Deviate Cycles' High Pivot Titanium Prototypes
Deviate Cycles is another brand moving in the world of 3D printed frame manufacturing, specifically from titanium. Currently, they produce two models from carbon fibre but the driving factors for the possible change are sustainability, manufacturing speed, and customization.
Building carbon frames requires a commitment to expensive frame molds that cannot be modified. Although 3D printing titanium parts isn’t cheap, it does allow for speedy production changes and that bodes well for a company of Deviate’s size to stay on point with market trends.
Deviate is working on two prototypes. Both prototypes continue to employ Deviate’s single high-pivot design for a suspension system but their actuation varies. They say that custom geometry is also possible but, with resale in mind, are wary of creating frames with angles that are too specific to one customer.
Project Lowlander - 125mm rear travel, 140mm front
Project Lowlander is a 125mm downcountry bike with a 140mm fork and thermoplastic seat tube. The linkage compresses the vertically oriented shock from both directions and allows for two water bottles to be stored inside the front triangle.
Project Tilander - 145mm rear travel, 160mm front
The Tilander mimics the character of the current Highlander II with 145mm of travel and runs on a 160mm fork. On this frame, the lower portion of the rear triangle pulls a link above the BB to rotate and compress the shock from the bottom.
Originally, they looked at building frames with a similar construction method to Atherton Bikes, using carbon tubes bonded to 3D-printed titanium lugs. That method proved too costly. Through talking with 3D-printing titanium experts, they learned about another method that used titanium tubing.
 | After reviewing all the viable technology, we ended up with a 3D printed, Ti lugged concept, but the cost was prohibitive! So when we found out about CMF (cold metal fusion) and other similar processes like metal injection moulding we recognised the potential, and quickly started working with (Kiel, Germany-based company) Element22. Their technical capabilities were really what made all of this possible. |
There are no details on geometry, pricing, or availability right now since these are still in the prototype phase. You can read more about the project on their blog here.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
The industry is pushing headset cable routing to force you to buy the new SRAM wireless Transmission. Don’t want the headset routing? Better charge those batteries.
The only options are 'looks great!' or the usual PB sentiment on bike design that prohibits easy maintenance.
The Yeti SB140 is $4500 for the frame (crazy for mass-produced factory made).
Since Deviate mentions the Atherton method was too much in cost, maybe they are targeting $4k or below?
Still outside what I would pay, but would like to see it brought to market for bike porn purposes.
Also can we get some info on the plastic seat tube? If someone goes balls out on a titanium fs bike, they don't want everyone's first question to be why the seat tube is still plastic!
Carbon Reinforced Polypropylene
Carbon Reinforced Polyamide
Carbon Reinforced Polycarbonate
?? we simply don't know. Army men are thermoplastic so maybe its made of that and you're right to be scared.