Maximilian-Peter Werner, the creator of the Norland Cycles Stealth Rider, is still tweaking and tuning his design. His latest verson has 180mm of travel, and is better suited to the very long descents Max has planned. He's aiming to take this rig down the highest point in both the Western and Southern Hemisphere, the Aconcagua mountain in Argentina, starting at and elevation of 22,841 feet (6,961 meters).
Norland Cycles began as Max's industrial design thesis project, and was largely inspired by the military aircraft industry. Also inspired by bikes from Brooklyn Machine Works and Superco, the Norland Cycles prototype uses a high pivot, but is assisted by a motolink that provides initial sensitivity and a nice progression at the end of the travel.
He set out to redesign the double chain system to make it lighter, more compatible with cranksets, and easier to service. You need to remove only one bolt and you can open it to grease or replace the bearing, without needing to disassemble the pivot axle or remove the swingarm.
Max says the high leverage ratio, another problem on Brooklyn Machine Works bikes, was solved with the motolink, as seen in Moto enduro and Dakar rally racing. The result is a lower leverage ratio bike with more predictable, controllable suspension. Carbon prototypes are in the works.
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