DATUM, the futuristic MTB from Digit Bikes

From California, Digit Bikes presents an innovative mountain bike with a rear suspension system fully integrated into the down tube. The model is called DATUM and is a trail bike with 140 mm of travel, but it is enough to see the bike to know that it would fit perfectly in XC.

Digit Bikes DATUM

When you see it for the first time you get the feeling that something is missing from this mountain bike, and the truth is that it is. Digit Bike uses the ANALOG Suspension Integer Strut system on the DATUM, which eliminates the linkage found on the articulated pivot systems, horst link, etc. that are used on most full suspension models.

At DIGIT they claim that the lateral forces that the shock absorber withstands in these systems completely changes its performance and they have opted to encapsulate it in the down tube and anchor it directly to the chainstays. The result is increased stiffness, a considerably lighter overall weight and the front triangle is left free for mounting two bottles, even in the smallest sizes. Another important detail is that the seat tube drops completely straight down, allowing longer seatposts to be mounted.

As for the rest of the geometry, the bike is in line with current Trail trends and is fitted with a 29" wheel at the front with a 150 or 160mm fork and a 27.5" wheel at the rear.

We have to mention that the system is similar to the Isotrust system that Trek already has on the market and with which Evie Richards recently won the XCO World Cup and Jolanda Neff the Olympic Games. But in the case of Trek the system only offers 60mm of travel for the moment and is not so integrated in the down tube. On the other hand, the whole issue of maintenance and setting up the shock absorber is perfectly solved in the Isotrust, something we still have doubts about in the ANALOG.

The DIGIT DATUM is currently in a funding phase on the KickStarter platform and has already reached the minimum target to produce the first units.

The aluminium frame set can be pre-ordered for $2250 and the first ones are expected to be delivered in May 2022.