MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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jonkranked
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1/9/2025 6:53am
I feel like this USD fork talk is kind of funny and sad. Ohlins is dropping out of advancing their mountain bike products, which is pretty...

I feel like this USD fork talk is kind of funny and sad. Ohlins is dropping out of advancing their mountain bike products, which is pretty telling that suspension is hitting a wall now, like frame design is. Yeah they could do USD on their forks for a few advantages but for what returns? Manitou, Intend, Push, hell, even Cannondale are doing USD forks and successfully for a while now. I think this big company, whether it is Fox or Sram, is hitting their wall and reinventing the wheel. USD will be the next hottest shit on the market because they do it now. I say we grow some hair on the chest and bring back long travel lefties and linkage forks that look like a plastic fork that was brought too close to a fire. 

re: ohlins - I took the comments about them less to be that they will no longer be developing / advancing / improving their forks, but more that they have what they consider to be a full product portfolio for the MTB market, and will not be introducing any "new" suspension products beyond what they already have.

portfolio: air shock, coil shock, 34mm fork, 36mm fork, 38mm fork - single crown, 38mm fork - dual crown

 

7
notthatbryan
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Acworth, GA, USA
1/9/2025 7:04am
dolface wrote:

Curious, what's the hidden catch to UDH?

boozed wrote:

Direct mount transmission.  It wasn't really a catch though (unless you like adjustable dropouts), just the ulterior motive of moving everyone to a standardised dropout design.

BBaldwin wrote:
You are right, but I also think most companies were trying to make their current frames work with the UDH and not come up with a...

You are right, but I also think most companies were trying to make their current frames work with the UDH and not come up with a long-term solution. There is no way you cannot have both. 

I also suspect that SRAM told bike manufacturers that UDH was going to be required for future drivetrains (Transmission) even though the general public wasn't told. 

6
29
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AT
1/9/2025 7:05am

Öhlins RXF36 m.3:

11
Simcik
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Loma, CO, USA
1/9/2025 7:20am

I also suspect that SRAM told bike manufacturers that UDH was going to be required for future drivetrains (Transmission) even though the general public wasn't told. 

Maybe some but not all. I was PM at Canfield Bikes when UDH was announced and that detail was not started. I suspected there was more to the story than selling $15 retail derailleur hangers.

7
Primoz
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1/9/2025 7:23am
boozed wrote:

Direct mount transmission.  It wasn't really a catch though (unless you like adjustable dropouts), just the ulterior motive of moving everyone to a standardised dropout design.

BBaldwin wrote:
You are right, but I also think most companies were trying to make their current frames work with the UDH and not come up with a...

You are right, but I also think most companies were trying to make their current frames work with the UDH and not come up with a long-term solution. There is no way you cannot have both. 

I also suspect that SRAM told bike manufacturers that UDH was going to be required for future drivetrains (Transmission) even though the general public wasn't told. 

For sure. I was told by "someone" "somewhere" (deliberately vague) they were privy to upcoming Sram product information back in spring 2021 without spilling any specific beans. Considering Transmission  launched in 2023, it must have been Transmission at the time. This was for the purposes of complete bike builds. 

3
smelly
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Colorado Springs, CO, USA
1/9/2025 7:25am

What I want to know, amongst this discussion of a UBH, is who the hell is managing to strip their brake mount threads? 

Good lord. You pull that off, you probably shouldn’t use a stove or knife, either. 

27
HexonJuan
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1/9/2025 7:54am

Any talk about better alignment using a UBM is kinda silly. You have concentricity, parallel between axle and the outward mount hole, surface flatness between the mount and frame, in addition to the existing flatness and parallel of a traditional post mount. All in, it seems like more dimensional control is needed rather than less. This from the co that used concave/convex washers to fit between their caliper feet and frame/adapter mounts claiming 'irregular surfaces' at the mount faces while no other co had such issues (at least none that couldn't be remedied by facing the mount as you should a BCool and I am calling boooogus. Definitely a trojan horse for something they have up their sleeve. Now, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out with the co's that have already been using a similar design prior to the '21 filing date. Due to prior art/design, this shouldn't have been granted and highlights how screwed/overwhelmed the US Patent Office is. If they decide to litigate against those co's I hope they get the soc media/forum beatdown Knolly did when they went after Intense over the offset seat tube design. 

8
sprungmass
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Calgary, AB, CA
1/9/2025 8:14am
29 wrote:

Öhlins RXF36 m.3:

Love Ohlin's "if ain't broke don't fix it" approach to their forks. That TTX18 cartridge is so good I am glad they didn't change it. No marketing non-sense like MOAR shimz etc. I hope they stay this way and soon enough all my forks will be from them.

9
sspomer
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Boise, ID, USA
Fantasy
1/9/2025 8:51am

atherton gearbox?

24
jonkranked
Posts
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Location
Norristown, PA, USA
1/9/2025 9:06am
sspomer wrote:

atherton gearbox?

image 122
10
1/9/2025 9:07am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2025 9:13am

9g55v7 0.jpg?VersionId=QPxmN3BsnWEN60LGczyyHz0EA

27
Primoz
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1/9/2025 9:16am
HexonJuan wrote:
Any talk about better alignment using a UBM is kinda silly. You have concentricity, parallel between axle and the outward mount hole, surface flatness between the...

Any talk about better alignment using a UBM is kinda silly. You have concentricity, parallel between axle and the outward mount hole, surface flatness between the mount and frame, in addition to the existing flatness and parallel of a traditional post mount. All in, it seems like more dimensional control is needed rather than less. This from the co that used concave/convex washers to fit between their caliper feet and frame/adapter mounts claiming 'irregular surfaces' at the mount faces while no other co had such issues (at least none that couldn't be remedied by facing the mount as you should a BCool and I am calling boooogus. Definitely a trojan horse for something they have up their sleeve. Now, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out with the co's that have already been using a similar design prior to the '21 filing date. Due to prior art/design, this shouldn't have been granted and highlights how screwed/overwhelmed the US Patent Office is. If they decide to litigate against those co's I hope they get the soc media/forum beatdown Knolly did when they went after Intense over the offset seat tube design. 

The requirements for the hole to mount the UBM to are about the same as the requirements for a dropout in general. Then you need a post to act as a torque brace. That's it.

Facing post mounts is a damn PITA as it requires VERY special tools as opposed to BB/HT reaming/facing. The complexity for a frame designer is, for better or for worse, lower with a (properly executed) UBM.

9
DServy
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Jackson, WY, USA
1/9/2025 9:36am
smelly wrote:
What I want to know, amongst this discussion of a UBH, is who the hell is managing to strip their brake mount threads? Good lord. You pull...

What I want to know, amongst this discussion of a UBH, is who the hell is managing to strip their brake mount threads? 

Good lord. You pull that off, you probably shouldn’t use a stove or knife, either. 

I mean, I've cross-threaded a brake mount post on a bike made of swiss cheese before. Wasn't my proudest moment holding a wrench, and it just required a retap. 

I also saw someone who came in with the bolts sheared into their brake post mount after a "particularly odd" crash. 

I'm just saying, the more parts are replaceable the better. 

7
1/9/2025 9:44am

Looping back to the conversation about USD forks given the team rumours announced today. With Reece Wilson’s AOD racing on the Manitou Dorado (supposedly running an Oleo strut shock??), and IFR on the EXT Vaia, and a new model from an named big brand, USD forks are definitely going to be making waves in 2025. At this rate, Honda definitely needs to resurrect the RN01.

7
ex-ballz
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1/9/2025 10:12am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2025 10:15am
smelly wrote:
What I want to know, amongst this discussion of a UBH, is who the hell is managing to strip their brake mount threads? Good lord. You pull...

What I want to know, amongst this discussion of a UBH, is who the hell is managing to strip their brake mount threads? 

Good lord. You pull that off, you probably shouldn’t use a stove or knife, either. 

DServy wrote:
I mean, I've cross-threaded a brake mount post on a bike made of swiss cheese before. Wasn't my proudest moment holding a wrench, and it just...

I mean, I've cross-threaded a brake mount post on a bike made of swiss cheese before. Wasn't my proudest moment holding a wrench, and it just required a retap. 

I also saw someone who came in with the bolts sheared into their brake post mount after a "particularly odd" crash. 

I'm just saying, the more parts are replaceable the better. 

I loved this little detail on the DHR.

2011 Turner DHR Review – REDUX

The frame was so nicely executed, still my fav DW-Link packaging.

16
MrDuck
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CA
1/9/2025 10:25am
ex-ballz wrote:
I loved this little detail on the DHR.The frame was so nicely executed, still my fav DW-Link packaging.

I loved this little detail on the DHR.

2011 Turner DHR Review – REDUX

The frame was so nicely executed, still my fav DW-Link packaging.

That's honestly my favorite solution wherever applicable.

I'm not convinced post mount is a problem that needs addressing - it's been a while since I've seen an issue with one of those. One customer "stripped it", but they had a very short bolt so only stripped the first 3mm of the thread, which was easily worked around with a proper sized bolt. Turner's solution would be awesome though.

 

Back to rumors - I can't really make out the driveline on the Atherton. I know they've had the video walking around with a pinion, but it's not very clear to me here?

2
nsp234
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CH
1/9/2025 10:30am
sspomer wrote:

atherton gearbox?

jonkranked wrote:
image 122

This looks very much chainless to me?

3
1/9/2025 10:36am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2025 10:38am

Something everyone has to realize about UBM and UDH is that SRAM is in the business of selling OEM to massive bike companies. Anything SRAM can do to make the process faster and cheaper/better for the OEMs is seen as a win. In the case of Transmission/wireless drivetrains, that is a WIN for OEMs. Say they can shave -5-10 minutes a bike not having to deal with cables, setting stops, tension, etc. They can install a Transmission drivetrain in <5mins, vs. say 10-12min for a cable-actuated version. Now, multiply that times 20,000 MTB builds and you have million(s) of dollars of wages to workers saved. Also, they can make frames cheaper and lighter (dropping things like tube-in-tube, cable ports molded in frames, etc.) *they keep MSRP of frame the same which increases per frame margin (profit).  

UBM is likely the same. This will allow frame manufacturers to make frames say $25 cheaper. Now multiply that times 40,000 MTB frames and that's a quick $1 million savings a year. AND the brake posts will be better aligned, and changing rotor sizes will be easier (and faster during OEM builds, as well as they won't need to waste time with washers/longer bolts, etc.).  

People think too much from the end consumer or OEM. SRAM is wisely playing to the OEMs with a lot of these moves. AND it also greatly benefits the customer in the long run. UDH is awesome; it's solved the RD hanger problem. AND it allows for direct mount which is a far superior system in terms of robustness and shifting precision.  
 

20
jonkranked
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Norristown, PA, USA
1/9/2025 10:46am
sspomer wrote:

atherton gearbox?

jonkranked wrote:
image 122
nsp234 wrote:

This looks very much chainless to me?

i thought so too at first. then i did Enhance.gif, and it would appear it is configured with some sort of tensioner pulley that directs the belt upwards towards the main pivot region before back to the rear hub.

2
JVP
Posts
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Location
Bellingham, WA, USA
1/9/2025 10:48am
sethimus wrote:
just make everything kashima, the lowers and the uppers, problem solved, enough idiots out there that just want gold: 

just make everything kashima, the lowers and the uppers, problem solved, enough idiots out there that just want gold:

a man in a gold robe stands in front of a wooden screen

 

Those mis-matched gold-ish colors are something. They go nicely with a bluetooth speaker blaring club music in the forest.

4
3
dolface
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Location
USA
1/9/2025 11:09am Edited Date/Time 1/9/2025 11:10am
jonkranked wrote:
image 122
nsp234 wrote:

This looks very much chainless to me?

jonkranked wrote:
i thought so too at first. then i did Enhance.gif, and it would appear it is configured with some sort of tensioner pulley that directs the...

i thought so too at first. then i did Enhance.gif, and it would appear it is configured with some sort of tensioner pulley that directs the belt upwards towards the main pivot region before back to the rear hub.

Is that a belt?

image 124

8
1/9/2025 11:11am
Something everyone has to realize about UBM and UDH is that SRAM is in the business of selling OEM to massive bike companies. Anything SRAM can...

Something everyone has to realize about UBM and UDH is that SRAM is in the business of selling OEM to massive bike companies. Anything SRAM can do to make the process faster and cheaper/better for the OEMs is seen as a win. In the case of Transmission/wireless drivetrains, that is a WIN for OEMs. Say they can shave -5-10 minutes a bike not having to deal with cables, setting stops, tension, etc. They can install a Transmission drivetrain in <5mins, vs. say 10-12min for a cable-actuated version. Now, multiply that times 20,000 MTB builds and you have million(s) of dollars of wages to workers saved. Also, they can make frames cheaper and lighter (dropping things like tube-in-tube, cable ports molded in frames, etc.) *they keep MSRP of frame the same which increases per frame margin (profit).  

UBM is likely the same. This will allow frame manufacturers to make frames say $25 cheaper. Now multiply that times 40,000 MTB frames and that's a quick $1 million savings a year. AND the brake posts will be better aligned, and changing rotor sizes will be easier (and faster during OEM builds, as well as they won't need to waste time with washers/longer bolts, etc.).  

People think too much from the end consumer or OEM. SRAM is wisely playing to the OEMs with a lot of these moves. AND it also greatly benefits the customer in the long run. UDH is awesome; it's solved the RD hanger problem. AND it allows for direct mount which is a far superior system in terms of robustness and shifting precision.  
 

It's almost like SRAM is in the business of making money and not to only please us!?! 😄

7
Fantaman
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Location
NL
1/9/2025 11:24am

Any one noticed how the rear shock is mounted on that Atherton bike? the reservoir is now mounted more sideways.

8
1/9/2025 11:30am
sspomer wrote:

atherton gearbox?

Didn't Dave Weagle post that he had more dual chain bikes (ala Pivot Phoenix) coming up this year? 

2
matmattmatthew
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Location
Fresh Prince of Bel Air, MD, USA
1/9/2025 11:31am

What if the Atherton bike is a belt driven gearbox bike with the same suspension as the Pivot Phoenix, But instead of 2 chains, it uses 2 belts?  

10
MrDuck
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CA
1/9/2025 12:01pm
dolface wrote:
Is that a belt?

Is that a belt?

image 124

Pretty sure it is. Looks like the belt pokes just above the seatstay as it wraps the pulley too. Very nice. 

I didn't get very good feedback on the other site when I voiced my belief we'll see more gearboxes showing up (because I bought one and inspired everyone, of course) haha. 

Pretty stoked on seeing some new development in bikes other than a new color and saying that getting rid of a derailleur hanger is a revolution Smile

1
Robstyle
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Location
Invercargill, NZ
1/9/2025 12:08pm

The Atherton does look to have a high belt line which is interesting. Could be a normal idler bike or 1 belt and 1 chain. I would think that a small belt would be super inefficient, dunno I've not felt the belts they use. 

1
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