MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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8/10/2025 5:44pm
I didnt buy it but  had the new Trance x in for testing recently and it's a really good bike but would like to see giant...

I didnt buy it but  had the new Trance x in for testing recently and it's a really good bike but would like to see giant try the Higher front end setup - I tried 50mm oneup bars on it before I returned the bike and it was even better.

Hi, I have been looking at this bike pretty seriously and wanted to test one but noone in NZ has a test bike from what i can find, could you let me know where i might see one in person or evenm ride one? 

seanfisseli
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Santa Cruz, CA US
8/10/2025 6:02pm
2 wrote:
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...

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of rationalising their product lines to maximise efficiency and make sure they never end up with warehouses full of outdated bikes they have to sell for steep discounts again.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. 

I am hearing a kenevo is hitting this year… Capitalism just doesn’t work that way. It rewards fragmentation. If all speci sold was an epic and a...

I am hearing a kenevo is hitting this year… 

Capitalism just doesn’t work that way. It rewards fragmentation. If all speci sold was an epic and a stumpy I’d agree with you but damn do they make shed loads of nominally different bikes, with even more hair splitting versions on the way (new trail bike incoming to slot in between epic Evo and stumpy Evo…) 

Hmm, but as I’m typing this I’m realizing I can see your perspective, wherein brands still have a lot of fragmentation and different bikes, but on the back end they are doing it with more overlap of parts, like Trek is doing (and status DH?) I guess capitalism does love that, virtual fragmentation with arbitrary distinctions between products. 

I guess I was thinking about a truly modular bike, kinda geometron-esque but not as extreme. 

2 wrote:
Interesting, I hadn’t heard anything about a new Kenevo, although I had heard rumours of a specialized long travel link that fits the levo 4 frame...

Interesting, I hadn’t heard anything about a new Kenevo, although I had heard rumours of a specialized long travel link that fits the levo 4 frame like the cascade one. It could be a whole new frame though. A lot of their models haven’t been updated in a long time, like the Demo and Enduro.

That’s a good way of putting it in regards to virtual fragmentation. Trek probably could of called the LX and MX a Remedy and Slash Jr, which might of been less confusing for the customer, but probably didn’t want to get accused of badge engineering like GM. 

Well yeah we have been waiting for the enduro for freaking EVER and we know that will come sooner or later. I didn’t hear specifics but I heard mention of full power long travel, so you could be right about a long travel Levo! I guess it makes sense since the new suspension design specialized has been working on would be hard to integrate a motor into…

3
8/10/2025 6:05pm
Dave_Camp wrote:
The non-vpp e bike was in the works years ago.They realized vpp with a shock tunnel, battery and motor basically impossible to get a good frame...

The non-vpp e bike was in the works years ago.

They realized vpp with a shock tunnel, battery and motor basically impossible to get a good frame package (long seat post insertion, water bottle etc) 

I hear Gwin's ebike brand rides ok

13
earleb
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North Vancouver, BC CA
Fantasy
8/10/2025 10:26pm

New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has a launch article ready to drop. 

135 travel frame. Steel front with aluminum rear end. 

1000015095
12
Kusa
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8/10/2025 11:05pm

Not sure if that was ever solved, but it looks like there is nothing unusual from inside; however, there still seems to be something hidden on the outside of the left leg (assuming the right leg thing is just a racing chip).

Pasted Graphic

Pasted Graphic 1
2
8/10/2025 11:50pm
earleb wrote:
New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has...

New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has a launch article ready to drop. 

135 travel frame. Steel front with aluminum rear end. 

1000015095

From the horse's mouth:

Reazon – Chromag Bikes

 

2
ahleic09
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Bend, OR US
8/11/2025 6:16am
earleb wrote:
New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has...

New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has a launch article ready to drop. 

135 travel frame. Steel front with aluminum rear end. 

1000015095

take my $$

3
dolface
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CA US
8/11/2025 7:24am Edited Date/Time 8/11/2025 9:07am
earleb wrote:
New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has...

New Chromag trail bike was on display in the SRAM booth at Crankworx for part of Saturday. A Google of the Reazon name shows Pinkbike has a launch article ready to drop. 

135 travel frame. Steel front with aluminum rear end. 

1000015095
Sven_Claas wrote:

From the horse's mouth:

Reazon – Chromag Bikes

 

People are about to be REAL MAD about the chainstays...

(But also can we please not? https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/modern-geo-talk-chainstays-stack-re…)

10
chrismacnocs
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Olympic Valley, CA US
8/11/2025 7:50am

As an XL sized rider, can we talk about how the reaches on XLs from brands north of the border (Norco, Chromag) are passing the 520 mark - still recommended for riders 6’1-6’5? 

The chain stays look fun - but this growing reach from just over 500 to the 520s has me wondering… will it ever end? The angles on my Norco sight fit me fine and it’s a slayer on the descents, anyone see this trend happening?

Stays seem like a matter of preference. 

2
12
dolface
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8/11/2025 9:08am
As an XL sized rider, can we talk about how the reaches on XLs from brands north of the border (Norco, Chromag) are passing the 520...

As an XL sized rider, can we talk about how the reaches on XLs from brands north of the border (Norco, Chromag) are passing the 520 mark - still recommended for riders 6’1-6’5? 

The chain stays look fun - but this growing reach from just over 500 to the 520s has me wondering… will it ever end? The angles on my Norco sight fit me fine and it’s a slayer on the descents, anyone see this trend happening?

Stays seem like a matter of preference. 

11
jazza_wil
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whistler, BC CA
8/11/2025 1:00pm

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
14
veefour
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Cinderford GB
8/11/2025 1:07pm Edited Date/Time 8/11/2025 1:15pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX

Hmmm, Chromag shirt, Chromag pants, Chromag gloves, Chromag wheels, Chromag saddle. Either it's a clue or it's some high level trolling.

10
Simcik
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Loma, CO US
8/11/2025 1:16pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
veefour wrote:

Hmmm, Chromag shirt, Chromag pants, Chromag gloves, Chromag wheels, Chromag saddle. Either it's a clue or it's some high level trolling.

Curious to see who the rider is, that might help narrow down

1
monarchmason
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Nevada City, CA US
8/11/2025 1:16pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
veefour wrote:

Hmmm, Chromag shirt, Chromag pants, Chromag gloves, Chromag wheels, Chromag saddle. Either it's a clue or it's some high level trolling.

Well youre wrong. Its obviously a Session. 

23
8/11/2025 1:17pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
veefour wrote:

Hmmm, Chromag shirt, Chromag pants, Chromag gloves, Chromag wheels, Chromag saddle. Either it's a clue or it's some high level trolling.

Looks like prototype Max Grayston has been riding over the past year. I wonder if Chromag will be releasing more bikes during Crankworx?

3
ballz
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Ouagadougou EH
8/11/2025 1:59pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX

Dat frame looks very Santa Cruzy to me, including the suspension link and hardware.

2
14
jazza_wil
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Location
whistler, BC CA
8/11/2025 2:22pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
ballz wrote:

Dat frame looks very Santa Cruzy to me, including the suspension link and hardware.

The chain stay guard is identical to the lowdown and sticker placements also the same. 

6
Jotegr
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Interior, BC CA
8/11/2025 3:27pm Edited Date/Time 8/11/2025 3:27pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
ballz wrote:

Dat frame looks very Santa Cruzy to me, including the suspension link and hardware.

I'll have what he's having. Must be great. 

11
ballz
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Ouagadougou EH
8/11/2025 3:56pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
ballz wrote:

Dat frame looks very Santa Cruzy to me, including the suspension link and hardware.

Jotegr wrote:

I'll have what he's having. Must be great. 

I am having fun, thanks for asking. Apparently this is serious bidness for some, sorry for interrupting your program.

2
11
8/11/2025 5:39pm
jazza_wil wrote:
Sorry to disrupt geo talk Saw this this morning

Sorry to disrupt geo talk 

Saw this this morning

IMG 1503.jpeg?VersionId=t4T Cij6yuJsGwGdz0V8yX
veefour wrote:

Hmmm, Chromag shirt, Chromag pants, Chromag gloves, Chromag wheels, Chromag saddle. Either it's a clue or it's some high level trolling.

Simcik wrote:

Curious to see who the rider is, that might help narrow down

2
1
crgcrmny
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Location
Golden, CO US
8/11/2025 7:38pm

Burgtec Clips!  Maybe Time Mech

IMG 2861.jpeg?VersionId=5YDzaK4vbvLJSRsrUqGRP1DZNylU
19
8/11/2025 8:36pm
crgcrmny wrote:
Burgtec Clips!  Maybe Time Mech

Burgtec Clips!  Maybe Time Mech

IMG 2861.jpeg?VersionId=5YDzaK4vbvLJSRsrUqGRP1DZNylU

This pictures reminds me that Yeti hasn't updated their SB lineup in a while. If they bring sixfinity to their non e-bike models , that might be the first time I would ever be interested in a Yeti.

10
1
dwhere
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dirty, DE US
Fantasy
8/12/2025 8:09am

bit random. 

Garbanzo DH winner Richie Rudd was on a 38. Runner up Ryan Gili was on a Podium. Both on the same team and bike. Both have previously run both. 

Different strokes for different folks. 

10
8/12/2025 8:20am

Sram's got a few riders at Leadville on some BlackBox SIDs with fairings.

3
2
8/12/2025 8:25am

Where's that Burgtec clip picture from? I've not seen anything about the Burgtec clips since 2016..!

2
crgcrmny
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Golden, CO US
8/12/2025 10:37am
JerseyMojo wrote:

Where's that Burgtec clip picture from? I've not seen anything about the Burgtec clips since 2016..!

From IG:

IMG 2863.png?VersionId=cm7y5fq1UiQEVXnbWMEaYn 5XW.
2
chrismacnocs
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Olympic Valley, CA US
8/12/2025 11:27am

Looks like the revolver is coming on Thursday 

 

IMG 1583
10
8/12/2025 11:43am
image 411

 

Apologies if this was already covered, but this was posted then removed on pinkbike. I can't get access to the original article but it is still indexed on google. 

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