LAST Clay Trail Bike

Jan 30, 2017 at 14:12
by LAST-BIKECOMPANY  
LAST Clay 140mm trail bike

"The CLAY is playful and easy to handle. The suspension feels much better than you would expect of a bike with this amount of travel."

This is what Jörg Heydt, co-owner of LAST—a rider owned bike company from Germany—says about his experiences while racing and road tripping with the 140 mm travel Clay prototype all season long.

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The Clay's efficient suspension is thanks to the rocker activated system which relies on a metric shock for damping. The linkage allows the tuning of the force vs the displacement curve, independent of other aspects; for example, the path of the rear axle. Mid travel the suspension is linear with a slight progression, which increases to a profound progression towards the end. The result is great feedback from the terrain, allowing you to use even small features to get airborne and it pushes efficiently through berms.

LAST Clay 140mm trail bike

The Clay geometry is characterized by a slack head angle of 65.2° providing control and safety at the edge of grip. This comes combined with a steep seat angle of 75.3° for a great climbing position. The short 429 mm (16 7/8 inch) chainstay length makes manuals very easy. The top tube lengths are moderate and contribute to making the Clay a very playful ride. All four frame sizes feature very low stand over heights. The seat tube angle varies in each size so that it is efficiently correct at the respective seat post extension for all sizes.

LAST Clay 140mm trail bike



"Our FASTFORWARD Enduro-Hardtail has given proof that Fahrvergnügen or riding pleasure depends on good geometry that matches the wheel size and not just travel. With regard to geometry, frame stiffness, reliability, and durability, we followed a no compromise approach. The 27.5" bike is designed to suit a personal riding style: playful, often off the ground and with pleasure sideways.” Jochen Forstmann founder and co-owner of LAST.

LAST CLAY - brake mount
LAST Bike Clay 140mm trail bike

Hand welded using high strength aluminum alloy grades, the Clay frame fulfills all test criteria to get category four approval. This ASTM category is typically for enduro bikes, while trail bikes are typically category three. Bike park adventures and racing are fine applications for the Clay—as long as the component spec is done so accordingly!

LAST CLAY - disc brake and hub

A full complement of stainless steel sealed bearings made by Enduro Bearings are a guarantee for long service intervals and lots of riding without wrenching. All pivots are made of the highest strength aluminum, featuring insensitive regular threading. They also cover the bearings. The through axle thread in the swing arm includes a replaceable insert—no problem to change it should the threads get damaged by debris when changing the wheel in poor weather conditions. The brake mounts are threaded directly to the dropout. Should they ever become stripped, there is a place for barrel nuts to be placed in the dropouts for easy repair.

LAST Clay 140mm trail bike

LAST CLAY - cockpit
LAST CLAY - cable routing and water bottle mount


LAST CLAY - supports your action



The Clay is available in four different builds that can be configured in detail to match personal preferences for stem length, handle bar rise and terrain. Wheel sets and tires are available in different strengths to match the mode of application, the riding style, and rider weight.

Complete bike specs

LAST CLAY - complete bike spec

LAST is exclusively distributed directly by LAST. Comprehensive and competent advice is available via telephone or visiting LAST in Dortmund, Germany. Come spring time there will be a demo tour covering many German cities with the option to ride the bikes on the local trails.

J rg Heydt - LAST Clay trail bike

J rg Heydt - LAST Clay trail bike

last-bikes.com


MENTIONS: @LAST-BIKECOMPANY





Author Info:
LAST-BIKECOMPANY avatar

Member since Oct 7, 2015
5 articles

77 Comments
  • 190 3
 What!?! They named a whole brand after my race results!
  • 21 0
 HAHA! .. You should contact them for some kind of royalty.
  • 8 1
 I thought the name meant it's the final bike purchase I'll ever make...
  • 6 4
 If you raced on Clay and got Last that would be pretty epic.
  • 2 1
 @a2lowvw: if your last name was clay...
  • 72 1
 I may be the only one who appreciates this, but the frame and component photography is exceptionally well lit. Take note fellow photographers, this is how it's done!
  • 20 1
 Also noticed this. Didnt know a rear brake caliper could look so good
  • 5 0
 The setting is really good too. The way the gray of the gravel pit interacts with the red of the frame really pops, kinda like in Sin City when they'll use color for something important. Meaning the comics, as that conceit works far better there than it did in the movies.
  • 3 2
 Um, it's heavily filtered, you do realize? As in the color channels are isolated so the red really pops. So I don't know if it's as much 'skill' as much as software. I'm not saying the photographer hasn't done a great job, because he has, but lighting is only part of the effect you're getting here
  • 1 1
 @blackthorne: it's still a skill to edit photographs well and get as good looking results though
  • 2 0
 @daweil: maybe we should give @PaulMasukowitzPhotography shit for not doing it in a darkroom with acid like Ansel Adams?
  • 41 4
 1st time I've seen something that mirrors the linkage of a Knolly
  • 26 3
 999th time I've seen something that mirrors the linkage of a single pivot
  • 7 13
flag diego-b (Feb 6, 2017 at 7:01) (Below Threshold)
 Not in the slightest @mayha49
  • 3 1
 @diego-b: I think mayha49 is talking about the linkage redundancy.
  • 4 0
 more like delta displayed like a 4x4, aka evil knolly
  • 11 11
 Yes its looks similar and No its not the same. And definitely YES i'll take this over that pig-ugly knolly, whose frame look like its been pre-crashed into a tree before being sold.
  • 2 0
 love their bikes. the original herb am was/is so versatile. jochen, consider sellin to the us anytime soon?
  • 3 0
 @mayha49 Last has been using their linkage system at least since 2002, if not longer... in a pulling manner with the DH and later in a pushing manner from 2009 or so with their trailbike. I reckon that was before knolly bikes.
Always funny to see those old bikes
fthumb0.mtb-news.de/cache/950/auto/1/1/fstatic3.mtb-news.de/f/hn/ij/hnij5er90xbb/large_Last_Herb_DH_Version_2002.jpg
  • 2 1
 @mazze: Knolly uses a four bar system with an additional link connecting to the rocker arm. This is a single-pivot. Very different and at best only superficially similar looking.

Systems more comparable to this are maybe Focus' new FOLD or that single pivot Dave Weagle made for EVIL.
  • 2 0
 @KrazyKraut: I know. I didn't say at all that there was any technical resemblance o_O
I just argued that they couldn't possibly mirror knollys system, because they had their linkage design first.
  • 7 0
 This frame takes 142 or boost using an adapter. Genius! Definitely looking out for the consumer. Take notice bike industry. Please make products that are compatible with our existing components. Believe Banshee does this also with their interchangeable drop outs. Not sure of any others.
  • 8 0
 Phew, I almost thought they were gonna stop making bikes out of clay. I was gonna say im SOL!
  • 5 1
 Finally, we are starting to see trail bikes with slacker geometry. I don't know why there is such resistance to going slacker- it makes the bikes handle much better with very few downsides.
  • 10 0
 Depends on how you define "better." But, yes, we do need a greater range of bike geometry to be available.
  • 4 3
 I'm of the opinion that geometry should be pretty much the same for DH/Trail/Enduro bikes with the difference being travel and seat angle (Trail/enduro bikes need steep seat angles where as DH not so much). Slack headangles work better and don't wander when going uphill provided you have a long toptube.
DH headngles: 62-63.5º
Trail/Enduro Headangles: 63-65º
And this applies to whatever wheelsize you want to run.
  • 5 2
 @SintraFreeride: Again, you can't just say "slack head angles are better." They're a bit cumbersome on tight, low speed trails.
  • 4 1
 I was cursing the sh&t out of slack head angles yesterday. Grinding up a very steep hill (45'ish-maybe steaper Wink saw me get a bit distracted and the front end of my 64' head angled stanton switchback with 150mm fork came off the ground causing a 180 wheelie into a pile of wet bracken and sheep crap much to the amusment of my mate who I had been ribbing for walking.
Actually, probably more the expander rings fault for allowing the pedling to happen in the first place.
  • 2 0
 @ilovedust: I think a lot of that is due to the fact that slack head angles don't often accompany steep seat tube angles - maybe even a decent chainstay length would help (but could hinder in other areas obviously)

I imagine on your Stanton your saddle position when extended is not far off over the top of the rear axle - not great when you have a super slack head angle and you are climbing - all of your weight is on the back of the bike.
  • 2 0
 @SintraFreeride: nope there are definitely downsides. I don't really care about a slight change in climbing ability. But I notice a big change in the nimble and playful feeling on all trail types when I switch between a 65 bike and one around 66.5/67 My ideal bike is 160 travel but with around that 66.5 angle and a wheelbase well under 1200 in a large. It's becoming harder and harder to find.
  • 2 0
 @ilovedust: It wasn't the slack head angle that caused your wheelie, it was the slack seat angle (71 deg). And your incompetence! ;-)

My hardtail is a Bird Zero AM, which replaced a Cotic Soul. The Soul had a 67 deg HA and 70 deg SA. I first built the Zero up with a -2 deg Works headset and a 130mm fork which gave it a 64.3 deg HA and 75.4 deg SA. The Zero now has a -0.5 deg Angleset, external lower cup and 140mm fork which gives it a 64.9 deg HA and 74.3 deg HA. The best climber was the Zero when it had the slackest head angle because that was also the bike with the steepest seat angle. The worst climber was the Cotic Soul, by far, due to the slack seat angle.
  • 1 0
 @tomlynchwatson: thats exactly my opinion. just slack isnt the right formula for everything.
my norco with 66 and moderate reach 450 is just perfekt. ive ridden 65 with 1230 for a year. for our trails its just overkill... but sure the industry tells us what we have to ride.
  • 2 0
 @skelldify: The reason I say they are better is they make folding the front end way harder thus allowing you to corner better. Over the bars become almost impossible if coupled with long reach. For tight low speed trails downhill you just have to be a tad more aggressive and if it's uphill I see no problem. I have been riding a Pole Evolink176 for over 6 months and have yet to find a trail I can't ride or have difficulty riding. I have a wheelbase of 1340mm reach of 520mm, headangle of 63º and 460mm chainstays.
  • 2 0
 @ilovedust: I have to agree with Racer951 slack headangles without a steep seatangle and long toptube makes the bike handle like crap on the uphills. My previous bike a Specialized status was crap going uphill compared to my Pole.
  • 2 0
 @tomlynchwatson: hey if it works for you stick with it. Remember you can always buy a small frame and run a angleset in reverse to get the geo you want. I personally like a bike I ride everywhere with having to ride off the back when going downhill or that wheelies when going uphill or that folds the front end because the headangle is steep.
  • 1 0
 Finally seeing slacker geo? The Last Herb AM had 140mm travel and a 65.8 deg HA in 2010. Last have been getting the head angles right for years.
  • 6 0
 This is the LAST bike you should buy. On a serious note - that color is frikin incredible.
  • 3 0
 So happy to see our very own Jörg and Last getting the top spot on pinkbike! Well deserved.

Guys, this brand is all about passionate people who ride what they build. Jörg who could be anyone's father here is the happiest guy on a bike I know. A true bike-bump if i could say Smile
  • 8 3
 Linkage looking similar to Knolly
  • 7 1
 it kinda does, but in reality they are not really similar at all. This bike is a single pivot whereas the Knolly lineup is not.
  • 1 4
 @shredteds: knollys are all single pivot.
  • 4 0
 @pinkdog321: Knollys are as far from single-pivot as can be - they're four bar designs with an additional linkage to drive the shock.
  • 5 0
 I picture of the lower main pivot would be nice
  • 2 0
 Man - that bike is an attractive proposition.....however I gotta say, that promo vid did absolutely nothing for me. I would love to see how the bike performs over roots, rock gardens, braking bumps, natural features, e.t.c.
  • 4 0
 Goodlooking Bike. Suspension kinematics are superb!
  • 4 0
 Too bad it's not spec'd with First Components
  • 2 0
 Bold distribution strategy. Think I'm going to hold out for a bike that is only produced, sold, and serviced in the Maldives.
  • 1 0
 Jeee can´t get it why people compare the the LAST to a Knolly... Totally different linkage design but yes obviously they share something! I would put my money on: 2 wheels Wink
  • 1 0
 if you remove the rearshock and combine the front and rear triangle, maybe it will turn into merida big trail.. but such a good looking bike..
  • 1 0
 A couple of years ago I owned the Last herb dh bike, what a blast! Just a no nonsense great bike with super plush rear suspension. Really curious how this bike rides Smile
  • 2 0
 Availability in the U.S. or do i have to fly over the pond to ride or get my hands of one of these awesome bikes?
  • 2 1
 Worst Brand name in a bike industry...Now I understand why Canyon renamed Nerve to Neuron...But thesis bike looks sick...I can imagine AL raw version...
  • 3 0
 I wish i could clay my hands on one.
  • 2 0
 Beautiful, solid specs, proper pricing and good promotion (photography). I guess this is how it's done.
  • 3 0
 From what I've heard, these bikes are built to LAST.
  • 2 0
 That Illuminati Inspired Rear Triangle is Sexy!
  • 2 0
 Big fan of the semi-translucent paint jobs!
  • 2 0
 The look reminds me of the old Iron horse bikes.
  • 1 0
 Reminds me of my Trance which makes me think this bike would be a blast to ride. Looks sick, no doubt.
  • 3 0
 Except it's a single pivot, so the suspension characteristics would be quite different.
  • 1 0
 Trance is floating pivot
  • 1 0
 @xeren: Sigh... the Last is a single pivot.
  • 1 0
 I like the fact they took maintenance and repair into consideration in the design. They deserve a medal for that.
  • 2 0
 Knolly and Giant had a baby.
  • 2 0
 i assume Last in German means something different than in English...
  • 2 0
 beautiful bike nice frame colours and pictures
  • 2 0
 Any idea on the pricing for the tandem version?
  • 1 0
 That's a really slack head angle for only 140mm travel. Slacker isn't always better.
  • 2 1
 Makes me think to a Knolly !!
  • 1 0
 They just don't look great to me. Personal taste though
  • 1 0
 Oh.god I remember the last herb dh bike...so so good
  • 1 0
 That is one pretty machine.
  • 1 0
 Hahaha. Your bike looks like a Knolly! That's terrible!
  • 2 1
 Sunday got robbed!
  • 1 0
 Very pretty indeed.







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