3M composites version of Guru Photon spotted

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
User avatar
djconnel
Posts: 7917
Joined: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

by djconnel

Image
I wish I'd taken photos, but on a ride in Marin this past Saturday I saw a rather refined looking "prototype" of a 3M Composites branded version of the Guru Photon frame. It looked very good, with light clear coat but no paint. Claimed mass was 740 grams (IIRC) for what might have been a 58 cm frame (of course frame size is a bit arbitrary).

Rider claimed "full bike was only 14.something pounds", as if I was supposed to be impressed. Of course total bike weight depends mostly on other factors than frame weight.

In contrast my size small Fuji SL/1 is 860 grams clear coat and that wasn't even particularly special (Cervélo was lighter in 2009). This frame was larger. But it does highlight how the past decade has been a struggle to shave a few hundred grams off the frame. The bigger advance has been in ride quality, no doubt: more stiffness at the same comfort. My Fuji is quite comfortable but the stiffness as measured by Tour is lacking. But the small frame with my size is fine.

Anyway, I'd expect to see this commercialized at some point. So Photon is not dead, it seems.

Dan

User avatar
ras11
Posts: 851
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:11 pm
Location: SC, USA

by ras11

Is 3M now in frame making business, or was this just a technology demonstrator?
:-) Toys-R-Us

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



uraqt
Posts: 1108
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:53 am

by uraqt

I would guess that it's just a demo... but if they are getting in to building bikes that is going to be a big deal.. I think one of the cervelo RCA used special expensive resin in small areas that was 10 X the coast as normal resin...

C

TheKaiser
Posts: 653
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:29 pm

by TheKaiser

Yeah, Dorel bought Guru for the fit technology, then licensed the name back to the original owners to continue using for the bike brand, but it is unclear to me how their IP would then end up associated with 3M. Either way, it would be cool to see a technology leader like 3M involved in the bike biz.

eric01
Posts: 909
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:06 am

by eric01

Did the 3M bike have a 3T cockpit?
Specialized Tarmac Sworks SL6, Moots Compact, Carl Strong Titanium

TheKaiser
Posts: 653
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:29 pm

by TheKaiser

Well this explains more about who bought the Guru tooling and IP, but still no clear link to 3M:
http://www.bicycleretailer.com/north-am ... 1ehOuSYGC4

User avatar
prendrefeu
Posts: 8580
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 10:32 pm
Location: Glendale / Los Angeles, California
Contact:

by prendrefeu

djconnel wrote:Rider claimed "full bike was only 14.something pounds", as if I was supposed to be impressed.


OT, but I had a similar comment from a rider in a group ride a while back... The guy kept talking about his bike for what was the first half of the day, doing most boasting instead of riding. His bike was touted as weighing "14" (he did not ask about other bikes, certainly not my 'unidentifiable brand'). So at the next stop I said "Hey, I've never ridden a 14lb bike before! Can I take it for a spin around the parking lot?" As he handed me his bike I asked him to hold onto mine while I took a spin. I took a spin. I came back to his speechless expression and said "Thanks. I bet your buddies are really impressed with it" and took my bike back. He didn't say a word about his bike for the rest of the day. :wink:
Exp001 || Other projects in the works.

mrlobber
Posts: 1928
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 9:36 am
Location: Where the permanent autumn is

by mrlobber

prendrefeu, brilliant! :lol: :thumbup: :beerchug:
Minimum bike categories required in the stable:
Aero bike | GC bike | GC rim bike | Climbing bike | Climbing rim bike | Classics bike | Gravel bike | TT bike | Indoors bike

mdeth1313
Posts: 2069
Joined: Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:38 am
Location: Dutchess County, NY

by mdeth1313

WW rule!
Speedplay is the devil!

goodboyr
Posts: 1487
Joined: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:56 pm
Location: Canada

by goodboyr

Lol. Truly a backdoor brag.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Marin
Posts: 4035
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:48 am
Location: Vienna Austria

by Marin

Hehe.

Well, "normal" people (like me before I got started) have no idea of what is a "light" build. Most think that "under UCI limit" is already very, very light, and that you have to spend 10k + to get a really light bike.

Post Reply