The Arktos 150F/135R has a Fox 36 Factory Kashima 150mm Boost fork with a Grip 2 damper and a Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima EVOL rear shock.
Alchemy Bikes's new carbon Arktos is designed to allow for three travel configurations and two wheel sizes (29” and mixed-wheel 29”/27.5” compatibility) all with one frame. That means you can purchase the Arktos with a 120mm, a 135mm or a 150mm rear end paired with a 130mm, a 150mm or a 170mm fork. The shortest travel version only comes in a 29er option, but you can get a mullet version of the longer travel 135mm or the 150mm bike.
There are five wheel and travel configurations in total and Alchemy Bikes founder, Ryan Cannizzaro said that this bike, which has been in development for over 2 years, "Is truly one of the most versatile mountain bikes ever produced.”
There are five wheel and travel configurations in total and Alchemy Bikes founder, Ryan Cannizzaro said that this bike, which has been in development for over 2 years, "Is truly one of the most versatile mountain bikes ever produced.”
Alchemy Arktos Details
• Wheel size: 29 and mixed-wheel 29/27.5 compatibility
• Travel: 120/130, 135/150, 150/170
• Sine Full-Suspension System
• Carbon frame
• Dual water bottle mount
• 63.5 to 66-degree head tube angle
• 75.5 to 78-degree seat tube angle
• 437mm chainstays
• MSRP: $5,499 - $6,899 USD
• alchemybicycles.com
• Wheel size: 29 and mixed-wheel 29/27.5 compatibility
• Travel: 120/130, 135/150, 150/170
• Sine Full-Suspension System
• Carbon frame
• Dual water bottle mount
• 63.5 to 66-degree head tube angle
• 75.5 to 78-degree seat tube angle
• 437mm chainstays
• MSRP: $5,499 - $6,899 USD
• alchemybicycles.com
To achieve the different travels using the same frame, Alchemy switches the shock and uses a shock extender. The 120mm travel Arktos uses a 210x50 shock with long extender, the 135mm travel Arktos uses a 210x55 shock with long extender, and the 150mm travel uses a 230x60 shock with a short extender. The mixed wheel bikes can only be used in the 135 and 150 rear travel specs with a specific main link.
Each configuration comes in three colour options and three spec choices, with GX Eagle 12 Speed, XT 12 Speed, or X01 Eagle 12 Speed build kits. The Arktos 29 130F/120R comes with a Fox 34 29 Factory Kashima fork and a Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima rear shock, the Arktos 29 170F/150R, comes with a Fox 38 Factory Kashima fork and Fox X2 Factory Kashima rear shock, and the Arktos 29/27.5 150F/135R comes with a Fox 36 29 Factory Kashima fork and a Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima rear shock.
Prices range from $5,499 USD to $6,899 USD. Whether you've got the short travel 29er version with a 66-degree head tube angle and a 78-degree seat tube angle, or the longer travel version with a mullet configuration, 63.5 degree head tube angle and a 75.75 seat tube angle, you'll have ample hydration with dual water-bottle mounts. The frame includes a lifetime warranty.
Alchemy Bikes is taking pre-orders for the Arktos now, with bikes available in May.
The new Arktos uses Alchemy Bikes' Sine Full-Suspension System.
Alchemy’s Sine Full-Suspension System
The new Arktos features David Earle’s patented dual-linkage suspension platform called “Sine”. The name comes from the shock rate, which resembles a sine wave when graphed. Alchemy says that the design creates suspension that is regressive through the first part of the travel to absorb small bumps and provide climbing traction. It is progressive in the middle to avoid wallowing on big hits or in hard, fast corners, and is regressive again in the last 15 percent of the stroke so the bike can use all of its rear-wheel travel.
 | We have made big improvements to the new Arktos, culminating in what we feel is one of the best riding mountain bikes to date. We are now on our third refinement of our patented Sine Suspension system and the ride-quality for both climbing and descending continues to improve. Alchemy racers Evan Geankoplis and Todd Renwick will be competing on the Arktos in 2021. From professional racers to enthusiasts, we think you’re going to love this ride. |
The Arktos 29 130F/120R comes with a Fox 34 fork and Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima EVOL rear shock.
The Arktos 170F/150R has a Fox 38 Factory Kashima 170mm Boost fork with a Grip 2 damper and a Fox X2 Factory Kashima EVOL rear shock.
Geometry
With three different travel options and two different wheel configurations, the Arktos can be everything from a short-travel 29er to an enduro race bike. The short travel 29er version comes with a 66-degree head tube angle and a 78mm seat tube angle, while the longer travel version with a mullet configuration will have a significantly more aggressive 63.5-degree head tube angle and a 75.75 seat tube angle.
Sitting pretty in the middle, I've got the Goldilocks version of the Arktos 150F/135R in a 29er wheel configuration with XT 12 Speed in for testing. It has a 65-degree head tube angle, a 76 degree seat tube angle and a 1216mm wheelbase.
Ride Impressions
Between a period of cold weather in Squamish that covered the trails in snow and ice and a trip to the Sunshine Coast to test value bikes, I've only had a couple of rides on the Alchemy Arktos 150F/135R but initial impressions are positive in that the Arktos 150F/135R strikes that middle ground of being an efficient climber while still being fun (and not the scary-fun kind of fun) on the descents. It's not an XC bike and it's not an enduro sled, meaning it should suit a wide range of riders off of the race course.
Climbing, there's little to complain about. The bike holds its line well through rough sections, and while it might not feel like a speedy XC race rocket ship, it's light and efficient enough that I'd feel comfortable taking on all-day missions. On the descents, the bike feels like it has some of the traits of the longer-travel enduro sled and carries speed well, while still being maneuverable and being easy to pop into the air.
I'm looking forward to dialling in the Arktos 150F/135R and spending more time with it in the coming months.
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110 Comments
Not that I care... at all. But the point of "copying homework" is a valid one.
Not that there is anything wrong with that - I think these modular offerings are awesome.
Sine and Infinity Link have (or rather had) the same designer, but they are very different in function.
Specifically, the 75.5° seat tube angle makes more sense for the 120 mm configuration and the 78° STA makes sense for the 150 mm configuration. But instead you get the opposite. That makes this feel like a bodge more than a clever design
Also Alchemy makes sick rides so always stoked to see their new rides.
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suspension adjustment via settings on a frame have come into/out of/into fashion as the years go on. whats old is new again. and around we go.
Some people like a very linear rear suspension. But I am not one of those people.
user error?
I've ridden all 3 also and the sb130 accelerated on par w/ a ripmo and way better than a sentinel.
were you death gripping the rear brake lever? it's okay to be scared of pretty bikes.
I've always like Alchemy frames, they're super clean and no fuss designs. Looks like they have the geo pretty dialed too, finally done with super tall seat tubes! I hope they ride well, some love it, some hate. Would like to give it a go.
Agree this is a great looking bike. Hope these more “boutique” brands go this way and deliver adjustable, dialed builds. No point trying to compete with the big dogs on more budget stuff
the problem I have is that current construction techniques lock brands into rigid product cycles since the fixed costs are so high for molds. Alchemy and GG are trying to get around this with the above mentioned techniques (GG is doing it better I think with their oversized head tube inserts), but its still a bucket of comprimises. To build a frame that can accept a 170mm 29er fork requires lots of reinforcement and extra material, something not needed on a 120mm trail bike with a steeper HTA, less rowdy intentions, and the much shorter axle to crown lengths. So your short travel bike now is way overbuilt, heavier, and more importantly stiffer than optimal.
Designs are also less responsive to geometry trends. How many longer travel bikes were locked into 67 degree HTAs for years because the brands had to get their moneys worth of expensive molds?
I think I bought my last carbon frame for these reasons.
Aluminum frames can over use hydroforming, which is just as hard to have a rapid product cycle as carbon molds. I should have said that. Aluminum, titanium, and steel CAN be better at my concerns, but its not always executed that way.
They're good-looking bikes, but they don't seem to have done anything to truly distinguish themselves or set themselves apart from other competitors in the boutique space.
Alchemy: SINE Suspension, which starts regressive is great!
I'm going to go with everyone else on this one.
Their site says that once demand increased, they had to shift production to where everyone else has their bikes produced.
When GG’s demand went up, they expanded production stateside.
Honestly, if GG made road/gravel bikes (under a different name, perhaps) theyd probably put Allied Cycles in a similar spot. When your premium pricing is solely based around Domestic Production, youve gotta hope nobody can beat your prices.
They originally caught my eye as I was under the impression that they were producing here. Sad to find out that they were not. GG is pretty much the only one in that market right now. Even at a slight premium, it is worth it to me as I look for a 140/150 R travel bike.
I like Allied. They are a little higher in price but the quality and the flexibility in customization (like colors) is there.
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