ATHERTON AM170 M1
Will Atherton Bikes’ Worlds-winning DH design prove a winner outside the tape?
It’s stating the obvious that Atherton bikes have come a long way in a relatively short space of time. But when a manufacturer of a niche design, using inherited technology from a failing brand, turns it around in such a spectacular fashion, it’s something that bears repeating.
To add to multiple glowing bike reviews, one of Atherton’s most spectacular achievements is scoring World Cup and World Championship DH wins against the biggest and most affluent brands and teams on the planet. The Atherton DH rig is definitely competitive then, but how does this translate to its latest 170mm-travel bighitter sharing the same DNA, technology and production methods?
Dubbed the AM170, this is the bike Dan Atherton wanted for ripping up DH tracks and massive jumps in Dyfi bike park, and riding the local natural techy steeps, while still being able to ride back up to the top again under his own steam.
No surprises then, that it’s solid and pretty hefty, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a one-trick-pony freeride or mini-dh bike; I quickly discovered it still pedals and climbs very efficiently for how capable it is.
Like every Atherton bike (this is the fifth), the frame is made in Machynlleth from a skeleton of carbon tubes bonded into 3D-printed titanium lugs.
I’ve ridden every Atherton bike so far, and followed its progress from the somewhat rough and raw first AM150 prototype, through multiple refinements to the point now where the brand is clearly exploiting the full potential of its unique construction and DW6 suspension design.
Atherton Bikes sees customisation and rider fit as a critical part of the puzzle, so it offers 22 size options, reflecting low, regular, tall or X-tall seat tubes and reach numbers spanning from 410mm up to 530mm. Now if that sounds crazy, well it kinda is, but thanks to Atherton’s fit calculator – that factors in arm and leg length as well as rider height – it’s remarkably easy to land on a good-fitting bike.
Offering so many options is clearly easier when your frame’s made by bonding tubes together, rather than needing extremely costly carbon moulds for each individual size. But the downside to Atherton’s approach is that it’s more time consuming than having a traditional carbon moulded frame. Atherton Bikes have to wait 16 hours for its sole Renishaw additive machine to lay down powdered titanium with a laser to produce the lugs. These component parts then need significant handfinishing before tubes of any dimension can be inserted. Artisan? You bet.
It’s remarkably easy to land on a good-fitting bike
This build process obviously lends all Atherton Bikes a unique look, but less obvious is the DW6 six-bar suspension layout with an additional, barely visible, link behind the bottom bracket. It adds weight and complexity, but as we delved much deeper into in the AM130 review, it’s clear that it also affords tuning suppleness and progression with neutral pedalling characteristics. It also retains low levels of anti-rise; presumably contributing to Atherton’s signature composed ride character that’s really stable and calm under heavy braking on the steeps.
Another factor to the smooth and damped feel is Atherton using custom lugs for each application and understanding the tuning of the carbon tubes that connect all of the lugs. This is key to the ride quality.
Adapting the thickness and rigidity of the carbon tubes adds compliance and damping in certain zones of the frame and it means that even with rock-solid lugs and pivot hardware, the frame feels sturdy, but not so bony and stiff as to reduce off-camber grip and comfort.