Albatross doesn’t shy away from alternative frame designs, and the latest creation is this modular Apogee mountain bike, which converts between trail and light enduro and turns a simple single-pivot concept into a unique floating shock design with advanced kinematics.
The frame comes in three parts: Front triangle, rear triangle, and the Apogee Module. The latter contains the shock, pivot, and linkages, and the idea is to allow riders to change any of the base parts at any time. Want to change the travel? Mix wheel sizes? Update the geometry? No problem, just switch the corresponding section.
The Apogee Module packages all of the suspension components very low on the bike, keeping the center of gravity rail-ably low. And it’s small, so they can offer it on smaller frame sizes to fit more riders, from 5’0″ to 6’4″. Here’s how it works:
The shock floats between two rocker arms. The rear triangle sits on the main rocker arm, which drives the back of the shock forward. As that main rocker rotates, the bottom half (below the main pivot) is moving backwards and pulling a connector attached to a front rocker, which pushes the front of the shock backward.
It’s a similar concept to Mondraker’s ZERO Suspension, except it’s done on a single pivot design. Here’s the basic specs:
- Material: Steel Front and Rear Subframes, 6061-T6 Suspension Module
- Intended Use: “Light” Enduro
- Rear Travel: 144mm (paired with 160mm forks)
- Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.5”
- Frame Weight: 4.2kg (includes Enduro MaxHit Headset, thru-axle, derailleur hanger, w/o shock, Size LG)
- Head Tube Angle: 64 deg
- Virtual Seat Tube Angle: 78 deg
- Reach: 470mm
- Rear Center: 440mm
- BB Drop: 32mm
- BB Spec: 73mm BSA
However, modularity allows them to tune it to work with air and coil shocks, be more or less progressive, and essentially tune it to the rider’s size, weight, conditions, and riding preferences.
It can also change travel, with a 121mm version (w/ 130mm forks) also in the works. Both use the same 185x55mm shock spec, relying on different rockers to change the travel.
They’re also working on swappable inserts that would fine tune the kinematics by making smaller changes to shock mount and linkage positions. The goal is to offer custom tunes for every customer to give them the experience they want for the type of trails they ride.
All pivots spin on Enduro MAX Hit bearings for long-term durability, and Albatross promises at least 10 years of support for any standard they build for. So, buy the bike now, and there’ll be parts for whatever comes up a decade from now.
The Apogee is still in prototype phase with plans to release it in Summer 2024. Price and final specs TBA. If you’re headed to the MADE Show, check it out in person.
