Spotted: New Mondraker DH Bike
Mondraker apparently has a new aluminum Summum in the works. The unmarked prototype was photographed at the Lenzerheide World Cup, and while it follows many of the lines of the current Summum, there are a number of distinct differences. For starters, the looped seat stay mast is gone, replaced by a more conventional bottom bracket junction that appears to be a two piece, CNC-machined part which houses the suspension's short lower link.
The seat tube tunnel is retained, though, and it appears that the lower shock pivot is concentric with the outboard end of the lower link. Wheels are 29 inch, and there is a new upper suspension link that has no window (the current link is an open triangle). No word on the rear suspension travel, but there is no seat stay bridge and the seat tube seems to be pushed forward - two necessities that make room for the rear wheel at full compression.
The current Summum (left) compared to the prototype we spotted.
That upper link has no visible flip chip, although there is one on the rear dropout, suggesting that Mondraker may be considering the mullet option, or not. Adjustable wheelbases are common practice, so it would be no surprise if the proto Summum was a dedicated 29er.
Will we see it in production? No idea, but the existence of a very complete and production-looking machine like this suggests that Mondraker is well beyond the test mule stages of this bike's development and we could be looking at new aluminum downhill race bike instead of a pre-carbon development program. Of course that's pure speculation for now, but time will tell.
Here's the official word from Mondraker's Israel Romero, who is with the team testing in Lenzerheide this week:
 | ...Yesterday, we were testing with Brook MacDonald, Laurie Greenland and Mike Jones (pictured) to confirm some things. ...This newer Summum prototype share a very similar approach to our existing and current alloy and carbon models. We are always testing.. You might guess we'd not want to disclose much info; there are for sure some geo updates, but honestly just some millimeters here and there.. Our team riders are very happy with the current model (and Laurie Greenland won Val di Sole World Cup last weekend) so we wanted to keep things not much different compared to the current one. |
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Please note: I am a Polish dude in Sweden. I am entitled to such opinions.
astroeng.com.tw/page/news/index.aspx?root=7
Also, Flo rode one last year for most of the races.
Yeah...
And that is no criticism, having ridden a few of them, mondraker and trek specifically, it was a good move on their part. I'm sure they are all different if you dig down deep enough. Just is Sunday owners see the blatant homage being paid to our dearly departed steeds.
The linkage style bikes like the Sunday do benefit flat pedal riders, but not in a way that gives them an advantage over clipless riders. Linkage bikes with that type of wheel path & suspension curve let flat pedal riders keep their feet engaged on the pedals in rough stuff and give a better platform to isolate the very different pedaling mechanics.
I will say it again that Connor Fearon being on a faux bar/single pivot bike is detrimental to his racing results. I honestly think he'd have a win or wins if he wasn't stuck on that archaic platform. It fights you when you're on flats.
Sold it to a buddy. He was so stoked.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15959907
" standard eyelet which would accually flex much more than a trunnion" Yes this is the point. The long hardware flexes with the frame flex, transmitting less force into the shock body. A trunion mount is less flexible, so the side loading forces are transfered directly into the shock body.
Let’s see is Danny will like to ride it.