Sycip Double Dribble Steel Full-Suspension Bike: A fun machine with two bottom brackets

The Sycip Double Dribble embodies 25 years of frame-building expertise. The full-suspension bike’s steel frame combines a classic, handcrafted look with the requirements of a modern mountain bike. On top of that, there’s a unique feature: one of the frame bearings has been replaced by a bottom bracket. With 160 millimetres of travel on the fork and 120 millimetres on the rear shock, the Double Dribble features an unusual design. One thing is certain: Sycip’s latest full-suspension bike is an exciting ride for enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Sycip epitomises Californian frame-building craftsmanship through and through. The Double Dribble is a collector’s item featuring unconventional design solutions. Thanks to its steel frame, single-pivot rear triangle and bottom bracket as the main pivot point, this special full-suspension bike should have no durability issues. I’m particularly taken with the exquisite titanium version. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

The Sycip double dribble in detail

• Intended use: Trail – Enduro
• Suspension travel: 160 / 120 mm
• Wheel size: choice of 26 / 27.5 / 29”
• Frame material: steel / titanium
• Weight: N/A
• Price range: from approx. 3,300 euros
• Special features: Bottom bracket at the main pivot point

Beautiful steel and titanium bikes from California

​Sycip Cycles was founded in 1991 by brothers Jeremy and Jay Sycip in San Francisco, California. Starting out as a small frame-building workshop, the company has grown into a well-known brand for hand-built bicycles, characterised by their bespoke design and high-quality craftsmanship. The Sycip brothers built their own frames and, over the years, have developed bicycles for a wide range of uses – including road bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes and gravel bikes. In 2003, Jay left the small brand and has since been working with bearing legend Chris King. Today, Sycip combines traditional frame-building craftsmanship with modern materials and construction techniques. Personalised tuning to suit the rider and the ability to customise geometry, components and design remain defining features of the brand to this day.

Customers can order the Sycip Double Dribble either with a steel frame from around 3,300 euros or with a titanium frame from around 5,600 euros. The upgrade to lightweight alloy saves around 900 grams in weight on the frame alone. For an additional charge, Sycip can also solder the chassis rather than weld it. This gives the frame greater stability but less stiffness, and the joints can be ground down to a particularly elegant finish. A single-colour custom powder coating is included in the price, though more unusual designs can also be created on request. If you want to go all out, order the matching Sycip stem as well. The steel version costs around 300 euros, whilst the titanium version costs around 400 euros.

An unusual combination of suspension travel

Most mountain bikes have a difference in travel of no more than 10 to 20 millimetres between the suspension fork and the rear shock. The Sycip Double Dribble takes a different approach, combining 120 millimetres of travel at the rear with 160 millimetres at the front. But that is by no means the only unique feature of this steel full-suspension bike. The Double Dribble features a single-pivot rear triangle, utilising a standard that was actually designed for the bottom bracket. The head tube houses a 24-millimetre bearing from sustainability expert Chris King. This is designed, on the one hand, to increase the stiffness of the frame and, on the other, to ensure a particularly smooth response.

Previous Double-Dribble models were more geared towards cross-country riding. Sycip sees the latest iteration as falling more firmly within the enduro category. The frame builder brings 25 years of experience to the table. Custom geometries, additional mounting points and out-of-the-box special requests: in theory, anything is possible with Sycip. The show bike pictured belongs to Jeremy Sycip himself. The master has kitted out his own bike for the rocky trails in the national park behind the workshop with high-grip tyres, a Shimano XTR groupset and, of course, parts from his brother’s employer. He’s also fitted his Double Dribble with a bottle cage under the down tube, a tool mount on the rear triangle and Sycip’s own steel stem.

What do you think: do the travel distances on the fork and shock always have to match, or are you open to unusual combinations too? Let us know in the comments!