NAHBS 2011 – Dean Titanium’s New ExoGrid Road Bike, Pivotless Full Suspension MTB
Dean’s Exogrid road bike has changed up it’s design. The new model uses an “I-Beam” pattern, and it gains a bit of torsional rigidity over the older diamond pattern. They’re also developing a new dampening ring with Viatech to go inside the tubes, using a technology that was pioneered in baseball bats to reduce vibrations substantially. They should start testing them soon and eventually incorporate them into the finished bike.
More pics of this and other bikes, including another pivotless full suspension mountain bike that works with Gates’ belt drive (like the Black Sheep one, only different), after the break…
The Exogrid frame is $3,200.
The TransAlp is their 29er hardtail mountain bike. They said they rode it in Costa Rica, which if the “trails” seen in La Ruta are any indication, means it’s pretty durable. Geometry is set up for an 80mm fork or their rigid ti fork (shown). Can run it with flat bar or drops using SRAM components because they’re interchangeable (ie. road shifters work with MTB derailleurs, etc.). Frame starts at $2,450. $800 for ti couplers. Fork is $600 with alu crown.
Dean’s Duke full suspension mountain bike will accept a belt drive because rear axle path stays consistent in chainstay. It has 1.5″ travel, and for 2011, they changed the link arm placement to top. $2,850 frame and shock.
Their commuter bike is basically the same as last year’s bikes, but now has belt drive…and a pink one at that! Paul (Gates’ PR guy) was busy, busy, busy at the show running around making sure all the belt drive stuff was up to speed, even swapping a few out for the pink ones he showed us!
Comments
Wonder whether UCI will ban “corked” bikes!
Should ban flimsy bikes that cause crash pile-ups, oh wait, nm, that’s the only thing that makes road racing interesting for non road racers.
@Varaxis
Where have you seen a flimsy bike cause a “crash pile-up”?
I think you should watch less racing and more building implosions. Or maybe Nascar.
A SS full suspension bike that doesn’t pivot around the BB screams bad idea. What ever happened to worrying about the change in the chain length through the suspension travel?
tommy t
No change in chain length due to the design, take another look at the chainstay you’ll see what I’m sayin’
In theory the chainstay length should vary over the course of its arc. I bet you would see some slack but I’m guessing this is minimal enough not to effect the belt. Especially if its the newer center-trac design. (this applies to the Blacksheep model too)