We've been
following the development of Gamux's downhill bike for the last three seasons. The small Swiss team are doing several interesting things: combining a high-pivot, belt-driven gearbox drivetrain with a CNC-machined frame made with I-beams instead of tubes. Now, this radical bike is for sale. It can be pre-ordered now and should be available from March 2024.
While
early versions had a four-bar suspension system, more recently Gamux settled on a high single pivot layout with a futuristic machined swingarm. The six-speed Pinion gearbox is still present, and a version with "semi-automatic" shifting is available thanks to Pinion's
C 1.6 Smart Shift system. This uses a small battery to shift gears electronically in the gearbox. The shifting can either be controlled via an electronic shifter under the bar, or automatically, using a speed sensor mounted on the rear rotor to sense the speed and shift automatically so you're always in the right gear.
The Sego delivers 198 mm of rear suspension travel via a linkage-driven single pivot layout, said to be compatible with coil or air shocks. It can accept 29" or 27.5" rear wheels with different swingarms for each (there's no flip chip to accommodate either with a single frame). The 27.5" swingarm also reduces the rear-centre length from 460 mm to 445 mm. It's available in three sizes, and the ZS56-ZS56 headset makes it possible to fine-tune the fit with a reach-adjust headset. The frame weight is quoted as "low and central".
A frame kit including frame hardware, Pinion gearbox and Gates Carbon Drive is available for CHF. 6,250, or CHF. 6,700 with Pinion Smart Shift. The Manitou team build shown above with the Dorado Pro fork and Mara Pro shock costs CHF. 10,000 (CHF. 10,450 with Smart Shift). An Öhlins option with DH38.2 fork and TTX22 shock costs CHF. 11,000 - 11,450. The frame carries a 2-year warranty against damage "when used as intended".
For more information, head to
gamuxbikes.com
It’s beautiful.
I get suspension designs dictate frame design, but I will never understand why full on DH bikes don’t all have extremely low stand over like this one.
Is that the limited pirate edition? Yarr!
youtu.be/K7aM_HWMdj0?si=jb6ivy9-TawACTEQ
Single pivot kinematics with rocker: check
High pivot: check
Central gearbox: check
one piece (?) swingarm
Steep seat angle and very low top tube: check
love it!
www.gamuxbikes.com/sego2024
My english is by far not good enough to explain all the sientific details, but imagine the frame helping you to keep gripping in a rough offcamber section without bouncing of roots rocks and bumps. Maybee the best analogy is "frame-compliance" - correct me if im wrong
Es ist ein geiler Rahmen, sehr innovativ und wahrscheinlich seid ihr eure Zeit weit voraus.
I bought a Kavenz VHS Pinion frame for 3k, adding a gearbox with the same drive would add at most 2k.
Still a nice bike if you need a DH ride.
I think Zerode has a new DH Pinion sled in the works.
Watch this space
For real, shorter riders tend to do well with taller bars
The predecessor to this.
After the initial breake-in time of the gearbox, the added drag is virtually zero. Since you have a consistant "belt-line" throughout all the gears, it's acctually better than a 1x12 system in the upper or lower gears.
Pinion and Gates do quite good work in R&D to adress the whole drag-issue. We can just speak from our expereince on the DH bike - we only find benefits.
Do you sell the bike with a chain drive?
If you're racing, that's cool.
If you're smashing park laps at Whistler/Morzine then it's an expensive and unnecessary luxury.
I highly suspect most DH sales fall into the latter category.
Cool that this bike exists, but it feels like a niche within a niche.
Have a great day.