Mountain Biking - chainstay on some FS bikes like kona and yeti.

Just curious why the chainstays on yeti and kona Full suspension bikes not symmetrical? One side is alittle higher then the other. They both pivot at the same place but they are not bent the say to the dropouts. Is there a benefit to this? I thought yeti just did it to show their name on the inside of the chainstay but i noticed kona bikes are the same.
here are some pictures of the bikes
http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/med/2K4_Kikapu_1300.jpg
http://www.konaworld.com/2k4bikes/images/med/2K4_DawgMatic_1300.jpg
http://www.yeticycles.com/1_bikes/media/asr_pop_up_team.jpg
http://www.yeticycles.com/1_bikes/media/575_pop_up_white.jpg

There is a better look. As for why, I am not 100% sure. Probably trying to design something that simulates a true horst linkage 4 bar. Probably has an affect on the progression of the shock...

Yeah, my bike's like that too. It might be for chain guide/device capability but i dont know

Hey, I've never noticed that on your bike Anthonaut. Guess I'll have to have a look next time I see it.

In other designs, I've seen the driveside chainstay raised with respect to the left side to decrease the prospects of chainsuck but never lowered. That is interesting.

The asymmetrical chainstays are designed that way to save weight.

If you draw a line on the non driveside chainstay where the chain would go you can see why they position the drive side chainstay as they do.

If you draw a line on the non driveside chainstay where the chain would go you can see why they position the drive side chainstay as they do.


Yeah but that depends on the size of the front chainring(s). I dont think it has to do with that because if it did, all FS bikes and maybe hardtails would have the weird chanstay too.

Actually d_D is right!

It's to avoid conflict with the chainrings. There isn't enough clearence between the chainstay to get proper chainline. Obviously, a straight chainstay would be preferred and would logically be stronger. The asymetrical chainstay allows for the additional strength on the non-drive side and clearence on the drive side.

Hardtails don't have this problem because the chainstays are in alignment with the bottom bracket. Full squish bikes have the pivot above the bottom bracket and thus need a dropped chainstay design.

As mentioned, many single pivot bikes do the same thing by elevating the chainstay ABOVE the drivetrain. Think of a Santa Cruz Superlight/Bullet. Or a Haro Extreme. Wasn't it Bridgestone that first came up with this concept or was Breezer. (I can't remember).

If you look at most of Specialized bikes, they drop their chainstays like the drive-side, but they do it on both sides. Many other manufactuer's do this also.

L8R

As mentioned, many single pivot bikes do the same thing by elevating the chainstay ABOVE the drivetrain. Think of a Santa Cruz Superlight/Bullet. Or a Haro Extreme. Wasn't it Bridgestone that first came up with this concept or was Breezer. (I can't remember).

I thought it was Mantis that came up with the elevated chainstay design although it was done on a full-rigid but the intent was the same. As the chainstay lengths were getting shorter and everything was getting tighter, chainsuck became more of an issue. Elevating the chainstays was one solution although it does add weight and a little bit more flex into the rear. Some people felt that the extra flex was actually good on those hardtails because although it came nowhere near any amount of appreciable suspension travel it sorta turned them into softtails and provided a little bit of plushness on what would have been an otherwise very stiff rear end.

Actually d_D is right!


If you look at most of Specialized bikes, they drop their chainstays like the drive-side, but they do it on both sides. Many other manufactuer's do this also.

L8R

To add to this statement too...

Notice where the pivot point is.. above the BB... some companies also are able to get away with a straight chainstay because they lower the pivot to behind or below the BB cup thus avoiding an issue.

But as A2 said...he's right on the money!

Also look at the giant AC series... in 2001 they had one side lowerd and the other side straight then in 2002 they made both drop...