I like it for the sake of doing differently
“Different for the sake of different” doesn’t really flick my button TBH, I doubt it does for that many others really if they’re being honest…
Demonstrate some real benefits to the end user or else it is just a worthless product for people who like to be contrite and different for the sake of it…
Environmental concerns aside, inefficient, wasteful manufacturing methods cost time and money and those costs just gets passed on to the customer, paying for that “Because its a bit different” factor seems like the stupidest idea ever IMO, you’re not paying for better function or less weight just “being different”…
Empire have been knocking about with their cast frames about since what 2005~ish?
The AP1 was a nice idea at that time, when pretty much all DH frames were assembled from hydroformed and welded aluminium tubes, these days though it looks old hat, heavy and is still very expensive, Especially when DH-WC races are being won on lighter, cheaper composite frames and Privateer racers are starting to be able to afford the same sort of products, AM/Gravity Enduro type bikes are using the same sort of manufacturing technologies and Empire are stuck in a bit of a quirky rut with…
It’s interesting the OP compared it to the old Mountain cycle, San Andreas; as that bike was pretty ahead of the game when it came out, most other manufacturers were still welding together tubes, where Mountain cycle were pressing out monocoque forms to produce stronger, stiffer (lighter?) frames…
As clever as the Empire seems it achieves none of the benefits that the San-Andreas did at the time and costs even more…