In terms of hit management Ellsworth say their suspension system is “quantifiably the most energy efficient suspension design in the World.” The essential idea behind this means that the suspension is always fully active no matter what, resulting in increased traction – a “benchmark” they say for suspension performance.

Already impressed with the head tube badge, solid and shapely rockers and ability to raise and lower the seat over a sensible distance, the Ellsworth has had some serious hill time with a variety of riders investigating these bold suspension yardstick claims. The outcome? In the winter months the Ellsworth Moment has a measurable amount of grip advantage over many bikes, how much you signup to the “Instant Centre Tracking (ICT)” is up to you, but I can confirm that you pretty much always know where you are with the Moment unlike many bikes that don’t live by some fundamental engineering rules resulting in crazy weight transfer issues. The Moment only takes a second to get used to.

Neither does it take an age to loosen up as a result of binding in the link area or slop which can be found on bikes with a similar four bar design as the Moment. Construction is solid and smooth. The “Sex pin” statement might be taking it a little far darling, but hey, durable, easy to maintain and simple is pretty much what all the Moment’s pivot’s are about.

All stable with great engineering integrity then. Going well. Lets get dirty, what’s the bike about in terms of riding? It’s gonna chug up hills that’s for sure, try as I did with a variety of rubber the Moment’s balance is built to use those Fox 36 forks so the uphill’s will either be a case of severely grinding down your teeth or a more sociable approach. I did both appreciating the detail and craftsmanship of the seat clamp, derailleur hanger, asymmetric CNC chainstays and anodizing as I did so. But boy it’s not a bike for climbing.

Obviously there were other things on view, the boys down at Haven Distribution had it built specially with short stem, 1×10, chain device (although it kept losing its chain in aggressive hits) to make the most of its travel. At a shade over 30lbs its not a lightweight build but expect to see these Moments out there closer to 27lb with some lightweight trail kit.

For all its triumphs however I simply cannot get enough fizz out of the Moment as a general trail bike particularly on flatter gentler lines, it needs more pop out of compression, more platform in the suspension off which to firework out of corners. I needed life in the Ellsworth to inspire attacks of local root or trail centre erosion…and then more again. Yes it grips and it flows, balanced and stable, the geometry allowing total commitment for a trail bike especially on descents (although maybe a fraction steep) but overall I feel it’s a bottle of pop gone flat. I wondered how a coil shock or a re–tune might change things so they sent one. I tried, but an increase in weight was largely all I got.

Such sluggishness on the horizontal beads might just be down to the fact that the suspension is ‘always fully active’ or maybe the Talas fork transmitted the wrong vibe, for it just lacks the bite that bikes such as the Intense SS and Trek Remedy have. The Moment works well in places but as a bike that sells itself on versatility I’d be looking to make it snappier. Where the Moment shines is on descents, because get it up to speed and bash the living shit out of it and it responds extremely well.

There are many positives plus the Moment still holds a strong position in that it allows (just about) a variety of riding beginning with trail riding. When you look either side of the Moment, such bikes as the 160mm travel Intense SS or Specialized Enduro have a touch more life in them for general riding or in the other more extreme direction the Orange Alpine at dealing with bigger terrain. Maybe the Trek Remedy is as near as you will get to this Ellsworth but with a 32 Fox not a 36, plus more charge in the rear damper. The Moment is the bike in the middle of all this but just needs tweaking, speeding up somehow.

All told, it would be untrue to say it has the makings of a good bike because it’s pretty much there. It’s a gem in many respects, and scores where many frames fall flat on their faces – manufacturing quality being one. It probably leans more to the gravity side of all–mountain than trail, has a perfect low standover for all action riding, comes with amazing colour options plus the quality, craftsmanship and detail that are all for real. The Moment has stood the test of time and in that respect, relative to the competition, it’s money well spent.

Ellsworth Moment – frame: £2139.99

www.havendistribution.co.uk 

Thanks to Fly Up for providing super quick double figure descending

www.flyupdownhill.co.uk