MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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dolface
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8/24/2022 9:11am
MTBrent wrote:
That is without a doubt a Hope Evo crankset w/ spider. But what does that gain them over a current Saint crankset? [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/24/12913/s1200_Hope.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/24/12912/s1200_LG.jpg[/img]
That is without a doubt a Hope Evo crankset w/ spider. But what does that gain them over a current Saint crankset?







No idea but he's been running those for a long time...
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Primoz
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8/24/2022 9:20am
@dolface it's 3D printed, I guess it was quick and easy to make it closed off, both the design and the print.
Edthorne
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8/24/2022 10:24am
I have no pictures, but I saw someone riding one of those alloy TR11's in Morzine last week. Unlike what I've seen online so far, this one was a mullet. I couldn't say if it was maybe just a 27.5 frame with a 29 fork or intended to be mullet from the outset.
sspomer
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Fantasy
8/24/2022 10:50am
Edthorne wrote:
I have no pictures, but I saw someone riding one of those alloy TR11's in Morzine last week. Unlike what I've seen online so far, this...
I have no pictures, but I saw someone riding one of those alloy TR11's in Morzine last week. Unlike what I've seen online so far, this one was a mullet. I couldn't say if it was maybe just a 27.5 frame with a 29 fork or intended to be mullet from the outset.
Onawalk
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8/24/2022 11:19am
Primoz wrote:
How do you mount an Ochain to a Saint crank? And you still have the engagement latency the isn't present on the idler variant.
I remember hearing one time (on the road side anyway)that of the 14 or so tour teams that are running Shimano (along with the Shimano logo on their stuff) Shimano only sponsored 6 of them. The other teams were buying them at trade. I would imagine it’s the same with MTB, willing to bet not all teams that run Shimano gear are actually “sponsored” by Shimano.
I’ve been wrong before though.
3
Primoz
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8/24/2022 11:27am Edited Date/Time 8/24/2022 11:35am
Roadies aren't supported by the big three as much as it might seem, yeah. But with MTB you can bet your behind that anyone not running a sponsored drivetrain (6 the rest of the gear) will run different cranks, brakes, suspension, etc., vs. full Sram or Shimano/FOX (or TRP/Shimano). Case in point, Specialized (Magura brakes and Ohlins suspension, taped over drivetrain), Neko (Kogel bearings, cranks, TRP brakes) and so on (don't remember any off the top of my head at the moment).

There isn't as much outside money in MTB as there is in road cycling. The salaries and costs of running a WorldTour team dwarf the costs of buying drivetrains. And the pros are even more picky about their gear than even Minnaar. Look at Froome whining over discs, look at reports that teams were running 11spd or older generation drivetrains because of issues and because of lack of availability (don't remember the details). I think there was a connection with one of the Bahrain Merida sponsors offering a dropper post, but Mohorič chose a different one for technical reasons. Teams have been running competitor gear (for example wheels) when they felt that gave them an advantage even when sponsored by another company.

Road and MTB aren't really comparable in that regard IMO. And with road stuff you can't really mix and match that much as the brake levers and shift levers are a single unit.

As for Laurie, the biggest WTF is him running Hope cranks and a proto rear derailleur that's likely from Shimano. Could it be a custom 160 mm crank or something like that?
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gibbon
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8/24/2022 12:42pm
Could it be a custom 160 mm crank or something like that?
That would be my guess.
3
Edthorne
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8/24/2022 1:17pm
Edthorne wrote:
I have no pictures, but I saw someone riding one of those alloy TR11's in Morzine last week. Unlike what I've seen online so far, this...
I have no pictures, but I saw someone riding one of those alloy TR11's in Morzine last week. Unlike what I've seen online so far, this one was a mullet. I couldn't say if it was maybe just a 27.5 frame with a 29 fork or intended to be mullet from the outset.
sspomer wrote:
was it this? https://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/PIT-BITS-1-Leogang-World-Cup-Downhill,13690/PIT-BITS-1-Leogang-World-Cup-Downhill,152105/sspomer,2 [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/photos/152105/s1200_Transtions_prototype_for_junior_Valentina_Roa_Sanchez_can_t_say_much_about_it_yet_but_stay_tuned.jpg[/img]
Yup that'd be the one! Guess it's been covered pretty well on here already.
boozed
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8/24/2022 7:24pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2022 11:30pm
Primoz wrote:
Roadies aren't supported by the big three as much as it might seem, yeah. But with MTB you can bet your behind that anyone not running...
Roadies aren't supported by the big three as much as it might seem, yeah. But with MTB you can bet your behind that anyone not running a sponsored drivetrain (6 the rest of the gear) will run different cranks, brakes, suspension, etc., vs. full Sram or Shimano/FOX (or TRP/Shimano). Case in point, Specialized (Magura brakes and Ohlins suspension, taped over drivetrain), Neko (Kogel bearings, cranks, TRP brakes) and so on (don't remember any off the top of my head at the moment).

There isn't as much outside money in MTB as there is in road cycling. The salaries and costs of running a WorldTour team dwarf the costs of buying drivetrains. And the pros are even more picky about their gear than even Minnaar. Look at Froome whining over discs, look at reports that teams were running 11spd or older generation drivetrains because of issues and because of lack of availability (don't remember the details). I think there was a connection with one of the Bahrain Merida sponsors offering a dropper post, but Mohorič chose a different one for technical reasons. Teams have been running competitor gear (for example wheels) when they felt that gave them an advantage even when sponsored by another company.

Road and MTB aren't really comparable in that regard IMO. And with road stuff you can't really mix and match that much as the brake levers and shift levers are a single unit.

As for Laurie, the biggest WTF is him running Hope cranks and a proto rear derailleur that's likely from Shimano. Could it be a custom 160 mm crank or something like that?
Some of the pro tour riders even wear non-sponsor kit with the logos covered up, to the point that as a joke Castelli once bundled a black permanent marker with one of its popular black jerseys.
1
8/25/2022 6:49am Edited Date/Time 8/25/2022 6:51am
gibbon wrote:
Nope.
Have we decided whether Laurie's 'Saint' cranks are actually the new saint or just Hope Evos with a sticker on?
MTBrent wrote:
That is without a doubt a Hope Evo crankset w/ spider. But what does that gain them over a current Saint crankset? [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/24/12913/s1200_Hope.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/24/12912/s1200_LG.jpg[/img]
That is without a doubt a Hope Evo crankset w/ spider. But what does that gain them over a current Saint crankset?







My only good guess is a shorter crank length than 165. Also hope may have better clearance on their 165 and 170 cranks. Pretty sure shimano saint everything is as long as a 175 just drilled different for the pedal connection.
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jonkranked
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8/25/2022 8:22am
My only good guess is a shorter crank length than 165. Also hope may have better clearance on their 165 and 170 cranks. Pretty sure shimano...
My only good guess is a shorter crank length than 165. Also hope may have better clearance on their 165 and 170 cranks. Pretty sure shimano saint everything is as long as a 175 just drilled different for the pedal connection.
i've had saint cranks in multiple lengths over the years, the arms are length specific. saint cranks are made in the same japanese factory as XTR and Duraace.
1
8/25/2022 10:54am
Anyone have shots of the tread pattern for the "prototype" Michelin DH tires on the front of some of the Mondraker bikes from Worlds?
And the rear tire on some of those Mondraker is a Michelin Wild without F/R designation.
David9180
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8/25/2022 2:38pm
Anyone have shots of the tread pattern for the "prototype" Michelin DH tires on the front of some of the Mondraker bikes from Worlds? And the...
Anyone have shots of the tread pattern for the "prototype" Michelin DH tires on the front of some of the Mondraker bikes from Worlds?
And the rear tire on some of those Mondraker is a Michelin Wild without F/R designation.

2
PJ205
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Fantasy
8/25/2022 6:42pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2022 6:44pm
Tallboy 5? Has Glovebox, different shade of blue than Megatower, not the new Hightower, and has a Float X and Factory 34 without bleeders on it?



14
8/25/2022 7:30pm Edited Date/Time 8/25/2022 7:40pm
PJ205 wrote:
Tallboy 5? Has Glovebox, different shade of blue than Megatower, not the new Hightower, and has a Float X and Factory 34 without bleeders on it...
Tallboy 5? Has Glovebox, different shade of blue than Megatower, not the new Hightower, and has a Float X and Factory 34 without bleeders on it?



That or a 5010 (but probably Tallboy)
edit- that's also a DPS, not a Float X
1
Primoz
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8/25/2022 8:59pm
My only good guess is a shorter crank length than 165. Also hope may have better clearance on their 165 and 170 cranks. Pretty sure shimano...
My only good guess is a shorter crank length than 165. Also hope may have better clearance on their 165 and 170 cranks. Pretty sure shimano saint everything is as long as a 175 just drilled different for the pedal connection.
jonkranked wrote:
i've had saint cranks in multiple lengths over the years, the arms are length specific. saint cranks are made in the same japanese factory as XTR...
i've had saint cranks in multiple lengths over the years, the arms are length specific. saint cranks are made in the same japanese factory as XTR and Duraace.
Are you sure about that one? With milling it's easy to play around. With forging that requires separate tools. It's really hard to imagine they would invest in three sets of forging tools (it's not only one tool, it's done in stages) for s fairly low volume product like the Saint.

Unless it's cut at the end after the forging process...
1
8/26/2022 3:11am
Anyone have shots of the tread pattern for the "prototype" Michelin DH tires on the front of some of the Mondraker bikes from Worlds? And the...
Anyone have shots of the tread pattern for the "prototype" Michelin DH tires on the front of some of the Mondraker bikes from Worlds?
And the rear tire on some of those Mondraker is a Michelin Wild without F/R designation.
David9180 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/25/12919/s1200_D5819A4B_B4E7_4BCD_854C_62B42CCC4C65.jpg[/img]

Looks like a mid spike tyre for soft ground?

Shorty equivalent
Bob Chicken
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8/26/2022 4:35am
Primoz wrote:
Are you sure about that one? With milling it's easy to play around. With forging that requires separate tools. It's really hard to imagine they would...
Are you sure about that one? With milling it's easy to play around. With forging that requires separate tools. It's really hard to imagine they would invest in three sets of forging tools (it's not only one tool, it's done in stages) for s fairly low volume product like the Saint.

Unless it's cut at the end after the forging process...
Just trudged down to garage to check this out, I don't have any Saint cranks, but the 170mm and 175mm XT I compared are the same overall length, hole is in a different spot, by 5mm if you can't be arsed with the maths... Laughing
1
Primoz
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8/26/2022 4:58am
That's normal, it's the same for GX, but maaaaaybe it might make sense to chop off 5 mm off on Saints to get some more ground clearance.

That's the only logic I see, machine off the excess after forging for that one single gain.
8/26/2022 5:59am
sspomer wrote:
from today's pit bits https://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/PIT-BITS-World-Champs-2,13742/Laurie-Greenlands-custom-painted-V10,153892/sspomer,2 [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/photos/153892/s1200_Laurie_Greenlands_cutom_painted_V10_2.jpg[/img]
Its a case of smoke and mirrors, or rather spray paint and stickers. Shimano probably ran out of unused Saint cranks.
1
Noeserd
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TR
8/26/2022 9:10am
Close to release or some random photos?



4
Primoz
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8/26/2022 9:16am Edited Date/Time 8/26/2022 9:18am
It says 'NEW META V5' in the back.

While evolved quite a bit, the current 'V4-ish' design has been kicking around since 2015.
1
haen
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8/26/2022 9:35am
It says "Prototype" on the seatstay. Commencal put out a press release about it earlier in the year.
2
sspomer
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Fantasy
8/26/2022 12:29pm
kirk mcdowall in practice today at les gets. has this been around?

1
8/26/2022 12:37pm
That’s the new aurum or whatever norcos new dh will be. Been some pictures already posted.
1
8/26/2022 12:57pm
haen wrote:
It says "Prototype" on the seatstay. Commencal put out a press release about it earlier in the year.
Thats exactly how you sell old stock. say its just a prototype and may never see production...

You could see right from the initial Post that the bike would become production - My understanding from max's Interview is: "everyone watches DH racing but not everyone wants a dh bike.. So they buy an enduro bike - however there needs to be Relevancy"

Not exactly word for word but is how i remember it, this was in a insta story from someone interviewing max asking about the new "prototype" - This would tell me They are trying to take EWS more seriously so needed a shorter bike(duh because 1280+ WB on a large is to big anyway)
3
8/26/2022 1:03pm
This proto-Meta keeps looking like a supershort bike. Is it just me, or is it exactly this - supershort?
3
8/26/2022 1:06pm
Noeserd wrote:
Close to release or some random photos? [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/26/12926/s1200_FB_IMG_1661526603755.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/08/26/12925/s1200_FB_IMG_1661526615573.jpg[/img]
Close to release or some random photos?



"XC" version from Cecile Ravanel Instagram Stories.
5
Noeserd
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TR
8/26/2022 1:17pm Edited Date/Time 8/26/2022 1:18pm
This proto-Meta keeps looking like a supershort bike. Is it just me, or is it exactly this - supershort?
yeah its like 5 7cm shorter iirc, steeper hta aswell
drnicemang
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8/27/2022 12:14am
Anyone see this? 200mm option for the zeb? I’m not sure how this has flown under the radar
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