MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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3/22/2025 7:51am
Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50...

Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50 pounds? Very cool.

https://www.norco.com/bikes/e-mountain/e-all-mountain/sight-vlt-cx/25-sight-vlt-cx-c2/


 

 

Rejoice at a company actually putting the big battery on the bike instead of 600wh + range extender = heavier than an 800wh internal. Of all the new bikes with the new Bosch stuff (Reuglator, Vala, who else am I missing?) The Trek Rail was the only one to have the 800wh. (enough juice to actually do a "self shuttle day")

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jsray
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3/22/2025 8:13am
Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50...

Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50 pounds? Very cool.

https://www.norco.com/bikes/e-mountain/e-all-mountain/sight-vlt-cx/25-sight-vlt-cx-c2/


 

 

They had it up on their website probably 2 months ago. 

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Uncle Cliffy
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3/22/2025 8:51am
jsray wrote:

They had it up on their website probably 2 months ago. 

I’m not saying I browse the website every day to check on these things, but I don’t remember seeing full specs and models listed. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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3/22/2025 9:57am
Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50...

Looks like Norco quietly dropped the new generation Sight VLT. Probably to keep up with Transition dropping the Regulator CX recently. 800 WH battery under 50 pounds? Very cool.

https://www.norco.com/bikes/e-mountain/e-all-mountain/sight-vlt-cx/25-sight-vlt-cx-c2/


 

 

Rejoice at a company actually putting the big battery on the bike instead of 600wh + range extender = heavier than an 800wh internal. Of all...

Rejoice at a company actually putting the big battery on the bike instead of 600wh + range extender = heavier than an 800wh internal. Of all the new bikes with the new Bosch stuff (Reuglator, Vala, who else am I missing?) The Trek Rail was the only one to have the 800wh. (enough juice to actually do a "self shuttle day")

For those in Europe, the new Haibike AllMtn has an 800wh.

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alex_o
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3/22/2025 10:58am

Orbea DH on FMD team camp? 🤔

IMG 2033 0.jpeg?VersionId= 2Q8piMf17eF0lD.8AATd7
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Kizzard_Ling
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3/22/2025 12:23pm

Anyone hear anything about the new GT Force and Sensor? What are they gonna do with the frames now that they folded?? 
relabeled Jekyll and habit given the shared ownership of Cannondale/GT?

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TimBud
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3/22/2025 12:28pm

Intend being open with the carbon 

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metadave
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3/22/2025 5:53pm

Fair points

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Eae903
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3/22/2025 6:06pm
Anyone hear anything about the new GT Force and Sensor? What are they gonna do with the frames now that they folded?? relabeled Jekyll and habit given...

Anyone hear anything about the new GT Force and Sensor? What are they gonna do with the frames now that they folded?? 
relabeled Jekyll and habit given the shared ownership of Cannondale/GT?

They're currently all sold out on their b2b for the majority of all their bikes. I think they're making a comeback with a stripped back line next year but we'll just have to wait and see. 

2
Kizzard_Ling
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3/22/2025 6:43pm
Anyone hear anything about the new GT Force and Sensor? What are they gonna do with the frames now that they folded?? relabeled Jekyll and habit given...

Anyone hear anything about the new GT Force and Sensor? What are they gonna do with the frames now that they folded?? 
relabeled Jekyll and habit given the shared ownership of Cannondale/GT?

Eae903 wrote:
They're currently all sold out on their b2b for the majority of all their bikes. I think they're making a comeback with a stripped back line...

They're currently all sold out on their b2b for the majority of all their bikes. I think they're making a comeback with a stripped back line next year but we'll just have to wait and see. 

I may ir may not have seen a something from someone, somewhere somehow with renders of the new Force and Sensor about 2 weeks before GT folded, and if the internet has taught me something in all its years is that if there’s a render, then somewhere there is a mold…

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monarchmason
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3/22/2025 11:16pm
bikelurker wrote:
MTB spoke drilling holes and innovation 🙃I'm gonna keep ex471-ing until DT stops production, it is the tried an true, gold standar for a reason. Assymetrical...

MTB spoke drilling holes and innovation 🙃

I'm gonna keep ex471-ing until DT stops production, it is the tried an true, gold standar for a reason. Assymetrical, 4d whatever ads no value. They are even the perfect width for gravity tires. Or are they?

Okay the width thing. Never understood why rim widths past 27mm are advertised as good or better? They just feel like they have my resistance when climbing with no added benefit of actual grip. Like Im puzzled that companies like DT push the idea of needing a 30mm+ wide rim/wheel when their pro racers are running EX471s which I think is 25mm if Im not mistaken. Is it a durability warranty work around? 

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3
3/22/2025 11:19pm

More initial grip Is a benefit of wide rims... suits alot of pinky riders because they ride upright and dont lean the bike lol

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Primoz
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3/23/2025 12:13am

FWIW, Jack Moir is running EX1700 rims (laced to 240 hubs). If there's nothing shady going on (rebranded 471s for the sake of looks), he's running 30 mm rims. 

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3/23/2025 12:48am
Primoz wrote:
FWIW, Jack Moir is running EX1700 rims (laced to 240 hubs). If there's nothing shady going on (rebranded 471s for the sake of looks), he's running...

FWIW, Jack Moir is running EX1700 rims (laced to 240 hubs). If there's nothing shady going on (rebranded 471s for the sake of looks), he's running 30 mm rims. 

Not to mention all the non DT pros are using 30mm rims, Enve, crank brothers, Reserve etc are all 30mm internal. 

I do think 25-28mm is better, but only a handful of racers have access to them as most are using sponsors carbon rims that are 30mm for consumers.

Who is still run 471's other than specialized gravity? 

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Primoz
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3/23/2025 12:56am

Troy Brosnan does I think. 

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3/23/2025 1:19am
image 238

 

2026  Fox 36SL confirmed?

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3/23/2025 2:34am
Primoz wrote:

Troy Brosnan does I think. 

Yeah there is a particular Australian mechanic who gets a lot of people on the 471 DT revolution build. Funny it's still so popular after 8 years of it. 

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krabo83
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3/23/2025 3:39am Edited Date/Time 3/23/2025 3:41am
Primoz wrote:
FWIW, Jack Moir is running EX1700 rims (laced to 240 hubs). If there's nothing shady going on (rebranded 471s for the sake of looks), he's running...

FWIW, Jack Moir is running EX1700 rims (laced to 240 hubs). If there's nothing shady going on (rebranded 471s for the sake of looks), he's running 30 mm rims. 

ex1700 uses the ex511 rims which is the 30mm counterpart to ex471s (25mm). i think that slimmer rims is more of a DH thing because of higher speeds and lean angles.

 

edit: but please let‘s keep it tech rumors in here and not start another off topic convo!

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3/23/2025 7:19am
 2026  Fox 36SL confirmed?
image 238

 

2026  Fox 36SL confirmed?

36 with 20mm ta? Could it be the usd fork that we saw in this thread?

IMG 4928
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bikelurker
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3/23/2025 8:15am
 2026  Fox 36SL confirmed?
image 238

 

2026  Fox 36SL confirmed?

36 with 20mm ta? Could it be the usd fork that we saw in this thread?

36 with 20mm ta? Could it be the usd fork that we saw in this thread?

IMG 4928

No, I am sure that is a tech reference to the old, non-boost 36 models, the ones with pinch-bolt dropouts

5
nskerb
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3/23/2025 10:39am
Hold on, we are discussing if a 2mm difference in rim width is better or worse?
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Primoz
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3/23/2025 11:31am

No, a 5 mm difference.

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monarchmason
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3/23/2025 1:39pm
nskerb wrote:
Hold on, we are discussing if a 2mm difference in rim width is better or worse?

Yeah as Primoz said 5mm. I can ride a 30mm rim and be fine. Just noticed the difference between that and a 24/25 mm rim. But I cant see any reason why youd want to go beyond 30mm personally. Just curious what you regulars also thought is all since rims were on topic a little. 

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Onawalk
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3/23/2025 4:10pm
nskerb wrote:
Hold on, we are discussing if a 2mm difference in rim width is better or worse?
Yeah as Primoz said 5mm. I can ride a 30mm rim and be fine. Just noticed the difference between that and a 24/25 mm rim. But...

Yeah as Primoz said 5mm. I can ride a 30mm rim and be fine. Just noticed the difference between that and a 24/25 mm rim. But I cant see any reason why youd want to go beyond 30mm personally. Just curious what you regulars also thought is all since rims were on topic a little. 

Id put 6 of your watery american beers on you not being able to notice the difference between a 25mm or 30mm wide rim in a blind test.

Ill provide all thats required, you just need to show up and prove me wrong to win your 6-pack (my comment is meant as sarcasm, I mean no offence, other than to try and add a little levity)

As a reminder to all of us,

What the pros do, and use, has little to no bearing on what works in the real world of owner maintained, and hack ridden bikes at half the speed and aggression of those that feed themselves from the spoils of their victories. 

 To add to that, all of us are allowed to ride, like, covet, dream about, whatever the hell we want, and it DOES NOT make it better than what someone else likes, rides, covets, dreams about, Fair?

Its adults riding bicycles in the woods for recreation, cheese and crackers....

 

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boozed
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3/23/2025 4:18pm
Onawalk wrote:
Id put 6 of your watery american beers on you not being able to notice the difference between a 25mm or 30mm wide rim in a...

Id put 6 of your watery american beers on you not being able to notice the difference between a 25mm or 30mm wide rim in a blind test.

Ill provide all thats required, you just need to show up and prove me wrong to win your 6-pack (my comment is meant as sarcasm, I mean no offence, other than to try and add a little levity)

As a reminder to all of us,

What the pros do, and use, has little to no bearing on what works in the real world of owner maintained, and hack ridden bikes at half the speed and aggression of those that feed themselves from the spoils of their victories. 

 To add to that, all of us are allowed to ride, like, covet, dream about, whatever the hell we want, and it DOES NOT make it better than what someone else likes, rides, covets, dreams about, Fair?

Its adults riding bicycles in the woods for recreation, cheese and crackers....

 

I switched from 30 mm OEM Syncros rims to 35 mm WTB KOM Tough rims on my trail bike thanks to a good deal from CRC one day.  I don't know whether it's the rims themselves or the extra width (most likely both) but they're much less susceptible to creases.  Now the tyre sustains damage when I hit things I shouldn't, rather than the rim.  I imagine the extra width, combined with tyres designed for the extra width, puts more of the sidewall in the way when the tyre compresses.

As for differences in feel, like you say, I'm aware that they're significantly stiffer but how I feel probably changes more day to day...

2
metadave
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3/23/2025 4:31pm

The orbea almost looks too low for a regular 4-bar layout, even with a trunnion. Unless the rocker is Intense rocker long. Thoughts?

1000000641
5
3/23/2025 6:09pm

For what it's worth it looks like Richie Rude runs EX1700 on his enduro bike and the FR1500s on his downhill bike, both are 30 mm in width, which I guess comes down to additional stiffness. I'm sure a guy like him could feel the difference between them, but unlikely that many of us can. These top guys are also playing around with spoke tension to add/remove compliance - also something many of us will never do. 

As an aside, you also have some who will run a wider EX511 up front and a narrower EX471 in the back. I've also came across this a few times with the original WA1's, with a 30 mm Union up front and a 27 mm faction out back. I guess that would be to provide theoretically more grip with wide front tires. 

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seanfisseli
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3/23/2025 10:12pm
nskerb wrote:
Hold on, we are discussing if a 2mm difference in rim width is better or worse?

20% difference is pretty big

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