Spot's New Short-Travel Ripper - Sea Otter 2019

Apr 11, 2019
by Mike Levy  
Sea Otter 2019


Spot's new Ryve will be available in two different travel options - either 100mm or 115mm - with the former designed as a full-on cross-country race rocket and the latter being more of a down-country rig. That's the one and only time I'll use that phrase here, but you get the idea: larger rubber, a dropper post, and maybe a 130mm-travel fork if you're into that sort of thing.

Claimed frame weight is just under 5.5lb with a Fox shock, and they'll cost $2,999 USD when they're available this coming May.

Ryve Details

• Intended use: cross-country / trail
• Rear wheel travel: 100mm / 115mm
• Wheel size: 29''
• Living Link leaf spring system
• Frame material: carbon fiber
• Frame weight: under 5.5lb w/ shock
• More info: www.spotbrand.com


Sea Otter 2019
You'll be able to get the Ryve with either 100mm or 115mm of rear wheel travel.


Notice anything strange going on with the back of the Ryve? Just like Spot's other full-suspension bikes, it employs their Living Link system that replaces one end of the bottom rocker with a composite leaf spring that flexes as the bike goes through its travel. The carbon spring is flat and wide so it's said to keep things stiff laterally, and the length and flex characteristics are both tuned for the bike's intentions.

Being a sporty rig that might end up at the races, the Ryve's rear-end is said to put a premium on efficiency. Spot doesn't even want to equip either Ryve model with a remote lockout, but they'll include one if you really want it.


Sea Otter 2019
Sea Otter 2019
The nearly hidden Living Link system is a carbon leaf spring that makes up the rear half of the lower rocker.


The Living Link is attached to the front triangle by way of standard sealed bearings and an aluminum pivot axle, but the other end of the link is where the carbon leaf spring is clamped in place. Without another set of sealed bearings and more pivot hardware, Spot says that it also saves a handful of grams compared to a traditional layout.

The Ryve is slacker than most cross-country bikes out there, with the 100mm version running a 67.8-degree head angle and the longer-travel model getting a 67.1-degree front-end. Reach for a medium sits at 445mm, while the large gets an extra 25mm.

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Sea Otter


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Member since Oct 18, 2005
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78 Comments
  • 86 0
 He said "down-country" again guys!!! Get in here!!!
  • 11 0
 Now I have to have it.
  • 32 1
 If that bike is down country, the stem didn't get the memo.
  • 8 26
flag endurocat (Apr 11, 2019 at 17:19) (Below Threshold)
 The people at Pinkbike came out with this Stupid name , and now they want to make it a new trend.
  • 2 1
 @endurocat:
  • 10 0
 Levy's not even batting an eye when he says it anymore... Remember when he would at least apologize?
  • 6 0
 He used up all his self control in the Norco Revolver review. Look, first sentence!
  • 6 1
 Gravel Upforked - the Real mountain biking. Until CrossDuro.
  • 5 0
 Small mountain
  • 34 1
 Short-travel ripper....

*see translation*

downcountry
  • 25 0
 I know this spot down country. It's a nice place to be. And the journey there is more rewarding... than uphill will ever be.
  • 1 0
 Worker bees can leave Even drones can fly away The queen is their slave
  • 4 0
 Shredding Chicken Lines with pride!
  • 24 0
 Should I say something....
  • 19 2
 This thing looks fun as shit.
  • 10 2
 Having a hard time imagining the fun of playing in some poop
  • 4 0
 @christian-peper21: you're not living your best life
  • 12 0
 Honestly looks great and I’m sure it is. But the damn Forbidden Druid has ruined all other frames for me. At least this season. Hardly matters as I’m still lovin’ my Sight C9.
  • 7 0
 So I just watched the video of the frame breaking ... umm, that was pretty bad, so I’m thinking this bike may be fine for XC riding, but it just lost its downcountry moniker.

Catastrophic frame failure on a two foot ledge, damn, I’d say Spot needs to do some more testing and add a little beef to their frame.

Oddly, I was just thinking about how they managed to get the frame so light ????
  • 8 0
 I’m not excited or hyped for this all, the way they treated and blamed singletrack sampler was really inappropriate, hope they’ve learned their lesson from that ordeal
  • 4 0
 It was a rental bike, so I don't hold it against them (stuff happens). The response after the frame failure pretty much wrote me off as a potential customer. They completely threw mountain bike jesus under the bus.
  • 1 0
 Whrere is this video of the frame breaking?
  • 1 0
 @prj71: It was different model of Spot bike, about a year ago. Just search youtube singletrack sampler spot.
  • 4 2
 The shock was underinflated in that video. Just because a dumb youtube "mountain biker" cracked a frame says nothing about the brand.
  • 2 0
 @Eli29er: not true. The frame broke because of a design flaw in the rocker link, which Spot never admitted publicly.
  • 15 9
 just don't run it with only 2 clicks of LSC or the frame my snap. Actual public comment made by Spot bikes in response to the frame the singletrack sampler broke.
  • 13 7
 Yea let’s all base our opinions on a jerry who has no idea how to ride flat hucks. You can break any frame if you ride like a goon
  • 3 0
 @ccurtis20: the things have quite the history
  • 7 2
 @ccurtis20: full suspension XC race bikes are designed to survive 4ft drops. If their bike wasn't, that's just pathetic. Blaming the rider when it's all on video is just bs. Blaming their own shock tune is down right negligent. Never would I ever buy one of their bikes.
  • 11 0
 @ccurtis20: Have you ever ridden that drop? It's a little awkward and yeah has a flat landing, but it's probably 3' at most. Bikes break that's a fact, I tend to pay as much attention to a companies response as I do to the break itself. When I see this as part of the reason Spot gave for the frame breaking " It also had significantly under-damped compression for that trail and aggressive riding (only two clicks from full open when it should have been at least 6)" I think to myself I don't want a bike where if I adjust the compression 4 clicks before riding Porcupine Rim the manufacturer states I could break the frame.
  • 6 2
 @catweasel: didn’t he “break” that bike....and then kept riding it until complete failure? If I remember correctly, he rode the bike like an f’n idiot....Spots initial response was poor, but ultimately, didn’t they replace the bike, created a fix for all the bikes, and made it available to all owners? After a terrible initial response, it seems they righted the ship.
  • 4 0
 @smartyiak: the initial response reveals their true character as a company. Everything later is lipstick on a pig.
  • 6 0
 @smartyiak: from what I read the way they dealt with the warranty was excellent. It was the personal attacks and nonsense about sag and compression settings that were a real turn off for me. There are so many good bikes on the market these days that I see no reason not to take situations like this into account when shopping for a new ride.
  • 17 11
 www.instagram.com/p/BvUiK8WnWRZ
  • 20 0
 This low BB and slack head tube angle is getting out of control. Wink
  • 4 2
 that pic is almost 2 yrs old
  • 13 7
 Ya let’s shame a hard working company for something that happened when they were getting going. Yeesh. Get stoked on new bikes, not putting other people down on the Spot.
  • 2 0
 @sirsamwellingtonthefirst: how long has spot been around? I feel like it’s longer than a few years
  • 5 1
 @sirsamwellingtonthefirst: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw5QQyJSyso

and many more.....
  • 6 10
flag the-smith FL (Apr 11, 2019 at 18:59) (Below Threshold)
 @rideonjon: You should warn people before they click that your link is to that asshat.
  • 2 1
 @smithcreek: that just makes me want to click the link... But not gonna
  • 8 6
 @stiingya: don’t. I regretted it. It’s single track sampler using click bait to get views. Lame video from lame fake YouTube celeb
  • 5 0
 @speed10: who cares , in don't like the single-track sampler also but if Spot say's "Yeah you did not have had enough sag or rebound dialed i" I must laugh.
No matter what bike it f*cking should not break .
  • 2 1
 @Serpentras: I’m not defending Spot. I’ve never associated the brand with quality. The only thing I remember them being notable for was pushing belt drive early on. But as much as I don’t wanna support Spot, the Single Track Sampler is actually worse imo.
  • 3 0
 @smithcreek: 100% agree
  • 5 0
 My customer service experience at SPOT has always bee fantastic. Thanks for engineering such fun and capable bikes.
  • 4 1
 I have the enduro 27.5 Spot rollik 150/160mm and it's efficient af on the climbs, I can now imagine this 29er!
  • 3 1
 Priced at 2999.00? Nope, that is the frame price from their website. With the basic 4-star kit, it is $4999.00. So no, it is not a $3k bike.
  • 3 0
 I'm going UP the country, baby don't you wanna go?!

With due apologies to Canned Heat.
  • 1 0
 I kinda want that suspension on a more aggro bike, sort of as an alternative to a hardtail. Just enough to take the edge of bigger drops etc. but muay pep for all the other stuff.
  • 3 1
 Down-country? You mean they've invented another genre of bike riding? Sigh.
  • 3 0
 Came here looking for ride report. Get on it...LITERALLY!!!
  • 2 0
 The living link is the real deal. I've been so happy with my spot rolliks. This bike looks like a blast for long rides.
  • 3 0
 Take the silver paint off and that will be gorgeous
  • 3 0
 Well there goes the rebate i didn't get this year....
  • 2 0
 It’s not an E-bike? No gear box? Quick hide it before UCI sanctions it!!
  • 2 0
 Only 2 cables... looks pretty damn clean.
  • 2 0
 Santa Cruz Blur 29 --------> 4.5 lbs for frame Smile
  • 1 0
 I think that bike is the hot newness. But I liked the Norco, too. And the Intense Sniper. So I'm all about the DC.
  • 2 2
 Do we not hate Spot now, or do we hate Spot? I remember they handled a publicized frame crack last year or so really poorly when Single Track Sampler rented one.
  • 3 3
 You mean that dumb "mountain bike" youtuber who setup his bike wrong and they roasted him? Any frame will explode if you set your sag to 69%
  • 2 0
 @Eli29er: again, not true. It broke because of a design flaw. The bike was setup properly; Spot simply claimed the air pressure was too low to cover their ass.
  • 1 0
 I simply cannot wait for UpCountry
  • 2 1
 I'm waiting for Updown
  • 2 0
 It sure smells like Updoc in here.
  • 1 0
 @thesharkman: Updown funk you up
  • 2 0
 I have an Upcountry bike - its a 160mm travel, all carbon bike with no dropper.
  • 1 0
 i'm taking the A-line UPTOWN!
  • 2 0
 love it
  • 1 0
 Looks like a Diamond Back knucklebox.
  • 1 0
 that's gorgeous
  • 3 3
 FFS. As soon as i see 'carbon fibre' i dont even bother reading about it.
  • 2 1
 XC is the new enduro.
  • 1 3
 noooo!!!!
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