The new XC Series combine pure XC performance with the versatility to tackle the most demanding courses. Presented in both racing and long-distance setups, its geometry ensures a position that prioritizes comfort and confident handling on descends.
This frame delivers exceptional stiffness in the rear triangle and bottom bracket area, thanks to an oversized bearing and the rear triangle pivot design.
Having only three pivot points in the rear triangle would normally limit rear-wheel travel, but the bike’s unique geometry and the integration of flex stays work together to allow a more direct suspension movement.
These innovations also help reduce weight, increase stiffness, and provide a more direct connection between the rider and the rear wheel.
The rear triangle is made up of two separate half-sections mounted around a main pivot, using a unique design in which two pivots are co-molded directly into the rear triangle.
This eliminates the need for any additional connection between the two rear sections, allowing for shorter chainstays and delivering improved handling and responsiveness. It also removes critical mud-collection areas and enables the use of wider tires, giving riders a broader range of setup options.
The rear suspension kinematics have been developed to work together with the integrated flex stays, maximizing power transfer while pedalling, providing optimal compression and extension on technical descents, and giving the rider maximum control. Friction at each pivot point has also been minimized through a combination of bearings and bushings.
Anti-rise and anti-squat values have also been carefully studied to create a bike that performs equally well on the steepest climbs and the most technical descents.
The ability to reposition the suspension mounting point beneath the top tube allows different rear shock configurations to be used, accommodating a wide range of travel options and enabling riders to adapt the bike to the specific demands of each ride.
The rear triangle features a patented asymmetric design with a reinforced left side, allowing the bike to counterbalance the greater forces generated on the drivetrain side. This results in more balanced power transfer, improved speed, and increased traction.
Asymmetry has also been maximized across other areas of the frame, with the chainstays and seatstays taking this concept even further to withstand the powerful accelerations generated in elite cross-country racing.
The handlebar has been custom-designed as a fully integrated one-piece system, reducing weight and providing greater steering precision compared with a traditional two-piece setup.
It also features fully integrated cable routing, together with a dedicated headset bearing incorporating an internal steering stop to prevent excessive handlebar rotation.
