Kellys' gorgeous new Theos F ebike sports an innovative frame made from thermoplastic hybrid steel-carbon composite that's twice as impact-resistant, twice as durable, and no heavier than a comparable frame made from conventional resin carbon fiber.
Slovakian company Kellys teamed with Belgian startup Rein4ced to produce the new frame. The composite material, known as Feather, uses carbon fibers in conjunction with a "much stronger" than normal thermoplastic binder, and stainless steel microfibers – the latter are added into the carbon fiber matrix at key locations within the frame.
The frames are built robotically, which should help to reduce production costs while also keeping the quality consistent.
According to Kellys, the finished product is twice as impact-resistant as a comparable frame made of traditional carbon fiber, plus it's twice as durable but just as lightweight. And as an added bonus, Feather is claimed to be recyclable.
The full-suspension Theos F itself is available in three models – the F90, F70 and F50 – all of which are aimed at enduro racing. Along with the Feather frame, all three also feature a bottom-bracket-located Shimano electric drive unit, a removable 720-Wh battery housed within the down tube, Fox or RockShox front and rear suspension, plus a Shimano XT (or lower) shifter, derailleur and hydraulic disc brakes.
They also all feature a "mullet wheel" setup, with a larger 29-inch wheel in front and a smaller 27.5-inch wheel in the rear. The idea is that this will combine the 29er's ability to roll over obstacles with the 27.5er's quicker acceleration and sharper handling.
Their weight, speed, range, pricing and availability are all yet to be announced.
Check out the Kellys Theos F series in the video below.
