A cornerstone of the new Rossignol line.
The Rossignol Afterhours is the latest electric mountain bike from the Isère-based brand. Our mission was to work with the Rossignol MTB teams to design a high-performance electric platform that’s fun to ride and well-suited for use at ski resorts and in rental parks. Its design incorporates the new visual elements introduced by its sibling, the Heretic.
Rossignol MTB design language.
This project embodies the brand’s DNA and shares design elements with its muscular counterpart, the Heretic. It optimizes tooling investments and establishes a common design language across the various bikes, featuring a compact, streamlined style focused on the joy of riding.
A two-phase development.
Together with Rossignol, we conducted a preliminary conceptual study based on an existing EPAC, with the goal of saving time and laying the groundwork for the project: kinematics, geometry, and parts common to the entire product line.
Next, the Rossignol team finalized a motor and battery platform, based on which we refined the frame design and optimized its proportions. Battery removal through the bottom of the down tube, a minimalist motor bracket design, re-centered mass distribution, and optimization of the weight and stiffness of the link—these are all key elements that contribute to a more refined, functional, and minimalist design.
From paper to reality.
An ultra-agile and pragmatic development process made it possible to validate each key stage of the design in collaboration with the brand’s teams. This facilitated decision-making and technical choices such as engine integration, battery mounting, and the design of the shock absorber link, among others.
Industrialization & Communication.
With the goal of optimizing processes and reducing development time, we have implemented a customer-to-factory communication workflow that drastically shortens industrial development time.
We have applied all of our expertise in aluminum bicycle design, optimizing every component.
The result is a modern, high-performance, and rugged eMTB platform, suitable for the rental market and intensive use in bike parks.
Acclaimed by the international press.
The new Afterhours is the culmination of two years of development. Initial tests and press reviews are unanimous in their praise of the bike’s quality: a maneuverable e-MTB that’s stable at high speeds
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Photographs: Kairn Design / Rossignol
Design: Kairn Design / Rossignol
3D renderings: Kairn Design