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Yes it is split pivot. I think the shock might be vertical orientation judging on how it moved when he sat down on it but not positive on that. Hard to tell but I was betting maybe DeVinci as well considering the relative locality. I know Faction employees test bikes as Highland because I’ve talked to one of them with a proto Frameworks there before.
The other brands I can think of that use split pivot are Canyon, Orbea, and Trek, all of which have race teams that have developed bikes recently and wouldn’t need Faction to help them.
Ah. Yeah… new Range maybe?
Kona getting back into the game?
Whatever it is, it looks like the seat angle could be steeper. :o
So in that case its Kona… certain things are hard to unlearn lol
It might be:
-Ibis / Polygon
New Enduro
With what looks like a production-ready DH T-type group from SRAM on the horizon, clearly shown on a host of pro bikes towards the end of this past season, sporting tactically placed tape to conceal branding, what DH frames are currently UDH compatible? Could an impending release from SRAM herald some new or updated options in the DH frame market, or would SRAM need a cable-actuated T-type group to accompany the wireless offering to make it worthwhile for frame manufacturers?
My thoughts as well. It's looking like DH bikes will shift to UDH sooner than later, which isn't the worst thing in the world. Maybe we'll see more adjustable/replaceable dropouts with UDH mounts soon to help maintain rider customization.
So far, brands with UDH or UDH-compatible setup off the top of my head: Frameworks, Orbea, Specialized, Commencal (special made seat/chainstay), Crestline, YT (RIP).
A few more that are UDH... Atherton, Pivot, Trek, Canyon, Forbidden.
Whatever it is, those linkage bearings are going to die a very quick death
How many links is to many?
By that i mean, does the extra complication add so much benefit compared to a crab?
So, it depends on who's designing it. I've been developing a 6-bar mid-pivot suspension system for the past year and I found that having an idler pulley on a twin-link chainstay that rotates around a virtual centre is very good for the anti-squat. My theory is that it will pedal much like a VPP but will have the anti-rise properties of a mid-pivot bike. 4 extra bearings per link is a lot of extra complication and brings the bearing total to a heinous 20, since I'm using double row bearings at the point where the seatstay meets the rocker and chainstay. I draw the line at 8 bars though.
He isn’t wearing fox clothing though…
Something screams scor at me with this bike but they went out of business, somehow…BMC, the company behind it, might want to give it another try.
I think that’s a good guess. The cable port is similar to Norco (and Scor), but the area where the seat tube and top tube meet definitely doesn’t look like a Norco. It does, however, look similar to the 4060.
four
Oh you…. 😉
Im sorry. I said Santa Cruz before and I dont know why. The frame reminds me of an Intense. The cable routing port, the beveling to to the bearing on the upper link. Sharp thin shock mounting frame tabs. Also makes the components make a little more sense. At least to me.
A bike that looks so production-ready, yet it does not have an in-frame storage, should give a clear clue what company is behind it.
That was my first thought as well.
Yeti is probably sick of warrantying clapped out SI sliders that wear despite regular maintenance.
I like the idea of the 6 bar design and getting away from the SI sliders and grease maintenance ritual. But the sheer number of additional bearings (~8!) that are required for the 6 bar, plus the low deflection angles makes me think it will be a notchy bearing generator if not kept up with.
The current SI platform already needed the central pivot and main upper rocker bearings to be spun regularly to keep running smooth. Can't imagine keeping 10+ running smooth in regular wet conditions.
Is replacing 8 more bearings when you already have your linkage blown apart really that big of a deal? I don’t ride a crazy amount, but I do ride a good amount, and I do not replace my bearings more than every other year. Most of the time they are still fine. Unless you’re in the top 0.1% of riders I don’t see any reason why you should be replacing bearings more than once a year. So maybe 8 more bearings to change might take another 2 hours if you’re severely bad at using tools. I spend more than 2 hours a week on this silly page lol.
I’m not advocating for 6 bar bikes, but it makes me scream inside when people won’t stop complaining about some imaginary bearing nightmare that doesn’t really exist.
As a (retired ish) bike mechanic, I'd say it can be quite the hassle. Really depends on how well is the frame made more than most. There are brands I'd maybe turn away if they had 20 bearings needing replacement.
Now we don't all replace bearings all the time, but things add up and then you're servicing suspension, tensioning wheels, keeping up with consumables and next thing you know you need a massive job at the bike shop to get some bearings in, some may be seized in their slots..
It's obviously about balance, and maybe less of an issue of you don't live in a place with 7 continuous months of heavy rain. But shortly after I got into riding a lot, I started strongly prioritizing making my bikes as maintenance-free as possible. Which is either coming from durability or ease of service..ideally both.
Anyone have any updates on the release timing for the new Banshee Titan? And feature speculation?
BotD made me think of it.
I'm talking about maintaining the bearings by fully rotating/spinning them to redistribute the grease and prevent them from seizing. Often times in links that see only a few degrees of rotation the bearings will wear into a spot where they move freely in the used range, but there is a wall of resistance past that. Giving them periodic rotation will increase the life.
I personally had my various Yetis seize the bearings within the SI shuttle and doing the ole grease n' spin got them back without needing replacement.
Regarding this 'too many bearings' thing I'm imagining those infomercials where the actor over dramatically struggles with something and loses conttol but its bearings and they go flying all over the place.
20 bearings is only if you're going double row in some locations and use a trunnion shock. If I wasn't designing a bike around existing hardware (broke student problems) I'd knock off the trunnion shock in favour of conventional and replace the double row bearings with a beefier captive single row, which reduces the total to a slightly less insane 14.
I've posted a story last week how Keith's personal prototype was stolen, he said only the swingarm is new to test some things, from the photo it didnt really look any different. There were some pictures from some time ago where it looked like it could house UDH. Thats what I remember. I always had the idea Banshee would not release a new bike without serious improvement and with present generation its just hard to do that, their bikes are just as relevant today as they were when released in 2019...
It depends on the bike. Some bikes are easier to change bearings than others, some bikes wear bearings out faster. If you have a bike that is both difficult to change bearings on and eats bearings it would get old fast.