BERLIN: In the latest technological breakthrough for bicycles, German manufacturer Canyon has begun implementing a steering stabiliser technology said to transform handling on the trail and make riding safer and more intuitive.
The mechanical device, dubbed Keep It Stable (KIS) and modelled on steering assist in cars, is mounted in the top tube close to the steerer. It uses a simple spring, a high-strength strap and a cam arrangement to gently re-centre the handlebar during a ride.
This keeps the mountain bike upright and pointed ahead in the direction of travel, making the two-wheeler more fun and easier to control over rough terrain.
"The steering behaviour of bicycles has been the same for a hundred years but no one really asks the question 'is this the best steering behaviour you can get," Canyon engineer Moritz Ströer says in a demo video.
"We believe KIS is for everyone. Right now you see it on a trail bike but you should be prepared to see even more from us in the future," said Ströer.
The makers say the tech was inspired by the self-centring steering of modern cars which keeps them straight on the road after curves.
The system can be specified on the new Canyon full-suspension Spectral 29 CF 8 which costs around €5,000. It is also fitted to an electric 301 CE KIS e-bike from Liteville, a brand owned by the KIS system inventor Syntace.
Like the suspension fork and disc brakes now common on bicycle the system has the potential to improve the steering stability of most bicycles used in the rough.
KIS is adjustable on the fly using a regular four millimetre Allen key and free of maintenance. It adds only 110 grammes to the weight of the bicycle.
Syntace developer Jo Kleiber who runs the Syntace component firm in southern Bavaria, said the feature makes both ends of the mountain bike feel more connected than they are at present using the common freely pivoting conventional headset.
It also counteracts what experts call "wheel flop," which is when a modern long and low MTB tends to turn more than expected due to the front wheel "flopping" over when the handlebars are rotated.
Canyon said KIS has been intensively tested to ensure its reliability. In one gruelling trial the system was activated for 55 days in a row amounting to 55 million function cycles.
In a promotional video from Canyon, various young MTB riders said they took to the system quickly and noticed how it increased stability on the trail, thereby boosting confidence.
Canyon has exclusive use of the patented technology for a year but like most mountain bike innovations it will probably be offered on other makes of MTB before long.
