Terra Bikes is a small company in Arezzo led by the engineer Lorenzo Cardeti, a great MTB enthusiast with a fully “Made in Italy” company, from design to production. Born in 2020, Terra wants to grow in the Enduro Front niche, even if an interesting full-suspension called Aria is emerging: initially an enduro model but now always oriented towards DH, with high pulley (High Pivot).

VIDEO TESTS

TERR▲ frames are designed for maximum performance uphill and downhill. The variable thickness chromed steel tubes and new school geometries make our bikes perfect for those looking for comfort and fun. If you also want to have one of our frames, don't wait any longer and contact us! – Terra Bikes

FEATURES

The Codadura Trail frame is made of chromoly steel with a super stable and fun geometry. The format is with 29 inch wheels. It has 2 water bottle holder holes on the frame: designed for forks starting from 140mm up to 170mm. 29 x 2,6 tyres, dropper compatible seat tube 31.6 stealth routing (clamp 34,9) and Cromoly DZB tubes.

The frame weighs 2,8kg and is designed in Italy. The weight of the complete bike being tested (see characteristics at the bottom of the article) stops the scales at 14,3kg.

INTERVIEW WITH LORENZO CARDETI

VERSIONS AND COMPONENTS

The Codadura is offered in 2 versions: the Trail version (tested) and the Enduro version (Mullet). The construction is always in steel while the most substantial differences are at a geometric level.

The assemblies are completely customizable and this subsequently reflects the price of the finished product (on the site the sale of only the frame kit is offered - see prices below). As a direct sale, in terms of color, Terra only offers this "painted" option but there is the possibility of repainting it (for a fee). The Enduro Codadura, however, offers the possibility of painting the frame as desired.

We realized that customization is not something that interests us too much. Indeed, some want the Codadura trail precisely because of its characteristic raw color – Lorenzo Cardeti

GEOMETRY

The Codadura Trail features enduro geometries with a nod to all-mountain as well. The head angle is 64,5° with a seat angle of 75°. Below are the measurements in the suit.

Remember: our frames are made of transparent painted chrome steel. They are designed to change appearance as you scratch. Rust does not compromise the warranty! Due to the craftsmanship, TERRA frames may show visible signs of the manufacturing process under the clear coating – Terra Bikes

THE RESPONSE OF THE TEST

The Codadura Trail is quite light, weighing well under 15kg with 2 DH tyres. Ok, it's a Front, but since it's intended for downhill use we didn't expect it to weigh less than this figure.

The saddle angle is very vertical, in line with modern geometries, and allows you to easily climb technical climbs. This is one of the biggest pluses of this bike, that is, it allows you to climb technical trails with ease (always legs permitting). The front is well planted and you always have traction, with the bike obviously not sitting down on the steepest sections and allowing you to stay focused on pushing.

In general, the pedalability of the bike is good although it must be taken into account that the rear tire is very important in this situation: if we fit a DH Casing tyre, the sensation of fatigue during pedaling increases.

The test bike was fitted with a Maxxis DHR II with 2.40 DH Casing shoulder. In addition we found an insert at the rear (fundamental at the rear in this type of bike). This combination made it a little too similar to a full enduro when pedaled but, by changing the rear tire with a 2.4 MAXXIS Ardent EXO, the story changed completely and we found ourselves crossing the island of Elba (GPE) in a single day, showing a geometry that is still balanced and not taken to extremes in favor of downhill riding (there is the Codadura Enduro Mullet with 62,5° of steering angle!).

Downhill the Codadura makes a positive impression: the excellent geometries keep it glued to the ground and there is no impression of being limited in riding. Naturally the limitation is given by the lack of shock absorber which forces you to slow down the pace a bit and look for cleaner lines, all to save rims and avoid punctures, but in terms of sensations you feel well inserted inside the bike . The only note is that it requires an advanced riding technique: if you are stiff on the bike, there are no saints to save you. Codadura returns everything without filters.

During the'Elba End of Season, we found ourselves shooting with Tommaso Francardo, Nadine Ellecosta and Mirco Montagni. The first day I rode with a Cannondale Jekyll, a modern 29" enduro (read the test) while the next day I used the Codadura Trail. We faced 2 descents, one more flow (cornice, for those who know the area) and a nice wreck (Laconella DH). In all 2 descents I managed to stay "in the fight" with them and not disfigure it completely, even if it is not a bike to be used in this spirit: the wheels pay off in the long run and the ankles/back don't thank you.

The Codadura requires a very advanced and fluid ride if you want to increase the pace to find the right time because at a certain point it is difficult to avoid inappropriate hits on rocks or other things. But, as previously mentioned, I wouldn't take a bike like this to do KOMs. At the rear, a mousse is a must: it allows you to save the rim in case of driving errors or excessively high speeds during technical or rough passages.

IRONIC TRAILER BY MIRKO SAMORI

In the flow lines of many modern bike parks, the Codadura is a very dangerous weapon and can put any bike in crisis. I see it as perfect for a young audience: the boy who approaches enduro should use a bike of this type at the beginning. Either as the only bike or in combination with a Full bike: an Enduro front teaches you to be clean when riding and to put together laps with a greater difference in altitude than a modern enduro.

It's difficult to say how much a steel frame has a positive effect compared to a carbon one: a Codadura would have to be produced with the same geometries but in fibre. The fact remains that steel is certainly a soft material and helps absorb obstacles when going downhill. Now many DH World Cup riders are returning to aluminum because some are starting to benefit from a softer frame compared to a stiffer one (the absolute pursuit of rigidity, in gravity, is not the solution).

As for the pedaling rigidity of steel (a defect of this material), it doesn't give any type of handicap: it's an enduro front so I don't think it will be used for sprints on asphalt on the state road. Indeed, the fact that it is not too rigid helps it to be more comfortable when going downhill. Another aspect in favor of the Front is the lower costs, both during the purchase phase and on the maintenance side. Be careful though: if you use the front in terrain that isn't exactly flowy and at high speeds, all the savings will go into the wheels as they will often be twisted 🙂

The verdict

A Front Enduro Made in Italy

A niche bike for lovers of the genre: it allows you to learn a lot on a technical level, allowing you to actually ride on the trails again and not necessarily look for straight lines after straight lines, as many enduros nowadays lead you to do. Highly recommended for young kids who are approaching enduro: it helps improve technique and allows you to pedal better uphill. If you are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of this bike, it certainly won't disappoint you.