Reality Redesigned: The GAUNTLET Ep6: The Armada

May 15, 2012
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The GAUNTLET:
Episode 6 of The GAUNTLET: A behind the scenes look at the Judges critiquing and analyzing the top 9 designs in the Reality Redesigned contest.

To win the GRAND prize, each of the top 9 Reality Redesigned contestants come face to face with our 7 Judges in The GAUNTLET video series. The Armada design made it to the top 10 of the People's Choice Award and now this frame designer, Sasha is back to go through The GAUNTLET!

Views: 7,984    Faves: 6    Comments: 1


DESCRIPTION: The Armada is made with 3 things in mind, weight, adjustability, and cost; this frame design features lightweight plated construction, numerous shock positions and is made from 6 original parts be more affordable.
Lastly this frame presents linkage that reacts quickly for small bumps and then slows down for bigger drops and hits.

People s Choice Award description picture

the armada design

the armada design

the armada design

the armada design

the armada design

the armada design

the armada frame design

the armada frame design

the armada frame design


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45 articles

104 Comments
  • 54 7
 i like the way they talk about keepin cost down coz this sport is gettin to far expensive! 2 many ppl than cn ride cnt part with the cash there askin for! come on no dowhill bike should ever come close to the price of a new moto x bike! i understand r&d but dnt understand why they are so expensive!

WE ALL NEED MORE CHEEPER DH BIKES!
  • 88 6
 lrn 2 engrsh
  • 39 2
 I'm with smicky. Frame costs are getting outrageous. Santa Cruz makes ONE DH/FR frame and it is $3450... for just the frame. This seems out of proportion with performance increases.

I'm glad that some companies are introducing more budget oriented options, such as the Specialized Status. Give me 90% of the performance at 50% the cost. I will (probably) never podium at a major race, but I will NEVER even get to the starting line if I can't justify the cost of a frame...
  • 20 0
 As am i actually, i agree with the message, just the whole spelling thing really throws me off.
  • 37 1
 but... will it blend?
  • 6 12
flag alazamanza (May 15, 2012 at 8:44) (Below Threshold)
 pretty sure sante cruz make 2 dh/fr frames..... driver 8 ?????????

i know its more fr orientated but it would work alrite as a dh bike
  • 4 0
 Driver 8 and Bullit are no longer made. Next closest thing is the Nomad which, while capable, is definitely not designed for DH.
  • 3 0
 You guys are comparing a frame that is designed and optimized to WC DH racing, what about all the other aluminum offerings? There is nothing wrong with Aluminum!
  • 13 0
 This is why I own a stinky with shivers haha
  • 13 1
 sorry about the poor spelling Welsh is my first language lol.
  • 2 1
 not enough emphasis on chain growth in the video. the design would have to have a load of thought put into making it less chain growthy, which would increase the price of the frame.
  • 8 0
 Thanks guys! I'm happy that you like the frame! and yeah I know that the rear would be a bit wobbly as is but I've been currently fooling around with my design and plates so now the rear is 15mm thick. Basically my design is still open to development... the main purpose is to have a bike that everyone can afford. Smile

Sincerely Sasha D.
  • 1 0
 The 2012 Mongoose Boot'r Elite frame is $1700. It is a pretty sick looking bike.
  • 1 0
 no dout it would b made with bolt through rather than q/r as in ur cad pics, and a brace as close to the rear tire but allowin a lil mud clearance.
  • 40 3
 you know a 5yr old designed the bike when the prototype is made of paper mache and its sitting on Power Ranger bed sheets!
  • 5 0
 Haha yeah man, I suggest having them though... gives the ladies a laugh hahaha
  • 3 0
 Least it wasn't made out of playdoh...... Looks tougher and stronger than playdoh too. Thumbs up to the designer
  • 3 0
 Go create your own frame and make it out of metal then.
  • 1 0
 Go buy a big boy bed already!
  • 18 1
 mike shouldn't be aloud to speak just thumbs up or down he sounds like a dumb ass
  • 19 0
 "What if it dents? What if it cracks? Will that affect structural integrity?"

Uh, yea. Most likely.
  • 4 0
 Thumbs up/down is way too much of an opinion for that guy.
  • 1 0
 yeah in fact lets get the firing squad on his ass
  • 2 0
 We could also lynch him. Or we could just leave him alone. Seems harmless enough.
  • 1 0
 i vote for the lynch... yeah harmless as long as his jaw is wired shut
  • 3 0
 One thing I thought was funny was the pieces of the 3d print model in the shrubbery behind him. He's like "um...I broke mine" so maybe his comment came from personal experience. 3d printer guy is like "dude.....wtf?"

At least he didn't say "this frame has to be at least.....twice as big! How do you expect people to ride this!" so credit to him for that.
  • 2 0
 ^ What is this, a bike for ANTS?!
  • 2 0
 haha, nicely caught cuban-b.
  • 14 1
 The only thing that could make the frame more flexible-looking would be a choice of FIVE power rangers paint schemes... that being said, it would be undefeatable if you put them all together into a a big dino-robot-downhill monster and taught it karate.
  • 4 0
 I'll take that into account Smile
  • 3 1
 i just tweaked my fork and bent my Faith a few hours ago, wanna build one n send it to me to test? i need a new ride anyway, and i'll give you great feedback. it can even be the pink power ranger, i don't care.
  • 10 0
 I love the fact that the designer has built up a life sized model to see it in action, even if it is out of old sugar puffs cartons and his Dad's page threes! The suspension seems pretty suspect to me: lateral flex and masses of chain growth... but if we drop that and concentrate on the concept of a plate bike that reduces costs, I think it's a great idea. The other thing, a cheap bike shouldn't have so many pivots; the bearings will drive up not only the cost, but also the maintenance.
  • 10 0
 I find it amusing that everybody nagges about out of what the demo was made...are you all really that single minded?? Or is that a failed attempt to be funny..??
Not everybody has a 3D Printer in his basement, you knowWink
  • 1 1
 Its pinkbike - our first priority is to find something to neg prop.
  • 11 0
 For all the haters:

When have you made a prototype frame, and sent it in to be judged? What contributions have you made other than complaining about the current status?
  • 2 0
 Not to mention - what have they done..... oh, wait....
  • 10 1
 I don't mind the design, but in the age of carbon fibre and hydro-formed tubing, isn't this kind of taking a step back in frame technology?
  • 7 0
 There are still manufactures that use pressed shapes, it's been proven to be strong and reliable, so why not?
  • 4 0
 It did say he was wanting to keep costs down though.
  • 6 3
 Most downhill frames would be cheap, if companies weren't so greedy for profit.
  • 5 1
 they're only trying to make a living, gosshhh
  • 7 0
 lol yeah but hyrdo-form tubing and carbon fiber costs a lot, the purpose of having 6 original parts and plates makes this product affordable... the inovation in my design is a less expensive bike that still looks sick, can perform and is still reasonably light.
  • 7 0
 Thanks for the feedback everyone! any feedback is good feedback
  • 3 0
 uhh change those bed sheets your not going to get laid that way man (atleast not by a girl) but good design and killer idea go for it man
  • 2 0
 perhaps, just maybe, the sheets are for his child? which would mean that homeboy has gotten laid at least once.
  • 1 0
 "na babe"
  • 3 0
 i like the fact it uses stamped parts. very reminiscent of the ak47 which made it very cost effective, the linkage on this bike is antiquated. its a single pivot suspension with leverage links similiar to that found on a santa cruz nickel.
  • 8 2
 seems like there's a lot of spots in the frame that mud would accumulate..
  • 6 0
 Has anyone noticed his Power Ranger bedding??
  • 2 8
flag fedz (May 15, 2012 at 13:48) (Below Threshold)
 And has anyone noticed how fukcing ugly this frame is ?
  • 2 0
 Cough *CHAIN GROWTH* cough... There is no derailler in the world this would work with without extra roller wheels to redirect the chainline.

Flex anyone?

I'm afraid there is a fundamental reason why all bikes use tubes, not sheetmetal (even Oranges made of sheetmetal are then welded into tubes), that is the torsional rigidity of closed sections.
  • 2 0
 With just a small fold at the top of all the flat metal parts, and more bracing, it'd be a lot stiffer. With an idler, jackshaft, or gearbox, and some better structural work, and maybe lowering the arm that pulls the shock linkage, and lowering the shock linkage, both to make rear stiffer, I think the frame could be a goer. Nice work, don't be disheartened, I'd like to see this design progress.
  • 2 1
 That 'downtube' design does not appear to offer any benefit in either weight or strength when compared to a traditional single downtube.
The amount of raw material required to make the two plates and the cross braces between the plates certainly appears to require MORE material rather than less... and that amounts to higher weight than what has already been achieved with tubing.
Plus... the cost to produce all of those individual pieces and then weld them together is certainly more (in terms of manpower) than welding a single downtube in place.
I'm just not seeing any benefit for weight, strength, or cost... but that's just me.
  • 7 0
 And don't forget, if you accidentally ran somebody over you might cut them in half. Which might be okay if they were a zombie or something
  • 3 0
 hmm... a damn fine point! Maybe I would buy one... after all, I am very concerned about being prepared for the zombie apocalypse and those babies would sharpen up like samurai swords with a little grinder lovin'
  • 1 0
 what if he went with a tubed downtube but kept the rest of the design like it is? would that help the overall design? i'm thinking the downtube is the main part that people are skeptical about.
  • 4 0
 I would add bringing the link inside the frame rather than outside. That link could scissor somebody's toes off. Again a useful feature in the zombie armageddon scenario.
  • 2 0
 ^ so what you're saying is - given there is a zombie apocalypse, this bike would be a top seller. this, and the car from mad max.
  • 1 0
 ..... or zombocalypse, if you will
  • 2 0
 cuban-b...I believe we are on the same wavelength.
  • 1 0
 ya too bad the swing arm would pull back away from the bb causing the chain to tension or jacking. though there is still a single compression system at least its he used leverage as a key for his frame unlike santacruz did on the vp free


hey kid f*ck what they said i know iron workers and metal shops that have made there own custome bikes and CNC billet parts using autodesk inventor pro as the CAD softwear. it was$ 3,000 and two mounths of work and one week of

TechShop SF has classes for everything you need to learn welding, cnc, CAD imaging, forge iron, prototyping all classes are 50$ and up to 80$
  • 1 0
 Sasha/Bikebro, your design reminded me of a bike constructed from sheet metal cut and folded and riveted together (like an aeroplane). Its the third bike down - the X-Lite:

www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=77419&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
  • 7 3
 seems like it would be flexy...
  • 5 2
 Yeah, I agree. Don't know about this one. I do, however, think it might be fun to build a bike frame out of paper mache.
  • 4 1
 I fail to see how in any way a flat plate is stronger or lighter than a tube...
  • 3 1
 it's cheaper.
  • 5 2
 and if you crash bigstyle it'll hack both yer legs off like a buzz saw
  • 2 1
 lol yeah Big Grin
  • 3 1
 I agree, I do not see a way that the lateral stiffness of the rear could be the same as a tube without increaseing the weight. I would imagine you would have constant back and forth movement in the rear, stressing and wearing out those pivots quickly.
  • 3 0
 how old is this person who built the frame from card??
he has power rangers bed sheets!!!!
  • 5 1
 Fair play if he's just a kid. Quite concerning if he's in his teens or 20's. Just f**cking creepy if he's in his 30's.
  • 1 5
flag fedz (May 15, 2012 at 14:21) (Below Threshold)
 oh shit ! looks like this guys a bloody ol' wino... he's got a fridge in his bedroom !!
  • 3 2
 you don't put wine in the fridge buddy. my dad'a from England...I thought you blokes knew about drinking.
  • 3 0
 then you'd know that a wino is a broad term for an alcy ;0)
  • 1 0
 ^ you're thinking "lush" Smile
  • 4 0
 very cool concept. create more frames.
  • 6 2
 Now that's my kind of origami !!
  • 3 3
 I found every judge pretty useless except for Streber. It's a decent concept except for chain growth, so a second chain like in other high pivot bikes would be useful. Perhaps a floating brake too. However, this is going to be neither cheap nor light, because to make plates as laterally stiff as tubes they need to be so thick that cost and weight are left behind
  • 6 0
 I've done my homework; to have all the plates made + materials AND bent its 120 bucks for me at my local machine shop, plus I've got my engineer buddy and according to what we've done yeah the rear should be fine... BUT, yes you are right as of now... I have currently changed the rear and it is now thickened to a reasonable weight and strength ratio.
  • 1 0
 But everything's cheaper at a local machine shop. That doesn't take into account the design costs (that's your end), batch production, hand welding, finishing and assembly, and finally marketing and distribution. The bottom line is if you have the skills and know-how you can make a bike thats cheaper- for you. To put an inexpensive bike to market is a whole other kettle of fish
  • 1 2
 so there reality check is bullshit and problibly just something they said to you just so you don't try. oh ya and there hasn't been a frame desighn out that has been needed in DH look at Andrew Shandrow in 1970's or all of the old bay riders in CA oh ya weight isn't the issue when your going down hill. its the rider if they are BITCH or NOT i train XC on my 53 pound 2012 specialized demo 8ll all day just so its not an issue at the races. MT. Diablo concord CA
  • 1 0
 cool story bro
  • 1 0
 I can't wait to see superstars dh frame.. That will be a decent performer at a decent price! And obviously it will still look the bizz!
  • 1 0
 At the botom of the frame there could be a plastic mud guard, solving issues with mud and chopping peoples' legs off, but Stifness is the name of its grave digger.
  • 1 0
 Mike Montgomery must have a pretty empty house cause he doesn't seem to think that anything, is needed! I wonder how he wipes his arse???
  • 4 5
 "The Armada is made with 3 things in mind, weight, adjustability, and cost;...."

Well I'm shocked. So it'll be lightweight, adjustable, cheap, unique-looking... but ride like crap.

Looking different is NOT the same thing as being an improvement. More complexity with no ride improvement is a waste of human ingenuity, time, effort, and money.

Aside from looking different compared to most other frames available now, what does this bizarrely ugly frame bring to the mix, aside from sweet papier-mache mockups?

I've never known anyone who owned an "adjustable" frame to spend any time adjusting their geometry. It's the most over-rated, impractical "feature" currently touted in frame design (or frame fantasizing, which is what this article is about).
  • 2 0
 Good word play ijiot. The bike looks like a good design. With an idler or gearbox, and a bit more box section work I think it'd be a good bike.
  • 1 0
 you mad bro?
  • 1 0
 as a hat(t)er.
  • 1 0
 mad hatter - get it. i was referring to the cfoxtrot but i guess i shouldn't be surprised lol
  • 2 0
 soooo many links Frown but sick idea!
  • 3 1
 The swing arm looks like it will flex side to side a lot.
  • 2 0
 even if the front part would work what is pretty doubtfull, i agree on the flexibility of the back.
  • 1 1
 its obvious this guy has just discovered the sheet metal tool in cad and thought 'i can make a bike with this!' a cromo frame would probably be cheaper and stiffer
  • 3 1
 I bet his frame will still be less likely to break than an Intense.
  • 1 1
 didn't like dabomb or someone like that make a frame just like this back around 2000-2003?
  • 1 0
 props to the stupid low compression ratio!
  • 1 0
 thats cool
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