Atherton Bikes is set to release a new range of lower-priced aluminium bikes, complementing its existing carbon and titanium-lugged line-up.
The new S-range will feature a lug-and-tube constructed aluminium frame, as opposed to the brand's current carbon-tubed and titanium-lugged options.
There will be fewer frame options than on the A-range bikes, with 12 standard sizes – 10 fewer than the brand’s more expensive bikes.
A DW suspension linkage is still used on the bikes, though this has been revised to a simpler DW4 design. It has 10 bearings, rather than the 18 found in Atherton’s DW6 design.
It’s not yet known which individual models will be included in the range, but prices are set to start at £4,800 for a full build.
The range will be released throughout the year, so watch BikeRadar for more information.
Aluminium Atherton
The bikes will continue to be manufactured in Wales at the brand’s Machynlleth facility, where leaked images of a prototype bike were taken last week.
Atherton says the ‘S’ in S-range stands for subtractive, describing the bike-manufacturing process, which sees the lugs being CNC’d as opposed to the 3D-printed variants on the A-range bikes.
This process takes less time and will enable the brand to make a greater volume of bikes, compared to the A-range.
Dan Atherton, the brand's founder and ex-downhill racer, says: “All the characteristics and personality of the A-range – like perfect fit, geometry and playful ride feel – will be carried through into this new S-range.”
Further details will follow with the official launch of the bikes next week.
