The Mayhem is again, and Spot calls it essentially the most superior bike they’ve ever made. Whereas nonetheless counting on a titanium leaf spring like their Residing Hyperlink platform has earlier than, the orientation has been flipped which Spot calls Inversion or the third technology of the tech. There’s additionally a brand new Slaybar body design with a number of intelligent options making the Mayhem one to take a look at.
Spot wished to create a motorbike that was lighter, stronger, and one which each climbed and descended higher. No small order. Nevertheless, they really feel like they crushed all their targets with the strongest body they’ve ever examined, whereas additionally decreasing the quantity of components.
Stating that they reached the restrict of what they may do with the present leaf spring association, the brand new format flips the leaf spring and predominant pivot which ends up in quite a lot of enhancements:
- Improved pedaling effectivity with extra grip
- Extra usable journey by making the mid-stroke leverage fee extra linear
- Higher bottom-out management
- Higher small-bump compliance
- Softer touch-down really feel
- Focuses anti-squat extra in sag vary
The patented system makes use of fewer components and simply six bearings. It additionally introduces a brand new suspension curve that features particular person phases for landing, sag, vary, and bottom-out management. As Spot explains, “a shallow, straight, progressive conduct is superb for bump absorption, however doesn’t present sufficient bottom-out resistance. The Inversion system permits us to tailor the ends of the curve to enhance bottom-out help whereas additionally growing touch-down sensitivity. The linkage association of the suspension system creates a extra progressive zone close to backside out. The flexure of the leaf spring acts as a adverse spring at prime out, serving to with tender stroke initiation, and as a optimistic spring partway by means of the stroke, performing to straighten the curve in mid-travel.
All of this combines to offer a trip that delivers nice traction when flippantly loaded, a supportive, predictable mid-stroke response, and good bottom-out safety with out having to tune extra air can development into the shock.”
Shifting on to the body design itself, their new ‘Slaybar’ design primarily subdivides the principle triangle into two smaller triangles for elevated help of the shock and body forces. Spot admits they’re not the primary so as to add an asymmetrical body help, however not like one thing just like the Specialised Sidearm, Spot’s help divides the principle body into two triangles, fairly than a trapezoid.
They declare this reduces stress on all components of the body together with the bearings to allow them to use much less materials and create a lighter, decrease upkeep body. Because of this, the Mayhem 140 is 10% lighter than the outgoing Mayhem 130, whereas 56% stronger than the Mayhem 150!
Further particulars embrace their SprockLock system on the principle pivots which use a mechanical lock to forestall the {hardware} from having the ability to again out. By avoiding collet-type {hardware}, they will keep away from having to make use of aluminum components molded into the carbon to withstand radial enlargement, and might make it lighter and stronger.
As a result of new location of the Residing Hyperlink in entrance of the seat tube, Spot noticed a chance to chop out the rivnuts within the body for a water bottle cage and as a substitute mount it on to the leaf spring mounting bolts. There’s additionally a slot to make use of as a strap anchor to hold spares in the event you’d fairly try this as a substitute. You’ll additionally discover a threaded backside bracket with ISCG 05 mounting tabs.
Even the cable port has been scrutinized with a intelligent thread-together system that forestalls them from having to mildew metallic threads into the carbon. Whereas the cable routing is inner, the threaded system seems to lock the cables in place to forestall rattling.
Constructed round 29″ wheels, the Mayhem 140 consists of 140mm of rear journey and a 150mm journey fork (160mm journey non-compulsory). Frames can be found in Liquid Black or Alpine Blue, and pricing begins at $3,799 for the frame-only, or $5,999 for a 4-Star construct with SRAM GX Eagle. It’s accessible for pre-order just for now, with bikes transport in September.
