Avanti have just given us a look at their 2015 range, highlighted by a revised Torrent series, which we’re very excited about. We’ve ridden a number of evolutions of the Torrent in past years – including the 2014 Torrent 2 recently – and we’ve always found them to be remarkably smooth bike with well-sorted geometry and faultless construction.
In 2015 Avanti have given the Torrent series a number of revisions. Firstly, travel has been boosted across the line-up, with 150mm front and rear now. With the travel increase also comes a slacker head angle (66.5 degrees) and a 5mm longer top tube. All these tweaks should make an already superb descender even better.
But even more interesting is the introduction of carbon to the Torrent range, with two carbon ‘CS’ models, plus a carbon frameset option. Unfortunately Avanti didn’t have a Torrent CS 7.1 on hand for us to check out, but we got a good grasp of what the range-topping Torrent CS 7.2 is all about, and also had a look at two ‘S’ series alloy-framed Torrents.
Below are some of our initial impressions and observations about the Torrent range. We hope to have one on test very soon!
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Torrent S 7.1 $2799
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Torrent S 7.2 3699
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Torrent CS 7.1 $4499
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Torrent CS 7.2 $5499
For the two CS models, a carbon front end is paired to an aluminium rear, and the mainframe looks fantastic, very beefy through the down tube, with a PF30 bottom bracket shell and Syntace X12 rear axle. Frame stiffness was a highlight of the Avanti Ridgeline we tested recently, and the new carbon Torrent follows a very similar construction by the looks of it. We don’t have a figure for the frame weight, but the complete CS 7.2 weighs in at just over 13kg.
Avanti have continued to utilise their Tru-4 suspenion system, which is a proper four-bar configuration, using a chain stay pivot very close to the drop out. This should ensure very little pedal feedback and a very active suspension feel.
While both CS carbon models are equipped with FOX CTD Evolutions series shocks, the alloy framed S 7.1 and S 7.2 get a Rockshox Monarch RT rear shock. Interestingly, the Torrent frameset gets a shock upgrade, with a Kashima FOX Factory shock.
In terms of the forks, it’s a mixed bag: the CS 7.2 gets a 34mm FOX CTD Evolution series fork, while the CS 7.1 gets the same fork in a slimmer 32mm format. Brent Burrows, Avanti’s mountain bike product manager, explained that he felt there is a market of riders who want longer travel but don’t need or want the extra beef of a 34 fork.
On the alloy Torrents, Marzocchi and X-Fusion are represented. These aren’t forks we see all that often, but they look great, the Marzocchi 350CR in particular. The X-Fusion Sweep fork on the Torrent S 7.1 is also highly acclaimed, and we’re looking forward to actually giving one of these a ride!
Dropper post routing can be run internally ‘stealth’ style (perfect for X-Fusion Hi-Lo post on the Torrent CS 7.2) or through the top tube, popping out just before the seat tube junction for posts that have external actuation. Only S 7.1 misses out on a dropper.
On the carbon CS models, any unused cable ports (for instance, if you decide to run a single chain ring) can be fitted with the supplied ‘blanks’ to keep the frame neat and smooth.
In keeping with the push towards wider rims, the Torrent range comes with fatter hoops, with wide-ish DT1700 wheels on the CS 7.2, DT1900s on the CS 7.1 and Mavic 421 hoops on the S 7.2
Kenda Honey Badger tyres feature across the whole range. These gummy treads are quite low-profile with a 2.2” width. The CS 7.2 scores the new Kenda SCT tubeless-ready rubber, for easy tubeless conversion.
All the Torrents feature multiple chain rings, bucking the 1x trend. Brent Burrows explained that he feels 1x is too limiting for the average rider, with a 2x system suiting most. The cheaper S 7.1 actually gets a triple chain ring for maximum versatility. However, going to a 1x system on CS 7.2 is pretty easy, as the new e13 TRS+ cranks can easily be converted to run the new spline-mount e13 narrow/wide chain ring.
The Torrent CS framset is a hot looking piece of kit. Included in the package is a headset and the new X-Fusion HILO Strate dropper post with 125mm of adjustment.
Unfortunately a test ride of these bikes wasn’t on the cards today, but we’re hoping to secure a Torrent for a few weeks on our home turf soon. Stay tuned!