Rotec RL9
- Thread starter Forecaster
- Start date
Oh you mean the CC (circus circus) yellow? Yeah that was a 3rd floor offering only
Im a bit confused. The chain guide mounts to the swingarm and not the main frame? Is that going to work correctly?
very nice frame
like the specs
definately put on my short list for my new purchase in spring next year
like the specs
definately put on my short list for my new purchase in spring next year
Cave Dweller said:
Sure will, it's got a BB-centric pivot so the chainguide will still be centred around the BB/chainring, but won't have to move relative to the swingarm. Very cool idea actually!
Thats is correct theflyinfatman, thats the beauty of the system.
Its been a mainstay of Rotecs since the early days. The biggest improvement coming after I aquired the company in 02 when we introduced the ISCG standard onto the 03/04 non linkage rotec.
Prior to that the mounting pattern on all rotecs were based on the older Mr. Dirt standard which placed the holes in a 12/3/6 o'clock postion.
The RL9 is a concentric based lawwill design that was never embraced by other mfg's of that period with the exception of the Gary Fisher/Lawwill RS1 XC design back in the late 80's early 90's. It was a shoe in so to speak for us to develop it this way as Mert had concieved his design as an concentric and Rotec has been concentric based from the begining.
The beauty of this is that for the first time a lawwill design will have a driveline that out performs past configuration by managing chaingrowth issues by using the concentric bb. The only chaingrowth will now come from the rear droplink and not both the chainstay and droplink.
The droplink is another area that we improved on by now moving the mech hanger to the droplink off the chainstay as most prior lawwill owners may remember from their Yeti's and Schwinns. The RL9 has a replaceable hanger only because when a tab did fail it meant the replacement of an entire lower swingarm for both Yeti/Schwinn brands
as well as the replacement of the entire driveside droplink on the Tomac.
Surviablity, durability and serviceablity of that area and its components is key to a successful driveline and ones ability to finish your race run or fun run for that matter.
By also moving the bearings from their orginal lower swingarm location to the outboard postion on the droplinks of the RL9 and utllizing a 12mm thru-axle we have greatly improved the stiffness of the rearend.
And of course this entire system is worthless without a floating rear brake system to control brake induced suspension feedback.
Doug Bradburys 1st gen Tomac 204 I feel was the greatest improvement in Lawwill designs at that time and for reasons unknown to most, the fact their was never a second 2nd gen Tomac Lawwill was a bummer to us who loved that design.
Long live Lawwill!!
Its been a mainstay of Rotecs since the early days. The biggest improvement coming after I aquired the company in 02 when we introduced the ISCG standard onto the 03/04 non linkage rotec.
Prior to that the mounting pattern on all rotecs were based on the older Mr. Dirt standard which placed the holes in a 12/3/6 o'clock postion.
The RL9 is a concentric based lawwill design that was never embraced by other mfg's of that period with the exception of the Gary Fisher/Lawwill RS1 XC design back in the late 80's early 90's. It was a shoe in so to speak for us to develop it this way as Mert had concieved his design as an concentric and Rotec has been concentric based from the begining.
The beauty of this is that for the first time a lawwill design will have a driveline that out performs past configuration by managing chaingrowth issues by using the concentric bb. The only chaingrowth will now come from the rear droplink and not both the chainstay and droplink.
The droplink is another area that we improved on by now moving the mech hanger to the droplink off the chainstay as most prior lawwill owners may remember from their Yeti's and Schwinns. The RL9 has a replaceable hanger only because when a tab did fail it meant the replacement of an entire lower swingarm for both Yeti/Schwinn brands
as well as the replacement of the entire driveside droplink on the Tomac.
Surviablity, durability and serviceablity of that area and its components is key to a successful driveline and ones ability to finish your race run or fun run for that matter.
By also moving the bearings from their orginal lower swingarm location to the outboard postion on the droplinks of the RL9 and utllizing a 12mm thru-axle we have greatly improved the stiffness of the rearend.
And of course this entire system is worthless without a floating rear brake system to control brake induced suspension feedback.
Doug Bradburys 1st gen Tomac 204 I feel was the greatest improvement in Lawwill designs at that time and for reasons unknown to most, the fact their was never a second 2nd gen Tomac Lawwill was a bummer to us who loved that design.
Long live Lawwill!!
I see Sully already talked about it but the ability for the chainguide to track the rear wheel through the travel can only be good. I always thought the angle the chainguide was forced to deal with on a more common frame mount systems seems like there is more wear/tear/stress put on it.Cave Dweller said:
Imagine a HT with a single ring chainguide. You can set the top guide (block/roller/etc) to not touch the chain at all. You don't need constant tension on the upper part of the guide, you jsut need it to keep the chian on track. I ran a Blackspire guide, with their solid nylon block upper guide piece for years and there is hardly a scuff from the chain. Just seemed to make more sense to me. I assume if you could mount the derailer to the swing arm it would work better too ((Rotec has(had?) a E-type derailer/swingarm mount for the bike in the past)) Currently I have an Evil guide and the chain doesn't really touch at all up top unless the chain is bouncing....but there is no dragging on the system
Doesn't look like I'll have to "modify" the new frame to my purposes, eh Sully?!!! hehehehehe!! 
i really like the look / sound of the new frame... good work sully... i ve never really been much of a fan (in the past), but this is something that gets me excited... i m in the market for a new frame and this is stirring motion in my pants more and more...
nice work...
partsbara
nice work...
partsbara
sully, can ya give us a little info on the shock / suspension rate.. is it designed around a 5th ??? how would an avy work in there ??? can ya give us an i to i and stroke figure ??
DHX ???
thanks
partsbara
DHX ???
thanks
partsbara
Well the leverage is 3:1. This hasn't changed from the previous years.
The 06 will be utllizing a 5th element 9.5x3 cvt3. This shock has less adjustments regarding hi/lo speed and due to the rising progression of the frame the RL9 does not require the progression adj (platform).
And because the RL9 does have such a nice rising rate, any non-progressive (fox, avi, romic, etc) shock will also work with the same steller results
The 06 will be utllizing a 5th element 9.5x3 cvt3. This shock has less adjustments regarding hi/lo speed and due to the rising progression of the frame the RL9 does not require the progression adj (platform).
And because the RL9 does have such a nice rising rate, any non-progressive (fox, avi, romic, etc) shock will also work with the same steller results
Hey monkeys, here are some renderings showing what the production frame will be.
The first shows a non-drive side view of the rear as well as a good view of the rear mech hanger.
The second is an exploded view of the driveside droplink and hardware.
The third shows the underside of the CS so you can view the tri-stepped dropout thats designed to address the mech jockey and chain clearance at the dropout that increases b-tension adjustment for improved jockey/cog chainlink distance.
This greatly improved the shifting over prior lawwills.
The first shows a non-drive side view of the rear as well as a good view of the rear mech hanger.
The second is an exploded view of the driveside droplink and hardware.
The third shows the underside of the CS so you can view the tri-stepped dropout thats designed to address the mech jockey and chain clearance at the dropout that increases b-tension adjustment for improved jockey/cog chainlink distance.
This greatly improved the shifting over prior lawwills.
Attachments
This rendering shows the med mainframe that will offer 29 inches of standover.
You can also see in great detail the new gussets that have now replaced the prior version (thats the prototype).
You can also see in great detail the new gussets that have now replaced the prior version (thats the prototype).
Attachments
John Sullivan` said:
Hey DHS, at this time I haven't decided yet as to what direction that should go.
Yes I'd have to aggree with you somewhat that the shock would see mud but no more or no less than any other design that has its rear wheel in close proximity.
I'd love to do something for it but its just not possible at this time.
Design time, Injection molding and the high cost to produce in small numbers just isn't in our budget at this time.
What I've personally done to my own rig is no different that what most riders do that live in areas (seattle, wa) that see constant rain, make a fender with an old innertube stretched between both swingarms, over the shock.
Yes I'd have to aggree with you somewhat that the shock would see mud but no more or no less than any other design that has its rear wheel in close proximity.
I'd love to do something for it but its just not possible at this time.
Design time, Injection molding and the high cost to produce in small numbers just isn't in our budget at this time.
What I've personally done to my own rig is no different that what most riders do that live in areas (seattle, wa) that see constant rain, make a fender with an old innertube stretched between both swingarms, over the shock.
I remember pics of this bike long ago... deja vu?
John Sullivan` said:
maybe you could just supply a couple extra zip tie guides in the areas you'd use to fasten the "inner tube web". (2 under seatstay, 2 on top of chainstay) That way the user could have a good place to locate the web and not have to use multiple zipsties, or other half baked mounting attempts. I do a ghetto thing with my DHR and THE fender half, but the zip ties wrapping around the swingarm tube make it look like hell after a while.
Very nice! 
Any chance of a front derailleur mount? I liked that option on the early Rotec's and is what keeps me on my aging Yeti DH-6.
Any chance of a front derailleur mount? I liked that option on the early Rotec's and is what keeps me on my aging Yeti DH-6.
Actually because the ISCG is on the swingarm you can run an e-type style chainguide.
I've thought of offering a cable stop tucked away on the swingarm to allow this. In fact the proto has the cable stop but never got around to mounting the e-type on the RL9 to get some trail time logged.
More than likely the 06 RL9's won't have them though as we're into production already and well past that point of no return (changes)!
But I have mounted those cablestops on the backs of chainguides in the past to allow
front mechs.
I've thought of offering a cable stop tucked away on the swingarm to allow this. In fact the proto has the cable stop but never got around to mounting the e-type on the RL9 to get some trail time logged.
More than likely the 06 RL9's won't have them though as we're into production already and well past that point of no return (changes)!
But I have mounted those cablestops on the backs of chainguides in the past to allow
front mechs.
Do the guide on mine! Thats friggen killer! What a great idea.
As for a fender, I am sure something can be rigged, like all the riders on thier Giant's.
As for a fender, I am sure something can be rigged, like all the riders on thier Giant's.
That suspension design is amazing, the graphics are alright on the main frame, and Great on the swing arm.
The only trouble that I foresee is with shifting. The distance between the rear der. hanger and the rear axle is too great. As with the YETI's and Schwinn's, if the der, hanger was closer to the axle it would shift and stay in gear much better.
Other than that,... I Want...
The only trouble that I foresee is with shifting. The distance between the rear der. hanger and the rear axle is too great. As with the YETI's and Schwinn's, if the der, hanger was closer to the axle it would shift and stay in gear much better.
Other than that,... I Want...
Kelly the mech hanger IS attached to the link and is replaceable, sweet, now put a deposit on one!!!John Sullivan` said:
Shifting is not an issue...in my few short pedals on it, I bounced (and when I bounce, I BOUNCE!!) while shifting up and down....not a skip!!...even with the proto der. hanger....since it'll be on the drop link for the production model, it'll be even better!! Werd!!kellybike said:
no camo paint????
Actually you're correct, but its was never a legit rig and never agreed to as a Mert Lawwill approved design. Imagine designing something amazing only to have someone copy your design concept right under your nose.
And give no credit to the designer or pay royalties?
Regarding " embraced" I was speaking of the mainstream mgfs (Schwinn, Yeti, Tomac) of that time who were producing frames under the Mert Lawwill licenced name and the right to market them, thats all.
Sorry but I find bootleg not cool.....thus no credit given.
Just to clear the air, there are several designs that are on the market today that I feel cross the Lawwill line. I won't mention who they are but the blaten
use of the Mert Lawwill design is clearly present and personally I find that to be unfair to Mert and to anyone who purchases one under the premiss that it is a Lawwill in both design and function.
My 2 cents
And give no credit to the designer or pay royalties?
Regarding " embraced" I was speaking of the mainstream mgfs (Schwinn, Yeti, Tomac) of that time who were producing frames under the Mert Lawwill licenced name and the right to market them, thats all.
Sorry but I find bootleg not cool.....thus no credit given.
Just to clear the air, there are several designs that are on the market today that I feel cross the Lawwill line. I won't mention who they are but the blaten
use of the Mert Lawwill design is clearly present and personally I find that to be unfair to Mert and to anyone who purchases one under the premiss that it is a Lawwill in both design and function.
My 2 cents
A semi-pros thoughts regarding Roteccycles upcoming 2006 RL9:
Its awesome to see all the positive interest generated by the new Rotec RL9 on several well known websites.
I've been quite lucky for the past two months to have in my possession, an RL9 prototype and this bike has been nothing short of amazing.
Ive just returned home from a five week road trip where I rode the RL9 almost everyday on all types of terrain and just about every trail condition. I rode it at Whistler for 11 days and then hit up races in Schweitzer, Snowmass, Telluride, and Brian Head.
The RL9 took everything I could throw at it and it begged for more. John at Roteccycles paid a lot of attention to the details when designing this frameset and its noticeable when you ride it, everything is the way it should be.
Theres quite a bit thats different from the past Lawwills I am used to, things like the ISCG mounts on the swing arm to the integrated Hopey steering dampener mount . The beauty is in the simplicity of the details.
The Mert Lawwill inspired rear suspension design with the Moto inspired full floater shock placement combined with the signature Rotec concentric BB out performs away any prior Lawwill design Ive ridden. With that being said, I spent the entire 05 season on a Yeti DH9 as well as having the opportunity to ride other mfgs versions of the Lawwill over the past several years.
The RL9 pedals great and offers outstanding performance. The rearward wheel path allows the RL9 to take square rock hits and stutter bumps very efficiently. Its incredibly stable at high speeds. It corners well, slinks through tight woods, and tracks wonderfully through the braking bumps.
Personally though, Im most impressed with the way it handles the ruff stuff on courses like Schweitzer. The only thing I would say that I didn't quite care for on the prototype RL9 was the weight of the frameset as it was a bit hefty at 15 pounds with shock and rear floater.
This has been addressed for the upcoming 06 production run. The 06 RL9 frameset will be approximately 3 lbs lighter with a large percentage of the weight being removed from the swing arm assembly and its components.
I fully expect that this reduction in sprung weight will improve the tracking performance of the rear suspension which in turn will make the RL9 ride even better and of course allow me to ride faster!
I would highly recommend this design to anybody in the market for a new DH rig whether youre an Elite racer, a Beginner just getting started, or a Free rider having fun, as this design inspires confidence and allows you to enjoy the ride.
I can't wait for my personal 06 RL9 to arrive later this month. If anyone has any questions for me regarding the RL9, let me know and Ill try and to answer them for you.
Ride-On everyone,
Michael Buell
Semi-pro
Factory Team Rotec
Its awesome to see all the positive interest generated by the new Rotec RL9 on several well known websites.
I've been quite lucky for the past two months to have in my possession, an RL9 prototype and this bike has been nothing short of amazing.
Ive just returned home from a five week road trip where I rode the RL9 almost everyday on all types of terrain and just about every trail condition. I rode it at Whistler for 11 days and then hit up races in Schweitzer, Snowmass, Telluride, and Brian Head.
The RL9 took everything I could throw at it and it begged for more. John at Roteccycles paid a lot of attention to the details when designing this frameset and its noticeable when you ride it, everything is the way it should be.
Theres quite a bit thats different from the past Lawwills I am used to, things like the ISCG mounts on the swing arm to the integrated Hopey steering dampener mount . The beauty is in the simplicity of the details.
The Mert Lawwill inspired rear suspension design with the Moto inspired full floater shock placement combined with the signature Rotec concentric BB out performs away any prior Lawwill design Ive ridden. With that being said, I spent the entire 05 season on a Yeti DH9 as well as having the opportunity to ride other mfgs versions of the Lawwill over the past several years.
The RL9 pedals great and offers outstanding performance. The rearward wheel path allows the RL9 to take square rock hits and stutter bumps very efficiently. Its incredibly stable at high speeds. It corners well, slinks through tight woods, and tracks wonderfully through the braking bumps.
Personally though, Im most impressed with the way it handles the ruff stuff on courses like Schweitzer. The only thing I would say that I didn't quite care for on the prototype RL9 was the weight of the frameset as it was a bit hefty at 15 pounds with shock and rear floater.
This has been addressed for the upcoming 06 production run. The 06 RL9 frameset will be approximately 3 lbs lighter with a large percentage of the weight being removed from the swing arm assembly and its components.
I fully expect that this reduction in sprung weight will improve the tracking performance of the rear suspension which in turn will make the RL9 ride even better and of course allow me to ride faster!
I would highly recommend this design to anybody in the market for a new DH rig whether youre an Elite racer, a Beginner just getting started, or a Free rider having fun, as this design inspires confidence and allows you to enjoy the ride.
I can't wait for my personal 06 RL9 to arrive later this month. If anyone has any questions for me regarding the RL9, let me know and Ill try and to answer them for you.
Ride-On everyone,
Michael Buell
Semi-pro
Factory Team Rotec
Hey Mike....it's Greg...the big f*cker from Schweitzer...prolly the only guy there with a bike that weighed more than yours :eviltongu 
How'd you do at Brian Head???...I could check the results...but I'm too lazy... 
Oh yeah....BUY TOREC....wait..that's not it...BUY ORCET....no..no...oh yeah! BUY ROTEC!!
:eviltongu How'd you do at Brian Head???...I could check the results...but I'm too lazy...
Oh yeah....BUY TOREC....wait..that's not it...BUY ORCET....no..no...oh yeah! BUY ROTEC!!
Any word on when the Rotec website will be live?
Workin on it! Week or so perhaps?
So has anyone ever ridden one of these, besides the proto ? Or were they ever put in production
I haven't gotten much time on one but I did get to ride one around when I was at Down Hill Zone in Seattle. They did go into production and the bike is amazing. Check them out at: http://www.roteccycles.com/thebike.php
ViciousDHer said:
The Buell brothers are members on the monkey, they've both got production models and will be racing for rotec's team this season
There is a review of the frame here:
http://www.descent-world.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180&Itemid=82
I think the graphics need sorting out maybe even just a change of sticker colour.
http://www.descent-world.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180&Itemid=82
I think the graphics need sorting out maybe even just a change of sticker colour.
