I like the look of raised chainstays on a FS bike. Nice ride.. 
R.
R.
Astrix Monk Ride Report
Just built this Astrix Monk and I was able to ride it for 3 hours today - mixed terrain: pavement, fire road and about 10 miles of rocky single track.
A little background: I am an adventure racer. In the past few years I have raced on a Dean Colonel (26") and an Epic S-Works. This summer I switched to the Colonel 29er and loved the ride qualities. So...what I am looking for in a FS frame is an enjoyable/forgiving ride.
The Monk is a fun bike. It eats up rocky trails and tracks very well. I had no trouble keeping the front wheel aimed where I wanted to go and 4+" of FS travel let me pick any line I felt like. The bike is very forgiving - and at 3am in far off lands that can be extremely important!
With that said, I will still race the Colonel in most AR events (lots of fire roads and hike-a-bike in AR) but I will ride the Monk in more technical races - particularly if I will be riding at night in unfamiliar terrain.
Brian
A little background: I am an adventure racer. In the past few years I have raced on a Dean Colonel (26") and an Epic S-Works. This summer I switched to the Colonel 29er and loved the ride qualities. So...what I am looking for in a FS frame is an enjoyable/forgiving ride.
The Monk is a fun bike. It eats up rocky trails and tracks very well. I had no trouble keeping the front wheel aimed where I wanted to go and 4+" of FS travel let me pick any line I felt like. The bike is very forgiving - and at 3am in far off lands that can be extremely important!
With that said, I will still race the Colonel in most AR events (lots of fire roads and hike-a-bike in AR) but I will ride the Monk in more technical races - particularly if I will be riding at night in unfamiliar terrain.
Brian
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on lateral stiffness? I think that was one of the primary complaints on the proto.
I too like the design. For <4" travel applications I really like a SP design similar to a Heckler/Isis. I think a bolt on rear axle would be helpful too.
Nice clean looking ride.
on lateral stiffness? I think that was one of the primary complaints on the proto.
I too like the design. For <4" travel applications I really like a SP design similar to a Heckler/Isis. I think a bolt on rear axle would be helpful too.
Nice clean looking ride.
SoupBoy,Soupboy said:on lateral stiffness? I think that was one of the primary complaints on the proto.
I too like the design. For <4" travel applications I really like a SP design similar to a Heckler/Isis. I think a bolt on rear axle would be helpful too.
Nice clean looking ride.
Remember the proto was an Airborne (Flyte) proto with the MotoLink suspension. This is a complete Astrix model. I would still like the feedback. I would think it would be better than the Airborne proto, since Astrix is handling all the design and manufacturing.
I hope we can get some more reports on this bike. I was very close to buying an Astrix Solo, until the 29"er bug bit me...
man that bike looks like a solid 29" full suspension design. a nice simple singlepivot.
i wish i had the funds for a new project like this! NICE BIKE!
i wish i had the funds for a new project like this! NICE BIKE!
THe Astrix Monks are reletively inexpensive. I think the frame and shock are going for around $1k. Correct me if I'm wrong folks. I agree that it's a nice looking platform. I saw it at interbike a last year(in proto form), and it looked nice then. I don't think much has changed. I love the color! I wish gunyar's pic was a bit clearer though. Got any more to post up?
Lateral Stiffness
I was happy with the lateral stiffness. The rear tracked well and the bike felt secure when cornering. The test, for me, is how the bike tracks on steep, moderately technical terrain - and the Monk was very smooth. The only time I could notice movement was on the pavement - when you can take a moment to stare at the link - and it was marginal. Certainly not as stiff as an Epic but comparable to other FS frames I have ridden - none of which had as much travel. Also, there was very little sway in the BB.
I was happy with the lateral stiffness. The rear tracked well and the bike felt secure when cornering. The test, for me, is how the bike tracks on steep, moderately technical terrain - and the Monk was very smooth. The only time I could notice movement was on the pavement - when you can take a moment to stare at the link - and it was marginal. Certainly not as stiff as an Epic but comparable to other FS frames I have ridden - none of which had as much travel. Also, there was very little sway in the BB.
anyone have an idea about that silver piece inside the rear swingarm? looks like it creates another pivot? haven't seen that in similar SP designs (superlight, heckler, raceday, etc)
That's what I was wondering, too. I could see it acting like an extra guide to help the wheel track in an arc as the shock compresses, but the lower pivots don't appear to allow that to happen (from what I can see in the pics). I sure am curious, 'cause it looks like a pretty cool engineering take on getting 4+ inches back there!burner said:anyone have an idea about that silver piece inside the rear swingarm? looks like it creates another pivot? haven't seen that in similar SP designs (superlight, heckler, raceday, etc)
Great bike!
OGG
Motolink
I'm not an engineer - I just slept at a Holiday Inn - so this is taken from the Astrix website:
MOTOLINK
The NEW proprietary design from ASTRIX uses a linkage system that mechanically manipulates the spring curve for an ideal spring rate. The system also eliminates shock shaft vertical loading from lever arms rocking into the shock. This decreases the internal friction on the bushings and uneven loading of the seals, creating a longer and more reliable life for the shock.
Perhaps someone else can explain what it means. I just know that the bike does have alot of travel and it did feel very smooth in the rocks.
I'm not an engineer - I just slept at a Holiday Inn - so this is taken from the Astrix website:
MOTOLINK
The NEW proprietary design from ASTRIX uses a linkage system that mechanically manipulates the spring curve for an ideal spring rate. The system also eliminates shock shaft vertical loading from lever arms rocking into the shock. This decreases the internal friction on the bushings and uneven loading of the seals, creating a longer and more reliable life for the shock.
Perhaps someone else can explain what it means. I just know that the bike does have alot of travel and it did feel very smooth in the rocks.
It seems like what they are doing is manipulating how a single pivot acts and with a platform shock controls what would probably not be a good design if a straight shock actuation was used with a non spv shock?????gunnyar said:I'm not an engineer - I just slept at a Holiday Inn - so this is taken from the Astrix website:
MOTOLINK
The NEW proprietary design from ASTRIX uses a linkage system that mechanically manipulates the spring curve for an ideal spring rate. The system also eliminates shock shaft vertical loading from lever arms rocking into the shock. This decreases the internal friction on the bushings and uneven loading of the seals, creating a longer and more reliable life for the shock.
Perhaps someone else can explain what it means. I just know that the bike does have alot of travel and it did feel very smooth in the rocks.
I'll leave the spring curve
discussion to the technowanks.
I think another benefit of the Monolink is that similar to the linkage Sherwood was offering on the Pantera and Chamuco it adds additional lateral stiffness to the rear triangle and alleviates excess sideloading of the damper. No?
I forgot the proto was mated to an Airborne frame.
It seems that since the opportunity for a bottle mount inside the triangle is gone it would be nice to use a longer stroke/i2i shock for lower operating pressure and longer shock life.
What does that bad boy weigh as built?
discussion to the technowanks.
I think another benefit of the Monolink is that similar to the linkage Sherwood was offering on the Pantera and Chamuco it adds additional lateral stiffness to the rear triangle and alleviates excess sideloading of the damper. No?
I forgot the proto was mated to an Airborne frame.
It seems that since the opportunity for a bottle mount inside the triangle is gone it would be nice to use a longer stroke/i2i shock for lower operating pressure and longer shock life.
What does that bad boy weigh as built?
I think the little link is only reducing side-loading on the shock and modifying the leverage ratio, not stiffening the rear-end.
Swing-links are the money though.
Swing-links are the money though.
I think the bushings that connect the damper to the rear frame could jam solid, and it wouldn't make a difference. The motolink makes sure the damper's shaft goes in dead straight, no side loads to be taken up by bushings. Makes sense, but worth the whole link? I'd love to try the Monk with and without the motolink, see if I could tell the difference.
I think this bike represents good value for a FS frame. Astrix need to set up a demo program or go to races and offer bikes for test rides.
Does anybody have the scoop for sizes available and geometry numbers for these frames? They aren't even featured on the Astrix web site.
29" wheel full suspension Endurance/Adventure/Cross CountryMMcG said:Does anybody have the scoop for sizes available and geometry numbers for these frames? They aren't even featured on the Astrix web site.
4.5 inches of rear travel with Astrix proprietary rear suspension system (Motolink). Oversized main bearing
Includes Manitou 3 Way Air rear shock. Frame Weight with Shock: 6.6 lbs
Wheelbase: 44.7 inches. Bottom bracket: 13.0 inches. Head tube length: 4.0 inches
Sizes are med, large and x-large. both medium and large have a 24.4 inch top tube and the same seat and head angles. Chainstays are 17.7 inches.
Remember when you had over 17 inch chainstays you couldn't climb???
Not working here. Looks like you need a login and password. Is this for dealers only? Maybe not as I didn't try to set up a login or password. Just not as easy as clicking the link, that's all.frankenbike said:
Cheers!
-Ian
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