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My guy, I think it's gonna happen before 2045.
Great question. I read something recently that said XC mountain bike design, geometry and tech has basically been tapped out and every brand makes a very capable bike. Certainly plenty of bikes that look like the Epic. That’s hurting the industry as there’s not much new/improved to sell us consumers. So the question is, are 32er’s really an improvement or just something the industry is hyping to help boost sales? I don’t see a need for a 32 but will stay open minded. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
They could jsut keep making XC bikes more expensive for the same thing.. is that an innovation?
Or lower the price and sell more of them? That would be real innovation 😬
Nah, The Industry™ will widely adopt the same marketing/design paradigm Orange wielded for so many years, moving the main pivot a couple milimeters up, then a couple milimeters to the front, then machining it before heat-treating the frame, then afterwards... Circle development, seasoned with a subtle price hike on each stop.
Longer rear centers of course! Really though a longer rear helps quite a bit when climbing and climbing plays an outsize role in xc performance. Personally I think there is really something on the table there.
@jessemelamed rules
I'm still holding out hope an electronically actuated switchgrade comes to XC. Pre 32 madness it had a watts advantage, no need for drop stems, and now also solves the stack/drop stem interference issues of 32. They could offset the weight penalty by going back to lighter mechanical drivetrains.
Specialized Turbo Levo R
dang jumping the embargo gun...
This was so cool to hear.
Very interesting that they considered this a trail bike launch
If they went through the bother of redesigning the front triangle for this Levo R (it's got some changes compared to the normal Levo 4) then I do not know why they didn't decide to make a slimmer down tube with a fixed 600/700wh slim battery. They likley could have gotten this down to 19kg or so with a full power motor which would have been more interesting imo.
Agreed, and I’m curious to hear other reviewers’ perspectives on how the lighter weight component choices (Fox 36 SL, SRAM Motive brakes, trail tires) fare in a heavier duty application. The terrain in the video review shared above seems very mild (mostly smooth and flat) at best, and this bike is either going to struggle in steeper and chunkier terrain or every component maker has oversold us on the virtues of heavier duty components.
That said, Specialized may have a target demographic they are aiming this bike at that just want a Specialized e-bike for mellower terrain, which is ok too. I’m hoping this does well for them in this economy, but it just feels like another half measure after the Levo 4.
So they're shaving the turd instead of polishing it then.
In fairness the Specialized I don't think they have designed this thing around taking on chunk or anything steep. I think people should look at this as the ebike equivalent of an Epic Evo.
That’s a good analogy, and I didn’t realize there was a viable addressable market for this kind of bike. I wish Specialized success 👍🏽
DJI has a new version of Avinox. Last year, DJI launched Avinox as a separate brand, and the letters DJI completely disappeared from the cover (but the inscription was located closer to the crankshaft). The inscription is now in the centre of the motor. Also, last year's versions of this motor had a display with the letters DJI at the top. The new displays feature the Avinox inscription.
well that's nothing new. My last years Unno Mith has both exactly like the ones on your pictures.
I don't think there was ever a "official version" without branding. I only know of the first ones with "DJI" and the later ones with "AVINOX"
I don't think anyone realized there is a market for such a bike, because there just might not be one!
A 130mm ebike is already really niche, but if I had a lot of money and space I would consider one as a 2nd ebike. But that thing would have to be light and affordable, which most likely is not at all the case here. Let's see in a few hours...
From the latest Specialized Gravity YT video it looks like the riders are going to use the airbag. Meyer-Smith was using it at hardline which probably wasn't just a one-off thing then. I wonder if they will develop a DH-specific deployment algorithm.
was digging around on srams website just now and came across this
New boxxer info is up
https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/series/boxxer
Maven Lever tuning
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/models/db-upk-lvr-a1
New Maven B1 variants are listed now too:
https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain/collections/brakes/brake-collections/extreme-duty-brakes?filters=&sort=Relevancy&page=1
Re-designed SwingLink architecture for smooth power delivery and lighter engagement for a broader range of ergonomic preferences
18-millimeter pistons for best-in-class power (instead of 18 + 19.5 on the A1 versions)
super interesting to see that even though they kind of acknowledge that a super refined high-tech DH transmission is semi-pointless. They are clear that Dh is the pinnacle of gravity, so the pinnacle of their marketing efforts and it's also a big flex, 'cos they CAN build and sell this drivetrain. Unlike their competitors they have the money/tech/want to make it happen.
Interesting.
3.2 Charger upgrade kit is up, seems like only for Boxxer at this point.
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$1,700 for the full groupset is insane
New vivid coil up too. Thankful they're starting at "0" now, I was lost before.
https://www.sram.com/en/rockshox/models/rs-vivc-ult-d1
"BUTTERWAGONTECH"
lmao🤣
As a person who doesn't own or ride a downhill bike, my immediate question is whether any of the tech showcased on the Boxxer -- for instance, the dimpled stanchions to help lubricate fork bushings -- will show up on non-downhill forks in the near future.
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