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It seems to be catching on, and I am severely disappointed.
I'm also imagining a basic headset service inusuay do when I'm servicing a form just being bullshit now. Most Enduro bikes I work on also end up with shit kicked bearings after 2-4 years. Now I'll have to remove the brake hose and shifter/dropper cables to replace an upper bearing and it's going to cost the customer $80+ to pop in a new bearing ones I get everything apart, replace it, put it all back together and bleed the brake for something that I do now while I do the fork service.
What is the advantage of this on a mountain bike? PLEASE BIKE DESIGNERS, TELL ME WHAT IT IS. There is zero advantage to customers or service departments to do this. It's not like Enduro and ebike need to save watts with aero routing, so you must just be fucking with everyone, right? Do you understand how accepting a customer is for an extra $80+ fee for something that doesn't actually offer them any advantages?
Headset routing is the new pressfit bottom bracket. Don't buy any bike with it, because it just costs more to fix and causes issues. Nip this one before it even starts to take off please.
As for nipping in the bud, I think it's over, the genie is out of the bottle. Ho many bikes don't have internal frame routing these days? It's not as bad, but still is bad... And when a customer will compare two bikes in the store, where one has hidden hoses and cables while the other doesn't, that clean look for sure will be a factor in the sale.
As for pressfit bottom brackets, at least there are some tangible advantages to them, besides making the frames cheaper to make. If they could be removed without destroying the bearings it would be a step in the right direction in my opinion.
I lean towards the Hambini way of thinking in that there are few qualified engineers who design bikes. Rob Arbr and Chris Deverson (Deviate) aside.
I think quite a few lurkers in this forum will gladly disagree with you regarding their qualifications, as we have seen in the past week if nothing else
I wouldn't be surprised if this issue has to be dealt with by the engineering department, but originates as a request somewhere else within a company.
Enduro bike test, The 150mm travel bike with 180mm rotors and shortest/steepest geometry was our favourite. Being light is vey important.
They are hard to take seriously tbh.
I'm guessing it wasn't the same person doing both tests? That's quite an issue with not just testing bikes, but testing anything that can't be measured completely objectively. Even timed runs on a bike are subjective as rider skills and preferences will play a role. Once you are dealing with such subjectiveness, you need to know who tested the product and wrote the test as that is an important insight.
But I see too many bikes, almost on a daily basis with significant design flaws to believe that an engineer has been fully involved.
Plus there's such poor pay in the bike industry that most decent engineers can't afford to work in it, unless its a real passion project.
Accounting says 'only if we can sell for more or it's cheaper to produce'.
Engineer protests that it's a bad idea and gets told to shut up and do it.
It’s why unno just made the world’s visually longest seat tube.
If you ever walked into an ebike specialty store the stuff is just way way more out there compared to the very homogeneous and subtle looks that dominate road and mtb cycling. I think it’s honestly cool that brands are putting some extra effort into distinguishing themselves in looks and features. But this headset cable routing is one of the dumbest ways to do it.
Unfortunately I think this issue was likely compounded by how expensive molds are, how far out companies need to order parts to have them, and the fact companies know cyclists just tend to have way too much forgiveness for bike manufacturers and the market is large enough a great reputation isn’t necessarily more profitable. I would not be surprised if multiple brands designed their bikes around this headset for aesthetics, came to the same conclusion vital and other testers did when riding early protos, but ultimately said fuck it we’ll fix it in three years on the next model.
Anyway, Looks like the new stuff from rockshox will have two "Debonair+" air cans, both with negative volume tuning Additionally, there is a "RC3 hydraulic bottom out control" damper option. So if id have to take a wild guess, the RC3 HBC will be the "Ultimate" level shock with the RC3 being the select plus.
The negative tuning option is present on the Flight Attendant stuff, which makes sense considering it's the new platform.
Care to share the links?
You have to love this industry sometimes.
Anyone know what's going on with the rear mech on this Arbr?
Is it just an aftermarket cover
It's the Intend Hover.
The cage looks Sram, the shifter is AXS. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck... Looks like a duck in a down jacket then!