MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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UfuS78
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Bielsko, PL
5/16/2025 11:38am Edited Date/Time 5/16/2025 11:40am

NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua
 

88e6baee718d09b4cd074958b2c68219.jpeg?VersionId=Rzd fIM6e209a7845168571b5ec16c2a173ef37c70190371d1b7b69ee1c4677586b3c3b
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chriskief
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5/16/2025 11:45am
sspomer wrote:

have not confirmed, hoping you sleuths can help, but was told two belts broke in poland today. "too cold."

chriskief wrote:
Dumb question… other than the 100k purse, is there a reason these gear box systems need to run a belt? Couldn’t they use a chain instead...

Dumb question… other than the 100k purse, is there a reason these gear box systems need to run a belt? Couldn’t they use a chain instead? Is it due to weight or something?

MTBrent wrote:
A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).So the belt is necessitating the...

A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).

So the belt is necessitating the gearbox, not the other way around.

So in other words, they’re only running a potentially less reliable belt for the 100k.

 

3
1
aprosise
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Lyons, CO, USA
5/16/2025 12:08pm
chriskief wrote:
Dumb question… other than the 100k purse, is there a reason these gear box systems need to run a belt? Couldn’t they use a chain instead...

Dumb question… other than the 100k purse, is there a reason these gear box systems need to run a belt? Couldn’t they use a chain instead? Is it due to weight or something?

MTBrent wrote:
A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).So the belt is necessitating the...

A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).

So the belt is necessitating the gearbox, not the other way around.

chriskief wrote:

So in other words, they’re only running a potentially less reliable belt for the 100k.

 

How many times has a chain broken in a WC DH race run? 

20
TimBud
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GB
5/16/2025 12:19pm
aprosise wrote:

How many times has a chain broken in a WC DH race run? 

If you’re Gwin, that’s actually preferable 

8
chriskief
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Fantasy
5/16/2025 12:27pm
MTBrent wrote:
A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).So the belt is necessitating the...

A gearbox bike can use a chain or belt, but a belt- driven bike needs a gearbox (unless running single speed…).

So the belt is necessitating the gearbox, not the other way around.

chriskief wrote:

So in other words, they’re only running a potentially less reliable belt for the 100k.

 

aprosise wrote:

How many times has a chain broken in a WC DH race run? 

Good point. Looking forward to seeing how these do over the course of a full season.

1
sprungmass
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Location
Calgary, AB, CA
5/16/2025 12:45pm
Kusa wrote:
Jackson Goldstone running new Shimano brakes in the latest DH WC Course preview 

Jackson Goldstone running new Shimano brakes in the latest DH WC Course preview 
image 306.png?VersionId=oOOLpYN9NUYf1 5yWDfvuhTEGP5sxa8

Enhance!

ShimanoXTRBrakes.jpg?VersionId=5UGzqDxg8Mrj5b0Jg31HZeXZpg4.zA
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1
gbcoke
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USA
5/16/2025 12:55pm
UfuS78 wrote:
NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua 

NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua
 

88e6baee718d09b4cd074958b2c68219.jpeg?VersionId=Rzd fIM6e209a7845168571b5ec16c2a173ef37c70190371d1b7b69ee1c4677586b3c3b

Feel real sorry about NS with this one as the bike looks really good imo but it seems no one really wants to but a Fazua equipped bike these days...

4
1
5/16/2025 1:42pm

Lloris with a suspension locking mechanism and a light on his steerer tube to indicate it.

...give the whole video a watch because it's funny to hear him deal with talking and riding but around 2:45 he says "locking my suspension" and you see his steerer tube cap light up orange.

I wonder if this is a Rockshox thing now. In the clip it looked similar to Vali's top cap from a couple pages back.

 

5
5/16/2025 1:52pm
Kusa wrote:
From the other site... Orbea uncovered and no magic found 

From the other site... Orbea uncovered and no magic found 

photo

So in essence, it turns out to be a Wild with slimmer upper and down tubes…

7
5/16/2025 2:55pm
UfuS78 wrote:
NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua 

NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua
 

88e6baee718d09b4cd074958b2c68219.jpeg?VersionId=Rzd fIM6e209a7845168571b5ec16c2a173ef37c70190371d1b7b69ee1c4677586b3c3b
gbcoke wrote:
Feel real sorry about NS with this one as the bike looks really good imo but it seems no one really wants to but a Fazua...

Feel real sorry about NS with this one as the bike looks really good imo but it seems no one really wants to but a Fazua equipped bike these days...

I'm extremely tempted to buy a Santa Cruz Skitch... But haven't, because Fazua.

5
sspomer
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Boise, ID, USA
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5/16/2025 3:09pm

reece from 12:40 in vital raw - belt on his shoulder. would seem like it's not actually broken though?

reecebelt 0
10
5/16/2025 3:19pm

Kind of a hassle to get into his shoulder if everything is working right, though.

6
Suns_PSD
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Austin, TX, USA
5/16/2025 3:46pm
ebruner wrote:

You just described Rocky Mountain's powerplay drivetrain.  

I wasn’t aware of their motor, I just took a look at it and it’s not exactly what I was trying to describe.  It still uses...

I wasn’t aware of their motor, I just took a look at it and it’s not exactly what I was trying to describe.  It still uses a traditional chainring and a chain going from the chainring to the cassette.  What I’m asking about is basically the Specialized DH bike but with a motor.  No chainring on the cranks with a chain connecting to the cassette.  The cranks would somehow interface with the motor internally and a chain would connect the cassette to a sprocket which comes off the motor.  No direct connection between the BB/cranks and the rear hub/cassette. 

This is called a digital drive system, where basically you are spinning the cranks and it tells a computer to drive the rear wheel.

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/01/new-e-bike-crankset-is-a-chainless-pedal-by-wire-system-that-incorporates-regenerative-braking/#google_vignette

I own and enjoy my e-bike. But ya know, at some point when spinning the pedals is simply a pretend way to turn on the throttle, I guess that's my red line in the sand ya know?

4
veefour
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5/16/2025 3:52pm
sspomer wrote:
reece from 12:40 in vital raw - belt on his shoulder. would seem like it's not actually broken though?

reece from 12:40 in vital raw - belt on his shoulder. would seem like it's not actually broken though?

reecebelt 0

Demonstrating that not only can it be used as a belt, but also braces. 

10
NoahColorado
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Fruita, CO, USA
5/16/2025 4:11pm
sspomer wrote:
reece from 12:40 in vital raw - belt on his shoulder. would seem like it's not actually broken though?

reece from 12:40 in vital raw - belt on his shoulder. would seem like it's not actually broken though?

reecebelt 0

Appears to be some sort of belted purse.

reecebelt 0 1

 

122
bstens
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Seattle, WA, USA
5/16/2025 4:18pm

ding ding ding. close thread

11
Dave_Camp
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5/16/2025 5:11pm

10/10

5
brash
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5/16/2025 5:29pm

it's called fashion! duh

4
5/16/2025 6:16pm
earleb wrote:

Just another crab link. 

Main pivot appears to be low af. Other teams going high AR, Orbea go really low AR. 

Except it’s not. There’s no chainstay pivot on that bike. 

1
theweaz
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Location
Victor, ID, USA
5/16/2025 9:27pm

In theory you can’t take the belt off without it being broken or taking the pivot apart. 

I ran a zerode with a belt a few years ago and had the belt break twice, both on the first ride after flying with the bike with the shock taken off to fit in a bike bag/ get it under weight limits. My theory is that the shock removed stretched the belt through whatever slack the tensioner could take up and messed up the belt, the marketing would make you think it could stand up to more than that, but the same scenario broke it twice. 

The belt had no issues in wet climates but made horrible creaking noise is dusty desert climates. 

 

5
6
marzbomber888
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Location
Vancouver, WA, USA
5/16/2025 10:05pm
UfuS78 wrote:
NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua 

NS Bikes new SL ebike with Fazua
 

88e6baee718d09b4cd074958b2c68219.jpeg?VersionId=Rzd fIM6e209a7845168571b5ec16c2a173ef37c70190371d1b7b69ee1c4677586b3c3b
gbcoke wrote:
Feel real sorry about NS with this one as the bike looks really good imo but it seems no one really wants to but a Fazua...

Feel real sorry about NS with this one as the bike looks really good imo but it seems no one really wants to but a Fazua equipped bike these days...

segamethod wrote:

I'm extremely tempted to buy a Santa Cruz Skitch... But haven't, because Fazua.

Best motor when it works. But it never does. Sucks that it’s only those two options 

2
marzbomber888
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Location
Vancouver, WA, USA
5/16/2025 10:07pm
Kusa wrote:
Jackson Goldstone running new Shimano brakes in the latest DH WC Course preview 

Jackson Goldstone running new Shimano brakes in the latest DH WC Course preview 
image 306.png?VersionId=oOOLpYN9NUYf1 5yWDfvuhTEGP5sxa8

sprungmass wrote:
Enhance!

Enhance!

ShimanoXTRBrakes.jpg?VersionId=5UGzqDxg8Mrj5b0Jg31HZeXZpg4.zA

Have seen in the wild as well  they are ready as can be 

2
1
5/16/2025 10:38pm
theweaz wrote:
In theory you can’t take the belt off without it being broken or taking the pivot apart. I ran a zerode with a belt a few years...

In theory you can’t take the belt off without it being broken or taking the pivot apart. 

I ran a zerode with a belt a few years ago and had the belt break twice, both on the first ride after flying with the bike with the shock taken off to fit in a bike bag/ get it under weight limits. My theory is that the shock removed stretched the belt through whatever slack the tensioner could take up and messed up the belt, the marketing would make you think it could stand up to more than that, but the same scenario broke it twice. 

The belt had no issues in wet climates but made horrible creaking noise is dusty desert climates. 

 

The Gamux Sego has a single chainstay design with no seatstay, so you would be able to take the belt off without breaking it.


The other site reported that he impacted and broke the gearbox guard which derailed the belt. He then tossed it over his shoulder to finish out the run, presumably so that it didn’t get wrapped up in the spokes, jam up the rear wheel, or become a hazard for other riders on track.

9
Slavid666
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Santa Rosa, CA, USA
5/16/2025 11:02pm Edited Date/Time 5/16/2025 11:08pm

IMG 9936 0Noticed that the demo has a free-wheeling pulley on the crank, haven’t seen this in any of the other shots. Maybe I missed it…

Waiting on more details about the brakes. Between the new hopes and these I really want to see what gets released first. Hard to imagine that the project black brakes are actually Brembo. I have a Brembo MC on my track bike and this design aesthetic doesn’t scream Brembo at all. My 2c is it’s a specialized design ripping off TRP Smile Just like Lewis stole Trickstuffs patents lol.

19
1
Primoz
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5/17/2025 7:32am
theweaz wrote:
In theory you can’t take the belt off without it being broken or taking the pivot apart. I ran a zerode with a belt a few years...

In theory you can’t take the belt off without it being broken or taking the pivot apart. 

I ran a zerode with a belt a few years ago and had the belt break twice, both on the first ride after flying with the bike with the shock taken off to fit in a bike bag/ get it under weight limits. My theory is that the shock removed stretched the belt through whatever slack the tensioner could take up and messed up the belt, the marketing would make you think it could stand up to more than that, but the same scenario broke it twice. 

The belt had no issues in wet climates but made horrible creaking noise is dusty desert climates. 

 

Kapolczer wrote:
The Gamux Sego has a single chainstay design with no seatstay, so you would be able to take the belt off without breaking it.The other site...

The Gamux Sego has a single chainstay design with no seatstay, so you would be able to take the belt off without breaking it.


The other site reported that he impacted and broke the gearbox guard which derailed the belt. He then tossed it over his shoulder to finish out the run, presumably so that it didn’t get wrapped up in the spokes, jam up the rear wheel, or become a hazard for other riders on track.

Explains why he was looking for someone to make guard parts with quick turnaround requested... 

2
Primoz
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5/17/2025 7:33am
Slavid666 wrote:
Noticed that the demo has a free-wheeling pulley on the crank, haven’t seen this in any of the other shots. Maybe I missed it…Waiting on more...

IMG 9936 0Noticed that the demo has a free-wheeling pulley on the crank, haven’t seen this in any of the other shots. Maybe I missed it…

Waiting on more details about the brakes. Between the new hopes and these I really want to see what gets released first. Hard to imagine that the project black brakes are actually Brembo. I have a Brembo MC on my track bike and this design aesthetic doesn’t scream Brembo at all. My 2c is it’s a specialized design ripping off TRP Smile Just like Lewis stole Trickstuffs patents lol.

The idler rotates counter to the cranks as the chain travels backwards there. The idler is there to reroute the chain (because of the location of the drive sprocket and how lot it is) as it would be routed straight through the crank spindle otherwise. 

3
owl-x
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Shell Beach, CA, USA
5/17/2025 7:48am

I can get a shoelace wrapped around that contraption from here

15
seanfisseli
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Santa Cruz, CA, USA
5/17/2025 9:21am
owl-x wrote:

I can get a shoelace wrapped around that contraption from here

peasants use laces. pros use boa.

7
7
29
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AT
5/17/2025 9:32am

bunch of good pics on the specialized proto and brakes

1
dolface
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USA
5/17/2025 9:49am
29 wrote:

bunch of good pics on the specialized proto and brakes

Round-up of the brake details to date:

6
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