The Dorothea can be modified to a 200mm travel downhill bike or a 170mm enduro bike by using different shock lengths and linkage components. Either configuration can work with dual 29″ or mixed wheels to suit rider preference. In the 200mm setup the overall progression is extremely high. Pedal kickback is negligible throughout its travel because the idler is mounted to the swivel bottom link.
In enduro mode, the seat tube angle of the 170mm travel Dorothea can be up to 82 degrees for an upright sitting position with the fork resting at a 65 degree angle. Since Myotragus can weld the Dorothea with custom geometry, the DH mode could be built with 61 degree clearance and has two chainstay length options: 435mm or 450mm when using a 29er wheel. Those figures grow up to 20mm once the suspension sags under the weight of the rider.
Myotragus uses a virtual high pivot design they call ‘OLS Suspension’ designed primarily to move the rear axle back 57mm in total. The upper link rotates on an eccentric pivot while the lower link moves up, compressing the 250x75mm shock in both directions.
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The rear wheel’s trajectory follows a virtually straight, rearward-sloping line, which aligns with the vectors of impact forces due to the ground to significantly improve its absorption capacity. |
What looks like a prototype is actually the finished product of the Spanish brand. Raw 7020-T6 aluminum is preferred over carbon for frame construction for durability against rock hits and to allow for custom geometry. Myotragus also prefers the raw finish to reduce the weight and cost of the Dorothea. A bare frame without a shock weighs 3800g or 8.38lbs, which puts it at roughly the same weight as a RAAW Madonna frame. Remarkably, the scissor linkage and frame components total just over 30 pieces, far fewer than Norco’s range, which accounts for nearly a hundred parts.
Adding to its industrial shapes, a gearbox lowers the bike’s center of gravity and unsprung weight, while increasing ground clearance. Pinion’s C1.9XR 9-speed gearbox spins the gears through an oil bath while providing a 463% range. This style of drivetrain also reduces shifting in anti-squat since the chain does not move between the gears on the rear axle. Due to local small-batch production, Myotrgus could build the Dorothea to also run on a conventional powertrain.
Like Commencal’s Supreme V4 single high pivot bike, the Dorothea has an anti-lift value of around 130%. Pulling on the rear brake will compress the rear suspension, but Myotragus prefers this feature to preserve geometry. In his opinion, this does not have any negative effect on the sensitivity of the suspension due to compressive braking forces.
Does it climb like a mountain goat? Probably not, due to the weight and associated parts that are focused on descending. The anti-squat actually starts low and goes up to just over 100% as the suspension settles into the sag point. However, that’s not the only number to consider when talking about pedaling efficiency. Geometry also influences that.
Although Myotragus is still testing and finalizing the details of the Dorothea, the price is estimated to be around €3,000, which does not include a shock or custom geometry. For more information or to contact Myotragus, please refer to their detailed website here and follow them on instagram.
