The new freerider from Commençal doesn't actually look furious - rather funny, in swimming pool blue and with a hole in the top tube. At first we couldn't quite figure out what this was supposed to be good for, but when one person sits on the bike and the other looks from the side, it becomes clear: the shock absorber's reservoir needs space during compression, which is why. Form follows function. The "Furious" also offers other sensible details: the compression struts of the supported single-pivot sit far out on the dropout and give the rear end stability, the pivot point of the swingarm is far forward and exactly at chainring height and there is a Marzocchi with a thick stem in the 1.5 mm head tube. With only one chainring up front, the target application is clear: bike park. Cedric Gracia, a whirlwind of the scene, had a say in the development of the "Furious". He wanted a bike that runs safely downhill at speed, can cope with high drops and is manoeuvrable enough for modern, trick-oriented riding. We tested the bike in the park and on rough natural trails. The geometry fits - thanks to the low bottom bracket and long top tube, you sit "in" the bike. At high speeds, the "Furious" remains very stable, yet the suspension provides good feedback and conveys a direct riding feel. Berms can be ridden in motocross style, sitting down and with your foot out - pure fun. The good weight distribution and short rear triangle are noticeable when jumping: The Furious is easy to whip and remains stable in the air. The fork and rear suspension work very harmoniously, sensitive at the beginning, firm in the middle and with enough progression at the end for really rough stuff. The bashguard on the crank is missing and should be fitted as standard for this range of use.
The entire individual test is available as a free PDF download.
