +70 and its chainstay size (360mm).
In general terms, it is a versatile bike, which both in Street and natural goes perfect and after these impressions perhaps we needed to give sensations of how it goes best in these areas.
BRAKING
The test was carried out with two types of brakes: first, we did it with a front disc (Hope mono trial with ashima disc) and a rear rim brake, specifically the Echo Tr with blue rockman pads for a scratched rim. The sensations were really good due to the modulation that the disc offers in the front end; It makes you able to go finer in certain movements. On the back there is no doubt that for this diameter there are two options: either you put a 180mm diameter disc, or you put an hs. The dilemma is that the disc will make the spokes give a feeling of flex that we do not like, so we strongly recommend the hydraulic rim brake.
In Street things change a bit, as braking is usually more abrupt and you need a more forceful lock so we thought: How would this bike with hydraulic rim in front fare?
We had the opportunity to put the Echo 24″ to the test with what is probably the best lock that exists: Hs model 2011 with a special lever and Tnn LGM pads that is currently the driest blocking.
The braking is absolutely wild. At the rear it is not so noticeable, because we also tested it with this type of brake before and the Echo Tr is a hydraulic that works very well, but on the front wheel it is as if you hit a wall. No more thin and progressive going, this is like an On/Off switch, although a good part of it depends on the scratching of the pickups.
Our advice is that if you do more street than natural, don’t even think about it: double rim brakes. If, on the other hand, you make a lot of rock and like to go thin, the front disc will delight your riding. It is important to say that in natural the hs does not disappoint, but as we have said, it is more abrupt although in the modern trial of pulls and artificial zones it does not matter much.
GEOMETRIES AND DESIGN
Speaking of geometry and design we can say that it is one of the best 24″ geos, with its bottom bracket at +70mm, its length at 1065mm and its chainstays at 360.
In our opinion, they are the perfect measurements in both bottom brackets and chainstays, since their total length is where we can play according to what we want to make the bike more or less playful and nervous. We recommend a 26″ stem for people who are less than 1.75 cm tall, because with a 20″ stem, although you get a lot of comfort, it will be long and will not give a good feeling.
AESTHETICS
On the other hand, and speaking of the visual aspect, Echo continues in its line with polished chassis, in our opinion one of the best chassis decorations, since you never get tired of seeing it. The chainstays are welded onto a piece of CNC with the laser-engraved Echo logo and very fine finishes. A great evolution are the tensioners, which instead of eccentrics have been replaced by two “stud” bolts that die where the hub is anchored, being able to make the wheel go further or further forward depending on how we want to tighten the chain more or less.
The test was carried out with extra light tyres from the Schwalbe brand, which give a Bike weight of 8.2 kilos The front is a Moe Jow of only 400 grams and the rear is a Fat Albert of 640 grams, featherweights for what we are used to, but that will force us to be very thin so as not to puncture.
CONCLUSIONS
In short, Echo has made a fantastic 24″, a machine with which to whet your appetite and enjoy yourself in this new category, adding everything a user can look for: durability, finishes and correct geometry.
There are currently few 24″ components, but with an affordable configuration, we will get a lightweight and tremendously functional bike.
This model can be purchased in the Spanish store Racingtrials.es which we thank for all their collaboration to be able to carry out this test.
Acknowledgements: Ribó sneakers.
Text and action: Álvaro López
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