2006 Christini AWD
The Christini All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) is quite likely the most complicated mountain bike drive system ever produced. Where most bicycles with AWD have relied on a flexible shaft, the Christini uses a set of bevel gears, universal joints, clutches, and shafts to connect power to the front wheel through the frame. What started out as a senior design project for co-inventors Steve Christini and Mike Dunn, eventually became a commercial product which in turn has taken the form of full-suspension, a fat bike, and motorcycles. The drive of the rear wheel operates like a traditional bicycle, however on the left side of the rear wheel is a spiral bevel gear mounted on an clutch which drives a shaft up the seatstay. The clutch can be remotely actuated from a handlebar lever to engage or disengage power to the front wheel. The seatstay drive shaft continues up to the toptube through a pair of universal joints and a slip shaft by the rear shock. A pair of bevel gears inside the headtube direct power out to the fork crown where it is direct down to another spiral bevel gear on the front hub. A slip shaft compensates for suspension travel of the fork, and a one-way clutch inside the hub allows the front wheel to rotate faster that the rear wheel when making turns.
The result is a bicycle which is a few pounds heavier, but with plenty of traction to conquer slippery conditions and climb up very loose surfaces. Impressively, the bike is made entirely in the United States using top quality materials and precision manufacturing. For the rider that is also an engineer, this is the bicycle they often dreamed of creating.
The result is a bicycle which is a few pounds heavier, but with plenty of traction to conquer slippery conditions and climb up very loose surfaces. Impressively, the bike is made entirely in the United States using top quality materials and precision manufacturing. For the rider that is also an engineer, this is the bicycle they often dreamed of creating.
The Build
Year: 2006
SN: 063606 Frame: Christini AWD Fork: Christini by White Brothers Shock: Manitou Swinger 3 Way Stem: Thomson Elite Headset: Christini Cartridge Bearing Bottom Bracket: XTR M952 Handlebar: Easton Monkey Lite XC Shifters: Shimano XTR M952 Front Derailleur: Shimano XTR M953 Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTR M952 Brake Levers: Shimano XTR M952 Front Brake: Avid BB-7 Disc Rear Brake: Avid BB-7 Disc Crankset: Shimano XTR M952 Chainrings: Shimano XTR M952 26-36-46 Pedals: Shimano M747 Hubs: Christini Clutch / Mavic Crossland Rims: Mavic XM 819 Disc Tires: WTB Moto Raptor 2.4 Wheel QR: Shimano XTR M952 Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost QR: Salsa Flip Off Saddle: WTB SST Grips: ATI Neutron Cogs: Shimano XTR M952 Chain: Shimano CN-HG72 Bottle Cage: King Stainless Steel Clutch Remote Lever: Rock Shox |
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