UK-Made Full Suspension Group Test - Robot R130 Review

https://youtu.be/G0rndgV4Ni8 Robot Bike Co. first shot to fame at the 2016 Fort William World Cup when it debuted a stunning full suspension mountain bike called the R160. Made from carbon fibre tubes and titanium lugs, the unique R160 had a curious mixture of retro aesthetics and cutting-edge technology that left a lot of people intrigued, confused, enamoured, and possibly a little hot under the collar. The company itself was founded back in 2013 from a heady melting pot that included engineers from the aerospace and F1 industries, a materials scientist, an industrial designer, and an ex-tech editor from Dirt Magazine. The final piece of the puzzle was renowned suspension designer Dave Weagle, who collaborated with Robot on the DW-6 suspension platform to help produce the brand’s left-of-centre take on the modern superbike. I had the pleasure of testing the R160 last year, and was – to be frank – gobsmacked at not just how indestructibly solid it felt on all sorts of horrible terrain, but how zippy and efficient it was for a 160mm travel bike. The R130 aims to build on that reputation by taking the same DW-6 suspension design, shrinking it down to 130mm and strapping on 29in wheels. It’s pitched as a more versatile all-round trail bike, though one that has a penchant for going very fast. Sizing is custom, and while our test bike features a 140mm travel fork, Robot can build your frame around a different length fork should you wish. You can get the R130 as a frame only, and Robot offers complete builds that are surprisingly competitive on price. If you’re still balking at the price though, you may be pleased to hear that the R130 has no rider weight limit and that each frame comes with a lifetime warranty for the original owner. The Bike Robot’s theory behind the R130’s hybrid construction is about putting the right material in the right places. That means using round, thick and straight carbon fibre tubes, which play to the material’s inherent strengths. The round shape allows for more dense and void-free walls, which is why you won’t see any edges or sharp corners used on the R130 frame. Titanium lugs are used for the more complex shapes on the R130, forming the anchor points for the carbon tubes, pivots, and frame components. Each lug is custom-made for each frame and is produced by Renishaw via a process called laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. If it helps, try to imagine it as really fancy 3D printing. It takes 48 hours to produce a set of lugs, which start out as a bed of titanium powder that’s then shot at by lasers to progressively bake a solid structure. This produces an incredibly strong and precise component – tolerances are claimed to be just eight microns. All of the lugs for an entire frame are produced in one go, then they’re heat-treated, shot-blasted, and post-machined to get them ready for assembly. The carbon fibre tubes are cut to length and plugged directly into the titanium lugs – kind of like an elaborate real-life version of Pipe Dream. They’re epoxied into place, with the curing process taking two to three days. If you’re worried about the glue, then I’d recommend you never fly in a modern plane again. The end result is a tough and durable frame that can be tailor-made to the rider’s proportions and preferences. Our test bike is roughly a medium, and at 175cm tall, the 440mm reach fitted me like a glove. Key numbers include a 66° head angle, 76° seat angle, 38mm BB drop and 430mm rear centre. My only issue with fit was the kinked seat tube, which limits dropper post insertion. After swapping the original 170mm dropper for a 150mm though, everything felt spot on. To offer short chainstays, the R130 features Boost spacing with a clean Syntace X-12 tapered axle connecting the hollow dropouts. Though Robot doesn’t spec an official max tyre width for the R130, I suspect you’d have no troubles fitting a 2.6in tyre as there’s good clearance around the chunky Magic Marys on our test bike. Other frame specs include a standard threaded bottom bracket (yay!) and ISCG 05 tabs. Adding to the clean look, all the cables are largely hidden inside the frame, while the titanium seat collar, zero-stack head tube, and subtle printed head badge are particularly classy. Claimed weight for the frame with shock is an impressive 2.8kg. I won’t go into too much detail about the build kit, since this bike was originally built as a maximum bling show bike. Needless to say, with a full SRAM outfit including XX1 Eagle and Roam 60 carbon wheels, it couldn’t get much more higher end if it was perched atop Mt Everest. The Ride I initially struggled with suspension set-up on the R130 since the rebound adjustments on the RockShox dampers proved to be inconsistent between each click. The fork was overly springy, so while I started with the rebound damping halfway, I gradually slowed it down until I was just five clicks off full-slow. I also pulled out both Bottomless Tokens to access more travel, settling on 73 psi to deliver just under 30% sag. The rear shock felt comically slow in comparison, with any rebound setting beyond halfway feeling like the Super Deluxe was running on treacle. I ended up with three clicks off full-fast to keep the R130 feeling lively. As for sag, the DW-6 suspension design seems unfussy with set-up – I ran between 28–33% throughout testing, and the R130 never complained. Because it’s so gently progressive at the end stroke, I settled on 30% sag and 170 psi to support my 70kg riding weight. I used full travel on every ride, but it was never harsh nor audible. Having ridden the R160 already, I had an idea of what to expect. Somehow though, the R130 still managed to blow me away with just how well the DW-6 platform works on the trail – the suspension absolutely sings on this bike, and it partners beautifully well with the big 29in wheels. The DW-6 platform feels stable and well supported, so it rides high in its travel to keep you from smashing pedals on roots and rocks. It is a very efficient pedaller even with the slow rolling tyres, and I often questioned the compression switch on the rear shock, because it isn’t needed. Despite its excellent pedalling manners though, the DW-6 platform also manages to remain highly sensitive to trail rubble. That means for dancing up technical climbs, there are few bikes that can match the R130’s ascending propensity. On our local packhorse trails that can see wheels getting hung up on the slabby rocks, the R130 doesn’t just roll over them, it actually builds momentum regardless of whether the trail is pointing up, straight, or down. It is a complex suspension design though – there are no fewer than three linkages and 18 bearings. The complexity is apparently necessary in order to keep the suspension behaviour consistent while still offering custom chainstay lengths – something that isn’t possible with a DW-5 suspension design. Once into the chop, any concerns about complexity disappear. The medium and big-hit control rivals most enduro bikes, and there were few – if any – instances where I felt the R130 was being overwhelmed. It feels smooth and bottomless, with very little feedback coming through the pedals. Of course it isn’t just the suspension working its magic here. The big 1180mm wheelbase gives the R130 a load of stability, as do the wide bars and sticky Schwalbe tyres. The chassis is taut too and aside from a mild amount of chain noise, it rides deathly quiet on shouty trails. There’s something else going on with that chassis that I found difficult to put my finger on though. Whether it’s the light frame, the efficient suspension design, or perhaps some added ‘zing’ from the titanium lugs, the R130 is just really lively and easy to pop on the trail when needed. It’s got fantastic response and loads of character even if you don’t have the skills of a World Cup racer. And this is where the magic of the R130 lies. It’s comfortable operating within a very wide bandwidth of riding, whether you’re on smooth or hectic trails, and going slow or fast. You don’t have to be an expert rider to feel absolutely invincible on this bike. Overall The R130’s combination of pedalling efficiency and big-hit control makes you feel like an absolute hero. Its refined suspension offers a calm and calculated approach to inspire confidence regardless of your abilities, but it’s a bike that never feels clinical or sterile – quite the opposite in fact. Yes, it is hideously expensive. But if you can appreciate its state-of-the-art construction, custom geometry and complex suspension design, you’ll be rewarded with true superbike performance that more than justifies the price. And so far in my testing career, this is one of the best trail bikes I have ever ridden. Robot R130 Specifications Frame // Custom Carbon Fibre Tubes & Titanium Lugs, 130mm Travel Fork // RockShox Pike RCT3, DebonAir, 140mm Travel Shock // RockShox Super Deluxe RCT Hubs // SRAM Roam 60, 110x15mm, 148x12mm Rims // SRAM Roam 60, 30mm Wide, 28h Tyres // Schwalbe Magic Mary Addix Soft, 2.35in Chainset // SRAM XX1 Eagle, 30T X-Sync 2 Chainring Rear Mech // SRAM XX1 Eagle, 12-Speed Shifters // SRAM XX1 Eagle, 12-Speed Cassette // SRAM XX1 Eagle, 10-50T, 12-Speed Brakes // SRAM Guide RSC, 180mm Front & Rear Stem // Burgtec Enduro MK2 Stem, 35mm Long Bars // Burgtec Ride Wide Carbon Enduro, 20mm Rise, 800mm Wide Gripst // Burgtec The Bartender Seatpost // RockShox Reverb Stealth, 31.6mm, 150mm Saddle // Fabric Scoop, Titanium Rails Size Tested // Custom Sizes Available // Custom Weight // 12.93kg (28.45lb) RRP // £3,895.00 (frame & shock tested) This review was published in Issue #119 of Singletrack Magazine as part of the UK-made full suspension group test. Keen to read more? You can check out all of the stories and features from Issue #119 of Singletrack Magazine right here.

UK-Made Full Suspension Group Test – Robot R130 Review

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