It's a PROTOTYPE. we make them heavy at first and then take away metal we don't need as we get them ready for production. As is they came out real light, about 13 lbs with shock and double row bearings and stainless steel through axle pivots which is where the 303 sits. We do have a carbon composite fender in the works for production bikes though but the built in roost guard is really pretty light, not 2 lbs like you may think. If we did what you think we should, the bike would not be as strong as it needs to be and be significantly flexier so let us do the designing and testing, this way we get hurt, not you! We know what we are doing, we have over 50 years collectively doing this including for other major brand name companies as well)

 Totally different wheel/axle path and geometry. Plus our floating shock makes the entire thing different as it creates a dynamic geometric range for the link system. Part of our own patent.