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The Vital MTB Crew
you can call it remedy if that works out better for you?
Any info on the mech? Having an electronic DH mech would be cool on a bike like this since you could switch between long and short cage for park days with minimal effort.
Stack is so in right now and nice to see Trek moving it up on the latest Fuels.
Nowhere near? No, that's about right. DH bikes are typically lighter than their enduro brethren these days.
Does the new Trek frame vindicate Privateer?
Top tube hump ✅
Ugly Rocker link ✅
Heavier than previous model ✅
It’s time people accept that we ask 140mm frames to ride the same trails and features that used to be exclusive to downhill bikes. The big difference is the trail bike has to do it with a dropper post and 12 speed cassette
I don't think so.
The Privateer's top tube hump looks like a dog taking a dump and I had legitimately forgotten how bad the rocker link is. I've never been a Trek guy and don't think there is anything that'll convince me to be a Trek guy, but the new Fuel is downright svelte compared to the Privateer.
Weight? I'm on a Madonna, so not the guy to criticize bike weight. Lol.
My first thought when seeing the frame tbh. I’m seeing way too many top tube humps these days. They signal lower stack which some of us despise, so I’m wondering if that’s the subconscious origin of the hate (beyond whatever aesthetic issue they bring…)
There is more money to be made by selling two bikes than a bike and a link, but the marketplace can only support so many bikes. I suppose that modularity will be driven by brands calculating that tradeoff, with some brands realizing that they can sell two bikes and other brands realizing that they can’t pull that off. Someone like Speci will keep pushing a different bike for every trail you ride, while smaller brands might find themselves becoming more competitive with a modular offering.
You can just use a Gen 1 axs and put a short or medium cage on. Then just max out limit screws.
Well that's what I did anyway, it works fine.
Nothing will ever vindicate that bike
I like the rocker link. It looks industrial. I’m not a fan of colour matched swoopy carbon links. Give me cascades styling any day.
This looks like a rockshox Genie
Next gen Super Deluxe?
pffft that guy doesn't have any access to pre-production SRAM stuff. Just some old washed up dad.
Who are we talking about?
I actually think it’s the opposite. I feel like modularity is harder to pull off cost-effectively as a smaller operation. You really need the economies of scale that only the bigger brands have to pull it off in a way that actually delivers cost savings to the manufacturer.
And specialized already seem to be reducing their product lines, Kenevo is gone and it looks like the Kenevo SL isn’t getting an update either. Stumpy evo is likely out as a bespoke frame at least. Like Trek they have indicated that they are aiming to rationalise product lineups and streamline operations.
I think for these bigger companies it’s potentially almost riskier having too many models compared to smaller brands. After 2020 I think they were badly burnt from excess inventory and are now in the process of rationalising their product lines to maximise efficiency and make sure they never end up with warehouses full of outdated bikes they have to sell for steep discounts again.
It’s also a lot easier to forecast demand with a reduced number of SKU’s.
It’s actually kind of insane how many choices we have for MTB now, I expect long term we will get more market consolidation as the current industry just doesn’t seem sustainable as there’s so much competition that nobody is able to really benefit from economies of scale to undercut competitors. I guess it also doesn’t help that the barrier for entry to making bicycle frames is a lot lower than something like a dirt bike so it’s easy for competitors to enter the market and compete for market share.
It could also just be a larger air can though?
Whole new shock. Not stubby resivoir and head of shock all looks different.
New Maxxis Dissector (2025)
Did I miss this before now? Enduromtb posted about it already.
https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/dissector-2/
I really liked the old Dissector, seems like this one is being marketed as a faster option, but looks good.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if you do FEA on the hump, its much stronger at the head tube junction over a straight top tube. It spreads out stress on the welds and reduces pressure spikes.
I liked the performance of mine, but it wore out so fast I wonder if I had a defective batch.
That being said, is it worth getting a non-radial tire in 2025? I've asked in the tire chat thread but no one seems to know.
Maybe it's my current conditions/location, or familiarity, but I don't think an Assegai is losing out to a Magic Mary radial by much. Also have ridden Albert radial, which was good. The latest Schwalbe, updated Specialized, Maxxis stalwarts and the Continentals are mix and matched across my stable and they are all pretty good (aside from being way overpriced).
I guess it depends, personally, no, I love the radials, they feel better than anything else, they grip more, on rocks, roots, loose, hard pack, and they’re just insane on off camber roots, that’s where they really impress me.
I liked it as a rear on a non-race big travel bike.
I just want it in a folding bead DH casing with maxterra…
Same with the DHR2, etc.
They need to make the forekaster v2 in DD It's a great rear tyre for alot of trails.
A Maxxis Kryptotal, which itself is a Continental Assegai (which was kind of a Maxxis Magic Mary, which was etc. etc. etc.), we've come full circle how many times now?
Dissectegai?
Eh I guess that's nice? Dissector was always an OK tire, not really better in any way than the Spec Eliminator. Do they last more than 6 rides? That's really what we all truly need to know.
The Eliminator T7/9 grid gravity has been the burly, long lasting Dissector you've been wanting all this time. The new v2 Eliminator is more gravity focused than the old one. Better cornering and braking traction.
Once I burn through my Spec tires I'm trying Contis to see if I've been missing anything.
In my opinion no it's not worth getting a non radial tyre unless you live somewhere where it doesn't rain and it's always hard packed.