The Mayhem is back, and Spot calls it the most advanced bike they’ve ever made. While still relying on a carbon leaf spring like their Living Link platform has before, the orientation has been flipped which Spot calls Inversion or the 3rd generation of the tech. There’s also a new Slaybar frame design with several clever features making the Mayhem one to check out.
Spot wanted to create a bike that was lighter, stronger, and one that both climbed and descended better. No small order. However, they feel like they crushed all their goals with the strongest frame they’ve ever tested, while also reducing the amount of parts.
Stating that they reached the limit of what they could do with the current leaf spring arrangement, the new layout flips the leaf spring and main pivot which results in a number of improvements:
- Improved pedaling efficiency with more grip
- More usable travel by making the mid-stroke leverage rate more linear
- Better bottom-out control
- Better small-bump compliance
- Softer touch-down feel
- Focuses anti-squat more in sag range
The patented system uses fewer parts and just six bearings. It also introduces a new suspension curve that includes individual phases for touchdown, sag, range, and bottom-out control. As Spot explains, “a shallow, straight, progressive behavior is excellent for bump absorption, but does not provide enough bottom-out resistance. The Inversion system enables us to tailor the ends of the curve to improve bottom-out support while also increasing touch-down sensitivity. The linkage arrangement of the suspension system creates a more progressive zone near bottom out. The flexure of the leaf spring acts as a negative spring at top out, helping with soft stroke initiation, and as a positive spring partway through the stroke, acting to straighten the curve in mid-travel.
All of this combines to give a ride that delivers great traction when lightly loaded, a supportive, predictable mid-stroke response, and good bottom-out protection without having to tune excess air can progression into the shock.”
Moving on to the frame design itself, their new ‘Slaybar’ design essentially subdivides the main triangle into two smaller triangles for increased support of the shock and frame forces. Spot admits they’re not the first to add an asymmetrical frame support, but unlike something like the Specialized Sidearm, Spot’s support divides the main frame into two triangles, rather than a trapezoid.
They claim this reduces stress on all parts of the frame including the bearings so they can use less material and create a lighter, lower maintenance frame. As a result, the Mayhem 140 is 10% lighter than the outgoing Mayhem 130, while 56% stronger than the Mayhem 150!
Additional details include their SprockLock system on the main pivots which use a mechanical lock to prevent the hardware from being able to back out. By avoiding collet-type hardware, they can avoid having to use aluminum parts molded into the carbon to resist radial expansion, and can make it lighter and stronger.
Due to the new location of the Living Link in front of the seat tube, Spot saw an opportunity to cut out the rivnuts in the frame for a water bottle cage and instead mount it directly to the leaf spring mounting bolts. There’s also a slot to use as a strap anchor to carry spares if you’d rather do that instead. You’ll also find a threaded bottom bracket with ISCG 05 mounting tabs.
Even the cable port has been scrutinized with a clever thread-together system that prevents them from having to mold metal threads into the carbon. While the cable routing is internal, the threaded system appears to lock the cables in place to prevent rattling.
Built around 29″ wheels, the Mayhem 140 includes 140mm of rear travel and a 150mm travel fork (160mm travel optional). Frames are available in Liquid Black or Alpine Blue, and pricing starts at $3,799 for the frame-only, or $5,999 for a 4-Star build with SRAM GX Eagle. It’s available for pre-order only for now, with bikes shipping in September.
