EVIL Offering V2 – custom dream bike by TrueRiders Shop

At TrueRiders Shop we have been building bikes and custom bikes since 1997. In that time we have assembled, tuned, ridden and tested all sorts of things, which is exactly why a project can still get us truly excited. The EVIL Offering V2 is one of them.

The idea was simple but far from easy to execute: build a bike that stands apart from mainstream builds, shows what we like and how we understand the term custom bike, and at the same time is a bike you can actually ride, balanced and technically sensible, not just a showroom piece.

So we chose mostly components from brands we know well and carry: Formula and Deity. We wanted the strongest details on the bike to be the parts that rarely show up on standard builds and that you usually find only on top-tier bikes.

The frame: EVIL Offering V2 and DELTA Suspension

We started with the EVIL Offering V2, a carbon frame in size L with 141 mm of rear travel. The color is fairly neutral, which let the other components stand out visually and shape the overall identity of the bike.

But the real reason we went with the Offering V2 is the suspension. EVIL uses its DELTA system, developed by Dave Weagle. DELTA is a linkage-driven single-pivot system in which compact links control the leverage curve and the way the shock is loaded through different parts of the stroke.

You feel it from the first few meters. The beginning of the stroke is sensitive and easily soaks up small bumps, the middle gives support and control, and toward the end the progression ramps up so that the available 141 mm feels like a lot more. The Offering is one of those frames where the travel number does not tell the whole story.

We also replaced the air rear shock with a Formula MOD Coil. The metal spring gives a more linear, predictable characteristic, and combined with the DELTA system we got what we were after: a sensitive start, a stable mid-stroke and the feeling of practically endless travel when riding hard.

Formula Selva R up front

Up front we fitted the Formula Selva R, a high-end single-crown enduro fork with 35 mm stanchions and 170 mm of travel. The travel can be changed internally by a mechanic who knows the system, which makes the fork very flexible in how it can be used.

The Selva R combines low weight for its class, very good sensitivity and serious control when riding aggressively. That is exactly the fork we wanted for this project: not just expensive, but adjustable and able to work really well when the terrain gets serious.

Formula Cura 4 Kashima: brakes that are both technical and a visual accent

For brakes we chose the Formula Cura 4 Kashima. The four-piston calipers are one of the strongest visual accents on the bike, but here Kashima is not only a color: the pistons also use a Kashima coating, meant for smoother action and lower friction.

We paired the system with Formula 180 mm rotors, 2 mm thick. The result is brakes with power, control and resistance under load that fully match the character of the bike.

Formula Linea G 29 wheelset

The next key element is the Formula Linea G 29 wheelset, a set built entirely around Formula's philosophy, with their hubs, spokes and wide rims. The rear hub has quick engagement and a distinctive high-pitched sound that you hear before you see the bike.

The Linea G arrives as a true high-end component, in special soft bags and prepared tubeless-ready. That is the kind of detail we were looking for: functional, rare and special enough to be part of a bike like this.

Maxxis Ardent and a weight of 14.670 kg

For tires we chose the Maxxis Ardent 29 x 2.25, EXO Protection, Tubeless Ready. The Ardent is a good all-round tire for fast, long rides without giving up too much control on dry and mixed terrain. The choice also helped with one of the project's goals: a low final weight.

When the bike was done, we ran a game on social media. Over 1000 people tried to guess how much the bike weighs, and only two got the exact result: 14 kilograms and 670 grams.

For a bike with this much travel, a coil shock, 29-inch wheels and components meant for truly aggressive riding, we are very happy with that number.

Deity cockpit and components

For the cockpit and the rest of the parts we went with Deity. The Deity Speedway 35 H-Bar carbon handlebar is combined with a Deity Copperhead OS 35 stem, Deity grips, a Deity Speedtrap saddle and Deity Flat Track pedals.

The purple accents and the CNC-machined details were not picked at random. We wanted the bike to be technically sound but also to look like one piece. In this project the visual idea was just as important as the right sizes, geometry and components.

SRAM GX 1x12 and KS LEV

For the drivetrain we chose a mechanical SRAM GX 1x12 group. It is a tough, reliable and fairly light aluminum set that fits the purpose of the bike perfectly. The cranks are SRAM GX Super Boost with a 32T chainring, and the whole drivetrain stays one logical system that is easy to service.

The dropper is a KS LEV, a proven high-end model, and we mounted the Deity Speedtrap saddle on it.

When a custom bike means more than a sum of parts

When we finished the bike, even we just stood there looking at it. Not because it is put together from expensive components, but because every detail has a reason to be there. From the frame and suspension, through the Formula brakes and the Linea G wheelset, to the last Deity detail, everything was chosen to work as one piece, technically and visually.

That is how we at TrueRiders Shop understand the term custom bike. Not a catalog of the most expensive parts, but a bike with its own character, built by people who ride, tune and work with these components every day.

The EVIL Offering V2 by TrueRiders Shop is fully finished and waiting for its owner. One bike. One specific configuration. One real dream bike, built in Bulgaria.

You can see it, look it over and buy it from TrueRiders Shop. The full specification and up-to-date information about the bike are on its page on the site.