First Look: Jamis' New 3VO Suspension - Sea Otter 2018
The 160-millimeter-travel Hardline
Jamis launched two new suspension bikes here in Monterey. The 27.5-inch-wheel Hardline and its 29-inch-wheel sister ship, the Portal, showcase an interesting new rear suspension system designed by Speedgoat's Chris Currie. It's called 3VO - a short-link, four bar suspension that is configured to create an instant center near the top of the chainring, which remains in alignment with the chain as the suspension compresses. That trick, says Jamis, creates a pedal-friendly rear suspension that is, "...able to combine the efficiency of a hardtail with the proper support of precisely controlled active suspension."
3VO suspension is a short-link, four-bar system, but its instant center migrates behind the bottom bracket centerline. Conventional "virtual pivot" suspensions remain at or well forward of the BB.
Jamis admits that those words are well worn, but they do a decent job of describing the primary reason that the longstanding brand from New Jersey dropped its more conventional single-pivot swingarm suspension like a hot potato to adopt a little known linkage design from an outside source. Reportedly, when Currie brought 3VO demonstration prototypes to Jamis, it only took one ride to sell them on the concept. The result was two aluminum-framed all-mountain trail bikes, a 130-millimeter-travel 29er, and a 160-millimeter-travel 27.5-inch wheel version.
The 130-millimeter-travel Portal translates the benefits of 3VO suspension to 29-inch wheels.
Jamis isn't the only brand that has been impressed by Currie's patented design. A number of potential suitors have been whispering about the firm pedaling action and responsiveness of his patented design for well over a year, and Currie's prototypes have been the subject of a few first rides in the media as well.
Jamis was all in with their 3VO project - to the degree that they chose a small, high-end manufacturer that caters to a hand-picked group of the world's most prestigious brands. The construction is absolutely top notch and, while Jamis is not on the vanguard of current geometry, the numbers are solid: the 27.5-inch wheel Hardline sports a 74-degree seat angle, a 65.5-degree head angle, and short, 16.9-inch chainstays. The reach is 439mm (17.3") for a medium size bike, and there is room for tires up to 2.6 inches and one down tube water bottle. Portal 29ers have slightly steeper 67.5-degree head tube angles and 74.5 seat tube angles.
The close proximity of the swingarm led Jamis to engineer a dedicated top guide.
Vertical shock mount allows room for a down tube water bottle.
All the details add up to a very promising bike, so you can bet Pinkbike will be riding one soon. Keep an eye out later this summer when production bikes start rolling out. in the meantime, you can find more information here.
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Also since when has a frame breaking stopped a company from greatness? Sup yeti.
In short, does it become harder or easier to compress the shock a given amount as you go through the travel. In this case, it becomes easier since the linkage design increases the leverage that the rear wheel has over the shock starting about halfway through the travel, and for the last 20mm or so, it has more leverage than the start and thus an easier time compressing the shock.
Unless you use a shock with a low volume air chamber or stuff a regular shock full of volume spacers, you're gonna slam right though the travel and bottom it out hard if you ride it with any degree of aggression.
Yeah, but who's on first?
Anyway, interesting bike. Kinda like that homegrown cf bike that dude in Idaho made. DW-ish but with the lower link in front of the down tube. Lotsa links tho.
Jamis will you be at Outerbike Moab this fall per chance? Would love to give the 130mm 29er a spin?
And was the third link to control the leverage curve really necessary? There's no award for the most links.
I disagree that four bar suspension is useless with 1x but I do understand his point. 1x makes suspension design way easier
My wife rides a Juliana Juno - she never bothers to put on pedaling platform in her shock. Years ago, around the time she got that bike, I test rode a Bantam (it's Santa Cruz equivalent) back to back with a Solo/5010 (same basic bike, but with VPP instead of the single-pivot on the Bantam). Yes, the VPP was a little more efficient - but honestly, had I decided to buy a Santa Cruz trailbike at that time, I would have gone Bantam. It was smoother, better behaved on the descents, and the small efficiency gain wasn't worth it considering the higher price.
Totaly agree. Don't see the point of such a complicated linkage to end with a regressive curve, even slightly...
From the IC position it's not very tricky to infer that the AS will be huge and increasing with travel, so will be pedal-kickback...
Checking curves of recent bikes with linkage software, I see a growing number of "enduro" bikes design with high AS/PK and linear or weakly progressive ratio curve... I wonder if such curves are designed to attenuate the effect of PK on suspension action ?
www.mtbr.com/product/bikes/allmtn-full-suspension/jamis/dakar-xlt.html
This thing looks rad.
Delivery in December 2018.
I suppose you're new to the mountain bike scene? Or maybe if you're not from North America it could be normal... But Jamis were already in Mountain Bike Action and every others magazines available 30 years ago!
Do you know the eye to eye length and stroke of the rear shock?
Thanks.
#pass
Kathy Pruitt