MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

So they are links, but they’re not links. Riiiiight

There is a logic to this madness.

FWIW, like I said, calling the bike a 6-link, not a 6-bar is a sneaky, but a technically correct move. I mentioned 'linkage driven single pivots' before, so I am fine with this being called a 6-link 4-bar. Logic. With a bit of 'fuck logic' added

The design is a 4 bar suspension design wih  a linkage driven shock.

It's only 6 links when you need the 6 links to have a defined axle path.

New Whyte E-Lyte has been announced with 140/150 travel, Bosch SX motor with 400wh battery, and only 36.1 pounds for the top end build. 

It's been mentioned before here and in other threads and I know weight isn't everything (though everyone loves to talk about it), but other than price how do you sell a 35+ pound trail bike when you can get an e-bike at the same weight? Are e-bikes getting lighter or are mtbs getting heavier?

It is probably a great bike, but that model is built with the same parts as you would find on a WC XC race bike, fox 34s, XC carbon wheels and tires etc. Not really comparable to a 35lbs trail bike. I Wish everyone would just list frame weights, parts are all third party and not specific to the frame anyway.

A 36 lbs e bike is probably equivalent to a 29 lbs trail bike. Light tires, lots of carbon, not durable.

a 36 lbs trail bike is hopefully cheap and durable 
 

Also, is the price not a good enough factor? We're talking about the neighbourhood of 3 to 4 grand of difference after all...

EDIT: went investigating. The 36 pounder is the 140 works model. Like Dave mentioned, carbon frame, DT XMC 1501 carbon rims, trail (-ish) tyres, Fox 34, inline shock and a full XX, possibly even SL, transmission. And 180 mm rotors. 36 pounds is apparently 16,4 kg in normal units.

At 17,5 kg I'm currently running an all aluminium pedal bike at 180/180 mm of travel with a Zeb and a Super Deluxe, 200 mm rotors front and back, EX511 32 spoke rims on Michelin DH tyres and a cable actuated X01/Garbaruk drivetrain with an SX crank (165 mm experiment...) and OneUp pedals.

The price difference is not a 3 to 4 grand neighbourhood like I alluded above, it's basically a doubling of my already fairly expensive build.

So exactly what Dave mentioned. It's two completely different bikes without taking electricity into account. For the money and requirements, you'd probably build a 12 kg downcountry bike without a single issue. 

Because selling the bike is more important than making the bike. 

So the 6-bar suspension is the new AntiSquat. I remember the beginning of era when Dave Weagle introduced this term into MTB and had spent many years explaining it. That time a ridemonkey.com used to be my first-to-open web site each day. I think 6bars will receive big development and testing efforts. 6bar is even more important/potential up front than under your butt.

I think what bothers me about all of this 4-bar/6-bar conversation is that it feels like mountain bikers have decided on a series of terminology, ignoring the fact that there's ~100 years of precedence in linkage design.

People use linkages to do all sorts of things.  There's very specific terminology around them.  For the most part, that terminology (as far as I can tell) doesn't really change because of what you use as your output link.  A horst link bike is a form of double rocker 4-bar link.  It doesn't really cease to be a double rocker 4-bar link if you decide to change which link you mount your wheel to.  So a "linkage driven single pivot" is fine, but deciding that this is somehow not a double rocker 4-bar link is strange.  There are a lot of semantics about whether or not the bars are "necessary".  I mean, sure, the bars don't change the axle path, but pull your "unecessary" bars off and see how far you get.

Have a look at this article here.  It does a great job of explaining what I would paraphrase as "hey, you can slap a couple of bars onto a 4 bar link and call it a 6 bar, but there are more advanced ways of taking advantage of this."  It then explains some classical 6-bar links and what they are there for.

https://mechanicaldesign101.com/2016/07/26/want-a-patent-try-a-six-bar-…

If I venture up the right peak I'll get a peek at what they been cooking up. 

A sneak peak is when you think you're at the top, but then turn a corner and see that you're still a whole 'nother peak away.

From the pics, what makes you say Shimano/cup bleed? Just curious to learn. 

It's a guess based on the bleed-port bolt in the bottom-left pic; it looks the same as the one on Shimano brakes (to which you attach a bleed-cup). It could also take a syringe attachment but IME those are usually grub screws (e.g. Hayes).

Been hoping to hear more about that proto tire Shorty v3 HRIII. It's the season for this to hit the market. Loved the V1 shorty (2.5 maxxgip dh) in the loose/loam but lacked versatility, V2 (2.4 DD MG) was kind of a let down, lighter rolled better but missed the V1 cornering fun, Wild Enduro looked good but I didn't fall in love with it, considering the Tacky Chan but it's not checking off all the boxes. Funny all the tires I try and keep going back to DHF DHRII.

I was really happy with the Tacky Chan over the summer as a front tire. It's  great on loose over hardpack that makes up the majority of the local trails as long as you are ok with the DHF style lack of transition knobs. 

I just switched back to a Magic Marry for the fall/ winter because it punches through the leaves on the trails better but the side knobs can fold as the trails dry out here over the summer, the Tacky Chan doesn't have this issue. 

Im happy switching front tires between Magic Marry in fall/ winter and Tacky Chan for spring/summer here in GA.

Anymore info on the forbidden dh rig or v2 Dreadnaught.  The current is on sale the same way the v1 Druid was.   The dh video said early November for the dh bike and well we are past.  Hopping to see some new stuff soon! 

All signs point to Dread V2 early in 2024. The team was riding DH protos this year, so that bike should be available this spring as well. I think Forbidden/Synthesis just signed for 2 more years, so there SHOULD be new whips for them to ride.

Hope so. But I can’t but wonder how the dread can get better. The v1 is just about the best bike ever 

What is this USD fork? Very interesting. I can't recognize the white logo on right leg.

Push industries

production ready new Demo ??

Rad news from Canfield as they announce that they will be carrying the remaining inventory of Guerrilla Gravity spare parts and making them available to GG customers:

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PRESS RELEASE: Canfield Bikes

Canfield Bikes, Colorado mountain-bike manufacturer, today announces it will make official Guerrilla Gravity service parts inventory available to owners of GG bikes and frames. Denver-based Guerrilla Gravity ceased operations in September, 2023, leaving many customers wondering if there would be any continued support for recently purchased bikes.

“Like the rest of the mountain-bike community, we were saddened by the news of GG’s departure from the industry,” said Lance Canfield, Canfield Bikes owner and designer. “I’ve enjoyed watching their innovations and contributions as they grew from a new brand to a major player over the past decade. Our sport will be a little less rad without them, but I hope we can offer a small silver lining by keeping their riders rolling a little longer.”

Canfield will offer the remaining Guerrilla Gravity inventory of frame and service parts as well as select merchandise through CanfieldBikes.com while supplies last. No new GG bikes will be sold.

“I’m glad our customers will be in good hands with a fellow Colorado bike company,” said Guerrilla Gravity president and co-founder Will Montague. “Creating and growing GG alongside our amazing team has been the experience of a lifetime. I’m eternally grateful to all the riders, employees and everyone else who supported us along the way. Having a great group like Canfield on board to provide riders with continued support provides peace of mind as we conclude our journey.”

Tyler, a former GG employee, joined the Canfield Bikes team in September to manage sales and customer service. In addition to assisting Canfield customers, his product knowledge will help guarantee that GG customers continue to receive the level of care and customer service they’ve come to know and expect.

“We couldn’t do this without him,” said Lance Canfield.

Guerrilla Gravity customers can contact RideGG@CanfieldBikes.com for service and support.

Select GG inventory is available for purchase now at CanfieldBikes.com with an estimated mid-December ship date.

More parts are expected to be available soon.

As a V1 owner, they can redesign the shock tunnel and linkage like the V2 Druid so it doesn't eat rocks and crack itself. I'm just glad there's experienced guys locally that can repair carbon fibre holes. Better frame storage and polishing up the little "newer bike company" type design issues would be amazing. If it's a bigger version of the V2 Druid, I think it would hit everything that needs to be done.

Considering it's Bruni and there are still prototype links, I would assume it's still in development (or at least that this is not the production model)

I havnt had this issue yet but I can see how it would be a problem. I do live in the pnw so not as much rocks as other places. the one thing I do is the if you don’t tighten the rear axle the exact same the rotor isn’t center on the brake. It tends to flex a bit.  

It looks different than the lugged version that was "uncovered" at least

Yeah, this one doesn't look like it has Al tubes. Also, looks kinda like the top tube and down tube are not round?