A hardtail doesn’t necessarily have to look like a classic mountain bike. The Italian brand El Camös proves this with the F-00. This carbon bike is in a league of its own: unusual tube shapes, an extremely short rear triangle and a geometry more in line with modern full-suspension bikes. The F-00 is therefore more than just another carbon frame – it’s a unique design for riders who are deliberately looking for something different. Intrigued? Then don’t miss the following details about El Camös’s hardtail MTB.
Conclusion
The El Camös F-00 is one of those bikes where the technology becomes a talking point even before you’ve taken it for a ride. Its unusual carbon construction and modern geometry make it a hardtail with a character all of its own. Whether this design actually performs better on the trail than a conventional frame remains to be seen. The El Camös F-00 is certainly an exciting bike. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
The El Camös F-00 in detail
- Intended use: Cross-country / Marathon
- Suspension travel: 115 mm
- Wheel size: 29”
- Frame material: carbon
- Weight: N/A
- Price: N/A
- Special features: flexible rear triangle design, prototype status
From bike to skis
El Camös was founded in 2021. Among those behind the project were Edoardo Ferrari, a designer well-known in the Italian cycling world, former racing cyclist and MTB developer Mirko Pirazzoli, and entrepreneur Alberto Martinelli. Their first major product was the unusually designed, full-suspension El Camös 00, which is now available in small batches at prices exceeding 15,000 euros.
The brand was originally founded as a composite start-up within the mountain biking sector, but has since expanded into winter sports. Today, El Camös explicitly positions itself as an Italian alpine brand for high-performance skis and bikes. The F-00 is the latest hardtail prototype from the carbon experts. The bike was first unveiled back in 2025 at the BIKE Festival in Riva. Since then, there has been little news regarding the continuation of the project. However, this does not make the idea behind it any less relevant.
A hardtail with full-suspension DNA
El Camös hails from the Brescia region and adheres to a clear philosophy: technical functionality should not be constrained by traditional design principles. Even the brand’s very first model, the full-suspension El Camös 00, attracted attention with its unusual Y-shaped frame design. The F-00 now applies this concept to a hardtail. However, the bike – with its rigid rear end – is not necessarily intended to feel like a typical hardtail. El Camös combines a short rear triangle with a long reach and a correspondingly generously proportioned front triangle. What makes the F-00 special is the consistency with which the developers have put their idea into practice. In doing so, El Camös is fully aware that the bike won’t be to everyone’s taste. The bike isn’t designed to blend in as inconspicuously as possible with the current MTB landscape. It is intended to be a unique interpretation of the hardtail.
El-Camös designer Edoardo Ferrari describes the aim as a combination of agility and comfort. The short rear end is intended to ensure that the bike responds immediately to pedalling inputs and absorbs the forces from the chainstays directly. At the same time, the unusual design of the seat stays and chain stays is intended to allow for a certain degree of vertical and lateral flex. The seat stays run above the chain, whilst the chain stays extend far forwards and are routed in a distinctive double curve around the bottom bracket area. According to the developer, this allows the frame to flex at the desired points. Rather than simply building a hardtail to be as stiff as possible, El Camös aims to apply flexibility specifically where it can enhance riding comfort.
Monocoque construction
As for the material itself, El Camös uses Toray T800 carbon, which is laid up in different fibre orientations. The frame is cured in an autoclave at six bar and 135 degrees Celsius. Resins derived from the aerospace industry are used as the matrix. This monocoque construction is closely linked to the F-00’s unusual design. The frame features a T47 bottom bracket, a UDH derailleur hanger standard and an integrated 1.5-inch headset.
The geometry also emphasises that El Camös does not regard the F-00 as a leisurely cross-country hardtail. The head angle is 67 degrees, whilst the virtual seat angle is 75.5 degrees is stated. The show bike features an upside-down suspension fork from Bright Racing Shocks with 115 millimetres of travel mounted in the head tube. According to the Italians, the F-00 is not intended solely for fast, smooth cross-country laps, but should also be able to cope with rough terrain.
What do you think: do you see the appeal of this unusual hardtail design, or would you rather go straight for a proper full-suspension bike? Let us know in the comments.
Jan Timmermann
Editor