We’ve seen them on the paths at races for a pair years as prototypes, however Bitter’s two all-new metal Cowboy Cookie and Double Choc full-suspension mountain bikes are prepared for the massive time. Decide from the downcountry SRD Cowboy Cookie if you’re hitting native singletrack or heading out on bikepacking adventures. Or go all-in on Bitter’s SRD Double Choc if you wish to tackle larger all-mountain path rides.
Simply act quick, as these are coming solely in severely restricted small batches…
Bitter SRD metal & alloy full-suspension German mountain bikes
These two Bitter mountain bikes mark the official debut of SRD – Bitter Racing Growth. These are the Homebrew challenge bikes Bitter created for their very own staff and their athletes. Ever since Bitter introduced all of their manufacturing from Taiwan again to Germany, they knew lowered lead instances and shorter growth cycles meant they may tackle extra enjoyable new initiatives.
The parents at Bitter journey a number of mountain bikes. And one of many first issues they did constructing bikes in Germany, was begin tinkering with full-suspension bikes. I truly noticed the first linkage-driven single-pivot Double Choc nearly 4 years in the past.
(Secret insider bike rumor… a less complicated, lower-cost single pivot MTB challenge remains to be growing within the background of Bitter’s workshop, from what we hear.) However it takes a very long time to good even a basic design, so now Bitter are hyped to supply their first two full-suspension mountain bikes to the lots.
Nicely, a small mass. The 2 SRD bikes can be found to the general public in tremendous restricted version batches just a few instances a 12 months. All, completely made in Germany, at fairly cheap costs – in contrast say to a carbon frameset or one thing unique in metallic like an Atherton or Frameworks body.
Bitter SRD Cowboy Cookie vs. Double Choc
The Bitter SRD Cowboy Cookie is a 120mm XC to Downcountry bike prepared for journey, paired to 120-130mm forks. And the SRD Double Choc is a full-on Path bike with both 136mm or 148mm of rear wheel journey relying on completely different rockers, and 140-160mm of journey up entrance.
Each share the identical basic Horst-link 4-bar suspension design – in actual fact, solely the entrance triangles are completely different between these two new mountain bikes. They each characteristic a flip-chip on the decrease shock mount that lets riders tweak their geometry: +/- 0.3° on the headtube & +/-5mm in backside bracket peak.
And so they’re each completely made-in-Germany.
Manufacturing & materials particulars
The Cowboy Cookie and Double Choc each match Bitter-welded metal mainframes to Actofive-machined seatstays & rockers, actually CNC-machined 600m down the road from Bitter HQ. You might discover the similarity with Actofive’s personal short-travel I-Prepare which was developed alongside this SRD challenge with Bitter.
All of those prototypes we see right here had chainstays welded by Nicolai. However Bitter have their very own welded 6061 swingarm within the works now too, which might be prepared for this primary spherical of manufacturing bikes. Bitter had been simply anxious to get the brand new SRD mountain bikes out to riders as quickly as potential, so we haven’t seen the brand new rear simply but. Finally, we hear there might be Bitter’s personal seatstays too, to assist carry prices down.
All components are designed by Bitter, from suspension design to the intricately machined metal backside bracket clusters holding the primary pivot and decrease shock mount. Bitter makes what they know greatest – welding butted 4130 metal. Then, they lean on their fellow German craft producers to do what they do greatest – working the aluminum rear finish, rockers, and geometry alter {hardware}.
Into the weeds of shared tech particulars & adjustable geometry
Each custom-butted & heat-treated 4130 chromoly metal frames characteristic a custom-machined tapered headtube to suit an built-in headset (EC44/ZS56).
Additionally they characteristic related custom-machined metal backside bracket assemblies that matches a 73mm BSA threaded BB, the primary pivot, and the flip-chip.
Bitter designed the bikes with their geometry within the Excessive flip-chip place. And so they ship the bikes with alloy {hardware} for the Excessive/Low place – swapping to Low drops the BB 10mm, slackens the pinnacle angle 0.6° & slackens the seat angle 0.94°. However in addition they will supply a Mid chip to separate the distinction for any patrons wanting a middle-ground geo choice.
Out again, the rear ends are all the identical, so that you get UDH compatibility, a replaceable direct Submit Mount 180mm brake bracket, a Syntace X-12 Increase thru-axle, and max 2.5″ tire clearance. Bitter recommends 2.2-2.4″ tires for these kind of bikes, although.
Each frames additionally construct in a metal seatpost clamp (that Bitter says can all the time be chopped off & changed with a traditional clamp down the road should you ever harm it) for a 31.6mm seatpost. Cable routing is exterior on high of the downtube, however after all there’s inner dropper routing, too. The frames come customary with 1 set of downtube water bottle bosses, plus a set of braze-ons above the shock for a device service. Non-obligatory extra cage mounts beneath the downtube and toptube bag braze-ons are additionally potential.
Bitter SRD Double Choc 136 or 148mm metal mountain bikes
With a 64.5° headtube, Bitter designed this bike for all-mountain using, and even the bikepark. You choose the rear journey you need primarily based on how you propose to journey it – 136 or 148mm with certainly one of two rocker hyperlinks. The Double Choc is available in three inventory body sizes (M-XL). It includes a decrease toptube for further stand-over clearance, with a pair of gussets to assist the prolonged seattube, and nonetheless loads of room for lengthy journey droppers.
- Headtube: EC44/ZS56 tapered, with extra gussets
- Wheelsize: 29″ (M, L & XL)
- Fork journey: 140-160mm, with 44mm offset
- Shock: 210x55mm shock dimensions
- Drivetrain: 1x-only, 34T max chainring, UDH & SRAM T-type suitable
- Weight: 3480g, uncooked medium body together with linkage, bearings & all {hardware} (+50-200g for powdercoat paint)
Bitter SRD Cowboy Cookie 120mm metal Downcountry mountain bike
Whereas the almost-enduro Double Choc was the primary full-susser to return out of the SRD workshop, this Cowboy Cookie was actually SRD’s first racing mountain bike. However not for XC racing. As a substitute, Bitter created the Cowboy Cookie to have an efficient-pedaling ultra-distance bikepacking racer. Designed as a short-travel path bike or long-travel marathon bike, it combines a clean journey over any terrain with expedition-ready sturdiness.
Bitter athlete Quinda Verheul has put the brand new Cowboy Cookie by means of the ringer. She’s raced the brand new bike in loaded bikepacking races from the mountains of Morocco to the deserts of Loss of life Valley to the rocky, wet terrain of the Scottish Highlands. Bitter gave her a prototype final 12 months and instructed her to go break it. She hasn’t but.
With a 65.5* headtube, the Cowboy Cookie is available in 4 inventory body sizes (S-XL) with progressive, however all-day secure geometry.
- Headtube: EC44/ZS56 tapered
- Wheelsize: full 29″ for sizes M, L & XL; mullet with a 27.5″ rear wheel for dimension S coming in late 2024
- Shock: 195x45mm metric
- Fork journey: 120-130mm, with 44mm offset
- Drivetrain: 1x-only, 36T max chainring, UDH & SRAM T-type suitable
- Weight: 3180g, uncooked medium body together with linkage, bearings & all {hardware} (+50-200g for powdercoat paint)
Bitter SRD MTB: Cowboy Cookie & Double Choc – Pricing, choices & availability
As a part of the SRD program, each the Bitter Cowboy Cookie & Double Choc are strictly restricted editions. Bitter will supply 20 of every new SRD mountain bike at a time, in 4 time slots over the 12 months. That implies that pre-orders for every set will open on 4 Jun, 23 Aug, 17 Oct & 18 Feb 2025. In every pre-order window, as soon as 20 of every bikes promote, you’ll have to attend 3 months for the following slot. Bitter will ship frames 10-12 weeks later. That’s, the primary patrons now ought to have their frames on the finish of August, in time for autumn journey races?
Each new SRD bikes are provided completely as frame-only for 3500€, and not using a shock (together with 19% German VAT). Bitter is comfortable to set you up with a Fox or Manitou shock too, relying on how you propose to journey the bike and what you might be in search of. Then, you’ll be able to coordinate full bike builds along with your native bikeshop.
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