Obtainium Performance Products
The forefront of Ti Spring technology
As every racer can attest to, a light DH race bike is a coveted thing. While there are many ways to shave off a few grams here and there when it comes to components, changing the spring in your rear shock to a titanium one can easily drop up to a pound of weight. Obtainium Performance Products, a ti spring company based out of Seattle WA, both designs and produces top quality ti springs that not only lighten your bike, but also improves the feel of your suspension.
(click image to enlarge)
Jim Harvey, the man behind the company, took the time to answer a few questions for me:
How long has Obtainium Performace Products been around for?
The company was started in the winter of 2006 after I left RCS. Working at
RCS for over 10 years was great but I wanted to do something different.
Obtainium Performance Products in a brand name of my parent company Hi-Tech
Springs. I do a lot more than just Obtainium. I design springs for many
other applications from machines to aerospace.
Who are some of the top riders/racers/teams that you support/use your products?
- Danice Uyesugi
- Sam Hill
- Nathan Rennie
- Mitch Delf
- Brendon Fairclough
- Steve Smith
- Steve Peat
- Melisa Buhl
- Mick Hannah
- Bryn Atkinson
- Jill Kintner
- Greg Minnar
- Duncan Riffle
- Lars Sternberg
- Bart McDaniel
- Team syndicate
I know there are more so if I forgot you please don't be mad.
(click image to enlarge)
In what ways do Obtainium Performance Products stand out from the average ti spring company?
You have to remember the there is a huge difference between an Obtainium ti
springs and a Chinese manufactured ti springs. Obtainium uses an alloy
manufactured in the United States and is an aerospace grade of titanium
specifically made for springs. So if an aircraft company is going put
titanium springs on their jets they would use this alloy and not a Chinese
grade of ti. This material is not cheap so the cost of this alloy drives the
final cost to put an Obtainium ti spring on your ride.
(click image to enlarge)
Anything else you want to mention?
You may have heard that I have an Obtainium Bearing System now available on
my web site. The reason for a bearing system is to allow full performance
from your spring. As your spring is being compressed it wants to rotate if
it can't rotate freely it will buckle or bind. The Obtainium Bearing System
allows you to get 100% of the spring's reaction to those bumps. The
Obtainium Bearing System also fit as the Performance Adapters do. We have
the systems that will fit most top brand dampers.
Thanks Jim!
It's obvious that there is some serious thought, knowledge, and experience going into these products, and the end result is a ti spring that will take a weight off your bike and your mind.
(click image to enlarge)
I've been using an Obtainium ti spring on my Trek Session 88 this entire season. Thanks to it, my bike weighs in at a lovely 37lbs and my rear suspension has felt buttery smooth all season.
For more information and to place an order check out their website at http://www.obtainiumperformanceproducts.com/index.php, or email them at info@obtainiumperformanceproducts.com
