MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

Related:
Primoz
Posts
4526
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
5/9/2025 11:10pm

Oooh sweet Leone! 

Uncle Cliffy
Posts
370
Joined
3/11/2010
Location
Medford, OR US
5/9/2025 11:38pm

Can we please keep it to "MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation" please

IMG 0446.jpeg?VersionId=fVloZXP6tpVOr8aro2aQ3I7iKHKJZI8
10
5
jofish
Posts
262
Joined
8/24/2009
Location
GB
5/10/2025 4:15am

What’s the latest on next gen shimano? I know we’ve seen a few shots of XTR and a couple of prototype saint derailleurs at world cups but apart from that information seems pretty thin.

2
boozed
Posts
647
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
AU
5/10/2025 4:26am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2025 5:19am
Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is...

Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is riding it at a bike park in one of their new promo vids. I hope all you class 3 haters are wearing your diapers because you are about to poop yourself:

Funnily enough, Pinkbike just posted this and then very quickly deleted it again.  Only a handful of people had time to share their thoughts and the comments rightly weren't complimentary.

Bonnell
7
monarchmason
Posts
286
Joined
5/24/2022
Location
Nevada City, CA US
5/10/2025 9:13am Edited Date/Time 5/10/2025 9:16am
Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is...

Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is riding it at a bike park in one of their new promo vids. I hope all you class 3 haters are wearing your diapers because you are about to poop yourself:

Id rather read through 20 pages of brake derailment in this forum than watch that whole video at full volume. 

18
5/10/2025 10:57am
Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is...

Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is riding it at a bike park in one of their new promo vids. I hope all you class 3 haters are wearing your diapers because you are about to poop yourself:

FFS. You know how there's those grumpy commenters on the other site that call every E-Bike a motorbike or moped? This is that, and I hate it. The fun of an E-Bike is that it takes a lot of the effort out of pedalling, but it still feels like youre riding a mountain bike. This is a literal motorbike conversion, but with MTB geo. Gross.

15
4
seanfisseli
Posts
562
Joined
4/16/2024
Location
Santa Cruz, CA US
5/10/2025 11:26am
Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is...

Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is riding it at a bike park in one of their new promo vids. I hope all you class 3 haters are wearing your diapers because you are about to poop yourself:

FFS. You know how there's those grumpy commenters on the other site that call every E-Bike a motorbike or moped? This is that, and I hate...

FFS. You know how there's those grumpy commenters on the other site that call every E-Bike a motorbike or moped? This is that, and I hate it. The fun of an E-Bike is that it takes a lot of the effort out of pedalling, but it still feels like youre riding a mountain bike. This is a literal motorbike conversion, but with MTB geo. Gross.

thats why i wanted to share it here. there is a lot of confusion about ebikes being motorcycles and its like, guys, when they have throttles youll be wishing for the days when class 3 was a controversy. its all about perspective and understanding that assisted pedaling is nothing to cry about. its this pit bike whining up the trails that we should be pissed about.

7
3
seanfisseli
Posts
562
Joined
4/16/2024
Location
Santa Cruz, CA US
5/10/2025 11:28am
Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is...

Haven't seen the new Bonnell brought up. I wouldn't post anything about it here except, and I can't believe I am typing this, Sam Hill is riding it at a bike park in one of their new promo vids. I hope all you class 3 haters are wearing your diapers because you are about to poop yourself:

boozed wrote:
Funnily enough, Pinkbike just posted this and then very quickly deleted it again.  Only a handful of people had time to share their thoughts and the...

Funnily enough, Pinkbike just posted this and then very quickly deleted it again.  Only a handful of people had time to share their thoughts and the comments rightly weren't complimentary.

Bonnell

i have no skin in this game, I am analog only, but I am really curious to see how the wider mtb world deals with these bikes. people are up in arms about 1000w pedal bikes and Bonnell is literally wide-open-throttling past all of them. what will pinkbikes stance be? can mtb outlets ignore at least talking about the fact that sam hill is piloting one up bike park trails???

2
5/10/2025 11:35am
i have no skin in this game, I am analog only, but I am really curious to see how the wider mtb world deals with these...

i have no skin in this game, I am analog only, but I am really curious to see how the wider mtb world deals with these bikes. people are up in arms about 1000w pedal bikes and Bonnell is literally wide-open-throttling past all of them. what will pinkbikes stance be? can mtb outlets ignore at least talking about the fact that sam hill is piloting one up bike park trails???

I comment on the other site, but I draw the line at pedal assist. Once you're introducing a throttle it stops being an E-MTB and starts being a motorbike with MTB geo. 

18
2
5/10/2025 2:06pm

Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.
Probably was the only thing holding me back from buying a YT, either to big or to small.

8
1
boozed
Posts
647
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
AU
5/10/2025 7:39pm
Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.Probably was the...

Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.
Probably was the only thing holding me back from buying a YT, either to big or to small.

Did the rumour mention anything about the Thirstmaster?

2
1
5/11/2025 2:18am

Every 18 months I poke CC about a steel Ewing... tooling is the big issue.

Shinook wrote:
Translated, this likely means ORA doesn't want to do it and they probably can't find financial justification to work it out. I gather ORA is somewhat...

Translated, this likely means ORA doesn't want to do it and they probably can't find financial justification to work it out. I gather ORA is somewhat selective on what they do and Cane Creek isn't going to do this themselves. The typical market for eeWings probably wouldn't buy into them either and I'm not certain (but could be wrong) they could do it cheap enough over what they are already doing with titanium. 

If you want something like this, my assumption would be Starling would be your best bet. They seem more likely to do stuff like this with higher emphasis on steel, but they'd similarly use ORA and probably be told the same answer. Personally I'd love it if they did.

I'd imagine tooling cost rather than feasibility is the main hurdle, no? 

2
5/11/2025 11:47am

I don’t know anything about sizing or the thirstmaster. But obviously it’s time to bring an update. Texi is on a prototype, and I’m very certain their product development guy, Erick Irmsch is one riding too if I’m not mistaken. 
I don’t think there will be a flip chip for mullet conversion, it’ll still be a different frame (I really hope I’m wrong on this one, or that they change their mind if I’m right). The seat stay is different on the mullet versions (mullet Jeffsy and Capra). There will be some feature in the head tube, that thing is big. 
What’s most impressive though, Moir just raced the current version to #4 in Finale. The Capra is still a fast bike - and obviously Jack is an animal. Unfortunately Texi had a big mechanical on the first stage. With that being said, the new Capra won’t be slower. 

2
1
Digit Bikes
Posts
180
Joined
9/22/2021
Location
Irvine, CA US
5/11/2025 6:33pm

Every 18 months I poke CC about a steel Ewing... tooling is the big issue.

Shinook wrote:
Translated, this likely means ORA doesn't want to do it and they probably can't find financial justification to work it out. I gather ORA is somewhat...

Translated, this likely means ORA doesn't want to do it and they probably can't find financial justification to work it out. I gather ORA is somewhat selective on what they do and Cane Creek isn't going to do this themselves. The typical market for eeWings probably wouldn't buy into them either and I'm not certain (but could be wrong) they could do it cheap enough over what they are already doing with titanium. 

If you want something like this, my assumption would be Starling would be your best bet. They seem more likely to do stuff like this with higher emphasis on steel, but they'd similarly use ORA and probably be told the same answer. Personally I'd love it if they did.

I'd imagine tooling cost rather than feasibility is the main hurdle, no? 

IIRC corrosion resistance and plating were expensive challenges that stopped production of the steel SweetWings. The steel cranks were over 150g heavier than ti.

So, if labor costs are similar, with an increased cost for plating, and a saving for the steel material vs titanium, perhaps a steel version would cost almost the same as Ti eeWings but weight more than SLX. 

I imagine much if not all of the tooling for Ti could be used in fabricating steel. 

9
D(C)
Posts
48
Joined
5/15/2013
Location
CA
5/12/2025 4:22am

There are a few photos from the Enduro World Cup of people (e.g. Alex Rudeau) riding what looks like the new 36. Is that actually a new 38 with 36 stickers on it?

1
DylanJM
Posts
38
Joined
7/2/2024
Location
Frederiksberg DK
5/12/2025 4:45am
D(C) wrote:
There are a few photos from the Enduro World Cup of people (e.g. Alex Rudeau) riding what looks like the new 36. Is that actually a...

There are a few photos from the Enduro World Cup of people (e.g. Alex Rudeau) riding what looks like the new 36. Is that actually a new 38 with 36 stickers on it?

I imagine it is the 36. I feel we would have seen a new 38 when they were launching everything else. 

1
dolface
Posts
1660
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
5/12/2025 7:26am

Initial impressions of the Wheeltop mech from Dave Rome of Escape Collective

image 292
3
1
Shinook
Posts
138
Joined
12/29/2015
Location
Asheville, NC US
5/12/2025 7:37am
IIRC corrosion resistance and plating were expensive challenges that stopped production of the steel SweetWings. The steel cranks were over 150g heavier than ti.So, if labor...

IIRC corrosion resistance and plating were expensive challenges that stopped production of the steel SweetWings. The steel cranks were over 150g heavier than ti.

So, if labor costs are similar, with an increased cost for plating, and a saving for the steel material vs titanium, perhaps a steel version would cost almost the same as Ti eeWings but weight more than SLX. 

I imagine much if not all of the tooling for Ti could be used in fabricating steel. 

That's kinda what I was getting at, but you said it better than I did. 

I'd gather the labor and tooling costs would be the same, just whatever difference in cost of materials, which means they might be a bit cheaper - but not enough for people to buy them over ti. It seems like a cool idea in theory, but in practice you are narrowing an already narrow market for expensive cranks down to a point where the price savings isn't enough to appeal to a wider audience and people would rather pay for the higher end, ligher version because the cost is so close. If they cost $900 vs the $1200 for titanium, I'm not sure many people would buy them, in other words. 

Those Cyber Crank ORs posted above are sweet though. I wish I could run eeWings but my BLE (only bike atm) is limited to a 24mm spindle, so they are out and I had to sell the ones I had. It's easy (and reasonable IMO) to scoff at the price - but I bought all mine on sale for like 600-700 USD, which is about as much as I paid for a set of SRAM cranks that lasted a month and they refused to warranty when the threads failed. The Cyber Cranks look sweet, but they have a weight and riding use limit (XC only, no DH), which gives me some hesitation. They'd look sweet on the BLE and match the aesthetic, but the Middleburns on there do too...Either way, I'd love steel cranks like those but it doesn't seem effective in large quantities for a brand like CC

1
Poleczechy
Posts
243
Joined
4/20/2018
Location
Hartsel, CO US
5/12/2025 7:41am
Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.Probably was the...

Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.
Probably was the only thing holding me back from buying a YT, either to big or to small.

A lot of bikes suffer from this, another one that comes to mind is the Cannondale Jekyll, reach on a L is 475 and XL is 510, I'm just under 6'2" and had an XL V1 Sentinel that was 500mm and that felt too long for me. Currently on a S3 Privateer 161 that is 490 and get along very well with that length, while my L REEB SST is 480 and definitely wouldn't want to go any shorter than that. 

2
monarchmason
Posts
286
Joined
5/24/2022
Location
Nevada City, CA US
5/12/2025 9:25am
Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.Probably was the...

Heavy rumours the new Capra will get an 'extension' apparently the new large will basically be in the middle of current large/XL size wise.
Probably was the only thing holding me back from buying a YT, either to big or to small.

YT needing those frame enlargement pills.

2
katana
Posts
14
Joined
4/10/2020
Location
IT
5/12/2025 10:06am
D(C) wrote:
There are a few photos from the Enduro World Cup of people (e.g. Alex Rudeau) riding what looks like the new 36. Is that actually a...

There are a few photos from the Enduro World Cup of people (e.g. Alex Rudeau) riding what looks like the new 36. Is that actually a new 38 with 36 stickers on it?

Also doing the bike check Friday on the 38 USD but racing with the 36. 🤔

9
ejj
Posts
15
Joined
3/12/2021
Location
Minneapolis, MN US
5/12/2025 10:47am Edited Date/Time 5/12/2025 10:48am
jofish wrote:
What’s the latest on next gen shimano? I know we’ve seen a few shots of XTR and a couple of prototype saint derailleurs at world cups...

What’s the latest on next gen shimano? I know we’ve seen a few shots of XTR and a couple of prototype saint derailleurs at world cups but apart from that information seems pretty thin.

Talked to a Shimano Rep this weekend--he made vague promises about new electric XT and XTR.  He said it would be a 2026 product.  He mentioned "new to the market features," implying that it would excite me.

I have no guesses at the previously unimagined features. I do suspect that we will see a formal announcement this summer, and some bikes with OEM e-XT and e-XTR (or whatever they call it) announced in the fall when people start rolling out the 2026 kits. There was no mention of SLX.

7
5/12/2025 10:57am Edited Date/Time 5/12/2025 10:59am

Pembree dropper on the way?

Screenshot 20250512 185614 Instagram.jpg?VersionId=3nAYfPf74.3V1
2
5/12/2025 11:20am
Pembree dropper on the way?

Pembree dropper on the way?

Screenshot 20250512 185614 Instagram.jpg?VersionId=3nAYfPf74.3V1

Gunna guess bars.
From their website:
image 293.png?VersionId=v2P

11
Evil96
Posts
802
Joined
8/21/2014
Location
Portogruaro, VE IT
5/13/2025 12:51am

I will call this, the Tyee that should've been, no cable tourism bullshit, no caliper inside the seatstay bullshit, bravo Propain, seriously considering this one as my next bike unless Evil drops something better ( for me )Schermata 2025-05-13 alle 09.48.54 0.png?VersionId=lrn

Schermata 2025-05-13 alle 09.49.08
13
2
moust
Posts
6
Joined
2/17/2025
Location
Innsbruck AT
5/13/2025 2:43am

Elena Conolly on what appears to be a new Habit. In Frame Storage and probably a bit more Travel 160f/150r i guess

new habit.PNG?VersionId=Kz8iZMPZeRz27 .s.lYyCTM y

 

16
5/13/2025 6:35am

Haibike hinting at their next bike. The silhouette implies it's a Pinion MGU.1000027319 0

7
hairyyy
Posts
44
Joined
12/10/2018
Location
AD
5/13/2025 7:15am
1000015640.png?VersionId=jxrYMR I.Q5vG8Zy
15
hairyyy
Posts
44
Joined
12/10/2018
Location
AD
5/13/2025 7:16am

One 5 second Google later save waiting 20 hours

10
nskerb
Posts
335
Joined
3/3/2020
Location
Kelso, WA US
5/13/2025 7:22am
What even is the deal with evil bikes these days? I saw some talk of them going tits up but they seem to have not, but it’s been pretty radio silent from them regarding anything new for a while now…
13
Post a reply to: MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

This forum thread has been locked.

The Latest