If you've been keeping a keen eye on the cross-country World Cup, you might have spotted Florian Vogel riding a Focus bike with a mysterious shroud around the frame’s suspension linkage. Last week, in a very rainy French Alpine town, Focus revealed all – its brand spanking new FOLD suspension design, which has been built into two new models.
FOLD, in case you’re wondering, stands for Focus Optimised Linkage Design, and is a multi-linkage suspension design that incorporates a degressive, then progressive suspension kinematic.
With Florian riding in the XC WC it’s no surprise that one model, the O1E, is a flat-out XC race bike, designed to tackle the ever=increasing technical nature of cross country courses. It’s a 100mm travel 29er, with full carbon frame and linkages, and a claimed 1830g (med) frame, with all hardware, but no shock.
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The other is the JAM, a 140mm 650b trail bike that sits just below the 160mm SAM in terms of travel. The top-line JAM is fully carbon, while there are two with a carbon front end and alloy rear, and three full alloy versions.
The FOLD design: we degress
The FOLD suspension design is where the magic happens. The entire rear triangle is one piece, and rigid, with no suspension affecting flex or pivots to add weight. This, so Focus say, reduces weight, meaning the unsprung weight of the bike is reduced.
This reduces the mass that has to move when an obstacle is hit, meaning in a roundabout way, your suspension works better.
O1E cross-country bike
JAM trail bike
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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