Preston features an innovative fork design, based around a linkage system which requires
a quite different frame. The plan, as we understood it, was to release Preston in
a magnesium version from launch. This is no longer going to be the case. The innovation
required to build the frame in magnesium, according to ATB Sales is “progressing,
but is a huge job given the radical nature of the bike and the number of new features
incorporated into the design”

As a result, expect a weight increase. ATB are saying that the alloy Preston will
be in the 25lb range. The frames will sell for £1195, the XT bike £1995,
and the Superbike £2595

The SL-4.5 has been released in a limited quantity, and due to the nature of the
materials they’re using, extensive testing including testing at “one of Germany’s
premier testing institutes” has shown up a problem with the weld around the
pivot was failing. “Nothing catastrophic, but we want to sort it out.”,
say ATB Sales.

How long this will take is another issue. “I am confident that we can solve
the problem that we have encountered, but exactly how long we will need is difficult
to say. It might be a matter of weeks, but it might be longer.”

We will keep you informed. We really hope that ATB Sales get the production problems sorted out, as we rode the bike last summer at a demo and still haven’t ridden anything that even approaches it in terms of ride quality. We can’t wait to see what the production models are like!

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When will we see a real one, released into the
wild, out of captivity?