2016 Bergamont Encore gives enduro a second look with variable geometry chip

The all-new Bergamont Encore enduro mountain bike takes all the good from the genre and packages it into one bike with two personalities.

By borrowing the Flipchip from its predecessor, the Threesome EX, the Encore gets two different geometry settings. And, with rear wheel travel set at 165mm, it’s comfortable running either a 160mm or 170mm fork up front. Now standard enduro features like a long top tube and short stem, 27.5″ wheels and removable front derailleur mount are here, plus a few bonuses like carbon chainstays and rocker arm.

Rear shift cable and dropper remote run through the downtube, entering and exiting through big rubber grommets. The FD cable sneaks into that little port on the top tube. It’s one of the few new bikes we’ve seen without Sideswing compatibility. Rear brake hose has to brave the elements along the outside of the downtube.

The top level Encore Team is spec’d with a 160mm Manitou Mattoc that gets custom tuning to the damper that’s based on the DH stack inside the Dorado. That option may be available to others down the road, but for 2016 it’s exclusive to Bergamont.

The controls look the same, but inside is a two-chamber suspension system called IRT, for Infinite Rate Tuning.

The FD mount is shown attached here, but it’s removable. Note the lower shock mount…

…which can be flipped to change the head angle from 65º (low position) to 65.7º, and the seat angle from 75.3º to 76.1º. Bottom bracket drop changes from 14mm to 4.8mm.

The big rubber plugs are on the bottom, too…just not shown in all photos here.

Out back is their Coax Pivot, an eccentric rear pivot that minimized linkage points and helps stiffen the rear end while isolating the brakes from any suspension forces. The dropout shapes help guide the hub in during wheel changes and reinforce the dropout. They didn’t give us an explanation as to how this doesn’t conflict with Split Pivot and the like, but they are keeping this model in Europe to avoid some potential patent conflicts.

Bergamont stuck with 12×142 spacing for now, not making the jump to Boost.

The suspension was designed to be very linear throughout the starting and mid stroke, becoming progressive toward the end to reduce bottom out. They say it makes the most of the travel while supporting big hits properly. It’s not shown here, but the carbon stays will come with a bash guard on them for protection. ISCG05 mounts are standard.

Geometry and build options are: