Mountain

The geometry of the Advanced composite frame and swingarm was developed specifically around 29-inch wheels. That means shorter chainstays, a longer toptube, and just the right angles with the headtube (64.56 degrees) and seattube (76.36 degrees). We gave it an updated Maestro rear suspension system with 146mm of travel. The trunnion mount shock and Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm deliver an active, super plush feel on the trail.

DIAL IN THE FRAME GEOMETRY FOR YOUR RIDING STYLE AND TERRAIN, THEN LET IT RIP. THIS NEW SHAPESHIFTER ENDURO BIKE DELIVERS CONFIDENCE AND CONTROL ON THE ROWDIEST TERRAIN. ITS MIXED WHEEL SIZE, 29-INCH FRONT AND 27.5 REAR, BLENDS STABILITY AND SPEED WITH AGILITY THAT POPS. KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS Race-bred suspension The Maestro rear suspension eats up enduro terrain with 165mm of smooth, active rear travel matched with a 190mm travel fork. The trunnion mount rear shock has a longer stroke (65mm over 60mm on the previous generation) while the Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm adds stiffness and lowers overall frame weight. Adjustable enduro geometry New flip chip feature lets you adjust frame geometry depending on the terrain. You can select a 63.1 or 63.5-degree head angle and corresponding 77.9 or 78.3-degree seat tube angle, resulting in a 25 or 19mm bottom bracket drop (size medium) to fine-tune handling for varying trail conditions and riding style. Mixed wheel size A 29-inch front wheel provides speed, stability and front-end control on rough, technical trails. A 27.5-inch rear wheel adds agility and maneuverability to help riders rail corners, pop over features and show off their style. HIGHLIGHTS This gravity-focused enduro machine features a lightweight, stiff and super-strong ALUXX SL frameset paired with our latest Maestro rear suspension. The frameset is optimized for its mixed wheel setup, with a 27.5-inch rear and 29-inch front. A plush suspension system with 165mm in the rear and a 190mm triple crown fork up front gives you the ability to send it on the roughest descents. You can also adjust frame geometry with a flip chip that lets you switch the head tube and seat tube angles, along with bottom bracket drop, to dial in the handling for your riding style and terrain. And a new integrated down tube storage feature provides convenient carrying capacity for on-trail essentials.

This gravity-focused 29er features a lightweight, stiff and super-strong ALUXX SL frameset with our latest Maestro rear suspension. The components are hand-picked to excel on technical descents. The frameset is engineered with progressive geometry including shorter chainstays, a longer toptube, and headtube/seattube angles that put you in the perfect position to slay singletrack. The rear suspension gives you 146mm of smooth, active rear travel with a new trunnion mount shock and Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm. This SX model features a 170mm fork for outstanding control on high-speed descents. Race-bred suspension Maestro rear suspension and a 170mm fork developed and tested in Enduro World Series races. The trunnion mount rear shock has a longer stroke and smoother feel, and an Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm adds stiffness while lowering overall frame weight. Progressive enduro geometry The frameset features enduro-ready geometry so you can ride aggressive descents and rail corners with confidence. The 64.56/76.36-degree headtube/seattube angles with a 42mm fork offset produce confident front-end handling with high-speed stability and control. 29er confidence and control Larger 29-inch diameter wheels roll over rugged enduro terrain with improved balance and stability, giving you the momentum to crank up tough climbs and the confidence to fly on fast, technical descents.

Turn up the heat on technical trails, and do it with more confidence and control. Featuring updated suspension and adjustable geometry, this feisty 29er adapts to the terrain. This versatile trail machine is built on a lightweight, stiff and super-strong ALUXX SL frameset that blends our latest Maestro suspension technology with adjustable frame geometry. The Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm has a flip chip that allows you to adjust frame geometry. Choose steeper or slacker headtube/seattube angles and either a 35mm or 45mm bottom bracket drop to fine-tune the handling for your riding style and terrain. It's designed around a 130mm travel suspension fork, and the overall geometry has been tuned to maximize its performance on rugged trails.

The toughest trails are also the most tempting. Quick and always in control, this singletrack shredder is up for the challenge. Built on a lightweight, stiff composite frame with smooth Maestro suspension and nimble 27.5 wheels, it's just what you need going up, down and all around. Trance Advanced delivers cutting edge performance so you can climb faster and descend with more control. Featuring 140mm of rear suspension travel and 150mm up front, plus the agile all-rounder performance of 27.5 wheels, this progressive trail bike can do it all. The refined Maestro suspension system includes a trunnion mount shock and Advanced Forged composite rocker arm, which makes the whole chassis lighter and stronger. And overall frame geometry has evolved with shorter chainstays and a longer toptube for confident handling on aggressive terrain. 27.5 agility and control 27.5-inch wheels balance agility and control, giving you the ability to roll over rugged terrain, flick the bike at speed, change lines, and explode out of corners. Progressive suspension Maestro rear suspension features a trunnion mount shock with a longer stroke and smoother feel. With 140mm of rear travel (and 150mm up front), it features an Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm for increased stiffness and strength plus lower overall frame weight. Trail-tuned chassis The lightweight and stiff Advanced-grade composite frameset features balanced geometry to give you confidence on technical trails. The result is agile and efficient climbing plus added control for trails ranging from chunky singletrack to flowy high-speed

Float through rock gardens, hit the jumps, and find the faster line. With quick-handling 27.5 wheels and adjustable frame geometry, this lively trail bike is a party on wheels. Built for those who favor the responsive, agile handling of 27.5 wheels, this trail ripper features flip chip that lets you adjust the frame geometry for riding style and terrain. You can choose a steeper or slacker headtube angle and either a 20mm or 30mm bottom bracket drop. The ALUXX SL aluminum frame is fitted with updated Maestro rear suspension featuring 145mm of smooth, active rear travel. A trunnion-mount shock and Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm help soak up bumps, giving you traction and control to float through rocks, roots and ruts. Confidence is further bolstered by a 160mm travel suspension fork up front.

Float through rock gardens, hit the jumps, and find the faster line. With quick-handling 27.5 wheels and adjustable frame geometry, this lively trail bike is a party on wheels. Built for those who favor the responsive, agile handling of 27.5 wheels, this trail ripper features flip chip that lets you adjust the frame geometry for riding style and terrain. You can choose a steeper or slacker headtube angle and either a 20mm or 30mm bottom bracket drop. The ALUXX SL aluminum frame is fitted with updated Maestro rear suspension featuring 145mm of smooth, active rear travel. A trunnion-mount shock and Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm help soak up bumps, giving you traction and control to float through rocks, roots and ruts. Confidence is further bolstered by a 160mm travel suspension fork up front.

Chunky rock gardens, roots and technical climbs. This hard-charging trail bike adapts to the terrain, giving you confidence and control on all types of singletrack. Engineered to help you ride faster and smoother on the toughest trails, this versatile trail bike has a lightweight, strong and stiff aluminum chassis with 29er-specific geometry. Updated Maestro rear suspension delivers 135mm of active rear travel that pairs perfectly with a 150mm fork. The Advanced Forged Composite rocker arm has a flip chip that allows you to adjust frame geometry. Choose steeper or slacker headtube/seattube angles and either a 30mm or 40mm bottom bracket drop to adjust the handling for your riding style and terrain.

FROM FAST, ROWDY DESCENTS TO TECHNICAL TERRAIN, THIS PROGRESSIVE TRAIL BIKE GIVES YOU ACTIVE SUSPENSION, ADJUSTABLE FRAME GEOMETRY, AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO UP YOUR SINGLETRACK GAME. KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS 29er confidence and control 29-inch wheels optimized to roll over technical terrain with balance and stability, giving you more momentum on tricky climbs and confidence to fly on fast singletrack descents. Added clearance for up to 2.5-inch tires. Progressive suspension Maestro rear suspension features a trunnion mount shock with a longer stroke and smoother feel. With 135mm of full rear-wheel travel (and 150mm up front), it features an Advanced Forged Composite upper rocker arm for increased stiffness and strength plus lower overall frame weight. Adjustable geometry A flip chip lets you change the headtube and seattube angles, along with the bottom bracket height, to fine-tune the handling. You can choose the low position (65.5/77.2 head/seattube angle and 40mm BB drop) for fast, open terrain, or high (66.2/77.9 head/seattube angle and 30mm drop) for slower, tighter singletrack.

RESPONSIVE RIDE QUALITY AND MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY ON FAST, FLOWY SINGLETRACK. THIS LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE HARDTAIL IS A GREAT CHOICE FOR XC RACING OR KOM CHASING. KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS Lightweight and responsive - A handcrafted Advanced-grade composite frameset offers XC racers and riders a competitive advantage for climbing, accelerating and sprinting. XC efficiency - The frame is engineered with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, which translates to efficient pedaling power and precise handling on the trail. Custom compliance - Each frame is custom-tuned based on its size. Individual composite lay-up schedules are created to optimize vertical compliance to produce a smoother ride quality on XC terrain. TECHS & FEATURES: ADVANCED COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY Giant's High Performance Grade raw carbon material is used to produce this custom frame material in our own composite factory with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio. The front triangle of these framesets is assembled and molded as one continuous piece in a proprietary manufacturing process called Modified Monocoque Construction. OVERDRIVE Giant's original oversized fork steerer tube technology. Designed to provide precise front-end steering performance, the system's oversized headset bearings (1 1/4" lower and 1 1/8" upper for road, 1 1/2" lower and 1 1/8" upper for mountain) and tapered steerer tube work in conjunction to provide optimal steering stiffness. TUBELESS SYSTEM Fewer flat tires. Greater traction. Less rolling resistance and a smoother, faster ride. Giant's Tubeless System makes it easier than ever to experience all these benefits.

"Flow Seeker A trail mountain bike that is primed for grinding climbs, mashing flats, and ripping descents. One for all, and all for fun! Highlights - Full Carbon frame / Shimano XT/SLX 12-speed drivetrain - Rockshox Pike Select 140mm fork / Deluxe Select+ shock - Shimano Deore 4-piston hydraulic discs / DownLow dropper post Built for you The Habit geometry is uniquely size specific. With our Proportional Response Design, everything from the suspension layout to, the geometry —even the length of the chain stays — is completely customized by size. Performance built, just for you. Blissfully Balanced With a head tube angle of 65.5° and the seat tube set at 77.5°, you are sitting in the optimal position for powering uphill, shredding downhill, and stopping to smell the roses. Easy to love Keeping things simple and easy for the rider with threaded BBs, universal derailleur hanger, standard shock mount, internal cable routing, and an updated 55mm chain line standard for tire clearance. All designed to make it as easy as possible to live with and to love. "

Flow Seeker A trail mountain bike that is primed for grinding climbs, mashing flats, and ripping descents. One for all, and all for fun! Highlights - Full Carbon frame - 130mm travel / SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain - Rockshox Pike Select+ 140mm fork / Deluxe Select+ shock - SRAM G2 R hydraulic disc brakes / DownLow dropper post Built for you The Habit geometry is uniquely size specific. With our Proportional Response Design, everything from the suspension layout to, the geometry —even the length of the chain stays — is completely customized by size. Performance built, just for you. Blissfully Balanced With a head tube angle of 65.5° and the seat tube set at 77.5°, you are sitting in the optimal position for powering uphill, shredding downhill, and stopping to smell the roses. Easy to love Keeping things simple and easy for the rider with threaded BBs, universal derailleur hanger, standard shock mount, internal cable routing, and an updated 55mm chain line standard for tire clearance. All designed to make it as easy as possible to live with and to love.

Thrill Seeker The Habit LT is a progressive trail mountain bike that is down for the ups but lives to get down. Precisely tuned for controlled chaos. Highlights - Full Carbon frame / SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain - Rockshox Pike Lyrik Select+ 150mm fork / Super Deluxe Select+ shock - SRAM Code R 4-piston hydraulic discs / DownLow dropper post Built for you The Habit geometry is uniquely size specific. With our Proportional Response Design, everything from the suspension layout to, the geometry —even the length of the chain stays — is completely customized by size. Performance built, just for you. Calibrated for Control Boasting a slacker head tube angle of 64.7° and laid-back seat tube at 77°, the Habit LT puts you in an optimal position to shred the descents and control your steed with unshakable confidence. Easy to love Keeping things simple and easy for the rider with threaded BBs, universal derailleur hanger, standard shock mount, internal cable routing, and an updated 55mm chain line standard for tire clearance. All designed to make it as easy as possible to live with and to love.

Thrill Seeker The Habit LT is a progressive trail mountain bike that is down for the ups but lives to get down. Precisely tuned for controlled chaos. Highlights - SmartForm C1 Alloy Frame / Shimano XT/SLX 12-speed drivetrain - Rockshox Pike Lyrik Select 150mm fork / Super Deluxe Select+ shock - Shimano SLX 4-piston hydraulic discs / DownLow dropper post Built for you The Habit geometry is uniquely size specific. With our Proportional Response Design, everything from the suspension layout to, the geometry —even the length of the chain stays — is completely customized by size. Performance built, just for you. Calibrated for Control Boasting a slacker head tube angle of 64.7° and laid-back seat tube at 77°, the Habit LT puts you in an optimal position to shred the descents and control your steed with unshakable confidence. Easy to love Keeping things simple and easy for the rider with threaded BBs, universal derailleur hanger, standard shock mount, internal cable routing, and an updated 55mm chain line standard for tire clearance. All designed to make it as easy as possible to live with and to love.

See you at the bottom Even though Jekyll boasts a unique combo of go-fast tech that's never been seen before, it's not a bike that talks. It's a bike that goes. Where it thrives: Steep, fast, rowdy mountains What it's built for: Enduro racing, bike park sessions, high-speed mobbing Highlights: - Fox Float Factory 38, 170mm / Float Factory X2 Shock - SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain / Code RSC hydraulic disc brakes - HollowGram SAVE carbon riser bar / DownLow dropper post Descend into Greatness It’s a hell of a climber but come on. Jekyll was born for the downs. Every part of it crafted for the sweet embrace of speed, every element designed to help you wring a bit more of velocity’s nectar from those steep, chunky, high pucker lines you love. Best. Suspension. Ever. 4-bar meets high pivot meets idler pulley meets size-specific kinematics. For real. If you’re not up for suspension buzzword bingo, just know that it grips, floats, and pedals like nothing else. It’s always up for getting down. The Gravity Cavity The shock tucks cleanly into the twin spar downtube, keeping the bike's center of gravity as low as possible. Wicked stability, instant line changes, and one-of-a-kind looks. Built for You Well, not you specifically. But someone just like you. With our Proportional Response design, everything - from the suspension layout to the geometry, even the length of the chainstays - is completely customized by size, for performance built just for you.

See You At The Bottom Even though Jekyll boasts a unique combo of go-fast tech that's never been seen before, it's not a bike that talks. It's a bike that goes. Where it thrives Steep, fast, rowdy mountains What it's built for Enduro racing, bike park sessions, high-speed mobbing Highlights - Full carbon frame, 165mm travel, Proportional Response Tuned - Fox Float Factory X2 Shock - Guidler-Idler pulley/chainguide system Descend into Greatness It's a hell of a climber but come on. Jekyll was born for the downs. Every part of it crafted for the sweet embrace of speed, every element designed to help you wring a bit more of velocity's nectar from those steep, chunky, high pucker lines you love. Best. Suspension. Ever. 4-bar meets high pivot meets idler pulley meets size-specific kinematics. For real. If you're not up for suspension buzzword bingo, just know that it grips, floats, and pedals like nothing else. It's always up for getting down. The Gravity Cavity The shock tucks cleanly into the twin spar downtube, keeping the bike's center of gravity as low as possible. Wicked stability, instant line changes and one-of-a-kind looks. Built for You Well, not you specifically. But someone just like you. With our Proportional Response design, everything—from the suspension layout to the geometry, even the length of the chainstays—is completely customized by size, for performance built just for you. Suspension Like No Other High main pivot gives it a bump-swallowing rearward axle path. The Guidler pulley kills the pedal kickback of high pivot systems. The 4-bar linkage keeps braking smooth, traction high and pedaling crisp. Guidler Idler pulley + chainguide = Guidler. Clever, right? Idler eliminates feedback from the high pivot swingarm, keeping your pedal stroke smooth, even when the terrain isn't. The guide, well, it guides. Suspension Built For You A rider's center of gravity drives how the suspension performs, yet most bikes use the exact same layout for all sizes. Proportional Response Suspension alters the design by size for truly next-level performance. Proportional Response Geometry Long, slack and low—and fully size-specific. As the front of the bike gets longer with each size, the chain stay length increases proportionally, keeping the rider centered between the wheels for true "made for you" handling. Guardhouse Downtube protector keeps your frame safe from roost and strikes, while letting water and debris pass through. The Ai Advantage Our Ai Offset Drivetrain delivers more tire and mud clearance in the swingarm, and more even spoke angles for a stiffer, stronger rear wheel.

Hold on Tight - Thrill ride. With the most advanced XC suspension and geometry, and rowdy-ready spec, the new Scalpel redefines cross-country speed – again. Highlights - Superlight premium Series 1 Carbon frame with FlexPivot, 120mm travel, and Proportional Response-Tuned Suspension and Geometry - RockShox SID 120mm fork and SIDLuxe Select+ rear shock - Shimano’s race-ready Deore M6100 12-speed shifting, with an XT rear derailleur - Powerful, reliable Shimano MT501 hydraulic disc brakes - Stan’s tubeless-ready Crest S2 rims with Maxxis Rekon Race and Aspen WT 2.4” tires - Cannondale’s DownLow dropper seatpost

The Genius has always been our favorite bike. Smart suspension, smarter features, and the smartest design lead to an unbelievable trail bike that just can't get enough. The All-New Genius, any trail, any time. *Please note that bike specifications are subject to change without prior notice KEY FEATURES - Genius Carbon HMF-Alloy Frame - FOX 36 Float Rhythm 160mm Fork - FOX Nude 5T EVOL, TwinLoc, 150mm - Shimano XT-SLX 12 Speed - Shimano 4 Piston Disc Brakes - Maxxis Foldable Tires

When you think of the perfect mountain bike, what comes to mind? For us, it's the all new Contessa Spark 920. Why, you ask? Well, beyond the fact that it is fast, lightweight and ultra capable on all sorts of terrain, it's just damned good lookin'. Short-travel trail bike? "Downcountry" rig? Occasional race bike? Whatever, call it what you want to call it. All we know is that this is one hell of a mountain bike. *Please note that bike specifications are subject to change without prior notice KEY FEATURES - Spark Carbon HMF-Alloy Frame - RockShox Pike RL3 130mm Fork - RS Deluxe Select RL3, 120mm, TwinLoc - SRAM NX Eagle 12 Speed - Shimano Disc Brakes - Schwalbe Wicked Will Tires

KEY FEATURES: - Gambler Alloy Frame - FOX 40 Performance 203mm Fork - FOX Float X PE 200mm Shock - SRAM GX DH 7 Speed - Shimano SLX M7120 4 Piston Disc Brakes - Maxxis Assegai 2.5" DH Tires The Gambler 910 is a downhill mountain bike that was designed for one thing and one thing only, pure, unadulterated speed. We made it to get you to take lines you'd never thought imaginable, to make you want to go to the bathroom before your race run—twice. We made it so that when you drop out of the start gate, the only aspect holding you back will be, well, you. Taking years of racing development and mixing it with our carbon expertise, this bike is our answer to the needs of white-knuckle downhill racing. The Gambler, Simply Fast. TECHNOLOGIES: GAMBLER ADJUSTABILITY Our downhill bikes have always pushed the boundaries of adjustability. Both a rider and a bike need to be able to adapt to tracks, weather conditions, and choice of shock (air or coil.) The new Gambler allows you to switch between wheel sizes without changing any other components on the bike. Chain stay length can also be adjusted, independent of wheel size choice. Short with 29", sure thing. Long with 27.5" Yep, that too. The Gambler also comes with spare angled headset cups, so that you can adjust head angle relative to wheel size, fork choice, etc. We also have a 4-way chip to allow not only bottom bracket height adjustment relative to wheel size, but more importantly for geometry/kinematic tweaks depending on tracks, shocks or rider preference. We want the bike to be optimizable for each shock and rider given the track. All this adjustment allows us to focus on balance. And by balance, we mean the perfect combinations to find traction. Geometry and shock curve options help get a rider's center of mass in the perfect spot between the wheels for optimum levels of balance and traction. However, as race tracks change, this balance point changes, and not all bikes can change with it – we wanted to be able to do so. For instance, a bike with geometry for a steep track will roll slowly and push wide in turns on a flatter track, whereas a bike set up for flatter tracks will make it difficult for a rider to keep their center of gravity far enough back for steep tracks. GAMBLER INTEGRATED BASHGUARD AND CHAIN DEVICE It seems like it shouldn't make a huge difference on the bike, but it turns out it does. We even joke saying that it dictated the design of the entire bike. Why make this a proprietary piece? Chain devices are normally made to work with many different bikes and are therefore compromised. We only need to make it work for this one frame and a specific range of chainring sizes, so it can be easier to set up, better performing, lighter, and allows us to gain some advantages on the frame construction, further reducing weight and increasing reliability/durability. Historically, designing around a chain guide/bash guard was akin to designing around a front mech – not ideal. They require a heavy, molded alloy mount in the frame that can bend under impact, and leaves threads in the frame that can be damaged. These would restrict the frame's main pivot width and chain stay shape. In addition, the chain guide and bash guard were connected by a backplate, further increasing weight. With our design, we no longer have an in-molded alloy mount, nor do we have threads in the frame. More importantly, we're able to design a wider main pivot, making for a stiffer connection and better bearing life. We've been able to optimize our chainstay shape, helping us to better maintain stiffness and strength. It is easier to set up and adjust and lighter. We use built-in rubber shock absorbers with the bashguard, reducing further the potential for frame damage. Finally, as the bashguard and chain guide are separate pieces, should either get damaged, you don't need to replace the entire system, just the piece itself.

KEY FEATURES: - Gambler Alloy Frame - RS Boxxer Select 200mm Fork - RS SuperDeluxe Select 200mm Shock - SRAM GX DH 7 Speed - Shimano 4 Piston Disc Brakes - Maxxis Assegai 2.5" DH Tires The Gambler 920 is a downhill mountain bike that was designed for one thing and one thing only, pure, unadulterated speed. We made it to get you to take lines you'd never thought imaginable, to make you want to go to the bathroom before your race run—twice. We made it so that when you drop out of the start gate, the only aspect holding you back will be, well, you. Taking years of racing development and mixing it with our carbon expertise, this bike is our answer to the needs of white-knuckle downhill racing. The Gambler, Simply Fast. TECHNOLOGIES: GAMBLER ADJUSTABILITY Our downhill bikes have always pushed the boundaries of adjustability. Both a rider and a bike need to be able to adapt to tracks, weather conditions, and choice of shock (air or coil.) The new Gambler allows you to switch between wheel sizes without changing any other components on the bike. Chain stay length can also be adjusted, independent of wheel size choice. Short with 29", sure thing. Long with 27.5" Yep, that too. The Gambler also comes with spare angled headset cups, so that you can adjust head angle relative to wheel size, fork choice, etc. We also have a 4-way chip to allow not only bottom bracket height adjustment relative to wheel size, but more importantly for geometry/kinematic tweaks depending on tracks, shocks or rider preference. We want the bike to be optimizable for each shock and rider given the track. All this adjustment allows us to focus on balance. And by balance, we mean the perfect combinations to find traction. Geometry and shock curve options help get a rider's center of mass in the perfect spot between the wheels for optimum levels of balance and traction. However, as race tracks change, this balance point changes, and not all bikes can change with it – we wanted to be able to do so. For instance, a bike with geometry for a steep track will roll slowly and push wide in turns on a flatter track, whereas a bike set up for flatter tracks will make it difficult for a rider to keep their center of gravity far enough back for steep tracks. GAMBLER INTEGRATED BASHGUARD AND CHAIN DEVICE It seems like it shouldn't make a huge difference on the bike, but it turns out it does. We even joke saying that it dictated the design of the entire bike. Why make this a proprietary piece? Chain devices are normally made to work with many different bikes and are therefore compromised. We only need to make it work for this one frame and a specific range of chainring sizes, so it can be easier to set up, better performing, lighter, and allows us to gain some advantages on the frame construction, further reducing weight and increasing reliability/durability. Historically, designing around a chain guide/bash guard was akin to designing around a front mech – not ideal. They require a heavy, molded alloy mount in the frame that can bend under impact, and leaves threads in the frame that can be damaged. These would restrict the frame's main pivot width and chain stay shape. In addition, the chain guide and bash guard were connected by a backplate, further increasing weight. With our design, we no longer have an in-molded alloy mount, nor do we have threads in the frame. More importantly, we're able to design a wider main pivot, making for a stiffer connection and better bearing life. We've been able to optimize our chainstay shape, helping us to better maintain stiffness and strength. It is easier to set up and adjust and lighter. We use built-in rubber shock absorbers with the bashguard, reducing further the potential for frame damage. Finally, as the bashguard and chain guide are separate pieces, should either get damaged, you don't need to replace the entire system, just the piece itself.