[zane]

This thought has been in my head since the first time I saw a Lambda- would the linkage above the top tube be a problem? I mean, imagine if you came down really hard off a drop and you landed on your TT while the link was forward (suspension compressed). If your junk got caught between the link and the frame it would be a MAJOR problem. Has anyone ever heard of someone getting messed up due to this frame design?

 

[DHS]

no, i rode one a couple times DH, anything big i'd land further foward if i were to screw up.
but mostly your seat is in the way were the linkage moves
i think Curb Hucker use to have one.

 

[Zark]

I actually liked calling it the "penis scissor"

Nah, I've known several people who've owned them without major sideffects.

 

[punkassean]

I don't know and I don't care, as much as the Voltron/Transformers side of me likes that bike the realistic side of me says WTF???

Same goes for most Nicolai's cool but why?...

I think that frame weighs like 17lbs, I helped a guy build one a few years ago and I couldn't believe the weight of the frame/shock by itself.

 

[Curb Hucker]

I had one last year. I never had a problem with the linkage interfering with my junk, but ya it is a boat anchor

 

[jon-boy]

It's quite probably the most improbable frame ever.


I can see your point though, you'd think it wouldn't take too much bad luck to get something caught in there.

 

[BMXman]

the frame works fine...unless your a complete moron you will never catch yourself in the linkage and the frame with rear shock only weighed in at 13lbs...D

 

[Rik]

unless your a complete moron you will never catch yourself in the linkage

What about incomplete morons, that happen to go down in a crash?
I can't see why they couldn't build something a little less ugly... change is good, but when it's done for the sake of change, hrm... what exactly does the frame improve on with that design that couldn't be done with any other design? It appears to be just another singlepivot or horst link, so why such ugly actuation of the shock? It's not like it was done to keep a full length seat tube, since that one is still interrupted.

 

[adrenalinerush]

Common guys, do you really think you junk is going to get caught up in the linkage. Unless you are going to be riding bear @ss and hung like John Homes you mite have an issue, but then again you got some personal issues too. I have seen the frame and that never issue never came up. And personaly I like the frame looks, I did have an issue with the with of the top tube.

 

[Rik]

Twice this week I've seen people crash and end up riding the top tube for a bit whilst careering out of control. There's always the what-if situation.

 

[BMXman]

What about incomplete morons, that happen to go down in a crash?
I can't see why they couldn't build something a little less ugly... change is good, but when it's done for the sake of change, hrm... what exactly does the frame improve on with that design that couldn't be done with any other design? It appears to be just another singlepivot or horst link, so why such ugly actuation of the shock? It's not like it was done to keep a full length seat tube, since that one is still interrupted.

well if you go down in a crash with your junk hanging out then you deserve what happens...I mean really, do you think any intelligent individual would ride in such a way that his junk could be caught between anything...I would love to hear the story of how someone crashed and somehow their junk just happen to fall in between the scissor linkage at full travel and got crunched...the odds are astrinomical not to mention you would have to be hung like an elephant.

AS far ar design of the frame...your right all the bike makers should just make the same design the "looks cool" never mind individuality, remember what you may think is ugly many others think differently...and the frame is a horst link...the changes from '03 to '04 were quite impressive but if you knew more about the bike then you would already know that....Orven is who you should be asking since he owned both...I have just ridden them both....D

 

[Rik]

It's not just a matter of getting caught in the linkage as it moves (actually I don't think it's much of an issue anyway), it's the fact that it's an odd shape that juts out from the top tube. So it's not getting caught that's an issue to me, but just landing on such a shape couldn't be pleasant. Oh and of course, only a moron would fall on it, and an intelligent individual would avoid such an occurance, but as I said, it's the what-if. What if you were riding, had a mishap, and landed on the linkage... moving or not. I am somewhat concious of standover clearance, in the case of such an incident, and a design like that puts me off.

I am right that everyone should make the same design? I didn't even imply anything along those lines, actually, since we mentioned that, why did Nicolai design such a shaped bike, in what ways does their actuation of the shock give benefit over any other design? Or is it them that are making things to "look cool", as well as for the sake of individuality? Since I no nothing about the bikes, can someone tell me the advanatages of having the linkage pivot so high on the bike, and compare it to other forms of horstlink frames?

 

[ChrisRobin]

Well I can't say why Nicolai goes way out there when they make frames but like everyone says: "they look cool." Don't forget they are made perfectly (unless someone can say otherwise). When I chose my frame, I was tired of owning crooked frames, friends had problems with other mass produced frames...etc. So craftsmanship is for sure one of the reasons why I went Nicolai...the 'cool looking' was a bonus. Plus I was tired of derailleurs.

Why buy a BMW frame??? They're made of steel and really expensive! They don't use a revolutionary suspension design.

 

[Rik]

Because it's apparently something only Nicolai and BMW owners can understand... and if you need to ask...
Nevermind my cynical ways.

 

[ChrisRobin]

We can use the same example with cars. Why would I buy a Mercedes when I can buy a Honda??? I guess everyone has their own reasons.

I got a Nicolai frame just because:
-I didn't plan on changing frames in the near future.
-With my plans moving, changing jobs...etc, I don't feel like having to find the money down the road for a better new DH bike. I figured I'd get something good now...even though it is a boat anchor.

 

[atrokz]

I don't know and I don't care, as much as the Voltron/Transformers side of me likes that bike the realistic side of me says WTF???

Same goes for most Nicolai's cool but why?...

I think that frame weighs like 17lbs, I helped a guy build one a few years ago and I couldn't believe the weight of the frame/shock by itself.

Where do you get your stats from? The wonderfull world of mars?

I owned and beat down on one for 2 years, and There is realy no issue whatsoever. First off, the linkage does not "scissor". It only comes half way under full compression. Second, the seat covers it. Third, what kind of numbnut skills would you need to fall back into a frame? Physics would'nt allow it unless you wheelie droped backwards. It's a DH bike, you fall forwards. Fourth, its 14lbs. I had mine complete with burly parts at 44lbs. Perfect for a guy that weighs over 185lbs, and it's much stronger than many anorexic 'race' frames out there that would never last me that long. So it's perfect for a heavier agressive rider that does not care about just racing.

To finalize. Realisitic? what's realisitc? VPP bikes, Air assisted DH forks and Internal drivetrtains? I for one know very well that these bikes perform better than most "realistic" bikes, and every media review seems to think so themselves.

If it were up to people with that attitude, we'd still be on elastomers and wearing purple spandex.

Geeze. :mumble:

 

[atrokz]

I am right that everyone should make the same design? I didn't even imply anything along those lines, actually, since we mentioned that, why did Nicolai design such a shaped bike, in what ways does their actuation of the shock give benefit over any other design? Or is it them that are making things to "look cool", as well as for the sake of individuality? Since I no nothing about the bikes, can someone tell me the advanatages of having the linkage pivot so high on the bike, and compare it to other forms of horstlink frames?

Not being the designer, I can't be fully correct. But if you ask me, I'd tell you to look at other horst link bikes that have the shock mounted within the front triangle utilizing a rocker linkage.

Ok, first off, the lambda frame is in fact very low, as is the rocker link. Much lower than other bikes utilizing a rocker link (guess it's something you'll need to see in perfon). There is a ton of standover clearance that is not available on other bikes utilizing a similar linkage set up.

Second, the 'odd' set up for the rocker links means the shock sits closer to the center of the bike (with regards to weight), and lower. Thus creating a lower COG, and a ballanced bike.

Third, I can see that having all this spaced closer together would allow for a tighter triangle, making for a stronger design. Having owned one of these, I know that this frame is the stiffest I've ever known, and definately one of the strongest.

Fourth, Having the linakge push forwar instead of upwards might have something to do with both transfer of energy, and keeping that energy contained.

All the information is there, you just need a bit of a education in enginering, and a bit of an imagination.

 

[seismic]

Some friends are riding Lambdas...never any problems !!!

 

[Orvan]

Curb Hucker wouldn't sell my old Lambda back to me for $500. I would love to own it back but now it's curb hucked and soiled from the midwest so I don't want that same frame anymore.

Never had-whatsoever- problems with the Lambada..I raced and owned two!

 

[ChrisRobin]

I owned and beat down on one for 2 years, and There is realy no issue whatsoever. First off, the linkage does not "scissor". It only comes half way under full compression. Second, the seat covers it. Third, what kind of numbnut skills would you need to fall back into a frame? Physics would'nt allow it unless you wheelie droped backwards. It's a DH bike, you fall forwards. Fourth, its 14lbs. I had mine complete with burly parts at 44lbs. Perfect for a guy that weighs over 185lbs, and it's much stronger than many anorexic 'race' frames out there that would never last me that long. So it's perfect for a heavier agressive rider that does not care about just racing.

To finalize. Realisitic? what's realisitc? VPP bikes, Air assisted DH forks and Internal drivetrtains? I for one know very well that these bikes perform better than most "realistic" bikes, and every media review seems to think so themselves.

If it were up to people with that attitude, we'd still be on elastomers and wearing purple spandex.

Geeze. :mumble:

Nicely said