D
Doug Taylor
Guest
In the June issue of Mountain Bike, Horst Leitner (inventor of the Horst Link used on such f.s.
bikes as Titus Racer X, Specialized FSR, and his own, now defunct, AMPs) is quoted as follows:
WORST SUSPENSION INNOVATION? - "Bikes like the Santa Cruz Blur. They're too heavy because they
don't use their suspension element as a structural member to keep weight down and to maximize
rigidity. The VPP has too many pivots, which makes it too flexy. Our bikes from 10 years ago are
probably more rigid."
INNOVATION YOU ADMIRE MOST? " The mountain bike industry is going backwards, so I can't admire
anything. Manufacturers are moving more and more toward freeride bikes. The result is a shrinking
market. There's no way to make money there. They should be making bikes that are light, suspended
and comfortable. Instead, they're making bikes with tons of travel, and they're getting stuck with
them. As for DH bikes, they're good for a few sales, then it's over."
STILL TO COME? "I don't know. Right now no one's headed in the right direction. If someone comes up
with something better than an AMP-type suspension design, maybe. But so far, no one has."
From this and other quotes, it's clear the guy is full of himself, though maybe with some
justification. My gut is that he has a point, as I'm biased in favor of x-c and light bikes.
So, is the guy just a cantankerous, out of touch reactionary or still a visionary?
-dt
bikes as Titus Racer X, Specialized FSR, and his own, now defunct, AMPs) is quoted as follows:
WORST SUSPENSION INNOVATION? - "Bikes like the Santa Cruz Blur. They're too heavy because they
don't use their suspension element as a structural member to keep weight down and to maximize
rigidity. The VPP has too many pivots, which makes it too flexy. Our bikes from 10 years ago are
probably more rigid."
INNOVATION YOU ADMIRE MOST? " The mountain bike industry is going backwards, so I can't admire
anything. Manufacturers are moving more and more toward freeride bikes. The result is a shrinking
market. There's no way to make money there. They should be making bikes that are light, suspended
and comfortable. Instead, they're making bikes with tons of travel, and they're getting stuck with
them. As for DH bikes, they're good for a few sales, then it's over."
STILL TO COME? "I don't know. Right now no one's headed in the right direction. If someone comes up
with something better than an AMP-type suspension design, maybe. But so far, no one has."
From this and other quotes, it's clear the guy is full of himself, though maybe with some
justification. My gut is that he has a point, as I'm biased in favor of x-c and light bikes.
So, is the guy just a cantankerous, out of touch reactionary or still a visionary?
-dt