If a small company like Morpheus Bikes can put out a premium-build carbon DH bike at $5500, it makes you wonder- Why do some bigger brands’ similar offerings cost $10,000? Are you paying for the brand name, does their expertise justify the extra bucks, or are they just getting greedy? Morpheus’ new Conspiracy DH bike aims to raise some eyebrows with its low price tag and weight, not to mention a sturdy but sleek looking design.
Since the bike is as yet unavailable the one pictured in this article belongs to Morpheus’ Director of Operations Chad Kelly, so be aware the component build is different on the stock bikes. There will be two stock versions available which come out of the box at a very reasonable 34 and 36 lbs. However, the Conspiracy can get even lighter- Kelly has his personal bike at 33 lbs, and one of their team riders has his down to 31!
The brand is hoping to become a serious contender in the carbon scene, and if this bike performs as good as it looks, it could be a breakthrough model for Morpheus Bikes…
The Conspiracy frame has been in development for about two years, and they’ve seen some real-world abuse during that time. The factory team riders are all currently putting them through their paces, and Morpheus’ East Coast US regional teams are racing on them as well.
To keep the frame as light as possible, the carbon layup has been optimized via the same FEA technology used in the development of Formula 1 race cars. With its massive down tube, plump head tube, burly rocker link and shapely tubing the frame looks super stiff.
The Conspiracy rolls on 27.5” wheels, the rear end uses a 157x12mm thru-axle, and the head tube is tapered. It also features internal cable routing through the down tube and rear stays to keep things sleek and clean. Frame geometry for all three sizes is shown below-
SIZES: SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
TOPTUBE: SMALL 22.83IN/ MEDIUM 23.8IN/ LARGE 24.8IN
REACH: SMALL 15.9IN/ MEDIUM 16.9IN/ LARGE 17.9
CHAIN STAY: 17.16IN
BOTTOM BRACKET HEIGHT: 13.5IN
WHEELBASE: SMALL 47.4IN/ MEDIUM 48.4IN/ LARGE 49.4IN
HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 63* DEGREES
BOTTOM BRACKET: 41MM/BB92
SEAT POST: 30.9MM
SEAT POST CLAMP: 34.9MM
The Conspiracy’s rear suspension design is Morpheus’s tweak on the commonly adapted FSR/Horst link concept. Kelly says this platform offers a very progressive spring curve, and provides excellent pedalling performance. The frame boasts a very low center of gravity, and the shock’s bottom eyelet actually sits lower than the BB to further aid pedalling efficiency.
| FRAME COLORS | BLACK | BLACK |
| WEIGHT | 36LBS | 34LBS |
| SHOCK | FOX FLOAT X2 AIR | FOX FLOAT X2 AIR |
| FORK | SUNTOUR RUX 27.5 | FOX 40 FLOAT 27.5 FIT RC2 |
| HEADSET | CANE CREEK 40 | CANE CREEK 40 |
| F. DERAILLEUR | N/A | N/A |
| R. DERAILLEUR | SHIMANO ZEE 10SPD | SHIMANO SAINT 10SPD |
| SHIFTER | SHIMANO ZEE 10SPD | SHIMANO SAINT 10SPD |
| CHAIN GUIDE | E-13 LG1 | E-13 LG1 |
| BRAKES | SHIMANO ZEE | SHIMANO SAINT |
| CRANKS | RACEFACE RESPONDS 165MM | RACEFACE SIXC |
| CHAINRING | RACEFACE SINGLE/ N-W 34T | RACEFACE SINGLE/ N-W 36T |
| CASSETTE | SHIMANO CS4600 10SPD 11-25 | SHIMANO CS4600 10SPD 11-25 |
| B. BRACKET | RACEFACE X-TYPE | RACEFACE X-TYPE |
| F. WHEEL | DT SWISS CUSTOM | DT SWISS CUSTOM |
| R. WHEEL | DT SWISS CUSTOM | DT SWISS CUSTOM |
| F. TIRE | SCHWALBE MAGIC MARY | SCHWALBE MAGIC MARY |
| R. TIRE | SCHWALBE MAGIC MARY | SCHWALBE MAGIC MARY |
| STEM OPTIONS | LEADTEC DM 30-35MM | LEADTEC DM 30-35MM |
| LEADTEC DIRECT MOUNT 31.8MM 45-50MM REACH | LEADTEC DIRECT MOUNT 31.8MM 45-50MM REACH | |
| HANDLEBARS | RACEFACE RESPOND .5 RISE | RACEFACE SIXC |
| GRIPS | RACEFACE HALF NESON | RACEFACE SNIPER |
| SEATPOST | RACEFACE RIDE | RACEFACE RIDE |
| SADDLE | RACEFACE ATLAS | RACEFACE ATLAS |
| PEDALS | N/A | RACEFACE ATLAS (BLACK) |
| F. ROTOR | SHIMANO 200MM | SHIMANO 200MM |
| R. ROTOR | SHIMANO 180MM | SHIMANO 180MM |
By choosing the component spec carefully (and with great support from those vendors, says Kelly) Morpheus has come out with pretty attractive price tags for the Conspiracy. Complete bikes will retail at $4195 USD for the 36 lbs. Standard build or $5500 for the 34 lbs. Premium model . The Conspiracy is also available as a frameset (with Fox X2 rear shock) which weighs in at 7.9 Lbs. and costs $2795. Believe it or not, the Conspiracy will be a reality by September.
