MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

Related:
2/14/2025 12:51pm
Massive wheels are fun as hell. My 29+ rigid Surly Krampus with ~30.5" outer tire diameter is just a stupid monster truck/klunker, I absolutely love it...

Massive wheels are fun as hell. My 29+ rigid Surly Krampus with ~30.5" outer tire diameter is just a stupid monster truck/klunker, I absolutely love it. I'm 6'2", was always on board for 29" wheels, and definitely would try a 32" XC bike. Obviously they're not going to work well for shorter folks, does that even need to be reiterated to the people getting up in arms about it?

I remember watching Emeline Ragot ripping workd cup dh tracks on a 29er that looked massive for her... I am afraid we will see such things again, because "20% more traction and roll over obstacles"

29 ain't dead

9
ShapeThings
Posts
130
Joined
8/19/2018
Location
Oakland, CA, USA
2/14/2025 2:38pm

Looks like the Stumpy 15 green carbon frame. And it looks like the idler will move as suspension cycles. 

Hopefully cascade bring to market a front triangle upgrade kit after they release this. 🙃

In all seriousness, this is rad and I hope Cascade make the chainstays longer. I know they elongate with a HP, but something more significant than stock, or an adjustable option for the long CS converts. 

4
2/14/2025 4:27pm
kperras wrote:
The thing about 29ers is frame designers are still dealing with fitment issues, 20 years on. This is why we've seen all these various chainline, axle...

The thing about 29ers is frame designers are still dealing with fitment issues, 20 years on. This is why we've seen all these various chainline, axle, hub standards proliferate, not mention endless conversations around geometry. Paul Aston seems to be fine with 475mm rear centers but any good (technical) trail that I've ridden around the world plain doesn't work with titanic sized wheelbases.  

Last but not least, and understandably this the same argument some have with ebikes and we can see how many of those are on the trails now, I don't need bigger wheels to make things easier. The pendulum swung far enough with 29x3 and we all saw how that worked out for MTB (Desert touring setups disregard this comment).

in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 

430mm chainstays

Front derailleur support
142 (non boost) rear spacing
Aluminum and Carbon builds
No reputation for snapping chainstays

Its all just excuses. 

The gen 1 Enduro 29 was not a good bike, but if Specialized engineers could do it over ten years ago, it can be done now

6
monarchmason
Posts
324
Joined
5/24/2022
Location
Nevada City, CA, USA
2/14/2025 6:33pm

You know I have worried about Cascade Components as bike companies are getting pretty dialed with stock suspension as it is for us non World Cup riders. Being less demand or less that Cascade could even change on a bikes kinematics. But this! This is actually really bad ass. Seriously this is so cool because now you have 2 bikes 1 frame technically. Like this is what pro riders must feel like when RnD says “Hey we heard you were not 100% with that link, so we altered it and the whole frame. Try this homie” If this is a whole rear end assembly to a stumpjumper, I would want one just to play around with for fun. Kudos to you Cascade. I hope for the best to you. 

12
2/14/2025 7:39pm
in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 430mm chainstaysFront derailleur support142 (non boost) rear spacingAluminum and Carbon buildsNo reputation for snapping chainstaysIts all just excuses. The gen 1 Enduro...

in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 

430mm chainstays

Front derailleur support
142 (non boost) rear spacing
Aluminum and Carbon builds
No reputation for snapping chainstays

Its all just excuses. 

The gen 1 Enduro 29 was not a good bike, but if Specialized engineers could do it over ten years ago, it can be done now

This. I had a 2014 OG Canfield Riot with 414 stays and 29x2.5 tire clearance. Chainline was a little fucky, but anyone that says you need super boost for tire clearance is drinking the Kool aid...and I own a Knolly.

16
bstens
Posts
80
Joined
3/29/2010
Location
Seattle, WA, USA
2/14/2025 8:42pm
This. I had a 2014 OG Canfield Riot with 414 stays and 29x2.5 tire clearance. Chainline was a little fucky, but anyone that says you need...

This. I had a 2014 OG Canfield Riot with 414 stays and 29x2.5 tire clearance. Chainline was a little fucky, but anyone that says you need super boost for tire clearance is drinking the Kool aid...and I own a Knolly.

Props for knolly comment

3
Konda
Posts
49
Joined
5/28/2023
Location
Kidderminster, GB
2/15/2025 2:02am

I think the real question for cascade is :will you be able to run a derailleur cable??

8
Onawalk
Posts
344
Joined
7/5/2021
Location
CA
2/15/2025 7:55am
airwreck wrote:

Nobody saw Cascades instagram post yesterday?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DGCEWu1Sy7m/

 

This is what "tech rumours and innovation" is about, So much more of this!  I'm a huge fanboy of the @CascadeComponents stuff, its functional bike jewellery, and I'm here for it!

This looks very much like a whole rear end to make a Stumpy a high pivot trail bike, and thats incredible

10
chriskief
Posts
793
Joined
4/15/2017
Location
New York, NY, USA
Fantasy
2/15/2025 8:06am
sspomer wrote:
troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake...

troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake levers too?

Screen Shot 2025-02-15 at 8.53.54 AM

video here

https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2025-race-talk?page=18#comment-5789…

11
2/15/2025 8:07am
You know I have worried about Cascade Components as bike companies are getting pretty dialed with stock suspension as it is for us non World Cup...

You know I have worried about Cascade Components as bike companies are getting pretty dialed with stock suspension as it is for us non World Cup riders. Being less demand or less that Cascade could even change on a bikes kinematics. But this! This is actually really bad ass. Seriously this is so cool because now you have 2 bikes 1 frame technically. Like this is what pro riders must feel like when RnD says “Hey we heard you were not 100% with that link, so we altered it and the whole frame. Try this homie” If this is a whole rear end assembly to a stumpjumper, I would want one just to play around with for fun. Kudos to you Cascade. I hope for the best to you. 

Feel more than free to boo me on over the companies-shutting-down-thread if this is too economic and not enough tech, but I'm going to be really curious to see the economics of selling your current frame and buying a different one vs the cascade linkage and rear end. For example, I eyed their Code calipers, but ultimately just bought new brakes.  And their links have always had an element of breathing life into an older frame for way less than the cost of a new one.

For the record, I love Cascade and I understand the realities of manufacturing high quality things in small quantities.  The folks at Cascade are sharp and have definitely thought of this. Maybe this product gives you something you can't get in a current frame?  

Regardless, it's another aspect of this that makes it, in my mind, one of the most interesting thing I've seen from the industry in a decent bit. 

7
kperras
Posts
187
Joined
12/19/2012
Location
CA
2/15/2025 12:01pm
in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 430mm chainstaysFront derailleur support142 (non boost) rear spacingAluminum and Carbon buildsNo reputation for snapping chainstaysIts all just excuses. The gen 1 Enduro...

in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 

430mm chainstays

Front derailleur support
142 (non boost) rear spacing
Aluminum and Carbon builds
No reputation for snapping chainstays

Its all just excuses. 

The gen 1 Enduro 29 was not a good bike, but if Specialized engineers could do it over ten years ago, it can be done now

Haha OK. Yes 29er design peaked with the 2014 Enduro. I encourage you to double down on your statement, seek one out and replace all your other bikes with it.

3
14
airwreck
Posts
109
Joined
4/7/2015
Location
Wailuku, HI, USA
2/15/2025 12:23pm
Onawalk wrote:
This is what "tech rumours and innovation" is about, So much more of this!  I'm a huge fanboy of the @CascadeComponents stuff, its functional bike jewellery...

This is what "tech rumours and innovation" is about, So much more of this!  I'm a huge fanboy of the @CascadeComponents stuff, its functional bike jewellery, and I'm here for it!

This looks very much like a whole rear end to make a Stumpy a high pivot trail bike, and thats incredible

I'm glad to see all the comments, I saw the insta post and couldn't make any sense of it, I knew the crew here would.

2
Primoz
Posts
4677
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
2/15/2025 12:34pm
in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 430mm chainstaysFront derailleur support142 (non boost) rear spacingAluminum and Carbon buildsNo reputation for snapping chainstaysIts all just excuses. The gen 1 Enduro...

in 2014 my Enduro 29er had: 

430mm chainstays

Front derailleur support
142 (non boost) rear spacing
Aluminum and Carbon builds
No reputation for snapping chainstays

Its all just excuses. 

The gen 1 Enduro 29 was not a good bike, but if Specialized engineers could do it over ten years ago, it can be done now

kperras wrote:
Haha OK. Yes 29er design peaked with the 2014 Enduro. I encourage you to double down on your statement, seek one out and replace all your...

Haha OK. Yes 29er design peaked with the 2014 Enduro. I encourage you to double down on your statement, seek one out and replace all your other bikes with it.

Nobody said it peaked. Far from it. What was said and what I agree with is that said Enduro had short chainstays, front derailleur and a nonboost dropout. Probably did not run tires as wide as today, but yes, clearly packaging is not as big of an issue as it is claimed. 

4
kperras
Posts
187
Joined
12/19/2012
Location
CA
2/15/2025 12:58pm

Packaging is indeed an issue that is still being stick-handled today. I've dealt with many frame designs over the years that compromise on features, stiffness, weight, cost, geometry, industrial design, manufacturing feasibility, etc. If that 2014 chassis was so perfect, then there would be little reason to stray from it. The actual STA alone makes that bike, both resulting from Specialized deciding that 430mm CS was the priority, a prominent packaging issue that would anchor bikes to the shop floor today. 

Pendulum on geo has swung pretty far out and has already started coming back. People of or near average size are figuring out that supersized bikes are not all that they were marketed to be. I'm not saying 32" wheels are bad, but they will be relegated to frame designs that are, at the smallest, XL or larger. Even then, you compromise on the riding experience you get from having huge wheels and wheelbase that don't quite fit on the trail. 

Keep in mind I'm always talking about high performance Trail, Enduro MTB as the needs here are much more focused. Things (Priorities) change when discussing XC, Offroad touring, gravel, etc. 

4
2
brash
Posts
960
Joined
4/24/2019
Location
AU
2/15/2025 1:01pm

Bikes peaked at the 2014 Devinci Wilson, I've been chasing rear suspension that can compare for the last 10 years lol.

 

5
1
smelly
Posts
227
Joined
3/7/2016
Location
Colorado Springs, CO, USA
2/15/2025 1:44pm
sspomer wrote:

no way will 32 be for anything except XC or gravel, right? please? pretty please? make it stop?

Massive wheels are fun as hell. My 29+ rigid Surly Krampus with ~30.5" outer tire diameter is just a stupid monster truck/klunker, I absolutely love it...

Massive wheels are fun as hell. My 29+ rigid Surly Krampus with ~30.5" outer tire diameter is just a stupid monster truck/klunker, I absolutely love it. I'm 6'2", was always on board for 29" wheels, and definitely would try a 32" XC bike. Obviously they're not going to work well for shorter folks, does that even need to be reiterated to the people getting up in arms about it?

I could see applications for large wheels. 
Gravel and exploration bikes - heck yes. I used to love dirt road rambles when I lived in New England. Here in Colorado the fore roads and dirt roads are terrifying. Washboarded, bedrock. 30 miles in your teeth are rattling out. 

32” wheels on a steel frame with swoopy stays that add compliance, 68*HA and lots of trail, low BB so you’re riding in the bike. Wouldn’t sprint but neither do I. Sounds comfy. Sounds like something Surly should make. Size L, XL, XXL, and Shaq. 

4
2/15/2025 1:44pm
Etney wrote:
A lot of new regarding brakes these past pages. XTR, Mavens, Hope, and now another addition from SRAM I have spotted.Ben Hildred is doing his climbing...

A lot of new regarding brakes these past pages. XTR, Mavens, Hope, and now another addition from SRAM I have spotted.

Ben Hildred is doing his climbing challenge, where he climbs 10k feet a day, for 100 days, and I spotted him covering up the caliper on his latest story - Strange, because I thought he just ran regular Level Ultimate Stealth's - But went through his old stories from these past climbs, and managed to spot two pics of a caliper, that size-wise looks like a level, but it differs in shape. It also seems to say "Prototype" when you zoom in on phone. Pic quality here doesnt really translate though.

This challenge is probably a very good test for most of the components on his bike, so no wonder sram wants to torture test some brakes. He's also running the yet to be released new axs dropper. 

 

From his story today

476378870 1183461489983538 398119426725913942 n

Managed to see a pic with a text that looks to say "prototype" - You can also see that the side of the caliper is flat, compared to the current level brake which has a "ridge" in the side (see pic at bottom)
475970799 643709258156092 2987493753364364513 n.jpg?VersionId=hYmJR.FkgVnQ0lDNVX4b

"SRAM" seems to be etched/laser engraved on top of the caliper

476348076 2286507415077362 9139535672293089080 n

 

Current level ultimate caliper
09d48dd9e931bdecb1f0af694b78ac37.jpg?VersionId=funDACagldc F V.3T

Seems another name has dropped into public domain. I know we've seen these brakes before but this is the first indexed result for "motive". 

7
2/15/2025 2:03pm
Etney wrote:
A lot of new regarding brakes these past pages. XTR, Mavens, Hope, and now another addition from SRAM I have spotted.Ben Hildred is doing his climbing...

A lot of new regarding brakes these past pages. XTR, Mavens, Hope, and now another addition from SRAM I have spotted.

Ben Hildred is doing his climbing challenge, where he climbs 10k feet a day, for 100 days, and I spotted him covering up the caliper on his latest story - Strange, because I thought he just ran regular Level Ultimate Stealth's - But went through his old stories from these past climbs, and managed to spot two pics of a caliper, that size-wise looks like a level, but it differs in shape. It also seems to say "Prototype" when you zoom in on phone. Pic quality here doesnt really translate though.

This challenge is probably a very good test for most of the components on his bike, so no wonder sram wants to torture test some brakes. He's also running the yet to be released new axs dropper. 

 

From his story today

476378870 1183461489983538 398119426725913942 n

Managed to see a pic with a text that looks to say "prototype" - You can also see that the side of the caliper is flat, compared to the current level brake which has a "ridge" in the side (see pic at bottom)
475970799 643709258156092 2987493753364364513 n.jpg?VersionId=hYmJR.FkgVnQ0lDNVX4b

"SRAM" seems to be etched/laser engraved on top of the caliper

476348076 2286507415077362 9139535672293089080 n

 

Current level ultimate caliper
09d48dd9e931bdecb1f0af694b78ac37.jpg?VersionId=funDACagldc F V.3T

Seems another name has dropped into public domain. I know we've seen these brakes before but this is the first indexed result for "motive". 

Maven,,, Motive... Mineral oil... perhaps a hint? 

2
2/15/2025 2:11pm

Maven,,, Motive... Mineral oil... perhaps a hint? 

We won't have to DB8 it once it brakes cover. 

14
sprungmass
Posts
240
Joined
3/1/2023
Location
Calgary, AB, CA
2/15/2025 4:28pm

It says right on the bleed screw "SRAM MINERAL OIL ONLY" The same screw on Mavens

Untitled-1

 

image 199.png?VersionId=h062ufEYT.iYZ5YBK9YXAvnbZL
9
2/15/2025 4:34pm
sprungmass wrote:
It says right on the bleed screw "SRAM MINERAL OIL ONLY" The same screw on Mavens 

It says right on the bleed screw "SRAM MINERAL OIL ONLY" The same screw on Mavens

Untitled-1

 

image 199.png?VersionId=h062ufEYT.iYZ5YBK9YXAvnbZL

Huh. I always thought it said ‘Don’t post to Vital’.

30
Evil96
Posts
875
Joined
8/21/2014
Location
Portogruaro, VE, IT
2/15/2025 5:47pm

Those motive are a code replacement, mineral oil, should have same power as code ( meh ) and level weight ( so not that much lighter ) 

I feel going code weight and a bit more power would’ve hurt no one, especially given the Maven are not for everyone 

4
2/15/2025 6:40pm
sspomer wrote:
troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake...

troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake levers too?

Screen Shot 2025-02-15 at 8.53.54 AM

video here

https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2025-race-talk?page=18#comment-5789…

Black box shifter… transmission? Did anyone get photos of the bike?

1
dolface
Posts
1714
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
USA
2/15/2025 7:24pm
sspomer wrote:
troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake...

troy brosnan's cockpit from cannonball w/ flight attendant on fork and left hand pod for what would assumed be suspension control? what's up w/ the brake levers too?

Screen Shot 2025-02-15 at 8.53.54 AM

video here

https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2025-race-talk?page=18#comment-5789…

Black box shifter… transmission? Did anyone get photos of the bike?

Best shot of the rear mech I could find; it looks like regular Eagle to me...

image 200

Eagle cage

image 203

Transmission cage

image 202
2
dolface
Posts
1714
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
USA
2/15/2025 7:27pm

Noticed this on the top tube too, any idea what it is, KIS?

image 205

 

image 206
1
noodlenosteeze
Posts
219
Joined
1/12/2023
Location
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
2/15/2025 11:36pm
Onawalk wrote:
For those that never leave this thread.....Hoping this wasn't bitten from Wheelbased, apologies, and I'll pull it if it wasWeren't there some who were adamant that...

For those that never leave this thread.....

Hoping this wasn't bitten from Wheelbased, apologies, and I'll pull it if it was

Weren't there some who were adamant that there couldn't/wouldn't be a mechanical transmission, anywho

https://bikerumor.com/patent-patrol-sram-mechanical-transmissions-are-coming-soon-with-both-nx-and-sx-transmission-derailleurs/

https://bikerumor.com/shimano-patents-point-to-all-new-xtr-di2-xt-di2-d…

dolface wrote:
Perhaps I'm naive (or just spend too much time here) but not having an X0-level mechanical Transmission ofering seems like a miss; existing NX/SX bits are...

Perhaps I'm naive (or just spend too much time here) but not having an X0-level mechanical Transmission ofering seems like a miss; existing NX/SX bits are such poor quality that I feel like it'll turn people off (and misses the market segment that wants high-quality mechanical shifting, or pushes them to Shimano).

Mech transmission will be offered in a 1230 series and 1275 series. Essentially offering a GX equivalent and below. 

 

Shimano has been killing SRAM on the low end market. 5,6 and 7 series Shimano is so much better than NX and SX.

8
krabo83
Posts
733
Joined
12/26/2017
Location
AT
2/15/2025 11:59pm
dolface wrote:
Best shot of the rear mech I could find; it looks like regular Eagle to me...Eagle cageTransmission cage

Best shot of the rear mech I could find; it looks like regular Eagle to me...

image 200

Eagle cage

image 203

Transmission cage

image 202

that‘s a normal x01 dh 7 speed mech on troys bike, „eagle“ is only the 12 speed. he is using black box triggers for years AFAIK

3
2/16/2025 12:16am

Almost certain that Troy probably had the left hand pod to override to either trail or lock on the suspension for the opening sprint and then turned it back to auto (which defaults to open) as soon as the fire road ended. 

3
Post a reply to: MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

This forum thread has been locked.

The Latest