Scottish model, Deviate Cycles, is trying into a brand new manufacturing technique for his or her line of excessive single-pivot mountain bikes. At this time at Eurobike, we caught up with Deviate founders, Ben Jones and Chris Deverson, who’re wandering about with a titanium-lugged carbon tube body that may be a working prototype for the model’s first downcountry bike.
Deviate Downcountry Mountain Bike Prototype
Deviate Cycles’ downcountry prototype is a part of a growth sequence, the purpose of which is to research the feasibility of bringing manufacture to the UK. At present, the Claymore and Highlander bikes are constructed from an epoxy resin carbon fiber, and are manufactured in Asia – the place precisely in Asia, we don’t know. However, Ben and Chris foresee a future wherein their mountain bike frames are manufactured in Scotland out of 3D printed titanium lugs and recyclable nylon-based thermoplastic tubing… at a worth aggressive with the price of manufacturing a full carbon body in Asia.
How do they suggest to do that?
With the usage of a extra reasonably priced technique of 3D printing titanium. Certainly, chilly metallic fusion of titanium, as carried out by Huhn Cycles, is cheaper than the laser-sintering technique employed by the million pound Renishaw machine you’d see at Atherton Bikes HQ. Apparently, the gear mandatory for chilly metallic fusion of the light-weight materials is vastly extra reasonably priced.
The result’s a 3D printed lug that does have fairly a unique end to that of the Atherton Bikes lugs. And, their manufacturing is alleged to require quite a bit much less post-processing. Much less post-processing means much less handbook labour, and thus, a decreased price. Deviate hope to undertake this technique of manufacturing whereas providing frames at the same worth to what they provide now. That’s, round $3,200 USD for a Claymore body and shock.
The pair admit they haven’t but hit that time with the price of manufacture, however they’re urgent on with growth as a result of the plan is engaging for a lot of different causes, too; particularly, the provision chain will likely be shortened to the purpose the place they’ll make to order, and there’s the improved sustainability of all of it with decreased delivery, and the end-of-life recycle-ability of most, if not all, of the body parts. Additionally, we’re instructed the titanium powder used to kind the lugs is carbon-neutral, too.
What in regards to the linkage?
Deviate is continuous its use of a excessive single-pivot suspension platform that delivers a 100% rearward rear axle path, however right here on the downcountry prototype it’s packaged just a little in a different way to the linkages we’ve seen from the Scottish model beforehand.
The place the longer-travel Claymore and Highlander II bikes have a decrease linkage positioned concentrically to the underside bracket, this downcountry prototype retains every thing north of the BB. Because the rear wheel is displaced, the decrease linkage extends because the strong rear triangle strikes again and upwards because it pivots about the primary pivot positioned round half manner up the seat tube. On this state of affairs, the shock is concurrently pushed from each ends as it’s sandwiched by the decrease rocker and the swingarm.
And, this being a high-pivot mountain bike, there’s an loafer pulley positioned close to the primary pivot to scale back the destructive results of chain progress.
We’re instructed it might be many, a few years earlier than Deviate absolutely undertake this manufacturing technique, and quite a bit will rely upon whether or not they can automate it to a degree the place the frames could be priced competitively towards Asia-made carbon frames. It’s at the moment undecided whether or not the Deviate downcountry bike will first materialize in titanium or full carbon. We’ll do our greatest to remain tuned on this one!
