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IB15: Alchemy Arktos waves hello to all-new suspension mountain bike design

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2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

Earlier this year when we saw Alchemy’s new hardtail Oros mountain bike, the company hinted at full suspension things to come. A few months later, here it is. After bringing on David Earle, an engineer with the Sotto Group, Alchemy has created a legitimate all mountain contender that’s built in the U.S.A.

Designed around a unique suspension system, and built with Alchemy’s own mandrel and mold system, the Arktos is almost ready to do battle…

2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

At the heart of the bike is what Alchemy refers to as Sine Suspension, so named because the spring curve resembles a sine wave. Similar to the Switch suspension design used on Yeti Bikes, Sine uses a very short lower link in place of an eccentric pivot. As the name suggests, the direction of the pivot travel changes near the end of the stroke, with the lower link moving in the opposite direction. This provides a falling rate at the beginning of the stroke to make the bike supple over small bumps, a rising rate in the middle of the travel for pedal efficiency, and a falling rate at the end of the stroke to compensate for the progressiveness of air suspension. According to Dave, the use of the link instead of an eccentric pivot makes for a lighter linkage.

All of the pivots roll on sealed cartridge bearing with a locking collet at the upper link. The Arktos is based around 27.5″ wheels and 150mm of suspension.

2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design 2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

The Arktos does make use of Boost 148×12 spacing, but other standards like the bottom bracket remain tried and true with a BSA threaded shell. However, the frame is not compatible with front derailleurs which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise with the rise of 1x drivetrains.

2016 Alchemy Arktos full suspension mountain bike with Sine suspension design

Other details include internal cable routing with stealth dropper capability, a tapered head tube, and post mount disc brakes. Pricing starts at $3,750 for the frame and rear shock, which includes a custom two tone paint job. Basically, the paint is as show above but you can pick the two colors used as available through Alchemy. Frames should be shipping by spring of next year.

alchemybicycles.com

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CHAD
CHAD
8 years ago

That bike is a work of art! I

mechanic
mechanic
8 years ago

I dig.

Yerma
Yerma
8 years ago

Wow. Nice! Hope it rides as good as it looks.

Yo
Yo
8 years ago

looks so much like a ibis

Split Lip
Split Lip
8 years ago

Reynolds also makes carbon wheels in Utah. This would look a whole lot better without all that moe logo everywhere. Otherwise, fk yeah BSA and lots of pretty!

sd
sd
8 years ago

this is how i want my bike to be made (except for the colors maybe!)
plus, they took advantage of not having to have a front derailleur instead of “just removing it for the sake of it”

Now if the price would be a lil lower… 😉

Georgie Porgie
Georgie Porgie
8 years ago

I thought it said parktools. Also, I was in until I saw the price. Oh… and I’d prefer a 29er.

doug
doug
8 years ago

Super dope! Fantastic paint design in any color. Super clean, swoopy, yet simple lines. Best thing I have seen in awhile.

d
d
8 years ago

Looks like the Speedgoat suspension design. The main swingarm pivot is at the front of the lower link, not trailing.

chris
chris
8 years ago

$3,750 for the frame and rear shock?????????why would anyone pay more for this than an SB6C?

Adrian
Adrian
8 years ago

A whopping $250 more than a Yeti SB6c Frame for legitimate Made in the USA Carbon? I can dig that. Plus, it’s a much nicer cleaner looking bike. I love seeing more and more production, however small in qty, return to the US. Those Enve’s, however, would definitely look better on this bike if they were blacked out.

Tim
Tim
8 years ago

Sweet-looking bike, and it has an threaded bottom bracket, to boot. Too bad about the internal routing; lack of front derailleur compatibility means you need to be 100% confident you don’t need one.

preston
preston
8 years ago

No FD=no interest

Jim
Jim
8 years ago

We’ve seen a lot of duplicates/similar bike designs of many popular bike companies but never a Yeti. This looks like a first Yeti SB6c “copy”.

The Boss
The Boss
8 years ago

That’s one of the best looking full sus frames I’ve seen in a while.

And made in USA! That’s cool, I would happily pay a bit extra for a made in USA frame.

Tim
Tim
8 years ago

Well, no FD on a 27.5″ wheeled bike is a much less serious problem than on a 29er.
Glad to see Boost getting included on more bikes, it really is an advance over other locknut dimensions like 142 and 135.

Bazz
Bazz
8 years ago

Now, if they could match Yeti’s prices AND be made in USA…

TheFunkyMonkey
TheFunkyMonkey
8 years ago

Clean looking frame. And good on them making it in the US as that become a tougher proposition. At least they have some justification for the price tag.

Note to Yeti. Your latest SI bikes are nice but overpriced. When you can get Made in USA for $250 more you should know your pricing strategy is cray cray.

Pichy
Pichy
8 years ago

It strongly reminds a Saracen Ariel

Mac
Mac
8 years ago

That’s a beautiful frame.

ace
ace
8 years ago

Thank god there is a threaded bottombracket! Outstanding work Alchemy! Now bring the price down somehow!

What?
What?
8 years ago

If you are worried about $250 over the Yeti, this bike is NOT for you. Move on people.

RyGuy
RyGuy
8 years ago

Finally, they made a bike without some crazy toe overlap, uhhh, congrats???

Ol' Shel'
Ol' Shel'
8 years ago

That’s a lot of complication for what rides like a low, single pivot.

'Merika
'Merika
8 years ago

I’m no engineer, but I generally don’t ride full-suspension bikes with sine wave spring curves. Personally, inverted cosines are superior, as they eliminate activity on brake bumps and give me more pop on g-outs.

That One Quasi-Engineer Riding Buddy Everyone Knows and Secretly Hates

JBikes
JBikes
8 years ago

@Tim – FYI – the lack of FD on a 27.5 and 29 cause the same issues, if you desire/need a FD for gearing range.
With the same cassette and front chain ring, a 29er will have less low end, but a higher top end. Change the chain ring down a size on the 29er to match the low end climbing gear of the 27.5, and the 29er now has about the same top end as the larger chain ringed 27.5. They end up being largely the same. So if you like 1x in 27.5, you’ll like it in 29er form, just use a smaller chainring (2 teeth smaller makes for roughly equivalent gearing)

Ripnshread
Ripnshread
8 years ago

How are they charging $3750 for this AND $3750 for the hardtail as well? Is this really 100% “Made in the USA”? Or is it “Built in the USA”? If this and the Oros hardtail are custom made in the USA why is the only option paint?

Bike looks sweet, this frame may replace the SB5c as my dream build. Ill be building this up in my head every night instead of counting sheep.

The Boss
The Boss
8 years ago

@Ripnshread -If this and the Oros hardtail are custom made in the USA why is the only option paint?

Because a custom builder and a production builder are two different things. Just because it is made in the USA doesn’t mean they are set up to offer custom options.

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

I don’t care how it rides or where it’s made: that bike is gorgeous.

benzo
benzo
8 years ago

$3750? That is $800-1000 more than a Ibis Mojo HD3 or Ripley. Why?

CalliforniaCondor
CalliforniaCondor
8 years ago

I don’t see how people can complain about price.

Yes, it is expensive — and way out of my price range — but carbon frames are very labor intensive.

This one is made in the USA by a company that probably pays their workers a decent wage.

Rohan
Rohan
8 years ago

ALCHEMY I salute you for making a great looking bike and for making it in the USA. Great job, unfortunately I just bought a new bike at the beginning of 2014 so please keep it going and who knows 2018 might be the year I buy another new bike.

hellbelly
hellbelly
8 years ago

I think it’s rad that this bike is made in the USA and for not much more than the Yeti. There are a couple of things that could be issue for me though. First, from the picture the top tube does not appear to leave much room one’s naughty bits. Second, there is no provision for a water bottle inside the front triangle as is all the rage with the enduro types these days. I guess the later is not really that big of a deal though, but at that cost I would expect this bike to have it all. Finally, the colorway is not my thing, but if I fork over nearly $4K I suppose I can have whatever color floats my goat.

Randy
Randy
8 years ago

$3,750…drops the mic….

Jimmy Tightpants
Jimmy Tightpants
8 years ago

I used to work next to Alchemy (or shared a building, rather) at Pro’s, this frame is DEFINITELY made in the USA. Those guys are super rad, and it is really awesome to see them expanding their line to mountain. Congrats!

Veganpotter
Veganpotter
8 years ago

Yes, its expensive but look at Yetti, or an S-Works FS bike from Specialized. None of those are US made. A company selling you a $3500 make in Asia frame is making well over double the profit that these guys are making, while only selling for a small price increase

jeff
jeff
8 years ago

$3750 for frame and shock… so that would makes this roughly $5500 for a decent XT level build or $7500 for a full on ENVE wheel XTR build… doesn’t sound too far out there, I guess.

doug
doug
8 years ago

The rear triangle is made in Taiwan, according to “BIKE.” Oh well. still looks amazing.

CornerCanyonRider
CornerCanyonRider
8 years ago

Gorgeous bike! Just checked their website and the price is now $3799. OUCH! If only they’d designed it as a ’79er like the new FOES Mixer, but with shorter stays, then I might be into it.

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