WAKi-bikes of the Future: CannonRail Jeronimo 2020

Dec 22, 2014
by Troll Troll  
I ride bicycles in the mountainous, bumpy terrain since 1998, I got my first real bike in 2001, it's the end of 2014 and a lot has changed for good since then, industry made more than a few leaps forward, oh yea. 2008-2012 was a boom in innovation and development that only a few could keep up with, even those with the fattest wallets struggled. But as Mike Levy points out in his article things started to slow down recently and it's hard to see the next big thing. I agree with him that we may not see any technological breakthrough in close future, rather tiny adjustments. As a young grump, snob and aesthetics fetishist I don't like seeing that many bikes looking very similar - for me "Looks like a session" is not only an overused joke but also a symptom of a disease called "uniformity" caused by segmentation and optimization. I don't care about the suspension design details, geeky stuff - I care about what a regular bloke seeing a few bikes next to each other would think, would he understand why there are different brand names on Genius LT and Zesty? Enduro and Capra? What about bikes from same brand? Can you quickly spot the difference looking at a 5010 and a Bronson? Camber and Stumpjumper? But anyhow, I don't like whining without proposing a solid alternative and this is my take on break throughs, how cool could bikes look like in the future. In this article I present you:

2018 Cannon Rail Jeronimo

Cannon Rail Jeronimo 2018

Jeronimo embodies everything that an informed and trend conscious mountain biker might want. Not so long ago we had very capable "all-mountain" bikes, that maybe could not offer confidence inspiring stability at DH speeds, but they could ride everything relatively well, from XC track to DH track. These days, the Enduro World Series has set the bar very high, people race their 6" bikes on tracks that are gnarlier than most World Cup DH courses so to cope with the challenge, the new breed of Enduro bikes must be able to provide similar handling characteristics as a full on DH rig. Jeronimo has all the hottest numbers, that is a super slack head angle, adjustable between 61-63 degrees, the Uber long reach at 450mm for a Medium and efficient 76,5 degree seat angle. Everything is topped out by monstrous wheel base and conservative 436mm chain stays, harmless to a career of any World Cup Champion.

Cannon Rail Jeronimo 2018

I guess the most outstanding feature of the whole bike is the single sided swing arm. Design has been successfully executed by the legendary Alen Millyard but no big company has picked it up yet. Advancements in carbon fiber technology made it possible to create a system that is as stiff as symmetrical designs, yet lighter, shaving dramatic 150g of unsprung mass. However construction was not the only challenge, the design could work only with the use of Gearbox as there would be no way to mount a rear derailleur. The narrow wide rear cog is mounted like disc rotor on the outside of the hub. Chain tension is achieved via roller on clutch equipped rocker arm. On the front, Jeronimo sports the Cannon Rail Hefty fork that I presented in one of previous Waki-leaks installments. Unsprung mass and low stiction at it's best!

Suspension is controlled by a command unit at the top of the top tube, right behind the stem. Accelerometers in the crankset, fork and shock provide the system with all the necessary information how much compression and rebound damping will be needed to effectively ride across the obstacle. A rider can also manually adjust the level of compression and lock the suspension via one of many shifters mounted at the handlebars as well as touch LCD screen in command unit. There will be many presets available, tailored to particular tracks and riding styles. Cannon Rail uses similar features as 2017 Sheman-oh Corsair stem but Cannon Rail is so conscious of trends that it uses 35mm stem and the shortest stem from Sheman-Oh is 70mm which seems a bit old fashioned. Gearing is done by much anticipated Gearbox, controlled via hydraulic cables, just like the first ever, integrated dropper seat post, with internally controlled base height.

The last feature worth mentioning is the upcoming Envic G35 wheel set, using a mix of graphene and composites, which make the wheels not only lighter and stronger than carbon ones, but as compliant as aluminium. Thanks to that no spokes are needed, the wheel is super strong while allowing regular flex. Rims are as wide as 35mm on the outside providing perfect balance between stability, roll over and rolling resistance for tyres between 2.25 and 2.5".

Cannon Rail Jeronimo 2018

As you can see, this bike has so many custom proprietary parts that commenters will have many essays to write about in 2020 when it comes out! Price will surely reach 15000 dollars. Thank you all for reading and for this year. I would like to thank Pinkbike for giving me the opportunity to show my art work and have my share of legitimate trolling. Big thanks to you guys - Pinkbike readers and commenters checking out my articles, I have received a great vibe from you in the comments and messages, they made it a pleasure to create all those wacky ideas.

I wish you all a peaceful and calm Christmas time. Please don't make any New Years resolutions... you'll buy tons of bike stuff anyways, enjoy it.


Arguably yours
Wacek Kipszak Waki

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213 Comments
  • 131 3
 Too much of this will prove prophetic.
  • 25 15
 im not trying to be d*ck, but will someone explain the benefits of the whole 'lefty' idea, is a weight saver? and if so is that weight worth the reduced looks, especially on the frame (my oppinion anyway, not everyone's im sure). sweet artwork anyway, cheers
  • 107 3
 I don't know what's satire anymore, I would buy this bike without hesitation.
  • 8 2
 A lefty reduces unsprung weight and apparently lubricates seals better, make for less stiction. I don't know any of this from experience. Just what I'm told.
  • 40 2
 Good question. The idea of the lefty is similar to a macpherson strut that you find in most sports cars. The rigidity is infact stronger than the convensional bridged Forks you find on the market today as it uses needle rollers inside the stanchion as opposed to the seals used by say Fox. In essence the stanchion is circular but underneath it's square giving more strength, coupled with cannondales dual crown it has gone through tests that make it stronger than most dh forks and lighter than most Am forks . The internals are infact made by RS so there dampers are part of why there so good also. Hope this helps
  • 13 67
flag chappers998 (Dec 22, 2014 at 6:53) (Below Threshold)
 jamesroxby it's marketing bullshit, a way of standing out from the crowd.
  • 9 3
 two points being conflated here: Lefties are single sided for weight savings. the better seal lubrication is from the inverted design. Any inverted fork keeps the seals in better shape.
  • 7 0
 right okay, cheers! good to know there are some significant benefits! @groghunter @bootlegpegasus @taletotell
  • 10 1
 Lefty means only turn right )
  • 6 6
 Another lefty benefit is to offset drivetrain weight to make the bike more balanced, it also reduces overall fork weight therefore reducing unsprung weight for quicker terrain reaction.
  • 7 0
 @jamesroxby @chappers998 This video explains the benefits of a lefty rather well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WlRqcAQr2w
  • 31 30
 Here's a test for the 'merits' of the Lefty fork. Those of you who work in a manufacturing or engineering environment can also implement this test:
Go to a engineer with a good amount of practical experience. Not a 'designer'. A real engineer/technologist/toolmaker/etc. Now explain to him the requirements of the suspension fork (suspension, flex, service life, etc) and have him/her quickly jot down some ideas.

How many came up with a single sided fork? Out of 10 here, nobody did, and in your respective tests, nobody will. Because it's a poor design for the application. The lefty was born out of a design department, and engineered thereafter. Anyone who's been following Cannondale's designs since the 80s, knows full well they design first, engineer after. Single shear pivots have been slowly removed from suspension designs and are rarely used in any modern design. Double shear, or bust. Period.
  • 5 5
 Lol at my stalker. Do you get notifications on your phone when I post something?
  • 7 16
flag king-of-the-mountain (Dec 22, 2014 at 7:54) (Below Threshold)
 am I the only one here that has seemed to notice it has an internal gear box???
  • 15 21
flag L0rdTom (Dec 22, 2014 at 8:07) (Below Threshold)
 Heres another test to see if a lefty is better than a traditional two-legged AM fork: on the Cannondale EWS team, who runs a lefty? Certainly not Jerome Clementz, and essentially not anyone expecting to win. Sure, a couple of their lower placing riders will take the extra cash for agreeing to run the forks for a few races a year and in all the photoshoots, but essentially, if your career is bigger than your current sponsorship deal, you won't run the lefty.
  • 8 7
 The only redeeming feature of a single sided fork or swing arm is ease of access and quicker wheel changes. really handy for 24hr motorcycle endurance racing and The Isle of Man TT when quick wheel changes are needed, Useless IMO on a mountain bike.
Hence Single sided swing arm on the Honda RC 30/45 and it was a design feature on the Ducati 916, double sided swing arms were stronger and lighter hence most other Superbikes using that design and Ducati trailing it and later adopting it on the 999 onwards.
If you want to believe it's better fine knock yourselves out.
  • 4 0
 why did ya decided on the 70s skyways, waki?
  • 10 1
 JC is also sponsored by SRAM, so they could be throwing him money to run the pike. Also if JC cared so much about winning then he never would have run that mavic wheel set. Should be interesting to see him on a proper set of hoops next year
  • 14 4
 atrokz - you are obviously right. But nobody believes in 100% if even 90% of engineering and well there is not a single good designer who has no good sense of engineering. I am more than certain that there is no good engineer who has no good design skills, I see it by our engineers at our architectural office. The best guy is would make a good architect. The only guy you don't want to be creative is stress calculations engineer and the accountant. Aesthetics are extremely important, all cars are bought by aesthetics and status, and the principle is that the great trio has to complement each other, once it goes out of balance, shit happens and that includes engineering. The great trio is: Form, Function and Construction. A perfect example from my own backyard are "energy efficient" buildings. When it was a non issue, the architect had some time in project budget to work on form and aesthetics (aside of 90% of time spent doing space management, engineering work and dealing with municipality), but now that last 10% is taken by designing the building to be Eco-friendly and the result is ugly-ass buildings that all unfortunate neighbors must look at every day and they die inside a bit every time they pass them. Because boredom kills.

Uniformity, functionalism, constructivism are horrible, they kill. Just like pimpage, overexcitement with aesthetics. There are many weird designs for a fork, but Cannondale made it work, not as well as others, but God damn close. The reason Jerome rise a Pike is because he is sponsored by SRAM. Anyone thinking pros chose what they ride basing on reason and engineering factor, not contract terms - raise your hand and think again. Josh Bryceland would ride 200mm Lefty if he got a deal better than SC Shimano.
  • 3 1
 No reason you couldn't engineer a DH capable lefty, either, though it's possible the dimensions required for strength might make it preposterous looking.
  • 6 1
 Shoulda kept this one to yourself @WAKIdesigns . It looks nice.
  • 1 0
 ^^^^^ good sense right there.
  • 11 1
 @groghunter Lefties are dual crown because the bearings inside takes a lot of place (like 3x the travel of the fork). You can't use the actual design to make a DH fork with 200mm travel, it would be too high. (and Waki's single crown lefty would be limited in travel, but who cares, it looks good)

@atrokz : engineers came with a single sided design for airplanes langing gear. And compare a lefty with your actual fork, do you still think the design has actual drawbacks?

@jamesroxby The lefty is stiff, light and don't suffer from bushing strictions. Look and prices are the only drawbacks of the design, IMO.
  • 4 0
 I think in summary what is bikers actually need is stuff that looks good, works and doesn't break. Shit!!!! There is loads of stuff like that!!
  • 1 0
 I'm a stress engineer. And I think I am very creative and a good eye for aesthetics.

But I understand your point that people tend to be experts in their field and trying to work together is the difficult part. See link below...

www.facebook.com/mrbennsamazingadventures/posts/866953193344506
  • 10 1
 @faul the only reason some landing gear is desgined like that, is for space considerations, and the fact that those wheels are massive and the landing gear assemblies are extremely ridged in comparison (I worked on F18 hear). I worked in Aviation for almost a decade, so I'm well aware of this. A better comparison, would be your suspension points on your car. All those arms, are generally double shear. Anything taking a major load, is double shear. It's, unarguably, the stronger way to do it, and allows for reduced weight. If you actually need a list of drawbacks, I recommend going to school and learning about how forces are applied to assemblies and how components wear when lopsided forces are applied.

Also, the Ducati street bike was a single swingarm (only for quick wheel changes), but they went back to double arms, because it's better. Anywhere lots of load is expected, you'll see a double swingarm (MX bikes for instance).
  • 5 7
 So you think your fork is lighter, stiffer and will last more than a lefty? I doubt that.
  • 9 5
 I don't care if you doubt something. You can doubt the basics of physics all you want, but at the end of the day, forces and loads are what determines the truth. In order to make a lefty work, you need to add material, add contrived needle bearings, a complicated axle (in comparison), dedicated hub, and then charge more for it all. Don't forget paying marketing to add bogus claims on their website listing 'benefits' that aren't scientific in nature. Then make people 'manually reset' the needle bearings if they have a pre 2013 design. Brilliant.

There are lighter, stiffer forks in the XC market. I wouldn't compare my 34 to a non comparable Lefty.
  • 3 1
 quick video i found, showing the stiffness benefits -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwmWk23hXuM
  • 1 0
 I always thought cannondales ever evolving bespoke shocks where a way of keeping the entire design in house. I bet they would put their own drive chain on if they thought they could make it work
  • 4 1
 The video is cute and all, but ignores the fact that there's an axle binding the two legs, nowadays with positioning and locking mechanisms. When considering price too (nearly double a comparable RS or Fox), consider a new wheel as well. Not saying I'd throw it out of bed, because the ones I've ridden feel fine, but to answer 'why', it's plain to see it's more perseverance of an idea than anything.

anyone remember when Cannondale tried to make a DH fork?
  • 1 1
 @faul how do you figure? a fox 40 is 571 just to the crown race, so you should have more than enough length for 200mm x3 in a full length double crown.
  • 4 1
 If you add 200mm for a second crown, you have 700mm. the bearings alone takes 500mm. you need a second bushing and a minimum bushing overlap. you allready have more 600mm. Plus 200mm of round tube if you take the latest design. And dropouts, seals, top cap all takes a few mm. So no it's nearly impossible to feet everybody here, if you use bearings

@atrokz, don't forget the stiffness gain of the bearings+square tubes, it takes a lot of loads so in fact, the conventionnal design with round tubes needs more material to be as stiff.
And, if you looks at strictions and guidance, the design of the lefty makes so much a difference compared to round tube, you don't need the other side anymore.
  • 2 1
 hmm, but if you're designing the whole bike, you could build it to have correct geo at 700mm total fork length or a bit more, though you're going to be running into some of the same cockpit problems that 29ers have, especially in smaller sizes. Not completely outlandish, can't seem to find a spec, but those old 300mm travel Monster Ts must have had a massive A2C. Always possible to to tweak the geo & travel to match each other, maybe run it somewhere between 180mm & 200mm, wherever works best for the geo.

Hey, it's an interesting design/engineering exercise if nothing else.
  • 2 0
 Yes you'r right, if you design the bike around you can do it. And if you mount the stem on the lower crown you have no problem. But cannondale does'nt have a DH rig, they find a way to avoid issues with 200mm lefty, they just didn't do it. Cheaters.
  • 1 1
 Hey, they used to, even had Sik Mik riding for them for a while. 220mm of travel on the ol' Judge. Like I said, fun thought experiment, but practicality is probably a problem. It's not like those Karpiels with the Monster T were useful except for a very specific use case, even moreso than "DH Race Bike." You could have fun at Whistler on a modern DH race bike(though it seems like people are opting for something more versatile these days) but that Karpiel would probably be a bit of a chore on any part that slightly approaches flat.
  • 4 1
 Like I said, Cannondale did in fact make a DH fork out of two lefties (several tries as well). Even they wouldn't forego the obvious benefits of two legs for that application ;-)
  • 2 1
 To be fair, those were old school lefties, which richly deserved most of the contempt they were given. the modern ones are a whole different animal.
  • 3 1
 Leftys - IMO pros - lighter and stiffer than equivalent forks - for real negs - wasn't reliable I hear.... that recently they have become more reliable so could be an good option again soon. Great to see diversification in the fork market. Don't spout off about one and try any justify it with 'engineering knowledge' unless you have tried one.. just give one a ride.
  • 4 1
 @ateokz - I don't deny the laws of physics, I am saying that they don't sell anything, what sells stuff is a good story, it does not matter if it is a bike, car, boat or a tank. Engineery although essential is always a subject to end user demands, and sorry but even in case of F35 the 100% reasoning is not there. Feelings, complexes, desires, third party interests are totally willing to compromise technically most sensible solutions for looks and benefits. I think Cannondale does a great job at executing an unusual design.

Every social group needs a damn good freak to justify direction in which it is heading. Love thy enemy is not about sending flowers to Kalashnikov owner.
  • 3 10
flag pinnityafairy (Dec 22, 2014 at 16:56) (Below Threshold)
 ( even those with the fattest wallets struggled) The DUMBEST thing Iv ever read on PB! Move that to the bottom PB. And if you truly believe fat wallets struggled than you need oval chain rings so you are faster.
  • 3 11
flag pinnityafairy (Dec 22, 2014 at 17:05) (Below Threshold)
 Struggling is trying to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. Not missing out on a vacation or not getting a new car.
  • 6 2
 Oh look, the troll was sad that everybody downvoted & hid his obnoxious comment, so now he has to crash our conversation, to make sure his infantile whining is heard, as is the purview of trolls everywhere.
  • 10 0
 @Properp I meant struggle with something - they struggled with keeping up with the progress to buy latest and greatest because things were becoming "not latest" too fast.

I suck at writing but Check out meaning of struggle in the dictionary.
  • 5 3
 @WAKIdesigns Your writing was fine, nobody would be confused except a bitter troll who can't follow context, & instead decided to internalize one word as a personal insult.
  • 3 0
 To everyone slating the lefty, I've seen crabapple hits done on a lefty. That should kill any concerns about its strength.
  • 2 0
 Why not Mongoose Motomags?
  • 1 0
 ^like the way you think
  • 2 0
 I like the huge toe room about 2.5 crank lenghts! Yeeeah!

@WAKI, some performative to you, if you please: could you draw a wheels a bit more rounder ? Smile ))

What alloy mark do you plan to make the frames of ?
I guess you already have some ideas on how to make and weld 7075T6 or 7055T6 custom butted tubes Wink
Or the tubes are supposed to be CNC routed out of the solid piece of alloy block for that $15000 price ? Smile
I do not even admit the using of carbon. It's too banal.
  • 1 0
 Excuse me what is toe room? That actually sounds like a fantastic bullet point for marketing "our design allows for biggest toe room on the market". Yes the wheels are not as round as I'd like them to be - Mea Culpa, Mea maxima Culpa. There's room for improvement... Not sure what you mean with tubes, what kind of hidden sarcasm do you have there... or maybe I do... naaaah you wouldn't...
  • 2 0
 there's a saying in america(bill hicks) about marketing, waki. "if you're in marketing go ahead and kill yourself"
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns
Toe means a finger on the leg as I know.
So I mean the distance from the tip of crank to the tire when the cranks are parallel to the ground.
I really like the bikes with huge distance toe-tire, huge wheelbase and slack angle.
If it would help your marketing - common, use that slogan! Smile ))

8-0 No sarcasm...Just a crazy imagination Smile ))) have fun!
But who knows, may be it's not so crazy already....Wink
  • 1 0
 Fullbug - marketing informs everybody about the existence of the product, raises desire to own one in most people, gives excuse to potential buyer to purchase it, motivates the opinionated naysayers to spread news about it by arguing with those enchanted by it. In short words: it works. Because it triggers all sorts of complexes within us (in naysayers as well) it gives us a chance to learn a lot about ourselves and through self work become more resistant to react on it. If more people used it as a way to figure out their inner world, desires, enotions, mental blocks, world would be a better place Big Grin
  • 1 0
 "it gives us a chance to learn a lot about ourselves and through self work become more resistant to react on it" - THE TRUTH.
Especially on rude stupid comments out of the matter.
  • 3 0
 In Jungian psychology it's ways to react on something, you expressed a opinion and now it't time to resonate on a feeling your gut. You can be 1.flat about it (no probs here, good!) 2. You are passionate about it (something's there, some internal drive that attracts you or repulses you, get into it, if you find what ot is you will be able to consciously use it in the future to motivate yourself and head for the goals that really matter to you 3. You are angry (anger points out that there is something you repressed in your personality, a value, behavior that you don't like, are ashamed of representing in the past. The subject of the discussion, presentation, happening triggers that complex causing it to want to
emerge, anger is the reaction of your subconsciousness trying to stop it from doing so, because if it would come out, you'd feel vulnerable, and supposedly lose the argument)
We may notice ininternet arguments, that if they are too long the opposing sides accuse themselves of their own treats (me and deeeight are a perfect example)
  • 3 0
 Deeeight has never, never, been wrong about anything, ever, ever.... ever; he was born before any of our grandparents, saw everything the first time and second times around and is a bastion of what Adam Smith would call "perfect knowledge of the market". There is not a single chink in his impressive armoury of factual highly-detailed knowledge that protects him from ever having to resort to the anger masking some deep dark secret from his past.
  • 2 0
 Meh, I'm no better, different shts, different smell, all sht in the end. It wasn't my point to pick on him - Just an example. I have an article prepared about arguing on the net as an embodiment of shadow side of our personality, on example of electric bikes, because they raise some big emotions. I'll wrap it up in a few days as "New years feature" on my blog.

Cheers!
  • 1 0
 Me neither Waki; I love Deeight for his encyclopeadic knowledge, delivered with not an ounce of moisture.

You will find me too, being enthusiatic to the point of absolutist when it comes to education and often look at myself and think I feel sorry for anyone who tries to talk to me about it. I do not suffer fools easily when talking about Ed.Psych or how we can help others learn. I am sure I am called all kinds of names under the sun. Happy Hols mate and enjoy the day.
  • 2 0
 This is why I love bike culture: it draws all types. I have had so much fun this month arguing about stuff, learning stuff, and getting occasional refreshers in various topics. It is like the discovery channel, with just as much BS mixed in, but a lot more bikes.
  • 2 1
 What's wrong about a lefty :
A square tube has stress concentration points. ( stupid )
Shear forces on the one sided axle are atrocious. ( stupid )
Everything is proprietary. ( stupid )
Its a bike fork...not a F/A-18 landing gear needing to be as compact as can be... ( stupid )
Go figure out the rest by yourselves !!! its called marketing !!!

The Lefty is a over-engineered solution to a problem that never existed. Go find a single hydraulic cylinder/shock absorber with a square tube stanchion I DARE you.
  • 1 0
 I have often wondered why the square tube stanchion is not the order of the day with things like droppers and the upper part of inverted forks (I hear the Dorado has a twisting issue that that might resolve). I guess it is a strength issue, though on a dropper post I would think it wouldn't be a significant issue.
  • 1 0
 It's down to manufacturing. To make a square tube to high tolerance values is very hard and therefore expensive.
  • 1 0
 Hmmm...guys, where did you find a SQUARE in lefties ?
Or am I missing something...

Oh, googling for some lefty I've found this:
tjewkwfmuc.blogcu.com/service-manual-for-cannondale-lefty-fork/13597697

And besides lefties, if to swap the handlebar and fork steerer - this is interesting idea how to increase you wheelbase(toe room, angle, change the headtube to bigger diameter)
Smile
  • 2 0
 Lefties are stronger and more rigid because of tube diameter. They can go with a larger diameter, thinner walled material that will increase stiffness and reduce weight over a double stanctioned fork. Plain and simple. I've had one for 10 years and they just plain work. Yes, they may never get to 200mm, but who cares? From the day I saw Brian Lopes absolutely kill it, in person, on a lefty, I knew I could have the initial confidence to give it a try. I'm glad I did.

The beauty of bicycles is that there is room for all this stuff, whether it initiates from dreamers, engineers or marketers...the market will dictate what ultimately resonates with us riders. It's a gamble either way for companies to buck the trends and try something fresh. Sometimes you have to throw around some far out and wacky ideas to get to a good one that hasn't come along yet.
  • 6 0
 Today, this is relevant!!

www.pinkbike.com/news/cannondale-ocho-first-look-development.html
  • 1 0
 This aged well.
  • 26 1
 Happy holidays Waki; always a pleasure to read.
The Jeronimo will, of course, be sporting the, by then, new industry standard 148mm JoostBoost hub standard surely?
  • 3 2
 Somebody's been reading bikerumor www.bikerumor.com/2014/12/19/2016-axle-standards-part-1-rear-148mm-thru-axle-coming-fast-its-about-more-than-just-better-wheels/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BikeRumor+%28Bike+Rumor+RSS%29&utm_content=FeedBurner
  • 3 1
 12x148 has good engineering rationale, I have to admit. Too bad I just bought a 29er last year ha ha
  • 2 1
 Sure, but what about all the DH guys that actually like 135 because they can squeeze the rear end around in tight places? the S-works demo is 135 for a reason(all the rest are 150, though I forget right now if I'm talking about the 2015 ones or the previous model.)

Plus you're upping the q factor. heck, we only went to 135 to fit in more gears. when you start getting below 8 speed hubs, the rear spacing is actually narrower: sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html They stopped getting bigger at that point because there's disadvantages, like q factor, extra weight, etc where it wasn't as big a deal below 135mm.

I would have at least liked to see something that would have had some backwards compatibility: why not make it 150mm, then you ought to be able to retrofit an existing 150OLD hub with endcaps or axle swaps? or just use the 157mm standard?
  • 1 0
 Agreed Tantalus; and there you have why there is such friction between career "enthusiasts" and the industry. The engineering benefits seem to make sense to the (non-)engineer me, yet the enthusiast me hates the bloody idea. I see no great advantage personally to the vast majority of innovations and improvements I see recently; I would benefit a lot more from going to the gym or skills training, yet with all the changes going around recently, if it does come to the need to replace something, I am highly unlikely to be able to do so without simultaneously having to wade through the minefield of chainlines, offsets, hub spacings, rim sizes... I feel for my local LBS owner, Ogawa-san.
  • 2 0
 Orientdave; as a "career enthusiast", I get the updated tech on a new bike every 2-3 years. In the meantime , I plan to go to the gym and get some skills training. Not much fun, but in terms of performance gained - your best "bang for the yen" out there!
  • 21 0
 Two lefties don't make a right Wink
  • 3 0
 but you can weld two big leftys togheter and make a dh fork www.pinkbike.com/news/cannondale-fulcrum-old-school-tech-2012.html
  • 1 0
 "The "Super Downhill Moto Fork." What a name. Essentially it is two modern Lefty forks, bolted together at the crown.That means each leg has a complete, separate damping system."
  • 3 0
 Damn, by the looks of it, those stanchion-frame bumpers have their own damping system, too.
  • 2 0
 It's super tunable! You can tune each side independently! On a more serious note, I wonder if we'll ever see DH forks start to use needle bearings. For many DH applications the weight penalty might be well worth the ability to run a stiction resistant inverted fork.
  • 14 0
 Needs a hydraulic drive, that chain is so archaic.
  • 4 0
 BTW, nice artwork, looks fast! Happy holidays!
  • 2 0
 helibike And your hydraulic brakes would charge your hydraulic drive when used. Now that is the future.
  • 13 1
 I've been waiting for a single crown lefty since forever
  • 1 0
 You can have one with 0mm of travel on their kids' bike: www.cannondale.com/nam_en/2015/bikes/kids/boy-s/street/24-m-street-matte-black

Oh, wait, adults can have one, too, on the Cannondale Hooligan. Yes, this bike is real, in production, and no, it does not fold. It's an adults' bike with 20" wheels without the folding excuse. gadgetreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/p4pb3962134-650x433.jpg
  • 1 0
 the front hub cost more than hal the bike ahah
  • 2 1
 I want that adult bike because it looks like something from an bad acid trip. It's awful, & I love it.
  • 1 0
 my uncle makes suspension wheels for the Cannondale hooligan
check it out at www.loopwheels.com
  • 1 0
 also he is working on 26/27.5 version
  • 9 1
 Very nice concept but as usual I find some problem in the engineering. Ever wondered why on single swingarm motorcycles the drivetrain is on the same side of the swingarm? That's right - Tension of the chain. If it was placed on the opposite side of the swingarm the axle will bend sooner or later.

But of course it is just my point of view.
  • 3 0
 Good point, but if the axle is... 30mm at the swingarm hub bearing and 20mm at the end?
  • 1 0
 Same here, almost perfect design, but that chain is clearly a problem !
  • 6 0
 I'm no engineer, but I do believe there are far more chain tension forces on a motorcycle than a mountain bike. I could be wrong though, and maybe the forces produced by pedaling would be enough to eventually bend the axle. How would you mount the disc brake if the drivetrain and swing arm were on the same side?
  • 2 0
 A motorcycle can also lay down a lot more torque than a person pedalling. The extra stiffness needed could be accounted for without much issue, and having the swing arm on the non drive side prevents a lot of clearance issues and allows the mounting of the disc brake.
  • 1 1
 Telescoping shaft drive.
  • 1 0
 ...heavy, inefficient, expensive...
  • 1 0
 Motorcycles mount the rotor inboard of the swingarm and the drivetrain cog outboard, so theoretically you could do the same on a bike. It gets a little messy when you think about how to transmit torque through to the drivetrain (since the whole wheel/rotor assembly has to sit on an axle that is part of the frame, like a lefty).

Realistically we'll never see this on bikes, there's no way it is ever advantageous weight wise.
  • 1 0
 There is no way that pedal forces could ever come close to the torque that is put on the front spindle from a hard landing on a Lefty. I have never been a huge fan of the Lefty but it is a great design and so is the Jeronimo! Great job WAKI! I would buy one!
  • 4 0
 @WAKIdesigns: "Uber long reach at 450mm". That is way too conservative! Mondraker's Foxy Carbon XR in size medium has a 478mm reach. If you want uber long, you need to go 500mm or more. I don't think we'll have to wait until 2018 to start seeing geo numbers like these.

Accounting for wheelbase, stock stem length, ST angle, HT angle, reach, and stack the Foxy Carbon XR medium is BIGGER than a Nomad V3 XL! How crazy is that?
  • 5 0
 What, no integrated espresso maker? How does that even qualify as progress?

Happy Holidays, @WAKIdesigns, and keep up the good work!
  • 2 3
 You sir, win the internet! "How does that even qualify as progress?" ---BEST. LINE. EVER.
  • 3 0
 I love that there's an outlet for possibility thinking like this. I'm also a real fan of hand-drawn concepts when done well. Just like this one. Top marks Waki. I don't know what your trade is but a design company could do well to hire you as a designer. Not just limited to bikes. Keep doing what you do.
  • 6 0
 Where are the magnetic brakes??
  • 1 0
 Bike of the blupper.
  • 3 0
 Dynamo hubs
  • 1 0
 *Regenerative* magnetic brakes!
  • 3 1
 Good one. Nice sketches, btw. (I get the joke, but in this case, reality is actually more funny because the premise for the joke is pretty true. Maybe that makes it it funnier, but I feel like the butt of this joke is the uptight consumer, not the industry). Still, make me laugh, and think a little too. More like this please Smile
  • 5 1
 No spoilers please Big Grin
  • 3 0
 I just came from the future. Waki is wrong. Canonrail are pink and yellow in 2018, not green. And Kim Jong Il Launched his best weapon on the pentagon. The roof is dirty now.
  • 1 0
 Sell him some exocets then!
  • 2 0
 I honestly think shapeshifter tech will be key for doitall bikes of the future. When downhill bikes are starting to be as light as 31lbs (aluminum!) it's not hard to imagine that with the press of a button, and a switch on the suspension, it could become a bike that's pedalable. Or just a 6 inch bike that has a 66.5* HA that could be dropped to 62. The future of all mountain is coming fast.
  • 2 0
 Looks really cool Waki! i would love to get my fingers on a frame like that... the suspension design would need a bit of work thou...

your layout only shortens the wheelbase without offering any significant travel Wink or are you saying the future is in automatically shortening chain stays???

ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11744959/p4pb11744959.jpg
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11744960/p4pb11744960.jpg

I know, last day before Christmas, i had to go to the office but did not feel like working at all...

Happy holidays! and no offense Wink
  • 2 0
 Symmetrical - good; un-symmetrical - bad; I'm guessing that if you fall, it'll be to the left side, right? Cannondale might as well build a bike without a chain if it's meant to be solely a downhill single speed bike. Why even bother with chain, chain tensioner, crank and single speed gear at all. Lose all that and you save at least 5lbs.
  • 5 0
 Favorite detail is the spaghetti mess of cable routing out front
  • 1 0
 Amazing work mate! But you should thing about shape shifting - like Strive, or a 2r helmet. Something what can change on the fly - even trousers can change into shorts ;-).
I would like to see more work from you - hope you will consider this idea ;-)
  • 1 0
 Every 15-20 years coms somebody with complitely new ideas which change everything; -in every single field-the same is with cars, mobile phones etc ( do you remember Steve Jobs and first I Phone!? It mixed up everything) The time between is used to make a little bit better what already good is. So we have to wait about 15 years until we get something what is worth to spend the money. Merry Xmas to all:-)
  • 1 0
 So.... First. How "roller on clutch equipped rocker arm" will work?
Cause one side swing arms/ forks are nothing new and they are not as interesting as roller on a clutch. This may be a revolution.

Second thing... head angle... Maybe it is just the dwg, but it looks ridiculous. I have serious doubts about bikes with so small HA.
  • 1 0
 Thank you for your interest... well, the clutch may be presented in a separate article. I got some info that @OneUpComponents may be working on one. The head angle? There is no such thing as a too slack head angle... yet... you can hear more and more often that BBs are too low so maybe also the slacker the better will be dead, ending slack&low era, just like moar travelz for huck to flat, as I predicted over 4 years ago Big Grin
  • 4 0
 Is it sad that I can actually see this happening...
  • 2 0
 Another fine job, Waki. I've complimented your drawings before, but these are next level. well done, all the way down to the salutation..
  • 1 1
 Peter Denk is working with the Big "S" now, so maybe Cannondale should hire you XD.
BTW, Pinion Gearbox has 18 speeds, and electronic control would be even better than hydraulic.
Single crown lefty??? No way. It's perfect as it is.
And what about big fat tires, that's going to be the next big thing.
  • 1 0
 Lose the cables and make that head angle adjustable on the fly (switch or automatic, with auto stack adjust) and I think you're pretty much spot on. Looking forward to smaller, lighter gearboxes! Smile
  • 4 1
 Wonderful as always Waki.
  • 3 0
 if it actually looked like that. hell id buy it.
  • 1 0
 The bike looks good and if I ever got a 160mm bike that is pretty much the geometry I'd like on it. Having said that I'd run a shorter stem a a dual crown leftie instead Wink
  • 3 0
 I think that wheels without spokes might actually be big in the future.
  • 1 0
 If they could keep the weight down on a solid carbon wheel, it would sure take one hell of a beating.
  • 1 0
 I can't imagine how much that would cost...
  • 1 0
 id imagine the rims would cost about $3,800 us.
  • 1 0
 They were big in the past. cruiserrevolution.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/evaskyway24.png

Familiar with Skyway's Tuff wheels? www.fatbmx.com/uploads4/2013Q3/wk36/pinupmongooseos.jpg
  • 1 0
 Bike ahead
singletrackworld.com/2014/01/bike-ahead-composites-german-made-carbon-wheels
  • 1 0
 Oh, make no mistake, I'm not saying the old plastic BMX wheels from the 1970's are in the same league. I was just replying to sp0ke's comment that spokeless wheels may be big in the future. I know Spin and Spinergy both had a go at them more recently, as well. Plus,it was just a good excuse to post some bike related smut. And who among us doesn't like that?
  • 1 0
 There was no message under this, I just shared this awesomeness Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Maybe they could make this for you
  • 3 2
 Awesome Waki!! Your articles are so much better than the average 27.5 praising articles!! Keep up the great work!!
  • 2 0
 Nah. Ill be waiting for the fat tire version. When does that come out?
  • 6 1
 Mid-fat is the future.
  • 2 3
 Funny but you should have done your homework. You can mount a derailleur on the swingarm with the brake rotor on the same side. Motorcycles do this already. But funny non the less.
  • 4 1
 I know you can, even with rotor on the other side, easy peasy. I'm just not sure how clean would that look.
  • 9 0
 Pretty sure motorcycles don't generally use derailleurs...
  • 1 0
 I like the joke.
In sticking vigorously with the lefty principle a design problem occurred.
As any good designer knows you can't backpedal on your original design, it make you look silly, like you hadn't though it through.
What's needed i more innovation. Enter entirely new drive system because a dérailleur won't fit.
I love it!
  • 1 0
 I was expecting voice controled shifters and other functions. Do we have to wait another century for that?
  • 5 0
 That has a lot of potential. Especially when your friends are riding by at full speed and you call out "Apply front brake".
  • 1 0
 and EVERYONE goes flying otb? Sounds like a quick way to get beer-bitch!
  • 1 0
 Well, we may be waiting for updated version of SPAM XE1 just a bit longer, but I still believe in future. Love your work Waki
  • 4 0
 I had an idea about voice-controlled safety system of airbags all over the body turning you into a Michelin guy in case of an emergency. But the key word would have to be something special so that none of the hecklers down the track yells it and it gets activited when you are on the bike. Examples of keywords could be: Sweaty Tits! Moose Poop! Tea Party! Sokrates cock! MIley Cyrus!
  • 4 0
 Shit. I say those things all the time when I'm riding...
  • 2 0
 I'd set mine to Moist beaver. I always have it front of my eyes when I am about to crash.
  • 4 0
 Oh fuck! Would probably be the most functional phrase.
  • 1 0
 What a cool piece of mountain bike science fiction! Very nice artwork, too.
  • 1 0
 Nice looks, good graphics and all that, but surely the rear stay should be a "righty" to balance out the front lefty.
  • 1 0
 Nope. The future bike will have a huge wheel upfront and a little one in the back! good bye 29ers!!!!
  • 1 0
 you know what would be cool? hollow spoke carbon wheels, like in a Koeniggsegg hypercar.
  • 1 0
 I was all excited about this bike until I saw the hefty price tag. $15,000, That's outrageous!!!
  • 1 0
 You know this is fake right?
  • 1 0
 Hey waki... You forgot that everything will be digital, no need for cables!
  • 1 0
 Those are electric cables. Wireless won't ever be used due to possibility of hacking the signal. Di2 is suffering from shifting inprecisions both in Ultegra and in Dura Ace, and because according to all science it seems impossible, it must be due to Sram jamming their signal. They pay to cellphone companies all over to use a tiny sub signal in their network.
  • 1 0
 Im guessing you have heard of Jeronimo Cycles, custom made in titanium
  • 4 1
 They are sweet looking bikes, I'd kill for one of their hardtails - make no mistake. But their shock mount on the short travel bike is a questionable piece of engineery
  • 1 1
 Just looked that up... I'd be a pretty scared to own that bike for more than a year from the showroom floor. I'm not a fan of using flex to replace pivots, either.
  • 1 2
 Flex to replace pivots? they use a design very similar to DW Link.
  • 1 1
 The short travel one I looked at, had a flat piece of titanium at the main pivot area instead of a pivot. www.jeronimocycles.com/images/stories/Alface/10667706_835163886527810_1130318428_o.jpg Novel idea, but I'm always concerned by a design that counts on product life being shorter than the fatigue life of the material.
  • 2 0
 @grog - actually, if designed correctly, the the flex pivot will never fail due to fatigue! See wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_limit#cite_note-Askeland-5) "Ferrous alloys and titanium alloys have a distinct limit, an amplitude below which there appears to be no number of cycles that will cause failure."
  • 1 1
 I understand that @wort, but I'm not so keen on counting on that fact, especially since I have no way of knowing how much tolerance the frame manufacturer gave themselves below the distinct limit, such a short piece is going to load the welds something fierce, & even if it's fine during normal usage, how hard do I have to bottom the suspension before I exceed the distinct limit? Even then, there's well known drawbacks to the design, flex bikes tend to ride harsh.

Keep in mind this is all so we can save the weight of an axle, a few bearings, & some reinforcement for a pivot. This falls under the same category as some the of sub 10lb road bikes people have been putting together lately: cool that they can pull it off, but I'm more than willing to gain a few lbs in order to have something that will last, & that I have confidence in due to engineering for a a balance between weight, strength & good suspension performance, vs focusing on weight savings.

Not to mention @WAKIdesigns isn't wrong about that front shock mount.
  • 1 0
 Proper design and application, especially in material selection, can make fatigue life near infinite. But the deflection needs to be small to keep the strain down and avoid fatigue. So no long travel designs. Otherwise, barring abuse, a flex joint will have zero free-play, zero maintenance, and long long life.
  • 1 1
 No free play technically, but it being ti, that pivot will twist side to side, as well as flex up & down. Not exactly what I'm looking for in a suspension pivot.
  • 1 0
 Could it possibly have some negative impact on the way shock gets compressed? Unwanted forces on rebound particularly?
  • 1 1
 Salsa was probably the most commonly sold one (unless Trek made one? There's a tickle of memory there, but I'm not sure.) There's a few newer ones coming out in carbon fiber frames ATM, I think Orbea makes one. They're known for being inactive: having to flex a frame member resists suspension movement more than a bushing or bearing pivot.

The universal take-away from most of the reviews I read, were that it made the suspensions so harsh that they weren't really worth the weight & price premium over a hardtail.
  • 1 0
 Hadn't seen the short travel ones I was referring to the c-160. The designer also has a bang on webpage www.linkagedesign.blogspot.com
  • 2 0
 Flex joint does add some resistance. More like adding a spring, not like adding friction. That additional spring rate should be accounted for in the suspension and damping design.Limited to short travel (1-2 inches) limits its usefulness to cruiser/comfort bikes in my opinion.
  • 1 1
 It might work better if you made that frame member custom for each rider(or made it a bolt on part) that could be custom tuned for the correct spring rate for a given rider, & had a damper that was purely a damper, not a spring as well. then you're almost re-inventing the coil shock, but at less than air shock weight. Probably would need a member that flexed at the top of the suspension too, though maybe not.

edit: to clarify: the flex member is essentially a leaf spring. when you've got an air spring in the damper as well, you've got 2 springs at each end of the system, at different spring rates, & you can't tune one.
  • 2 1
 Not gonna lie: I would love to ride that bike.
  • 2 1
 Actually a great article. I would buy such a bike. Looks good.
  • 1 0
 yo I'm not buying this until there is an app for the command center
  • 1 0
 a graphine wheelset in 2020.......... maybe in 4040 for mtb...
  • 2 0
 Vittoria already uses Graphene in their wheel sets, Head in tennis rackets, it's in smartphone screens. Pure graphene is transparent, stretches and flexes
  • 2 0
 guys in trinity make it for pennys.

www.crann.tcd.ie/News-Media/Latest-News/AMBER-in-world-first-Graphene-Innovation-highlight.aspx

what i want to know is can you fit a water bottle in the front triangle. and 450 reach on a medium? really...
  • 1 0
 I am sure there is a difference in Graphene (e) and graphine (i). i was sure graphine was a different material or just a composite.
  • 1 0
 yes probably like Aluminium and Aluminum
  • 1 0
 Did anyone mention zero chain slap!
  • 1 0
 Build it ! I dare you ! Wink
  • 1 0
 Lefty swing arm?
Nice touch dude.
  • 1 0
 EPIC writing mate! Keep it up!
  • 1 0
 Lefty fail! Direct Cannondale knock off.
  • 1 0
 You forgot the antilock brakes.
  • 1 0
 There will be a separate piece on it!
  • 1 0
 it sure won't flex symmetrically
  • 2 3
 nostradumbass-i can see the future, and the future is stupid. GREAT WORK WAKI!!!
  • 1 2
 Maybe it is because you is a Dum-ass LMFAO ROFL ROLF innovation
  • 1 1
 Glad to see you choose a cannonrail to show the future...
  • 2 2
 sh*t, the "balls" guard at the top tube near the stem is pure genius!
Wink
  • 2 1
 whoever negpropped me has no sense of humor, nor imagination
*do i hav to insert "j/k" or #sarcasm everytime, yawn
  • 1 1
 Awesome. We're getting Skyway Mag II wheels again. Can't wait!
  • 1 1
 fuck yea space bike. Mars dh here we come.
  • 2 1
 Maybe it is because you is a Dum-ass LMFAO ROFL ROLF innovation
  • 1 1
 Lefty = Nascar
Beautiful design and drawings Waki!
  • 1 0
 Maybe it is because you is a Dum-ass LMFAO ROFL ROLF innovation
  • 1 1
 Jeronimo! Love the name. Haha
  • 1 1
 Too much spare time on your hands mate, get a job and/or kids.
  • 3 1
 Got a job, got kids, they are the most beautiful in the world. One of them shreds on a Specialized!
  • 3 0
 I masturbate during my spare time, far more productive I reckon.
  • 1 1
 I will never buy a Cannondale. The End.
  • 2 0
 Cannonrail is not related to cannondale! It's the brand of Waki's friend. Their bikes are better because it's the 2018 and they show it in 2014.
  • 2 2
 Arrospok FTW!
  • 1 2
 Maybe it is because you is a Dum-ass LMFAO ROFL ROLF innovation
  • 2 2
 Lefty, hahahah
  • 1 1
 Maybe it is because you is a Dum-ass LMFAO ROFL ROLF innovation
  • 1 2
 Good job waki Cheers
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