Atherton Bikes is engaged on a 3D-printed DH prototype that would shake up one of many first bikes they ever made – a brand new gearbox-driven A.200.G. There aren’t many concrete particulars on the brand new prototype mountain bike in addition to the title and its implications, simply but. However that and a few social media teases give us a pleasant sneak peek at what we would discover on the DH World Cup this season…
Atherton Bikes A.200.G 3D-printed gearbox DH bike prototype
The prototype downhill precursor to the A.200 was the primary bike the Athertons teased after they introduced their new bike model in 2019. Customized 3D-printed titanium lugs bonded to carbon tubes.
Then, alongside their A.150 enduro bike, it was one of many authentic two customized frames that Atherton Bikes formally launched a yr later. With Gee & Rachel racing the DH World Cup – and having every gained World Championships, plus huge brother Dan being the grasp builder behind Dyfi Bike Park, it’s no shock {that a} huge journey downhill bike is once more the primary to see huge revolutionary growth.
What’s subsequent?
Particulars stay scant. However Atherton has revealed that it’s nonetheless an A.200.
Which means 200mm of rear wheel journey. And it’s an A Vary bike – their “pinnacle of engineering excellence” – that includes carbon tubes bonded to their 3D-printed titanium lugs. That additionally means 22 normal body sizes will probably be supplied, plus the choice for full customized geometry, too.
A Vary additionally means the extra complicated 6-bar DW6 linkage designed by Dave Weagle. Additionally confirmed by a fast shot within the Atherton teaser of the left seatstay getting bonded into the non-driveside dropout.
What’s new?
A lot of the main points look comparable.
The headtube (above far left, and better up within the story) and the ends of the stays on this fresh-out-of-the-printer block appear just about an identical to the present A.200. The chainstay yoke displays revised shaping to clear the brand new gearbox yoke and the bike’s decrease quick hyperlink. Nevertheless it nonetheless has the identical 2-pivot structure for the DW6 suspension design.
In fact, the large change is the gearbox yoke/mount/lug, or no matter we need to name the alternative for the underside bracket lug. That’s the tallest piece within the 3D-print, and the blurry factor the Atherton engineers are holding within the lede picture.
It’s fairly a fancy half at hand the gearbox beneath the body by six bolts, whereas being bonded with double-lap shear joints onto the carbon downtube & seattube, and offering the three of the decrease pivot factors within the DW6 suspension structure.
Is it a Pinion SmartShift Ci-Line gearbox, with a Gates belt-drive?
We aren’t 100% positive, however it seems like this Atherton A.200.G is designed to work with Pinion’s category-leading C-line gearbox. This gearbox dummy confirms the prototype bike’s title, as properly.
And apparently, the glimpses of the gearbox itself each characteristic a Gates centerline-style belt cog. Presumably then, this Atherton DH prototype will characteristic a belt tensioner, too.
That’s the identical, now electronic-shifting gearbox we’ve seen in Intense’s M1 Pinion prototype DH bike final yr, in addition to the Gamux Sego that we’ve already noticed attempting to nab Gate’s as-yet-unclaimed €100K prize.
The reasoning for a gearbox DH bike stays the identical for Atherton because it has for Gamux & Intense, and even one thing as disparate because the Surly Moonlander.
No derailleur getting bashed off a passing rock, excellent shifts within the harshest using situations, and decrease upkeep. Higher weight distribution – decrease & extra central heart of gravity. And finally extra capacity to tune suspension round a motorbike’s sprung weight.
When is it coming?
On social media, Atherton Bikes continues to be solely teasing particular person parts of their A.200.G DH prototype, no full bike pics. And simply an hourglass emoji to tease us that it’s coming quickly. So we anticipate it’ll be fairly some time till this factor makes it into manufacturing.
However with the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Collection set to kick off with a World Cup return to Bielsko-Biała, Poland in mid-Might, we’ll be within the floor attempting to get some nearer spy photographs from the race observe!
Can’t neglect Ridgeline VI: Kazakhstan
We are able to’t not point out Gee’s newest Ridgeline video, even when he’s using the usual A.200, not the prototype gearbox bike…
“Ridgeline, the famend mountain bike movie sequence recognized for capturing among the most awe-inspiring and high-stakes mountain bike adventures throughout the globe, launches its newest and most bold instalment: Ridgeline VI: Kazakhstan.
In pursuit of a contemporary problem, the Ridgeline crew turned their sights past the acquainted mountains of Europe. Searching for a spot of thriller and uncooked, untouched magnificence, they discovered themselves drawn to Kazakhstan. Protecting an immense 2.7 million sq. kilometres, Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest nation, a land that calls for a brand new degree of preparation and respect. Not like earlier tasks the place the crew may adapt rapidly, Kazakhstan’s huge and distant stretches required far higher planning. With lengthy distances between petrol stations and rugged, remoted terrain, each step of the journey needed to be rigorously thought out.
Gee’s journey in Kazakhstan noticed him tackling large, pure traces onboard his Atherton Bikes A.200, calling on each inch of journey to melt the rugged desert terrain. Hitting huge, unfastened scree slopes, usually blindly, with only one take to nail it, the expertise has redefined the crew’s understanding of huge mountain using potential, highlighting the fragile stability between ambition and the unforgiving actuality of those untouched environments.”