offer a much more comprehensive approach to sizing. As a result, the AM.130 is available in no fewer thanThere are two models to choose from, too. The AM.130 gets a 140mm travel fork delivering a 65.5 degree head angle, while the AM.130.X is bumped up to a 150mm fork and has a slightly slacker head angle of 65 degrees as a result.
The AM.130 delivers its rear wheel travel through a suspension platform designed in collaboration with the prolific Dave Weagle; the DW6 linkage features the familiar twin-link connecting the front triangle to the rear triangle, but with the addition of another pivot on the chainstay, positioned close to the dropouts. A similar layout can be seen on Atherton’s longer travel frames.
Head tube angles remain fixed at 65.5 degrees, but the seat tube angles vary through the sizing; the smaller options come in at an effective 77 degrees, steepening to a maximum of 79 degrees on the largest options, all in a bid to prevent taller riders experiencing too much of a rearward bias in the seated pedaling position.
It was fitted with a 150mm travel Fox 36 Factory Fork, a Fox Float X Factory shock, Trickstuff Direttissima Brakes and a Stan’s Arch wheelset fitted with Continental Kryptotal DH Casing SuperSoft tires. Not the lightest trail bike build in the world, granted, but suitable for a day riding fast slate-rock tracks sculpted by Dan Atherton.
That is also a function of a well balanced suspension set-up. As I got up to speed on Dyfi’s popular Super Swooper track, I found I wasn’t quite using all of the rear wheel travel, despite having set it to the recommended 30% sag. It’s possible the shock was running too many volume spacers to suit my riding style, and the track I was riding, and given that the Continental tires were the focus of the day, I didn’t spend much time fettling with the bike itself.