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Not the most common bike in the UK, I know, but we're looking at getting in a small fleet of hire bikes for this summer and Sunn have been pretty helpful - plus supporting a French brand never goes amiss over here!
Now, clearly it's not pretty (there is something weird about that rear triangle) but the spec is very good and they get rave reviews in the French press. Anyone ridden one?
[url= http://www.sunnbicycle.com/francais/velos-242/enduro-254/kern-lt-256/article/kern-lt-504?/=general ]More info here.[/url]
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Looks like a Commencal meta 5.5 with a chainstay to me.. that said most Euro Bikes are pretty good and GVFM.
Looks like a Commencal meta 5.5 with a chainstay to me
Max Commencal was the founder of Sunn bikes back in the 80s - he left to found Commencal in about 1999. So doesn't suprise me that the design ethos is quite similar.
Sunns are lovely bikes (well the older ones - I have 2) not ridden the newer ones, but they look to be good value for money.
That rear triangle looks like a bowsaw to me.
I spoke to a guy that I get on with fairly well at my lbs who stock them. he test rode their demo one and he really did not rate it at all. flexy back end apparently.
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/kern-s1-10-36796 ]Sunn Kern review on Bikeradar[/url]
Opinion seems to be..good up/not so good down but with the slacker angles of the Lyrik forked model i wouldn't thought that is such a problem.
MBR review in the Trail Bike of the Year was more positive. I'd say it's a good choice for a hire fleet. Abit different, single pivot (linkage) and decent kit too. I actually considered one of these to replace my Orange 5 but decided that Lyriks were too much for nearly all my riding and they were abit of an unknown at the time.
Think I might have that MBR article somewhere, will see if I can dig it out. Cheers Nick!
Single pivot?
From what I've seen they look like a hybrid of a Horst link and DW link - there is a short link between the frame and the chain stay/swingarm. Also looks like the link actuates the shock.
Sorry, No idea how it rides.
and i quote from MBR....."Out back, Sunn's unique elevated single-pivot suspension design takes its inspiration from the old Radical DH bike, where the shock is actuated by a series of links connecting it to the swingarm at the rear drop-outs".
I'm no expert although i did come to the conclusion that all the pivots and almost inaccesible nature of the shock meant it wasn't a good choice for UK grit and mud.