Comas, the Spanish trials bike brand founded by Dani Comas, has released a new 20″ bike, which you can get in three different version – based on your budget. The name, R2, indicates that it’s related to their R1 range, as most of the spec is pretty much identical, and our guess is that the R1 range will see a major upgrade later this year.
Photo gallery below the text.
Aluminium frame with a proven geometry
The frame is made out of aluminum, with different butting throughout the tubing. The toptube is triangular, something we’ve seen on previous Comas frames. The frame has a curved downtube, which seems to be the trend at the moment, designed to give increased ground clearance when riding over obstacles. The chainstay tubing is square, something Comas claims will give a more “robust and reliable construction”.
Opposite to the current trend, the R2 frame is still using horizontal dropouts and snailcams to tension the chain. That’s something we’ve also seen at Jitsie’s bikes, where Dani Comas worked prior to founding Comas. The bike has threaded 10 mm axles in front and rear, and we guess the R1 bike will use through axles in future versions.
The geometry features a 1008 mm wheelbase, as indicated in the model name. Chainstays at 350 mm, with a +85 mm bottom bracket height and a 72ยบ head angle.
Looking at other brand’s bikes aimed at the same segment, the geometry seems to be quite “proven”, with just a few millimeters differences compared to for example Clean K1.2.
Still using aluminium forks
Comas is still using aluminium forks, even on the most expensive version of the R2 bike. They have a tapered design, also seen on the R1 range, that should give a more rigid and reliable front end of the bike. Also here we guess the future upgrade of the R1 will see carbon forks. But, we might be wrong.
The differences
Let’s talk about the differences between the three versions: F (Factory), R (Racing) and S (Shimano). When we look at the brakes, both the Factory and Racing models have Hope Tech3 Trial Zone brakes, which is more or less the industry standard at the moment. But, the Factory version also has a rear rotor protector included as standard. The Shimano version has, yes you guessed it, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and all versions have 160 mm rotors and post mount disc tabs.
Moving to the transmission, the Factory version has updated cranks and a freewheel with 135 engagement points. The Racing and Shimano models have a freewheel with 108 engagement points. Both freewheels feature a threaded design, opposite to the splined design we seen on most bikes lately. All versions come with an threaded aluminium sprocket in rear and a minimalistic bashring.
We also find some differences in the transmission department when we look at the pedals. The Factory version has caged pedals with titanium axles, whereas the Racing has steel. At the Shimano version you’ll find plastic pedals.
In the cockpit, they put carbon handlebars on the Factory version, where you’ll find aluminium on Racing and Shimano. All handlebars are 720 mm wide, but the rise is different. The carbon bar has a 105 mm rise, whereas the aluminium bar has a 115 mm rise.
In-house designed components
Most of the components on the bike are designed in-house. With the exception of tires, tubes, brakes, spokes and chain, the rest of the components are branded Comas. This seems to be the way that all trials bike brands choose to do it.
All together, Comas has come up with a reasonable lineup with the R2 bikes, where they can offer a modern geometry and design to riders at different budgets.