3VO Suspension: Control Freak

High sensitivity and a coil-friendly super-progressive leverage ratio let you rail corners without blowing through travel and flow through high-speed gnar with confidence. I obsessed about keeping the bike responsive and fun to ride in technical situations, while being able to absolutely erase impacts when it’s time to get down. This is a frame that sees every small lip and obstacle as a good time, but punches well above its 150mm travel when you need to let it roll. As sensitive as the suspension is to even small impacts, this is also a bike that doesn't mind the climb to the top. Unlike a lot of designs that cheat on center of gravity location or gearing, the 3VO suspension has well over 100% of anti-squat even when you’re in the largest rear cog, and even if you choose to run a 34-tooth chainring. When it comes to climbing, very few systems can match the efficiency of a 3VO bike. When it comes to balancing sensitivity, responsiveness, and efficiency, nothing is even close.

Full CNC 7075-T6: The Real Benefits of Unreal Design

The Psalm 150 is not another mass-produced carbon or welded bike. Instead, each frame is fabricated using techniques more common in auto racing and aerospace applications. The traditional factory method is great for mass-producing bicycles at the lowest possible cost, but my goal is to produce only what I need, as needed, and my priorities are design freedom, precision, consistency, and sustainability. The Psalm 150 frame is machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, including a monocoque aluminum shell. It’s an expensive process, but it drastically shortens the supply chain, production lead times, and shipping delays associated with conventional bicycle frame production methods. Whether welded or made from carbon fiber, conventional frame production often requires two years or more from initial concept to finished product. This inevitably leads to design compromises, overproduction, marketing-driven “advances,” herd mentality, and the planned obsolescence of forced product cycles. Conventional methods are ultimately far more environmentally irresponsible than just making exactly what you want, and only as much as you need. It also doesn’t hurt that the Psalm 150’s aerospace bonded 7075-T6 frame is potentially strong enough to last forever and has a modular head tube and dropouts for future adjustability, because the only thing better than a frame that can be recycled, is a frame you never want to replace.

Rear Travel:
150mm

Recommended Fork:
160mm or 170mm

Wheel size:
29"

Bottom Bracket:
73mm BSA Threaded

Rear Hub Spacing:
12x148mm

Headset:
IS 41/52 (10mm reach adjust)

Seat Post Diameter:
31.6mm

Seat Post Collar Size:
36.4mm

Derailleur Hanger:
SRAM UDH

Minimum Rear Rotor Size:
180mm

Bearings:
8 x 6902 (15x28x7mm)
2 x 6900 (10x22x6mm)

Recommended Fork Rake:
44mm

Recommended Fork Axle to Crown:
571mm-581mm

Shock Specifications:
205x60mm Trunnion

Recommended Crank Arm Length:
160-170mm

When it comes to ride quality, nothing can touch a smooth, progressive leverage ratio. The 3VO system is optimized for coil spring shocks and high-volume air shocks. This progressive leverage ratio allows for instant initial reaction to small bumps and square edged impacts, even when climbing. True mid-range support means you can rail corners and hunt for fun on every little trail feature. Excellent bottom-out resistance means you can find your limits while keeping things under control.

High anti-squat counteracts the pedaling forces that cause a bike to bob up and down under power. To calculate anti-squat, designers have to choose a center-of-gravity point. The truth is nobody ever asks what number they used, so it's easy to claim all sorts of numbers. It's also easy to display really high anti-squat numbers if you measure with the chain in the smaller cogs and a with a small chainring. I use a center-of-gravity point 1150mm above the ground, and I measure in with a 32t chainring and a 50t cog, because that's a gear you'd actually use when climbing the worst climbs. Most importantly, 3VO is able to generate this high anti-squat while still keeping pedal kickback to a respectable minimum.

Anti-rise is all about balance: too much, and you begin to compromise sensitivity and traction; too little and your rear suspension extends under braking, pitching you forward. Here's the thing about anti-rise: any time you're descending while squeezing the brake, your weight is shifting forward, which causes your fork to dive, which causes your body to shift forward even more. I'm all about neutralizing anti-rise and helping keep your weight rearward and low. An anti-rise range with 100% near suspension sag point is the single best way to preserve geometry without compromising traction.