Pronghorn PR6 XC

[dirty]

I was lucky enough to throw a leg over the new Pronghorn PR6 XC bike and let me say...WOW. Pronghorn Racing is a Danish company that just got US distribution and the frame has the shock mounted on the lowered top tube. This, according to Pronghorn, results in no pedal bob when climbing or putting efficient power to the pedals (called Anti-Power Loss System or A.P.L.S).
This bike climbs like a hard tail...it is stiff as all hell and the company's claims of no power loss on climbs was true. When in tight single track, the PR6XC was agile and went where you pointed it. I have a 130mm fork, and it didn't feel raked out...it actually performed like a 100mm fork with regards to handling quickness due to the bikes unique geometry (shorter chain stays). Downhill it screamed to be ridden faster and was a joy to lean into banked turns and rocket out of.
This frame is just getting a foothold in the USA, but I would recommend finding one, riding one and buying one. As of now, you can get them direct through the company, or through www.mpgear.com (they offer free shipping and free Kore Karbon Rizers when you buy one there).
Bottom line: sweet rig.

[fudgedit]

Originally Posted by dirty

Bottom line: sweetspam.

Sounds a little too much like an ad to me.

[Krez]

agreed - commission?

also - who wants the air can sliding next to ones legs/junk, especially during tech. sections

[dirty]

The shock doesn't come at all close to your 'parts' as the distance is low enough that you won't have issues. It doesn't interfere with knees or any other anatomy. The shock is in the same vertical position as most under the top tube suspension frames, it's just that the tubes and geometry are different on the Pronghorn. I have not had an issue with hitting my legs, etc on the shock. If anything, it's nice to have the Pro Pedal switch and adjustment on the FOX rp-23 shock so close.

And if this sounds like an 'ad', it might be because I try to be professional and give good info on forums with products I support and use. Next time I'll be sure to swear, write more negative stuff and post a pic of me flipping someone off.

[2dumb4gears]

Originally Posted by dirty

The shock doesn't come at all close to your 'parts' as the distance is low enough that you won't have issues. It doesn't interfere with knees or any other anatomy. The shock is in the same vertical position as most under the top tube suspension frames, it's just that the tubes and geometry are different on the Pronghorn. I have not had an issue with hitting my legs, etc on the shock. If anything, it's nice to have the Pro Pedal switch and adjustment on the FOX rp-23 shock so close.

And if this sounds like an 'ad', it might be because I try to be professional and give good info on forums with products I support and use. Next time I'll be sure to swear, write more negative stuff and post a pic of me flipping someone off.

...but are you a distributor for this company, or work for one? Be honest.

[fudgedit]

Originally Posted by dirty

Next time I'll be sure to swear, write more negative stuff and post a pic of me flipping someone off.

That ain't me, that is Willie.

Come on two of your first five posts suggest going to a web site. If you aren't writing ads at least you are pimpin'.

[animalsrtasty1]

Don't hate the player, hate the game

[rockyrider]

To get back to the bike itself, last fall a bunch of people were commenting on this frame being a breakthrough in geometry and suspension configuration. If you look at the bike in Linkage, it is a basic single pivot very much like a Rocky Mountain Element or Kona Hei Hei. It will have the same issues with suspension lockout or brake jack under hard braking as it uses a seatstay pivot location. It has a similar rising ratio suspension so it's fairly stiff to small hits but gets more plush on bigger hits, and that will make it more hardtail-like for out of the saddle climbing. The Pronghorn leverage ratio changes faster than the Element so it should feel a little more plush mid travel.





The Pronghorn has 425mm (16.7") chainstays which is about normal for an XC hardtail, and about 7mm shorter than the Element or Kona Hei Hei at 432mm. It has 71/73 HA/SA geometry, very much like an XC hardtail. The Large (19") size has a 590mm HTT so it's a short cockpit compared to the Element at 600mm or Kona at 595mm. Certainly the Element rides very much like a hardtail with cush, you'd expect the Pronghorn to ride very similar.

[rockyrider]

Like a lot of European bikes, they use a different rear suspension in Europe versus the USA. It's a Horst Link in Europe and a basic single pivot in North America. In Europe it likely has a different feel than it does here.

US version



Euro version

[mimbresman]

I'd opt for the Element.

[rockyrider]

Interesting, on the website they have a price of $2135US for the Horst Link version and $1899US for the single pivot version, so they are likely paying the license for the HL version.

The 2009 Element 90 frame only is $1699US

[dirty]

thanks for the in depth stuff, Rocky...that's really great info.
And thanks for keeping it about the bike.

[rockyrider]

Were your experiences with the single pivot or Horst Link versions? They will be quite different.

[dirty]

I am on the US pivot version. This is a patent pending design. I would like to try the Horst version, but it's only available in Europe...

[rockyrider]

I think the SP would be a better race bike.

Here's the Linkage results for the Horst Link version, there's more pedal kickback in climbing gears.





The axle path is different as well.

Horst Link version



Single Pivot (US) version