TOR Mountain Products is a new component brand poised to hit the market later this year with some creative design solutions and reasonably priced cockpit components. Up first are a few machined mountain bike stem designs, a series of platform pedals, lightweight thru-axles, a modular headset, and more…
TOR Mountain Products mountain bike components
Building on decades of experience designing, developing & sourcing components in the cycling industry the new company is set to hit the ground running when their products get an official introduction later this year at Eurobike. Until then, we got a pretty good summary of what is in the pipeline, a bunch of affordable new products with some creative design solutions.
Pedals are certainly one of their most unique looking components, not just for their hexagonal shape, but for the cheap & easy to maintain bearings they spin on. Each pedal shares the same pedal spindle that rotates inside the pedal body around a split composite bushing. Instead of worrying if you keep your pedal bearings properly greased, just ride until the bushing wears out. To replace the bushings, all you have to do is remove these two small grub screws, pull the spindle out, and two pairs of bushings snap off the axle in halves, and new ones are snapped back in.
The pedal is coming in three versions as of now. The thin $140 silver TR platform (top left) is CNC machined from 6061 alloy, features adjustable traction pins, a premium spindle, and a claimed weight of 330g. The Composite platform (top middle) with an injection molded nylon composite body will sell for just $50 with the same easy-to-maintain bushing design, simple Allen head traction pins, a cromoly spindle, and a weight of 300g. The thin $140 black GR platform (top right) is also CNC machined 6061 with adjustable pins, the premium spindle, and a 340g weight.
Following up a universal naming convention, Tot also will offer a line of mountain bike stems as well: XR for cross-country & light trail, TR for trail to enduro, and GR for downhill & other gravity riding.
The lightest of the stems is the $85 XR stem with a slim two-bolt faceplate design and Tor’s new Constrictor steerer clamp. This XR is designed for a 35mm bar, and is available in two stem lengths – a 130g 38mm long version and a 165g 50mm stem.
TR stems get a slightly more bulky & angular look for a bit more strength to cope with aggressive riding. The $85 TR uses a four-bolt, removable faceplate clamp design. These TRs are for 31.8mm bars, with a claimed 138g weight for 38mm, and 170g for the longer 50mm stem.
Both are CNC machined from 6061 aluminum and share the same captured wedge Constrictor steerer tube clamping mechanism. The Constrictor is a wide clamp that is said to offer a more even squeeze around the steerer than conventional designs, plus the parts won’t easily fall out. (I had to fiddle with the stem for a minute to get them out to take a photo.)
A DH ready stem will also be offered for direct mount installation. The also $85 GR stem will be available for either 31.8mm or 35mm bars, and features an adjustable reach of 45-50mm, for a weight of 139g.
Tor Modular Headsets use a mix-and-match system that makes it easy to set up for any mountain bike. Three different upper cap heights will be offered (5, 10 & 15mm) to get a clean install without a bunch of spacers. You also get to pick a standard bearing spec, or an upgraded premium bearing with headsets ranging in price from $40-80.
The TR Thru-axles are meant to be a solid, but light option for riders looking to replace the clunky axles on their bike. They are all CNC machined 7075 aluminum with a lightweight hollow design, available to fit all MTB thru-axle standards. The axles get standard M6 threads on each end (thread end only for QR axles) and the option for a simple bolt-on or QR handle. Weights run from ~40g at a price of just $20 for the bolt-on, or from ~60g & $35 with the adjustable angle lever.
For seatposts, Tor will offer a forged alloy post with a classic two-bolt head in 27.2, 30.9 & 31.6mm diameters.
Coming this summer, more in the way of slightly new looks at compact tools you take with you on a ride, clipless pedals, affordable alloy mountain bike bars, seatposts, and quick engaging hubs.
Plus, they have a whole range of their own branded mountain bike wheels coming with wide internal tubeless carbon and alloy rims, that again hit at affordable pricepoints. For now Tor are in the later stages of finalizing the design & production of pretty much all of these parts that will get officially launched in summer 2019.
Expect availability of pretty much everything here and more to turn up at the end of the summer following Eurobike where we will check back in with Tor to get a more in-depth look at the complete line-up.
TorCycling.com (will be the place to find them soon)
