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AJAX

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

With the Acme in a class by itself, the least we could do was build it a bonafide playmate. The Ajax fits that title and then some. It has the same custom Spot Brand frame, fork, dropout and chain guard as the Acme but with a few money-saving changes like a Shimano Alfine 8-speed internal hub for a 307% gear range rather than the 11-speed speed 409% range of the Acme. And the stealthy black matte finish of the frameset beautifully complements the look of the custom carbon fork, making it just as much of a looker as its counterpart. Like any little brother, it'll always be nipping at the heels, or wheels, of its big bro.

FEATURES

Gates CenterTrack:

Next generation Carbon Drive System. Unique, super-strong, carbon-reinforced polyurethane system that requires no lube and provides a nearly silent ride. CenterTrack is stronger, lighter, more compact, and better at shedding debris than the prior Gates systems.

Shimano Alfine 8-Speed Internal Hub:

Super-high quality with simple shifting and low maintenance providing a 307% gear range

Spot Custom 7005 Aluminum:

Proprietary, shaped, butted and tapered frame tubes designed for optimum strength, comfort, and durability. Lightweight aluminum tubing with precise tubing configurations for each frame size, results in a smooth and stable ride. Advanced performance styling of seat stays, top tube and down tube, in conjunction with finely tuned geometry deliver an astonishingly nimble ride in the urban environment.

Spot Custom Carbon Fork:

We analyzed the braking forces that occur with disc brakes, then went back to the drawing board when designing the Spot Brand carbon fiber fork. The result is the first post mount carbon fork with dropouts oriented to compensate for the directional braking forces. Secure, safe, simple, clean and unique to Spot.

Urban/Zippy Geometry:

Cruise with your head up and pass on the left.

Dropout Compatibility:

Patent-pending Wagyū Slider Dropouts allow belt-driven or chain-driven configurations, and painless wheel removal with no need to re-tension the belt.

Hydration Friendly:

Water bottle mounts on down tube and seat tube.

Fenders and Rack Mounts:

Frame and fork accommodate full fenders and racks, for urban versatility and utility.

GEOMETRY + SIZING HELP

COMPONENT SPECS

GEOMETRY AND RECOMMENDED SIZING INFO
Frame Size (cm)	Effective Top Tube (cm)	Seat Tube (cm)	Head Angle	Seat Angle	Chainstay Length (mm)	Head Tube (mm)	BB Drop (mm)	Rider Height	Rider Inseam
42 Step-through	52	42	70	74	427	115	68	4' 10" - 5' 4"	23" - 30"
49	53	49	70	74	427	115	68	5' 1" - 5' 4"	29" - 31"
52	54	52	71	74	427	120	68	5' 5" - 5' 7"	30" - 33"
55	56	55	72	73	427	156	68	5' 8" - 5' 10"	32" - 34"
57	57.5	57	72.5	73	427	158	68	5' 11" - 6' 1"	33" - 35"
60	59	60	72.5	73	427	183	68	6' 2" - 6' 3"	34" - 36"
62	61	62	72		427	198	68	6' 4" - 6' 6"	35" - 38"

Component	Brand	Model
Fork	Spot Brand	Carbon Disc w/Alloy steerer, 1 1/8"
Headset	Cane Creek	40, 1 1/8" semi-integrated, Spot laser-etch top cap
Handlebar	Spot Brand	Spot alloy, 9º backsweep, 30mm rise, 560mm width, 25.4mm clamp
Grips	Velo	130mm, closed end
Stem	Spot Brand	Spot alloy, 4-bolt, +/- 8º rise, 3D forged
Brakes	Avid	BB5 disc, w/160mm rotors
Brake levers	Avid	FR-5
Crankset	Shimano	Alfine
Front Pulley	Gates	CenterTrack, 46T, 130 BCD
Rear Pulley	Gates	CenterTrack, 22T, Alfine
Belt	Gates	CenterTrack, 113T
Front Hub	Shimano	Disc front, 36º, bolt-on
Rear Hub	Shimano	Alfine 8-speed, disc, 36º
Rims	Alex	Anodized Silver, DA22, 36º, aero profile, non-machined sidewalls, Presta valve
Spokes	Alex	14g, stainless
Tires	WTB	Ryder Elite, 700x32C, Urban Armor casing, reflective strip, wire bead
Shifter	Shimano	Alfine 8-speed, RapidFire Plus
Saddle	WTB	Street Smart Rocket V, 3M reflective rear panel
Pedals	Stock	Alloy platform
Seatpost	Spot Brand	Spot alloy, 27.2mm, 300mm
Seat Clamp	WTB	Spot alloy, 31.8mm
Belt Guard	Spot Brand	Custom Belt Guard

IMAGE GALLERY

AJAX REVIEWS

SUBMIT A REVIEW

BY Ernie Buenafe

February 19, 2013, 9:33pm

I took my first ride on the Ajax today. The temperature was 5C. The bike rode superbly thanks to the Alfine hub and Gates belt drive. I effortlessly and silently moved through the gears, 5 through 8. I had chatted with someone at Spot about getting the Ajax. I was pointed to a local distributer in my area and the rest is history. The Ajax is my most anticipated bike purchase ever, due primarily to the Alfine IGH and Gates Belt. These were the two selling points for me. The Alfine has nicely spaced gears and when the ratios are computed for the 46×24 pulley combination, one gets the following gear inches. 1: 27 (equivalent 34×33) 2: 33 3: 38 4: 43 5: 51 6: 63 7: 73 8: 83 (equivalent 50×16) The low is plenty but the high might not be. I might change out the front pulley to the larger 50T, this means a longer belt as well. The 46T works fine for now.

BY Thomas

August 23, 2012, 9:34am

I’ve been commuting about 6 miles each way to work for the past 15 years, and I’ve gone through bunches of cogs and chains, so I’m really excited to have a bike with belt drive and an internal hub. My Spot dealer swapped out the Shimano Alfine 8 that came on the Ajax with a Nuvinci 360n continuously variable hub. Now there is no chain noise and no sound of shifting gears, only the sound of the tires on the road. Black and silent – I call it the Ajax stealth-cycle. I’m looking forward to pedaling home on the cold damp winter days and NOT having to clean a chain and gear cassette.

BY Woody

August 23, 2012, 9:33am

This is a well thought out, near-perfect commuting bike. Carbon-fiber belt is both more impervious to rain than a chain (a big benefit given how much time this bike spends outdoors) and won’t smear grease on your khakis when you find yourself riding in street clothes. Internal gearing is a plus for similar reasons. Geometry is light and comfortable–a real pleasure to ride. Nice appointments like reflectivity in the seat and on the tires means you don’t have to have the bike festooned with reflectors (although I promptly put a rear flasher on mine). Shimano hub has all the gears I need for my 7.5-mile daily commute and switches between them with the smoothness of a derailleur. My one gripe may be kinda ironic given the former gig of Spot’s owner (at Avid), but I kinda wish they made a version of this bike with conventional brakes. The disks stop the bike like nobody’s business, but they are the only part of the bike that makes noise. It’s blissfully silent when you’re in “go” mode. And every person who has ever had an opportunity to comment on it has had the same reaction: “Cool bike!”

BY stanton

March 20, 2012, 3:41pm

This is a really fun bike. I come from a road bike background and appreciate the build & component quality, and road feel of the Ajax. I do like belt drive. It may not on paper have the efficiency of a chain but on the road I can stomp on it and it has a strong pull + the belt definitely has a wtf factor as I go by someone. The bike is basically a silent, responsive, fun street machine. I got the 2011 model, but asked them to put the straight bars on (these look like they’re standard on the 2012). When I got the Ajax, I ditched the bear paws for MKS toe strap pedals. Tho they are totally different bikes, my S-Works e5 gets way less road time now.