Dan Atherton's Prototype GT Enduro Bike
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The inaugural stop of the Enduro World Series in Punta Ala, Italy, saw the debut of a number of different prototypes as riders worked to figure out what type of machine made the most sense for the event. One of those riders was GT's Dan Atherton, who showed up with a blacked-out prototype that very well might be the replacement for their current Force platform. Aside from the quote below, GT declined to comment on the new bike, but it is a safe bet to say that the 650B-wheeled rig is sporting 150 - 160mm of travel, and that it uses a revised version of GT's Independent Drivetrain suspension design that is also being tested on their prototype Fury DH bike.
 | Dan has been working on a new enduro bike for a while now, and while the bike is still in the prototype stages, the decision was made to use the Enduro World Series, and many other races, to maximize feedback for development. We want to take advantage of all the different types of terrain that enduro riders experience, and will have Dan ride the prototype throughout the season to develop the perfect enduro bike. - Bill Rudell, GT PR Manager |
Evolved Independent Drivetrain
GT has long been known for their I-Drive suspension layout, referred to as 'Independent Drivetrain' on more recent models. This suspension configuration has been designed to allow for a relatively high main pivot without the drawbacks that are usually associated with it. That high pivot does well to allow the bike to swallow up hard, direct impacts thanks to the rearward axle path that it affords, but it is the bike's floating bottom bracket that lets such a design work without the massive chain growth (think tugging on the chain as the bike goes through its travel) that would usually be associated with such a layout. GT's current Independent Drivetrain does this by allowing the bottom bracket to move roughly in the same plane as the rear axle by locating it on a separate element that pivots off of the swingarm while being attached to the front triangle by a short link, essentially creating a four-bar linkage design. GT's approach has been around for awhile in two different executions, both having seen success on the race circuit and in the hands of everyday riders, and we believe we're seeing the third iteration on Dan's prototype enduro race bike pictured here.
GT has long been known for their I-Drive suspension layout, referred to as 'Independent Drivetrain' on more recent models. This suspension configuration has been designed to allow for a relatively high main pivot without the drawbacks that are usually associated with it. That high pivot does well to allow the bike to swallow up hard, direct impacts thanks to the rearward axle path that it affords, but it is the bike's floating bottom bracket that lets such a design work without the massive chain growth (think tugging on the chain as the bike goes through its travel) that would usually be associated with such a layout. GT's current Independent Drivetrain does this by allowing the bottom bracket to move roughly in the same plane as the rear axle by locating it on a separate element that pivots off of the swingarm while being attached to the front triangle by a short link, essentially creating a four-bar linkage design. GT's approach has been around for awhile in two different executions, both having seen success on the race circuit and in the hands of everyday riders, and we believe we're seeing the third iteration on Dan's prototype enduro race bike pictured here.
So, how is Dan's race bike different from the 150mm travel production GT Force that his teammate, Martin Maes, rode to a fourth place finish, one higher than Atherton himself? While it does seem to employ an evolved version of GT's Independent Drivetrain, the black bike is an entirely new beast from the ground up. The bike, which has to be said looks much cleaner than the current Force platform, appears to employ a slightly lower main pivot that is roughly inline with the top of Dan's chain ring (likely either a 34 or 36 tooth ring), and a much more compact version of their Independent Drivetrain system, likely possible thanks to the reduced chain growth from the revised main pivot. The bottom bracket still ''floats'' on a separate forged element, but the connecting link looks to have shrunk from the approximately 4'' long unit used on the Force to a smaller 1'' long piece. The main pivot now uses a captive arrangement, with the swingarm rotating between two spars that extend out from the down tube.
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Construction Details
Although GT says that the aluminum frame is still in the prototype stage, it does sport some very clean details - hydroformed tube sections and shapely looking shock mounts - that have us believing that the production version won't stray much from what is shown here. And while you'd be hard pressed to find a rider who is a fan of the appearance of the current production Force, Dan's bike is a definite improvement visually. The cleaner suspension layout goes a long way towards that cause, and the bike also forgoes the interchangeable rear dropouts found on the current Force, likely for standard 12x142mm dropouts. Although out of view behind his XTR cranks and chain ring, a set of ISCG-05 chain guide tabs hold the bike's Shimano chain guide in place, and it is very likely that the production model will employ a direct mount front derailleur setup rather than the clamp-style found on the present Force. The bike uses a much shorter interrupted seat tube as well, although that won't present the problem it would have in the past given that the large majority of riders would be using a dropper seat post on this bike.
Although GT says that the aluminum frame is still in the prototype stage, it does sport some very clean details - hydroformed tube sections and shapely looking shock mounts - that have us believing that the production version won't stray much from what is shown here. And while you'd be hard pressed to find a rider who is a fan of the appearance of the current production Force, Dan's bike is a definite improvement visually. The cleaner suspension layout goes a long way towards that cause, and the bike also forgoes the interchangeable rear dropouts found on the current Force, likely for standard 12x142mm dropouts. Although out of view behind his XTR cranks and chain ring, a set of ISCG-05 chain guide tabs hold the bike's Shimano chain guide in place, and it is very likely that the production model will employ a direct mount front derailleur setup rather than the clamp-style found on the present Force. The bike uses a much shorter interrupted seat tube as well, although that won't present the problem it would have in the past given that the large majority of riders would be using a dropper seat post on this bike.
With a relatively tall bottom bracket height and steepish head angle that required GT to spec Cane Creek's AngleSet from the factory to correct, we took the current production Force to task a bit in our review for its dated angles. You can bet that GT didn't make that mistake with the new bike, though, and it is plain to see from the photos here that it is both slacker and lower. With the proven pedalling capabilities of their Independent Drivetrain, and updated geometry that suits today's aggressive riders, the new bike should be quite a step forward from the current Force.
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www.gtbicycles.com
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Save the bitchin till she's ready for it...
Similer design LOL
Who knows though.....looks aren't everything. Maybe it rides like a dream?!!
Rinse Everyone!
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6338248
...and that is one shiny turd.
IT WON'T LOOK LIKE THAT WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE IT!
ARE YOU ALL 12?
There, fixed that for you . Oh and it may not look exactly like that but I will bear more than a passing resemblance I imagine...
If Enduro needs highly specialized bikes, then it will no longer be 'races for the masses'. Sure, you can race XC or DH on a Stumpy, Trance, Blur etc, but you won't do as well as you would on the appropriate specialist bike. Now it seems you won't be able to race your Stumpy, Trance, Blur etc for Enduro as well.
At that point Enduro will no longer be about racing, but an exercise in marketing yet another bicycle type. Which I think is a bit of a shame.
If an athlete like Dan Atherton has to walk up a hill, it's not exactly 'everyday' riding, is it?
The design works, as is documented by hundreds of reviews, and dozens of pro riders testament. The flaws were always durability of the parts that the design encompasses, but looks like they are straining to reduce those risks and as someone who has *experience* on an I-drive system, I look forward to trying out the changes... not just bantering blindfolded on the internet stating a proven design is crap without a gram of evidence to support a stupid claim. I'm the furthest from a fanboy, but I do know what substantiated evidence means.
And as stated befor the addition of the EXTRA hardware of the system does NOT increase performance. And I stand by my ( and others ) statement that maybe less than 5% of the DH community will notice/feel ANY riding difference at all,much less a gain in pedaling performance. No one said the system doesn't "work" we are saying its not working to make a gain of any kind. If the system did this we would have seen the marketplace scrambling to duplicate it in various ways.
However I am not going to whine that there was such thing as I-drive, because I take "looks like a Session" into deeper consideration - because more and more bikes start to fkng look more and more the same and in 5 years we might end up with 10 bikes from 10 different companies that DO look like a session. If someone is fine with Trek, Norco, Ghost, Canyon and thinks it is alright because the devil sits in details and geometry blah blah blah, then take a zoom out, because you are a fkn nerd and the outer world does not think too much of your considerations. If a random person stopped on the street can't tell a bigger difference other than colour, then something is obviously wrong here.
So I give my thumbs up for diversity - having said that I am nowhere close to buy a GT bike, be it with VPeePee, DW-ink, Horst link or Active Blaise Point - I give my blessing to those who do
But with the pivot close to the chain line, what's the point of the linkage? It would have a slight bit of beneficial anti squat without it. And looks like a lot of rising rats for an air shock.
Axle path is only rearward in the first 1/2 of travel, hardly much issue for pedal kick back. On larger hits the chain would be getting shorter past half way through travel.
I suspect/hope there's more to what's going on with the I-Drive. Hopefully not deliberate chain growth like the forward moving BB bike Voulios helped design.
Sorry boys, The Spec. Enduro and Norco Range are already on shop floors and ride 100X better then any "Idrive" bike ever has, revised or not. But hey, it's a cool look at the new Fox Shock.
As for the looks, could have been modeled after a pile of dog shit and looked better, that being said, they may have just mocked it together
for the sake of testing new linkages/geo ect. That said, no reason for it to look that shitty.
JMHO
Let's say your a racer. And you have a choice of two frames to which you can have ANY build option you want. The frame choices are the GT and
the new Corsair Konig 7-8. (If not acquainted with the latter,look it up) you can't get too much closer than those. Which one do you race? Remember we're
talking about racing, NOT casual weekend touring.
.......and go!!
No like
Interesting how the new gt bikes are due out next month(with this new linkage) but dans proto hasnt made it to carbon mold yet.
So next month, gt markets new bikes(650b) while gt will still be working on the redesign(enduro spec)?
Sadly, all bikes cant look like the new kona op, or evil undead..
Gt was slow to go to tapered ht and lower/slacker geo.
I own a 2010 force c., and its been great (after offset shock bushing install) for me...but I am shoppn for new.
Em... WHAT?!? As an engineer (still a student though), this makes me break out in spots. Freaking marketing guys that are completely clueless...
But it looks like an old supermarket bike...!!!! and you have to agree that part of the thing about riding is looking at your bike and want to take it for a ride!
Must be nice to always have shiny new chains, huh?!
But like every one says:"It's not the bike,it's rider": In case of Dan-enough sayin'!
( And even it's ugly,the technology is great)
Not enough marketing hype and acronyms for ya ?
I'd have one..
lp1.pinkbike.org/p4pb5679387/p4pb5679387.jpg