2011 Tomac Automatic Frameset

The Automatic incorporated the new IAS Instant Active Suspension System. IAS suspension makes quick work out of bumps, especially repetitive hits (think braking bumps) where quick suspension action means less transmitted to the rider.

Because the suspension also initiates quicker, test riders consistently noted that IAS equipped bikes drive through bumps more easily, maintaining speed rather than letting the rough terrain slow the bike down. The rocker link allows us to manipulate the shock rate as the bike goes through the travel, providing a perfect curve to both absorb bumps and pedal well. Using a single pivot design allows us to create a very stiff package that is overall lighter than competitor's bikes.

One of the important aspects of the Automatic's suspension is the main pivot location. We configured it in a location that would maximize pedalling efficiency, but not in a place that would create excessive pedal feedback or minimize the bike's ability to absorb bumps. We used a Fox RP23 shock with XY secondary air canister because it's more linear from middle stroke and has low initial stiction (because you are running lower initial pressures). The Automatic has a relatively flat shock rate, which maximized the character of the air shock. It allows the bike to pedal well, get full travel and still feel pretty bottomless throughout the travel.

Because the bike tends to sit closer to the top of the travel under standard rider load, i.e. not wallowing in the middle, it pedals better and you get a sense that the bike has longer travel that you would expect. This also helps lessen the ?hooking? effect on rocks and roots because the suspension isn't over-compressing, kicking the power into the pedals and disrupting your pedal motion so you can't ride through rough terrain.

Because the swingarm typically sees the majority of lateral (side to side) flex, the Automatic uses a fully triangulated rear swingarm to increase stiffness. Stiffness in the swingarm translates both into better rider control, but it also allows the suspension to be more active in rough terrain. When the rear end is suffering from lateral flex during suspension movement, it binds the shock and will limit suspension movement. The front triangle has also been designed with stiffness in mind. The top and down tube are specially shaped to maximize lateral stiffness, and are triple butted to ensure minimal weight.

The aspect of the Automatic that you will really like is just how well it pedals and absorbs bumps. These might seem like contradictory functions, but that's the biggest difference we see between Tomac bikes and our competitor's bikes. We know you will ride the same bike down that you climbed up, and that you need a bike that will perform both activities with aplomb.