A few days ago we posted a quick look at the Craftworks ENR prototype bike in our forum. Since then, Lee Trumpore was able to see the proto in person at the Taipei Cycle Show, take it for a parking lot spin and get some detailed photos of the bike. The bike features 160mm vertical travel, 43mm rearward travel, and a floating idler pulley to help control the pedaling characteristics. Lee says, "a quick sidewalk test felt promising, and even dropping the rear shock pressure to about 30psi resulted in no noticeable pedal feedback despite the high pivot and significant rearward axle path. Craftworks may be onto something here." You can learn more about the history of the unique i-track suspension system in this video.



Craftworks ENR Suspension Action

Press Release

Introducing the Craftworks ENR: the world’s first available AM/Enduro bike with a substantial rearward axle trajectory with optimized dynamic stable pedaling platform. The ENR will run alongside the current 4th generation Craftworks FRX as a more technical, race focused offering.

The release of the Craftworks ENR also marks the beginning of a new collaboration with another home town company from Adelaide South Australia: i-track suspension. The new Craftworks ENR features the patented i-track suspension system to deliver kinematic characteristics that have not been commercially available until now.

i-track started with the objective to find a mountain bike suspension layout combining the square edge release of a rearward axle path with the ideal anti squat properties for exceptional pedaling characteristics. The patented solution was realized by means of a dynamically positioned pulley wheel that varies the anti-squat properties throughout the suspension travel. This favors the current direction of drive train technology going to 1x11 systems.



The i-track anti-squat properties increases throughout the pedaling zone in the travel, providing a dynamically stable pedaling platform, yet drops off towards the end of the travel to allow for big hit compliance, while achieving a substantially rearward wheel path throughout the travel.

The leverage ratio curve is progressive/linear/digressive to perfectly complement the digressive/linear/progressive characteristic of common air shocks. This results in small bump sensitivity early in travel, and a predictable feel throughout travel.

Specifics

- 6061 T6 frame

- Custom MRP chain device

- Compatible with 32T, 34T, 36T chainrings

- 27.5” wheel size with ample clearance for up to 3” tires

- 160mm rear wheel travel (vertical) – 43mm rearward travel

- Non-BOOST 142x12 axle standard

- Syntace X-12 Axle System

- Threaded Bottom Bracket

- Enduro Max Sealed Bearings on suspension pivots

- Internal cable routing

- Available in medium and large sizes

- 2 year manufacturer’s warranty

- Shipping date: April 2016

Pricing and availability will be released shortly. See www.craftworkscycles.com for more details.

Credit: Lee Trumpore