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Manitou FS II Future MTB Project Reimagines the Mountain Bike Classic with Gamux and Pinion

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Manitou FS II Future MTB Project Reimagines the Mountain Bike Classic with Gamux and Pinion

Is Manitou trying to reinvent mountain biking after more than 30 years with this FS II Future MTB project?

Really no. Of course, Manitou was one of the pioneers of full suspension mountain bikes in the early 90s. But they are fully aware that suspension design goes far beyond attaching a second suspension fork to the back of any frame to provide rear wheel travel. But that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to see what looks like a more modern adaptation of the first full suspension mountain bikes, updated with much more modern technologies…

Manitou FS II project: Updating the Mountain Bike Legend

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux for Gee Milner's Dream Build
(Photos / Hayes Bike)

So Manitou’s Hayes Bicycle Group parent company decided to reach out to Swiss gravity bike manufacturer Gamux to see what kind of modern full-suspension road bike they could create built around a suspension fork that manages rear wheel travel like the early days of mountain biking. evolution.

Manitou thought they could run a short-travel XC kids bike fork in the rear, a mid-travel road bike fork in the front, a Pinon gearbox transmission in the bottom bracket, and then let Gamux create one of their wild machined aluminums. Frames that make everything work rely on carbon structures to modulate frame stiffness as required!

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept takes inspiration from this 1993 Manitou FS IIManitou FS II Future MTB concept takes inspiration from this 1993 Manitou FS II

The inspiration for all this nonsense, and a quick history lesson for those too young to remember, was this first Manitou FS motorcycle from the 1990s. Possibly the first suspension mountain bike fork was created by Doug Bradbury in 1990 under the name Manitou. Just a year later, Bradbury attached a second fork to the rear to create the softail mountain bike. All are controlled by elastomers.

Manitou was well on its way with its original FS offerings from 1993, back when 26″ and rim V-brakes were all available and 3x drivetrains were still popular. It was a simpler time.

Manitou and Gamux began working on making a new version of the FS.

And then, to take the new Manitou FS II project bike to the next level, they called on Gee Milner for a Dream Build…

Manitou FS II’s future off-road bike prototype Dream Build

“To celebrate not only the origins of the brand, but an innovation that changed the face of the entire sport, Manitou has partnered with Gamux, Pinion, Gates, Schwalbe, Hayes, ProTaper and Reynolds to create a forward-thinking, modern sport. Flip the original Manitou FS bike.

While nostalgic motifs for recreating such a bike certainly had some value, it was felt that examining the past could also be a conduit for building a better future. Using the lessons learned from such a long and storied history with the same passion and desire to innovate ensures that the future of MTB is as exciting as the crazy ride that brought us today.

“The Manitou FS II project set out to combine the most advanced components and solutions of tomorrow into a platform rooted in the iconic design that started the full suspension mountain bike revolution.”

– Hayes Performance Systems

Why should you build it in the first place?

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux, full build detailsManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux, full build details

Now Manitou has assured us that the FS II project bikes are not meant to shake up the full-suspension mountain bike design again. Modern suspension is much more refined than a single pivot with a semi-stock fork placed on it.

And in truth, combined with the larger 29-inch wheels we’re using today and the lower-slung top tubes to achieve adequate upright height, I get the feeling that this isn’t exactly the smoothest way to get a few sliding fork struts in motion without anything else. to provide stability and rigidity, side-to-side balance, and even control kinematics in a more manageable way.

A fork at each end

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around the JUnit fork by GamuxManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around the JUnit fork by Gamux

But I’m sure it was a fun project. And Manitou said the Gamux team actually used FS II quite a bit and it went well enough. So at least it’s little more than a show bike.

The heart of the whole project is this Manitou Machete JUnit Pro fork. It looks like it started out as the same fork on my kid’s 24-inch hardtail. Apart from that, Manitou & Gamux cut the steering tube and CNC machined a completely new undercarriage set and a new yoke to interface with the frame. They also created an entirely new, slimmer arch shape that’s more reminiscent of the original FS from 1993.

And they gave it a custom tune, reducing travel to just 80mm (paired with 130/140mm up front) to give the completed bike 125mm of single-pivot rear wheel travel.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around a JUnit fork by Gamux, rear end detailManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around a JUnit fork by Gamux, rear end detail

They then gave the concept motorcycle a Pinion gearbox and Gates belt drive, giving it a lower center of gravity.better handling, protected gears and significant reductions in unsprung weight.“

In terms of geometry, Gamux say they built it to the specifications they would want for a backcountry road bike with shred capacity. This results in a 66° roof tube angle, a steep seat angle, relatively long 450mm chainstays to fit 29×2.4″ tyres, and a 460mm long frame Reach.

Technical details from Gamux

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around JUnit fork, frameset by GamuxManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built around JUnit fork, frameset by Gamux

Just as the rear fork was heavily modified by Gamux, they machined the entire remainder of the FS II prototype frame in their workshop in Switzerland.

While at first glance it looks like there are just a few round tubes welded together in more complex tube shapes, the entire frame is actually CNC machined from 7075-T651 aluminum in just two pieces.

The most dramatic looking is the 1-piece chainstay swingarm with a hollow trellis design, not too different from Gamux’s current production. belt driven Sego transmission DH racing bike…even though they are still under development. prototype road bikes.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype manufactured in Switzerland by Gamux, head tubeManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype manufactured in Switzerland by Gamux, head tube

The main triangle consists mostly of hollow box-section tubes, filled with bonded carbon tubes. Gamux explains that they developed these “Bonded Carbon Elements” together with the World Cup DH racing team to modulate frame stiffness and adjust the flex of the frame individually for each rider.

The Manitou FS II project frame features more traditional round tube shapes in the top tube and seat tube, where the frame’s fork and seatpost meet the tapered steering tube.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype produced by Gamux, frame detailManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype produced by Gamux, frame detail

It looks like the oversized headset can accommodate an angle-adjustable headset if they feel the need to change the bike’s handling. But there actually isn’t enough room on that short seat post to fit the dropper post. Still, maybe get away with a short cordless dropper for more rideability?

The Manitou team describes building the bike as “somewhat cost-prohibitive” if anyone thought they intended to make it a viable product you could actually buy.

Giving the project bike some realistic build

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux completed in Gee Milner's workshopManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux completed in Gee Milner's workshop

While you won’t be able to find this Manitou FS II prototype at your local bike shop anytime soon, there are still many more realistic components that make up the entire bike build. Since this is a Dream Build, there’s a lot of fancy kit here. But these are mostly reasonably available parts from the Hayes Bicycle family of brands.

Up front, the highlight is the Manitou Mattoc Pro fork. Truly one of the lightest, stiffest and most versatile off-road bike forks, the thousand-dollar 29er Mattoc features 34mm struts and can offer anywhere between 110-150mm of travel, with easy adjustability in 1cm increments.

Manitou equipped the prototype FS II project bike with a Gates CDX belt drive system pulling a Pinion C1.12 gearbox; The special edition was anodized purple to match the Purple Hayes (Haze) brakes.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike with ProTaper componentsManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike with ProTaper components

Along with the Purple Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, there’s also a beautiful, shiny, full silver ProTaper A25 alloy bar and ATAC handlebar for more vintage style.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike features Purple Hayes fog brakesManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike features Purple Hayes fog brakes

Of course, there are even brighter purple graphics and a set of carbon Reynolds Blacklable 309 Enduro wheels to complete your dream build.

Manitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by GamuxManitou FS II Future MTB concept project bike prototype built by Gamux

“When we look back we not only see where we came from, we also take a look at the future of mountain biking. From Manitou’s rear-facing belt to the standards Hayes set for brakes to the near-universal adoption of full suspension, today’s riders (whether XC, DH, or anything in between) are enjoying a better experience in the saddle. . “They are leveraging the technology of tomorrow, building on the lessons of the past for an incredible present.”

– Hayes Performance Systems

ManitouMTB.com

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