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21 Sept 2017, Las Vegas, NV, Booth #12255, Incubator section
Those were bold words by Pinkbike’s Richard Cunningham, after being the first of any media or press to ride the new Tantrum Meltdown featuring the revolutionary (this time it’s true)Missing Link suspension, over a year ago. Most people thought, sure, what’s new, another suspension design claiming to be the holy grail and it has one convert. Another flash in the pan.
What’s happened since then? Other riders, both the press and regular, everyday riders at demo events, have agreed with RC’s most audacious statement “Compared the current crop of carbon superbikes, the Tantrum Meltdown performs well on the downs-and its pedaling action is better than all of them”. (see link below for full review)
The combination of fantastic media reviews as well as dozens of online reviews by actual demo riders, riding their own favorite trails, meant the much anticipated Kickstarter launch was a fantastic success, selling 3 frames in the first minute. It went on to break records of all metrics for a full suspension bike on Kickstarter, selling 12 frames in the first day, reaching the funding goal of 50k in 3 weeks and ending with 40 frames sold and $81k total sales in 2 months, Nov/Dec, arguably the worst sales month for bikes.
Shortly after kickstarter closed, the U. S. Patent was granted in March, 2017, with the EU patent not far behind.
These people, many of them demo riders, but most, not, plunked down money up front, to a guy with a brand new company, for a product that did not exist. If they were lucky, they would see it by the earliest in 6 months, with “never” always a possibility. As luck would have it, 6 months turned to 8 months and the very first Kickstarter backer picked up his bike at the Eurobike trade show in Freidricshafen, Germany, earlier in Sept. Since then, 10 more frames have been delivered (not even the first days sales), with the remainder of the Kickstarter backers expecting delivery in Sept/Oct.
The remaining frames from the first production run have long been spoken for and the growing waiting list for the next batch all but insures that they be will sold out before completion. Brian Berthold, owner and founder says “that’s a nice problem to have, but still a lot of pressure. Kickstarter was great, but a lot of pressure having these people’s money for so long and really wanting to make them happy.” His efforts have paid off, as the first customers are already posting online reviews, continuing the confirmation that the Missing Link does indeed, possibly amazing characteristics that allow it to climb like no other, both because of geometry and bump absorption, while enhancing downhill and bump performance at the same time. With no lockouts, switches or electronics.
The bike has to be ridden to be believed. Continues Berthold, “the geometry change while climbing is unprecedented. There’s simply no other bike or suspension design that can do this.””this makes it very difficult for even experienced riders to imagine. Absolutely no compression of the rear suspension while climbing, in fact extending as effort increases to the point where a Tantrum Meltdown with a 64 degree head tube angle will out climb a bike with a 68 degree HT angle.” “And destroy that same bike on the downhill”
Tantrum Cycles features the performance long sought by every bike and shock manufacturer on the planet. The ability to climb and pedal like a hardtail and hit the descents like a downhill bike. Only the Patented Missing Link can combine those attribute into one, elegant suspension design that uses no lockouts, switches, levers or electronics. Yet intuitively provide the optimum geometry and spring rate for the conditions.
The success of the kickstarter effort was so impressive that it caught the eye of the producers of the TV series, Adventure Capitalists. This show features investors who are world class athletes that have the interest in money tom invest in promising outdoor and sports products. While the success of Kickstarter caught their eye, the producers were also mountain bike riders. They knew what this could mean to their own riding, and knew it would be a great fit for the show.
The show was filmed and will air as the Adventure Capitalist debut episode, 10pm EST, Oct 10, 2017. Tune in to find out if any of the investors were interested enough, after riding the bikes for themselves, to invest their own money in this unlikely start up.
The subtitle claims This is the bike the entire industry has its eye on. It’s not an exaggeration. It shouldn’t be a surprise. The entire industry has been focused on a design that combines superior pedaling characteristics with good bump compliance. Further complicated for the need to climb, this problem has confounded the might of the industry for over 25 years.
The industry is watching. Many are interested in licensing. Some have even purchased a frame to evaluate. In the meantime, Tantrum Cycles continues with a range of bikes from 100-200 mm of travel, in 27.5, 29, 27.5 plus configurations. They all know that whether they license this design or not, they better get to work on something other than the status quo that has been available till now.
A new standard in suspension performance now exists. It works. It’s better. Ride it to believe it.
Tantrum Cycles is interested in licensing this groundbreaking technology. Please contact Brian Berthold for more information.
For more on Tantrum Cycles and the Missing Link, please visit www.tantrumcycles.com
For educational videos on the Missing Link suspension, please visit the Tantrum Cycles Youtube channel
For information on founder Brian Berthold’s background and career, please visit www.brianberthold.com
We are also excited to being featured soon in the exciting TV show Adventure Capitalists going into their 2nd season so check it out!
Release ID: 241963