A tough all-mountain bike for carefree trail action. If that's what you're looking for, the Atherton range so far only the AM.150. For most bikers, however, the All Mountain - probably the fastest downhill sibling in the world - remains just a wet dream. Why? The unique frame construction made of individual carbon tubes held together by 3D-printed titanium sleeves drives the price of the bikes to dizzying heights. To illustrate: the entry-level model currently costs 7834 euros. However, Atherton fans can now also enjoy an all-mountain bike at more favourable conditions. An aluminium frame construction makes this possible and pushes the entry-level price down to a more bearable 4480 euros. Even though the new Atherton S.150 does without carbon, the manufacturing process remains the same. The sleeves are not 3D printed from titanium powder, but milled from aluminium and then bonded to aluminium round tubes. This means that even the more affordable models retain the typical Atherton design language.
The facts about the Atherton S.150
- Frame material: 7075 aluminium
- Suspension travel: 160 millimetres front / 150 millimetres rear.
- Wheel size: Mullet (29-inch front, 27.5-inch rear)
- Frame sizes: 12 (!) standard sizes
- Price: three models from 4480 euros
- Weight: not yet specified
- Special features: handmade in the UK, lifetime guarantee, sleeve construction
Responsive, playful and tough - these should be the virtues of the new Atherton S.150. Atherton lays the foundation with a mullet setup with a 29er front wheel and a smaller 27.5-inch wheel at the rear. Suspension travel: 150 millimetres at the rear and 160 millimetres at the fork. "In over 20 years at the top of the World Cup, we have learnt that the smallest changes to the geometry can bring about disproportionately large improvements." That's why Atherton offers 12 standard sizes and the option of customisation. This means that bikers of all sizes and proportions can find the perfect frame.
This is Atherton Bikes
The brand is not just another bike manufacturer, but the Athertons themselves - perhaps the most successful bike siblings of all time. Rachel and Gee are both multiple downhill world champions. Brother Dan won the hardcore downhill event he initiated, the so-called Red Bull Hardline, and took home several four-cross titles. With the help of the frame building expertise of Robot Bike, the siblings have been putting their combined bike expertise on two wheels since 2019.
Atherton p.150: made in UK for a lifetime
The frame of the Atherton S.150 is handmade in Machynlleth, Great Britain. It shares the technologies with Atherton's first aluminium bike p.170which was launched on the market in March this year. With both bikes, the developers aim to achieve the perfect balance between weight and durability. The key element in this endeavour is the 7075 aluminium alloy, which is 60-70% stronger than the more widely used 6061 alloy in terms of fatigue, tensile strength and hardness. The S.150 has not only passed the EFBE test for category 5, but also the Atherton field test, which includes the toughest bike park trails in the UK.
Atherton S.150: Models and prices
Max Fuchs
Editor
