2012 Look mountain and cyclo-cross bikes - First look

This article originally published on BikeRadar

Look are best known for their road bikes but at this week's Fisher Expo, organised by UK distributors Fisher Outdoor Leisure, we had a chance to check out some of their off-road models, notably the full-suspension 920, 986 hardtail and X85 carbon cyclo-cross rig.

Look 920

It's the 920's integrated alloy stem (A-Stem) that immediately grabs your attention – technology originally seen on their flagship 695 road bike. Unusual aesthetics aside, Look claims the stem improves steering accuracy, presumably because it gives a lower stack height which makes it easier to get weight over the front end on climbs. If you prefer a higher front end, the stem can be flipped; no spacers are required.

The frame is full-carbon, including the rocker and rear triangle, and has a moulded metallic covering on the down tube that's said to improve impact resistance by more than 60 percent. It offers 120mm of suspension travel.

Two frameset builds are available: a £3,000 version with a RockShox Ario shock and a £3,500 upgraded model with the DT Swiss carbon shock pictured here. Both are finished here with SRAM XX, a RockShox SID XX fork, DT Swiss XR400 rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres.

Look 986

The A-Stem is used on the carbon 986 hardtail too, which also shares the 920's down tube guard. Other features include a BB30 bottom bracket and an optional integrated, reversible (+/- 5mm) E-Post seatpost, which uses elastomers to dampen trail buzz.

Components include a SRAM X0 groupset, RockShox SID XX fork, DT Swiss XR400 rims and Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres. Again, two models are available; the integrated post version at £2,250 and the standard post version at £2,000.

Look X85

This new carbon framed, disc-brake equipped bike marks the French firm's return to the 'cross market. Weighing in at a claimed 1,150g, the frame has a 1-1/8in headset, self-explanatory 'Mud Evac' seatstays and 135mm rear hub spacing, which makes it compatible with 29in mountain bike wheels.

It takes a 27.2mm seatpost diameters and comes complete with a SRAM Rival group, Fulcrum Red Metal 29XL rims and Hutchinson Bulldog CX tyres for £2,499.99. For more details about any of these bikes, visit www.lookcycle.com or www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk.

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