Spotted: Mondraker is Testing a Summum DH Bike with a Bolt-On Idler

Feb 28, 2022 at 4:13
by Ed Spratt  
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It looks like Mondraker could be another team running an idler setup when racing kicks off in Lourdes in a few weeks.

The MS Mondraker Team has been testing what looks to be an ilder setup on the current Summum DH bike as they prepare for the first World Cup in Lourdes. While we have seen some brands go for the full high pivot setup with new prototype frames, a recent example is Danny Hart's Cube, Mondraker has gone for a different approach with an idler that looks to bolt onto the current carbon frame.

From a photo on the team's Instagram profile, the idler device appears to be easily removable and it seems like it replaces the upper chain guide with an arm bolted to the lower pivot of the carbon rocker link. We aren't sure if this will be on the team's bike for race day, but the device can be seen on multiple bikes over the past few weeks. This isn't the first time we have seen a brand add an idler to a bike for testing as a few years ago Scott did the same thing with its Gambler DH bike.

Yet another bike with an idler system. SCOTT s prototype is the latest to join the club.
When Scott was testing an idler it had a similar but less refined setup that was bolted onto the swingarm pivot.

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The current version of the Mondraker Summum DH bike.

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What looks to be an idler device before being mounted to the bike.
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We've reached out to Mondraker for more information and will update this piece if they comment.

Author Info:
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Member since Mar 16, 2017
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73 Comments
  • 108 0
 Idler.... I barely even know her
  • 30 0
 Bolt-ons tho...
  • 11 0
 Michael Bolton appreciates to be back on a bike
  • 2 0
 @juicebanger: beats a strap-on idler every day of the week!
  • 1 0
 @juicebanger: just add batteries!
  • 1 0
 @juicebanger: B/O is the way to go.
  • 3 0
 I've reached out to Myself for more information and will update this piece if I comment.
  • 1 0
 If an idler is floating , is it ever really idling?
It’s floataling idly by
  • 85 2
 Remember back when full suspension was brand new and everyone was just throwing shocks and pivot locations wherever they wanted with no regard for the human riding? Good to see Mondraker keeping with that same gunslinger mentality.
  • 7 0
 Ever ride a Trek 9000? you may change your POV
  • 19 0
 @jokermtb: to OTB.
  • 1 0
 @jokermtb: you wanna put idler on it?
  • 1 0
 @jokermtb: Oh damn, I had one of those! A Trek 9500 actually, but pretty much the same thing. Such poor frame design in hindsight, but so so many fond memories from the time spent riding it..
  • 45 0
 At least it’s not a strap-on…….
  • 22 1
 That sounds like something someone would say if they would be secretly pleased if it's a strap-on...
  • 2 0
 @bigtim: shhhhhh
  • 38 1
 Waiting for the floating brake arm to return for some contrived and yet to be concocted reasons.
  • 1 1
 Didn’t someone run one recently?
  • 10 0
 @DHhack: If by recently you meant 3 year ago, Danny Hart was running one on his Saracen Myst.

www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/Danny-Harts-Saracen-Myst-at-2019-Worlds-MSA,12579/Danny-Harts-Saracen-Myst-at-2019-Worlds-MSA,132337/iceman2058,94
  • 2 0
 @Adwardok: if it’s in the modern era, I’d call that recent.
  • 4 0
 @DHhack: commnecal did last year.
  • 5 2
 floating brake mounts still exist......for good reason
  • 2 3
 @conoat: Yup, boredom.
  • 2 0
 Hold out for steering damping resurgence
  • 1 0
 @fektor-b: crunchy bearings upgrade, swap your new ones for my oldies. and money my way
  • 32 0
 Is that a non-proprietary part on that Scott?! Absolutely disgusted
  • 28 0
 And there's not even a handlebar-mounted remote for it. The horror.
  • 30 0
 Will this bolt to my hardtail?
  • 7 0
 Somebody posted something similar on Reddit a day or two ago. They attached an idler pulley halfway up their seat tube. Looked so good I want to try it just to piss people off.
  • 1 0
 @ChanceFuller: chain shortages tho
  • 22 0
 I'd pay good money for a bolt on idler to stick on my low pivot bike
  • 13 0
 Nothing like an idler and a bike with forward axle path, "best" of both worlds Wink
Curious about antisquat though, bet it goes to near zero ...
  • 2 0
 Sonething like an aftermarket ISCG-mounted thingy.
  • 4 1
 @lkubica: Isn't that the point? Remove the chain growth, and basically kill all the anti-squat. Perhaps this is testing to try and isolate the anti-squat and axle path, as these are usually direct related, but using an idler means they can be independent
  • 1 0
 @lkubica: I'd doubt the antisquat would drop to low values
The early travel on a Summum provides quite a bit of chain growth. That idler also isn't that high. It probably gives a saner bike in the first half of the travel.
  • 1 1
 @lkubica: i don't get it either, it probably just added a shit ton of pedal bob, the chain is now pulling suspension into compressing.

low engagement hub would make far more sense if they think there's too much pedal kickback
  • 16 0
 can someone explain what an idler helps accomplish, in as dumb of english as possible, please
  • 10 0
 Less chain tension influence on rear suspension movement
  • 6 0
 Your back wheel moves freely without moving your pedals.

Wheel=moves easier
pedals=less movement in rock gardens.
  • 10 3
 More speed*

* not applicable to Enduro
  • 2 0
 It allows your suspension to work better because it's less affected by the chain forces Wink
  • 4 1
 Upvoted the original comment as these articles and comment sections are all to easy to go very deep very fast in technical information. When I first started reading Pinkbike it felt like another language
  • 18 0
 Bicycle go fasterer
  • 13 0
 placebo for those with an idler and who like the idea. Heard it makes you 1 minute faster on every 45s section according to those who love them.
  • 11 0
 A new standard to make all current downhill bikes worthless unrideable pieces of shit.
  • 5 1
 Cause 90% of the time it works every time
  • 4 1
 @Kobeefton88: that's nonsense. It's well known that up to 73.6% of all statistics are simply made up.
  • 2 0
 @not-really: "Number go up"
  • 1 0
 its easy to get the image, just hit a rockgarden with and then without a chain, no explanation needed, it is just magic
  • 17 0
 My bike has a Bone Idler (me) on it. Doesn't pedal well and makes it slow.
  • 11 1
 Ha the bike industry is bi polar. A few years ago it hated idler HP for all the soul sucking drag that didn’t even allow you to turn the pedals over. Now we stick them on low pivot bikes just to see what it does cause moar idler better!
  • 11 1
 Idler hands are the devils workshop!
  • 3 2
 Its interesting as the season comes up, teams will be testing everything, looking for that vital 0.2s on a race track. but as Loic said, riders come and go with who is fastest through each section of a track. Dh is a game of so many variables that the sensible teams will evaluate everything pre season, PB will report some click bait pictures, its the results that actually matter though from the teams testing
  • 4 0
 Sean Kelly is a bit old for DH isn’t he?

Good to see him back on a bike, regardless Wink
  • 4 0
 Pfft that’s nothing I’ve created a bolt on idler for my unicycle. So much better in the steeps and traction is unreal
  • 1 0
 How much travel are you running? Any issues with brake dive?
  • 1 0
 @Blackhat: Cannondale is working on a revolutionary prototype of unicycle, with two wheels: one perpendicular to the other. Can't wait to see the final product!
  • 4 0
 They've done studies you know...60% of the time , it works every time. ...Illegal in nine countries...
  • 1 0
 I love lamp
  • 3 0
 It'd be kinda cool to have the idler position be adjustable so you could adjust how much anti-squat you have.
  • 4 1
 High pivot with a forward axle path??
  • 2 0
 The axle path isn't all forward on a mondraker. they use a dw style link not single pivot.
  • 2 0
 Would you pay a high price for low tech kit.....
  • 2 0
 Just take the chain off.....
  • 1 0
 I think there is potential for bolt on idler pulleys in the after-market...
  • 1 0
 I feel like Cascade should add these to their links. April 1st is around the corner!
  • 2 0
 Some mums are better than other mums but your mum is my favourite
  • 1 0
 Could a Idler be incorporated into a chainguild/chainring protector... Like the Shovel DH etc...
  • 1 0
 hahaha mondraker must be joining the "high pivot revolution"
  • 1 0
 Got at Walmart, it was on sale
  • 1 0
 i miss the humpable hump on the downtube....
  • 1 0
 #unidledaintdead
  • 1 2
 Us ain Bolt must be fast







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