Bike Check: This Actofive P-Train CNC is a Rolling Test Lab

Oct 15, 2022 at 3:08
by TEBP  

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
BIKE CHECK
Felix Lüttin's
Actofive P-Train CNC
Photography by The European Bike Project

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to meet Felix, the founder of 612-parts.com. During the day he's a design-engineer for a Swiss manufacturer of electronic actuation systems, and in the evenings he works on his own line of products, including brakes, rotors, chainrings and also a stem, which was more or less just an experiment that turned out very well.

Felix' Actofive P-Train CNC is a test lab on two wheels, as he's constantly working on new parts that he tests on his bike. He sent the first version of the brake caliper to EFBE Test lab for scientific testing, you can find some of the results in a post on his Instagram. The brakes started as a "just for fun" project, as Felix wanted to see whether he could get the parts to work, without having any specific experience in brake / hydraulic engineering. Over time, he learned more and more about brakes. The combination of constantly building knowledge and the experience from his daytime job allowed him to build a set of prototypes that actually worked.

As the name suggests, the Actofive frame is completely CNC machined, which gives it a unique look and allows Actofive to make small changes to the design between different versions.

Felix L ttin from 612-parts.com
Rider Name: Felix Lüttin
Hometown: Luzern, Switzerland
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Instagram: @612_parts
Suspension duties are managed by an EXT Era fork and an EXT Storia shock. Felix runs 60 psi in the + chamber and 95 psi in the ++ chamber of the fork. In the rear he's currently using a 475 lbs spring.

Felix uses aluminum rims which are laced to Onyx Racing Vesper hubs. He says that the silent freewheeling and instant engagement are out of this world and he wouldn't want any other hubs. The combination of the hub and a 3D printed chainstay protector that the made himself results in a very silent bike.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
When we took the photos, Felix was testing this brake caliper. Today, the design looks totally different, while the internals are still the same.

When we met to take the photos, Felix was running one of his own brake calipers in the front, which was paired with a SRAM Code brake lever. However, in the meantime he's worked a lot on his own brakes and the newest version looks very different. He's also running his own rotors, which use the more and more common pattern with hundreds of small holes.

The drivetrain is basically a SRAM 12-speed Eagle setup, however Felix runs his own chainring. He also designed the stem and made the carbon downtube protector himself.

A Bikeyoke dropper post and an SQlab saddle are Felix's choice when it comes to comfort and reliability.

The cockpit is held together by an Enve riser bar that Felix has used on several bikes over a period of four years. The bar took a lot of beating and has several battlemarks, but Felix says he's not planning to change it anytime soon.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Model Name Details
Frame: Actofive P-Train CNC
Shock: EXT Storia, 145 mm travel, 475 lbs spring, HSC, LSC and Rebound open.
Fork: EXT Era, 160 mm travel, 60 psi in the + chamber, 95 psi in the ++ chamber, rebound 4 clicks from open, LSC 3, HSC 4 from open. No tokens.
Wheels: Pacho Vibe 29" front / Newmen SL A.30 with Onyx Vesper hub rear
Tires: Maxxis Assegai and Kenda Nevegal, no inserts
Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle with 612 Parts chainring
Brakes: 612 Parts calipers, Sram Guide brake levers
Cockpit: 612 Parts stem, Enve handlebar
Size: M / S2
Weight: 16.8 kg
More info: 612-parts.com / actofive.com

bigquotes"The goal was to build a solid "do-it-all" bike with some parts from my old bike. After racing with a freeride bike, I knew that I had to build a bike with less travel which is sturdy enough to spend a day in the bike park. The P-Train "ticked all the boxes," even though it's not light."—Felix Lüttin

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Felix runs a EXT Era fork and Storia shock. He uses a 3D printed adjuster tool for the shock, as you usually need a 12 mm spanner and 4 mm allen key to adjust the Storia.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Felix is currently working on a stem that uses two bolts to clamp the handlebar.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Unique shapes on the CNC machined and green anodized frame.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Race ready: Felix does several enduro races each year and got his bike dialled in.

Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
Bike Check The Actofive P-Train CNC build by 612 Parts founder Felix
A custom made carbon downtube protector and an early stage brake prototype.


The newest version of the 612-parts.com disc brakes
The newest version of the 612-parts.com disc brakes
The newest version of the brakes that Felix designed looks very different compared to the first version.


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129 Comments

  • 221 12
 Mixed tire brands, literally unridable.
  • 254 5
 My old riding buddy started using two different brands on his bike.

Notice I said "old" riding buddy..
  • 33 0
 Well that's the hallmark of a tire connoisseur.
  • 72 0
 @ct0413: Sounds like you got TIRED of him
  • 26 3
 @nickfranko: Honestly I just couldn't come to grips with the fact he was faster than me. It was leaving my spirits deflated almost every ride we went on. And to make things worse, I wanted to try the same tire combo but inflation has me on a spending freeze.
  • 6 0
 that might be ok, but rims too!!! the horror the horror
  • 2 0
 @ReformedRoadie: and just look at the misaligned valves and logos!!
Terrible!
  • 4 8
flag vinay (Oct 17, 2022 at 14:24) (Below Threshold)
 Isn't this just common? It seems odd to me to run identical tires front and rear so if they're going to be different, they could just as well be from different brands too, can't they? I currently run Conti Trailking 26x2.4" front and Schwalbe Hans Dampf 26x2.35" rear. There have been times where I've had the same brand front and rear tire, but I don't think I've ever had identical tires front and rear.
  • 4 0
 @vinay: Identical front and rear can work fine if you don't need a faster rolling tire at the back. Common examples would be Assegai, DHR, Magic Mary. Regarding brands, it depends. Aesthetics aside, one might want similar side knobs for a more consistent feel. But even the extremely popular DHR/Assegai combo doesn't have the exact same side knobs.
  • 7 0
 Could someone tell him to spin the OneUp pump around so the air output isn't facing the dirt. That irks me!
  • 25 1
 @vinay: tire brands are incompatible with one-another. There have been multiple lab tests done showing drastic changes in rolling and cornering performance when a tire was mixed with a competing brand. The effects are primarily psychosomatic and only occur for people who ride better when their bike looks good.
  • 14 0
 @ct0413: Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware of all the peril. I'll try to no longer ride my bike in the lab then.
  • 1 0
 @karatechris: and it scratched the frame! Frown
  • 3 0
 Lol, but seriously Magic Mary up front with High Roller 2 rear is super dialed for wet tech
  • 3 2
 Any bike that has assegai on the front is literally the most ridable.
  • 63 6
 that's one of the best bikes I've ever seen, this is what POLE is trying to achieve
  • 4 0
 Surely Empire started machining bikes before Pole did?
  • 2 0
 @vinay: empire were cast at first, then machined in sections that were welded together... Neither quite what pole or a5 are aiming at Smile
  • 2 0
 @Tambo: Yeah I recall they were unique when casting frames but I wasn't aware that the machined ones were welded too. I thought they were just machined on the outside, so all the ribbing/stiffening was there (and there was no internal cavity).

I still think welding/brazing frames from tubes is pretty clever from a structural/weight point of view.
  • 3 0
 I’ll be honest though… I’d rather have the steely prototype he first showed
  • 1 0
 @vinay: I was literally working on my Empire AP1 which I haven't ridden since I'm still restoring it. It is seriously impressively (over) engineered, the rear swingarm is a scaled down dirt bike swingarm. 6.1kg too :/
  • 6 0
 Agree, that is one NICE looking bike!! But 37lbs for a Medium is kinda ouchy for the level of parts/cost and travel going on there... not that weight matters anymore because I'm hip to trendz...
  • 1 0
 Damn what a sweet looking bike. I feel like it’d probably have a rough resale in the future if that’s a do consideration. I like to update my bikes often.
  • 1 0
 @gotohe11carolina: me too, its first steel/alloy was so rad!!!
  • 1 0
 @Tambo: partially correct, the original MX6 had a one piece machined swing arm, however the cost and time to produce this turned a lot of potential buyers off so Chris released the MX6 Evo with cast swing arm and seat sections
  • 1 0
 @wrc21: yeah, they weren't light! Nice to hear of one still being taken care of
  • 2 0
 @sewer-rat: close enough for me
  • 4 0
 @Tambo: I miss my old bikes, used to ride really well.

www.pinkbike.com/photo/12167463

www.pinkbike.com/photo/15740975
  • 2 1
 Pole is going for actual performance which they've been delivering close to a decade now.
  • 42 0
 Send me one and I promise to continue testing it too!
  • 35 0
 Those brakes are a masterpiece
  • 52 2
 It's not even an original design. They just scaled down the calipers from Tesla's Cybertruck.
  • 2 1
 @ct0413: beat me to it
  • 5 0
 But why not just build the 20/23mm spacing into the brake to avoid using the extra part?
  • 5 0
 Straight outta Minecraft
  • 1 1
 Something weird going on as he is using old school SRAM spherical washers on the outside and the bolt heads don't appear perpendicular to the face of the brake mounting surface.
  • 4 0
 @OnTheRivet: that's what you do when you don't have the right length screws on hand but want to ride anyway.
  • 19 0
 Is this all just a long con to distract from the heroin he's smuggling under his saddle?
  • 5 0
 Totally acceptable where the bike is being used as a test mule.
  • 10 0
 That's a pretty quirky headtube, resembling a conical head tube soldered to a monocoque frame or hydroformed tubes, when the manufacturing process allowed a seamless carbon fiber-like headtube-frame transition. It does look cool, even if it doesn't offer the most optimal weight/strenght ratio.
  • 11 0
 I think this bike wins the beauty contest.
  • 8 0
 Always use plastic bolts on the downtube... Rock impacts can hammer in them bolts. It's better to have a plastic bolt deform than a steel bolt get hammered into the frame causing a dent.
  • 3 0
 The threads are square inserts in the frame.
I am not 100% sure but I think these are plastic inserts.
  • 13 2
 Where are the headset routed cables? Its a no from me
  • 28 0
 Where they belong. Nowhere.
  • 11 0
 me likey bikey
  • 9 0
 The new brakes look like they were inspired by the Cybertruck
  • 1 0
 came here to say this. And I like it
  • 10 1
 Felix, you need a girlfriend.
  • 25 0
 Can you give me a hand?
  • 11 0
 One with a thick moustache, a 3D printer and 5 axis CNC machine
  • 8 0
 @donpinpon29: A lathe - I really really need a lathe! If there's someone lonley out there with a lathe...
  • 8 0
 that brake caliper looks like it would evade radar detection - very cool
  • 7 1
 After reading that it's clear to me I need to make better use of my free time.
  • 2 0
 Did nobody else notice how the front and rear hubs (and almost the cranks) line up with the street markings, especially in the thumbnail on the main page? It was enough to make me wonder if it was some kind of dynamic wheelbase-tracking stringpot.
  • 3 0
 Shoutout to @TEBP , great eye for the details!
  • 5 0
 Amazing details on the frame from the machining process, quite the bike!
  • 4 1
 This bike is a work of art, it's just a shame it's shorter travel and heavy...if it weighed a kg or so less and was at least 160 rear travel it would be an absolute winner.
  • 2 0
 Actofive had their new frame at the Bespoked show last weekend, it now comes with up to 175 mm rear travel.
  • 1 0
 @TEBP: i see that you omit the weight… its a 4kg frame n/shock for the 145mm version.. I think its a tad heavy as well
  • 4 3
 All that know how and machining ability and he puts a washer between the caliper and adapter. We need to lose the 3 from rotor sizes, like we've done with the 5, it should be 180, 200 or 220. Who thought making a rotor 203mm was a good idea ? because its bang on 8 inches is no answer.
  • 4 0
 When you use the correct PM-Adaptor, you can skip the washer. The ones I used back then are 20mm PMs for 200mm Rotors on 203mm Rotors.
But if this already bothers you, better not take a look at the BB and Spindle dimensions/configuration on the crankset.
  • 2 0
 Hey felix. Awesome design on the new brakes. I think the disc will stop turning in fear of being crushed by these calipers. Hope to be riding with my old neighbour / coworker soon again. Cheers!
  • 1 0
 ...miss you too, dear.
  • 1 0
 I like the brake caliper,it looks great. Not much info in the web site about it and it is little expensive. But I would love to try one with and XT lever just to compare to other brake combo (Saint lever+Hope rx4+) I have in my bike. I have done some research and SRAM levers are not very compatible between them,just the opposite to Shimano,just take any lever and any caliper it would work just fine,just curious about same caliper being SRAM/Shimano compatible. I would like to know more details.
  • 2 0
 Hey, send me an E-Mail and I can give you all the information you want to know. Maybe I can make a more precise description on the website then.
  • 1 0
 @FeLuetti: I think it is "mandatory" to have a good technical description of the product,even the manuals. What about the complete brake system? The bike looks awesome too!
  • 5 1
 If it's 37lbs it better have 200mm of travel.
  • 4 0
 stunning craftsmanship
  • 3 0
 look at that frame man sheeeesh thats a good green
  • 2 0
 The original calipers looked like every cheap caliper on AliExpress. After changing the design they looked a lot better
  • 2 1
 Agree, the look like Trickstuff calibers now
  • 2 0
 Is the downtube hollow somehow? There is internal routing. How do you CNC that?
  • 6 0
 The frame is hollow, 2 halves bonded together.
  • 2 0
 @FeLuetti: Crazy stuff right there. Keep up the great work!
  • 1 0
 Anodised frames need to make a comeback, beautiful and weight saving finish, not that the latter seems to be a priority, but painting it would be a sin.
  • 1 0
 These bikes are so rad... what a great spec!!!

Very intrigued by EXT forks - worth the upgrade from factory 36?
  • 3 1
 Definitely a Yes compared to stock 36 But 36 with Avy Hybrid set up would be hard to beat and still come out lower in cost than the ERA. I have both and torn between the two
  • 2 0
 Right now, I am running the Era v1 with the V2 upgrade kit, other than in the article. The V2 is feels a lot better than the V1 in my opinion, in terms of small bump sensitvity. Can't compare it to a 36, because the last 36 I ran was a Talas back in 2016.
  • 7 1
 Mezzer
  • 2 2
 @idecic: Pike
  • 1 0
 @FeLuetti: touché, I’d like to try the new RS forks.
  • 2 0
 I have an era v1. Its an awesome fork. However it was complex to set up - I ended up asking for help from mojo after struggling (the distributors here in the UK). There's a lot of variables that you can change.
Mojo were awesome and I'm very happy with the results though - the forks are sensitive whilst supportive through the midstroke. I'm a big fan.
Other stuff might be just as good (Avy, Runt, Formula, Vorsprung, etc) but I've got Mojo close to me and I liked the Era when I tried it...
  • 1 0
 @slimboyjim, @stormracing, @FeLuetti appreciate the feedback!!
  • 1 0
 Those levers are going to look real slick if they keep that reservoir design
  • 1 0
 Yeh bro. Looks pretty sweet. A lot going on around the shock, would be interested in long term review for sure.
  • 1 0
 Don't really get the comment about the freeride bike and the travel when this weighs almost as much as a light dh bike.
  • 2 0
 Good use for carbon on a MTB bike frame.
  • 2 0
 I’d like to see collaboration with Felix and Cornelius
  • 1 0
 That would be so cool! I admire his work and know-how, but I think he's got other things to do. Big Grin
  • 2 0
 I’m glad he’s working on a stem. The bike industry needs more stems.
  • 1 0
 No worries, I am not working on a stem right now - this was just an experiment, there was maybe some misinformation.
  • 1 0
 Gorgeous bike! Cool story. What are the gold circle logo stickers on the seat tube?
  • 1 0
 These stickers are from the Trail Trophy race series I competed in, to track whether the frame/wheels/forks were exchanged during the race.

Ehmm... "Competed"... At least I rode the trails, timed.
  • 1 0
 @FeLuetti: haha! Nice.
  • 1 0
 if your going to go to the effort to build your own brake caliper...Why not design out the p2p adaptor?
  • 1 1
 Publish the CADdesign of the brakes under an open source license, so that we can have open components!

A cheap CNC milling machine in the basement?
  • 1 0
 Looks like he's some of them drugs stashed under the saddle
  • 2 0
 That's rad.
  • 1 0
 How does he race Enduro with only 146mm rear travel?
  • 12 0
 145!
  • 2 0
 Wow!
  • 1 0
 That thing looks sick. Would rip one in fire engine or candy apple red.
  • 1 0
 That bike looks dope! I'd buy one
  • 2 0
 What a beauty
  • 14 0
 Aw thanks!
And the bike?
  • 2 0
 @FeLuetti: yeah, looks rideable too Big Grin
  • 1 0
 This guy has skillz! Big respect.
  • 1 0
 Thats cool, i respect this guy
  • 1 0
 "pain train comin' thru! Whoo whoo!" - Augustus "Cole Train" Cole. GoW
  • 2 1
 using carbon downtube protector to protect aluminum downtube. lol
  • 2 0
 In a word: Wow.
  • 1 0
 Best looking bike out there?!
  • 1 0
 Any deets on that ext Storia 3d printed tool?
  • 1 0
 Suspension syndicate has them
  • 3 0
 just send me an E-mail, I can send you the file to print it yourself. Even has a valve core removal part in it! Much cool, so engineering, such CAD!
  • 1 0
 SRAM should buy that caliper design!
  • 1 2
 highly suspect lever angle. but the products look interesting.
Are the mis-match tires part of the experiment?
  • 7 0
 What do you mean by suspect lever angle?

The tires were an experiment with not the best outcome…
  • 2 3
 @FeLuetti:

The brake levers are rotated downwards In my opinion, which will advance the riders body position forward. For me, this can add instability at high speeds, that being said brake lever position is completely subjective and therefore I should really hold me tongue.

The design of the levers themselves are beautiful and minimal, would love to see a cross-section.
  • 14 0
 @gtollette: I see.
Well, the angles change from crash to crash, looks like I had a big crash, judging by the photos.
I don’t really go fast on my bike: ‚look pro go slow‘
Would be a shame if the brakes were there for nothing.
  • 1 1
 Blasphemy, the rims are different too. What is this, a basement build?
  • 12 0
 I accept your offer to send me some WeAreOne rims! Finally my Parts-Bin build gets some fancy wheels!
  • 1 0
 Speed and Power.
  • 1 0
 Beautiful
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