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 apart from the title and its implications, simply but. However that and a few social media teases give us a pleasant sneak peek at what we’d 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 once 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 large brother Dan being the grasp builder behind Dyfi Bike Park, it’s no shock {that a} large journey downhill bike is once more the primary to see large revolutionary improvement.
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 provided, 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 brief hyperlink. However it nonetheless has the identical 2-pivot structure for the DW6 suspension design.
In fact, the massive 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 component the Atherton engineers are holding within the lede picture.
It’s fairly a posh half handy 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% certain, however it seems to be 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 curiously, the glimpses of the gearbox itself each function a Gates centerline-style belt cog. Presumably then, this Atherton DH prototype will function 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, good shifts within the harshest driving circumstances, and decrease upkeep. Higher weight distribution – decrease & extra central middle of gravity. And in the end extra potential to tune suspension round a motorcycle’s sprung weight.
When is it coming?
On social media, Atherton Bikes remains to be solely teasing particular person components 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-Could, we’ll be within the floor attempting to get some nearer spy pictures from the race monitor!
Can’t overlook Ridgeline VI: Kazakhstan
We are able to’t not point out Gee’s newest Ridgeline video, even when he’s driving the usual A.200, not the prototype gearbox bike…
“Ridgeline, the famend mountain bike movie sequence identified for capturing among the most awe-inspiring and high-stakes mountain bike adventures throughout the globe, launches its newest and most formidable instalment: Ridgeline VI: Kazakhstan.
In pursuit of a recent problem, the Ridgeline staff turned their sights past the acquainted mountains of Europe. In search of a spot of thriller and uncooked, untouched magnificence, they discovered themselves drawn to Kazakhstan. Masking an immense 2.7 million sq. kilometres, Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth-largest nation, a land that calls for a brand new stage of preparation and respect. In contrast to earlier initiatives the place the staff might 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 big, pure strains 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 staff’s understanding of huge mountain driving potential, highlighting the fragile stability between ambition and the unforgiving actuality of those untouched environments.”
AthertonBikes.com
