For the first time in its history Lynskey Performance Designs of Chattanooga, Tennessee will be offering a full suspension mountain bike frame. The company has decided to jump into the full suspension pool, and are going in head-first hoping to make a big splash. Not only is their new frame, the Pro29 FS, going to be a 29er (as the name implies), but they have designed it with 120mm of travel. This is on the long end of travel for any cross country 29er frame, especially one almost entirely constructed of titanium.
Lynskey Performance Designs is certainly not new to the titanium frame design and manufacturing business. They are the family behind Litespeed, starting that titanium bicycle frame business back in 1986. After selling the Litespeed brand in 1999 and letting the non-compete agreements expired, the Lynskey family went back into the titanium bicycle frame business with the launch of Lynskey Performance Designs in 2006. Since then they have created quite an extensive line of frames before announcing the Pro29 FS.
One of their signature design features used in their higher end frames is the HELIX shaped tubeset. This Lynskey created tubeset utilizes a twist in the down tube, top tube and/or seat stays to create a much stiffer frame. This is done to help elevate a common complaint that titanium is too flexible, especially under the stresses or a larger or more powerful rider. Lynskey went with a 44mm head tube mated to the 2-inch HELIX down tube and normally drawn, oversize 1-½-inch top tube to create a stiff main triangle for the new Pro29 FS.
Lynskey choose to go with a single pivot rear suspension design to keep the weight at a minimum, create a lower maintenance linkage system and aid in pedal performance through the placement of the actual main pivot point. With the careful placement of the main pivot, Lynskey has provided for a “chainstay lengthening rate that minimizes bob and allows for crisp acceleration while keeping the overall chainstay lengthening low enough that pedal feedback is not felt on large impacts.” Lynskey also focused on the leverage ratio of the rear suspension to help absorb small bumps while preventing the bottom out on large impacts as you go through the 120mm of travel. The overall change in the leverage ratio is minimized in order to allow for easy tuning of shocks.
To increase the stiffness of the rear suspension, Lynskey decided to go with the Syntace X-12 system for the rear axle. This is a system which utilizes an oversized through axle similar to the current 15QR or 20mm through axles used on a number of suspension forks. The Syntace X-12 system has a number of hub manufacturers onboard, including DT Swiss, Chris King, Shimano, ACROS and Hope.
One other unique feature of the Pro29 FS is that Lynskey chose to go with titanium seat and chain stays along with a titanium yoke. This is an area that a number of other manufacturers use outside vendors, but Lynskey decided to keep the manufacturing in-house.
httpv://youtu.be/s1LaIULaJuI
Lynskey Pro29 FS Specs:
Rear Travel: 120mm
Headtube: 44mm Oversized
Bottom Bracket: 73mm PressFit 30
Seatpost Diameter: 27.2mm
Wheel Size: 29 inch
Brake Type: Disc
Stock Sizes: Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large
MSRP: $3695.00
Available: Early Spring 2012
The design of the new Lynskey Pro29FS is still being slightly tweaked, but they are taking orders now. There is no indication if a 26-inch wheeled version will become available in the near future – that is probably based on the success of the Pro29 FS in the 29er platform. If you are looking for a cross country, full suspension ride that is not made by the big ‘S’, ‘T’ or ‘G’, the new Pro29 FS might be the frame for you.
That’s a shame. I certainly won’t be chucking my entire collection of wheels and rear hubs for this. Nor will I be starting a new collection.
Did Shimano hand over their “You’ll take what we make!” theology to a new manufacturer?
I must admit, it’s great for the noobs just getting onto the scene. They won’t care if it’s retro compatible or variable.
Hi 6oT,
You certainly bring up a good point. I can’t say that I am terribly too fond of all of the different front axle, rear axle, bottom bracket shell and head tube sizes that are showing up on bikes. It makes upgrading to a new frame more expensive and a pain.
Depending on the hubs you are running, this particular change to Syntace X-12 may not be so bad. If you are running ISO Chris King hubs, it looks like that a simple axle swap will do the trick. That is the same with a few other manufacturers according to Syntace’s website.
Brian