When the time came to examine whether to give the V10 27.5-inch wheels, we turned to the Syndicate, who rode the prototypes, gave us feedback, and ultimately raced the bike on the World Cup circuit. By the time the season was over, the new bike had garnered the 2014 World Cup title, and a World Champs medal. Those accolades speak for themselves, but we were eager to improve.
Drawing on feedback from Peat, Minnaar and Bryceland on their personal settings, the 6th generation of our flagship model now offers 216mm / 8.5” of travel in two adjustable geometry positions: High: 64° headtube angle / 360mm bottom bracket height. Low: 63.5° headtube angle / 353mm bottom bracket height.
The shock rate has been tuned to be more linear and deliver consistent damping throughout the travel. Carbon lay-up analysis and frame shape optimization allowed for more efficient use of material, and the savings were then reinvested into other areas to ensure the bike withstands Ratboy’s huge flat landings. The front triangle and swingarm sport larger-diameter sections, but we’ll refrain from the usual drone about the positive effect that has on strength and stiffness. The new frame benefits from a slightly longer reach to suit evolving rider preferences. However, our athletes felt we always struck a good balance with our chainstay length, so we focused on maintaining this dimension when accommodating larger wheels.
This CC-level carbon frame is every bit as stiff and strong as our C-level frame, but weighs about 280 grams less, due to the use of some lighter, stronger, and more expensive carbon fiber. Using this material in key places allowed us to use less material overall, which is what shaves nearly a pound from the frame.
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Features
157mm rear axle spacing
216mm (8.5") VPP suspension
27.5" wheels
Adjustable geometry with HIGH & LOW settings
Angular contact bearings maximize stiffness
Collet axle pivots lock in place without pinch bolts
Double sealed pivots for long bearing life
Dual grease ports on lower link for easy maintenance
Full carbon dropouts and disk mounts
Full carbon frame and swingarm
Integrated fork bumpers with cable guide
ISCG-05 tabs for chainguide compatibility
Molded clip-on chainstay and upright protector
Molded rubber swingarm and downtube protection
Threaded Bottom Bracket
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Specifications
Frame Material: Carbon CC Fork: Fox 40 Float RC2 27.5 Factory Flat Crown Shock: RockShox Vivid Air R2C Rear Dérailleur: SRAM X01 DH 7-Speed Shifters: SRAM X01 DH 7-Speed Chainring Size: 36 tooth Crankset: Raceface SIXC Carbon 165mm Bottom Bracket: Included w/ crankset Cassette: SRAM X01 DH 7-Speed Chain: Sram XX1, 11sp Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC Brake Rotors: Avid Centerline; 203mm Front, 200mm Rear Headset: Cane Creek 40 Bars: Santa Cruz Carbon 800mm Bar, 35mm clamp Stem: Santa Cruz Direct-Mount Stem; 35mm clamp Grips: Santa Cruz Palmdale Lock-on Front Hub: DT Swiss 240s 110x20 Rear Hub: DT Swiss 240s 157x12 Rims: m90/10 ENVE Rims Spokes: DT Swiss Competition Double-Butted Front Tire: Maxxis High Roller 2 DH 3C TR; 27.5x2.4 Rear Tire: Maxxis High Roller 2 DH 3C TR; 27.5x2.4 Tubes: Stans Sealant Seat Post: Thomson Elite, 30.9x287mm Saddle: WTB High Tail Team
