THE NEW PROPAIN SPINDRIFT 5

Words, Video & Photos by Cole Gregg

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Propain has released their new Spindrift 5 super enduro and bikepark mountain bike. This burly machine features a 180mm rear end, which is paired with either a 190 or 200mm suspension fork to lead the charge. Starting at 2,999 pounds, euro and dollars, Propain is making sure freeride stays alive and well with the new Spindrift 5.

With three dedicated models and numerous build kits to choose from, there is a little something for everyone. If you are looking to pedal up to the gnarliest trail you can find and descend with race-worthy pace, they offer the Spindrift CF. If you are looking to lap the park until your arms seize up, the Spindrift AL Park might be more for you.

As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank Propain for the opportunity to create this feature and offer a more in-depth look into the production and changes of the latest generation Spindrift.

Both Spindrift 5 frame variants receive the same 180mm of rear suspension delivered by Propains Pro10 suspension system. This system is featured across their product range, giving a distinct look and some consistent ride characteristics across the board. The CF is only offered with a 180mm fork, while the AL can be spec’d with up to a 200mm dual-crown fork in the park version.

The frame for the Spindrift CF is made from their Blend Carbon, featuring pre-impregnated carbon fiber layers which offer optimal resin content and increase the strength values in key areas of the frame. The AL receives Propain’s Blend Alloy for the frame tubing, with 7075 T6 aluminum for smaller forged parts such as the linkage and axle.

One of the key differences between the AL and CF versions is the geometry. While many of the numbers remain the same, there are key differences for each version that target either improved playfulness and agility f0r the Alloy version, or stability at race speed for the Carbon. These changes are small, but worth noting depending on the ride characteristics you are after.

The reach on our size Large Spindrift AL Park is 475mm, while the CF variant comes in at 485mm. Stack on the AL Park is 647mm, and 636mm on the CF due to the shorter fork. Chainstays grow from a playful 435mm on the AL to 445mm on the CF. The wheelbase on the AL is 1278mm, growing to 1284mm on the CF. The bottom bracket drop on both bikes remains the same at 23mm, as well as the BB height which sits at 352mm across all sizes.

Along with the notable geometry differences, there are some other smaller changes between the carbon and aluminum frames. The CF has the option to run either a 180mm or 200mm rear rotor with no spacers needed – you can simply adjust the two-position adapter that is included with the bike. The AL only has a 180mm post mount option, so you need a post mount spacer to run a 200mm rear rotor.

Cable routing on the AL is only available with the classic internally routed option. The Carbon version has the option to choose from either headset routing or a classic internal routing option. Standard options both receive the same weather sealed, screw-in cable ports for optimal weather sealing and a rattle free experience.

When it comes to wheel size, the Spindrift 5 has a little something up its sleeve for everyone. The CF is available in both a full 29” set up or a MX setup with a 27.5” wheel out back for a more maneuverable machine. The AL also comes in either a full 29” or mixed-wheel setup, with the additional option to run it as a full 27.5″ for maximum fun at the park. Our mixed-wheel AL Park has been a blast through the tight corners.

Looking at the suspension, both the CF and AL retain very similar kinematics from the Pro10 suspension system. If you are unfamiliar with the Pro10 platform, the system uses 2 counter-rotating links, with the shock floating within the frame. The system’s gradual rise to a 116% anti-squat value provides a solid pedaling platform but very quickly drops off for a smoother feel deeper into the travel. Its relatively high leverage ratio progression of 27.5% allows for the frame to be run with either a coil or air shock.

There are a whopping 12 different standard build kits to choose from, and nearly endless configurations on Propains website using their build configurator. Ranging from $2,999 to $8,769, Propain has a wide spread of build kits to offer a price point at either end of the spectrum. You can see a selection of the available builds at the bottom of this article.

THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION

For this feature, we were given the AL Park Factory Edition in a size large. With a full day in the Whistler Bike Park and some filming at home, we have a solid grasp of what you can expect when you throw a leg over the Spindrift 5, but as with all of our Dissected features, this is not a long-term test.

The AL Park in the Factory edition is decked out with top-spec parts. The front and rear suspension is covered by Fox, with a Factory series 40 up front and DHX2 coil out back. The seatpost, saddle, and headset are all in-house Sixpack goodies, while the bars are from OneUp in carbon. Braking duties are handled by Magura’s MT7 Performance line, with a 180mm rotor out back and 200mm up front. Srams XO 7spd DH drivetrain with a 165mm carbon crankset gets your power to the pair of DT Swiss FR1500 DH wheels. These are wrapped with a Schwalbe Magic Mary upfront and Big Betty outback.

I have spent a good amount of time on all of these parts besides the brakes, and I can tell you I am a fan! The thicker lever did take a few laps to feel at home, but I now really enjoy the feel. The bite on these is quite strong, I actually did not bed them in at all and went straight to filming. This was not ideal, but I was surprised at how fast full power came. They definitely encourage some fun stoppies! The XO drivetrain was smooth and near dead silent. The Chainstay protection on the bike is robust and delivers a very quiet ride, even through the deep braking bumps of Whistler Bike Park.

When it comes to getting airborne on the Spindrift 5, it felt right very much at home yanking off side hits or blasting into big jumps. The Pro10 suspension platform gives you a solid balance of under foot support and end of stroke ramp up. I never felt an extreme bottom out event, even going to flat on some of the larger tables at Whistler. If I did reach the end of the travel, it was very composed and natural.

I usually fiddle with air pressures and spacers quite a lot to find my happy medium. With Propain’s suggestion at my 170lbs (77kg) weight, I went with 220psi. I had no urge to make any adjustments, feeling in a good spot from the get-go. The cockpit left me in a natural position, with a more upright bias than over the bars which was a welcome feel for such an active and playful trail presence.

The 435mm Chainstay length paired with the MX wheel configuration was a load of fun through the twisties. The successive berms of Ho Chi Min specifically were just so dang fun! Having the confidence of 200mm travel up front paired with a snappy rear end for me found a great balance between fast and fun. Getting this bike up on it’s back wheel manualling between lips was done with ease and did not take very much effort to keep it up.

Working my way onto some of the tech trails, I really never found myself wanting more travel out back. The Pro10 suspension system does have a bit more initial feel into your feet than some other systems. Even so, with my quick and dirty shock set up I was genuinely happy with how it felt. I know after some time playing with reducers and compression I could reduce some of that initial feel and bring in some more suppleness. The Spindrift 5 can be run with a coil or air shock, depending on what characteristics you are looking for in a bike, and for me the air shock was a great choice. The initial feel of the small bump of an air shock suits my riding style and preferred underfoot feel.

We make a point of remaining as neutral and factual as possible in our Dissected features, as they are made with support and cooperation from the brands launching new products. That said, I do feel comfortable saying if you are looking for a big travel bruiser of a bike that you can pedal up to the loam zone (in the CF or standard AL configurations), the Spindrift 5 is worth giving a try. This AL Park Factory is likely to make bikepark bashers happy with its fine mixture of capability and playfulness, and I can’t wait to keep on lapping it for its long term review.