MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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GRM50
Posts
33
Joined
4/30/2024
Location
Lebanon, NH US
Fantasy
9/2/2025 6:34am
Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from...

Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from instagram but can't seem to find them anymore...IMG 9630 0

Scottish Flag makes me believe that this is a World Champs special paint job

22
9/2/2025 6:43am
Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from...

Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from instagram but can't seem to find them anymore...IMG 9630 0

Just a World's thing. Jesse Melamad also had a custom two-tone caliper with the flag and name on his red levers. So we should expect to see similar stuff on the DH bikes!

2
jonkranked
Posts
1199
Joined
5/5/2016
Location
Norristown, PA US
9/2/2025 6:52am
Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from...

Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from instagram but can't seem to find them anymore...IMG 9630 0

GRM50 wrote:

Scottish Flag makes me believe that this is a World Champs special paint job

i always love seeing the special paint jobs, customizations, and other details for worlds bikes. 

4
ballz
Posts
510
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
9/2/2025 7:20am
Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from...

Anyone else catch a glimpse of the blue Maven brakes? I am wondering if this is the next limited color way... I took a screenshot from instagram but can't seem to find them anymore...IMG 9630 0

You need to be a true Scotsman to buy them.

4
veefour
Posts
855
Joined
7/31/2016
Location
Cinderford GB
9/2/2025 8:07am
ballz wrote:

You need to be a true Scotsman to buy them.

The paradox is if you're a true Scotsman you'd never spend the money. 🤣

23
Uncle Cliffy
Posts
400
Joined
3/11/2010
Location
Medford, OR US
9/2/2025 9:29am
sspomer wrote:
probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592 

probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592

20%2C000-dollar-Specialized-Levo4-2

 

A $20,000 electric bowling ball. Don’t ever change Specialized…

72
Mwood
Posts
167
Joined
8/19/2009
Location
Bay Area, CA US
9/2/2025 9:30am
sspomer wrote:
probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592 

probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592

20%2C000-dollar-Specialized-Levo4-2

 

Crazy world we live in

4
Rol
Posts
76
Joined
12/1/2017
Location
BE
9/2/2025 9:43am

Some will pay and be happy to do so. I guess the bike will be brilliant

3
LePigPen
Posts
990
Joined
12/23/2020
Location
Harbor City, CA US
Fantasy
9/2/2025 9:43am
sspomer wrote:
probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592 

probably more for "spec rumors" thread but S-Works Levo 4 LTD version is $19,999 - FOX Podium, Cane Creek Electric Wings Ti cranks, Trickstuff brakes.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-turbo-levo-4-ltd/p/4260592?color=5442214-4260592

20%2C000-dollar-Specialized-Levo4-2

 

A $20,000 electric bowling ball. Don’t ever change Specialized…

Literally came in, first reply, and wrote comment of the year. Well done.

Seriously Spomer can we get a comment of the year article in January, just because this comment shant be forgotten lol. Def a 'once you see it, you can't unsee it' moment.

5
dolface
Posts
1684
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
9/2/2025 9:53am
ballz wrote:

You need to be a true Scotsman to buy them.

veefour wrote:

The paradox is if you're a true Scotsman you'd never spend the money. 🤣

Missed oppo to phrase it as "no true Scotsman would spend the money"

(And for those wondering what we're on about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman)

3
veefour
Posts
855
Joined
7/31/2016
Location
Cinderford GB
9/2/2025 10:08am
dolface wrote:

Missed oppo to phrase it as "no true Scotsman would spend the money"

(And for those wondering what we're on about: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman)

Ha, that didn't even come into my thought process. It was more based on personal experience.🤣

3
9/2/2025 10:16am
3ullit wrote:
The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the...

The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?

Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the same service offerings that make all their other bikes also unique, custom paint, repaint options, ...

gbcoke wrote:
Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see...

Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.

Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see the form factor of DJI equipped bikes.

The Bosch power tube could also be a 750wh, same as what Orbea run with.

Simann
Posts
18
Joined
8/13/2023
Location
Murfreesboro, TN US
9/2/2025 10:57am

I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the Hydra2 are no different in price than DT240 DEG. Sounds like they are charging full premium over the "base" S works Levo build. Kind of shady.

12
9/2/2025 11:24am
Simann wrote:
I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the...

I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the Hydra2 are no different in price than DT240 DEG. Sounds like they are charging full premium over the "base" S works Levo build. Kind of shady.

Lol, people buying a $20,000 S-works (the most expensive mainstream bicycle on the market) are not worried about 'shady' markup behavior. A $150k Mercedees isn't anywhere near 6x the cost to manufacture than a Ford Focus. A ton more margin in higher-end products. And people who are buying those products know it. 

16
bnsleit
Posts
123
Joined
9/27/2021
Location
Missoula, MT US
9/2/2025 11:24am
Simann wrote:
I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the...

I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the Hydra2 are no different in price than DT240 DEG. Sounds like they are charging full premium over the "base" S works Levo build. Kind of shady.

someone on the other site broke it down and you're right, there's about a $3k premium added on top of MSRP for everything part-out. wild

7
ShapeThings
Posts
123
Joined
8/19/2018
Location
Oakland, CA US
9/2/2025 11:31am
bnsleit wrote:

someone on the other site broke it down and you're right, there's about a $3k premium added on top of MSRP for everything part-out. wild

bowling ball visual flair ain't cheap

20
9/2/2025 11:34am

$3k for the paint?

The Amflow seems like an even better deal now...

1
veefour
Posts
855
Joined
7/31/2016
Location
Cinderford GB
9/2/2025 11:40am Edited Date/Time 9/2/2025 11:41am

$3k for the paint?

The Amflow seems like an even better deal now...

You could probably get a vastly superior quality custom paint job from someone like Fat Creations for less, but that fact won't get anywhere near the thought process of the average buyer of this bike. 

6
comatosegi
Posts
81
Joined
8/28/2025
Location
Portland, OR US
9/2/2025 11:42am
Simann wrote:
I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the...

I do not see how they jump from $13,000 to $20,000? Maxima's are $1500 a set. electringWings are $1000, Podium is $700 more than 38, the Hydra2 are no different in price than DT240 DEG. Sounds like they are charging full premium over the "base" S works Levo build. Kind of shady.

You didn’t assign a value to “limited edition” tag with custom paint, that value varies based on the individual.  Obviously if we are running the math on parts, we are not the target demographic.  Probably be the same peeps who have an AMEX Black card.

4
9/2/2025 12:17pm
3ullit wrote:
The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the...

The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?

Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the same service offerings that make all their other bikes also unique, custom paint, repaint options, ...

gbcoke wrote:
Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see...

Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.

Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see the form factor of DJI equipped bikes.

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having an aging battery on my 2020 Norco Sight and wondering if I'd even be able to get a replacement. Would it be from Shimano? from Norco? What if I wanted another one 5 years down the trail? The custom battery made the bike feel disposable which is not a good look for any bike especially ebikes.

6
Jotegr
Posts
361
Joined
6/28/2024
Location
Interior, BC CA
9/2/2025 1:19pm
3ullit wrote:
The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the...

The Antidote looks really slim, own battery tech, 600Wh only or what is it?

Regarding the "much more than just another one", I guess it is the same service offerings that make all their other bikes also unique, custom paint, repaint options, ...

gbcoke wrote:
Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see...

Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.

Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see the form factor of DJI equipped bikes.

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having...

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having an aging battery on my 2020 Norco Sight and wondering if I'd even be able to get a replacement. Would it be from Shimano? from Norco? What if I wanted another one 5 years down the trail? The custom battery made the bike feel disposable which is not a good look for any bike especially ebikes.

There's a reason Norco put those things on for 45% off and had a ton when they did that. 

 

Also the wiring harness/battery interface didn't work half the time. Really put a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths about the quality of Shimano EEB stuff, but in reality none of the Shimano stuff was the shit part. Bosch is on the right side of this one. 

2
sethimus
Posts
902
Joined
9/20/2014
Location
CH
9/2/2025 2:11pm Edited Date/Time 9/2/2025 2:12pm

$3k for the paint?

The Amflow seems like an even better deal now...

ever looked at the price of the paint options of project one? i recently sold a 11k chf madone slr with a 5k paint job

1
bnsleit
Posts
123
Joined
9/27/2021
Location
Missoula, MT US
9/2/2025 2:19pm Edited Date/Time 9/2/2025 2:20pm

$3k for the paint?

The Amflow seems like an even better deal now...

sethimus wrote:

ever looked at the price of the paint options of project one? i recently sold a 11k chf madone slr with a 5k paint job

sethimus why would you do that. please just buy me a bike with that 5k paint budget next time and I'll spray paint your frame way cooler for free

 

*edit to add that I'll even throw in a clear coat on my own dime and free nail polish touch-ups for life

4
1
mfoga
Posts
758
Joined
9/21/2015
Location
Moreno Valley, CA US
Fantasy
9/2/2025 3:46pm

$3k for the paint?

The Amflow seems like an even better deal now...

sethimus wrote:

ever looked at the price of the paint options of project one? i recently sold a 11k chf madone slr with a 5k paint job

bnsleit wrote:
sethimus why would you do that. please just buy me a bike with that 5k paint budget next time and I'll spray paint your frame way...

sethimus why would you do that. please just buy me a bike with that 5k paint budget next time and I'll spray paint your frame way cooler for free

 

*edit to add that I'll even throw in a clear coat on my own dime and free nail polish touch-ups for life

I would assume he works a bike shop and sold one brand new who can to buy one so why not sell it to them?

1
Jotegr
Posts
361
Joined
6/28/2024
Location
Interior, BC CA
9/2/2025 4:05pm Edited Date/Time 9/2/2025 4:09pm

Go DM Fresh Paints of Whistler or ETOE or anyone else who is doing bespoke, high quality custom painting and you too will see that 3-5k is fairly market rate for top of the line work. Specialized is kinda semi production and way less cool, so it's less justified, but if someone at Seth's shop wanted to splash a ton of cash getting a true custom paint job, then it's not a surprising price. I probably have 150 hours into my Aurum and it's far from what some of these pro shops are putting out. 

5
9/2/2025 4:48pm
gbcoke wrote:
Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see...

Bosch does not allow third party batteries so it is probably a 600w.

Weird that bikes that come with Bosch looks a bit outdated after you see the form factor of DJI equipped bikes.

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having...

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having an aging battery on my 2020 Norco Sight and wondering if I'd even be able to get a replacement. Would it be from Shimano? from Norco? What if I wanted another one 5 years down the trail? The custom battery made the bike feel disposable which is not a good look for any bike especially ebikes.

Jotegr wrote:
There's a reason Norco put those things on for 45% off and had a ton when they did that.  Also the wiring harness/battery interface didn't work half...

There's a reason Norco put those things on for 45% off and had a ton when they did that. 

 

Also the wiring harness/battery interface didn't work half the time. Really put a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths about the quality of Shimano EEB stuff, but in reality none of the Shimano stuff was the shit part. Bosch is on the right side of this one. 

Are you thinking of the Gen 2 Sight or the Gen 3 which had the "pick your battery size" idea with removable batteries? Mine was a Gen 2, with the non-removable battery made by Simplo. (but still plenty of wire harness issues and even broken chainstays!) My dealer would always give me nebulous answers on getting a new battery. "It's Shimano handling the warranty, but maybe we can order it" ???

Back to the point at hand, what's going to happen to all those Decoys 5 years from now when they need new batteries? I'd love to buy a used Decoy or Bullit but I'd want to keep it for at least 5-7 years, which IMO is a reasonable amount of time to keep a bike when you have 2 others.

2
9/2/2025 4:49pm
Jotegr wrote:
Go DM Fresh Paints of Whistler or ETOE or anyone else who is doing bespoke, high quality custom painting and you too will see that 3-5k...

Go DM Fresh Paints of Whistler or ETOE or anyone else who is doing bespoke, high quality custom painting and you too will see that 3-5k is fairly market rate for top of the line work. Specialized is kinda semi production and way less cool, so it's less justified, but if someone at Seth's shop wanted to splash a ton of cash getting a true custom paint job, then it's not a surprising price. I probably have 150 hours into my Aurum and it's far from what some of these pro shops are putting out. 

Yeah, it runs you up a lot of money unless you know a guy who knows a guy...

Custom painting ain't for the faint of heart!

2
Jotegr
Posts
361
Joined
6/28/2024
Location
Interior, BC CA
9/2/2025 5:15pm
Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having...

Did not realize Bosch didn't allow 3rd party batteries. I'm all here for that. The more standardizing in eebs the better. It was not fun having an aging battery on my 2020 Norco Sight and wondering if I'd even be able to get a replacement. Would it be from Shimano? from Norco? What if I wanted another one 5 years down the trail? The custom battery made the bike feel disposable which is not a good look for any bike especially ebikes.

Jotegr wrote:
There's a reason Norco put those things on for 45% off and had a ton when they did that.  Also the wiring harness/battery interface didn't work half...

There's a reason Norco put those things on for 45% off and had a ton when they did that. 

 

Also the wiring harness/battery interface didn't work half the time. Really put a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths about the quality of Shimano EEB stuff, but in reality none of the Shimano stuff was the shit part. Bosch is on the right side of this one. 

Are you thinking of the Gen 2 Sight or the Gen 3 which had the "pick your battery size" idea with removable batteries? Mine was a...

Are you thinking of the Gen 2 Sight or the Gen 3 which had the "pick your battery size" idea with removable batteries? Mine was a Gen 2, with the non-removable battery made by Simplo. (but still plenty of wire harness issues and even broken chainstays!) My dealer would always give me nebulous answers on getting a new battery. "It's Shimano handling the warranty, but maybe we can order it" ???

Back to the point at hand, what's going to happen to all those Decoys 5 years from now when they need new batteries? I'd love to buy a used Decoy or Bullit but I'd want to keep it for at least 5-7 years, which IMO is a reasonable amount of time to keep a bike when you have 2 others.

I am speaking of the gen 2. By the time the Gen 3 was properly available I was outa there. I was also under the impression that the Gen 3 moved 100% to BOSCH. Gen 1 was shimano with aftermarket battery but not one that's easily removable (I take exception to the notion of a "nonremovable" battery. They are all removable, it's just a question of effort). Gen 2 was the "pick your battery size" shimano and somewhat removable. . 

I don't know about the US, but I can tell you with 100% certainty that in Canada, it was not Shimano handling the warranties on batteries and wiring harnesses. 

Edit: I think Norco's own documentation is a bit fucked because some describe the Gen 3 as shimano equipped and it just wasn't. Gen 3 is the very short lived horizontal shock and idler layout. Gen 4 is the vertical shock, idler equipped the new-new one, gen 2 is the no idler horizontal shock one with shimano swappable batteries, and gen 1 is the no idler vertical shock bike.  

2
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