SHOGUN TB112 - MATTE BLACK

The TB112 is Shogun’s brand new mid-range recreational mountain bike. It’s designed for rail trails, bike paths and entry-level mountain biking.

In this preview, we’ll explain the key features and who it’s ideally suited for.

WHO IS THE TB112 FOR?

The Shogun TB112 is available in 2 frame sizes - small and medium. Therefore, it will suit riders up to 175cm tall. Pre-teens should be fine on the small size frame (depending on their height).

Consider the TB112 if a lot of your riding is going to be around suburbia, bike paths, rail trails and very entry-level mountain bike trails (such as Lysterfield Park).

THE FRAME

It’s made from aluminium and also has some nice features such as a tapered head tube and internal cable routing.

A tapered head tube improves the frame’s strength. As you can see below, the bottom of the head tube has a diameter of 1.5 inches, the top 1.125”.

That’s because the majority of the load is at the bottom, so the frame is made bigger here. This reduces any flex. And that’s good because the handling becomes more “direct”.

Internal cable routing is the other feature on the TB112’s frame. Cables are fed into the frame so that you can’t see them.

This makes the bike look a LOT neater.

It also protects the cables from dirt, grit, moisture and rust, so the gears change smoothly for a longer time period.

THE COMPONENTS

The front suspension fork is perfect for absorbing small bumps and impacts along bike paths, dirt and gravel trails. It has a lockout too.

So, if you’re cruising on sealed roads you can switch the suspension off (or make it rigid). This means all the effort you’re putting in goes into the road (and doesn’t get absorbed by the suspension fork).

For bumpier trails, keep the suspension on to absorb those impacts.

Hydraulic disc brakes are much better at stopping you than mechanical brakes. The Simaers SIV on the TB112 are no different. These brakes have the perfect amount of stopping power for recreational riding.

And the brake levers can be adjusted for smaller hands without affecting the braking power. A must for safety.

It’s also worth noting that hydraulic disc brakes require much less maintenance compared to mechanical brakes too.

Surprisingly, the TB112 comes built by Shogun with a 12 speed gear system. Usually, 12 speed equipped bikes are way more expensive.

The big deal?

Well,12 speed stuff has a massive range of gears. In this case, riders get a range that spans 10-tooth right through to the massive black 50-tooth rear sprocket (makes climbing hills MUCH easier).

A single front chain ring is quite common on performance mountain bikes now. The advantage here is that there’s no front derailleur, shifter or gear cable. Less moving parts equals less maintenance.