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Redline Debuts First Full Suspension Mountain Bike, New Alloy Conquest Disc Cyclocross Racer

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2014 Redline D880 full suspension mountain bike

The all-new Redline D880 29er is their first foray into full suspension, and it brings something new to the table.

It uses a completely unique Binary Link suspension design, an evolution of the single pivot design that eliminates the small pivot near the rear axle by putting two larger main pivots near the bottom bracket. The benefit of the design is that they keep the weight (ie. center of gravity) low on the bike. It gives a feel that mimics the feel of their BMX bikes, which Redline is known for.

The secondary benefit is that it keeps the compressive forces directly inline with the shock’s canister. This means there are no weird angles or side pressures pushing at the shock, which helps keep the movement very smooth and helps the shock last longer.

2014 Redline D880 full suspension mountain bike

Kurt Hall, who has engineered bikes for Klein, Trek and others, has been working on this design for a couple years. He wanted to take what’s good about a single pivot design (like a strong rear triangle) and improve what’s not (like pedal bob).

2014 Redline D880 full suspension mountain bike

The secondary pivot lets the suspension do what it needs to do without affecting pedaling, and vice versa. Chain tension stays consistent through the travel.

2014 Redline D880 full suspension mountain bike

This shows the suspension in full extension (left) and compression (right). The small upper link barely moves, just a couple degrees of rotation to bring the forward-most lower pivot up slightly. The combination provides 110mm rear wheel travel, mated to a 100mm fork up front.

2014 Redline D880 full suspension mountain bike

Other details include a 12×142 rear, hdroformed alloy frame with sealed cartridge bearings and PF92 bottom bracket.

The D880 is $3,750 and comes with a full XT drivetrain and Novatec wheels. Below that is the D860 with an SLX group, Reba fork and Monarch shock.

2014 Redline Conquest Disc alloy cyclocross bike and gravel road bike

We saw the latest Conquest Pro Disc carbon ‘cross bike at Sea Otter. Now, there’s the Conquest Disc Alloy, a new hydroformed alloy cyclocross bike that doubles as a commuter but keeps the 70mm BB drop and head angle as the racier Conquest Pro but gets slightly longer 425 chainstays (10mm longer). That means it also works as a great gravel road bike, too.

2014 Redline Conquest Disc alloy cyclocross bike and gravel road bike

It comes with Schwalbe Sammy Slick semi-slick tires that have reflective sidewalls and gets the new light action Tiagra group. It gets a carbon fork and house brand cockpit with Selle San Marco saddle and Velo bar tape.

2014 Redline Conquest Disc alloy cyclocross bike and gravel road bike

The complete bike is $1,599.

2014 Redline Conquest Disc alloy cyclocross bike and gravel road bike

More info at RedlineBicycles.com.

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24 Comments
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Duder
Duder
10 years ago

Wasn’t that D880 debuted at Interbike last year, or am I remembering that incorrectly.

Speedy
Speedy
10 years ago

@Duder – Nope, you are right. It was at Interbike last year.

Duder
Duder
10 years ago

Me too, Speedy. I was trying to recall if it was 2011 or 2012.

Stoicbear
Stoicbear
10 years ago

Looks interesting. The rear triangle reminds me of the Yeti SB bikes. The question is, how does it pedal?

Stoicbear
Stoicbear
10 years ago

The rear triangle reminds me of the Yeti SB bikes. I’m wondering how it pedals?

shop mechanic
shop mechanic
10 years ago

Simply by putting Shimano brakes on the d880 already makes it better than any $5000 top-tier bike spec’d with [deleted] Avid brakes. I am so sick of explaining to customers why their top of the line Specialized came with [deleted] brakes that don’t work.

bin judgin
bin judgin
10 years ago

sell tons of bikes every day. see xts failing faster (misting, leaking pistons, blowby @ MC piston) than new gen avids. now 2010 avids are another story…but that story has already been told.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

[deleted]

WWC
WWC
10 years ago

Are these frames Redline frames made in the USA like they typically are/were, or are they purchased from China?

Jeb
Jeb
10 years ago

I have 5 sets of Avid brakes with nary a problem. Operator error?

Bog
Bog
10 years ago

That rear suspension designs cares me. Sure, links, rear triangle and front triangle sure nest together and look great in the 3D design software but it will grind itself to dust when it comes anywhere near real dirt and especially mud! There is no clearance anywhere and it is all located right where the rear tire packs the dirt.

Big Cow
10 years ago

all stress of the RT goes into a 3 inch section of the seat tube. Genius.

Mike
Mike
10 years ago

Big Cow, what is the difference between this and any single pivot frame on the market? Single pivot frames concentrate all the stress of the rear triangle into a 1 or 2 inch section of the tube they are mounted on. Maybe, just maybe the guy who spent 2 years working on this design noticed that the two pivots were close together and decided to design the front triangle accordingly.

r1Gel
r1Gel
10 years ago

This isn’t a single pivot. It’s essentially a mini dual-link system similar to VPP or dw-link.

DeeEight
DeeEight
10 years ago

I wish they wouldn’t describe a short twin-link virtual pivot design as being like a single-pivot. It apparently confuses the folks who should know better…

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

I am rather sure I have seen full suspension mountain bikes before this one.

Quickie
Quickie
10 years ago

Maybe they’re calling it a single pivot hoping nobody notices differently to avoid a lawsuit from Dave Weagle/Giant/Specialized/Trek/an engineering student. There are only so many ways to connect the front and rear triangle, but millions of dollars exchanged because of it.

John E. Smoke
John E. Smoke
10 years ago

D880 is an interesting take on the dual link designs. Not in violation of the VPP patents due to the links rotating in the same direction, but it’ll be interesting to see if DW takes legal offense. Make a 650b version with a bit more travel, cartridge bearings at all pivots, and I may be interested. The Conquest has a couple of pros and cons to me. Nice that it looks like the rear triangle will allow a 180 rotor (hullo touring possibilities!) but I’m curious about the top tube shape from midway to the seat tube. Looks a little bit pointy on the underside for a cross bike.

Dave
Dave
10 years ago

Designed in collaboration with Camelbak?

Shop Owner
Shop Owner
10 years ago

Shop Mechanic is obviously a moron. Avid brakes work fine, unless they’re set up by a mechanic for a crappy brand like Trek or Specialized. (Since we’re needlessly bashing companies)

DeeEight
DeeEight
10 years ago

Actually NUMEROUS problems have plagued many production years and model lines of Avid brakes. Its got nothing to do with indivdual mechanic setups when thousands of people representing dozens of brands report the same issue.

JimmyZ
JimmyZ
10 years ago

people are deliberately getting themselves banned all over the internet by arguing about brakes in articles and threads that have nothing to do with brakes. It’s like they see the brakes they dont’ like in a picture, even if some guy is just watching a race and has the bike on the sideline, and they have to post their comment against the brakes, then the others pile on too. why can’t they take up farting in elevators or some other hobby.

PeterK
PeterK
10 years ago

The D880 is a killer bike, I rode it at Deer Valley last week and am thrilled that Redline has this bike ready for production. The Binary link does a great job of eliminating pedal bob and after talking to Kurt and having him show how little the chain line moves in relation to the main pivot, its easy to see why the bike rides so well. I also noticed that on the decent, having all the weight of the suspension low on the bike keeps it very stable and the bike handles great. I have a D680 right now and it is very likely that I’ll be on one of these bike next year… If only the XT bike was orange like the SLX one is…

@Bog, you just described every full suspension 29er on the market, big wheels+rear suspension = very little rear wheel clearance. You have to put the linkage somewhere, any full suspension bike will “grind itself to dust” if not properly maintained.

dannyrob
dannyrob
10 years ago

Do we have any idea as to a release date of the 860/80?

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