First Look: 2014 Canfield Brothers Jedi
Now based out of Bellingham, Washington, Canfield Brothers continues to evolve and refine their line of mountain bikes after nearly 15 years in the business. The 2014 Jedi sees a number of changes over previous model years, although it maintains the same parallel link suspension design that the Brothers have been producing since 1999. The latest version sees the travel bumped up to 9” (230mm), which is in addition to the 2.5” of rearward travel. The rear shock mount has been moved to the underside of the top tube, a change intended to create a deep feeling, linear suspension rate. Other changes for 2014 include slackening the Jedi's head angle to 63°, and increasing the top tube length by 12.5mm to create a roomier cockpit. | 2014 Canfield Brothers Jedi • 9" vertical travel, 2.5" rearward travel • 63° head angle • Titanium idler pulley cog • 150x12mm rear spacing • Colors: anodized black with six different link color choices • Frame weight: 9lb without shock • Sizes: S, M, L • Price: $3150 (frame and Cane Creek DB coil) |
Frame Details
Constructed from 7005 aluminum, the Jedi has an 83mm bottom bracket shell, 1.5” headtube, ISCG 05 tabs, and a 150 x 12mm rear thru-axle, features that have become the norm on most modern downhill bikes. Oversized, 20mm pivot bearings are meant to be able to withstand the harshest conditions, and a replaceable derailleur hanger is in place in case things don't go exactly as planned. A skull head badge combined with the black polished graphics give the Jedi a stealthy, menacing aura – this bike looks ready for some serious hard charging. The frame is available in anodized black, with several different link colors, including a limited edition green that is color matched to DVO's new Emerald fork.
Suspension Design
The Jedi uses a parallel link suspension layout, where two aluminum links are in place between the front and rear triangle. For 2014 the bike's kinematics have been tweaked slightly to give it a more linear suspension rate, although the large amount of rearward travel that the bike is known for remains unchanged. While slightly rearward axle paths are fairly common, the Jedi takes things a step further – the back wheel has a full 2.5” of rearward movement as it goes through its travel. The intention of this design is to keep the bike from hanging up on square edge bumps, the type of obstacles that sap forward momentum. To deal with the chain growth and pedal feedback that can accompany such a large amount of rearward travel, a titanium idler pulley is located above the chain ring, in line with the bottom bracket. Canfield also incorporates short 16” (406.4mm) chainstays to allow the Jedi to remain nimble with their rearward arc suspension design.
Canfield Brothers' New Cranks
The revised frame isn't all that Canfield has up their sleeve for 2014. A new crankset aimed at the all-mountain and DH crowd is on the way, and will be available for 68/73 and 83mm bottom bracket shells, with 155, 160, 165, and 170mm lengths. The crankarms and spindle are made from 7075 aluminum, and will be spiderless chainring compatible, perfect for running a thick-thin-thick ring sans chainguide. A slight ridge has been machined onto the face of the cranks to help prevent the finish from wearing prematurely due to heel rub. The weight for the crank and bottom bracket starts at 738 grams for the 155mm version, and slightly increases with the longer lengths. MSRP is $275 USD for the arms and bottom bracket, or $325 for the cranks, BB and spider or MRP Bling Ring.
www.canfieldbrothers.com
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Just for the people that think it looks like a Demo, here is a link of just a Demo frame to compare bikes. I didn't want you to get all confused and say they look the same just cause they have the same cranks and chain guide.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10430052
"Canfield also incorporates short 16” (406.4mm) chainstays to allow the Jedi to remain nimble with their rearward arc suspension design."
One more thing. Canfield is composed of just 4 main guys and they are the COOLEST people you will ever meet. Fast, balsy, fun, dedicated, serious riders who want to make the sport greater. These are the kind of people that we as riders need to support if we truly care about where this sport is going.
Selling my 2013 right now!
ur right check this out
www.pinkbike.com/news/What-folks-are-riding-and-using-in-the-Whistler-Bike-Park-2012.html
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10523344
FYI, this is a '13, not '14...and it's for sale to fund my '14
Anyone know what the pedals are? Their sexy.
Sorry if i missed it in the article. Its been a long day.
Also 155mm cranks sound interesting. People with demos may be able to pedal a little easier
Wheelbase won't necessarily extend 2.5" as forks/front wheel are traveling back at a similar angle.
When plowing through a rock garden, both front and rear suspension of the jedi behave in the same way. It is also predictable on good sized jumps such as dirt merchant or a-line. You would think that the rearward axle path on the rear wheel would make trajectory off of a jump unpredictable. But for me it actually seems more predictable.
It's hard to describe so I say go and check one out yourself!
The reason the design isn't widespread I think has to do with the need for an idler pulley to negate chain growth, etc. People think it would be problematic or heavy or something. Yet for the benefits it provides, the tradeoff is worthwhile. In real life, that idler pulley causes zero problems and yet enables a fantastic suspension design.
I'm talking about what a 3,150.00 plus tax frame can do so way freaking diferent from other artesian frame builders like, Titus, Foes, Nuvinci, etc etc..that meke me pay hundreds more...
Nice job, excellent craftsmanship, looks so technological....try something more cost effective, today we are in a more competitive market. Remember the BlackBerry, or the Palm? Even I phones are in giving the fight against Samsung.....This is the point! Cost efficiency!
None of these welds have any issues I would fail them for structurally, and most of them are very nice looking. I would wager this is a pre-production frame, and given the Canfield Bros attention to detail I strongly agree that production frames will be B E A-utiful.
I'm assuming the welds will be cleaner on the production bikes...right?
I really liked the concept of The One, and I felt it was the ultimate quiver killer. Moving to a shorter travel (150mm) AM specific frame is in my opinion an incorrect move on the Canfield's part, but I am not their marketing director, lol. Since it is a Canfield I am sure it will be the tits, but it's still disappointing nonetheless.
I like the fact that I can have 8" of rear travel and still out pedal most bikes weighing 8 lbs less with 3" less travel. And I can throw my Boxxer on the front and The One feels just at home in the park as any other DH specific bike (except maybe the Jedi, or an EVIL, cause those are dead sexy too).
Feet staying on better, bike sucking up bumps better, more stable = more rested rider and I doubt the efficiency by one extra bearing has much drag. The idler doesn't move,it's affixed to the main frame not any moving suspension part.
Riding fast looks better than skipping around on a pretty bike IMO.
I'd prefer good suspension to a pretty bike was my point. Not sure what yours is sorry.
The marketing driven weight weenie hype is really stopping people from riding some awesome bikes. Strap 1 or 2kg to your feather weights downtube and time yourself on some runs. I'm sure you'll be surprised.
I cannot see cleaner lines = lighter. Not sure what suspension designs you're referring to as sleeker either..
Ride one and see. simple as that.
I too like clean looking designs. Buy you know what I like better? ... designs that work well. All those gears and suspension are also complicating your bike. Me? I'm willing to live with the mess of brake rotors and rear shocks, maybe even the clutter of a derailer. That extra pulley allows for a rearward axle path and is worth the tradeoff. Just like those extra pulleys on your derailer, they serve a purpose other than trying to look cool.
Cleanest downhill bike i've even seen? A hipster fixie. Have at it.
theres nothing complicated about this frame. Its a rear arc, with two links and a idler. whats so complicated about that?
FSR doesnt do what their design does. FSR works great at isolating braking from suspension, but it has nowhere near the bump absorption this frame does.
You can ride a jedi through hell and back and not have issues. Lance/Chris/Vin and Sean arent pushing bullshit products. They arent designing to their fan base, theyre designing the type of bike they want to ride. One that if you ever get the chance to ride you'll be blown away.
Totally different beasts. Trying to compare two companies with entirely different business models is asinine.
@digthehills I didn't like the demo because I personally thought the BB was to low I kept hitting my peddles on the deck when cornering I had to change my style of ridding for the frame and didn't like that, I bottomed mine out quit a lot on roots and found it hard to peddle I had to harden the rear shock a lot harder than i normally would to get a decent peddle stoke out of it, Sorry for the misunderstanding I thought you was being funny like some on here dude.
@BeerGuzlinFool. thanks for the education lesson but I don't think I said it did act like an FSR suspension set up.
I think it looks cool, but I admire logical things over pretty shapes and colours.
I've ridden
Balfa BB7s
Brooklyn RaceLinks and SR6.
Lahar Mk9
Katipo x 2
Zerode G1 and G2
So I have a fair dea of what the rearward axle path does.
Don't have a Canfield as I have a Zerode. But the Canfield will suck up bumps a better, but there's probably no similar bike in that regard than the Zerode. Both(and all other bikes mentioned) have an idler or equivalent, lessening drive train forces to a similar amount.
Please stop trolling. It's ghey.
Obviously a World cup rider could win on a Canfield, same as Rampage. To believe any different tells a lot. Results cost money, simple as that.
Yes, you're right, it is mainly the rider. Yes every bike is a balance compromises and some bikes don't suit everybody. But talking from experience, I strongly believe a bike like the Canfield with it's rearward axle path will give most riders more confidence, speed, and results.
Ride one, see for yourself. Or at least put forth valid debate other than invalidated opinion based on aesthetics, as we can all decide for ourselves what looks good or not.