Morpheus Cycles Loki - First Look

Jun 1, 2011 at 13:26

by Morpheus Bikes

Morpheus Cycles is unveiling their long awaited short travel, gravity bikes this season - the first being the LOKI. This bike represents the culmination of over two years of engineering, blood, sweat and testing. Class leading features from top to bottom are reasons to be interested, fully customizable event-ready frames and builds are reasons to believe.

Mitch Chubey on his Loki Photo by Jeff Cox

As you “build your own” on our site, you realize the parts you’ve always wanted to put on your bike are common options, and that’s just the start. Have a favorite color? Morpheus can color match your one-off frame with their secret bright dipped and hard coat anodizing options and raw aluminum logo process. Aesthetically, we can’t find anything on the market that even compares, but more importantly - what about the nuts and bolts?

The Loki built up as an Enduro weapon

Different components and travel settings make the Loki freeride capable

The 120mm travel all-mountain version is built to tackle rough terrain and long days in the saddle

Morpheus Loki details:

• Loki is a hand-built and hand-welded frame created from 7005 aluminum featuring custom CNC’d 7075 rocker arms
• The main pivot uses a twin needle bearing with custom IGUS self-lubricating bushings at all of the other pivots
• Travel and leverage adjustments ranging from 116mm (dirt jump), 120mm (All mountain) and 125mm (freeride) rear travel positions
• Spring-loaded easily accessible grease ports at every pivot point including the rocker arms
• Custom tuned RP23 shock featuring Fox’s unique XV valve and three piece sleeve created for any level gravity rider, Custom Fox RC4 and Cane Creek Double Barrel are also available
• 1.5" Straight Headtube has been designed to accommodate Angleset by Cane Creek allowing a head angle ranging from 65-68 degrees
• Four size options - XS (21" TT), S (21.8" TT), M(22.9" TT), L(24" TT) to allow for a custom fit
• Bright dip and hard coat finish options are standard

Have a favorite color that isn't offered? Ask and you shall receive!

The ability to customize and build your bike directly with Morpheus does not prevent you, the customer, from taking delivery of your new bike through your favorite local bike shop. Regardless of if your favorite shop is stocking a Morpheus product or not, Morpheus will contact them on your behalf and arrange the customization, time frame and delivery. Morpheus’ unique system allows you as consumers to build your dream bike, part by part, while keeping the local service and maintenance of your bike shop intact.

At Morpheus we keep true to what we say - we have developed a fully customizable bike which really represents the future of short travel gravity bikes – all somehow at an affordable cost. We manufacture over 60% of every Loki in the USA. It’s a very remarkable custom frame and custom shock for $1,695. As you add parts on their full builds, you’ll notice you’re saving significantly more then assembling part-by-part in a shop – On average our test builds saved 20-25% off on every piece they offer.

Check out the Morpheus website to see their entire lineup.

Author Info:

Morpheus Bikes

New York City, NY, United States

Member since Mar 15, 2010

9 articles

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90 Comments

damixtape (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:09)

would have been a lot nicer of a bike with better looking swing arms lookw to much like an old kona stinky with those swing arms

2637

wafrojo (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:31) (Below Threshold)

if you ask me i'd give credit to kona for sticking to the swingarm design, whilst many other manufactuers was finding different variations on the horse shoe link and other designs (which does work and has advantages but also disadvantages to the swingarm design). they kept with the swingarm and improved it over the years and now many more manufactuers are using the design again.

NorCalNomad (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:50)

masked you have NOOO idea what you are talking about. please stop spreading your ignorance.

bigburd (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:31)

"horse shoe link" hahahah !! You really know what you are talking about the-masked-rakist

m-c-soul-kid (Jun 6, 2011 at 8:37)

its a fairly average bike

runner (Jun 6, 2011 at 9:57)

Next (non-DH) bike I buy; I rode a proto at Windham last August and was blown away by how well it handled the DH course. It's extremely versatile and light but very strong. Designed and tested close to home is an extra bonus

reillykintzele (Jun 6, 2011 at 10:38)

i went to the website to build my bike and even after purposefully keeping the components cheap, it would have cost me $6126 to order from the website, and im assuming thats pre tax...

poozank (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:00)

medieval looking linkage

whatisthisbox (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:04)

CUTE IDEA... but when it comes down to supporting a mini cooper on its head tube, the paintjob just won't cut it

devin-m (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:10)

hate on me all you want, but this overused frame design does nothing for me. honestly, it just does a great job of blending in with the crowd... not something a frame coming out in 2011 should be doing.

NorCalNomad (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:32)

devin speaks the truth

pperini (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:39)

i dont get some people..do u ride to "stand out in the crowd" or to have fun?? i used to think back in the days when i was a motocrosser, that in mx there are a lot of posers...but dammm i was wrong..the bike scene is muuuch worse....i appreciate having nice colors and a good looking bike theres nothing wrong with that, i eve think its cool that people invest on things that only looking at it makes them satisfied...i really do...but "does nothing for me" and not buying a bike just because of the "does not stand out in the crowd" is crazy! stop posing and go have fun man!

devin-m (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:44)

pperini: you are taking my post all wrong, where did i say you needed a bike that stands out to "have fun?" im merely saying that this bike is extremely plain. many bikes use this same frame design, you don't have to be a poser to realize this. Neither you or I have ridden this bike, all I am saying is that this frame design outdated; aesthetically speaking. and honestly with all the trendy colour options available it sounds lie posers WOULD be buying this bike.

nostyle (Jun 6, 2011 at 13:41)

I don´t think that the Faux-Bar/Linkagedriven Singlepivots are overused, or maybe outdated. It is a longterm proven Suspensiondesign that works still pretty good when well executed.
But yes, could have slightly Hydrofromed Tubes instead of Gussets ...

pperini (Jun 6, 2011 at 15:36)

well..some people, like me, still like the good old fashioned straight tubes and faux bar for that ols school looks..and i get what u mean now devin-m

mountguitars (Jun 6, 2011 at 15:53) (Below Threshold)

oh great. another kona. oh sorry. it says morpheus on it. my bad.

ns-pimplite (Jun 6, 2011 at 16:15) (Below Threshold)

Looks alot like the dartmoor shine to me!

shijinkamisai (Jun 6, 2011 at 21:48)

um i have a k2 that looks pretty damn close to this so i dont think im going to b running out to buy it .
and i just painted my linkage to make it look cool ... if thats what you want why would you buy ?

bigburd (Jun 7, 2011 at 2:31)

I love this argument of things have to look different to be good or new , take a look at super bikes or MX bikes , all identical why ? Because they genuinely have found the perfect formula for the application where as MTB's have to keep rehashing and reinventing the wheel every week to keep trend whores happy.

devin-m (Jun 7, 2011 at 12:06)

bigburd: sure, make every frame the exact same with subtle differences. but honestly why chose this over a kona? kona has refined the design as everyone states so what need is there for another bike using this design? besides colour options this bike brings no new advantages for the rider. And at the end of the day i bet this frame will keep the trend whores happy... i mean you can get it in shiny colours after all.

ns-pimplite (Jun 7, 2011 at 21:59)

Why did i get neg. propped? It does look like the shine not saying that in anyway performance wise it is comparable! The unique aspects to this frame from cross country to downhill are to the best of my knowledge unique to this frame?

DownHillCooper (Jun 8, 2011 at 17:58)

dude a shine lookes like this- www.pinkbike.com/photo/5693511
not like this- www.pinkbike.com/photo/6669892

smart one. and you wonder why you got neg props for that!

ns-pimplite (Jun 8, 2011 at 21:33)

www.pinkbike.com/photo/6270438 -Shine
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6669892 -Loki

They do look alike!? And theirs no need for an argument to start, sorry a*shole..But i do see what your getting at.

mountguitars (Jun 8, 2011 at 22:49)

fail comparison. check out the pivot placements.

runner (Jun 9, 2011 at 12:29)

Have you considered that this general design has been used for years and years because *drumroll* ... it WORKS? You can speculate all you want after only having seen pictures but it means jack shit if you haven't had any actual ride time.
Relatively few people on Pinkbike have ridden a Loki- I had the chance to take it down a DH run and I promise the suspension was fantastic

Mike, one of the bike's designers, spent a huge amount of time refining the linkage over and over- don't assume this is some random bike thrown together in a few months.

ns-pimplite (Jun 9, 2011 at 20:58)

Im not dissing the frame design nor am i saying it doesnt work i said they look alike......

DownHillCooper (Jun 12, 2011 at 16:33)

yes i know that the colors look alike......

"sorry a*shole.."

ns-pimplite (Jun 12, 2011 at 21:13)

Thanks

FetusOven (Jun 6, 2011 at 6:44)

Ive lost hope in reading the comments in the new bike articles. All it does is make me feel bad about the people who enjoy the same sport I do.

ns-pimplite (Jun 6, 2011 at 16:16)

Iv lost hope in the youth who's profile names are fetusoven...

midwest-mtb FL (Jun 6, 2011 at 18:08)

Haters gonna hate...

FetusOven (Jun 7, 2011 at 6:34)

That's really too bad because I love you

philaaay (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:07)

Keepin' it simple - I like it =)

pinityoufairy (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:23)

anyone reminded of the loki hostels?

nouser (Jun 6, 2011 at 9:29)

The best thing about these bikes, aside from the ride, is the fact that they are fully customizeable. If you want any color in an ano frame, you can get it. You can build any wheelset from those offered, and you can customize your shock link, and your suspension. all in all, morpheus cycles offers a great kit, and a burly frame!

seraph (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:36)

Reminds me a lot of the Banshee Chaparral. Single pivot faux-bar suspension, ISCG, and more CNC than you can shake a stick at. Probably pretty heavy too. Overbuilt to all hell though. Probably very tough. I'd definitely like to see a full test ride report.

thevish (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:51)

first hand, I've ridden one of these down my local dh track.. i must say.. i was surprised to say the least. i jumped on the bike with a closed mind and got off it with a blown mind, its different.. it feels very nimble and it is super snappy and fast out of berms.. not sure if that has something to do with the suspension or what. you have to ride one to understand. i'd have to say its more suited for all mountain with gravity in mind..moving more towards Freeride.. kinda like a hybrid or something. it works well on flowy single track.

NorCalNomad (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:51) (Below Threshold)

or a giant ac

Jamesdh08 (Jun 6, 2011 at 3:10) (Below Threshold)

Cove Hooker much?
still, great to see perhaps lesser-known brands putting such products out there amongst the highly competitive SS market these days... props to them

Downhill-Christy (Jun 6, 2011 at 4:15)

I don't think they look overbuilt. Take my Ellsworth Dare for example: It looks heavy as fook, yet it weighs in at 37.5lbs. one complaint I do have with the 120mm bike is that the chain line will lengthen so you won't be able to run single speed. At least not neatly.

nouser (Jun 6, 2011 at 9:25)

Vish, the snappy feel has more to do w/ the morpehus' short chainstays and super-low BB. I too have ridden one on my local trails, and it shreds!

juniorpnwdh (Jun 6, 2011 at 7:08)

I demoed one of these over the weekend, it blew me away. pedals incredible, jumps even better, and descends like a beast. if you ever have the option to get one, get one!

togood2die (Jun 6, 2011 at 10:03)

Wow... you folks are raving about how it's a Kona copy.
Ok, so it has the same balls-deep-horrible weight problems, atrocious bearings and pivots, and it looks like a kid spit up paint to gloss the thing.
That's EXACTLY what you're saying, right?
"Daft" is a good word...

double2011kid (Jun 7, 2011 at 10:45)

I think its pretty sick that they have bran back the stinky linkage, i mean back in the day when there was no boxxers or 40's there were just the good old 888's and the meaty linkage at the back, thats true freeride mountain biking.

double2011kid (Jun 7, 2011 at 12:16)

To be honest, the linkage and the meaty frame reminds me of the old days of huge jumps and no thought put into it. These kinds of memories really bring back the thoughts of the days of true freeride mountain biking... good work Morpheus Bikes.

d4zd34n (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:28)

looks like a revamped mythic/banshee wildcard, and so if its anything like the wildcard to ride then its gonna be awesome indeed.and even better if the weight is the same or better...i would deffo have one...

bigburd (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:33)

It's just a KONA from the 90's! with out the good looks

d4zd34n (Jun 6, 2011 at 3:05)

maybe but it is deffo the spits of my wilcard frame but with added gussets rather than the hydroformed ones on the wildcard..

nostyle (Jun 6, 2011 at 11:18)

Ageed! I ride a Wildcard, too - it´s the best All-in-One-Fun-Bike I have owned so far - If Morpheus rides close to the WC it will be a Blast - simple but great performing Suspension, nice pedability, great and tunable Geo for everything - what more can you ask for.
I personally will stick with Banshee ...

nouser (Jun 7, 2011 at 0:49)

it rides very similarly to the wildcard. but the grease ports on the pivot bearings make maintenance a cinch.

sethius (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:45)

want to see a shootout against the NS soda FR,Dartmoor wish and transition bottlerocket, banshee wildcard come next year. Markets getting to a decent size. would be interesting to read.

gingerninja (Jun 6, 2011 at 6:27)

it is funny how many people like this bike and it looks like a kona. yet people are always banging on about how shit kona are. i wish people would make their minds up, either this kind of linkage is ok or its shit. you cant just change your mind cos kona isnt a cool enough brand for you.

rigodon777 (Jun 6, 2011 at 6:33)

We are not ripping kona about looks. we hate them because they are cheaply made! Buy a kona frame, and buy this one and you will see MUCH MORE difference in the build quality!

g1701gst (Jun 7, 2011 at 17:51)

agreed. i will never ride a kona again. i snapped mine in two spots and cracked it in another spot

taletotell (Jun 6, 2011 at 4:59)

Simple and strong design. Really the best way to go with a FR rig.

shredhard (Jun 6, 2011 at 14:47)

here come the neg props but its just another bottlerocket style bike its nothing new!!!

tonycooper (Oct 2, 2011 at 10:53)

why you call your company morpheeus usa when you build your bikes in taiwan? i know for example trek also build bikes in taiwan but they dont call themselves 'trekusa'....

nouser (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:06)

make a dh bike k thanks

ritchierich (Jun 6, 2011 at 5:44)

I dont see how these builds are "cheap". I built one up on the site for shits and giggles and it cost over 8 grand, and that wasn't even everything top notch. I would rather get a complete for half that and change components over time...

bike-person (Jun 6, 2011 at 7:25)

at least this looks a lot better then they're DJ prototype...

mountainyj (Jun 6, 2011 at 8:26)

I chilled with the owner and founder of Morpheus, Micheal, at Teva over the weekend. The dude is super chill and knows what he's doing. And there is a rad DH proto in the works, all I can say

If you see the DJ proto in person I think you'd be more impressed, and the things Mitch and Anthony are doing on that thing is incredible. I've personally seen what it can hold up to and I think it will be just fine. Anthony worked his bike at Teva, and Mitch has been on it for a while now

nouser (Jun 6, 2011 at 9:27)

crazy mac, they are working on a DH proto. sorry mountainyj, didn't see your reply.

bike-person (Jun 6, 2011 at 9:49)

Well I haven't seen the DJ in person so I guess I cant really say... but it sure isn't very photogenic! Being able to choose your own colors though, this is pretty sick!

paulclarke (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:06)

Even if you do not think its photogenic its a small frame. If u ask chubey he loves it. Hes doing crazier tricks than ever and just started riding it maybe 4 weeks ago or so. I think that says alot!

fatlarry (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:40)

@ritchierich The strategy of buying a complete bike and upgrading over time makes the most sense to me too. I priced out a few options on my next rig, and it just made sense to buy a mid range (I'm buying a Nomad) and get some miles on it before I pick and choose which parts aren't "good enough". Besides, then I'll appreciate the upgrades more.

bikesaremad (Jun 6, 2011 at 6:13)

Wtf is up with the illuminati logo on the bike...Btw nice bike what is retail on the bike?

joe64 (Jun 6, 2011 at 10:50)

$1695 USD for frame/shock (custom tuned Fox RP23), also offer upgrades to Fox RC4 and Cane Creek Double Barrel

paulclarke (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:03)

Plus if u upgrade to a cane creek angle set its far cheaper than on the regular market

IllestT (Jun 6, 2011 at 10:33)

Meh, looks a bit basic and dated. Hard to shrug off the Kona references too. Unexcited of England

MBUKrules (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:48)

this is bling, stop dissin

kinggwarn (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:44)

I know what I'll be asking for for Christmas.

z-man (Jun 6, 2011 at 10:12)

Potential trend factor of like 10

drop20 (Jun 7, 2011 at 7:48)

preatty sick looking bike...i wanna ride one!

g1701gst (Jun 7, 2011 at 17:49)

looks like a kona, and i snapped my kona in three spots

fab10costa (Jun 27, 2011 at 17:31)

smell like Kona Howler or Bass with diferences is a beautiful bike!

XX007 (Dec 29, 2012 at 0:28)

get a one ghost industries wakazashi enough said!

m-jeff (Nov 25, 2013 at 8:37)

Swing arm game at an all-time low

snakehead2 (Jun 6, 2011 at 0:18)

awesome, I want one.

KempeleenPoika (Jun 6, 2011 at 1:14)

Sweet looking bikes.

DAMZ (Jun 6, 2011 at 1:22)

KONA

Zbrodniciel (Jun 6, 2011 at 4:05)

Yep...

Lehel-NS (Jun 6, 2011 at 7:06)

Yes Einsteins, every bike with four-bar linkage looks similar.

kamikazekazi (Jun 6, 2011 at 2:00)

looks like the old konas.its ugly

Downhill-Christy (Jun 6, 2011 at 4:12)

What's with this "looks like a-" stage everyone's going through..? We don't need to be told what a bike looks like, especially not in the first comment on a PR for new bikes. Can people not talk about the way it rides, or experience with the company, or talk about suspension design etc?
I don't wanna sound like I'm having a go; but it's a pretty uninteresting and uneducated comment...

Rant over, sorry!

Christy

nico100 (Jun 6, 2011 at 5:26)

ya it's getting old. There aren't that many different ways of suspending wheels.

drstu (Jun 6, 2011 at 12:56)

The whole "looks like a" thing isn't a stage, that's what pinkbike is all about

summit800 (Jun 6, 2011 at 4:37)

yaya kona!

pines309 (Jun 7, 2011 at 23:34)

i think it looks cool

XX007 (Dec 29, 2012 at 0:30)

the yeti 4x blows this taiwan kona lookalike away!

zinobuster (Jun 6, 2011 at 8:06)

Kona stinky......