Technically, the “first look” was the camera phone spy pics we posted a couple weeks back, but here are the first full production “glamour shots” of the all-new 2010 Ellsworth Enlightenment carbon fiber hardtail.
We spoke to Tony Ellsworth about the bike quite a bit over since he leaked his spy shots to us, and here’s what he’s been saying about this frame:
BIKERUMOR: Excluding the source or type of carbon on the bike, what makes this bike different and/or better than other carbon hard tails?
TONY: Aside from the grapes and the barrel, what makes the wine different? Aside from the Engine and the tires, what makes the car different….
I suppose the detail paid to the lay pattern, and the shapes that channel the energy into and away from the frame would make it special. I’m extremely meticulous when I look at a design challenge. I think the frame will ride with more life then other frames when it comes right down to it, it’s about the liveliness of the frame, it’s ability to flex where it should and not where it shouldn’t, and how it springs back from the designed-in flex features… I’m also quite proud of the graphics…!
BIKERUMOR: Why a hardtail? Given that most people ride full suspension, why not take the energy and effort and put it into a carbon Truth or Evolve?
TONY:What makes you think I’m done??!??!? Mu ha ha ha ha.
More pics, specs and Q&A after the break…
BIKERUMOR: You mentioned you have a 29er version coming out, too…what’s the ETA on that?
TONY: Both will be available for orders at the trade show. The 29r sample is just a little bit behind, as we’re designing some new tests for that frame.
BIKERUMOR: What’s the MSRP for the 26″ Enlightenment going to be?
TONY: It will be $1995 (frame). There are cheaper frames out there, but with work we’re doing for consistent performance, the trained lay up technicians, the certified material, we’re just not going to be the cheap Chinese carbon frame supplier. Interestingly enough, however, there are some cheap carbon frames with designer names selling for MORE then the $1995, so I believe this beauty represents an exceptional value.
The dropouts are replaceable, and Ellsworth has different dropouts to allow you to run a full cassette, single speed or even the Gates carbon belt drive, making the bike very versatile.
Frame weight for size Medium is 3.0lbs.  You can see the heavily shaped tubes that give it the “lively” feel, and the rear end uses his Dual MonoStay design, which incorporates a bit of vertical flex to smooth the ride out a bit.
