2018 Eminent Haste Pro

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After years in the cycling industry, Jeff Soncrant and Kevin Sigismondo put their heads together to create a ground up mountain bike brand of their own. It wasn’t that they hadn’t been working with great folks, but they wanted the opportunity to create products without restraints and in their own image. With a "clean slate" approach to design, Eminent Cycles has set the bar high with the Haste, which they claim to be the ultimate enduro bike. We spoke with Soncrant who elaborated on their priorities: "We feel that we must create product that improves the current market standard and try not to copy it. We not only wanted to put our voice on the bikes, but wanted to further improve the buying process for the consumer to create a better model."

The aesthetics of the Haste serve notice that Eminent chose to go their own way, and when the company offered us the opportunity to put in some miles aboard the Haste we were more than happy to oblige. Read on to find out our first impressions.

Eminent Cycles Haste Highlights

• 27.5-inch (650b) wheels
• 160mm (6.3-inches) rear travel // 170mm (6.7-inches) front travel
• High modulus full carbon frame
• Active Float System (AFS) suspension with floating Metric shock and brake mounts
• Internal routing with guide channels
• Integrated seat post clamp
• 12x148mm Boost axle spacing
• 1X or 2X drivetrain compatible
• Carbon fiber downtube protector
• Sizes: XS-XL (designated 56-68cm)
• Complete customization of part spec using online bike builder
• Weight:32.0 pounds (14.5kg, verified) with a Schwalbe Super Gravity Magic Mary rear tire
• MSRP: $6,750 USD as shown

Active Float System (AFS) Suspension Design

The AFS suspension design on the Haste utilizes familiar elements, but combines uniquely to produce an interesting platform. The foundation of AFS suspension is a four bar design. It also incorporates a floating 230x60mm Metric shock, which they say allows for a more active suspension with no impact on frame character. The Haste also features a floating rear brake to reduce the negative impact of braking on suspension performance.

When asked about this unique approach, Soncrant stated that "the desire was to have a suspension [design] that was without hiccups, laterally stiff, sensitive for improved tuning, traction and performance, and with the ability to select a range of shocks. This is what we felt was missing." Not surprisingly, Soncrant’s priorities are echoed by most brands, so we prodded a little further about Eminent’s choices, knowing they could utilize any number of designs and configurations. The four bar was chosen "as it gives the greatest ability to manage wheel path," with the addition of a floating shock to better isolate and target forces from all inputs directly to the shock, rather than the front triangle. As far as the floating brake, Soncrant suggests it "frees up more suspension movement during braking and further improves performance of the bike." Our interpretation: AFS suspension is meant to be a design without compromise.

After seeing the bike in person, we noted that all of these elements mean that there are more pivots, bolts, bearings, and moving parts to maintain on the Haste. Interestingly, Eminent has chosen to use IGUS bushings in low rotation pivot points (15-degrees or less) at the brake bracket and lower shock mount. Fully sealed Enduro brand angular contact bearings are used elsewhere.

Suspension Analysis

Using the bike industry's leading linkage analysis software, André Santos was able to determine a close approximation of the bike's kinematics. These charts provide great insight into several key factors that impact how it rides. Those unfamiliar with these types of graphs should watch André's excellent series of suspension fundamentals videos. The results of his analysis are as follows:

Geometry

While Eminent took a unique approach to suspension design, the Haste features more traditional geometry. Reach numbers are pretty generous (463mm on our large frame), but with many riders leaning towards longer reach values, we would have preferred to see a slightly roomier cockpit on the large or a shorter seat tube on the XL. The effective seat tube angle is slacker than many of the Haste’s competitors, but those who enjoy a slightly relaxed pedaling position will be happy with the numbers. Chainstays measure in at 442mm across all sizes, which is a reasonable middle ground for an all-around bike meant to be stable at high speed without being a complete boat in tighter scenarios.

 "The ultimate enduro bike" is a tough statement for us to confirm given our brief time aboard the Haste, but we’ll certainly acknowledge that riders seeking a confidence inspiring daily driver with a unique pedigree ought to take a look.

The AFS suspension is just as, if not more impressive while descending. We were concerned that 20% sag would feel harsh, but suspension action was smooth and predictable throughout the entire range of travel – a testament to Eminent's integration of the four bar design, floating shock, and floating brake. The Haste has a calm demeanor and was forgiving in sections where other enduro bikes take more input and strength to keep them pointed in the right direction.

We were particularly impressed with the Haste’s behavior while braking. A floating brake is not a new concept, but most frames do not use this approach to manage how braking affects suspension performance. During our short time with the Haste we noted that the rear suspension feels largely unaffected by braking and that we could get away with later, harder braking through rough sections where some designs feel as though they stiffen up a bit.

All of the elements of the Haste’s AFS suspension shone particularly bright on one of our test tracks that features a 200-yard straight shot with rocks, compressions, and intermittent off-camber roots. Though this section is straight, it often requires quite a bit of rider input to keep bikes tracking straight, then even more control to brake enough to make a tight right hander at the end. The Haste made very quick work of this section and we felt as though we could get away with braking anywhere we wanted, rather than having to look for smoother areas as we often do.

The forgiving nature of the Haste is a great benefit for riders who aren’t necessarily looking to beat the clock, and it was an asset for us as we felt the AFS suspension allowed us to conserve energy where other designs would have been fatiguing. The Haste is no doubt a capable descender with an active rear end, but the modest geometry did leave us wondering whether it could be even better with a degree or two off the head tube angle and a few more millimeters of reach. 

Build Kits, Pricing & Availability 

Eminent offers fully custom builds using their online bike builder. When they gave us the opportunity to choose our components from the bottom up, we tried to build a bike that most riders could ride daily, shuttle often, and race occasionally. The highlight of our build was a Industry Nine 310 Carbon wheelset which was no doubt a little frivolous, but who can blame us?

Somewhat surprisingly, our build came in at $6,750 before shipping. We expected the Haste to have a more significant price tag given that we had some very high-end parts on our bike. One of Eminent’s priorities with their Elite Experience and direct-to-owner model is saving buyers a few pennies, and a full carbon build with Industry Nine wheels at less than $7K is "affordable" compared to what some brands are asking for similar builds. In addition to custom builds, Eminent is also offering three pre-selected builds ranging from the $4,999 Advanced to the $6,599 Elite build. In each case, the builds come with sensibly chosen parts to suit most riders. In fact, our custom build closely resembles the $6,099 Pro build.

Initially, we were disappointed that downhill brakes, thicker tires, and FOX 36 FIT HSC/LSC forks were not options, though Eminent has since confirmed that they can accommodate most requests (including those above) for future builds. We felt that these parts would be particularly important if we were thinking as privateer racers, or if we planned on spending a good amount of time riding lift-accessed trails.

What’s The Bottom Line? 

Eminent Cycles has done well with their first offering. "The ultimate enduro bike" is a tough statement for us to confirm given our brief time aboard the Haste, but we’ll certainly acknowledge that riders seeking a confidence inspiring daily driver with a unique pedigree ought to take a look. The AFS suspension design has great potential. While we might lean elsewhere if we were planning on chasing the Enduro World Series, the Haste has all the makings of a great trail/all-mountain bike. With a competitive price and great attention to detail from design to delivery, Eminent Cycles appears to be here to stay. 

Visit www.eminentcycles.com for more details.

Vital MTB First Ride Rating

• Climbing: 4.5 stars – Outstanding 
• Descending: 4 stars – Excellent
• Fun Factor: 4 stars – Excellent
• Value: 4 stars – Excellent 
• Overall Impression: 4 stars – Excellent 

About The Reviewer

Joel Harwood – Age: 34 // Years Riding: 20+ // Height: 5’11" (1.80m) // Weight: 185-pounds (83.9kg)

Joel’s unique coaching background and willingness to tinker with products bring an objective perspective to testing. He dabbles in all types of racing, but is happiest simply exploring the limitless trail networks surrounding his home of Squamish, BC. Attention to detail, time in the saddle, and an aggressive riding style make Joel a rider that demands the most from his products while exposing any shortcomings.

Photos by Jessie McAuley // Modeled by Jacob Murray