There is a clear trend towards overweight in all-mountain bike fullys. For example, the entry-level bikes in this MTB category weighed an average of 15.8 kilos ready to ride in our last comparison test. One manufacturer that is not following this trend is Last Bikes. The Dortmund-based company has already proven itself with the Enduro bike Tarvothat even mountain bikes with high suspension travel do not have to be heavyweights and designed perhaps the lightest enduro in the world. The weights of the Trailbikes Asco and the Down-Country-Bikes Celos are record-breakingly low. Even the first version of the light-footed Cinto all-mountain bikes impressed in the BIKE test. The highlight: all four Last mountain bikes are based on the same frame platform. Thanks to different rocker arms, shocks and suspension fork lengths, it is possible to convert the variants. However, the robust Superduty carbon layup is required for the Enduro Tarvo.
What's new about the Last Cinto V2
At first glance, the new Last Cinto V2 differs only slightly from the V1 version. Due to complex production processes in Germany, the V2 version is also limited to 100 units per year. The carbon frame of the all-mountain full-suspension bike accepts forks with 150 to 160 millimetres of suspension travel. The Cinto still offers 145 millimetres of travel on the shock. The Cinto still owes its low frame weight, among other things, to the absence of a bearing on the rear triangle. Instead, the carbon fibre flexes in the seat stays themselves. The direction-dependent stiffness of the material forms an elastic joint which, in contrast to a bearing, should be completely free of play and maintenance-free.
In order to maximise the durability of the Flex Pivot rear triangle, the pivot points were positioned in such a way that the carbon is hardly stressed. The brake calliper mount was integrated into the inside of the chainstay to ensure unhindered flex of the seatstay. The threaded inserts are laminated in directly during production for the precise positioning of post-mount brake callipers. The Cinto can also accommodate large brake discs up to 203 millimetres in diameter. The seat and chain stays on the new V2 version are more curved to improve freedom of movement. The optimised rear triangle is also compatible with rear derailleurs for direct mounting, as recently observed in prototypes of a new Sram AXS generation.
Optimised rear triangle on the all-mountain bike from Germany
Last has designed the suspension system of the Cinto V2 with Flex Pivot to be particularly progressive and promises a fine response behaviour on small bumps as well as a lot of support in the mid-travel range. The progression of the rear suspension is achieved primarily through the kinematics of the linkage, which should make a large number of volume spacers in the shock superfluous. With 21 per cent progression from the SAG point, the All Mountain Cinto can be ridden with air shocks as well as coil shocks. Over the entire suspension travel, the progression is 33 per cent. In order to offer all riders a high level of pedalling efficiency regardless of their height and therefore their centre of gravity, Last adjusts the anti-squat depending on the frame size. And 100% Anti-Rise is designed to minimise braking effects on the suspension. The size-specific adjustment enables comparable riding characteristics for riders of different heights.
Last Cinto: Second version now even lighter
Last gives customers a choice when it comes to the weight and robustness of the frame. The carbon frame of the Cinto V2 is now also available in the Featherweight layup already familiar from Asco and Celos, which saves another 300 grams of weight compared to the Superduty layup. According to the manufacturer, frame weights from 1.8 kilograms and complete bikes from 11.0 kilograms should be possible. In order to achieve this dream weight, frames with the Featherweight Layup dispense with the storage compartment integrated into the down tube and instead come with a tool mount under the top tube. Despite the weight saving, the use of different fibres and a load-specific orientation of the laminate structure should not result in any loss of stiffness. The laminate construction of the two options does not differ. If you want to save every last gram, you can opt for the raw finish of the frame. The carbon is protected from UV light by a sealant, but the material remains visible. Compared to coloured frames, the raw finish saves another 90 grams or so. While the range of use of the Superduty layup is also approved for bike park visits and racing in accordance with ASTM category 5, the Featherweight layup corresponds to category ASTM 4. In addition, the fork travel in the lightweight version of the Last Celo is limited to 150 millimetres.
Geometry of the carbon full-suspension bike at a glance
As an all-mountain bike, the Cinto V2 should impress with balanced handling characteristics uphill and downhill. The steering angle is slack at 65 degrees for a smooth ride on descents. The reach values are generous, with Last naming the different frame sizes according to typical rider sizes, thus providing a clear guide to size selection. To make it easier for riders of different sizes to optimise weight distribution on the bike, Last adjusts the seat angle depending on the frame size. The chainstays on the Cinto V2 are also size-specific and grow with the frame size. Short seat tubes are designed to maximise the retractability of the seat post.
Details on the Last Cinto V2
Like all other Last frames, the Cinto V2 also comes with the Sram Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH), which is designed to simplify the supply of spare parts. All cables run through laminated guides in both the main frame and the rear triangle. This is particularly challenging in the monocoque production of the rear triangle, but simplifies the assembly with internally routed cables and brake lines immensely. As the transition between the frame components is close to the pivot point, the movement of the rear triangle should have no influence on the shifting performance. Wrenchers will be pleased with the bolted BSA bottom bracket standard on the Last Cinto V2. To prevent moisture from reaching the bottom bracket, its housing is hermetically sealed in the frame. Thanks to an optional ISCG adapter plate, chain guides and bashguards can also be fitted to the All Mountain Cinto. The washers for mounting the shock on the trunnion mount are integrated directly into the rocker so that they cannot get lost. The lower mounting hardware is made from titanium.
Those who opt for the Superduty layup of the carbon frame can look forward to a particularly large integrated storage compartment on the Last Cinto V2. From the bottom bracket to the head tube, the entire down tube acts as a "boot" for spare parts, tools and snacks. Customers receive two bags of different sizes with each frame in order to optimise the volume of the storage compartment. The storage space in the down tube is closed using strong magnets. This means that the storage compartment lid stays in place even in rough terrain and with a large water bottle in the bottle holder. The chain and seat stay protectors have soft rubber slats for a particularly quiet ride. On the drive side, the chainstay is additionally protected by a film. An in-house laminated carbon protector protects the down tube from flying stones. The glued-on protection also encloses the bottom bracket area.
Last mountain bikes "made in Germany"
Last has the frame of the Last Cinto V2 produced by carbon specialist Bike Ahead Composites in Veitshöchheim. This involves a lot of painstaking manual labour and the number of frames produced per year is limited to 100. The rear triangle of the Cinto is manufactured as a monocoque in one piece. The mould for the rear triangle alone consists of 17 individual parts.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
