MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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The Serious
Posts
24
Joined
6/2/2025
Location
christchurch NZ
9/29/2025 2:37pm
krabo83 wrote:
it‘s not a new rumor, but still a rumor IMO… is the new pivot phoenix dangerous? i‘ve never seen so many frames brake during normal usage...

it‘s not a new rumor, but still a rumor IMO… is the new pivot phoenix dangerous? i‘ve never seen so many frames brake during normal usage:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPJQ_vCjHts/?igsh=MTJnYjZ6d2NxZjczcw==

that‘s a 15y old girl on it!

No surprises here, the front fell off again. I hope she's okay!! Pivot needs to acknowledge these faults and start putting reinforcing material in all those...

No surprises here, the front fell off again. I hope she's okay!! Pivot needs to acknowledge these faults and start putting reinforcing material in all those weak spots, and probably do a recall too. 

This will forever be associated with Pivot.

9
9/29/2025 3:04pm

With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event and this one..  

2
brash
Posts
949
Joined
4/24/2019
Location
AU
9/29/2025 3:22pm
With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event...

With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event and this one..  

I'm not keeping a spreadsheet or anything but I think I've seen about 4 or 5 now.

13
9/29/2025 3:36pm Edited Date/Time 9/29/2025 3:45pm
brash wrote:

I'm not keeping a spreadsheet or anything but I think I've seen about 4 or 5 now.

Do you recall if they all seem to have broken in a similar fashion to the one posted here? If I see 4 or 5 broken the same way, that's enough to call it a pattern..

4
JordonMTB
Posts
3
Joined
9/14/2025
Location
Timmins, ON CA
9/29/2025 5:09pm
brash wrote:

I'm not keeping a spreadsheet or anything but I think I've seen about 4 or 5 now.

Do you recall if they all seem to have broken in a similar fashion to the one posted here? If I see 4 or 5 broken...

Do you recall if they all seem to have broken in a similar fashion to the one posted here? If I see 4 or 5 broken the same way, that's enough to call it a pattern..

BK's snapped seat stay from Hardline. Video of it - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PgKqMeKE_Xw

Screenshot 2025-09-29 at 8.06.12%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=F

 

3
9/29/2025 5:36pm
Goupil wrote:

Gravel bikes has become too wide of a category of bikes, what we need is subcategories! The downgravel, the enduravel, the graero...

 

Gravelcross?

Roadgravel?

Graveltrials?

Chunky road ride: Chode Ride 

When sustained for a longer duration it becomes a:  Grundle Grind'r

 

Vitalgrundle.com

9/29/2025 5:49pm
GRM50 wrote:
Not sure if this has been posted but got a picture of the bottom of the Brosnan's Boxxer at the US Open. I assume this is...

Not sure if this has been posted but got a picture of the bottom of the Brosnan's Boxxer at the US Open. I assume this is what's on the Zebb too. 
IMG 2861 0.jpeg?VersionId=f.UwdE51VR7.O9PgEX

1llumA wrote:
I know a few forks have negative air volume spacer but most of the time they are not meant to be switched around (ohlins, Fox 34SC)...

I know a few forks have negative air volume spacer but most of the time they are not meant to be switched around (ohlins, Fox 34SC) so this would the first fork to have adjustable negative air spring volume spacer ? And it would make sense that only the Zeb and Boxxer get this as their overall air spring volume is much bigger than the Sid/Pike/Lyrik.

The EXT Vaia uses volume spacers in the negative chamber. Ultra adjustable!

1
9/29/2025 6:09pm
With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event...

With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event and this one..  

BK had a broken seat stay with the production bike. 
Our rental shop Phoenix had a broken seat stay. 

This one is a totally different location. 

 

5
ratchet_catch
Posts
43
Joined
10/23/2022
Location
Albuquerque, NM US
9/29/2025 7:01pm
With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event...

With all due respect,  outside of BK's prototype,  how many have we seen broken? There were rumors about a production frame broke at a Hardline event and this one..  

BK had a broken seat stay with the production bike. 
Our rental shop Phoenix had a broken seat stay. 

This one is a totally different location. 

 

Yeah, those are all locations that definitely should not pivot.

16
2supple
Posts
99
Joined
1/23/2022
Location
Denver, CO US
9/29/2025 7:28pm
Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...

Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...IMG 7192

I heard it's gotta go back to prototype phase, wasn't quite ready

10
monarchmason
Posts
298
Joined
5/24/2022
Location
Nevada City, CA US
9/29/2025 9:40pm
2supple wrote:

I heard it's gotta go back to prototype phase, wasn't quite ready

Adding a third chain this time and maybe another shock but its just for the bottom bracket bash guard to compress.

6
Suns_PSD
Posts
368
Joined
10/7/2015
Location
Austin, TX US
9/30/2025 8:25am

An extra 1-2#'s of CF reinforcement on a DH bike just makes sense.

12
Suns_PSD
Posts
368
Joined
10/7/2015
Location
Austin, TX US
9/30/2025 8:26am
Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...

Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...IMG 7192

What am I looking at exactly here?!

4
9/30/2025 8:38am
Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...

Surely, we’ll be seeing this bike soon...IMG 7192

Suns_PSD wrote:

What am I looking at exactly here?!

Ride wrap announced they are sponsoring the team. 

monarchmason
Posts
298
Joined
5/24/2022
Location
Nevada City, CA US
9/30/2025 8:56am Edited Date/Time 9/30/2025 8:56am

The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it wondering if this is going to be a bike designed for those who want to put in an aftermarket gearbox in the future. They just replace the whole… box? Thing? When this originally came out I didnt pay it much attention since it seemed every week it was being changed drastically anyways. 

3
9/30/2025 9:25am
The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it...

The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it wondering if this is going to be a bike designed for those who want to put in an aftermarket gearbox in the future. They just replace the whole… box? Thing? When this originally came out I didnt pay it much attention since it seemed every week it was being changed drastically anyways. 

The old one had a lower pivot, which performed well enough, but it seemed like Specialized were concerned about it being too low down and at risk of being scuffed or bashed on rocks. When they moved the linkage out of the way, it changed the pedalling characteristics a heck of a lot, and not for the better. So either they could have made it with an idler that doesn't let the chain wrap around the chain ring for more than 8 or so teeth, or they go for the 2 chain route. IMO the chain system is a packaging compromise to fit the linkage they want in a way that isn't at risk of breaking on rocks etc.

6
9/30/2025 2:02pm
brash wrote:

I'm not keeping a spreadsheet or anything but I think I've seen about 4 or 5 now.

Do you recall if they all seem to have broken in a similar fashion to the one posted here? If I see 4 or 5 broken...

Do you recall if they all seem to have broken in a similar fashion to the one posted here? If I see 4 or 5 broken the same way, that's enough to call it a pattern..

There was one posted here from a DHSE race at Ride Rock Creek that broke in the same way this one did.

5
lcgrant
Posts
9
Joined
11/2/2017
Location
Boulder, CO US
Fantasy
9/30/2025 5:20pm
AJW1 wrote:
Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. Yesterday 1/4 posted...

Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. 
Yesterday 1/4 posted a ride called new bike day, she’s Called the bike BC40 sparkle, can only see that it’s got purple-ish forks; and has otherwise kept the bike hidden. 
Possibly new, possibly just a custom paint job, possibly new rockshox stuff about to be revealed?

IMG 3786.png?VersionId=xUz4v hYLIS1uz
 

dolface wrote:
It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could...

It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could see a chainstay pivot and afaik Allied doesn't have a crab-link bike.

My guess is just new paint on a BC40 though...

Couldn’t find if anyone has posted about this since. But looks like a new Allied trail or enduro bike? Given the BC40 is 120mm I’d bet over 160mm. Ridden by Anna Yamagucci (sp?) at Trans Cascadia. I just hope they keep that raw linkage…

IMG 2031.png?VersionId=hVHdIsUDbjhfAXSHpwT5
14
dolface
Posts
1679
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
9/30/2025 5:34pm
AJW1 wrote:
Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. Yesterday 1/4 posted...

Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. 
Yesterday 1/4 posted a ride called new bike day, she’s Called the bike BC40 sparkle, can only see that it’s got purple-ish forks; and has otherwise kept the bike hidden. 
Possibly new, possibly just a custom paint job, possibly new rockshox stuff about to be revealed?

IMG 3786.png?VersionId=xUz4v hYLIS1uz
 

dolface wrote:
It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could...

It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could see a chainstay pivot and afaik Allied doesn't have a crab-link bike.

My guess is just new paint on a BC40 though...

lcgrant wrote:
Couldn’t find if anyone has posted about this since. But looks like a new Allied trail or enduro bike? Given the BC40 is 120mm I’d bet...

Couldn’t find if anyone has posted about this since. But looks like a new Allied trail or enduro bike? Given the BC40 is 120mm I’d bet over 160mm. Ridden by Anna Yamagucci (sp?) at Trans Cascadia. I just hope they keep that raw linkage…

IMG 2031.png?VersionId=hVHdIsUDbjhfAXSHpwT5

Nice find! Poked around a little and found this on the other site:

11
9/30/2025 6:12pm
5
Primoz
Posts
4587
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
10/1/2025 2:39am
The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it...

The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it wondering if this is going to be a bike designed for those who want to put in an aftermarket gearbox in the future. They just replace the whole… box? Thing? When this originally came out I didnt pay it much attention since it seemed every week it was being changed drastically anyways. 

The old one had a lower pivot, which performed well enough, but it seemed like Specialized were concerned about it being too low down and at...

The old one had a lower pivot, which performed well enough, but it seemed like Specialized were concerned about it being too low down and at risk of being scuffed or bashed on rocks. When they moved the linkage out of the way, it changed the pedalling characteristics a heck of a lot, and not for the better. So either they could have made it with an idler that doesn't let the chain wrap around the chain ring for more than 8 or so teeth, or they go for the 2 chain route. IMO the chain system is a packaging compromise to fit the linkage they want in a way that isn't at risk of breaking on rocks etc.

I think they moved the pivot for performance reasons, not to protect the linkage from rock impacts. A bash guard could cover that and would add ballast very low down. 

1
1
lickmycrinkle
Posts
216
Joined
1/27/2021
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
10/1/2025 3:36am

Those rearmost frame bearings are going to last about 3 seconds. I think i'd take a filing cabinet over this.

1
1
10/1/2025 5:44am
The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it...

The new demo has me a little confused. Is the new drivetrain that they are using specifically just to mitigate kickback? I was looking at it wondering if this is going to be a bike designed for those who want to put in an aftermarket gearbox in the future. They just replace the whole… box? Thing? When this originally came out I didnt pay it much attention since it seemed every week it was being changed drastically anyways. 

The old one had a lower pivot, which performed well enough, but it seemed like Specialized were concerned about it being too low down and at...

The old one had a lower pivot, which performed well enough, but it seemed like Specialized were concerned about it being too low down and at risk of being scuffed or bashed on rocks. When they moved the linkage out of the way, it changed the pedalling characteristics a heck of a lot, and not for the better. So either they could have made it with an idler that doesn't let the chain wrap around the chain ring for more than 8 or so teeth, or they go for the 2 chain route. IMO the chain system is a packaging compromise to fit the linkage they want in a way that isn't at risk of breaking on rocks etc.

Primoz wrote:
I think they moved the pivot for performance reasons, not to protect the linkage from rock impacts. A bash guard could cover that and would add...

I think they moved the pivot for performance reasons, not to protect the linkage from rock impacts. A bash guard could cover that and would add ballast very low down. 

You can find photos of Finn dragging the link thru the ground.  It was a pretty clear problem for the race team let alone a bike you intend to sell to the public.  For me the redesign takes it from a bike I’d have zero interest in owning to a bike I simply probably can’t afford.


 

11
Etney
Posts
115
Joined
12/23/2024
Location
Frankfurt DE
10/1/2025 7:17am
AJW1 wrote:
Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. Yesterday 1/4 posted...

Kate Courtney is in Brazil already, posted a ride 31/3 with a pic of what I guess is her regular BC40 with red SIDs. 
Yesterday 1/4 posted a ride called new bike day, she’s Called the bike BC40 sparkle, can only see that it’s got purple-ish forks; and has otherwise kept the bike hidden. 
Possibly new, possibly just a custom paint job, possibly new rockshox stuff about to be revealed?

IMG 3786.png?VersionId=xUz4v hYLIS1uz
 

dolface wrote:
It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could...

It could be a new bike; she posted a pic from Allied HQ w/ a frame in the stand that was blacked out but you could see a chainstay pivot and afaik Allied doesn't have a crab-link bike.

My guess is just new paint on a BC40 though...

lcgrant wrote:
Couldn’t find if anyone has posted about this since. But looks like a new Allied trail or enduro bike? Given the BC40 is 120mm I’d bet...

Couldn’t find if anyone has posted about this since. But looks like a new Allied trail or enduro bike? Given the BC40 is 120mm I’d bet over 160mm. Ridden by Anna Yamagucci (sp?) at Trans Cascadia. I just hope they keep that raw linkage…

IMG 2031.png?VersionId=hVHdIsUDbjhfAXSHpwT5

Since it runs a Lyrik up front, I would guess its probably a 150/160 bike, or maybe one step smaller. Or as the trend is of lately, a bike that can run multiple setups with different links. 

4
10/1/2025 9:07am

From the pits in Lake Placid today (Pit Bits vid coming in a few hours). What looks like dimples on the stanchion of a Boxxer, I'd assume to reduce friction. Forum expert opinion thoughts?

8d853f8f-b02a-4ef8-931e-c828d7ab3069
24
Nobble
Posts
227
Joined
9/24/2010
Location
Lakewood, CO US
10/1/2025 9:17am
From the pits in Lake Placid today (Pit Bits vid coming in a few hours). What looks like dimples on the stanchion of a Boxxer, I'd...

From the pits in Lake Placid today (Pit Bits vid coming in a few hours). What looks like dimples on the stanchion of a Boxxer, I'd assume to reduce friction. Forum expert opinion thoughts?

8d853f8f-b02a-4ef8-931e-c828d7ab3069

Looks like there are 4 holes in a row on the tube too.


Some sort of air volume adjustment maybe?

1
Finkill
Posts
233
Joined
9/2/2015
Location
GB
10/1/2025 9:18am
From the pits in Lake Placid today (Pit Bits vid coming in a few hours). What looks like dimples on the stanchion of a Boxxer, I'd...

From the pits in Lake Placid today (Pit Bits vid coming in a few hours). What looks like dimples on the stanchion of a Boxxer, I'd assume to reduce friction. Forum expert opinion thoughts?

8d853f8f-b02a-4ef8-931e-c828d7ab3069

Bushes with dimples (to hold lubricant) are quite common, I guess it could work on the other sliding surface. Wonder what it does to the fatigue life of the stanchion? 

3
Dave_Camp
Posts
460
Joined
8/25/2009
Location
CO US
10/1/2025 9:23am Edited Date/Time 10/1/2025 9:39am

The holes let oil up to the upper bushing… those are already on current 38 boxxer.


Someone patented the channel around the bushings. 

I’m sure fatigue is been calculated and tested. RS didn’t mess around with fatigue.

Also curious how they’re making the dimples. 

20
Digit Bikes
Posts
182
Joined
9/22/2021
Location
Irvine, CA US
10/1/2025 10:11am
rokkitan wrote:
SRAM Motive brakes seems to have gotten an update on the hose exit angle:https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain/collections/brakes/brake-collections/heavy-duty-brakesI was bummed they Motive didn't launch with that, but now...

SRAM Motive brakes seems to have gotten an update on the hose exit angle:
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain/collections/brakes/brake-collections/heavy-duty-brakes

I was bummed they Motive didn't launch with that, but now it seems fixed. The new versions end with A2 instead of A1, but otherwise seem identical.

That is better. Though I tried and tried to make it work, I never took a bike out of the workstand with the previous routing because it was so ugly.

2
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