Raleigh '09 FS

[AndreZA]

Taken from the Raleigh website

 

PROTOTYPES PART 2
Written By Jan Begemann | Date 2008-03-26

After a very successful prototype testing week during the Giro del Capo with David George we decided to do the same with another new 2009 prototype frame. From Friday on there will be 3 new Marathon fullsuspension frames at the Cape Epic. Not the final version for '09, but very close to it.
For the first time ever we'll go for a real active 4-link system, so it will have nothing in common with the current Marathon frame. The idea behind the frame was to create a suspension frame optimised for marathon racing. One of the most important and most difficult parts of it was to get the shock out of the front triangle, so that it's possible to use 2 bottle cages. There is a reason why Christoph Sauser doesn't use a Camelback, but he can race with only 1 bottle, because he can get a new one from his supporters every 5 minutes during the whole race. But what about all the average guys (like Big Al and me and maybe you) who already discovered that riding without 1.5l of water on your back is much more comfortable (and faster), but can't reach the next water point with only 1 bottle? As we are not allowed to copy the patented designs of Specialized and Merida / Centurion and I don't like to use cable ties to fix a bottle cage under the toptube (sorry guys, super beautiful frame, but poor Burry...) we moved the shock behind the seattube, directly under the seatclamp, so that it is still easy to reach the lockout lever during the ride - actually not really a new idea, but very certain to find with a Horst-Link and 100mm travel.

 

http://www.raleigh.co.za/UserFiles/Image/Marathon%2009.jpg

The Team BBB (with Big Al and Bundi) is riding this frame already since a couple of weeks will ride the Epic on it. The 3rd frame went again to David George.
More infos will follow after the Epic.

 

 

 

[NotSoBigBen]

Looks very Orbea OIz/Cannondale Scalpel like ?

[dirtrider]

Well there goes my support for Raleigh !!!

[Spinnekop]

Scalpel flexes on the carbon stays.  This frame has a pivot on the BB. 

 

Weird.

 

 

[NotSoBigBen]

 

Just wondering ..........

[Doug]

Looks very Orbea OIz/Cannondale Scalpel like ?

 

please share some of your "wondering" thoughts...with us.....plz ?

Doug2008-04-01 06:24:21

[NotSoBigBen]

Just thought that it looked very much like the Oiz FS bike's design.

[ewep]

Except for some cosmetic changes the frame design and BB's pic looks VERY similar!

[Kiwi]

There was a photo of it a couple of weeks ago on http://www.mtbonline.co.za

 

Here's some pics: http://mtbonline.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-03-29T19%3A28%3A00%2B02%3A00&max-results=5

 

 

Kiwi2008-04-01 06:59:52

[Doug]

[Doug]

looks like a bigAL bike ?

[live2ride]

Saw this on the Raleigh website

 

There are some rumors on different internet forums about the question if our new design is just copied or not. And when I look at the bikes being reputed to be the originals, I don't know if I should cry or laugh about it.

http://www.raleigh.co.za/blogs.php?blogId=251&authorId=5

[dirtrider]

The fact that it may be a copy is not really my problem . The fact that it is a Sh@t desigh however is ! Why move away from the current (copied) design ? I will have to take all those Raleigh stickers of my Ford !!!

[live2ride]

I have to disagree.

 

I was fortunate enough to ride one of these new prototypes in the epic this year and it was awesome.

 

I loved the simplicity and reliability of the single pivot of the previous marathon bikes. But the comfort and control from this new design with the active suspension has convinced me. First time I wrode it I felt like I was riding a 6 inch trail bike because it just sucks up everything.

 

At the epic it was ultra reliable and absolutely faultless. Team BBB wrode these bikes in the toughest epic ever from start to finish where many other big name brands and legendary designs came unstuck. Noy pointing fingers but check this pic from day 3.

 

 

Oh and David George wrode one of these 2009 prototypes onto the podium. No offense but thanks to the handling of that bike a roadie like him was able to mix it up with the worlds best MTB riders.

 

Hence I am selling my Marathon team and holdingout for the new 2009 Raleigh FS.

[GoLefty!!]

Ok the resemblance of the New 09 RAleigh is remarkably similar to the Orbea  and a German frame design. I forget the name.

 

However I have been a fan of the layout thanks to the fact you can mount two bottle cages on the bike.

 

However, I think more work is required to refine the suspension of the new Raleigh. I watched the suspension action of that bikemany times before the Epic and, no offense to David, but it bobs too much. David, beign a roadie is probaly not aware of the over activeness of the design. It certainly requires more damping.

 

Stick with the development. It looks promising.

[MTB MAN]

THATS WHAT RALEIGH DOES!!???!!COPY MODELS THEN THEY BREAK!!!!