Bicycles

Veli full-suspension mountain bike has a rear end like no other

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A close look at the Veli's unique Vasttech rear suspension
Veli
The Veli is designed for cross-country use
Veli
The Vasttech suspension features 112 mm of travel
Veli
A close look at the Veli's unique Vasttech rear suspension
Veli
In its one currently available frame size, the Veli is claimed to weigh in at 9.59 kg (21.1 lb) – pedals and saddle not included
Veli
Along with its rear suspension, some of the Veli's other custom features include a full-carbon monocoque frame; three-spoked monocoque carbon wheels (29-inch in front, 27.5 in the back); and a carbon handlebar and stem made by sister company Atoll Bike
Veli
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When we see mountain bikes with unusual suspension tech, the weird stuff is usually in front. The Veli cross-country MTB has an unconventional rear suspension system, however, which is claimed to offer several advantages over traditional setups.

Designed and manufactured by Australian mountain bike suspension company Vasttech, the Veli is the first bike to feature the firm's unique suspension system.

Initially announced five years ago, the Vasttech setup places the rear pivot point(s) approximately half way along the length of the chain stays, where the seat stays join them. A specially tuned Fox Performance Float DPS shock runs from the rear section of the left-hand chain stay up to the left seat stay, providing 112 mm of travel.

In its one currently available frame size, the Veli is claimed to weigh in at 9.59 kg (21.1 lb) – pedals and saddle not included
Veli

So, what's the point?

For starters, Vasttech designer Tim Southall states that the setup allows the bike to have a hard-tail-style "double diamond" frame, which he claims is lighter and stronger than most full-suspension frames (in which a front triangle is connected to a pivoting rear swingarm).

The Vasttech system is additionally said to allow the wheel axle to move rearward – as opposed to just upward – helping the suspension to absorb square-edged bumps. The setup is also claimed to reduce "pedal bob"-induced squatting of the rear end when climbing and accelerating, and to boost the bike's sensitivity to small bumps by reducing its unsprung mass.

The Veli is designed for cross-country use
Veli

Some of the Veli's other custom features include a full-carbon monocoque frame; three-spoked monocoque carbon wheels (29-inch in front, 27.5 in the back); and a carbon handlebar and stem made by sister company Atoll Bike.

Along with the Fox rear shock, third-party components include a Fox Factory 34 SC fork with 120 mm of travel; a Fox Factory Transfer SL dropper seatpost; a Shimano XTR drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes; and Vittoria Barzo tires. Only one frame size is being offered for now, with an entire bike (minus pedals and saddle) reportedly tipping the scales at a mere 9.59 kg (21.1 lb). Other sizes should be available next year.

And no, the Veli ain't cheap. If you want one, be prepared to part with AU$13,700 (about US$9,445).

Its Vasttech rear suspension is demonstrated in the video below.

Sources: Veli, Vasttech via BikeRadar, Pinkbike

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8 comments
melmark
112 mm of travel is horrible. Keep in on the street to go to Starbucks. Real MTB's have 160-180mm travel.
George
Concur that 112mm for $$$$$ appears low. However, I love my Engwe X26 (OK, Chinese, weighs a ton (even though alloy ?!) but 1/4 the price). Yes, has 150mm at front, 'only' 30mm mid and 40mm rear (adj) but with the padded saddle/fat tyres it just glides over worst potholes/moorland round here :-) Luv it .
White Rabbit
@ melmark: After a quick search the maximum stroke length I could find for REAR shocks was 76mm!
Fork travel, on the other hand, ranges from 30 mm to 200+ mm.
Are you sure you know your rear end from your front?
rgooding
Cheezus-rice - whom exactly is going to spend 11K on a bicycle that's just better (according to the manufacturer without any evidence to the contrary in this article anyways) vs what's already available for less $$ with better specs??

Why does it seem that all these new announcements are just engineering exercises for some company's design departments and doomed to failure?

I'm just getting old i guess but i'm fed up of all these new bikes that are ridiculously overpriced for a niche market - never-mind the nagging question in my head about who will fix this anyways once you break it on the trail?

HARD PASS.

and would it be too much to ask for a new bike that is better than my old one and cheaper too?? Wasn't the promise of the future that 3d printing and carbon fiber molding etc. supposed to make everything smarter, cheaper and faster than before?? where did that go wrong?

MCG
Will need a 3d money printer... haha, jokes aside, this thing is gorgeous and I want one. I would probably find the best e-bike tech to stick on it. Wish there was a kevlar belt option. I would also like to slap an infinity saddle on it.
geemy
unlike for forks which have linear motion shock travel is not the rear wheel travel because there's a linkage
John
Aside from the price, I would worry about the one-sided shock mount. It seems to me that it would induce a torsional effect to the pivot points and wear out or damage the linkage in fairly short order.
Dziks
I love to see passionate engineers developing new designs and shearing them with the world. Don't give up!