WHAT THE FLIP?!
The Megatower has two flip chips; one in the lower link adjusts geo and shock rate. The second, in the dropout, allows for 10mm adjustment in chainstay length.
The chip in the lower link allows for 3.5mm difference in BB height to allow riders to fine-tune their ride height and people wishing to over-fork (+10mm travel) can preserve the BB height by using the Lo setting.
Worth noting: You do get a larger HTA change (1 degree slacker) if you go from Hi to Lo and up-fork by 10mm at the same time.
The dropout flip chip allows for riders to fine-tune their wheelbase and rear center +/- 10mm, something that’s particularly pertinent for riders on the larger size bikes who’ll benefit from an optimized climbing position and wider weight distribution for traction.
While these changes may seem slight, and certainly won’t change the bike from an XC bike to park bike, using flip chips is a robust mechanism for riders looking to tweak their ride according to their needs without compromising the reliability and durability of the bike. No wack-a-do mousetraps and proprietary shocks here.
Furthermore, switching between Lo and Hi will have an affect on shock rate, with the Lo position giving it slightly more progressive rate and a bit more bottom out resistance. Again, tweakers and finicky riders can adapt the suspension feel to their needs and desires.
LOWER-LINK VPP
A lot’s happened in the past 18 years, but we’ve been hard at work on VPP the whole time. Conceptually, it’s no different than it was back in 2001 (when we started using VPP), but we’ve incrementally improved the ride characteristic with the introduction of each new model. The lower-link mounted shock first appeared on the V10—a bike free of constraints like that pesky front derailleur, and stayed there for a while. The lower link-mounted shock configuration gives a very progressive-linear rate with excellent small bump, mid-stroke support and great bottom out resistance. Sounds rad, right? It is.
What’s more, short, counter-rotating links connect the front and rear triangles to create an extremely robust chassis. Simple linkages contain the pivot points to prevent slop from developing over time; grease ports make it serviceable; and pivots run on large diameter axles and bearings, which we offer free lifetime replacement for.