High End bicycles: featuring a brand new build based on the Moulton Double Pylon

I had the opportunity to ride the top of the line Moulton Double Pylon with all high end components over a week, and here is a quick review.

Presenting the Moulton Double Pylon bike with SRAM Red and Velocity rims, Onyx hubs

The price of the Moulton Double Pylon frame is GBP 16,000. The SRAM Red has a retail price of GBP 2,500. The Velocity rims run about GBP200 for a pair. And the Onyx hubs run about GBP800 for front and back. The entire bike totals about GBP20,000.

This is a stunning looking bike. The frame is indeed quite special and spectacular. The design follows a space frame made of stainless steel tubes. As these were Made in England, the tubes are drawn by Reynolds and are the 953. These tubes are then fillet brazed together by hand. The workmanship of butting the tubes and the brazing is absolutely top grade. The fillet braze’s high silver content is seen with a warm sheen over the cold silver hue of the stainless steel tubes.

The Double Pylon is designed to be the ultimate Moulton. The design of the stainless steel pylons replacing the head and seat tubes are for stiffness, and to combine the ride comfort with unusual looks.

The frame

The frame is where this bicycle is so vastly different from other bicycles. The design was made by the late Sir Alex Moulton, who was an English engineer specialising in suspension design. In the mid 1950s, Moulton developed an experimental rubber suspension which was tested on a Morris Minor. His friend Alec Issigonis heard of this work and together they designed a fluid and rubber suspension for a new Alvis car, which did not reach production. Moulton also designed “Flexitor” rubber springs for the 1958 Austin Gipsy, an off-road vehicle. He used these design principles in the architecture of the Double Pylon.The bicycles were designed based on four underling principles.

Small wheels (20″) with high pressure tyres have been integral to the Moulton design from the beginning. In contrast to large bicycle wheels, the smaller Moulton wheels are immensely strong. Their lower moment of inertia allows faster acceleration and more responsive steering. Smaller wheels also reduce the overall length of the bicycle, making it compact and easier to transport.

A very rigid space frame. As with other vehicles, bicycle frame stiffness is a key element of performance. The Double Pylon featured a highly engineered lattice of small diameter tubes. This makes the frame very strong with high lateral stiffness, and torsional rigidity. The main body of the frame is a lattice construction of tubes bracing each other to achieve the stiffness needed. Two pylons take the place of the seat tube and the head tube. These pylons are also a constructed on a complex lattice structure.

Suspension. In order to accommodate the hard ride of the ultra-rigid frame, strong wheels and high pressure tyres, a full suspension is specified.

In the Double Pylon, this is seen in the double trapezoid suspension arrangement in the front pylon. Note the head tube is connected to the bottom trapezoid and the upper trapezoid is connected to the lower part of the bar. This arrangement allows the act like a front suspension, allowing it to absorb the bumps of the front tyre.

And a pressurised Hydrolastic® ball assembly for the rear pylon.

Separable. The Double Pylon is not a folding bike. But it features the ability to be disassembled such that the parts can fit into a case suitable for airline transport. The frame can be disassembled by opening the a bolt, which Moulton calls the king pin, and a nut. And the frame easily breaks into two halves.

The bars used in this build is a rather standard steel bar made by Nitto. The stem is a proprietary Moulton Wishbone Q (availabe in lengths of 90, 140 or 160mm). This is adjustable for fore/aft and height.

The saddle specified for this bike is the Berthoud leather saddle with an open back. This saddle is very comfortable to sit on for even long rides.

The drive train

The drive train selected is the SRAM Red. The Red is a wireless electronic group set, with a huge rear cassette. Shifting is sequential, with the right shifter moving the cassette up (easier gear) and the left shifter moving it down (harder gear). The double chainring in front alternates between the big and small ring by pushing both shifters at the same time. Simple. Effective.

Shifting is clean and very easy to effect. In the 100km or so I rode, it did not miss a single shift. Eagle eyed readers may note that I had left the protective tape over the chain stay. This is because, when using the lowest (hardest) gears in the rear cassette, the chain does get very close to the stays, and can make contact on rough terrain. This may be an adjustment issue, or one which is inherent with small wheels. Thus I left the tape over the stays to prevent marring in case that happens.

The wheel set

The wheel set is a hand built one made from Velocity rims. The wheels are 20 inch mini-velo wheels, and the rims are laced to Onyx hubs. These hubs are unusual in the world of road bikes. Instead of a free hub buzz from most road hubs, the Onyx hubs make no sound. Quiet. Silent. No angry bees characteristic of say Chris King hubs.

But the Onyx hubs are top quality. They are built very well, and with materials which should be very long lasting.

How it rides

The ride, which I guess is the most important feature of this rather expensive build is the characteristic smoothness and plushness. It reminds me of riding in a Rolls Royce. And given the relative pricing, it certainly is. I am more used to my own Pinarello F10, which is built for a totally different style of riding. The Pinarello is a race bike. Stable, yet agile. It is very stiff, yet comfortable. Comparing the Moulton to the Pinarello is an exercise to compare an F1 Ferrari to a Rolls Royce. They are built for different purposes. This RR analogy stretches a bit more. Both the Moulton and Rolls Royce are the pride of England. Both are supremely comfortable. Both are nearly silent. Moulton Double Pylon glides along roads and bike paths with equal aplomb. Meanwhile the Pinarello charges up mountains, sprints furiously and capable of very long rides.

It is only when one tries to ride the Moulton like a racing bicycle, to chase down groups, to sprint out of the saddle, the push hard at the traffic lights, does one feel the frame to bob and bounce. It is not until one needs to charge up a slope, that one feels the considerable weight of the bike. But this is not a bicycle built to race. Not to ride up slopes fast. It is one designed to cruise smoothly. To allow the rider to perhaps slow down and smell the roses. To enjoy the plush ride. It is absolutely designed for the owner to enjoy the quality of the workmanship lavished on the frame.

Concluding thoughts

Overall this is a grand bicycle. Build quality is beyond reproach. The bike is a natural magnet for everyone. Riding around in the city, along the Orchard Road pedestrian area attracts attention of passersby.

The bicycle looks like a gem. A well engineered machine which looks expensive. And as described, it rides very smoothly, very quietly. And without fanfare.

Photo notes

All the photographs are taken by me over two separate occasions. The first set is shot in my balcony with the new (released yesterday!) Leica M EV1 with the Summilux-M F1.4/35mm, and the other outdoor set was taken with the Leica SL3-S with the Summicron-SL F2.0/35mm lens. The first set was shot as built, with the flat pedals installed by the owner. The second set was taken mid-ride, after I swapped out the pedals for my own Crank Brothers Eggbeaters.