WHY IS THIS A SUPER BIKE?
- The Following is Evil’s attempt to reinvent the (wagon) wheel, combining 29in hoops with aggro angles
for maximum versatility and fun.
- It uses a revised version of suspension guru DaveWeagle’s DELTA system
- Geometry is adjustable – between slack and very slack!
“Are you crazy? Are you high?” Evil Bikes’ co-founder Kevin Walsh wasn’t always a 29er fan –
this washis reaction when designer Dave Weagle suggested they make a short-travel big-wheeler. But Dave was serious, and The Following was conceived.
Evil have always strived for a fun ride feel, so it’s no coincidence they’ve so far made nothing but 26in
wheeled machines. Their last creation, The Uprising, incorporated their proprietary DELTA suspension
system into an aggressive trail bike that stuck with 26in wheels. A 650b version would’ve been the next
logical step, but Weagle twisted Walsh’s arm. “The Following was the bike I refused to make,” Kevin
insists. “But Dave used his black magic to trick me into it!”
Sussed-out suspension
Weagle made a name for himself by designing the DW-Link suspension system (swingarm attached to
frame and shock via twin links) that was used to great effect by Iron Horse on the Sunday downhill bike,
as well as being tweaked for Ibis, Turner and Pivot. He also crafted the Split Pivot layout (linkage-driven
single pivot with concentric rear axle pivot) used by Devinci, Salsa and Morewood. His most
contemporary creation is the DELTA system. Designed for Evil’s Revolt downhill bike, it’s been adapted
for The Undead, The Uprising and The Following.
Apparently, DELTA stands for ‘Dave’s Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus’. It combines a single-pivot rear
end with a clever linkage that manipulates the leverage rate as the suspension moves through its travel.
This is designed to provide a supple action in the middle of the bike’s 120mm (4.7in) of rear wheel travel,
before ramping up slightly towards the end of the stroke to resist bottom-out. The Following features a
toned-down version of the system found on the coil-sprung The Undead, with the leverage curve made
more linear to compensate for the extra progressivity of the air shock.
A pair of ‘Flip Chips’ can be inverted to adjust the geometry without affecting the leverage curve. Riders
can choose between a 67.8-degree head angle and 334mm BB height (slack and low), or 67.2 degrees
and 326mm (very slack and low). Chainstay length increases by 2mm, though at 430mm they’re still no
longer than on The Uprising. This short back end aids manoeuvrability, while still allowing room for a 2.4in
tyre.
The frame is full-carbon, and the main pivot joining front to rear uses a 15mm axle with dual-row
angular-contact bearings. All this is intended to keep The Following stiff and light – our medium sample
weighed 13.1kg (28.9lb). It’s designed to be light and efficient for all-day epics, yet stiff and slack
enough for aggressive trail thrashing.
The SRAM X1 build kit here includes a 50mm stem, 750mm bar, SRAM Guide R brakes and RockShox Pike fork. The Maxxis High Roller II up front and Ardent out back are a tyre combination intended for fast
climbs and grin-inducing descents.
Myth buster
Conservative geometry, long chainstays and bendy wheels have held many 29ers back when it comes to
aggressive riding, and fuelled a myth that wagon wheelers can’t be ridden hard. This bike ought to blow
that out of the water. Building radical geometry, stiffness and progressive suspension into a lightweight
29er package sounds like a recipe for speed and fun. With 120mm (4.7in) of travel, The Following is
neither an XC racer nor an enduro weapon, but it fills the gap between these disciplines nicely. The price
is hefty for a bike that’s unlikely to put you on a podium, but the fun, balance and versatility it promises
ought to make it a massively desirable little hellraiser!
The fast-rolling 2.25in Maxxis Ardent on the rear reduces drag, speeding you along on climbs, while the
High Roller II up front allows for confident cornering. The combination is intended to boost versatility.
The skinny rear tyre may encourage you to get sideways but that’s not always a bad thing!
BIG WHEELS KEEP ON TURNIN’
The shallower angle of attack of 29in wheels means improved rollover and reduced energy loss in rough
terrain. With geometry figures that wouldn’t look out of place on a 650b bike of this travel, The Following
can corner with the best of them.
SORTED SPEC
SRAM’s 11-speed drivetrains offer wide-range gearing in a robust singlering package, their Guide brakes
have shown their worth on test bikes and the RockShox Pike fork is a proven performer. A Race Face
750mm bar and 50mm stem round out the kit list, along with the dropper post, a RockShox Reverb.
WEAGLE’S WIZARDRY
Dave Weagle designed the DELTA system to provide maximum small-bump sensitivity but ramp up to
provide a ‘bottomless’ feel as the shock nears the end of its stroke. The system is said to give an even
balance of climbing and descending performance.
BELLY OF THE BEAST
The suspension linkages and shock are positioned low in the frame, by the bottom bracket. This keeps
the centre of mass low and central. With the option of a very low BB height, this should mean stable
handling and quick direction changes.
LIGHTEN UP!
A one-piece carbon mainframe mated to a carbon rear end helps keep weight low and stiffness high. Our
medium sample weighed in at just over 13kg. A lighter bike means more laps, more speed, more fun!
PRICE: 7050$ (complete bike), 3450$ (frame only)