Juliana

Furtado Carbon Mountain Bike Frame - 2015

Bridging the gap between responsive 26ers and fast rolling 29ers, the 2015 Juliana Furtado Carbon Mountain Bike Frame boasts neutral geometry to climb efficiently, bomb moderate descents, and confidently handle almost any trail. The Furtado's 125mm of surprisingly plush rear travel strikes a balance between short-travel race rockets and aggressive enduro whips for a ride that's capable of tackling a wide variety of terrain.

The head angle sits at 68 degrees, one degree steeper than the new 2.0 version released for 2016. That's still slacker than most bikes in the 5in range, so the extra degree doesn't significantly impair enduro-minded stability when compared to the slacker iteration, but it does make for more aggressive climbing and less wheel flop during low-speed maneuvers. The Furtado's bottom bracket contributes to its aggressive demeanor, seating the bike nice and low so it's glued to the trail and helps guide you through technical or sweeping lines. The 17.1in chainstays are also just shorter than those on Juliana's six-inch Roubion, making for more agility while carving turns, better climbing grip, and increased power transfer.

Juliana’s industry-leading carbon fiber construction makes its way into Furtado Carbon frame, although this version uses a slightly lower grade of carbon fiber than the higher end Carbon CC frame. This requires more material be used to achieve the same strength, so it carries a bit more weight, but in every other aspect it’s held to the same astoundingly high standards as Juliana’s Carbon CC level frames. And the upshot is that you get a frame that’s every bit as stiff and strong, with a much more palatable price tag.

Juliana's now-famous Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension shines in the Furtado, well-loved among riders of all levels for its blend of trail-smoothing bump absorption and pedaling efficiency. VPP utilizes two aluminum counter-rotating links to achieve this balance. The upper link provides most of the rotation as the bike compresses towards the sag point, yielding a vertical wheel path that provides a firm feel during acceleration.

As the bike compresses deeper into the suspension, the lower link activates, moving the axle path rearward. This path enables the rear wheel to travel out of the way of impacts and technical terrain, increasing stability, particularly at speed for a smooth and controllable ride. You'll also find the same collet-style pivot hardware that's become standard for Juliana's suspension bikes, meaning pivots will stay tight and are easily serviceable at home if necessary.