R. Cunningham
Bionicon, a German bike manufacturer and innovator, has been making headlines with its adjustable geometry system. MBA published an October issue of its print magazine that featured a Bionicon Edison. The Bionicon Edison is an all-mountain, five-inch travel design that can be converted from a steep-angled climber into a relaxed, 67-degree head angle descender by simply leaning forward or aft and pressing the handlebar-mounted button. The Edison is a wild concept, but it offers a significant advantage in pedaling performance while climbing. Because the seat angle can adjust to your body’s ergonomics as the grade changes between easy and steep, the Edison provides a noticeable improvement in pedaling power. The Bionicon rider can adjust the head angle to match the severity of terrain.
THE GOLDEN WILLOW
The Edison was designed to be a descender, but could also be used as a climber. The new « Golden Willow »? The new?Golden Willow? is the exact opposite. It’s a cross-country chassis, that can be modified into a stealthy descender. They are very similar apart from the shared shock and fork. We were able to test-ride a preproduction model of the Willow, which is an entirely new chassis.
Pre-production Golden Willow won’t be sold in the U.S. unless the Germans settle with Specialized to license HorstLink. Bionicon is close to securing the deal with the Big S. Paul Fergeson of Bionicon USA is optimistic that the Golden Willow will be available in select shops by the end of the year.
Instead of using the Edisons single pivot swingarm, the Willow uses a four bar rear suspension. This increases the suspension’s responsiveness at singletrack speeds. The Willow has a solid feel when under power if you pay attention to the shock rates and linkage. The Bionicon has a dual-crown fork with an air spring/air damper. It is not easy to understand, but it does the job. And it weighs less that most 5-inch single-crown models.
LOTS of TUBES
The air lines run from the handlebar-mounted button to the fork through a small pneumatic tube at the base the Bionicons shock. Push the button and lean back. This will compress the small cylinder that sends air to the fork. This increases the fork travel, lowers the rear suspension and causes the head angle and seat to rock back up 4 degrees. To reverse the process, lean forward and push the button. The button can be tapped to adjust the frame angles to optimize handling and pedaling performance. The rear suspension travel is not affected by changing the geometry of the bike’s air cylinder, which is separate from the Willows shock.
The pneumatic cylinder, which is larger in diameter than the Bionicons airshock, controls the rear suspension ride height and extends or retracts fork travel.
HOW DOES THE GOLDEN WILLOW RIDE?
The Golden Willow is designed for cross-country riding and weighs in at 13 kg. This means that only the most fit people will be able to line up at the start of a 24-hour race or XC. It can still climb with the most powerful five-inch-travel tribikes, and can even do it all better depending on the terrain.
We learned from our Edison experience that the adjustable-geometry button should be used with moderation. Find the ideal seat angle to achieve level acceleration. Then tap the button until the saddle feels the same with the upgrade you are using at the moment. Although it may seem like a lot of work, it is really not. You will soon find the perfect position for pedaling. You generate less torque if you go steeper. Your quadriceps will start to work with every stroke of the cranks.
The Suspension performance score is eight out of ten. Because the Bionicons fork is simple and spring-sprung, there are no external adjustments. The dual-crown fork is smooth to ride and the damping curves are adjustable to fit any other than the rigid as rock. Cross-country racerboys prefer these setups. The patented travel adjustment maintains the spring rate no matter where it is placed. Air shock can be adjusted with one rebound adjuster. It performs just as well as its counterparts if you adjust the sag and dial in the lever.
Bionicons magic button controls airflow between the shock pistons and the fork. The valve can be opened by pressing the button, allowing the rider to move the frame forward and backward to adjust the geometry.
As long as you are able to use its downhilling abilities, the Golden Willow can deliver a serious performance. Long-travel trailbikes can handle bumps and navigate on difficult terrain. The Bionicons suspension can be pushed to its lowest setting and the Golden Willow transforms into a completely different bike. If you are not part of the top ten percent, you can launch drops and blast boulders that would be dangerous.
The Golden Willow is able to climb higher and descend more easily. Adjustable geometry is possible for all. Although it is unlikely, you can’t ignore the many benefits of the Bionicon. Everyone believes they won’t change if they win the lottery. But once you experience the joy of winning it, it can be very difficult to go back to the old way of life. Bionicon is a great example of this effect.
WHERE TO GET INFO:
Bionicons Headquarters are located in Ridgecrest, California, at the foot the High Sierra Mountains.
www.bionicon.com
The front of the Golden Willow is busy with cables and hoses. The industrial robot hardware used to make the air lines that control the Bionicons variable geometry can withstand a lot of abuse without causing any damage.
