New Kinesis FF29 goes long and low, says no to internal cable routing and costs only £600

Hardtail mountain bike frame has been designed for UK winters

This competition is now closed

By Nick Clark

Published: February 23, 2023 at 9:26 am

The Kinesis FF29 is a new adaptable hardtail mountain bike frame designed around 29in wheels and a 140mm fork.

The brand says the FF29 is a modern interpretation of the original FF29 hardtail released in 2012, and is suited for all-day riding with an emphasis on climbing as well as descents.

The frame features a 65.5-degree head angle, providing agile handling without being too slack.

Sliding dropouts feature, allowing for adjustable chainstay lengths and singlespeed setups.

The FF29 will only be available as a frameset and is priced at £600.

Included in the price of the frame is the rear thru-axle and a 34.9mm external seat clamp.

Two paint options will be available – the lovely sparkly Black Bronze finish pictured and a Just Orange colourway.

The FF29 is expected to be available in March.

Kinesis says that, unlike most manufacturers that use hydroformed tubes, it has used Super Plastic Forming on the FF29.

Super Plastic Forming is a process of forming a sheet of metal that involves using hot gas pressure to press it into a die or around a single-sided tool.

This differs from hydroforming, where high-pressure hydraulic fluid presses the metal into a die.

Kinesis claims this process creates lighter and more intricately shaped tubes, which when built create a lighter and stiffer frameset.

Similar to Specialized and its ‘S’ sizing, the frame is sized by reach measurement, rather than seat tube length. The frame is available in four sizes, with the smallest L1 having a reach of 435mm and the largest being L4 at 503mm.

Kinesis claims a size L3 frameset tips the scales at 2kg.

Kinesis says the frame is optimised for a dropper post and features internal routing for compatibility with most droppers.

Kinesis says it took UK winters into account when designing the FF29, using full-length externally routed brake and gear cables – a decision that mechanics will revel in.

The frame features adjustable dropouts, which Kinesis say enables you to adjust the rear seatstay length to your preference.

Adjustable dropouts will also enable you to run a singlespeed drivetrain, should you be a masochist.

Shimano’s press-fit BB92 standard is used for the bottom bracket, a decision Kinesis says was made to accommodate 2.5in tyres because the wider bottom bracket shell allows for wider chainstay clearance.

The rear triangle is designed around modern 148mm Boost hub spacing, while the head tube takes a standard integrated headset.

The brand’s own GW Switch Lever thru-axles feature removable levers for a cleaner finish at the rear end.

Digital Writer

Nick Clark is a digital writer for BikeRadar, focusing on all things mountain bikes. Having raced XC for most of his youth, he has a deep understanding of the sport and loves bounding around the UK to spectate at events. A mountain biker at heart, Nick helped create a community of trail builders in his local forest in North Wales. Nick also loves road cycling, where he has completed the holy trinity of spectating at all three grand tours in their host countries. Described as having a good engine in his racing days, it’s now common to see Nick wheel-sucking on club rides and sprinting for town signs. He also enjoys bike touring and has completed numerous travels on the west coast of Europe, most recently riding from Lisbon to Roscoff. Nick has built many of his bikes from the frame up and has a keen eye for technical detail. He is currently riding a YT Capra on the trails and a Focus Izalco Max for the road.

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