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Test

Pedroni Lion DH test

pedestrians lion dh mezzari

The Lion was born from the needs of the pilots on the competition fields downhill. Now in its third generation, it benefits from numerous improvements that do not distort the original concept of a bike born to compete. However, this test gave us unexpected driving sensations... let's discover them together.

Text: Matteo Mezzari

The Emilian manufacturer Pedronicycles is celebrating twenty years of the brand's history this year. Pedroni began in 1998 to produce a small number of mtb downhill to meet the racing needs of the team. Since then, the company has undergone a profound evolution, thanks also to the inclusion of Federico from Ducati Corse and Massimo, and today produces a range of mountain bikes ranging from trail to downhill, up to pedal assistance. Design, stress calculation of the components, creation of templates, assembly and welding of aluminum pipes, assembly of bicycles and even painting are carried out within the company. The carbon processing and the layering of the leathers with the monocoque technique are also performed by specialized companies from Emilia and Romagna... we can therefore say that Pedroni's mtb bikes are truly made in Italy.

Price €4.325,00 Weight (without pedals) 17,350 kg Official website: http://www.pedronicycles.com

FEATURES

Like all Pedronicycles frames, this Lion too is entirely designed and built in Italy. The pipes are in Dedacciai aluminum produced to Pedroni specifications. Aluminum Al 7005 was used for the front triangle, while the tubes of the rear stay are in Al 7020, the weldable alloy with the best mechanical properties ever, as well as the plates and the weldable cnc machined parts. The connecting rods and pins are instead made of Ergal55. All bearings are sealed and the most exposed have triple-lip seals that guarantee great longevity compared to bushings or common bearings. As a rear suspension system we find a monochrome assisted by leverages. Thanks to a double shock absorber anchoring hole on the frame, the rider has the possibility to choose between two different compression curves that do not modify the geometry of the Lion but change its riding characteristics. The internal cable routing, an uncommon solution for an aluminum frame, makes the lines of the main triangle aesthetically cleaner and more streamlined.

ADJUSTMENTS - The hydraulic adjustments include two ring nuts for low compression and rebound speeds

VERSIONS AND COMPONENTS

The Lion is offered in two frame kit versions, without shock absorber at 2.090 euros and with RS Vivid Coil R2C shock absorber at 2.530 euros, and two "complete bike" versions, Mountainbike 01 and Mountainbike 02. The 01 set-up, the one we tested in size M, is offered at a price of 4.325 euros with a Rock Shox Boxxer RC spring fork while the 02 version, equipped with a Rock Shox Boxxer World Cup Solo Air fork, costs 4.895 euros. Both versions are equipped with Sram GX 10-speed transmission, Truvativ Descendant DH 165mm cranks, Formula Cura 2-piston brakes, wheels assembled with Boone hubs and DT Swiss or SunRinglè rims and Sixpack components. As an option, we find multiple possibilities for customizing colors and graphics, from adhesives to custom-made paints that are made within the factory.

GEOMETRY

The Lion under test is a size M. The geometries are compact and a bit "old school", starting from the wheelbase and reach, 1218mm and 429mm respectively, not excessively long. We left the handlebar stem at 50mm, although we could reduce it to 45mm using the fixing slots, as the position has already proved to be congenial from the dry test. The rear measures 438mm and contributes to maintaining the general compactness of the vehicle which translates, at least from a theoretical point of view, into greater handling when driving. The 63° head angle is pure downhill.

Sizes S, M (in test), L, XL
Steering angle Inline
CF vertical tube 382 mm
Head tube 110 mm
Rear wagon 438 mm
Wheelbase 1218 mm
Bottom bracket height 348 mm
Reach 429 mm
Stack 584 mm

THE RESPONSE OF THE TEST

The assisted monochrome (or pivot pivot) created by Pedronicycles gives the Lion an immediate driving feeling, this is the unexpected feature we mentioned in the introduction. Thanks to its high ability to communicate the behavior of the rear wheel to the rider, the Lion makes the rider feel at ease right from the first use. This "sincerity", atypical for a monochrome, is due to the study of the levers that actually modify the compression curve which is transformed into the soul and the behavior of the chassis on the track. We started the test with the shock absorber positioned on the front frame anchor. With this configuration, the Lion is quite responsive and becomes capable of generating great acceleration out of corners and gaining speed very easily on any depression that the trail presents. In the compression curve of this setting, an initial regressive “cradle” is generated which guarantees great comfort and traction in stony ground and in particularly excavated slopes.

The second compression part becomes decidedly progressive so that the frame is able to absorb medium / large roughness and manage the limit switches. Once the shock absorber has been moved to the rearmost hole, the Lion changes character and becomes the ideal vehicle for tackling the steepest tracks, where the rear is obviously more unloaded and the suspension needs more sensitivity in the first part of the curve. On the other hand, a greater progressiveness of the system is obtained to manage the large compressions that are generated in the changes of slope typical of the steepest tracks. The rearmost hole is also suitable for combining the Lion with shock absorbers working at low pressures. For our driving style and, for the tracks traveled during the test, we preferred the advanced shock absorber setting, the more reactive one, but, the interesting thing about this Lion, is that the setting can be changed quickly, with a 6mm Allen key, depending on the track or, why not, the mood of the day.

SPECIAL SHIELDED BEARINGS - The most exposed bearings have triple lip seals which ensure greater longevity than bushings and common bearings

In both configurations, the Lion was in any case intuitive, rigid and precise, easy to manage in jumps or in taking and maintaining the most difficult lines on stony or counter-slopes. Like many downhill, the maximum performance of the Lion can be obtained with a low and aggressive ride, loaded on the front, which is facilitated by the compact reach which allows to limit excessive imbalances. The geometry and the work of the suspension convey confidence and safety in "pumping" the curves and the roughness of the terrain to take full advantage of its great acceleration qualities. The changes of direction are sudden thanks to the reactivity and also thanks to the masses positioned as low as possible (see the shock absorber set in the cradle of the seat tube just above the bottom bracket), so much so that in some situations you almost forget you are in the saddle to a dh. In conclusion, we will never stop rooting for the few and small Italian frame builders who still today, despite everything, persevere in the difficult objective of making the great tradition of Italian frame craftsmanship survive, which has always expressed peaks of global quality. And if the results in terms of performance and driving pleasure are those of the Pedroni Lion... what can I say, long live Made in Italy!

INTERNAL CABLE ROUTING - The cable routing is internal and runs along the down tube ... which is at least unusual for an aluminum frame

Shot put (without pedals) 17,350 kg
Shock absorber ROCK SHOX Vivid Coil R2C 240 × 76
Fork ROCKSHOX Boxxer RC Coil 27.5 200mm
Headset FSA Orbit Z 1 ”1/8
Rear gearbox SRAM GX Type 2.1 short cage, X-Actuation
commands SRAM Trigger GX 10-Speed ​​X-Actuation
Rolling mill chocks TRUVATIV Descendant DH b165mm 34T Direct Mount
Chain guide FSA Grid ISCG05 34 / 38T
Buy Boxes SRAM X-Glide 1030 10-Speed ​​11-28T
Brakes FORMULA Cura 2 pistons 24mm, 203mm, 6 holes
Wheel SUN RINGLE 'Helix TR29, int. 26mm, 32H
Hubs BOONE Components Extralight DH 20X110 / 12X150
Rays SAPIM Steel Aisi 32/32
Service SCHWALBE Magic Mary 27.5 × 2.35 Supergravity
OFFENSE SIXPACK Kamikaze Direct Mount 45 / 50mm
dumbbell SIXPACK Kamikaze 780mm 31,8, rise 20, back 8 ° up 4 °
seatpost SIXPACK Menace 31,6
Sella ARTESELLE Dakar Black Pedronicycles
Color Black / Red


Verdict

BORN TO RUN
The Pedroni Lion is the result of twenty years of experience and athlete feedback in racing downhill. As one would expect, it's a bike that requires strength, technique and speed. Despite being a racing mtb, it is still quite intuitive and easy to ride, it puts the rider at ease from the first use and instills great safety even in the most extreme manoeuvres.

+-
• Intuitiveness and ease in finding immediate driving feeling
• Rigid and responsive frame
• “Sincere” and high performance rear kinematics
• Very powerful brakes, adapted to the speeds and stresses of the downhill
• The non-tapered 1 ”1/8 head tube may limit compatibility with some forks on the market


Written by

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