MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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12/22/2025 6:07am
peecee wrote:
Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Screenshot 2025-12-22 at 7.14.12%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?VersionId=yBIr

Anyone with a CNC could make one of these out of a dissent and a vitus sommet if they really wanted to

6
TheFBI
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12/22/2025 6:19am
peecee wrote:
Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Screenshot 2025-12-22 at 7.14.12%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?VersionId=yBIr

Anyone with a CNC could make one of these out of a dissent and a vitus sommet if they really wanted to

Anyone with a CNC could make a Gamux Sego too if they REALLY wanted to

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12/22/2025 5:31pm
TheFBI wrote:

Anyone with a CNC could make a Gamux Sego too if they REALLY wanted to

Touché

1
12/23/2025 4:15am
peecee wrote:
Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Thought this would have trickled over from team rumours already but I guess not.

Screenshot 2025-12-22 at 7.14.12%E2%80%AFPM.jpg?VersionId=yBIr

Maybe there's a better thread but

 

Assuming they kept the leverage curve mostly the same, wouldn't it be easier to just add a floating brake arm

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Primoz
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12/23/2025 6:08am

I'd say that the assumption of keeping the leverage curve mostly the same is the issue here - I'd say the reason to go this way is precisely optimising the leverage curve.

I'm not that intune with how the leverage curve is affected by different pivot positions, but time and time again we've seen multi-link bikes driving the shock from the lower link - Specialized with the original Demo and the two current tube and lug prototypes, Santa Cruz moving the whole lineup to be lower link driven when the majority of pedaled bikes previously were driving the shock from the upper link.

Granted, the way Dissent has the two pivots positioned, it's likely this was the easiest way to drive the shock with a horst link, but still, I'd say there's something in there connected to the leverage curve.

1
12/23/2025 7:10am
Primoz wrote:
I'd say that the assumption of keeping the leverage curve mostly the same is the issue here - I'd say the reason to go this way...

I'd say that the assumption of keeping the leverage curve mostly the same is the issue here - I'd say the reason to go this way is precisely optimising the leverage curve.

I'm not that intune with how the leverage curve is affected by different pivot positions, but time and time again we've seen multi-link bikes driving the shock from the lower link - Specialized with the original Demo and the two current tube and lug prototypes, Santa Cruz moving the whole lineup to be lower link driven when the majority of pedaled bikes previously were driving the shock from the upper link.

Granted, the way Dissent has the two pivots positioned, it's likely this was the easiest way to drive the shock with a horst link, but still, I'd say there's something in there connected to the leverage curve.

Checking back on the existing Dissent, the linkage that drives the shock is essentially the same (vertical link, chain-stay & link connecting the two) I'm guessing that the leverage curve is about the same as before. As opposed to a floating brake arm, the crab link lets you change the axle path so you can optimize both the anti-rise and anti-squat (though in this setup you can't optimize them independently).

bermed
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12/23/2025 1:14pm

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

4
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chriskief
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12/23/2025 1:26pm
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

3
12/23/2025 6:05pm
Primoz wrote:
I'd say that the assumption of keeping the leverage curve mostly the same is the issue here - I'd say the reason to go this way...

I'd say that the assumption of keeping the leverage curve mostly the same is the issue here - I'd say the reason to go this way is precisely optimising the leverage curve.

I'm not that intune with how the leverage curve is affected by different pivot positions, but time and time again we've seen multi-link bikes driving the shock from the lower link - Specialized with the original Demo and the two current tube and lug prototypes, Santa Cruz moving the whole lineup to be lower link driven when the majority of pedaled bikes previously were driving the shock from the upper link.

Granted, the way Dissent has the two pivots positioned, it's likely this was the easiest way to drive the shock with a horst link, but still, I'd say there's something in there connected to the leverage curve.

Wasn’t the V10 driving the shock from the lower link way back?

1
sethimus
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12/23/2025 6:56pm
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

so you want them to go out of business?

2
10
Evwan
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12/23/2025 8:23pm
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

In the announcement video they say it's something they've wanted to do since day one. 

I'm curious to see how they integrate the battery into their existing design style. I could see them doing something similar to the Cotic ebike, where the normal bike tubes are also used on the ebike, but with an external battery. Will have to wait til Jan to find out I guess. 

4
12/23/2025 9:54pm Edited Date/Time 12/23/2025 9:57pm
63expert wrote:

Wasn’t the V10 driving the shock from the lower link way back?

V10 always had the lower link drive the shock all the way from the first gen in 2002. But first lower link driving the shock trail/enduro bike was the Nomad 4 in 2017.

Edit: nvm I forgot the Driver 8 existed.

6
Primoz
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12/24/2025 12:50am

Yeah, the V10 was always lower link driven and that's why SC wanted to move the whole lineup to that layout, because it had benefits to the suspension performance. But the way the V10 is laid out makes sense for a DH bike, but not for something that needs a long dropper post and a water bottle. That's why it took so long for the rest of the lineup to move over. 

6
12/24/2025 2:54am
Primoz wrote:
Yeah, the V10 was always lower link driven and that's why SC wanted to move the whole lineup to that layout, because it had benefits to...

Yeah, the V10 was always lower link driven and that's why SC wanted to move the whole lineup to that layout, because it had benefits to the suspension performance. But the way the V10 is laid out makes sense for a DH bike, but not for something that needs a long dropper post and a water bottle. That's why it took so long for the rest of the lineup to move over. 

And then they said, “Oh, hell with that, we gotta put a motor there!”

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Javigutz
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12/24/2025 3:39am
iceman2058 wrote:

Latest electronic shifting spy shot (apparently we are finally getting a reverse gear as well, after all this time we've been asking for it):

12 speed til´infinity 

1
12/24/2025 5:43am

Intend dropper features in their happy holidays newsletter. 
 

IMG 2941 0.jpeg?VersionId=t79sKa
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jalopyj
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12/24/2025 11:11am

Aenomoly coming out with an updated switchgrade with 8 steps and ability to use limit screws to define rotation limits. 

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ballz
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12/24/2025 4:52pm
jalopyj wrote:

Aenomoly coming out with an updated switchgrade with 8 steps and ability to use limit screws to define rotation limits. 

I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things get busy, I can't imagine dealing with eight.

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bikelurker
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12/24/2025 5:25pm
jalopyj wrote:

Aenomoly coming out with an updated switchgrade with 8 steps and ability to use limit screws to define rotation limits. 

ballz wrote:
I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things...

I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things get busy, I can't imagine dealing with eight.

1 position is enough, 3 is a luxury. 8 is a need for diversification, to keep the lights of a good business on, but also, an offer asking to appeal for a different market, people looking at longer distances and Endurance riding, a totally different, still extreme discipline, where every small advantege counts, where comfort will make a huge diferencie 

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yzedf
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12/24/2025 5:41pm
ballz wrote:
I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things...

I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things get busy, I can't imagine dealing with eight.

To me it’s like a dropper post, it’s almost always up or down. 

9
12/24/2025 5:57pm
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

Word on the trails is an aluminum 170 travel bike with DJI motor. I’d assume they will call is S.170.E or E.170. Pre-order starts in Jan and I bet delivery is spring/summer.

4
12/24/2025 5:59pm
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

Word on the trails is an aluminum 170 travel bike with DJI motor. I’d assume they will call is S.170.E or E.170. Pre-order starts in Jan...

Word on the trails is an aluminum 170 travel bike with DJI motor. I’d assume they will call is S.170.E or E.170. Pre-order starts in Jan and I bet delivery is spring/summer.

IMG 9726.jpeg?VersionId=KArWW35nn.uyjh.S
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MrDuck
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12/24/2025 11:10pm
Primoz wrote:
Yeah, the V10 was always lower link driven and that's why SC wanted to move the whole lineup to that layout, because it had benefits to...

Yeah, the V10 was always lower link driven and that's why SC wanted to move the whole lineup to that layout, because it had benefits to the suspension performance. But the way the V10 is laid out makes sense for a DH bike, but not for something that needs a long dropper post and a water bottle. That's why it took so long for the rest of the lineup to move over. 

TBH as an average height sort of guy in NA I'm kind of shocked they've gone ahead with it and keep it going. 
I have taken a deep hole..I mean a good insertion depth for granted, as I've ridden a bike that could take a long dropper since before I even had a dropper. 

But when that bike went out of production in 2021 and I needed a replacement, I was surprised, and rather disappointed when I looked for a frame of similar reach, same or lower seat tube and a slammed 180 dropper. 
5 years later and it's still a thing that disqualifies a majority of bikes from my scope of even caring. 

I may have some pretty specific needs for a bike, but I also see the market moving in the same-ish direction because I'm a goof who wants to feel fast but also safe, and a lot of goofs(gooves?) wanna feel safe. Being able to get the shaft out of the way just helps a lot when things get hectic..or when I want to turn actually. Clearly there's companies taking very different approaches, but the fact the biggest "mainstream" companies make bikes I just can't even ride in what I consider a safe matter feels a bit far fetched?

nollak
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12/25/2025 3:00am
bermed wrote:
Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. I honestly thought they would...

Surprised there is no press coverage of the fact that Atherton is making an e-bike. Not even a rumor, they announced it. 

I honestly thought they would never go electric

Evwan wrote:
In the announcement video they say it's something they've wanted to do since day one. I'm curious to see how they integrate the battery into their existing...

In the announcement video they say it's something they've wanted to do since day one. 

I'm curious to see how they integrate the battery into their existing design style. I could see them doing something similar to the Cotic ebike, where the normal bike tubes are also used on the ebike, but with an external battery. Will have to wait til Jan to find out I guess. 

Don't think that's a big problem with the tubes. 

In case they go the Carbon route they could team up with CompoTech like Kavenz is doing currently. CompoTech is the parent company of CDuro which already did a prototype of an eBike with the Maxon Motor.

And Aluminium is also easy. You get the tube parts bend as needed and weld them or go the hydroforming route. Buddy of mine did the bending and welding for a prototype eBike he is currently working on.

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Primoz
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12/25/2025 3:08am

You do realise that:

A) Atherton is closely working with Renishaw to handle 3D printing of the lugs, so Compotech wouldn't give them the advantage you think they would (it would be a clash of interests in fact) 

And Cool their aluminium bikes are cnc milled precisely to avoid the hydroforming/bending of tubes and subsequent welding. 

5
12/25/2025 8:55am
jalopyj wrote:

Aenomoly coming out with an updated switchgrade with 8 steps and ability to use limit screws to define rotation limits. 

ballz wrote:
I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things...

I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things get busy, I can't imagine dealing with eight.

bikelurker wrote:
1 position is enough, 3 is a luxury. 8 is a need for diversification, to keep the lights of a good business on, but also, an...

1 position is enough, 3 is a luxury. 8 is a need for diversification, to keep the lights of a good business on, but also, an offer asking to appeal for a different market, people looking at longer distances and Endurance riding, a totally different, still extreme discipline, where every small advantege counts, where comfort will make a huge diferencie 

I’m still hoping they’re developing a wireless bar actuated Switchgrade. There’s real biomechanical advantage to be had in XC racing. Would also get rid of the need for crazy low drop stems we already see and that are only gonna get lower with 32in wheels. Those racers already take the weight penalty of an electronic drivetrain which offers zero biomechanical advantage. A bar mounted way to actuate the Switchgrade could also be sold to the all mountain guys like us quite easily.

8
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boozed
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12/25/2025 3:02pm Edited Date/Time 12/25/2025 3:02pm
Primoz wrote:
You do realise that:A) Atherton is closely working with Renishaw to handle 3D printing of the lugs, so Compotech wouldn't give them the advantage you think...

You do realise that:

A) Atherton is closely working with Renishaw to handle 3D printing of the lugs, so Compotech wouldn't give them the advantage you think they would (it would be a clash of interests in fact) 

And Cool their aluminium bikes are cnc milled precisely to avoid the hydroforming/bending of tubes and subsequent welding. 

Has Atherton Bikes actually said anything about avoiding hydroforming?  It shouldn't preclude the existing lugged construction methods.

1
dolface
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12/25/2025 3:24pm
ballz wrote:
I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things...

I wonder how many people asked for eight steps. I am not always 100% confident in which of the three positions my saddle is when things get busy, I can't imagine dealing with eight.

bikelurker wrote:
1 position is enough, 3 is a luxury. 8 is a need for diversification, to keep the lights of a good business on, but also, an...

1 position is enough, 3 is a luxury. 8 is a need for diversification, to keep the lights of a good business on, but also, an offer asking to appeal for a different market, people looking at longer distances and Endurance riding, a totally different, still extreme discipline, where every small advantege counts, where comfort will make a huge diferencie 

I’m still hoping they’re developing a wireless bar actuated Switchgrade. There’s real biomechanical advantage to be had in XC racing. Would also get rid of the...

I’m still hoping they’re developing a wireless bar actuated Switchgrade. There’s real biomechanical advantage to be had in XC racing. Would also get rid of the need for crazy low drop stems we already see and that are only gonna get lower with 32in wheels. Those racers already take the weight penalty of an electronic drivetrain which offers zero biomechanical advantage. A bar mounted way to actuate the Switchgrade could also be sold to the all mountain guys like us quite easily.

So basically a version of the Spesh Command Post BlackLite that works? (I know you're talking about a separate component but to me it makes sense to integrate into a dropper so it can share a remote/battery) 

4
sspomer
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12/26/2025 10:22am

tech rumors forum update - you've spoken and have been heard

we'll lock out this thread at the end of the year (no matter what, it's just too darn big now), and will carry on with yearly tech rumors threads that will be stickied for easy participation. 

the 2026 thread is already underway here (not yet stickied)

i just want to thank everyone for their feedback and insight on what this piece of the vital community means. 

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