The Dash 275 is the first full suspension mountain bike to come from German brand Crossworx. Based in Rudolstadt on the edge of the Thuringian Forest in Germany, Crossworx Cycles are designing, developing and manufacturing their Crossworx Zero hardtail mountain bike, and now their 160mm travel enduro bike, the Crossworx Dash 275, in house. This new addition has been 2 years in development, but Crossworx are now finally ready to release it into the wild.
Crossworx Dash 275
The hand-welded and CNC-machined 7020 aluminium frame of the Crossworx Dash 275 rolls on 27.5″ wheels, is designed around a 160mm travel fork, and features 160mm of rear wheel travel, damped by a 230mm x 65mm metric shock. To be sold as a frame only, or frame and shock, the Dash will be available in three frame sizes; medium, large and extra large. Reach stretches out from 440mm in medium up to 500mm in large, while the chainstay length is preserved at 430mm across frame sizes, coupled to a BB drop of 13mm.
Geometry of the bike is fairly conservative in modern terms, with a head tube angle of 65 degrees and a seat tube angle of 75 degrees. Standover clearance seems aplenty, with a predominantly straight seat tube, proximally, measuring in at 430mm in medium, which should permit the fitting of a generous length dropper post.
The interesting part of the Crossworx Dash 275 is of course the linkage, hidden from view by that neatly CNC-milled bottom bracket portion which holds the damper. The milling both reduces the frame weight, and increases the space around the damper to provide enough clearance to run an air shock or a coil shock. The compact design of the linkage puts the shock and therefore weight at a low, ergonomically sensible position. The rear triangle concept is based on a supported single pivot-design where the suspension kinematic is initially regressive up to around 20-25mm through the stroke, then becoming gently progressive through the mid-stroke for good traction over small bumps, and becoming more progressive towards the end of the stroke.
The Crossworx Dash 275 frame pivots are mediated by Acros Pivot Performance Sealing (APPS) bearings, which feature an extra seal washer in front of the full complement ball bearings, in order to protect them from trail grime and increase their longevity. Cable routing is internal,guided into the frame by grommets of Crossworx’s own design. The integrated PM180 brake mount sits neatly behind the rear triangle’s chain stays, while the chain stay itself features a robust looking rubber chain slap protector on the drive side.
Pricing and Availability
The Crossworx Dash 275 is available in sizes M, L and XL, in no fewer than eight colorways. The frame itself will set you back €2399 or you can pick up the frame with various shock options, starting at €2849 for a FOX Float DPX2, or €2899 for a FOX Float X2 shock, or €3649 with an Intend Hover shock.