MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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brash
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4/24/2019
Location
AU
9/10/2025 2:35pm

Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled. Who knows. 

That fork did look kind of funny, but Loic has always ran his fork very open from my calibrated eyeballs.

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2
9/11/2025 3:34am
brash wrote:
Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled...

Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled. Who knows. 

That fork did look kind of funny, but Loic has always ran his fork very open from my calibrated eyeballs.

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

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3
boozed
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Location
AU
9/11/2025 3:46am
brash wrote:
Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled...

Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled. Who knows. 

That fork did look kind of funny, but Loic has always ran his fork very open from my calibrated eyeballs.

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs. I could...

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

The podcast selector on his handlebar could have malfunctioned

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1
AJW1
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Location
Bracknell GB
9/11/2025 4:09am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2025 4:10am
brash wrote:
Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled...

Someone on PB said it could be a ruse and that a "mechanical" was the reason for his mistake, rather than letting JG know he crumbled. Who knows. 

That fork did look kind of funny, but Loic has always ran his fork very open from my calibrated eyeballs.

Got no figures to back this up but purely from my memory, Bruni has crashed while being: 

a) last to drop

and

b) ahead on split time

more than any other racer in history.

Thats more of a compliment of how often he actually gets himself into that situation (and that he is so close to the edge of whats possible), rather than a critisism.

I don't think he's ever blamed the team, the bike, the components, the mechanic or anyone but himself.

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1
9/11/2025 9:22am
He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs. I could...

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

What does French style refer to...?

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comatosegi
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8/28/2025
Location
Portland, OR US
9/11/2025 9:54am
Etney wrote:
Maybe not the most interesting news but - For you who run the AXS Transmission groupset from SRAMApparently there is a new update coming any day...

Maybe not the most interesting news but - For you who run the AXS Transmission groupset from SRAM

Apparently there is a new update coming any day now that is supposed to speed up shifting, similar to XPLR speeds.

Not sure how it will work, since afaik its designed to shift only at the ramp in the casette to shift smoothly even under full power. Dont know how increased speed will affect that. 

segamethod wrote:
The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position...

The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position, torque, or anything else going on -- so it's simply not a real thing. It was just rate limited to make sure us hoons didn't blow up chains too quickly. The existence of Transmission mechanical groupsets is evidence enought that you can bang shifts as fast as you want and things are hunky dorry.

I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based on gear.

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9/11/2025 9:56am
He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs. I could...

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

What does French style refer to...?

In a nutshell: a suspension setup with a soft, but progressive spring setup with firm compression damping and fast rebound.

A bit different than the historic, stereotypical elite racer setup – extra firm everything.

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9/11/2025 10:04am Edited Date/Time 9/11/2025 12:19pm
Etney wrote:
Maybe not the most interesting news but - For you who run the AXS Transmission groupset from SRAMApparently there is a new update coming any day...

Maybe not the most interesting news but - For you who run the AXS Transmission groupset from SRAM

Apparently there is a new update coming any day now that is supposed to speed up shifting, similar to XPLR speeds.

Not sure how it will work, since afaik its designed to shift only at the ramp in the casette to shift smoothly even under full power. Dont know how increased speed will affect that. 

segamethod wrote:
The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position...

The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position, torque, or anything else going on -- so it's simply not a real thing. It was just rate limited to make sure us hoons didn't blow up chains too quickly. The existence of Transmission mechanical groupsets is evidence enought that you can bang shifts as fast as you want and things are hunky dorry.

comatosegi wrote:
I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based...

I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based on gear.

Interesting, but it doesn't know your cadence, so this is an approximation at best. I'm sure most riders are operating in a predictable cadence range, so it's likely better than nothing. Nevertheless, the root of this discussion is the news that they removed/increased said shift speed limitation.

2
Jotegr
Posts
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Location
Interior, BC CA
9/11/2025 10:26am
He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs. I could...

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

What does French style refer to...?

In a nutshell: a suspension setup with a soft, but progressive spring setup with firm compression damping and fast rebound.A bit different than the historic, stereotypical...

In a nutshell: a suspension setup with a soft, but progressive spring setup with firm compression damping and fast rebound.

A bit different than the historic, stereotypical elite racer setup – extra firm everything.

And here I thought it meant cutting corners 

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dwhere
Posts
195
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Location
dirty, DE US
Fantasy
9/11/2025 10:28am
He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs. I could...

He runs his suspension French style. I helped my enduro racer friend set up his bike like that and he's set a bunch of KoMs.

 I could buy the logic that Loic has some delicate or fiddly prototype technology in those forks that probably just gave out during the run.

What does French style refer to...?

You ever heard of froggy style? It’s kinda like that. 

3
comatosegi
Posts
78
Joined
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Location
Portland, OR US
9/11/2025 10:39am
segamethod wrote:
The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position...

The "only shifts at the ramps" thing is a myth that SRAM isn't going out of their way to correct. There is no sensing of position, torque, or anything else going on -- so it's simply not a real thing. It was just rate limited to make sure us hoons didn't blow up chains too quickly. The existence of Transmission mechanical groupsets is evidence enought that you can bang shifts as fast as you want and things are hunky dorry.

comatosegi wrote:
I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based...

I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based on gear.

segamethod wrote:
Interesting, but it doesn't know your cadence, so this is an approximation at best. I'm sure most riders are operating in a predictable cadence range, so...

Interesting, but it doesn't know your cadence, so this is an approximation at best. I'm sure most riders are operating in a predictable cadence range, so it's likely better than nothing. Nevertheless, the root of this discussion is the news that they removed/increased said shift speed limitation.

Yeah, just ran the update, it’s noticeably quicker.

With old software, if I was in wrong gear, the slower cadence def reduced shift quality.

1
senorbanana
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Location
San Jose, CA US
9/11/2025 10:40am
IMG 1325
4
1
9/11/2025 11:46am
comatosegi wrote:
I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based...

I talked to a SRAM PM about that.  T-Type knows how many shift ramps there are per a gear, so it changes shift timing delay based on gear.

segamethod wrote:
Interesting, but it doesn't know your cadence, so this is an approximation at best. I'm sure most riders are operating in a predictable cadence range, so...

Interesting, but it doesn't know your cadence, so this is an approximation at best. I'm sure most riders are operating in a predictable cadence range, so it's likely better than nothing. Nevertheless, the root of this discussion is the news that they removed/increased said shift speed limitation.

comatosegi wrote:

Yeah, just ran the update, it’s noticeably quicker.

With old software, if I was in wrong gear, the slower cadence def reduced shift quality.

So I have XO AXS on my Hightower, just curious how I connect the devices themselves to the app? Went on the app and I wasn’t prompted for anything? 

Do I need to do something else? 

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AndehM
Posts
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Location
El Granada, CA US
Fantasy
9/11/2025 11:50am
So I have XO AXS on my Hightower, just curious how I connect the devices themselves to the app? Went on the app and I wasn’t...

So I have XO AXS on my Hightower, just curious how I connect the devices themselves to the app? Went on the app and I wasn’t prompted for anything? 

Do I need to do something else? 

You first create a bike profile, then after it's created there should be a button for "add components."  I think if your pod/derailleur (plus dropper & it's pod if you have them) are already paired together, it then has you press and hold the button on the derailleur, then it grabs everything in the system (so you don't need to add all the subcomponents individually), but I can't recall exactly.

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1
9/11/2025 12:34pm
So I have XO AXS on my Hightower, just curious how I connect the devices themselves to the app? Went on the app and I wasn’t...

So I have XO AXS on my Hightower, just curious how I connect the devices themselves to the app? Went on the app and I wasn’t prompted for anything? 

Do I need to do something else? 

AndehM wrote:
You first create a bike profile, then after it's created there should be a button for "add components."  I think if your pod/derailleur (plus dropper &...

You first create a bike profile, then after it's created there should be a button for "add components."  I think if your pod/derailleur (plus dropper & it's pod if you have them) are already paired together, it then has you press and hold the button on the derailleur, then it grabs everything in the system (so you don't need to add all the subcomponents individually), but I can't recall exactly.

Thank you. I appreciate it. 

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1
9/11/2025 1:49pm

What does French style refer to...?

A bit more sag, a lot more compression, faster rebound.

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9/12/2025 12:59am

Commencal to go with DJI soon?

Screenshot 2025-09-12 at 7.57.58%E2%80%AFPM

9/12/2025 5:04am

I would think the rate of progression in ebike motors has got to be a product manager nightmare.. You start a new bike project with the latest, greatest, bestest motor on the market.. Half way through the development process, someone comes out with something new that makes the system you chose seem like old news... So, your new bike is viewed as off the back on the day it launches...

I'll take jobs I'm glad I don't have for $100 please..

18
Primoz
Posts
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Location
SI
9/12/2025 5:43am

It was the same with drivetrains and geometries 10 years ago. It will smooth out. 

4
9/12/2025 6:07am
Primoz wrote:

It was the same with drivetrains and geometries 10 years ago. It will smooth out. 

At least with most drivetrains they don't require a redesign of the frame.. Unless you didn't get the UDH memo.. Even geometry can be tweaked somewhat easily, unless you are working with carbon.. Maybe at some point, motor mounts will standardize and maybe do a slightly bigger hole with an insert for the different displays... 

1
Primoz
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Location
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9/12/2025 6:59am Edited Date/Time 9/12/2025 6:59am

Seatpost insertion lengths. 🙂

I think it's unlikely there will be a consolidation when it comes to the mounting interface as that is precisely what gives "you", the motor supplier, some assurance you will be selling units. If it was the same across different suppliers, you could be dropped for DJI in a heartbeat.

There is zero incentive to be cross compatible, unless you're a niche, small scale manufacturer and looking to get your foot in the door. Bosch, Brose, DJI and the like are not such companies. 

3
swoopswoop
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Location
Caerphilly GB
9/12/2025 7:07am
I would think the rate of progression in ebike motors has got to be a product manager nightmare.. You start a new bike project with the...

I would think the rate of progression in ebike motors has got to be a product manager nightmare.. You start a new bike project with the latest, greatest, bestest motor on the market.. Half way through the development process, someone comes out with something new that makes the system you chose seem like old news... So, your new bike is viewed as off the back on the day it launches...

I'll take jobs I'm glad I don't have for $100 please..

Ibis released the Oso earlier this year with the Gen 4 Bosch CX motor, just as Bosch released the Gen 5 CX motor. The new Oso was half the price of the previous one, which I doubt would have been the case if it had a current-generation motor in it.

 

9/12/2025 7:19am

Are ebike motors getting smaller? 
If not would it make sense to have a universal mount standard? Give options for motor swaps. 
just a thought, might be a dumb one. 

2
nskerb
Posts
346
Joined
3/3/2020
Location
Kelso, WA US
9/12/2025 7:21am

I listened to the PB podcast on my way to work this morning and they talked about the new Norco revolver for a bit. Did I miss the launch? Seems to have just kind of released with any announcement?

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9/12/2025 7:40am
lloyd506 wrote:
Are ebike motors getting smaller? If not would it make sense to have a universal mount standard? Give options for motor swaps. just a thought, might be a...

Are ebike motors getting smaller? 
If not would it make sense to have a universal mount standard? Give options for motor swaps. 
just a thought, might be a dumb one. 

They are, especially from non-traditional companies. What is it now, two years in a row that a German automotive company has released a full-power motor that is almost half the size of others. The form factors across the industry seem just different enough to warrant not needing a universal mount. Then there's the whole "optimization" of the system that may feel restricted by a universal mount. 

My optimistic outlook is that the war will rage on for years, and eventually we'll have a frontrunner that most brands will follow, like how Effigear finally adopted the Pinion mount as standard. I also fear that by then, I'll be too old and broken to be able to enjoy such a universal standard and have to talk about the dark days with younger riders.

Primoz
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4585
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Location
SI
9/12/2025 7:55am Edited Date/Time 9/12/2025 7:57am

If we look at motorcycles, as @jeff.brines also likes to point out often, there's a lot more integration overall compared to what we have. Bikes are a lot more similar to old desktop PCs that are also slowly going the way of the dodo in favour of more specialized, integrated products. I fear bikes will sooner go this way as well as opposed to a standard ebike motor mount. And I mean it when I say bikes above, all bikes, not ebikes. 

Even if you had a universal motor mount standard, you'd still need to standardise the battery mount and the control interface (at least let it be handlebar mounted if nothing else) for it to work. A standard motor mount doesn't help you much if you can't fit a battery compatible with the new motor. 

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9/12/2025 8:29am

Someone here had to have predicted DJI's entry into the ebike motor market right?? In hindsight this is the most obvious thing ever. 

My bold prediction is that Shimano will eventually exit the motor market. A bike component/fishing reel company with the slow Japanese engineering philosophy (which is why I like them for the record) just can't compete with Bosch and DJI in terms of speed or technical/engineering. Same prediction but double for SRAM Powertrain. Raise your hand if you've never seen one of those motors in person.

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1
AndehM
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Location
El Granada, CA US
Fantasy
9/12/2025 8:46am
Someone here had to have predicted DJI's entry into the ebike motor market right?? In hindsight this is the most obvious thing ever. My bold prediction is...

Someone here had to have predicted DJI's entry into the ebike motor market right?? In hindsight this is the most obvious thing ever. 

My bold prediction is that Shimano will eventually exit the motor market. A bike component/fishing reel company with the slow Japanese engineering philosophy (which is why I like them for the record) just can't compete with Bosch and DJI in terms of speed or technical/engineering. Same prediction but double for SRAM Powertrain. Raise your hand if you've never seen one of those motors in person.

You're kidding right?  You haven't seen the patent applications from SRAM around motor gearbox units?  Given their influence in the OEM market, there is a 0% chance they are leaving the ebike market, especially given how many electronic products they've been developing.  The Powertrain motor is basically just a rebadged Brose motor, but with SRAM software.  My impression is it was a way for them to start building knowledge about what works and doesn't, and collect usage data, rather than trying to take over the market.

2
Primoz
Posts
4585
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
9/12/2025 9:10am Edited Date/Time 9/12/2025 9:12am
Someone here had to have predicted DJI's entry into the ebike motor market right?? In hindsight this is the most obvious thing ever. My bold prediction is...

Someone here had to have predicted DJI's entry into the ebike motor market right?? In hindsight this is the most obvious thing ever. 

My bold prediction is that Shimano will eventually exit the motor market. A bike component/fishing reel company with the slow Japanese engineering philosophy (which is why I like them for the record) just can't compete with Bosch and DJI in terms of speed or technical/engineering. Same prediction but double for SRAM Powertrain. Raise your hand if you've never seen one of those motors in person.

AndehM wrote:
You're kidding right?  You haven't seen the patent applications from SRAM around motor gearbox units?  Given their influence in the OEM market, there is a 0%...

You're kidding right?  You haven't seen the patent applications from SRAM around motor gearbox units?  Given their influence in the OEM market, there is a 0% chance they are leaving the ebike market, especially given how many electronic products they've been developing.  The Powertrain motor is basically just a rebadged Brose motor, but with SRAM software.  My impression is it was a way for them to start building knowledge about what works and doesn't, and collect usage data, rather than trying to take over the market.

This. Sram was making wheels to sell more stuff to bike makers. Why in the world would they cut the biggest slice of the pie? Plus integration wise they are the best positioned to increase that. Hell, Sram entering complete bike business makes more sense than exiting ebikes. 

Also, why is DJI entering ebike market so obvious?

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