Morpheus Loki - Review
REVIEWED
Morpheus Loki
WORDS Jordan Carr
PHOTOS Colin Meagher
Morpheus may be a smaller company compared to some of the more well known names out there, but they're betting that their philosophy of assembling durable aluminum frames and offering them at competitive prices will have them standing out in the crowd. And while they might have more of a following in the dirt jump and slope worlds, their new 27.5" wheeled, 116 - 126mm travel Loki could be the bike that introduces trail riders to the New York company. They aren't about to forget those roots by offering a mega-light trail bike frame that won't last long under an aggressive rider, though, saying that they "have not and will not release any model unless a single frame lasts at least an entire season on the world tour in the hands of our factory riders." Complete builds are available at either $4,125 o $5,688 USD, and a frame and FOX RP23 shock can be had for $1,795 USD. Color options include orange, blue, black and red, and all are anodized with laser etched graphics and carbon fiber rocker arms.
Morpheus Loki Details
• Purpose: trail / all-mountain
• Rear wheel travel: 116 - 126mm
• Wheel size: 27.5''
• Hydroformed 7005 aluminum tubing
• Carbon fiber rocker arms
• ISCG 05 chain guide tabs
• Weight: 30.3lb (large, w/o pedals)
• Sizes: medium, large (tested)
• MSRP: $1,795 USD (frame w/ FOX RP23)
Frame Details
The Loki's construction consists of a hand welded frame that uses boxy 7005 aluminum tubing, and additional gussets have been added to high stress areas despite the tubing already being extensively hydroformed. In contrast to the frame's otherwise completely aluminum make-up, Morpheus has gone with carbon fiber for the rocker arms. Morpheus says that their manufacturing process not only results in an ultra-durable frame, but they also claim to have a historical failure rate of only .02%, which is significantly lower than their cited industry standard of between 3-5%. No, we can't confirm those numbers as failure rates are not only a closely guarded secret within most companies, but
they can also be interpreted a number of ways. Regardless, it is interesting that Morpheus would reference them, and it makes it clear that they have a lot of confidence in their design. The bike's cable routing isn't as invisible as with some of the competition, but it's also easily accessible while being out of the way underneath the top tube. A traditional thread-in style 68mm bottom bracket shell allows for endless crank options, while ISCG 05 tabs give riders the ability to easily install a chain guide or bash guard if they should require one. A perch for a direct mount front derailleur can be found on the seat tube, although our single ring setup left it looking a tad out of place on an otherwise clean looking bike. The Loki's construction consists of a hand welded frame that uses boxy 7005 aluminum tubing, and additional gussets have been added to high stress areas despite the tubing already being extensively hydroformed. In contrast to the frame's otherwise completely aluminum make-up, Morpheus has gone with carbon fiber for the rocker arms. Morpheus says that their manufacturing process not only results in an ultra-durable frame, but they also claim to have a historical failure rate of only .02%, which is significantly lower than their cited industry standard of between 3-5%. No, we can't confirm those numbers as failure rates are not only a closely guarded secret within most companies, but
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 (clockwise) Often a flexy point on rocker link frames, Morpheus opted for a carbon rocker arm with foam core infusion to transfer the leverage from the rear wheel's motion into the custom tuned Fox RP23. At the junctions, the main pivot uses a twin needle bearing while custom IGUS self-lubricating bushings provide movement at the other pivots. |
The bike's main pivot sits just above the bottom bracket shell, and it uses a sturdy looking captive design that sees the chain stay pivot sandwiched in the one-piece bottom bracket and pivot unit. The whole thing looks burly enough to be used on a motorbike, and it's finished off with flush pivot hardware for a clean appearance. Hidden out of sight within the main pivot is a twin needle bearing system, and a grease port has been added to keep it turning smoothly over time. Custom IGUS self-lubricating bushings are employed at the other pivot locations, which also see grease fittings used. Up front, a straight 1.5" head tube has been used to allow for maximum angle options via an angle adjusting headset, and you'll find a 12 x 135mm thru axle at the other end that requires a hex key to remove.
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| A clean and uncluttered midsection is something we really liked about the Loki. Its sleek lines and stout tubing mates well with its anodized frame coloring and laser etched logos. Three shock position options allow for a small amount of travel adjustability, 116mm, 120mm, and 126mm. |
Suspension Design
The Loki employs a relatively simple single pivot and rocker arm layout, with the rider able to choose between 116, 120, and 125mm of travel via three different lower shock mounting positions. Those numbers may seem awfully close to one another, but that fact does mean that you aren't making drastic changes to the bike's leverage ratio when moving between the different travel settings, and only minor air pressure alterations should be required. While the Loki's front and rear triangles are made out of aluminum, Morpheus has used carbon fiber to construct the rocker arms, a move that they say saves more than 150 grams compared to the older CNC'd version of the arms.
Aboard
the Loki
the Loki
 | The Loki's compact feeling cockpit makes for a playful attitude, but Morpheus has also managed to create a bike that feels surprisingly stable at high speeds. |
Climbing / Fit
An all-out climbing machine the Loki is not. There are a few reasons for this, but the bike's tight feeling front center length stands out to us due to the relatively cramped position that it put us in, despite our test bike being a size large. The answer is obviously to run a longer stem than the 50mm unit our Loki came fitted with, although this compromises that bike's excellent descending abilities and fun loving nature that we'll talk more about below. The end result was a more upright riding position than isn't ideal for seriously long climbs, although it took rides lasting over the two hour mark before we found ourselves voicing any complaints.
The Loki is not going to be a Strava assassin on the ascents, but it should be noted that clearly isn't Morpheus' intentions with the bike. If you have no idea what Strava is, or if you don't have the slightest interest in timing yourself on the climbs, then that fact shouldn't matter to you. We found ourselves being happiest when pedalling up moderately technical sections and singletrack that kept us on our toes, and the bike compared favourably to the competition in these type of settings. It's when things got slower and more technical that we had the distinct feeling that the blue machine was a bit unwieldy, and it seemed to make us square up a bit more than expected on tighter switchbacks in order to clean any sort of clutch corner. It wasn't as if we didn't clean anything that we made on other test bikes, but just that the Loki seemed to ask us to take a different approach. The bike's active suspension was best tamed by reaching down for the RP23's CTD lever, and we spent most of our time on smoother climbs with it flipped to the firmest 'Climb' setting.
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| Though not the bike's strong suit, the Loki will get you to the top of anything, all while you're dreaming about the ripping descent that inevitably follows. |
If it sounds like we're painting a negative picture of the Loki's ascending abilities, take a second to remember that Morpheus didn't set out to design an all-out climbing machine. No, this is a bike for the rider who simply wants to get to the top of the mountain in order to make the most of the descent. Ride it with that in mind and you won't be disappointed in the slightest, not to mention that you'll have a hell of a good time when you drop the saddle and let it rip on the way back down.
Descending / Technical Terrain
Any of the complaints about the Loki's climbing were forgotten a few seconds after we pointed the bike down the trail, and Morpheus' desire to create a nimble and fun loving machine were clear as day. The compact cockpit gives the bike a very BMX-esque personality, and it didn't take long before we found ourselves playing around with a huge grin on our face as if it was our first day on a bike in ages. Somewhat contradictorily, the Loki also displayed some impressive stability on ledgy, rough ground that upsets bikes of similar travel, something that is surely helped by rear suspension that feels more forgiving than its advertised travel would have you believe. The Loki's all around abilities on the descents means that it's a bike that can be fun on pretty much any trail that finishes lower than started, and that is especially true when the speeds pick up - there aren't many bikes of the same travel that can hold a candle to the Loki in big-boy terrain.
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| The Loki loved popping off and jumping man-made features on flow trails, and we were happy to oblige. |
The Loki loses some of its luster when the speeds drop, and we sometimes found ourselves feeling like our weight was a touch too far forward on steep sections, something that can likely be put down to the compact cockpit. It also doesn't pretend to be the most maneuverable of bikes when you're at a near standstill and need to change direction or put some air between the ground and your tires, although the tradeoff of high-speed stability was a welcome compromise. The bike's head angle felt spot on so long as you kept moving at a decent click, and the 150mm travel FOX 34 Float did a great job of levelling anything we pointed it at.
While we've certainly talked up the Loki's surprising performance on fast, rough terrain, it is on the smoother, man-made lines that the bike makes you feel like a competitive slopestyle rider. Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but it is a bike that can be pumped like mad, take flight off of the smallest of lips, and boost like you never thought you could. Get after it on your local jump line to see what this bike is all about.
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| Steep, technical lines were feasible on the Loki, although we often times found our weight a little further forward than we would have preferred due to the bike's tight cockpit. |
Component Check
• Spank Subrosa rims/ True Precision hubs: A nice wheel build featuring the 30mm wide (outer) Subrosa rims and quick engaging True Precision hubs, and we didn't have a single issue with the combo. The rims' inner width of 24.5mm offered a great platform for the 2.3" Maxxis Ardent tires as well. Overall, a great wheelset for the Loki's intended purpose as a thrasher's trail bike.
• Formula RX brakes: We had some initial issues bedding in the pads on the Formulas, but they eventually came to life for us. And although we find them to offer substantial power and modulation, their lever shape is something we still have a hard time getting used to. Riders who have come to appreciate the Formula's stoppers will, however, find this a non-issue.
• SRAM X9 Type 2 derailleur: The Type 2's clutch system kept our drivetrain quiet and the chain engaged on the roughest of trails, while the Race Face narrow-wide ring made for a seamless 1 x 10 drivetrain without the need for a chain guide.
• Fox D.O.S.S. seat post: Mating the D.O.S.S. with a one-by drivetrain allows for perfect remote lever placement where you'd otherwise expect to see a shifter, and just like with the other D.O.S.S. posts that we have on our test fleet, it performed flawlessly. No, it's not the lightest, not does it offer infinite adjustment throughout its travel, but it is becoming the most dependable option on the market when talking dropper posts.
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| (clockwise) A simple 1 x 10 drivetrain is made possible by combining a Race Face narrow-wide chain ring with a SRAM X9 Type-2 rear derailleur. Though a direct mount front derailleur is easily installed on the Loki, we found the simplicity of the single ring setup worked best for the bike's intentions, as well as allowing for proper FOX D.O.S.S. remote placement. |
Pinkbike's take:
| The Loki is a rather unique bike that offers up some very specific strengths that not many machines with similar travel numbers can brag about. Does it qualify as one of those elusive quiver killers that we often talk about? As always, that depends on what you're looking for, but if that includes putting more of an emphasis on fun than crushing climbs, it could be the bike for you. On the other hand, it wouldn't be the first bike that we'd reach for if we were heading out for any ride of serious distance or massive elevation gains, so keep that in mind if you're considering the Loki. - Jordan Carr |
www.morpheusbikes.com
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I do like the bike for what it is: a trail bike for people that tend to break bikes.
Quite an apt name given the current AM bike market.
"have not and will not release any model unless a single frame lasts at least an entire season on the world tour in the hands of our factory riders"
That includes the derailleur hanger on the frame. If the piece couldn't survive a season on the world tour... they'd have not used a fixed hanger setup.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_%28physics%29
Basically, if you bent a mech hanger beyond its yield point it would become weaker. Repeated bending will further weaken it - this is more prevalent for aluminum because it often requires heat treating after forming to realign molecules.
Having an alloy bike without a replaceable mech hanger seems like a bad idea.
That rocker is hucking fuge!
I've had to fix a number of hangers (professionally speaking) for customers and pretty much every time it involves a frame with a replaceable hanger, its not just that piece that's screwed up, but the thinner recessed part of the dropout it fits into that's also bent out of shape.
As I said earlier... most every higher end derailleur made now has gone to hollowed out steel or alloy hanger bolts... which make far more sense as a point of planned failure than relying on a hanger bending precisely away.
Take Bianchi as a brand for example, there are twelve different hanger models. Norco has eleven models, GT has fourteen, etc. Good luck on your local dealer having the one you want in stock (many dealers don't stock them for this very reason) when you actually break yours. And there have been brands which used replaceable hangers which no one ever made aftermarket replacements for. Wheels Mfrg doesn't make hangers for Morpheus brand frames for an example of that (or Banshee, or Chromag) so better be close to the LBS you got your bike from when you break your fragile replaceable hanger, or you could be riding a frame with a fixed hanger than can be just bent back.
Wheels Mfrg is up to 217 seperate models now btw.
You keep whittling on about hollows bolts, which are inevitably going to be stuck in your non-replaceable hanger and aren't guaranteed to snap before the hanger bends at the right angle.
"I've had to fix a number of hangers (professionally speaking) for customers and pretty much every time it involves a frame with a replaceable hanger, its not just that piece that's screwed up, but the thinner recessed part of the dropout it fits into that's also bent out of shape."
Usually on very cheap, poorly designed drop outs. Not on expensive frames we are discussing here. Again using a pointless example of something thats been poorly designed but isn't actually an inherent problem with the design idea.
"ok fine you armchair engineers"
Because being a bikeshop mechanic means you know it all? Congratulations you've reached the top level of cycling, the bike shop mechanic. No matter what the topic, you are the expert. Please let me buy you biscuits so can show me how to index my gears you demi-god you.
Replaceable hangers were, a crutch fix to get around designing a proper dropout in the first place on frames that were REALLY expensive to fix (titanium, carbon....twenty years ago). They never should have kept going on frames which are now ridiculously cheap (in comparison). Morpheus has taken the time to design a proper fixed hanger dropout and folks refuse to accept that.
"Yes...and elastic deformation is exactly the same process at work when you bend a derailleur hanger. Invest in the proper hanger alignment tool folks. Don't just ham fist it with an adjustable spanner."
If you have bent it within plastic deformation then you could also bend back a replaceable derailleur hanger so this argument is complete bollocks.
I've re-read your argument and couldn't really find any other REAL facts to quote. You just go on about how important your own opinion is because a.) You have professionally fixed other peoples bikes and b.) You own an aluminium soft tail.
If you are going to explain your side of the argument well then your profession or background should make no difference as you should be arguing with facts and figures not opinions and personal experiences.
Everyone agrees that there should be less 'models' of derailleur hanger and we could easily standardise this part (obviously this would not profit bike companies so probably won't happen.) This is non-argument.
What we are saying is that in the case of complete failure then replaceable hanger is obviously advantageous. Saying you can replace the chain-stay instead seems a bit of a no-brainer, why would anyone want to do that?
This sums you up for me:
"I'm out here in the real world on the other hand knowing different. "
I'm here in the made up world knowing nothing.
My argument for hangers is quite simple: if your rig gets struck by an on trail feature around the area of the rear derailluer I prefer to have to replace a hanger; even when overpriced and to be chosen from hundreds of different designs; than to buy another frame/another derailluer. yes, indeed, it is yet another part but its function is quite simple- it is to brake when struck to avoid any damage to frame/dropout/mech. Why would you complain about the fact that it brakes and you have to buy another one? It is its function. As to above frame- I personally do not like the idea of no hanger on AM frames- that is it. Prove me wrong and I shall change/reconsider my opinion. You Sir (deeight) have failed to do so.
Saying all that I do own a frame with no hanger- but it is steel- different matter, different story. Even on steel I do question the lifespan of the irreplaceable mech hanger when adjusted on numerous occasions...
1 - no replaceable hanger
2 - Igus bushings
They need to differentiate themselves from others. The carbon rocker is cool, but what about stealth/internal seatpost routing? Water-bottle bosses? There is nothing special about this bike.
If you've read the article, youll see that although they are small increments in travel, they make a large difference
Mine isnt the 27.5 frame, but it works more or less the same. They handle dirt jumps along side hardtails, and can rip the park alongside 8" freeride frames.
Going on 2 years strong. Amazing do it all frame. Its taken some real abuse.
www.vitalmtb.com/community/MSTRCHRS,19507/setup,24187?scope=newest&query=loki
Mine was the first in the UK, along with a freinds. www.pinkbike.com/photo/7835576
There are so many really good bikes out now, you have to get the details downs. No replaceable derailleur hanger??? I am having trouble remembering a non-steel ot Ti frame w/o one. I need to check again to see if it has an 1 1/8" straight steerer tube.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10044099
FAIL.
This alert was brought to by the unprofessional internet guy webcast network. Ty
A Santa Cruz Bronson measures at like 404 reach in a size medium, and is thus almost a half inch shorter, but is instead not badly positioned for climbing but equally as "playful".
The numbers and the feedback do not correspond at all in these tests. For example I find 415+ reach necessary for my rides, no matter what type of bike this is almost always consistent- bmx included. And I am only 5'8". Further highlights how useless reviews are to the end user unless something completely fails during testing. And I thought MBA was inconsistent.
edit: don't mean that to be a jerk, I'm seriously asking what other similar bikes you can compare this to because it's entirely possible that, despite their complete disregard for current standards, it does ride well.