To build the very best Enduro bike, you need to combine the climbing performance of an XC racer with the ability to attack descents like a DH rig. This is something that every Enduro rider dreams of, so we set out to make it a reality. After three years of development with countless tests in the lab, on the trails and in international competition, we came up with the solution. Shapeshifter.
Constant changes in terrain place incredibly diverse demands on a bike. Rider weight gets transferred all over the place depending on what you take on. While climbing, the back wheel bears up to 100% of the load, on the flats this drops to around 70%. When riding steep descents all this weight then gets transferred to the front wheel. To cope with these changes, suspension can be adjusted for climbing by reducing sag, travel and having an altogether firmer setup, which in turn results in steeper seat and steering angles. When the trail heads back down, however, the exact opposite is required: more sag, more travel, flatter angles and a lower position on the bike are all ideal.
Most Enduro bikes try to find a compromise between these two setups.
We are unwilling to make that compromise.
Shapeshifter means you can have it all. The system consists of a gas spring embedded in our patented rear shock linkage and a handlebar mounted remote. With just the flick of a switch, Shapeshifter changes the rear shock linkage and with it the entire suspension dynamics while you ride. As a result, you get two fundamentally different geometries, suspension rates, and travel settings to choose from, all without the need of a specially designed rear shock.
The rider holds down the remote while simultaneously shifting their weight towards the rear. With a quick pulse through the pedals the system shifts into DH mode. The resulting change in geometry turns the Strive CF into a mini DH bike.
Energy stored in the system is released when the rider pushes the remote again and shifts their weight towards the front of the bike. The result is a higher and more efficient riding position for sprinting, climbing and tackling rolling terrain.
In XC mode, the bottom bracket is higher to allow more clearance over roots and rocks. Steeper steering angles mean quicker handling on technical climbs, while a more upright seat position results in better power transfer and more load on the front wheel for improved balance uphill.
With a deeper bottom bracket and flattened seat and steering angles, the rider’s centre of gravity is lowered in DH mode. Load is spread more evenly across the bike for more stability and control at speed and giving a much surer feel when taking on steep descents.
The geometry difference is achieved through combining the action of the Shapeshifter with the corresponding effect on sag due to the change in suspension leverage ratio.
In DH mode, 160 mm of travel and 25-30% sag provide the ideal setup for racing downhill, while 130 mm of travel and around 15% sag in XC mode improve overall efficiency. As a result, the bike sits higher in its travel while climbing and any pedal squat is eliminated. The rear triangle and shock still maintain their sensitivity to provide maximum traction and control uphill.
