MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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4/8/2025 2:34pm
@CascadeComponents  Hey, I get access to a university machine shop from September and I'm interested in making something similar to that rear end for either my...

@CascadeComponents  Hey, I get access to a university machine shop from September and I'm interested in making something similar to that rear end for either my Vitus sommet or a custom bike I'm working on. Is there any way to get in touch?

Check your messages. Happy to answer any questions.

31
Slavid666
Posts
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Location
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
4/8/2025 2:39pm
Finkill wrote:
Speeding cars are normally caught by speed cameras or cops with radar guns, doubt that there are going to be cops on trails checking the bikes...

Speeding cars are normally caught by speed cameras or cops with radar guns, doubt that there are going to be cops on trails checking the bikes. The fact that bikes have speed restriction and cars do not is a puzzle in this day and age. 

There have been for years in the certain areas of the Bay Area. 20MPH speed limits, for all bikes, are enforced. 

4
jonkranked
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Location
Norristown, PA, USA
4/8/2025 2:43pm
sspomer wrote:

does fahkeet (or whoever came up with crab link...sorry, i forget), get a free forbidden for doing their marketing for them?

dolface wrote:

OK, I looked it up and yeah @FaahkEet originated it and @nskerb drove it home: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2020-MTB-Tech-rumors-and-inno…

the real question is why is there no vital crab-link shirt yet

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4/8/2025 2:48pm
jsray wrote:
The capable pedal assisted speed of an e-bike on a trail is not doing nearly as much damage to the trail as riders with poor braking...

The capable pedal assisted speed of an e-bike on a trail is not doing nearly as much damage to the trail as riders with poor braking skills. Or the group ride that's stomping around the sides of the trail to get videos, making the trail more susceptible to erosion. It's 3mph. I can pee 3mph. I've also had a head on collision requiring facial reconstruction surgery. 3mph wouldn't have made my face any less jacked up. 

The concern isn't erosion, its increased negative interaction with hikers, equestrians, etc, and the potential that someone gets caught with a class 3 ebike where only class 1 ebikes are permitted, and the authorities just decide to ban all ebikes (or mountain bikes in general) in that area. 

I have yet to see or hear of this actually happening. 

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ex-ballz
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Ouagadougou, EH
4/8/2025 2:49pm
ex-ballz wrote:

Depends. Do you often take the cars on mixed use trails with hikers, dogs and slower cyclists?

TimBud wrote:

Isn’t that just like any town/city centre… plenty of mixed use there… even more so

It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the sidewalks.

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1
seanfisseli
Posts
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Santa Cruz, CA, USA
4/8/2025 3:43pm
ex-ballz wrote:

Depends. Do you often take the cars on mixed use trails with hikers, dogs and slower cyclists?

TimBud wrote:

Isn’t that just like any town/city centre… plenty of mixed use there… even more so

ex-ballz wrote:
It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the...

It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the sidewalks.

I think mtb riders are finally experiencing what hikers have felt since we started riding their trails. Having a bike pass you at 15mph when you walking or stopped on the trail isn’t all that different from being on an analog and having an eeb pass at 20. Now the eebs are pissed because Expensive Eebs will pass them at 28? Welcome to the club. 

Can we all agree that horses are way worse than class 3 eebs? I’d love for us to all rally around a common cause rather than let the man divide and conquer us 

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2
sspomer
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Boise, ID, USA
Fantasy
4/8/2025 3:49pm

did neko's floating brake arm video ever get posted? if not, here it is

17
chriskief
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New York, NY, USA
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4/8/2025 5:12pm
sspomer wrote:
did neko's floating brake arm video ever get posted? if not, here it is

did neko's floating brake arm video ever get posted? if not, here it is

More Neko...

3
sspomer
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Boise, ID, USA
Fantasy
4/8/2025 5:50pm
chriskief wrote:

More Neko...

was there. 1. that bike park is so freaking sick (and the moody/wet conditions were all-time). 2. asa riding in person is a sight to behold.

14
monarchmason
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Nevada City, CA, USA
4/8/2025 6:19pm Edited Date/Time 4/8/2025 6:19pm
sspomer wrote:

does fahkeet (or whoever came up with crab link...sorry, i forget), get a free forbidden for doing their marketing for them?

dolface wrote:

OK, I looked it up and yeah @FaahkEet originated it and @nskerb drove it home: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2020-MTB-Tech-rumors-and-inno…

It makes me so happy I lost my marbles and started ranting about 4Bar bikes. I mean crab bikes. I always wondered when a company would embrace this new way

1
boozed
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AU
4/8/2025 8:06pm
sspomer wrote:

does fahkeet (or whoever came up with crab link...sorry, i forget), get a free forbidden for doing their marketing for them?

dolface wrote:

OK, I looked it up and yeah @FaahkEet originated it and @nskerb drove it home: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2020-MTB-Tech-rumors-and-inno…

It makes me so happy I lost my marbles and started ranting about 4Bar bikes. I mean crab bikes. I always wondered when a company would...

It makes me so happy I lost my marbles and started ranting about 4Bar bikes. I mean crab bikes. I always wondered when a company would embrace this new way

Now all it needs is an endorsement from Horst Leitner himself.

4
Primoz
Posts
4677
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8/1/2009
Location
SI
4/8/2025 9:11pm
29 wrote:

New Commencal Meta HT. Kinda boring in comparison to all the Levo attention, but looks like new brake rotors from sram?

Very similar to the old G2s? 

brash
Posts
960
Joined
4/24/2019
Location
AU
4/8/2025 10:41pm

Holy shit it's a big day for tech innovation (well sort of)

The crab link ad bought a smile to my face, I've been having a rough go lately and it lifted my spirits somewhat.

 

25
TimBud
Posts
544
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Location
GB
4/9/2025 2:03am
ex-ballz wrote:
It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the...

It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the sidewalks.

Hikers/walkers/runners generally don't expect anyone else to be on the trail when they are, regardless of speed.

Runners in particular can get incredibly upset if they have to adjust their pace for whatever reason.

 

Whenever I'm on my bike and I meet other users (except bikes Wink ), I always slow down and try to be courteous. Even then the amount of people on foot that are completely oblivious to their surroundings never ceases to amaze me

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1
bikelurker
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Bilbao, Vizcaya, ES
4/9/2025 3:05am Edited Date/Time 4/9/2025 3:59am

MTB philosophical matters and innovation.

People is going to keep behaving like people, but as a society we already advanced enough to reduce the effect some of the most elemental laws of nature can enforce on us in order to keep the fool everybody has inside, under check.

2
TannerVal
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Location
Hampton, NH, USA
4/9/2025 7:31am
TimBud wrote:

Isn’t that just like any town/city centre… plenty of mixed use there… even more so

ex-ballz wrote:
It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the...

It isn't. Hikers aren't expecting bikes to be passing them uphill at almost 30MPH just like pedestrians aren't expecting cars to be passing them on the sidewalks.

I think mtb riders are finally experiencing what hikers have felt since we started riding their trails. Having a bike pass you at 15mph when you...

I think mtb riders are finally experiencing what hikers have felt since we started riding their trails. Having a bike pass you at 15mph when you walking or stopped on the trail isn’t all that different from being on an analog and having an eeb pass at 20. Now the eebs are pissed because Expensive Eebs will pass them at 28? Welcome to the club. 

Can we all agree that horses are way worse than class 3 eebs? I’d love for us to all rally around a common cause rather than let the man divide and conquer us 

+1 on the horse issue. They’re literally the single most destructive/disruptive user group I can think of (post holing and eroding everything they touch, shitting everywhere, easily scared, etc.) but they get minimal flack as far as I know because the user group is mainly rich old heads that have more influence over public land use in most places.

I also think a lot of these issues would be alleviated if local govt/land managers would allow/invest in more mtb specific trails and infrastructure. You look at areas like Bentonville Arkansas, Knoxville, TN and lots of other southern/southeastern cities where mtb is seen as an investment and there is much less tension/dislike between user groups because they have their own dedicated trails. Unfortunately in areas where they are shared, there will always be vocal hikers that spaz when they see a mountain biker riding at any speed because it makes them uncomfortable. 

More trails, more common sense, and less anger would go a long way.

20
FaahkEet
Posts
100
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Location
Falls Church, VA, USA
4/9/2025 8:55am
TannerVal wrote:
+1 on the horse issue. They’re literally the single most destructive/disruptive user group I can think of (post holing and eroding everything they touch, shitting everywhere...

+1 on the horse issue. They’re literally the single most destructive/disruptive user group I can think of (post holing and eroding everything they touch, shitting everywhere, easily scared, etc.) but they get minimal flack as far as I know because the user group is mainly rich old heads that have more influence over public land use in most places.

I also think a lot of these issues would be alleviated if local govt/land managers would allow/invest in more mtb specific trails and infrastructure. You look at areas like Bentonville Arkansas, Knoxville, TN and lots of other southern/southeastern cities where mtb is seen as an investment and there is much less tension/dislike between user groups because they have their own dedicated trails. Unfortunately in areas where they are shared, there will always be vocal hikers that spaz when they see a mountain biker riding at any speed because it makes them uncomfortable. 

More trails, more common sense, and less anger would go a long way.

Unfortunately hikers and walkers are oblivious to signage or restrictions. They think they can amble wherever they please.

Have a dedicated mtb trail system with restricted/gated entrance that says bikes only. There's frequently walkers/hikers strolling on it. Especially post covid. Another trail has marked exit that says no uphill, and do not enter because it's a dedicated fast "DH" with jumps on it and still catch walkers/hikers wandering up it. 

5
whitesq
Posts
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Location
FC, CO, USA
4/9/2025 9:01am
sspomer wrote:
gonna play devil's advocate x1000 here about levo speeds with the explicit mention that i don't care if anyone anywhere buys one, i would NEVER...

gonna play devil's advocate x1000 here about levo speeds with the explicit mention that i don't care if anyone anywhere buys one, i would NEVER buy one (who has nearly 5 figures to spend on a bicycle with or without a motor???), i'm painfully aware of the wrench this class 3 stuff throws into trail advocacy, i fully expect 87.69% of levo owners to be rallying illegally in class 3 and i fully expect downvotes to go skyhigh, but...

i own a toyota yaris (maybe 97mph top speed). a mid-life-crisis guy in a neighborhood down the way owns a ferrari (maybe 197mph top speed). we both drive on the same streets with speed limits considerably lower than the top speeds of our vehicles. if we get caught going over the speed limit, we risk citation.  is LevoGate (TM) any different?

Devil's advocate x1001, when e-mountain bikes started getting better ('17-'19ish) I thought it might be cool to be able to ride one to work, then after work, ride to the trails and back home (10-15 miles singletrack & 15-20 miles flat paved trails). 

Then I rode a class 1 ebike and realized the power basically cuts off just below the cruising speed on flat paved commuter trails. So at that point you're just commuting on a 50lb pedal bike with terrible rolling tires.

A class 3 bike you can commute to the trails with changes that equation. 

7
5
4/9/2025 9:07am

Looks like we're deviating from Tech Rumours again.... 🤡

13
1
yzedf
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Hebron, CT, USA
Fantasy
4/9/2025 9:16am
TimBud wrote:
Hikers/walkers/runners generally don't expect anyone else to be on the trail when they are, regardless of speed.Runners in particular can get incredibly upset if they have...

Hikers/walkers/runners generally don't expect anyone else to be on the trail when they are, regardless of speed.

Runners in particular can get incredibly upset if they have to adjust their pace for whatever reason.

 

Whenever I'm on my bike and I meet other users (except bikes Wink ), I always slow down and try to be courteous. Even then the amount of people on foot that are completely oblivious to their surroundings never ceases to amaze me

This 100%

A few years ago (2017 or 18) when Sunday River in Maine was still a bike park in the summer I had to explain to a lady and her kids that she wasn’t on a hiking trail, but rather a dh tech trail that’s exclusively for bikes, and had to give the lesson on what the trail signs mean. Near the top of the mountain. That they used the ski lift to get to the top of. You just can’t fix stupid. 

8
1
4/9/2025 9:17am

Theres this dude on the Wasatch Crest, a trail runner, typically up there before sunrise. White guy with dreads. He will not move for mountain bikes, if you try and move and aren't quick enough he will attempt to shoulder check you as hard as he can (luckily trail runners struggle to get their BMI above 20), refuses to make eye contact, etc. 

Hikers constantly go up the Bobsled trail in SLC. They put traps and destroy features. 

The Suncrest official, dedicated, signs up everywhere, DH trails still get hikers on them. 

Motos do more damage than horses, and all the best trails around me allow motos. 

I and most the people I know on mountain bikes regularly poach "hiking only" trails. 

Ironically, equestrians follow the law the strictest because they have the highest cost for non-compliance. 

I guess my point is public land access is always going to be a problem. Look up "tragedy of the commons". Dedicated use trails probably helps, but isn't going to solve the issue and every new, dedicated mountain bike trail thats sanctioned sucks hard (nothing but flow trails or  WoW). None of us want a police state on the trails either. The only real solution is to be as polite as possible to others on the trail, and shame those mountain bikers who aren't. 

7
bermed
Posts
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Location
Boston, MA, USA
4/9/2025 9:40am

Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if a rider puts it in Class 3 mode, they will need to substantially increase their output. I'm guessing most ppl who actually purchase ebikes won't be able to accomplish this.

Can anyone confirm?

1
2
sethimus
Posts
954
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9/20/2014
Location
CH
4/9/2025 11:08am
bermed wrote:
Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if...

Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if a rider puts it in Class 3 mode, they will need to substantially increase their output. I'm guessing most ppl who actually purchase ebikes won't be able to accomplish this.

Can anyone confirm?

lol no, learn the difference between nominal and peak power

13
bermed
Posts
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Location
Boston, MA, USA
4/9/2025 11:52am
bermed wrote:
Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if...

Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if a rider puts it in Class 3 mode, they will need to substantially increase their output. I'm guessing most ppl who actually purchase ebikes won't be able to accomplish this.

Can anyone confirm?

sethimus wrote:

lol no, learn the difference between nominal and peak power

Someone tell Specialized what they're briefing riders and marketing then Screenshot 2025-04-09 at 11.51.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=gfQEeO6OC27nJ532aG0

15
Fox
Posts
131
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Location
Durango, CO, USA
4/9/2025 6:57pm

Most Levo riders I know already have the speed limiter removed thanks to the "dongle."  

1
monarchmason
Posts
325
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Location
Nevada City, CA, USA
4/9/2025 7:05pm
Fox wrote:

Most Levo riders I know already have the speed limiter removed thanks to the "dongle."  

Haha… dongle…

1
Onawalk
Posts
344
Joined
7/5/2021
Location
CA
4/9/2025 8:48pm
bermed wrote:
Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if...

Actual tech rumor: when the Specialized motor is in Class 3 mode, the peak power is 1/3 of what it is in Class 1. So if a rider puts it in Class 3 mode, they will need to substantially increase their output. I'm guessing most ppl who actually purchase ebikes won't be able to accomplish this.

Can anyone confirm?

sethimus wrote:

lol no, learn the difference between nominal and peak power

Man, thats a $hit response,

If youve got some knowledge, help the group out, especially if you know what youre talking about.  If not, no need to respond at all.  We are all here in this forum to learn and embrace new things.  So go ahead and enlighten the group...

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1
Outlawed
Posts
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Vancouver Island, BC, CA
Fantasy
4/9/2025 9:43pm
tarekfahmy wrote:
Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

image 270

The biggest surprise to me is that there has been no spyshots posted (atleast that I have come across). Granted I dont know if there were any test mules outside of Vancouver Island.

4/9/2025 10:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/9/2025 10:56pm
tarekfahmy wrote:
Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

image 270

Outlawed wrote:
The biggest surprise to me is that there has been no spyshots posted (atleast that I have come across). Granted I dont know if there were...

The biggest surprise to me is that there has been no spyshots posted (atleast that I have come across). Granted I dont know if there were any test mules outside of Vancouver Island.

IMG 0005 0

 


IMG 0004 0.jpeg?VersionId=MX3B.M pFUWst8Ooa

11
4/9/2025 11:02pm
tarekfahmy wrote:
Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

Forbidden went full gas on the crab link 

image 270

Outlawed wrote:
The biggest surprise to me is that there has been no spyshots posted (atleast that I have come across). Granted I dont know if there were...

The biggest surprise to me is that there has been no spyshots posted (atleast that I have come across). Granted I dont know if there were any test mules outside of Vancouver Island.

 
IMG 0005 0

 


IMG 0004 0.jpeg?VersionId=MX3B.M pFUWst8Ooa

Me likely! Looks like a high-pivot version of the Orbea Wild! Smile

3
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