MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

Jotegr wrote:

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full...

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who:

1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and

2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look, it's a 27.5  bike in 2025! Wow!" (why is it better than all the 27.5 freeride ish bikes released earlier? We don't know - see point 1, no reviews). 

Sure, it could be really good but there's nothing there that is so compelling I'd be trying to guess a password so I can... give them money to try a bike. There's no brand history or credibility here other than the fact it's got Zink's name on it. I don't mean to be an abject hater but... if I wanted one, I'd wait and see that it was at least competent and they had good aftermarket support. Maybe I'm just getting cautious in my old age and I'm not down with the freeride kids anymore. Remember guys, your lifetime warranty is limited by the company's lifetime too!

Edit: oh it's the original name of the brand. Clever. 

senorbanana wrote:

On the site the pricing looks very competitive. $1690 and includes push sv8? Hard to find details on the site if shock is included 

Simcik wrote:

It is interesting the folks who have criticized what Cam is doing. Then adore what Neko is doing. I think what they are both doing is...

It is interesting the folks who have criticized what Cam is doing. Then adore what Neko is doing. I think what they are both doing is super cool and I am for it. Each are designing bikes they want to ride and want to offer that to others. Both have more hours on bikes and testing than any of us could dream to have. There is something to that. 

Cam has successfully run Sensus for quite a long time. I'd say that alone gives consumer confidence in customer relations. 

The pricing on the frames is pretty good considering what other frames go for these days. 

To each there own. It seems like a fun bike. My favorite bike ever was the Bottlerocket, this seems kinda like a new gen version of that. 

Jotegr wrote:

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full...

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who:

1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and

2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look, it's a 27.5  bike in 2025! Wow!" (why is it better than all the 27.5 freeride ish bikes released earlier? We don't know - see point 1, no reviews). 

Sure, it could be really good but there's nothing there that is so compelling I'd be trying to guess a password so I can... give them money to try a bike. There's no brand history or credibility here other than the fact it's got Zink's name on it. I don't mean to be an abject hater but... if I wanted one, I'd wait and see that it was at least competent and they had good aftermarket support. Maybe I'm just getting cautious in my old age and I'm not down with the freeride kids anymore. Remember guys, your lifetime warranty is limited by the company's lifetime too!

Edit: oh it's the original name of the brand. Clever. 

Simcik wrote:

It is interesting the folks who have criticized what Cam is doing. Then adore what Neko is doing. I think what they are both doing is...

It is interesting the folks who have criticized what Cam is doing. Then adore what Neko is doing. I think what they are both doing is super cool and I am for it. Each are designing bikes they want to ride and want to offer that to others. Both have more hours on bikes and testing than any of us could dream to have. There is something to that. 

Cam has successfully run Sensus for quite a long time. I'd say that alone gives consumer confidence in customer relations. 

The pricing on the frames is pretty good considering what other frames go for these days. 

To each there own. It seems like a fun bike. My favorite bike ever was the Bottlerocket, this seems kinda like a new gen version of that. 

amaranth wrote:

They're not exactly comparable though. Neko has been developing the bike for a couple years with documentation on youtube at the highest level possible in world...

They're not exactly comparable though. Neko has been developing the bike for a couple years with documentation on youtube at the highest level possible in world cup downhill, going through many iterations before he started doing a group buy for his bike. I'm not saying Zink can't make a good bike, but he just hasn't quite put himself out there like Neko had. So yeah...if I had the cash I would absolutely jump on Neko's bike, but Zink's bike? Gotta see what others say about it.

senorbanana wrote:

On the site the pricing looks very competitive. $1690 and includes push sv8? Hard to find details on the site if shock is included 

Jotegr wrote:

Having messed around on the website, my impression is that it probably is a great bike for its intended purpose, a small wheeled (at least out...

Having messed around on the website, my impression is that it probably is a great bike for its intended purpose, a small wheeled (at least out back) bike meant for fun and messing about. For $1650, I can see why someone would be into this thing. If it was me I'd still wait for some real world reviews and probably see what the aftermarket support was like. 

That said, I thought this blurb was interesting: "With our Lift Technology, the 420/426 chainstays aren’t the only reason you will be manualing with ease; Lift Suspension Characteristics were implemented for everything from flat-drop-backflips, to simply lifting your front wheel over a log with ease". Particularly so because there appears to be no discussion on what "Lift Technology" actually is or what is special about the suspension design. We can make a number of assumptions (guessing it's not a rearward axle path...) but the info does leave something to be desired. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong though, maybe this bike wasn't designed to be ridden or liked by NERDS like those of us in this thread. 

 

Jotegr wrote:

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full...

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who:

1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and

2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look, it's a 27.5  bike in 2025! Wow!" (why is it better than all the 27.5 freeride ish bikes released earlier? We don't know - see point 1, no reviews). 

Sure, it could be really good but there's nothing there that is so compelling I'd be trying to guess a password so I can... give them money to try a bike. There's no brand history or credibility here other than the fact it's got Zink's name on it. I don't mean to be an abject hater but... if I wanted one, I'd wait and see that it was at least competent and they had good aftermarket support. Maybe I'm just getting cautious in my old age and I'm not down with the freeride kids anymore. Remember guys, your lifetime warranty is limited by the company's lifetime too!

Edit: oh it's the original name of the brand. Clever. 

Jotegr wrote:

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full...

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who:

1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and

2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look, it's a 27.5  bike in 2025! Wow!" (why is it better than all the 27.5 freeride ish bikes released earlier? We don't know - see point 1, no reviews). 

Sure, it could be really good but there's nothing there that is so compelling I'd be trying to guess a password so I can... give them money to try a bike. There's no brand history or credibility here other than the fact it's got Zink's name on it. I don't mean to be an abject hater but... if I wanted one, I'd wait and see that it was at least competent and they had good aftermarket support. Maybe I'm just getting cautious in my old age and I'm not down with the freeride kids anymore. Remember guys, your lifetime warranty is limited by the company's lifetime too!

Edit: oh it's the original name of the brand. Clever. 

rustle wrote:

So you weren't able to guess the password?

haen wrote:

F1 tech but maybe one day it'll make it on our bikes. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCggPZxt1W3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&ig…

senorbanana wrote:

On the site the pricing looks very competitive. $1690 and includes push sv8? Hard to find details on the site if shock is included 

Eae903 wrote:

What was the password btw? 

Jotegr wrote:

Having messed around on the website, my impression is that it probably is a great bike for its intended purpose, a small wheeled (at least out...

Having messed around on the website, my impression is that it probably is a great bike for its intended purpose, a small wheeled (at least out back) bike meant for fun and messing about. For $1650, I can see why someone would be into this thing. If it was me I'd still wait for some real world reviews and probably see what the aftermarket support was like. 

That said, I thought this blurb was interesting: "With our Lift Technology, the 420/426 chainstays aren’t the only reason you will be manualing with ease; Lift Suspension Characteristics were implemented for everything from flat-drop-backflips, to simply lifting your front wheel over a log with ease". Particularly so because there appears to be no discussion on what "Lift Technology" actually is or what is special about the suspension design. We can make a number of assumptions (guessing it's not a rearward axle path...) but the info does leave something to be desired. Maybe I'm looking at it wrong though, maybe this bike wasn't designed to be ridden or liked by NERDS like those of us in this thread. 

 

marzbomber888 wrote:

It depends if you’re a poll asked and I want to go fast nerd or if you’re a nerd and you wanna make an Enduro bike...

It depends if you’re a poll asked and I want to go fast nerd or if you’re a nerd and you wanna make an Enduro bike into a small wheeled free ride slayer. To me this is the Geo that I’ve been looking for and if you listen to some interviews with him, he specifically states that it’s going to be one of the most progressive poppy feeling bikes possible.  I would love to see somebody much smarter than me like Cascade Componants jump in and tell me why zinc is either right or wrong but it’s nice to see the only company that’s going in the opposite direction.  They want to steep up head, angles, short and reach more and more fun instead of trying to make the fastest bike.

DH_Speedster wrote:

Specialized Status? Or more YT Jeffsy? It even looks like it 😎

Jotegr wrote:

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full...

I'm not sure why anyone would be chomping at the bit so much that they HAD to be first on the order books to pay full price for a frame from a brand new company who:

1. has no reason to be instilled with consumer confidence or trust other than marketing and a solid spokesperson/owner (i.e. limited info out there on the bike, no reviews, no history of other platforms, no history of customer relations, etc); and

2. has no real bespoke or novel tech, particularly progressive geometry, or other reason to try this before everyone else other than "Look, it's a 27.5  bike in 2025! Wow!" (why is it better than all the 27.5 freeride ish bikes released earlier? We don't know - see point 1, no reviews). 

Sure, it could be really good but there's nothing there that is so compelling I'd be trying to guess a password so I can... give them money to try a bike. There's no brand history or credibility here other than the fact it's got Zink's name on it. I don't mean to be an abject hater but... if I wanted one, I'd wait and see that it was at least competent and they had good aftermarket support. Maybe I'm just getting cautious in my old age and I'm not down with the freeride kids anymore. Remember guys, your lifetime warranty is limited by the company's lifetime too!

Edit: oh it's the original name of the brand. Clever. 

rustle wrote:

So you weren't able to guess the password?

Jotegr wrote:

It was very easy lol

rustle wrote:

So you weren't able to guess the password?

Jotegr wrote:

It was very easy lol

rustle wrote:

I guessed Hot Dogs. That isn’t it. 

TimBud wrote:

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”

marzbomber888 wrote:

Looks like it’s almsot time.  What’s the password? 

Looks like it’s almsot time.  What’s the password? 

Jotegr wrote:

Strange. The current (and just updated Range) is being carried forward in NA. If I had to guess that's actually the new VLT sight but with...

Strange. The current (and just updated Range) is being carried forward in NA. If I had to guess that's actually the new VLT sight but with a long travel treatment akin to the current one going 170/160 in some models for 2025. 

lando wrote:

Yeah, it looks just like the next gen Sight coming out next year. Would be strange for Norco to drop the Range in travel from 180/170...

Yeah, it looks just like the next gen Sight coming out next year. Would be strange for Norco to drop the Range in travel from 180/170 to 170/160. I love the big travel of the Range and would be bummed to miss out on it.

mrdimi wrote:

Not sure where I read, probably here LOL, it but it sounds like the Range is being phased out and they will go with two Sights...

Not sure where I read, probably here LOL, it but it sounds like the Range is being phased out and they will go with two Sights, regular and long-travel and the Range will be replaced by the new DH bike.  Probably cheaper to keep the Sight covering two categories with the same frame with different shocks and bring the in-development DH bike for the >180mm travel folks.  

TimBud wrote:

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”

jasbushey wrote:

I'd hope to see them increase the seat tube insertion on the 150 to be similar to the 170 with a straight tube. 

TimBud wrote:

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”

Atherton A150 and A200 “soon”