I was going through my backup files and found this Balfa factory literature.



WHERE CAN I GET REPLACEMENT STICKERS FOR MY BALFA FRAME?
You can order decals for your BALFA frame from any BALFA Cycles retailer for a nominal cost.

WHERE CAN I GET TOUCH-UP PAINT FOR MY BALFA FRAME?
BALFA frames are powder coated to ensure durability for many years. Because it is applied as a powder and then baked, we can not provide touch-up samples. We suggest you use automobile touch-up or model paint that is available from most hobby stores.

THE BALFA DIFFERENCE
When a Balfa frame is shipped to a dealer, we know there's a fast rider around there. Another thing we know for sure is that this rider is not only fast but also very smart!
You see, many small details add up to make what we like to call "the Balfa difference", providing better bikes for better riders. Our clients will unite to tell you their bike is superior in many ways to all they have ridden in the past. We don't claim to be perfect, but if you take a few minutes to read the following, you too will discover why Balfa is better.

THE TRUE HIGH PIVOT
« the most advanced high pivot frames »

At Balfa, we are obsessed with suspension performance, and we spend most of our time developing them. A couple of years ago, we adopted the high pivot design as the reference for optimal performance. The position of the pivot is the key to good performance in cycling and most manufacturers have claimed to have found THE spot for better performance. The truth is that their pivot location always created a new problem when it solved another.
They have always put the pivot according to the chain. Reverse the whole thing for a minute: What would happen if we put the chain according to the pivot instead?
A simple pulley, placed at or near the pivot location will take the chain close enough to the pivot to fully avoid chain tension problems. The rear triangle is then fully active and independent in its travel, given freedom of movement unequalled to this day. This unusual chain line permits the application of the true high pivot and allows for a better rear end with ample travel and no feedback. You might have seen it elsewhere, but don't be fooled, this is a Balfa innovation from 1999 and is now in fifth generation production.

THE CROMOLY REAR END
« Balfa signature »

To obtain the same rigidity, the aluminium tube will have to be much bigger in diameter than its steel counterpart. Bigger tubing mean less room to fit large tires. We make cromoly swing arms because we want to maximize tire clearance for a better range of tire compatibility with our frames.
Another point not to neglect is that steel will provide a longer lifespan and if anything should happen after many years of tough riding, it can always be repaired at minimal cost. The weakest point of a swing arm is the derailleur hanger and if you bash it and it's aluminium, chances are good you will break it. If it is cromoly, it will bend and you will be able to realign it again many times before it breaks. The same is true for repairs on your swing arm after the warranty has expired. With cromoly, we are able to repair your frame at low cost instead of selling you a new swing arm.

THE PARALLEL TRAJECTORY
« easier to ride than to explain! »

We are very proud of this feature that is really harder to explain than it is to ride. When your rear wheel catches an impact, the location of the pivot (higher than the centre of the rear hub) will push the wheel up, of course, but also rearward. The trajectory of the rear wheel is then more similar to the trajectory of the front wheel, giving stability, therefore maximizing steering precision.
The parallel trajectory allows to maintain speed through big impact sections. Unlike the typical wheel trajectory where the wheelbase will increase in the beginning and decrease in the end of the travel, the rear will work in the same direction as the front, keeping the wheelbase intact and a wheel path that doesn't interfere with the laws of gravity.

STURDINESS
« strength dictates the weight, not the other way around »

At Balfa it's the strength that dictates the weight, not the weight that dictates the strength of the frames. Our bikes are not heavier than their competitors, but we definitely take more pride in telling everyone about their strength, our primary goal when designing a new chassis. And you know what? We have never had a complaint about that… . We are told by consumers that they want their investment to last and that is exactly what we do: Provide the strongest possible frames to our clients. We take great care in trying to find the balance between weight and strength, but when in doubt, we'll make it a little stronger just in case.

LE SAVOIR-FAIRE
« ahead of the industry »

Our pleasure is to build bikes that no one had thought of until now. At Balfa, we claim to be a couple seasons in advance on most of the industry. It is a delicate situation to be in because people think we are a bunch of lunatics who build crazy looking bikes just to be noticed. In fact, we build those bikes because we are the first to think of them and we are often copied and imitated. We are proud of that. Seeing clones of the NR and bb7 is something that gratifies us. Over our short history, examples are numerous. From the first generation of URT, to the high pivot, to the parallel trajectory, our bikes can be considered as forerunners of suspension application in the cycling industry.
It is our small structure that allows us to develop such great designs. Instead of endless meetings and weeks of prevarication, we MAKE bikes, test them and if they work, we'll produce, if not, straight to the Balfa museum where the proto will be laughed at for years to come. In fact we often make a couple prototypes before a plan is drawn!

WARRANTY
The following BALFA frames are under warranty against manufacturing defects for one year from the date of purchase, to the original owner only: bb7, 2Step, 2Step dh and Belair.
The following BALFA frame is under warranty against manufacturing defects for two years from the date of purchase, to the original owner only: MinuteMan.
PLEASE keep your invoice, it will be requested for ALL warranty claims. No frames will be covered if the proof of purchase is not submitted.
Shocks are warranted by their respective manufacturers for one year and warranty issues will be handled by them or their authorized service centers. BALFA Cycles can not repair or warranty your shock.:

Eastern Canada Fox service center: (514) 849-5299
Western Canada Fox service center: (780) 440-3200
USA warranty dept: (408) 269-9201
Progressive suspension, 5th Element shock: (760) 948-4012

BALFA Cycles warranties its mountain bike frames against manufacturing defects, to the original owner only. Owners will have to provide the original invoice with name and address clearly readable. The invoice will be returned, no photocopies will be accepted.
Warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or any failure, damage or loss due to accidents, crashing, abuse, misuse or neglect. Damage incurred by double triple clamp forks slapping on the frame is not covered by warranty. PROTECT YOUR FRAME AND FORK BY PLACING BUMPERS ON FORK LEGS AT THE APPROPRIATE LOCATION.

Only the bb7 and 2Step dh frames will be covered by warranty if used for downhill racing.
BALFA Cycles will not assume any shipping charges for warranties or repairs coming in. BALFA Cycles will pay for shipping back to customers when it is a warranty issue. Shipping charges will be billed to client for repairs not covered under warranty.
Any repairs or modification of the frame performed by anyone other than BALFA Cycles, its authorized dealers or agents will automatically void the warranty.
There are no cash refunds, no upgrades and no trade-ins.
BALFA Cycles is not responsible for owner induced damage but will repair frames at minimal cost when possible.
BALFA Cycles is in no way liable for bodily injury whatsoever regardless of equipment failure. It is the owner or rider's responsibility to inspect and make sure of the worthiness of his or her equipment. Failures occur, it is your responsibility to inspect your bike.
All warranty claims must be sent via the retail store it was bought from or any BALFA Cycles authorized dealer. An authorization number has to be given before the bike is sent. Please contact your dealer.
No frame will be accepted coming in BALFA Cycles without a return authorization number, please contact your dealer.

SHOCKS
Coil spring ( bb7, 2Step, 2Step dh ): You will damage your shock and frame if you underspring your shock. If the shock bottoms out regularly, you are under sprung. Please contact your shock service center for aftermarket springs and questions regarding rates available.

Air shock ( Belair ): You will damage your shock and frame if you run your air pressure too low. If the shock bottoms out regularly, the air pressure is too low. Refer yourself to the shock owner manual for air pressure chart or contact your shock service center.
Also make sure to carefully read the shock owner manual for SAG, preload, compression, rebound and lock out adjustments.

SEAT INSERTION
Your seat post should be inserted in the seat tube with a minimum of 80 mm (3 inches) of the seat post into the seat tube.
Note: Cracked seat tubes will not be covered by our warranty against manufacturing defects.

BEARINGS
BALFA uses standard size sealed bearings, available at good bearing stores.
Pivot bearings for bb7 (2), 2Step (8), 2Step dh (8) and Belair (2) : 6001 RS
Pulley bearings for bb7: 6001 RS (1) and 626 RS (1)

BOLTS AND TORQUE
Bolts used at BALFA Cycles are metric, available at good hardware stores.
Always use "LOCTITE- 262" to secure bolts and avoid loosening.
Use caution when tightening bolts in aluminum threads to avoid stripping the head and/or threads of the bolt.

BALFA Cycles is not responsible for damaged threads.

Bottom bracket sizing
The bb7 has a 73mm bottom bracket shell. You will achieve the best chain line results by choosing a 113mm to 116mm axle unit.

Shock set up
The bb7 features a FOX Vanilla RC with a stroke of 2.75 inches. Available as an option, The progressive suspension's 5th Element shock has a stroke of 2.75 as well.

For optimal shock set up, including SAG, preload, rebound and compression adjustments, please read the shock manual supplied with your frame.
If a shock owner manual was not supplied with your Balfa bicycle or frame, request it from your dealer, or contact your shock manufacturer's service center to get one.
Note: Progressive suspensions' 5th Element shock requires that you verify the air pressure on a regular basis. Not doing so can cause damage to the shock that would not be covered by their warranty against manufacturing defects.

Disc brake compatibility
BALFA frames feature the international standard for disc brakes.
Hayes users will need a special adapter available through your HAYES retailer.

Chain guide positioning
MRP "ISCG": The 2003 bb7 features the International Standard for Chain Guides. Choose the world cup system 1 "ISCG". This will facilitate installation and ensure durable performance. Follow instructions supplied by MRP for quick and easy setup!

Non-ISCG-MRP users:
The bb7 works best with the ISCG model. If you do not purchase the ISCG, we recommend choosing the world cup system 1 unit. For optimal results while adjusting your MRP chain guide, rotate the boomerang clockwise from "normal" positioning (orange rollers at 12 and 6 o'clock). Rotate enough so the chain would go directly from the chain ring to the "BALFA pulley". Install chain and then bring the MRP boomerang back so the upper orange pulley touches the chain, directing it towards the BALFA pulley (Balfa bb7's optimal positioning would be 8 and 2 o'clock for the MRP orange rollers). Works best with 73/116 mm XTR bb, 113mm Race Face is another good choice.

BlackSpire users:
If you choose to run a BlackSpire unit, the thickness of the boomerang will interfere with tire clearance, allowing to run 2.3 at the biggest. You can also file the inside part of the boomerang to increase clearance, but this will void your chain guide's warranty. Install a 113-116 mm bb axle.

The "BALFA pulley" spacing
Once your bb width is found and your crank set and chain device are installed, you should find a good chain line over the BALFA pulley. Fine tune the chain line by spacing the pulley from the plate.

Shock mounting options (upper shock mount)
When you receive your bb7 frame, it is set up at the lower position on the upper shock mount, giving 67,5 degrees of head angle with a bb height of 15,75 inches. The upper option will give you a 68.5 degree head angle and lower the bb to 15 inches. To switch positions, unscrew completely both Allen bolts of the top shock axle. Remove bolts and push down on the plates so the axle will end up in the upper position, screw back the two bolts.

Note: Those measurements were taken from a bb7, equipped with a RockShox boXXer and Michelin comp24.1 "2.5" tires. Your selection of components will affect these measurements.

Chain length
When setting up your bb7, you will need to add a few links to your chain. The unusual chain route requires a longer chain than normal. Make sure your chain is long enough to reach all gears while not pulling too much on the derailleur when the suspension is activated. 6 or 7 extra links are usually enough, but your chain ring size and cassette gearing can make it change. Please test it smoothly before taking it to the trails to make sure you do not damage your components. A good chainguide positioning will also create less pull on the derailleur, so refer yourself to the chainguide set up paragraph as well.

Seat post
Choose a 27.2mm seat post.

Note: Cracked seat tubes will not be covered by our warranty against manufacturing defects.

Floating caliper* positioning
The floating caliper is offered as an option on 2003 bb7 and newer frames. It can be mounted three ways on the front triangle. Installed in the upper mount, the floating effect of the brake will be accentuated, while when installed in the lower mount, it is decreased. Your floating caliper is installed in the middle position when delivered.

2STEP FR
Bottom bracket sizing
the 2Step has a 73mm bottom bracket shell. You will achieve best chain line results by choosing a 113 mm to 116 mm axle unit.
Shock set up
For optimal shock set up, including SAG, preload, rebound and lock out adjustments, please see the FOX manual supplied with your frame. The 2Step features a FOX Vanilla RL with a stroke of 2 inches.


If the FOX owner manual was not supplied with your BALFA bicycle or frame, request it from your dealer, or contact your shock manufacturer' service center to get one.

Disc brake compatibility
BALFA frames feature the international standard for disc brakes.
Hayes users will need a special adapter available through your HAYES supplier.

Tire clearance
The 2Step will accept tires up to 2.5", even a little more for some brands. Please always verify clearance before purchasing tires.

Seat post
Choose a 27.2mm seat post.

Note: Cracked seat tubes will not be covered by our warranty against manufacturing defects.

Note: The 2Step will not be warranted if built up with a double triple clamp fork.

BELAIR
Shock set up
Please refer to FOX's owner manual supplied with your frame for complete details about SAG, rebound and lock out adjustability. The Belair features a FOX Float RL with a stroke of 1.50 inches.

Note: Check air pressure on a regular basis and be cautious on your first few rides on the frame to try and find the pressure range in which you can run your shock. If it bottoms out regularly, the air pressure is too low and you will damage your shock and frame.

If a shock owner manual was not supplied with your Balfa bicycle or frame, request it from your dealer, or contact your shock manufacturer's service center to get one.

Disc brake compatibility
BALFA frames feature the international standard for disc brakes.
Hayes users will need a special adapter available through your HAYES supplier.

BB sizing and drivetrain notes:
The Belair requires a 73 mm bottom bracket shell and recommended axle length is 113mm to 116mm for best results. You will use a 31.8mm clamp, bottom pull low clamp front derailleur.

Seat post
Choose a 27.2mm seat post.

Note: Cracked seat tubes will not be covered by our warranty against manufacturing defects.
Note: The Belair will not be warranted if built up with a double triple clamp fork.

MINUTEMAN
The MinuteMan frameset, with the rear entry dropouts is single speed ready and features adjustable chainstay length from 16 to 17¼ inches.

Disc brake compatibility
BALFA frames feature the international standard for disc brakes.
Hayes users will need a special adapter available through your HAYES supplier.

BB sizing
You will achieve best chain line results by choosing a 115mm axle length with your 68mm unit.

Chain Guide or chainrings

MRP users:
Choose the slalom model.

BlackSpire:
Choose the As-1 model.

If you run chainrings, you will need a 28.6mm top pull bottom swing front derailleur.

Seat post
Choose a 26.8mm seat post.

Note: Cracked seat tubes will not be covered by our warranty against manufacturing defects.

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