Inside Line: Breezer debuts 27.5 160mm Repack

Joe Breeze knows a thing or two about mountain bikes. He was an early pioneer in California with the likes of Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelly and Tom Ritchey and his eponymous bike company has built everything from commuter bikes to carbon mountain bikes.

Named after the first recorded mountain bike race, the Repack is aimed squarely at the hot trail and enduro market with 160mm of travel and 27.5 wheels. The suspension design is the new MLink, designed by the Sotto Group, an engineering firm that has designed suspensions for other brands, including Yeti’s Switch system.

Most modern full suspension platforms use a chainstay pivot either near the rear axle (e.g. Horst Link, Split Pivot) or near the bottom bracket (Santa Cruz’s VPP, Niner’s CVA). The MLink, however, places the pivot in the middle of the chainstay, allowing the chainstays to remain short while keeping the linkage stiff. It uses sealed cartridge bearings throughout.

Breezer says the MLink’s mid-link pivot rotates only three degrees. “Compared to short link systems’ large rotations, rapid accelerations, direction changes, and therefore, increased bearing wear, MLink’s fewer rotations translate into super smooth suspension travel and less stress on bearings and pivots. Compared to long link flexy systems, MLink allows for a rigid, triangulated rear end with riding forces diffused across widely spaced, low rotation bearings – supplying the stiffness essential for full suspension to function at its best.”

There will be three trim levels. The Team (pictured here) has a mostly Shimano XT drivetrain and a Fox Float 34 FIT fork and retail for $4,399. The Pro has a Shimano SLX build with a Fox Float 34 Evo fork and will retail for $3,599. The Expert has a Shimano Deore group with an X-Fusion Sweep fork and will retail for $2,899.

Look for the Repack to become available in January 2014.

Geometry