Raul Cortina, his brother and uncle started Cortina Cycles in Mexico in 1955, in a small bike shop in Mexico City. It acquired factory outlets within Mexico selling Cortina frames and moved into the factory it still owns in Mexico. Cortina Cycles built frames for companies such as Bennotto and Gios.
Raul Cortina's son, Esteban, started designing mountain bike frames ing the 1990s after graduating from college. He created Cortina Cycles USA in Santa Barbara, California with his brothers Daniel and Adrian, who are professional racers. Cortina in 1994 became one of the first to produce a downhill frame with 8 inches of rear travel. Cortina now make frames from BMX to tandems.
Frames
Production Frames (By Year)
(Please add information if you can help)
DH-8(1998)
Specs: Rear Wheel Travel: 8.0"
Notes: Rear linkage is a forerunner to the semi-parallel linkage of the DHExtreme-8.
DHExtreme-8(1999), also known as 'DHE-8'
Specs: Effective top tube:
md/lg 21.0" sm/md 20.0"
Head Tube Diameter:
1.125"
Head Tube Length:
4.5"
Head Tube Angle:
69.0 degrees
Seat Tube Angle:
61.0 degrees
Seat Tube Diameter:
27.2 mm
Wheel Base:
45.0"
Chain Stays:
18.5"
Bottom Bracket Height:
15.0"
Bottom Bracket Width:
73 mm
Rear Wheel Travel:
8.0"
Suspension Type:
Semi Parallel Linkage
Notes: Hydro formed front triangle, heat treated 6061 T-6 Alcoa aluminum, Disk brake compatible only, universal standard disk brake mounts, recommended fork with minimum 180 mm travel. Single piece bottom bracket/ pivot juncture, needle bearings in all pivots, Igus bushings in smaller pivot area, standard 135 mm spacing for rear wheel. 12 mm Rear axle (supplied with frame), Adjustable wheelbase up to 1 inch. 14 Pieces total on precision CNC mill work. Integrated set screw to supply tension to drop out tabs. 1.0" Square tubing used in rear swing arm to keep the up sprung weight low. Motion Ratio 2.91 : 1 allows for better rear shock damping and less stress on the rear shock. Replaceable seat tower.
Cortina modified the DHE-8 for the Avalanche Downhill Racing 1999 team bikes. An Avalanche MTN-3 shock was fitted by replacing parts of the linkage with specially designed parts to accommodate the larger shock which gave the frame a total of 10" of travel (which although it is fairly common now, was unheard of in 1999). The large oil reservoir of the avalanche shock can be seen attached to the downtube.
Europa-DS(2000), also known as 'Slalom', 'Europa', 'Europa-Dual'
Specs: Effective Top Tube:
21.5"
Head Tube Diameter:
1.125"
Head Tube Length:
5.0"
Head Tube Angle:
70.0 degrees
Seat Tube Angle:
73.0 degrees
Seat Tube Diameter:
27.2 mm
Wheel Base:
n/a
Chain Stays:
16.5
Bottom Bracket Height:
13.0"
Bottom Bracket Width:
73 mm
Notes: 6061 T-6 Aluminium, oversized round tubing in the front triangle with a laser cut gusset bridging the head tube, down tube and top tube. 1.0 Square tubing in the rear with our trade mark "no yoke" tire clearance cut out. Precision CNC milled drop outs. Europa frames are disk brake compatible only, and have an adjustable wheelbase up to 1 inch, they use the same 12 mm trough axle technology as the DHExtreme-8 system. The frame uses the same measurements as the Europa with the exception of using the standard quick release (CNC) drop outs.
XCO(2000), also known as 'Cross-Country'
Specs: Effective Top Tube:
23.0"
Head Tube Diameter:
1.125"
Head Tube Length:
5.0"
Head Tube Angle:
71.0 degrees
Seat Tube Angle:
73.0 degrees
Seat Tube Diameter:
27.2 mm
Wheel Base:
42.0"
Chain Stays:
16.5
Bottom Bracket Height:
13.0"
Bottom Bracket Width:
73 mm
Frame Weight:
3.5 lb.
Notes: 6061 T-6 Aluminium, oversized round tubing in the front triangle. 1.0 Square tubing in the rear with our trade mark "no yoke" tire clearance cut out. Precision CNC milled drop outs. Cantilever brake mounts or disk brake mount options available (universal standard only) Standard 135 mm rear wheel spacing. Dual water bottle mounts.
Joyride(2001)
Specs: Effective Top Tube:
md/lg 23.0" sm/md 21.5"
Head Tube Diameter:
1.125"
Head Tube Length:
4.5"
Head Tube Angle:
71.0 degrees
Seat Tube Angle:
65.0 degrees
Seat Tube Diameter:
27.7 mm
Wheel Base:
43.0"
Chain Stays:
16.75"
Bottom Bracket Height:
14.0"
Bottom Bracket Width:
73 mm
Rear Wheel Travel:
4.0"
Suspension Type:
Independent live eyelet
Notes: Hydroformed front triangle, Disk brake compatible only, universal standard disk brake mounts, recommended fork with minimum 100 mm travel. single piece bottom bracket/ pivot juncture, needle bearings in rocker pivot, standard 135 mm spacing for rear wheel.
Europa-FS(2001), also known as 'Europa-DS'
Specs: Rear Wheel Travel: 5.0"
Notes: None
Triton-DS(2001), also known as 'Cromoly Project', '4130 Slalom'
Specs:
Effective Top Tube: 21.5"
Seat Tube: 16"
Bottom Bracket Width: 68 mm
Head Tube Angle: 69 degrees
Seat Tube Angle: 71 degrees
Weight: 5 lb
Notes: This frame is hugely popular due to its high durability, great geometry and low cost. Along with the Triton DH, this frame was the first to be manufactured in Mexico after Cortina Cycles USA was set up. The low manufacturing cost and ability to produce a larger quantity of frames in a factory proved to be a breakthrough for Cortina, with the frame reaching a worldwide market.
El Heffe BMX (2002)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: None
Triton DH(2003)
Specs: Rear Wheel Travel: 8.0"
Notes: The Triton DH showed an important move away from the complex linkage designs of the DHE-8, Joyride and Europa DS, and move towards a simpler and more durable design utilizing a one-piece rear triangle and 4130 Cromoly.
Other Prototypes (By Year)
Unnamed, MX-style DH Frame(Year Unknown, c.1997?)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: Linkage possibly copied by Tomac for the 204 Magnum MKII.
Unnamed, Tandem(Year Unknown)
Tandem
Specs: Unknown
Notes: Notes
Unnamed, Trials Frame(2002)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: Hydroformed front triangle of the DHE-8 is recognizable.
Omega 7(2003)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: Notes
Aluminum Triton(2005)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: Notes
Triton 4X(2006)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: This new Prototype was seen at the 2006 Sea Otter Classic in April. Shown here with Adrian Cortina, the frame is constructed from aluminum, with a monocoque top tube. It utilizes a short travel version of the triton linkage (one-piece rear triangle). The frame has an integrated headset.
DJ 4X(2006)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: New Aluminum 4X hardtail frame
'06 Triton(2006)
Specs: Unknown
Notes: New 2006 Aluminum Triton with stiffening pivot
Technological Innovations
Semi-Parallel Linkage of DHExtreme-8. This unique linkage design enables the rear triangle to move up and down on an almost vertical plane rather than pivoting about the bottom bracket conventionally. It therefore enables better tracking on the rear wheel.
Fully Floating Linkage Design. This linkage design features on the Joyride and Europa-FS (semi-floating). This unique variation on the 4-bar linkage delivers progressive suspension whereby the ride becomes firmer as the shock is depressed. The shock is not attached directly to the static part of the frame at any point, hence 'floating'.
Adjustable Wheel Base on 12 mm Thru-Axle. This axle setup features on the DHExtreme-8, Europa DS (12 mm version), Europa FS, and Triton DH. The Wheelbase can be adjusted horizontally by 1 inch to effect the handling of the bike. The axle is tightened with a 9 m allen key and memory locked with two smaller horizontal allen bolts, creating a very stiff wheelbase. The disk-brake mount and derailleur hanger make up either side of the moving section, and can therefore be replaced if damaged.
