We’re huge fans of steel full suspension mountain bikes and it seems like framebuilders all over are embracing these simple, yet extremely capable bikes. Coming at us from Alberta, here’s Chris’ Kruch Custom Bicycles steel full suspension. Let’s check it out below.
Thanks for highlighting my Corey Kruchkowski of Kruch Custom Bicycles. This is his prototype full suspension. I would be happy send a report of my riding impressions after I get some more time on it (built it up today and heading to Revelstoke tomorrow).
Here is some copy from Corey on the bike:
The Shrimpalicious is a 29+ Enduro bike, built from 4130 Chromoly tubing. Using a single pivot design, 140mm of rear travel is coupled with 160mm of front travel. The M size fits a 200mm dropper. The large and XL sizes fit a 220mm dropper. Finite element analysis identified the need for a thicker walled downtube. Rather than a gusset or a repad – a “tube in tube” was employed.
The use case was designed around a 260lb rider taking 4 to 5ft drops with the bicycle. That analysis revealed that material could be removed in key areas of the rear triangle. That “wasting” was done using a unique honeycomb design. The data showed that no head tube gusset was needed either.
The bike is deliberately massive in the cockpit, low BB height (at sag), and has long chainstays. It is designed to conquer steep and gnarly natural terrain with ease. The version shown is pre-production. Production versions will have various rear triangle options, including mullet and non-plus versions – they will also employ a heavy dose of DMLS (3D metal printing of 316L stainless steel) parts.
There’s talk of Kruch Custom Bicycles showcasing some of their bikes at the Made show next year!
We’d like to thank all of you who have submitted Readers Rides builds to be shared over here. The response has been incredible and we have so many to share over the next few months. Feel free to submit your bike, listing details, components, and other information. You can also include a portrait of yourself with your bike and your Instagram account! Please, shoot landscape-orientation photos, not portrait. Thanks!
