Christini has developed an AWD bike with 5/6″ of travel, after having produced the 4″ travel Venture for some time now. Known simply as the Christini Long Travel, it is available as a frame kit for $1995.
By all accounts, the Christini system works exactly as advertised, and manufactures their mountainbikes for Jeep, who then rebadges them as the Jeep Rubicon AWD Mountainbike. The design most certainly would improve climbing and slick terrain traction; and from what I’ve read, it does just that. A video featuring a cutaway demonstration of the technology is here.
This mountainbike, coupled with studded ice tires, would definitely make short work of Winter’s worst. Deep snow & icy singletrack climbs could be conquered much easier on this bike; whereas on a traditional mountainbike an ice-covered hill may be impossible.
EDIT: Unfortunately, Christini is not producing these bicycles at the moment, as they are focusing production on their AWD motorcycle. However, Christini does still have some bikes left in stock.
