TI BREAKER
Stanton Bikes’ new full-sussers blend titanium and carbon, delivering 140-160mm travel in both wheel sizes
Stanton Bikes might be best known for its progressive hardtails, but in recent years the brand has added full-suspension models to the range, too. The Switch9er (140mm, 29in wheels) and Switchback FS (140mm or 160mm, 27.5in wheels) use a Reynolds steel front end matched with an aluminium swingarm. But now they are joined by two new bikes that show what Stanton is really capable of when reaching for the very top drawer of the materials cabinet.
Utilising a titanium front end and a carbon swingarm, Stanton says the new Switch9er FS Ti and Switchback FS Ti represent the culmination of a decade’s worth of experience designing and building bikes.
On looks alone the two models impress – clean lines, that classic titanium tube lustre and an understated glossy carbon weave makes for two bikes that are easy on the eye, especially as specced here. Stanton’s main man, Dan Stanton, says that choosing titanium and carbon hasn’t been done to boost the boutique factor, but because he believes these are the optimal materials for the job.
Titanium is a superior material to make frames from, not only because of its longevity, dent resistance, compliance and feel but also because it allows them to offer truly custom options, Dan reckons. This is a big part of the brand’s appeal, with customers encouraged to really make their bike their own through bespoke sizing and geometry, one-off builds and finishes – in part thanks to most processes being done in-house at Stanton HQ in Derbyshire.
Titanium has always been a niche material for full-suspension frames, but Stanton has plenty of experience getting the most out of it thanks to its Ti hardtails, and Dan says a great deal of time has gone into working the titanium tubing so that it’s fit for purpose. Internal diameters vary to put the flex in just the right places to achieve the playful feel Stanton says it aims for with all its bikes. Dan clearly isn’t anti-carbon but believes it should be used appropriately to make the most of its characteristics. As such, carbon was the material of choice for the swingarms of the two new frames, its elasticity well-suited to creating a light, strong structure. With it being less likely to take a big direct hit than the frame, worries about damage to the material are negligible. This may be Stanton’s first dabble with the black stuff, but having developed the swingarm with a team that works in F1, they’ve got up to speed quickly.
Both frames share the same titanium front end while there are two sizes of 27.5in carbon swingarm to accept a shock that’ll deliver either 140mm or 160mm travel. The 29in swingarm is 140mm only, the reasoning being Stanton feels this is as much travel
as the 29er needs thanks to the progressive suspension getting the most from the shock. Both bikes are claimed to have kinematics designed to to be extremely smooth, offering lots of small-bump movement with the ability to soak up bigger hits without harsh bottom-out.
The off-the-shelf Switch9er FS Ti and Switchback FS Ti are available now, and if you want a bespoke Ti front end, drop Stanton a line. Frames without a shock are £3,200, with frame and shock options from Öhlins and EXT starting from £3,699. Both models are available with Stanton’s unique range of finish options – choose from blasted, polished, anodised and ceramic Cerakote.
Existing Stanton Switch9er and Switchback FS riders will be pleased to hear that, as well as being modular, the new frame and swingarm are retrofittable across the existing Switch FS series of frames. So if you want to add a titanium front end or a carbon rear you can, with just a bit of spanner wielding required. This approach also offers up the potential to mix wheel sizes, something Stanton says is possible in a number of ways. A new Ti front end will cost you £2,000, and a carbon rear end will set you back £1,000.