If one bike could define Ellsworth, it would be the Truth. The quick-handling, short-travel XC/trail machine has been in the range since the inception of the brand, and it converted many hardtail riders who had yet to ride a bike with a squishy rear end that actually pedaled well to dual suspension.
I won't lie, the brand has been dealt a beating from the keyboards of PB commenters, but in spite of the negativity, the recently reorganized Ellsworth marches forward, and has launched a sequence of contemporary contenders: The 27.5-inch-wheel Rogue and the 29-inch-wheel Evolution come to mind, and now a completely redesigned 29-inch-wheel Truth has been released here at the Sea Otter Classic.
Ellsworth Truth Convert: • Purpose: XC / trail
• 29" or 27.5+ wheels
• 100 or 120-millimeter travel, carbon chassis
• New "Active Eneergy Efficient" four-bar suspension design.
• 69-degree head and 75.5-degree seat angles (with 100mm of travel)
• Vertical Axle Path
• Sizes: Small, Medium, Large
• 5 builds from $6145 SRAM GX to $8795 SRAM Eagle.
• Contact:
Ellsworth Bikes The novel "Active" rear suspension reportedly shares kinematics with its ICT (instant center tracking) siblings, but in a much different configuration. The carbon swingarm articulates on four pivot locations, placed at the mid-points of the seat and chainstays, while the swingarm's forward pivot rotates about the bottom bracket center. The configuration is similar to what we've seen previously on Breezer's dual-suspension designs, so the concept has been vetted to a large extent. Ellsworth says that the end product of the design is a low center of mass, a rearward axle path, and minimal chain growth. All of those are good things, so if the Truth Convert delivers as promised, it should be impressive.
The new Truth will be configured in cross-country trim with 100 millimeters of travel on each end, or as a trail bike with 120 millimeters of rear-wheel travel, paired with a 130-millimeter fork. Ellsworth built in ample spacing in the Boost-width swingarm to fit standard 29-inch wheels and tires, as well as 27.5-inch wheels with tires up to 2.8 inches. Geometry is promising, with a stable, but not too slack 69-degree head tube angle and a contemporary 75.5-degree seat tube angle for the 100mm version, and a 67.5-degree head angle and 74-degree seat angle for the 120mm version.
Five builds are planned: SRAM GX ($6145), Shimano XT ($6895) SRAM X01 ($7,395), Shimano XTR ($8,295), and SRAM Eagle XX1 ($8,795).
For more information on the new Truth Convert,
Visit Ellsworth.
MENTIONS: @SeaOtterClassic @ellsworthbikes
Yeah it's a small bike and they usually have room for that but that doesn't reduce its value
I like frames that can fit a WB and frame bag for shorter rides so I don't have to wear a pack.
There was a time when Ellsworth was awesome and looked the part, then came the downfall, and to me, its amazing that they are still around.
forums.mtbr.com/attachments/ellsworth/152884d1143681248-ever-since-i-first-saw-dan-cowan-tyler-klassen-daresworth3.jpg
That would just be awesome!
I like the look of this bike. It has good reach numbers and a sensible head tube angle. But please don't ruin it with stupid marketing comment.
Now I don't know what to believe...
Why don't we just do like the old school Slingshot frames but instead of the downtube we make the top tube a steel cable? Or better yet a 1/4" carbon rod?
I still own to Ellsworths, an '05 Joker that I got as part of the then lifetime frame warranty, and a '13 Evolution, which is still my near-everyday pedaler. Tony was extremely generous with me on warranty issues, but still, I just could not stand some of the stupid stuff he said for the record, so to speak.
ellsworthbikes.com/products/truth?variant=8147300745318
Never mind it's still ugly