MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

Yep i noticed that aswell.
I know its not new but a few people I know would really benefit from going down in front rotor size as troys mechanic describes.

They announced them a month or so ago but AFAIK aren't available retail yet.  Pros have been running them all season.  I agree, they look like an interesting alternative to ODI Elite Pros - maybe a little bit more cushion on the outer edge of the grip before the flange.

The Norco DH bike is part of the team bits and the progression adjustability without changing shock settings has been mentioned again. Maybe it's adjusting progression but keeping the sag point the same and that is part of the reason settings don't need to be changed? How does this work with other systems that enable progression tuning, does the spring rate need to be adjusted when you change the flip chips?

If you keep travel the same and increase progression you usually get a higher leverage ratio at the sag point. If you keep the leverage at sag the same you generally loose a little travel. On a bike like the enduro, the flip chip does actually increase average leverage ratio if you put it in the high setting. Fairly similar to running a mullet yoke on that bike as it’s only something like 1.5mm shorter. Lots of bikes have changes to kinematics that aren’t mentioned when talking about what a particular flip chip does. It’s more of a question of whether or not the change is large enough to care about. 

At 2:12 the disc looks like an updated version of the Galfer Shark Disc without fins and 4 rows of holes instead of 3.

pit bits photo gallery 1 - https://www.vitalmtb.com/pit-bits-1-andorra-world-cup-dh

Might be missing something, but has anyone else noticed that the new SRAM calipers are 90% of the time only on the rear end with the current caliper up front? Interesting how a rear specific caliper might be different... I know Troy runs a bigger rotor on the rear for more power, so maybe it's to do with a power increase?

Heat management?

Isn't the trek running a smaller rotor in the rear as well as mismatched calipers?

Nope, that’s the prototype TRP rotor they are testing. It indeed looks a lot like the Galfer! 

On the proto SRAM caliper, I don't if it's already been noticed (can't recall), but there's actually 2 protos. Can't upload 2 pics on the same post though

We know that, yeah. The blocky, black one is the Maven, running mineral oil, then there's the red caliper that's probably running DOT oil (on a standard Code lever).

New Slash coming soon! 
Pretty modern geo and very versatile. 
And price dropped a fair bit! New Vivid also stock

750d wheels...what?  https://www.bikeradar.com/news/moots-prototype-750d-gravel-bike/

I’ve noticed that NSMB posts a new article most days except when there is something on embargo. Something coming today. 
 

nope

New slash coming with a higher spec alloy frame option as well as carbon. The idler is friggin huuggggg. Mullet only as well confirmed, that proto floating around is accurate.

Not quite right,

alloy in a good spec is true

Yea that bike has been baked in for quite a while. I believe they shot the promo video and photos for it last fall. Assuming issues with supply chain, waiting on aluminum version and old stock to clear out of shops have delayed it. The shops stock is probably the big one. Shops bought a bunch of not-that-old Slashes for 2023 season and with bike glut and Specialized's insane pricing this year they've had trouble moving them out. Trek can't launch the new frame until the shop inventories are much lower, so they're waiting.  

The point is I'm not worried about a 50g difference, so I'll take coil every single time. It better be at least a 200 gram difference for me to consider air over a coil. My IL with a coil for my weight for my bike is barely heavier, and even tho it doesn't have a piggy back I'd say its still probably better than the vivid. The Vivid is $730, the IL can easily be found for half that, but The EXT Storia, also with a spring for my weight, is within spitting distance of the Vivid's weight and is only $999 that includes two coils, a custom tune, and excellent support (for north America). I don't see the benefit of this Vivid given the other options, since its so "heavy" for an air shock. 

Big idler, less drag more pedalling efficiency. 

Not really tech but apparently fox factory brought ride concepts 

Wait, like Fox suspension?  That seems like a really weird jump considering they do no apparel / soft goods.  Fox Head makes more sense, but also kinda weird given that they just released their own shoes.

When talking about sram, not much (maybe none) of their stuff makes sense aftermarket at msrp. It makes sense to oem's because they get a much lower mark up on actual cost. Sram isn't alone in this of course, but their markups for end use customers vs bike companies seems a lot more mismatched than some companies. I mean the discount that ext or Cane Creek would give to an oem vs the regular price for us is probably not huge. 

Also oem's and bike shops really want air cause it's one part number, (one size fits all, i.e. infinitely adjustable spring rate and one tune for a given frame). Instead of one tune and a bunch of different coils. Coil is a pain in the dick for them. That is why the vivid exists/makes sense. It might not make sense for you or me buying aftermaket, but it does make sense for trek et al. 

Fox Factory owns Race Face...so adding shoes to the Race Face clothing kinda makes sense. 

So when is the Slash going to be released?  I got an email from Trek showing it off so I figured it would already be on the front page?

show us the email!

I may have posted a pic to that other site under the same username...

My buddy is a rep for Ride Concepts and he told me about a month ago that they were in talks to be acquired by a "big" company.  He couldn't tell me which but that makes sense.