DB Release 27.5" 2016

En esta entrada voy a analizar a la nueva Diamondback Release 2016, uno de los primeros modelos en aprovechar la liberalización de la patente del sistema VPP. En los dos últimos años hemos visto a varias marcas adoptar el sistema FSR, pero todavía quedan muchas marcas utilizando sistemas tipo monopivote (Cannondale, Kona, Scott...) y a partir de ahora va a ser interesante ver que sistema elige cada una cuando llegue el momento de dar el cambio. Diamondback ha empezado con dos modelos tipo Trail-AM (Catch and Release) y el resultado es bastante prometedor, por lo que habrá que estar atentos a la próxima temporada, en la que tal vez presenten un nuevo modelo de Enduro.

Como podéis ver en la tabla de excel y en las gráficas anteriores el sistema de la nueva Diamondback Release tiene una Eficacia de Pedaleo impecable, con unos porcentajes de Anti-squat en torno al 100% en todos los desarrollos. El cuadro es compatible con un desviador delantero y por lo tanto es posible utilizar transmisiones tipo 2x11 o 3x11 pero en este caso lo ideal va a ser utilizar una transmisión tipo 1x11. Otro detalle que me llama la atención es lo bien conseguida que está la gráfica de Anti-squat, con un primer tramo horizontal para estabilizar los porcentajes y que el funcionamiento no dependa del porcentaje de sag y con un tramo final descendiente para rebajar un poco el Pedal-kickback (15º). El Brake-squat (93%) sin embargo se mantiene en un nivel bastante alto, este apartado suele ser uno de los puntos débiles de los sistemas tipo VPP pero en este caso los porcentajes son un 10-20% mas elevados que los de Santa Cruz o Intense, por lo que las diferencias respecto a otros sistemas son aun mayores... 

En la gráfica del LR vemos como el sistema es del tipo Regresivo-Progresivo (2.2-2.55-1.9) y en este apartado volvemos a ver algunas diferencias entre esta Diamondback y los últimos modelos de Intense y Santa Cruz en los que se busca un funcionamiento mas consistente, sin tantas subidas y bajadas en el LR. La nueva DB Release se parece un poco en este apartado a la antigua SC Blur LT o a la Intense Tracer y si no fuera por los nuevos amortiguadores tipo Debonair de Rock Shox podríamos decir que el tramo medio es demasiado lineal, pero Diamondback ha escogido muy bien el amortiguador de serie: RSMP Debonair de 200x57mm... algo muy poco habitual en un modelo de Trail con tan poco recorrido y creo que el resultado va a ser bastante bueno. 

Un saludo.

10 comentarios:

Josep Barberà. dijo...

Nada malo que objetar, teniendo en cuenta el uso que en principio, debe darse a la bici. Es una clara mejora sobre lo pasado, y ello debe ser valorado como algo a destacar.

Esperemos que en próximos modelos de 160-170, sean capaces de bajar el AR, y suavizar en lo posible, la chepa tan caracteristica de estos sitemas, además de meter unas décimas más de progresividad.

No es mal comienzo para una marca "de las de siempre", y que andaba cinemáticamente, más perdida que un elefante en un garaje.

Saludos.

Antonio Osuna dijo...

Exacto, el sistema a lo mejor no está tan refinado como el de SC, pero a mi me gusta que hayan intentado darle un toque diferente, la patente está libre, pero no han hecho "un clon" en plan descarado y la mejora respecto a los modelos antiguos es enorme.

Un saludo.

Unknown dijo...

It is good to see VPP style linkages appearing that (hopefully) are free of Santa Cruz patent claims. The bike seems to achieve good results, too, as Josep and Antonio say.

From a technical point of view the Diamondback variation on the VPP idea has drifted a long way from the SC original. It follows more in the footsteps of Corratec than SC and manages to blend in a 'switch' analogous with that found on the first Yeti Switch but with the links rotating the other way round i.e. classic VPP + switch.

From the moment the Corratec Inside Link appeared its promise was apparent. Initially, Inside Link was only available in a short travel form. Years ago, out of curiosity, I tinkered in Linkage to see whether that promise could be realised for a long travel bike. I concluded that Inside Link had nothing to offer. Looking at this well realised DiamondBack it is apparent that interesting ideas need to be given a bit of time before making any final judgements on them. Maybe the DiamondBack won't quite be up to the level of SC or Yeti but it looks good and it will be a less expensive alternative.

Un saludo
Chris

Unknown dijo...

I looked into this interesting linkage, that DiamondBack calls "Level Link", a bit more. It does indeed have a 'switch' as I suggested, but it happens before the SAG point so it plays a minimal role in the function of the suspension.

This does not diminish the achievement of the linkage designers though. Indeed, looking at the AS and AR curves alone the DiamondBack appears to have points of comparability with horst-link bikes in the Lapierre OST (in its earlier form), Alutech and Bird MTB mold. Only, the dual short links of the DiamondBack, mean that the dynamic geometry of rear suspension is more heavily manipulated and allows more scope to reduce pedal kickback deeper in travel in a way that is unachievable by the other mentioned bikes - the falling AS curve late in travel is a strong indicator of this.

And initial impressions are this linkage is better than the mentioned horst-links in all key respects! The performance characteristics that are achievable with the Level Link brings into question whether the swing-link (the upper link with the characteristic near vertical VPP orientation at rest and counter-clockwise rotation, viewed from the drive side of the bike, when actuated by suspension compressions) based horst-links serve any useful purpose any more.

In my view, Lapierre and the others ought to be preparing to replace their current linkages with something more like the classic SC style VPP linkage or perhaps something similar to DiamondBack's Level Link. And as VPP (supposedly) is no longer patent encumbered that should now be possible.

Un saludo
Chris

Antonio Osuna dijo...

I also thought that Corratec wouldn't be able to make a long travel version of their system, but they did it and it's not that bad. The elastomer damper looks really weird even if it works, but it's a bike that still has room for improvement.

Lapierre also has a lot of room of improvement. A few years ago they were very popular in Spain. I remember going out and always crossing with one or two, but right now you look at the catalogue and it's a mess, they really need a good XC-Trail bike and then keep working on the Zesty and Spicy...

Best Regards,
Tony.

Francisco Palominos dijo...

Con esta bici he podido participar de varias fechas de enduro, la verdad es que le he dado todo el gas que tenía y realmente bien, buena posición en conducción y buena geometría, sin embargo, el sistema no da todo el soporte que uno esperaría en el tramo medio, porque le he puesto 210 PSI al monarchplus y a cambio de pérdida de sensibilidad he logrado tener un comportamiento más race.

Efectivamente, pesa y se siente, y es que en realidad la bici confunde un poco, creo que está más cercana a enduro que al trail, por geometría y comportamiento, y en ningún momento me hizo falta más recorrido ni rigidez y no logré hacer tope. Peso 82 en bolas y levo un pilotaje más RRudiano que JClementino.

Quiero probarla con un CCDB coil o un DHX2 debido a el 200x57 da para mucho.


Un Saludo

Antonio Osuna dijo...

Me alegra ver como al final toda la teoría tiene una repercusión en la realidad.... En el análisis se ve claramente como el único defecto del sistema va a ser la falta de apoyo en el tramo medio y eso ha sido justamente lo que tu has notado. Tambien me alegra ver como tienes bastante claro que la solución al problema es utilizar un amortiguador de muelle.

Un saludo.

Unknown dijo...

Even with the expiry of the Santa Cruz VPP patents there is still unease as new and more dubious patents begin to rear their ugly heads. Sadly, the "Level Link" on the Diamondback bikes is one of these patented designs. Indeed the designer of the linkage is one Luther Beale who already has form for sniffing around at the margins of existing designs (Beale was one of the two engineers at Sotto Design who were responsible for the original Yeti Switch but has since formed his own suspension design consultancy) for any bits of linkage tech that might still be patentable.

What fun it will be to see Corratec and Diamondback square off in court over what by now ought to be unencumbered linkage tech. Or maybe both of them could gang up on Chemical Bikes for assuming the expiry of VPP meant you could design linkages in that design space without fear of legal reprisal. Maybe nothing at all will happen which would amount to a tacit acknowledgement that whatever VPP-like patents a company may formally possess, with the expiry of the Santa Cruz patents, they are now worthless. That would be the best result.

Un saludo
Chris

Antonio Osuna dijo...

I think the only point of this new pattents is to make sure that the designer gets paid by the bike company, but they are to weak to make claims and start a legal war with other companies... Anyway, he is the man behind all the new Transitions, so he is doing a pretty good job.

Best regards,
Tony.

Chris dijo...

I hope you're right about that. And, certainly Beale, as a designer, is first rate.

Actually, the other fellow at Sotto, David Earle, was very capable, too. More recently he seems to have played a part in the Praxis Works story, as owner, I believe. And, interestingly, Alchemy Bikes say that the new dual-linkage suspension featured on the Arktos full suspension bike is "licensed exclusively from David Earle." The Arktos looks a lot like the original Yeti Switch enduro bike, although the Alchemy site suggests the LR curve is new.

Cheers
Chris

 

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