Yes, the chainstays are really short. With the 1.75 tire, the rearwheel scrapes the seatstay and is damn close to the bottombracket. Indeed very maneuverable. I still have to learn / addept to what the bike is capable of.
Machine Politics vs Beaver Boys, May 2011. Photo by Bruce Carver
Loving the short chainstays, i have a bike with what must be just about the same rear end, very maneuverable.