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On Show: Sea Otter Classic, April 24, 2008
More long-travel refinement for 2009
By James Huang
Yeti Cycles unveils trio of striking gravity machines
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Yeti Cycles' product development team has obviously been working overtime lately: at last year's Eurobike show, it unveiled a new AS-R Carbon, a revamped standard AS-R and brand-new versions of its popular 575. Only months later it showed off a prototype of its novel AS-R 7 and this year's Sea Otter booth was crammed with no fewer than three all-new prototype gravity rigs, all of which featured some incarnation of the rail technology that Yeti originally introduced on the current 303.
The 178mm-travel (7") 303 RDH is intended as a lighter, simpler and less expensive version of Yeti's full-blown downhill race machine. The 303 RDH's rear wheel path is distinctly single-pivot but an intermediate linkage drives the rear shock on a linear rail for more precisely controlled shock rate. According to Yeti's Chris Conroy, the new frame will end up around 4.5kg (10.0lb) and US$2500, making it about 0.9kg (2.0lb) lighter and US$1000 cheaper than the 303.
In contrast, the new 303-7 uses a single rail to help control the wheel path instead of the shock, which is directly actuated by the rear swingarm. The rearward axle path should be a boon on square-edged hits and in spite of the roughly 5cm (2") of chain growth through the full 178mm (7") travel range, Conroy says the rail's vertical orientation should mostly mitigate pedal-actuated suspension movement and pedal feedback. Projected frame weight is in the neighborhood of 4.8kg (10.5lb).
Like the 303 RDH, the 303-R utilizes a rail-controlled shock rate but its shorter travel (137mm/5.4") and overall stiffer feel will make it more of a four-cross or slopestyle rig than a downhill racer. Tight 42cm (16.5")-long chain stays and a low bottom bracket should make for snappy acceleration out of the gate and quick handling while the tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube will allow for the latest crop of big-mountain forks. Conroy says that Yeti is also developing a lighter version of the 303-R to better suit the all-mountain crowd.
All three prototypes are still around a year out of production but will probably end up in the 2009 lineup. Conroy cautioned, though, that all of them require intensive race testing this season and some models might retain their current 'race team only' status.
The innovative AS-R 7 was introduced several months ago but production versions were finally on hand in Monterey. Frame weight is now pegged at 3.3kg (7.25lb) and the massive single-sided carbon rear end has gained a small aluminum swing link behind the seat tube for added rigidity. Finally, the head tube has now sprouted a 1 1/2" lower cup for use with tapered forks. According to Conroy, frames will begin shipping in June.
As for that much anticipated AS-R Carbon, frame production is now finally in full swing after an initial delay.
Intense Cycles' downhill platform sprouts new iteration
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Intense's venerable M-series of downhill frames has spawned yet another iteration for the new year, aptly named the M6 FRO (For Racing Only). As compared to the M5, the M6 FRO incorporates a swoopier look (including a newly curved down tube) but retains the M5's 240mm (9.5") of VPP-enabled rear wheel travel and relatively low 2.6:1 leverage ratio.
Frame geometry has apparently been tweaked for a bit more agility and frame weights have supposedly dropped yet another couple hundred of grams. If the race car red paint job doesn't do it for you, Intense will also have it available in black, white or 'Works' raw silver for the truly weight-conscious.
Foes does lightweight DH
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Foes Racing introduced a lighter race-specific downhill option at this year's Sea Otter that is claimed to shave over 4.5kg (10lb) off of Foes' own DHS Mono in fully built form. That figure is naturally tough to swallow but the RS7's claimed frame weight (with shock) is down to 4.1kg (9.1lb), shaving almost 900g (2lb) from the DHS, and Foes anticipates that its associated build will be decidedly more svelte as well.
Travel is reduced down to 178mm (7") from the DHS Mono's 250mm (10") and the primary shock option is an air-sprung Foes XTD. More budget-minded racers can instead opt for a Fox Racing Shox DHX Air but leverage ratio for either is still an unusually, and impressively, low 2:1 as is typical for Foes.
As usual, the RS7 is a single-pivot design but the XTD shock's Curnutt-style stable platform valving and included floating brake mount should largely negate most of the usual single-pivot drawbacks. Production frames are expected to be ready around September or October.
Ellsworth's workhorse Moment goes big
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Ellsworth's 152mm-travel (6") Moment just received a significant freshening last year but gets a wholly new frame for 2009. The front end sprouts newly curvaceous and shaped aluminum tubing which are claimed to improve torsional rigidity while the ICT-geometry rear end gets substantially beefier.
The asymmetrical swingarm's chain stays grow noticeably bigger but still deliver more crankarm clearance than on the '08 model; likewise, the seat stay assembly is stouter and more widely set for more rigidity and far more tire clearance than before. In keeping with the front end's new aesthetic, the aluminum rocker arms boast some new curves and are now placed inboard of the seat stays to tighten up the rear end.
Head tube size remains 1 1/8" top and bottom and frame weight remains constant but the added rigidity will be a welcome addition. According to Ellsworth's Paul Verdile, the company has instituted the updates as a running change and new Moment frames are already available.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- Yeti will eventually supplement its innovative 303 downhill platform with this lighter and simpler option, the 303 RDH.
- The stout-looking rear end offers 7" of travel and is intended for downhill applications.
- The swingarm activates a rail-controlled linkage for a more precisely controlled shock rate.
- In spite of the complicated look the prototype Yeti 303 RDH is essentially a single-pivot bike.
- After a successful initial run on the 303 , Yeti has expanded its rail technology to other models.
- The prototype 303 RDH is rife with intricate machining work.
- Full downhill frames are still equipped with 1 1/8" head tubes both top and bottom.
- The beefy dropouts help keep the rear wheel in plane.
- Whereas the 303 RDH uses the rail to control shock rate , the upcoming 303-7 uses it to control the wheel path.
- The somewhat complicated-looking rear end of the 303-7 is designed to provide a rearward axle path for better square-edge bump performance.
- There's a lot going on here.
- The sensitive parts of the centrally located rail are somewhat shielded from muck thrown off the rear wheel.
- The unique suspension kinematics requires the use of this complex forward pivot.
- A small swing link adds rigidity to the rear end.
- As on all of the Yeti prototypes , there's a lot of machine work involved here…
- …and here.
- The head tube on the prototype 303-7 is also a standard 1 1/8" all the way through but the head tube is still machined to shave a few grams.
- Looks like we'll all be waiting a while for this one.
- The Yeti 303-R prototype offers just 5.4" of travel will a stiffer feel for slopestyle and 4X-type events.
- The Fox Racing Shox DHX Air rear shock is controlled by the linear motion rail.
- The 303-R is intended for use with a single crown fork , hence the use of a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube.
- Yeti's unique AS-R 7 mates an aluminum front end with a massive carbon rear.
- Yeti eliminated the driveside chain stay to improve clearances…
- …meaning the single-sided non-driveside chain stay is appropriately gigantic.
- Likewise, the AS-R 7's main pivot is hugely oversized to accommodate the loads.
- A small swing link is included here, too, to help with rear end stiffness.
- The upper shock link is carbon fiber, too.
- Get used to seeing a lot more of the 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube in the future.
- Ellsworth has revamped its popular Moment frame.
- Frame weights remain consistent from last year but the swoopier tubes and beefier rear end deliver a stiffer chassis.
- The new Moment down tube takes two turns on its way from the head tube to the bottom bracket shell.
- The rear end features the same ICT suspension geometry as before.
- The new chain stays are way bigger than before , which should make for more predictable handling.
- The new rocker arms have a sleeker look and are also now mounted inboard of the seat stays.
- The seat stay bridge includes plenty of room for an Ellsworth logo.
- Tire clearances on the new Moment are vastly improved.
- Foes displayed a new prototype RS7 frame that is intended as lighter weight complement to the existing DHS Mono.
- In typical Foes fashion, the RS7 is built with heavily shaped aluminum.
- We obviously haven't ridden this prototype yet , but the inclusion of Foes' Curnutt shock is a good sign of what's to come.
- A tiny swing link is fitted beneath the bottom bracket shell.
- This is certainly one of the stoutest-looking thru-axle rear dropout and derailleur hanger combinations we've seen.
- A floating rear brake mount should help keep the rear wheel firmly planted.
- Intense Cycles' new M6 FRO is ready to race… and as we all know, red paint always makes things faster.
- The rear end offers 231mm (9.1") of travel and uses a relatively low 2.6:1 leverage ratio for a supple ride.
- A small scallop on the driveside of the swingarm makes room for the chain to pass.
- The M6 requires a rangy 10.5"-long rear shock.
- The 1.5"-compatible head tube can also be used with a zero stack 1 1/8" setup for a lower ride height.
