First Ride: Spot Mayhem 29

On May 23, 2018

Spot Mayhem 29

Spot Brand is a family-owned bicycle company located in Golden, Colorado, passionate about high-level engineering. The family founded Avid in 1991 and grew the component company into one of the largest brake manufacturers in the world. After selling Avid, the Lumpkin family founded Spot Brand. What sets Spot apart from other bicycle manufacturers is their patented Living Link suspension system which eliminates the lower rear pivot set and replaces it with a leaf spring. Yup, you read that right. The bike's suspension borrows technology from the automotive world and incorporates it into a mountain bike. According to Spot this leaf spring design is said to, "Improve pedaling efficiency and enhance the linkage’s energy return, providing a boost atop the spring curve that powers you over roots and rocks." Furthermore, the leaf spring helps provide lateral stiffness to the frame. We got our hands on the Spot Mayhem 29 to see just how much havoc we could wreak on our local trails. — The Mayhem 29 features 130mm of travel front and rear, along with a 75.7-degree seat tube angle and a 66.7-degree head tube angle. The bike has short chainstays, 29″ wheels, and a patented suspension design. The Spot Mayhem is compatible with 27.5+ wheels and tires for riders who prefer a little more rubber on the ground.

Spot Brand is a family-owned bicycle company located in Golden, Colorado, that is passionate about high-level engineering. The family founded Avid in 1991 and grew the component company into one of the largest brake manufacturers in the world. After selling Avid, the Lumpkin family founded Spot Brand. What sets Spot apart from other bicycle manufacturers is their patented Living Link suspension system which eliminates the lower rear pivot set and replaces it with a leaf spring. Yup, you read that right. The bike’s suspension borrows technology from the automotive world and incorporates it into a mountain bike. According to Spot this leaf spring design is said to, “Improve pedaling efficiency and enhance the linkage’s energy return, providing a boost atop the spring curve that powers you over roots and rocks.” Furthermore, the leaf spring helps provide lateral stiffness to the frame. We got our hands on the Spot Mayhem 29 to see just how much havoc we could wreak on our local trails.

Living Link sets the Mayhem apart from other bikes on the market. During our first ride, we quickly noticed the increased stiffness provided by the leaf spring. Living Link gave us an efficient pedaling platform and resisted bottoming out as well.

Our test bike came with a SRAM XO1 Eagle drivetrain which provided us with a wide range of gears and precise shifting.

First Ride: The Mayhem is a fast 29er trail bike built with 130mm of travel and an urge to charge obstacles with authority. The bike’s Living Link suspension provides great pedaling efficiency that allows riders to leave the shock in the open position. During descents, the bike has a nimble feel, and the leaf spring design seems to add an extra pop to the bike when riding off jumps or bunny-hopping over obstacles. Our first impressions of the Spot Mayhem are quite good. The bike sports a modern feel with a steep seat tube, long reach, and low bottom bracket height. Our testers are looking forward to wreaking havoc aboard the Spot Mayhem over the next few weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for a full review in an upcoming issue of Mountain Bike Action Magazine.

For more First Ride Reviews head to https://mbaction.com/bike-tests/

First Ride: Spot Mayhem 29

Spot Mayhem 29

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