I'll take a swing at this.
This is my 2017 Daambuilt. Or at least as it was when it was last together - it is currently out for repair. It is also, notably, not a single pivot.
It's a 160mm front, 150-160mm rear (depending on which lower shock bolt is used), it's 160mm and most progressive as pictured. It is sized about an XL from 2017, which is still approximately my preferred sizing in bikes (noting that this means I am now on a large in many longer travel bikes). You can read about the numbers and profile [here](https://www.daambuilt.com/single-post/2017/06/24/29-full-suspension-mountain-bike), if interested, but the highlights are as follows:
\- 48% progressivity in the mode I preferred
\- very linear, if even somewhat forward, axle path
\- very active under braking suspension
Compounding the above is the steel chassis - this bike grips to the ground like an angry cat. I've never ridden anything, even 8 years later, with better traction under braking. On unknown trails, new features, or wet stuff, it's fantastic. It's ultimately a very 'safe' and forgiving bike - pretty much the perfect bike to take on trips to places you don't know. I do also think there's something to be said about the dampening characteristics - In its final season before it's next iteration, I rode this bike day in and day out at Sun Peaks and I don't know if there's another 160mm bike that would limit trail chatter and feedback as well as it did.
It is a **marked departure** from many of the longer travel bikes I enjoy now that are all on the other end of anti-squat and stiffen under braking, and formed a great counterpart with stuff like my Aurum HSP. That said, I think I'm quite an adaptable rider and can get sufficiently used to a different bike and suspension design in about 2-3 laps and will naturally optimize my body position, etc for the platform I'm on in relatively short order.
With carbon wheels I didn't find any issue with lack of lateral stiffness - I'm 215 lbs and ride feet heavy; there's been many 29ers of (even somewhat recent) days past that I could flex the rear tire into the stays in cornering.
Is it the fastest, raciest bike out there? No, and it wasn't at the time; but it wasn't really supposed to be. I'll probably resurrect it at something a little bit different.
May 13, 2025, 11:26 a.m. - Jotegir
I'll take a swing at this. This is my 2017 Daambuilt. Or at least as it was when it was last together - it is currently out for repair. It is also, notably, not a single pivot.  It's a 160mm front, 150-160mm rear (depending on which lower shock bolt is used), it's 160mm and most progressive as pictured. It is sized about an XL from 2017, which is still approximately my preferred sizing in bikes (noting that this means I am now on a large in many longer travel bikes). You can read about the numbers and profile [here](https://www.daambuilt.com/single-post/2017/06/24/29-full-suspension-mountain-bike), if interested, but the highlights are as follows: \- 48% progressivity in the mode I preferred \- very linear, if even somewhat forward, axle path \- very active under braking suspension Compounding the above is the steel chassis - this bike grips to the ground like an angry cat. I've never ridden anything, even 8 years later, with better traction under braking. On unknown trails, new features, or wet stuff, it's fantastic. It's ultimately a very 'safe' and forgiving bike - pretty much the perfect bike to take on trips to places you don't know. I do also think there's something to be said about the dampening characteristics - In its final season before it's next iteration, I rode this bike day in and day out at Sun Peaks and I don't know if there's another 160mm bike that would limit trail chatter and feedback as well as it did. It is a **marked departure** from many of the longer travel bikes I enjoy now that are all on the other end of anti-squat and stiffen under braking, and formed a great counterpart with stuff like my Aurum HSP. That said, I think I'm quite an adaptable rider and can get sufficiently used to a different bike and suspension design in about 2-3 laps and will naturally optimize my body position, etc for the platform I'm on in relatively short order. With carbon wheels I didn't find any issue with lack of lateral stiffness - I'm 215 lbs and ride feet heavy; there's been many 29ers of (even somewhat recent) days past that I could flex the rear tire into the stays in cornering. Is it the fastest, raciest bike out there? No, and it wasn't at the time; but it wasn't really supposed to be. I'll probably resurrect it at something a little bit different.