British mountain bike designers, engineers and manufacturer, Empire Cycles, has officially unveiled its all-new 2010 model, the AP-1WR.
Unlike previous incarnations of the cast aluminium-framed DH bike, is now available to buy as a complete bike, rather than purely as a frame kit.
The rather fetching Empire Cycles AP-1WR (Works Replica) comes complete with bold new graphics (BNG).
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“In building the AP-1WR we have tried to create something very special,” said Empire Cycles’ managing director, Chris Williams. “We opted to construct the Works Replica as if we were building our own personal dream bike, so the unique AP-1 chassis is complemented by the finest products we could source from the best and most reputable component manufacturers in the World. We simply refused to settle for anything less than the best, and the result is a true thoroughbred race bike.”
“The quality is there for all to see,” continued Chris, “from the precision cast frame to the rear shock absorber and XTR shifter – it is a top spec product worthy of its ‘works’ bike status. We have added nothing that would compromise the frame’s performance, so everything exudes quality and is built to withstand anything the World’s best downhill riders can throw at it.”
“A lot of hard work and effort went in to researching and developing the pioneering AP-1 frame. We were experimenting with technology new to the MTB market so to get recognised like this for our endeavour is a huge achievement. It adds yet more kudos to the Empire Cycles stable and affirms the AP-1’s credentials as a serious downhill tool.”
The AP-1WR sits atop Empire Cycles’ official 2010 line-up, which also include the AP-1S and AP-1R frame kits. Available now, the Works Replica costs £5495; the AP-1S and AP-1R are priced at £2695 and £2995 respectively. The AP-1S comes fitted with Rockshox Vivid suspension (steel spring), while the AP-1R is bedecked with a Cane Creek shock complete with titanium spring.
For more details on Empire Cycles’ AP-1, please visit www.empire-cycles.com
The swing arm is hollow I think or at least its not soild because its much lighter than the frame itself.
“(make a mould + pour in molten metal = frame)”
You have never cast anything have you?
Casting is used because it produces a stronger finished product. Catsing does not produce a finshed product striaght from the mould unless you want something you can’t be sure will fit. The step you missed is that the casting is machined and if you want good tolerance thats not cheap.
Casting is only cheaper on large production runs because fabrication is a manual job and labour is very expensive these days. If its strength you want than casting is the way to go, well that and machining from a soild block but thats expensive full stop.
In terms of engineering empire really are the top of the tree in DH bike terms.
They have a made the bike have a high ration of sprung to unsprung mass deliberately. If you make the bike light then that means to get the ratio high you need to reduce the unsprung mass, and on a DH bike or any bike thats hard as you end up with thin tyres, flimsey wheels, and forks and swings arms that flex all over the shop.