2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

Related:
AgrAde
Posts
196
Joined
5/21/2015
Location
AL US
2/6/2026 10:39pm Edited Date/Time 2/6/2026 10:40pm

Metric 190 length shocks max out at 45mm stroke, so no. My plan for my last-gen optic was to run a 200x51 with some custom offset hardware to extend the travel while converting it to mullet and keeping almost exactly the stock geometry.

If the new one is mullet compatible with a link swap and it's able to extend the travel with a longer stroke shock, like the current high pivot one, it'll be super desirable.

1
2/7/2026 4:21am
AgrAde wrote:
Metric 190 length shocks max out at 45mm stroke, so no. My plan for my last-gen optic was to run a 200x51 with some custom offset...

Metric 190 length shocks max out at 45mm stroke, so no. My plan for my last-gen optic was to run a 200x51 with some custom offset hardware to extend the travel while converting it to mullet and keeping almost exactly the stock geometry.

If the new one is mullet compatible with a link swap and it's able to extend the travel with a longer stroke shock, like the current high pivot one, it'll be super desirable.

My 190x45 Cane Creek DB Coil IL had a 5mm spacer sat under the bottom out bumper. Couldn't have been easier to convert to longer stroke. Not sure is any other brands/models use this approach for their 190x45 coil shocks

1
dolface
Posts
1653
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
2/7/2026 7:38am

Bicycle frame Bicycle Bicycle tire Bicycle wheel Wheel

25
2/7/2026 8:18am
saskskier wrote:
In the PB interview with Brage, it sounds like he's testing some prototypes, but could have something announced/released in the summer. He also talks about how...

In the PB interview with Brage, it sounds like he's testing some prototypes, but could have something announced/released in the summer. He also talks about how he likes a more progressive/poppy bike, not something stuck to the ground so super interested in what they come up with!

Jotegr wrote:
Look at the age of the Shore. It's at the end of it's cycle, Norco killed the Range to replace it with the 170/160mm Sight, and...

Look at the age of the Shore. It's at the end of it's cycle, Norco killed the Range to replace it with the 170/160mm Sight, and the only bike that the public knows about that is bigger than the Sight is the probably-maybe to be released DH bike which rumour has it will be very expensive and very limited. Further, just last summer Norco partnered up with the bike park on Grouse mountain, which is a new lift-access bike park located within 40 minutes (or 4 hours, traffic depending) from Norco's headquarters in Port Coquitlam. The rental fleet is/was made up of shores, but as I said, that's at the end of it's cycle. Norco obviously puts some value into this partnership. 

 

Anyway, this is all to say that I think Norco is going to release a new non-race-dh/freeride/park bike this spring. I suspect it will not be high pivot and will not really come in pedallable configurations.

earleb wrote:

Freeeeeeeride eeeeeeebike. 

Is it free ride if you can pedal to the top of it?


 

2
2/7/2026 8:27am
frtachi wrote:
2026 Tr11 framesets source: reddit

2026 Tr11 framesets

2026-tr-11-v0-xsvv01eqethg12026-tr-11-v0-q3n8z1eqethg1.jpg?VersionId=zcgBJFFc1VHtIu.jhZUbh

 

source: reddit

saskskier wrote:

Bottle cage mounts on a dh frame? Definitely looks better than the current TR11, though (if not a little boring. Maybe it's just the colours). 

Could also be that its a modular design like the Orbea. The lower shock mount being a bolt-on piece would make changing travel fairly easy.

6
peecee
Posts
425
Joined
5/12/2013
Location
Brisbane AU
2/7/2026 1:19pm

maybe the wrong forum but I noticed Brook riding the EXT fork at hardline but when he posted his crash yesterday the bike has Boxxers on it ? Anyone know of hardline killed the EXT and he didn’t have a spare ? 

10
2/7/2026 2:41pm
peecee wrote:
maybe the wrong forum but I noticed Brook riding the EXT fork at hardline but when he posted his crash yesterday the bike has Boxxers on...

maybe the wrong forum but I noticed Brook riding the EXT fork at hardline but when he posted his crash yesterday the bike has Boxxers on it ? Anyone know of hardline killed the EXT and he didn’t have a spare ? 

IIRC, Pinkbike mentioned in a photo caption that Brook was testing the EXT fork for the first time at Hardline. Perhaps he just couldn't get comfortable with it and switched back to something more familiar?

5
FullSend
Posts
182
Joined
7/14/2021
Location
DE
2/8/2026 2:19am Edited Date/Time 2/8/2026 2:19am
dolface wrote:

Bicycle frame Bicycle Bicycle tire Bicycle wheel Wheel

Trek Superepic?

Toppic Evo?

Convergence is real.

5
2/8/2026 8:48am
frtachi wrote:
2026 Tr11 framesets source: reddit

2026 Tr11 framesets

2026-tr-11-v0-xsvv01eqethg12026-tr-11-v0-q3n8z1eqethg1.jpg?VersionId=zcgBJFFc1VHtIu.jhZUbh

 

source: reddit

Called this a while ago but the spire will also look like this. Thank god you can actually fit a real shock in the small/ large sizes.  I the s/m current tr-11 is the worst possible dh bike to come out in recent years 

7
2/8/2026 8:50am
frtachi wrote:
2026 Tr11 framesets source: reddit

2026 Tr11 framesets

2026-tr-11-v0-xsvv01eqethg12026-tr-11-v0-q3n8z1eqethg1.jpg?VersionId=zcgBJFFc1VHtIu.jhZUbh

 

source: reddit

saskskier wrote:

Bottle cage mounts on a dh frame? Definitely looks better than the current TR11, though (if not a little boring. Maybe it's just the colours). 

Yes the front triangle is basically the same for this the bottle rocket and the new spire.   Easy way to not keep money tight when the world isn’t buying new bikes anymore 

3
Trocko
Posts
152
Joined
11/23/2010
Location
Rocky, CO US
2/8/2026 9:52am

Ari Dh wrap is off

IMG 3296.jpeg?VersionId=UN7migM6R4WHj93zS DvnK
4
2/8/2026 12:39pm
Trocko wrote:
Ari Dh wrap is off

Ari Dh wrap is off

IMG 3296.jpeg?VersionId=UN7migM6R4WHj93zS DvnK

Can we put the wrap back on?

70
jsray
Posts
216
Joined
5/20/2017
Location
Gilbert, AZ US
2/8/2026 5:43pm
Trocko wrote:
Ari Dh wrap is off

Ari Dh wrap is off

IMG 3296.jpeg?VersionId=UN7migM6R4WHj93zS DvnK

Can we put the wrap back on?

I'd rather walk. 

4
Big Bird
Posts
2280
Joined
2/1/2011
Location
Oceano, CA US
2/8/2026 7:02pm

Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides have pretty much disappeared. But now riders are sticking lead weights to their bottom brackets. What if the good old MRP style chain guide came back, but made out of plate steel instead of alloy?

14
dolface
Posts
1653
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
2/8/2026 7:29pm
Big Bird wrote:
Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides...

Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides have pretty much disappeared. But now riders are sticking lead weights to their bottom brackets. What if the good old MRP style chain guide came back, but made out of plate steel instead of alloy?

Whatcha think @NoahColorado ?

1
1llumA
Posts
212
Joined
3/11/2020
Location
CA
2/8/2026 7:31pm
Big Bird wrote:
Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides...

Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides have pretty much disappeared. But now riders are sticking lead weights to their bottom brackets. What if the good old MRP style chain guide came back, but made out of plate steel instead of alloy?

MRP still make their DH bashguide G5 with a alloy or steel backplate but there is only a 50g difference. Most WC rider seems to add 400-600g of weight

4
doktor_jawn
Posts
24
Joined
10/9/2019
Location
State College, PA US
2/8/2026 8:22pm

How much weight can SRAM put into the spindle hole of the dh bikes? who needs a power meter when you want KG down there. 

2
piratetrails
Posts
280
Joined
8/28/2021
Location
Arcadia, VA US
2/8/2026 8:27pm Edited Date/Time 2/8/2026 8:27pm
Big Bird wrote:
Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides...

Just a thought on bike weights. For ever, everybody has been going for the lightest weight bikes possible. And with the narrow wide chainring, chain guides have pretty much disappeared. But now riders are sticking lead weights to their bottom brackets. What if the good old MRP style chain guide came back, but made out of plate steel instead of alloy?

Chain guides have most certainly not disappeared.

9
3
MTBrent
Posts
104
Joined
7/7/2015
Location
Concord, NH US
2/9/2026 5:46am

Production Privee cooking up a Shan 6 w/ a rocker and vertical shock:

IMG 0462 0IMG 0463
6
piratetrails
Posts
280
Joined
8/28/2021
Location
Arcadia, VA US
2/9/2026 7:48am
MTBrent wrote:
Production Privee cooking up a Shan 6 w/ a rocker and vertical shock:

Production Privee cooking up a Shan 6 w/ a rocker and vertical shock:

IMG 0462 0IMG 0463

And the crab keeps on crabbin’ 

12
1
yzedf
Posts
237
Joined
1/27/2015
Location
Hebron, CT US
2/9/2026 8:51am

How much weight can SRAM put into the spindle hole of the dh bikes? who needs a power meter when you want KG down there. 

You could throw lead bb’s in there. If you’re feeling fancy you could melt them down first. 

3
Primoz
Posts
4519
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
2/9/2026 9:27am
MTBrent wrote:
Production Privee cooking up a Shan 6 w/ a rocker and vertical shock:

Production Privee cooking up a Shan 6 w/ a rocker and vertical shock:

IMG 0462 0IMG 0463

And the crab keeps on crabbin’ 

It's a linkage driven single pivot...

9
2/9/2026 10:54am Edited Date/Time 2/10/2026 2:30am

New Unno, from Palazzari's IG

Screenshot 2026-02-09-19-47-23-212 com.instagram.android.jpg?VersionId=92ivpW0YO2i530U9xyJncuwAzqum
4
Eae903
Posts
345
Joined
10/20/2023
Location
Laramie, WY US
2/9/2026 12:35pm Edited Date/Time 2/9/2026 12:36pm
New Unno, from Palazzari's IG

New Unno, from Palazzari's IG

Screenshot 2026-02-09-19-47-23-212 com.instagram.android.jpg?VersionId=92ivpW0YO2i530U9xyJncuwAzqum

Do we think new DH frame or over forked and over stroked new Burn? It's definitely taking ques (read major quality of life improvements) from the new Mith

3
63expert
Posts
187
Joined
9/10/2022
Location
Beaver, WV US
2/9/2026 1:53pm

How much weight can SRAM put into the spindle hole of the dh bikes? who needs a power meter when you want KG down there. 

yzedf wrote:

You could throw lead bb’s in there. If you’re feeling fancy you could melt them down first. 

Depleted Uranium enters the chat

8
dolface
Posts
1653
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
CA US
2/9/2026 2:11pm

How much weight can SRAM put into the spindle hole of the dh bikes? who needs a power meter when you want KG down there. 

yzedf wrote:

You could throw lead bb’s in there. If you’re feeling fancy you could melt them down first. 

63expert wrote:

Depleted Uranium enters the chat

Pretty sure the Syndicate has used tungsten before...

3
jones007
Posts
19
Joined
12/9/2025
Location
SEASIDE, CA US
2/9/2026 2:49pm

Tungsten added bonus - won't get you sent off to a black site as a terrorist when you travel by air with your bike.

11
metadave
Posts
1242
Joined
2/15/2016
Location
Revelstoke, BC CA
2/9/2026 3:47pm

Long live the Diamondback Knucklebox, eh?

I built this 07 Meta 5.30 last summer for fun and while it's a single pivot, it still feels great. I never rode one of the diamondbacks but if be interested in seeing how this felt. I remember the transition syren having the same layout as well and test riding one once it felt pretty good. 

1000005225.jpg?VersionId=Oh
4
t.odd
Posts
46
Joined
4/30/2010
Location
CA
2/9/2026 7:59pm

i had one of those early Meta's, so many cracks in the top tube...followed by a very lengthy warranty and never considered Commencal again, except for jr's run bike.

5

Post a reply to: 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

The Latest