The Delta 7 Sports Arantix is a hardtail mountain bike that uses IsoTruss carbon fiber and Kevlar spider web-like, open-lattice top tube, downtube, seat tube, seatstays and chainstays. IsoTruss technology combines two ideas into one. The first is to apply a truss (or framework) design to tubes similar in shape and diameter of a traditional aluminum-tubed mountain bike frame. This feat is tough to pull off with steel, aluminum or titanium, so the second trick is to use the right material. Using a composite of carbon fiber and Kevlar allowed the Delta 7 Sports engineers to pull off the truss architecture of the tubes.

Test quote: " It has got to be flexy. Right? Wrong. Lateral flex is not an issue. While it is hard to quantify this from the saddle, the Arantix may be the most responsive hardtail we’ve ever dropped the hammer on. The IsoTruss guys should pitch their design to NASA, because this bike takes off like a space shuttle. Using massive gears didn’t faze the rear triangle or bottom bracket area, and spinning insanely little gears didn’t result in any detected frame “bounce” or flex.

Stoked:
A great riding hardtail

Bummed:
A brand new company experiencing growing pains
Very expensive

Bottom Line: Since we first tested the Delta 7 Sports Arantix, the price has been substantially reduced. They also had two high-profile frame failures (at the 2008 Interbike Demo Day) on frames using a new bonding release agent not used on our original test bike. Delta 7 Sports says the problem is solved and they back the bike with a lifetime warranty on a failure like this. That would be more reassuring coming from a company with a long track record. Since Delta 7 Sports is a relatively new bicycle company, it still remains to be seen just how long their lifetime will last.
(Full spec. listed below photo)



DELTA 7 SPORTS ARANTIX
Price...$4200 frame
Country of origin...U.S.A.
Weight...22.5 pounds
Website…www.delta7sports.com
Frame tested...17"
Bottom bracket height...12"
Chainstay length...16.75"
Top tube length...23"
Head angle...71°
Seat angle...73°
Standover height...30.25"
Wheelbase…42"
Suspension travel...(front) 3.9"
Suspension travel...(rear) None"
Frame material...Carbon fiber/Kevlar
Fork...Fox F100 RLC
Shock...None
Rims...FSA XC-300 Disc
Tires...Kenda Karma DTC (1.95")
Hub...FSA XC-300 SL
Brakes...Avid Juicy Ultimate
Brake levers...Avid Juicy Ultimate
Crankset...FSA K-Force Light
Shifters...SRAM X.O Trigger
Front derailleur...Shimano XTR
Rear derailleur...SRAM X.O
Chainrings...FSA (44/32/22)
Cassette...SRAM PG-990 (11-34)
Pedals...Crankbrothers 4-Ti Egg Beaters
Full Test…October 2009 Mountain Bike Action