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For the XC crowd, there was a thing in the making in the 26" wheel days, but the pivot was lower down to both rotate the seat and move it forwards (to improve the rider geometry and improve the power output). Nothing came of it as there wasn't enough funding to properly develop it (further than the multi kilo prototype) and dropper posts came onto the scene, taking the space of the rotating post. EDIT: found the (Slovenian) article, it was published 10 years ago. My how time flies...
As for the ozzie bike, they had me, hard. Then came Effigear... Would have been wonderful with a Pinion
Type: FULL SUSPENDEN DH (sic)
Material: CARBON
Headset: 1-1/8” 1-1/2”
TIRE: 29”*2.5”/27.5+*2.80”
Weave: UD
BB: BSA 83
Shok TRAVEL: 8.75" *2.75"
Rear Hub: 157*12mm THRU AXLE
REAR TRAVEL: 200mm
FORK TRAVEL: 200mm
I'm sure the shock size is a mistake but the geo looks good. Haven't seen a catalog DH frame since the old Da Bombs. This one's carbon too and likely the first superboost catalog frame I've seen (if the table above is to be believed).
Look closely at the pivot placements as it seems to be a VPP to me.
Suspension system is close to a VPP, as for the geometry, is that good? My 150 mm trailbike has the same wheelbase as this one in XL... Same chainstay too.
As for catalogue DH frames, Astro has always had some, I remember even Barel riding them in the Mondraker days pre-Zero suspension.
I keep my saddle level because it allows me to get it lower without hitting the tire. So im not sure why people angle the seat on a DH bike, as my saddle is pretty much to keep me from getting impaled and also having something to sit on in the lift line.
side note most world cuppers DH bikes have only a slight angle to the seat. but people like to exaggerate things to look cool not realizing it actually makes them look dumb. look at JDM cars they camber the wheels cuz thats what the racers do, but on a racers car the camber is very slight.... almost unnoticeable.
I Digress.....
As for the angle, I'm starting to think the optimal angle is for the seat to point towards the top headset bearing or the stem. I'm kiiiiiind of thinking it might have something to do with upper body orientation and the resulting hip rotation.
https://wheelbased.com/2021/01/15/suspension-control-device-for-a-human-powered-vehicle-by-shimano/
Get ready for active bikes.
Electronic shifting is pretty cool and works reasonably well.
Electronic Reverb is really good.
Live Valve apparently sucks, but I'm sure it'll evolve....
For the fear of sounding old and grumpy (though I am a freak for technology and a massive geek), let's keep bikes simple. Electricity free too
My 2 cents.
And anti-dive, what will happen when you ride over a root? Will it stay closed, bucking you or giving you a massive impact into the wheel? Or will it blow off and compress? It won't bounce back, so what good did it do you? Plus if not VERY well tuned, electronics systems can make the handling unpredictable. A badly set up, but a predictable bike will be a better ride than an unpredictable ride.
Manual Override = Such “lock out” may be selectively provided via an external manual adjuster...
Wireless = ...it is expected that in the future wireless protocols and battery life may be such that wireless high speed communication (although possible today) between the sensors 200 and the controller 300 will become more practical and is therefore contemplated hereby.
Setup Suggestions = The software program for use with the system 1000 may assist shops and individuals with basic setup parameters of their vehicle 100 components, such as the vehicle suspension... the user 600 may set the controller 300 via the computer system 400 and/or communication system 500 into an advanced setup mode where it collects data from the sensors 300 and processes the data.
Fox is out in 2031 while we're stuck in 2021.
For someone knowing exactly what and how all the clickers do, for someone so vocal about tech stuff on the forum, for someone thinking it would be cool to have a power meter, to have more advanced suspension analysis gear and someone thinking how to put strain gauges onto the frame to check out stresses and strains (it would be helpful only on a prototype bike under development though...) it really is an oxymoron to ride like that. But hey, when I'm on the bike it's like I'm a different person, I'm just there to ride
And for all the geeking I do, dunno, I kind of like just grabbing the bike and going. There are five levers on the bars making me go faster or slower and making more (or less) comfortable, there's some squishiness, otherwise it's just me. If I run out of power, it's on me, it's on me to ride the damned thing and sure, it requires some wrenching and filling up with air (before every ride...), but it doesn't require charging with electricity.
Yeah, I'm weird
BTW, It's flabbergasting that more or less none of the shops offer a Shockwiz service for the basic setup of a new bike. It's SUCH a low hanging fruit with such high improvements possible for most riders.