Bionicon Tesla - Sea Otter 2010

by Mike Levy
Apr 23, 2010 at 10:24

The new Bionicon Tesla takes the term all-mountain to the extreme. With on the fly adjustable fork travel from 80 - 160 mm and a head angle that can range from a wall climbing 71.5° to an aggressive 66°, the Tesla is like no other.

Read on...

Bionicon Tesla - Long travel setting 66 degree head angle
Bionicon Tesla - Long travel setting 66 degree head angle

Bionicon approaches bike design in an entirely different way from most other companies. Their frame and fork combinations allow the rider to actively control the angles of the bike on the fly and to a much larger extent than other adjustable travel bikes. A quick push of the handlebar mounted remote allows the rider to choose between a 71.5° to 66° head angle on the Telsa depending on trail conditions. The front travel changes from 80 mm in the steepest position to 160 mm in the slackest position. I jumped on the Tesla for a quick spin and was blown away by the difference in travel and angle settings as they are massive. It would likely take a few days to get used to, but I can see the benefits to this style of bike.

Bionicon Tesla - Short travel setting 71.5 degree head angle
Bionicon Tesla - Short travel setting 71.5 degree head angle

Bionicon Telsa details-

• All-mountain
• Front fork travel: 80-160 mm
• Rear travel: 160 mm
• Head angle can be changed from 71.5° to 66° at the push of a button
• 4-bar rear suspension design
• 142 mm rear axle
• Small, medium, large, and extra large sizes - Bionicon Tesla geometry


Bionicon Double Agent fork - Long travel setting
Bionicon Double Agent fork - Long travel setting

Bionicon Double Agent fork - Short travel setting
Bionicon Double Agent fork - Short travel setting

X-Fusion O2 RC rear shock
X-Fusion O2 RC rear shock

Bionicon Twin-Lock crown/stem allows for 135 degrees of angle change and 10 mm horizontal adjustment
Bionicon Twin-Lock crown/stem allows for 135 degrees of angle change and 10 mm horizontal adjustment

Visit Bionicon.com for more info.
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56 Comments

  • + 17
flag odin333 (Apr 23, 2010 at 12:12)
 looks interesting. but those forks look more flexy than a Manitou Travis.
  • + 1
flag funkymonkey144 (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:10)
 Yeah I agree, the bike as a whole looks pretty sweet though
  • + 0
flag crashinsnwo (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:14)
 i agree to. bike looks clean, just needs more and better componets.
  • + 3
flag theg-man (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:17)
 The idea is great, always wanted a bike that does everything, but there are just too many adjustments and hoses and stuff. lots of points for it to fail. remember when specialized made the E150?
  • + 1
flag Atrak (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:31)
 the tesla is like no other they say. ..All I can say is I hope it stays that way.
  • - 15
flag kmhcycles (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:39) (Below Threshold) show comment
 Its basicly the same frame as mine, KHS Lucky 7.
  • + 16
flag DanB25 (Apr 25, 2010 at 2:24)
 this article has missed something quite important out, from reading this youd think it was just an adjustable fork... what they failed to mention (at least this was the case in the original) was that when you reduce the travel in the fork it moves air from the fork to the rear shock to make the back end harder too
  • + 4
flag no-ah (Apr 25, 2010 at 2:33)
 this is the greatest idea ever. idk what the hell you guys are talking about. this bike will take you up any hill like a xc bike and down any hill like a free ride bike. every bionicon review i have read has been great.
  • + 3
flag flukey016 (Apr 25, 2010 at 2:45)
 its the worst idea ever im a hydraulic engineer and and that is all way flimsy
  • + 13
flag morewhitenoise (Apr 25, 2010 at 4:04)
 your 20, and would have had to have started your degree 3 years ago to be a hydraulic engineer.
dont lie and even then youd have no real world experience...
  • + 4
flag adrenalinaddict (Apr 25, 2010 at 5:04)
 It's a great idea! But I managed to break the demo one I rode in Wales within the first 20 minutes, If they can perfect it then YES it would be brilliant, but unless they change they have a habbit of failing Frown
  • - 1
flag jptothetree (Apr 25, 2010 at 8:49)
 i knew a guy with a bionicon and he was a ripping fast downhiller... so i don't question their strength.
  • + 4
flag flukey016 (Apr 25, 2010 at 10:26)
 actually dabomb ur right im an apprentice engineer but i have a btec in egineering and city and guilds level one and two in motor mechanics lol. but im a mosher with my bikes and wen it comes to things i c like this i know its a flimsy peice of tat
  • + 1
flag bkbroiler (Apr 25, 2010 at 11:22)
 too heavy period.
  • + 11
flag rffr (Apr 25, 2010 at 12:22)
 Well flukey, your typing is horrid if you have that much schooling under your belt.
  • + 1
flag rmueller89 (Apr 25, 2010 at 19:36)
 bionicon bikes are by far the best all mountian bikes ever, i own a older one and it has been more fun and less maintence than any other bike i have riden. and contrary to the belif (flukey),the whole bike is super solid and i may be light but my dad isnt(200lbs) and he will say the same thing. we have both hit one of the local 13 foot drops on the mountain with it works fine.
  • + 3
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:18)
 The system is pneumatic, not hydraulic, so even if it were to leak there would be no mess to clean up...but the system is solid and doesn't leak or fail under any normal circumstances. It is actually elegantly simple, with very few moving parts.
  • - 1
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:22)
 as for the fork, it is as stiff or stiffer than any single-crown 20mm axle fork out there. If you go big and want the comfort of a 20mm axle, they have a 170mm travel fork with standard 20mm axle.
  • + 1
flag DanB25 (Apr 27, 2010 at 13:32)
 city and guilds and BTECs are hardly a 'schooling'
  • + 4
flag rffr (Apr 27, 2010 at 14:34)
 Haha Dan. Some people forget that without a BS degree, well, you ain't worth much in the engineering game.

Certs are dandy, but without a degree, hate to say it... but ya aint got crap under your belt besides maybe experience and a piece of paper that says you were too lazy to get an actual degree.
  • + 1
flag morewhitenoise (Apr 28, 2010 at 2:51)
 ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING
pwnd
(i have a Bsc btw...)
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag russvegasswitch (Apr 25, 2010 at 2:11)
 I am actually a big fan of this bike. I think it looks dope, and is extremely functional, f*ck you could rip trails, hike and do some mild downhilling, then drop the travel and do some djs, this bike is awesome. If it holds together as well as it looks, then I'd invest the money.
  • + 1
flag jptothetree (Apr 25, 2010 at 8:50)
 it does, they are strong bikes. i knew a guy who raced his at deer valley and was a regular at northstar... both very rocky and punishing mountains!!
  • + 3
flag crash21 (Apr 25, 2010 at 20:45)
 f*ck if that could handle dirt jumps, the for would snap off or someshit... haha just bike up the shuttle road
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bike-skate (Apr 26, 2010 at 16:03)
 Not an expert on this but I demo'd an ealier model of one of these (willow)for two solid days at Moab a couple years ago and it worked great. Rode their Ironwood at Interbike (bootleg canyon). Air transfers from the front fork cartridge to the rear shock mount and back. When you push the button and lean forward the front fork drops a couple inches and the rear end jacks up a half inch. Then to get back to DH geometry you push the button and lean back to transfer the air back to the forks. Pic 5 above shows the rear shock widjet best. Looks like it is extended in this pic...maybe. Its a great idea but I worry about the local shop being able to obtain replacement parts to get me back on the trail before the beer gets warm
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag loaded (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:34)
 "Jack of all trades, master of NOTHING!" That thing just looks down right sketch
  • + 3
flag Terrafire (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:39)
 Damn right.
  • + 2
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:42)
 try riding one before you knock it based on looks...are you from Hollywood? These bikes rip. period.
  • + 2
flag Terrafire (Apr 25, 2010 at 23:00)
 Im sorry, but you cant get a cross country bike that will descend as well as a DH rig, it just cant happen in the same bike without MASSIVE weight penalties.
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag dannythekiwi (Apr 25, 2010 at 0:18)
 This is such an over complicated bike. FUBAR and fugly!!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag tzrredrocket (Apr 25, 2010 at 11:27)
 Looks like it just came out a time machine from the 1990's.......
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag sfrider (Apr 25, 2010 at 10:29)
 i think the fork is a bit much for an all mountain bike, it looks super dorky, idk might put on more weight than is actually needed, fram and shock arnt that bad looking tho
  • + 1
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:44)
 This bike weighs 30lbs as you see it...too much for a 160mm AM bike? Spend more and get lighter components.
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag chubby5000 (Apr 25, 2010 at 9:25)
 Why isn't Pinkbike testing one of these?
TEST! TEST! TEST! TEST!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag iamamodel (Apr 25, 2010 at 4:23)
 I've played around with a few Bionicon bikes and they are impressive. Conceptually, its the best truly AM bike on the planet. Without a serious ride, I can't comment on the ride.

When you hit the button and push down on the forks, it DOES NOT move air into the shock - have a look at the Bionicon site to see how it works. Its very clever.
  • + 2
flag gazmataz (Apr 25, 2010 at 5:36)
 Agreed with Iamamodel. This bike isn't a DH/So called "freeride" rig. It's something that's been designed for the all day style of riding. Something you can take your sorry ass up the mountain on, Have a sandwich and drink at the top with whilst enjoying the views, The get brave and roll back down.
Yes I have no doubt that it'll descend well but it's not a V10 or any other DH specific rig.

They have other models on the site that would suite the DH/freeride style more. have a look boys and girls and see what you think?
The supershuttle, supershuttle FR and Ironwood.
Well worth a look.
  • + 1
flag scrippsranchDJ (Apr 26, 2010 at 0:26)
 They don't say in detail how the system works on the rear shock, care to explain iamamodel?

From what I see it looks like when you compress the button and then the forks, the rear shock gets longer, forcing the rear swingarm downward causing your riding position to pitch forward more suited for climbing. Along with the shortening of the fork it must climb like a freakin goat.
  • + 1
flag iamamodel (Apr 26, 2010 at 20:24)
 scrippsranch, it works exactly as you describe - it makes the eye-to-eye longer - but it doesn't increase the air pressure in the shock as someone way above said. That's what I wanted to point out.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag rffr (Apr 25, 2010 at 20:32)
 hey guys, I have to say, I emailed these guys and they responded next day. Top notch. I'm definitely going to demo one of their freeride bikes. Look awsome.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag iamamodel (Apr 27, 2010 at 4:03)
 This video shows what the Bionicon concept is all about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DlDKjx2xw
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag crash21 (Apr 25, 2010 at 20:42)
 regardless of how high tech and shit... kinda lookin like a super cycle with super technology
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag montygummy-pedigo (Apr 25, 2010 at 18:35)
 what in the world...looks crazy(fun)
  • + 1
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:27)
 Bionicon bikes are all about maximizing the fun you can have on any given ride. That is if you like to pedal your bike uphill and rip it downhill.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag nosewheely (Apr 26, 2010 at 8:01)
 Bionicon are truly amazing bikes. I race enduro events with an edison and all i can say is that the bike rocks!
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag necronutz (Apr 25, 2010 at 10:11)
 does anyone know the price on these, in us $
  • + 1
flag rmueller89 (Apr 25, 2010 at 19:40)
 the other bike they seel go for about 4500-5000$ new, but i got my demo for 2500
  • + 1
flag mtnram (Apr 25, 2010 at 21:38)
 Their bike lines range from $3000 to $6000 for a complete bike.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag kanter (Apr 25, 2010 at 8:02)
 My 951 with a 66 ETA at 38.5 lbs achieved the same thing before I got an AM bike.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag jGell (Apr 25, 2010 at 8:50)
 They give a 14" bb in their geo specs, I'm assuming at full fork height. how low is it once lowered? I'm assuming way too low....even for climbing.
  • + 1
flag prevail (Apr 25, 2010 at 9:12)
 there is no change of bb height. if you lower the fork the rear shock gets longer
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag allmountainripper (Apr 25, 2010 at 10:15)
 Probably the ugliest bike ive ever seen
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag me2menow (Apr 25, 2010 at 11:55)
 id love to give one a try
  • + 2
flag denbroane (Apr 25, 2010 at 12:55)
 Now lets talk about the real stuff, not the girl talk how a bike as to look. A bike has to ride , and I did ride the bike this weekend.
Never had a bike that climbs like an hardtail, even when standing on the pedals. No pumping off the bike at all. And this without any loking shit , just by adjusting the geometrie. On the downhill part of the testtrack he became a freeride competitor. Quick turns and medium drops the bike takes like he 's built for this stuff only. But as I told, it isn't.
[Reply]
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