The French marque TMS did just launch a new version of their 24″ street trials bike, the Silex V3. You can get the bike in two versions, where the Team version features upgraded components. That’s the bike we talk about in this article.
What’s new?
According to TMS, they have done some changes to the geometry, making it more balanced. From what we understand, the wheelbase is more or less unchanged, but they have moved the bottom bracket shell backwards, creating a shorter chainstay and longer a reach. More on the specific geometry later.
The bike is tested and developed with Clement Moreno, which recently moved from TMS to Crewkerz. Both the frame and forks are made of cr-mo, which should resist the biggest moves. It also gives a more comfortable experience, as this kind of steel is more flexible and forgiving than aluminium. Though steel is heavier than aluminium, it is relatively stronger, and thus the tubing can be thinner.
The front hub is now attached to the forks with a 15 mm through axle, whereas the rear hub uses a screw-on system with M10 bolts. The rear hub has 72 engagement points, and both wheels are laced up with 32 spokes each. They also released some new and improved components for this bike, such as the stem, pedals and rims.
Design by trials rider Yann Dunant
The frame features a screen printed design done by trials rider Yann Dunant. The frame is painted in a color called Vernis Rouge, on a raw base, which gives an unique effect, revealing the darker areas of the steel under the paint. All welds are polished twice to give a nice finish.
Lots of options
The complete bike is available in 12 different options, based on your brake and crank choices. Just as with the new Ozonys Crown, you can choose to buy the bike without any brakes. If you want brakes though, you have three options: Magura MT7, Magura MT8 or Hope Tech3. All options with 180 mm rotors.
You have three different crank options from either TMS, Shimano or Hope. The Shimano and Hope versions are about 300 euros more expensive than the TMS option. The TMS option has a 18:13 gearing, whereas the Shimano is set up with 22:15. If you choose the Hope version, the chainring is 20t, and no information on the rear sprocket is available at the moment.
The geometry in detail
They have changed the reach and chainstay length, while keeping the wheelbase unchanged. The chainstays are now at 360 mm, whereas the reach is 690 mm. The BB height is at + 22 mm, and the head angle at 74,5°. Compared to other steel bikes on the market, such as Inspired Arcade 24″, it’s quite different, with a 20 mm shorter wheelbase. But, BB height and head angle are more or less the same.
A complete bike has a weight at around 11,2 kg, though it varies between all the 12 different options. TMS claims this is the lightest cr-mo street trials bike on the market.
