Hello Vital MTB Visitor,
We’re conducting a survey and would appreciate your input. Your answers will help Vital and the MTB industry better understand what riders like you want. Survey results will be used to recognize top brands. Make your voice heard!
Five lucky people will be selected at random to win a Vital MTB t-shirt.
Thanks in advance,
The Vital MTB Crew
To celebrate making it to 1000 pages in the Tech Rumors thread, here's some news about the one "innovation" no one asked for:
The UCI just communicated that they will allow 32" wheels for use in XC mountainbike competition for the 2026 season.
Though they very specifically stated only the 2026 season, so here's to hoping they will come to their senses for 2027 and beyond.
For the 2026 season this will probably mean lots of frankenstein'd 32" prototypes at the races.
Rumour-ish, but the Transition Spire will not be updated until mid to late next year. Transition focusing on the TR11 (which we know) and some e-bike stuff.
Since the UCI said allowing 32” wheels applies to DH as well as XC. Let’s place bets on which company will be the first to try and 32”/29” mega-mullet DH bike. I’m not saying it will ever go into production or even raced at a WC, but there has to be at least one manufacturer/team that will experiment.
Aon Racing for sure, they love to get weird.
Come to think of it, Devinci will most likely be launching a long-overdue Spartan update this year. Heard it will match the rest of the lineup as a made-in-Canada frame with similar design language. Allegedly, some very aggressive geo as well. Also, new Norco DH bike....
$5 on Gamux x Manitou if Reece stays with those partners. Seems like they're hellbent on trying everything. The thigh-grippers/femoral artery shredder device will need redesigned to fit those 32" wheels though
Since we talked about the Demo yesterday
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/specialized-patent-reveals-demo-two-chain-drivetrain-layout.html
awesome to understand a bit more about that bike!
now... release it please
Mega-mega mullet, 32/26
I for one am tired of all of these fancy suspension designs. when will a company invent a frame without rear suspension? no more pesky bearing service or arguments about chain growth. True progress!
Someone will have to make some 32" DH tires first. As soon as that happens I would expect lots of experiments to happen.
Looks like there's not just a pulley on the BB spindle, they've also squeezed a tensioner in there for the second chain.
Interesting that they've taken this approach vs how Pivot handles it with an eccentric axle.
the tensioner is on the wrong side if you want an ochain alternative!
So glad all those 6'8" UCI XC riders can finally fit on properly sized bikes!
About two meters.
SRAM AXS beta firmware... looks like they've got a faster Bluetooth protocol coming...
I appreciate how the drawing looks like what happens in linkage if you only model the rear end and don't set the rest of the geo properly, like fork length etc and you get this weird 100mm travel 85 degree head angle DH bike😅
Ratio have just released a modular, servicable mech with a direct hanger option. Similar concept to the Madrone Jab in that it has replacable fins for different shifter and cassette combos. I'd love to see a comparison review of these because currently the derailleur is one of the fastest wearing components on my bike and so a fully servicable one would be cool.
It kinda looks like it could be a generic bike out of Asia also. I have seen quite a few open mold companies selling direct and coming out side some actually nice looking designs. It could also explain the parts mix that is on it. If it was a photo for a larger company, it wouldn't have lower/mid-tier products on it. That said, what's going on with the chain stay? It looks beat to hell and I'm hoping that black piece is just a shadow, it looks like it's a leaf spring or just flat out broken.
Know of any US distribution for them? The duties/fees etc would probably make it pretty prohibitive currently.
Heel rub
Peeked the prototype sixfinity Yeti SB160 while on my ride today. Didn’t get the greatest look as they were being sneaky-sneaky with it. I chatted to the product manager (who was on SB140) a bit, all he’d divulge was that it was the SB160 and that it’s a “sweet bike”, while the guy on the 160 was hiding in the bushes. But what I saw was a vertical shock orientation, and frame storage door, looked sleek AF and could be close to production ready...
I know the visuals and tubing profiles aren't the same, but the suspension design is (minus the horst link)
Any hints about the DH bike project?
Crazy thing: a friend of mine was told their race team won’t get them until May or June. Basically halfway through the season. They have to come up with something else to start the year on...
Is a Penny-farthing the actual true crab?
VisionVelo
downtube storage sounds nice, but hope that doesn‘t make the downtube as thick looking as a light e-bike (looking at you santa cruz).
Nope, the tubing didnt look any thicker than the current line up of bikes.
nice, guess launch will be around summer 2026.