COREBike preview: Kinesis UK to launch Fernweh Ti frame
Visitors to next month’s COREBike trade show will be among the first to lay eyes on a new titanium frame from Kinesis UK, as carried by Upgrade Bikes.
The all-new adventure frame has been years in development with Kinesis ambassador rider Emma Ossenton. The Fernweh will be available in bike shops in April, retailing at £2,400.
Product manager Paul Wilson from Upgrade and Kinesis shared with CI.N some of the detail in bringing the product to market in this short interview:
This one has been a long time coming – when did you start working on it?
This project started in 2019 – pre-Covid.
What is it for exactly?
The idea was to make the ultimate long distance off-road race/expedition bike.
What are the key features you wanted to include?
We wanted it to be tough and reliable, yet as comfortable, efficient, and lightweight as possible. If this was a car it would be a Paris–Dakar rally car. Titanium allows us to do that by using a flat yoke at the chain-stay/BB – we kept stiffness for efficiency but allowed vertical compliance [comfort] using the yoke as a leaf spring.
Who else has helped with this amazing frame project?
Emma Osenton was in on this project from the outset as a long-term collaborator and very experienced long-distance rider. In 2018 Emma rode the gruelling Grenzsteintrophy, along the old East–West German border patrol track, which helped define this project. Emma helped fine-tune the frame design to ensure good fit for the rider and as vital all the essential gear you need to take. She also came up with the name Fernweh – which is a German word meaning ‘a longing for far off places’ – the opposite of home sickness!
Spec sheet
- Fits up to 29” x 3.5” Tyres
- Tapered integrated headset compatible (not included)
- You can option a Columbus Futura Adventure Carbon fork (frame is sold without fork)
- Suspension fork compatible – the Fernweh accepts 470mm fork length – which is a 29” fork set to 80mm travel
- Euro threaded BB, 73mm
- 148mm Boost rear hub spacing
- Dropper post routing
- External cable routing for ease of servicing
- Disc brake spec; flat mount
- 31.6mm seat post size, 34.9mm Seat clamp size
- 5 sizes – XS to XL
- Comes with a Ti seat clamp, rear axle, cable routing fittings
In the trade and want to meet the Upgrade team? You can register for the COREBike show here.
