Experimental Prototypes
One of the big advantages of building your own bikes is the possibilities to build stuff you want to test.
We call these bikes the XP series.
XP bikes can be built to test geometries, suspension concepts, fabrication methodes, materials etc. They can be slight alterations of our regular bikes or complete one offs. Whatever we feel like!
XP1
First of the XP bikes, built to test out the design of a high pivot Trail/Enduro bike. Using the rear axle as a pivot we quickly learned that the seatstays needed to be a lot beefier than with the flexstays we used before, so the bike also became a test for in house CNCed seatstays.
Bike did great in Finale Ligure, suspension felt very plush yet planted while climbing. Seatstays held up without any issues.
Bike will be used for big Alpine trips the coming year, but we are not completely convinced with the pivot at the rear axle concept. Next XP for a big travel bike will be a virtual pivot with a small link at the BB.
XP2
The second XP is based on the same high pivot layout as the XP1, but with a focus on geometry. Brainchild of Lars van der Wansem (RAD15) this bike is built around a 0mm Rulezman stem and 145mm cranks, to find the limits of what a modern trailbike can be.
We welded the rear pivot dropouts shut to make it a flexstay bike.
Bike rides amazingly well on our local Dutch singletracks but we will build a Victor TR XP with some slight tweaks to test our ideas further.
XP3
XP3 is our first test of the Victor TR(ail). Same geometry as the original Victor, but with a more refined suspension layout. Also the first iteration of our seattube assembly that we want to use across several bikes, including the Victor XC, Victor TR and upcoming virtual pivot Vertigo All Mountain prototype.
Also the first titanium frame I have built completely myself, as are the CNCed parts made in house.