Paul Turners takes on the ultimate trailbike
Maverick American is a Colorado think tank. It is a design company headed by RockShox founder, who forever changed the course of mountain biking development. After cutting ties to his fork company Paul Turner was left with lots of free time, much of which was spent riding mountain bikes. Paul Turner had a wide range of dual-suspension models and decided to try something new.
What lofty goals would the most renowned suspension designer in sports set for his personal ride? Turner desired the ultimate goal of monkey motion. He wanted a bike that was easy to use, simple to maintain, lightweight, durable, and well-suited to epic trail rides. The suspension of the bike had to be lightweight, supple-riding and active under braking. It also had to not bob under power. Paul created the Monolink ML-7 after much thought and consultations with his ex-RockShox friends. Turner founded Maverick American, a prototype shop that would make the monolink ML-7 in small quantities and continue to develop new concepts inside and outside of the bicycle industry.
A NEW SUSPENSION CHASSIS IS BORN
Mavericks Monolink M-7 has a profile that is similar to modern, diamond-framed hardtails. However, there are two major differences: a bowed tube for the seat and its telescopic strit. The frame is made from Easton 6061 alloy tubing, which Klein in Washington State custom-butted. After being bead-blasted, the frame’s root beer-color has been anodized to aluminum. Its matte finish is extremely elegant, and its flawlessly executed welds are also.
The M-7 chassis is 26 kg in medium size, while complete bikes weigh slightly more than 12kg. This is a great price for a sturdy trailbike. The suspension provides four inches of travel at both ends. Additionally, the Maverick kit includes a fork. Here are the key features of M-7 chassis:
Fox racing manufactures the M-7s integrated shock. It is bolted in 2 places to form its forward member of the triangulated swingarm. It is also known as a strut because the shock is integrated into its rear frame. The Fox strut contains a combination of a coil spring and a hydraulic damper. On the left side, there is an external rebound clicker with six positions. The shock has a Schreader air valve that allows you to preload or replace the coil spring. This is useful for heavier riders and different riding styles. The air helper spring allows you to tune the strut.
The Monolink is Turner’s central link. This hollow piece made of magnesium houses the bottom bracket. It connects the front of the frame to a lower end of the swingarm. The Monolink functions as an upside-down swinglink. The casting pivots on sealed bearings. It also includes a mount for Shimanos’ E-type front derailleur, and a clever-looking cable guide.
Bowed seat tube: Maverick bends M-7s’ seat tube to accommodate the Fox strut and angles the seat post to increase the bike’s effective top tube length as the saddle is raised. The beautiful boss of cast-aluminum, welded behind the seat tube, pivots the upper strut.
No cantilevers: The M-7 has disc brakes on its left side, on its rear triangle, and on its RockShox Psylo fork. Hayes hydraulic brakes were used on our test bike.
Custom valving: The 100-mm-stroke Psylo has a Paul Turner-designed damper valve. It increases the low speed compression forces to stop it from bobbing under hard pedaling and to prevent it diving when the front brakes are applied. The M-7’s comprehensive owners manual explains that the Mavericks suspension was designed for experienced trail riders. It is supposed to feel firm.
Maverick recommends a measured amount of rear suspension movement to ensure that the suspension is stable under power. The owners manual encourages you experiment with suspension settings. However, a gauge can be used to accurately set the sag.
HOW WAS OUR M-7 EQUIPPED
Maverick American offers the Monolink M-7 in kit form. The kit includes the 2002 RockShox Psylo Fork, Cane Creek integrated headset, Shimanos E type front derailleur, and a goodie bag that contains an owners manual signed Paul Turner, a shock pumps, the sag gauge and spare decals. Also included is a Maverick-label beanie and socks. You can do the rest.
The M-7 was constructed in a conservative manner. The transmission and drivetrain were all ShimanoXTR. It used IRC backcountry knobbies (5cm) and Mavic 519 wheels on Hugi disc brake hubs. Hayes’ latest lightweight hydraulic discs had composite lever blades. The spacious cockpit featured a Thomson seatpost; a comfortable Bassano Bxter saddle; an Easton Ea70 stem (10°/110mm) and a Monkey Lite CT-2 composite riser bar.
HOW DOES THE MAVERICK RIDES
Smooth is the first word that comes to your mind when you pedal the Maverick over a patch of uneven dirt. It can be driven silently and purposefully at almost any speed. Although the rear suspension is a little too soft to feel in the parking lot you will not notice it once you are on the road, once you get going, it won’t be noticeable. The rear suspension is flexible at all speeds, and the frame’s stability complements this. You can sit down and navigate through the woods. Your concentration is saved for technical sections.
The RockShox Psylo’s stiffer than normal valving creates negative cornering characteristics in exchange for its bob-free performance. If you don’t weight the front end properly, it will search for traction and not follow a straight line around fireroad corners. The rear tire will mirror any indecisiveness of the front wheel because the tail ends follow the front wheel exactly. You can keep your body forward on M-7 and corner confidently. This technique is very trustable and easy to learn once you have mastered it.
When you climb the Maverick or accelerate it, you will be greeted with a solid-feeling chassis that is flex-free and responsive. This chassis lives up to Paul Turner’s no-bob claims. The cranks attach to the Monolink so that part of your weight doesn’t get absorbed by the rear suspension as you climb out of the saddle. This and the fact the rear suspension compresses when it hits a bump reduces the tendency for the rear to settle when you push on the pedals.
The M-7 was designed by Maverick to be the ultimate trailbike. The M-7’s four-inch suspension and relaxed geometry mean that you won’t feel the rush of racing boys. The Maverick accelerates easily, its tires connect up to almost any surface and there is a smooth transfer of power throughout the chassis. Although you may not win the next cross-country race on the M-7, you will finish your next epic with plenty of power.
The M-7 is at its most efficient when it descends singletrack rocky trails with a fair amount of steam. The Monolink suspension’s constant-wheelbase function, disc brakes and flexible frame angles combine to reduce steering input and make it much easier for mountain bikes. Point the Maverick towards a distant point, then bunk, bunk and bunk your way down the bumpy terrain until you reach the next corner. Although the fork feels incredibly compressed at low speeds, it can take huge hits if pressed at a faster speed. It is very impressive. It was extremely responsive and smooth, and we never felt it lose its travel.
WHAT DID YOU NOT STRIKE OUR FANCY?
The M-7’s first negative experience was a positive: the Monolink bearings in the lower monolinks developed excessive play after just a few hours riding. After a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the threaded adjustment for the pivots had become loose. The left side of the pivots threaded adjustment could be easily tightened using a 15mm pedal wrench, and the same 8-millimeter Allen key used to fit the Shimano crankarm bolt.
The second problem was not fixed properly. The E-type Shimano front derailleur, which is made of flexible carbon fiber, is held in place by the bottom bracket flange. A single screw fits into the Monolink boss. Unfortunately, the Monolinks threads were stripped out leaving us with a wobbly derailleur after only two hours of riding. The boss was not properly aligned with the crankset, so it was removed and replaced with a bolt and nuts. The tail of the XTR front changer’s derailleur cage was angled inwards, resulting in a pro-level performance we have come to expect.
MBA’S LAST WORD ON THE M-7
The M-7 is described in Maverick Americans literature as having old-school geometry. The dual-suspension trailbike’s handling is unmatched. Although it takes some time to get the most out of this dual-suspension trailbike, once you become comfortable with it, it will be hard to beat. It glides effortlessly through the woods, even when it is urged to walk. The chassis is built to last, and the suspension components are made in a few companies that should last at least that long. The M-7 is limited in production. Maverick is available to help you find your next riding partner.
MAVERICK M-7 BY THE NUMBERS WHAT YOU GET FOR
FRAMEKIT: Includes a M-7 chassis, integrated Cane Creek headset, 2002 RockShox Psylo seat with M-bits damping, Shimano EXTR derailleur, and QR seat clamp.
REAR SUPPORTION: monolink semi-active suspension; Fox coil/hydraulic spring with six-position rebound clicker, and air-assist Spring (four-inch rear wheels travel).
FORK RockShox 2002 psylo; 100mm stroke Turner-designed Mbits damper piston with antibob compression valving
SIZES: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large.
WEIGHT 26 Kg (medium frame with shock).
GEOMETRY (medium size frame) Effective seat tube angle72°; Head tube angle70.5°; bottom bracket height32cm; chainstay length44cm; top tube length59cm; stand-over height76cm; wheelbase108cm
COLORS: Root Beer anodized, possibly gold and silver later.
Contact: Maverick American 415-367 or www.maverickbike.com
