Steel, belt drive, gear box. Checking the boxes at the Gates booth with the Blues Bike Tripping Balls that gets 145-160mm of travel via "Chris Canfield Suspension Formula" according to the placard.
Norco had their new Sight VLT Bosch A with Bosch PX motor front and center. The A1 model with Deore Di2 is $6,599 while the A3 with DVO suspension and CUES drivetrain is priced at just $4,799. The motor delivers 90Nm of torque, 700W max power, and 400% support, and while we haven't ridden it yet (a test bike will be coming soon), reports are that it's quieter than the current CX. It's nice to a see an ebike price tag starting with 4 instead of 14.
Kicks that keep your feet on the pedals. Five Ten had their full range of shoes for flat pedals and clips. The new street-ready Sleuth DLX 2 retails for $135 and features their Stealth Phantom rubber.
Dunlop has soft-launched into MTB with four new models. Expected availability is set for early summer in the U.S. only, with MSRP still to be determined but anticipated to be in the $95-110 range.
MB34R
MB34F
MB53F
MB53R
There are DH and enduro casings. The DH casing uses 2x60 TPI layers with an apex layer at the bead, while the enduro casing uses one 60 TPI layer with a smaller apex layer. The downhill casing also uses a softer rubber than the enduro casing.
The tread designs are front/rear specific and share similarities with other popular designs. The rear tires are the most intriguing, offering a lot of braking edge. They also mentioned putting equal focus into feel/grip as they did with durability, so it'll be interesting to see how the tires hold up. The hope is to have some test tires in the short-ish term, so stay tuned to see if the Dunlops hook up.
*also apologies for the subpar photos, not my best work haha
Freedom Coast had a new lever to upgrade for TRP’s latest EVO Pro model. Key changes vs. stock include - different lever hook and profile, easier to grip reach adjust knob, and textured braking surface. MSRP is $119 USD, and there are 5 color options.
New DEITY Slip-on grip, DJ Saddles, & 50mm Alloy Bars
DEITY is launching its first slip-on grip, the Nightcrawler, coming very, very soon. Grip details include:
32mm outer diameter
147mm length (Grip Only) / 154mm length (Including End Plug)
Tighter inner diameter to prevent water and dust intrusion
Perpendicular ribbing to dampen vibrations
Chevron V-channel ribbing to provide an ergonomic feel and support the swell of the palm
Wider and shorter ribbing to prevent collapsing of the ribs and side to side play
Comes with nylon DEITY Plunger End Plugs that are color matched to the grip for a seamless look
End Plugs outer diameter matches the diameter of the grips
Available in Black, Gum, and Grey with color matched End Plugs
138 grams (Pair with End Plugs)
$12.99 USD
They’ve also got two new Frisco DJ railed saddles (before they only had pivotal or I-beam), the O.W.T.H. (Off With Their Heads) and Hypergrip models. The new saddles have a thinner shape than the previous Frisco, use Hollow CrMo rails, and retail for $54.99 USD.
DEITY is adding 50mm rise options to its alloy bars - the Blacklabel 31.8mm and Racepoint 35mm. Both will be available in 8 colors and retail for $89.99 USD.
Five TenKicks that keep your feet on the pedals. Five Ten had their full range of shoes for flat pedals and clips. The new street-ready Sleuth...
Five Ten
Kicks that keep your feet on the pedals. Five Ten had their full range of shoes for flat pedals and clips. The new street-ready Sleuth DLX 2 retails for $135 and features their Stealth Phantom rubber.
Hey Five Ten- those kids freeriders with the 3 Velcro straps are great. My son loves them. I bet adults would like em too. Do a survey I’m sure I’m not the only one who would by them.
Frameworks 32-Inch TestingNeko Mulally is racing a Frameworks with a 32" front wheel and 29" rear wheel for Sea Otter downhill. He says he's been riding...
Frameworks 32-Inch Testing
Neko Mulally is racing a Frameworks with a 32" front wheel and 29" rear wheel for Sea Otter downhill. He says he's been riding a bit back at home and had to purchase the front tire online (1 of 2 that he could find). He's surprised by the traction but did indicate that if it broke free, it broke free without warning. He was able to cram in a 29" rear wheel despite the rear triangle being made for 27.5. His philosophy is that it's worth the experiment to figure out if there's something more to pursue and he'll let the results speak before judgment. Sea Otter's DH track is a good place to test the idea, and he hinted that there may be more to come in the future, too.
Is the guy in the background having the same reaction as you?
The tire choice tho...Makes sense and also hurts my brain.
I think radials are defined as any tire with greater than 45* orientation. In other words, more fiber length is radial than lineal. Also some lineal...
I think radials are defined as any tire with greater than 45* orientation. In other words, more fiber length is radial than lineal. Also some lineal orientation has benefits with torsional forces.
This is not radial. "Low Bias" maybe, radial tires have ply oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, and thats it.
No one in this modern "radial" tire fad has made a radial tire yet. All just low bias.
I think radials are defined as any tire with greater than 45* orientation. In other words, more fiber length is radial than lineal. Also some lineal...
I think radials are defined as any tire with greater than 45* orientation. In other words, more fiber length is radial than lineal. Also some lineal orientation has benefits with torsional forces.
This is not radial. "Low Bias" maybe, radial tires have ply oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, and thats it.No one in this modern "radial" tire...
This is not radial. "Low Bias" maybe, radial tires have ply oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, and thats it.
No one in this modern "radial" tire fad has made a radial tire yet. All just low bias.
From the press release on the new Vee tyres they seem to be the only real radial tyres
Intradrive Gearbox PowertrainTucked away in a tiny little booth on a side row was Intradrive. Turns out they're a small Scottish company that's been developing an...
Intradrive Gearbox Powertrain
Tucked away in a tiny little booth on a side row was Intradrive. Turns out they're a small Scottish company that's been developing an 8-speed gearbox-equipped motor for eMTB brands dubbed the GD8. Shifting is wireless electronic, there's a 480% range, and the motor can output up to 700w. The founder said that the motors are built and wound in Scotland and that vast majority of the parts and materials are sourced from Europe if not made in-house. There's an emphasis on serviceability, and the unit fits a Shimano EP8 mount pattern. The one on display used a singlespeed chain but belt options are available too.
We were able to pedal it around and the shifting was quick, and consistent. The gear jumps were a bit bigger than what we're used to with modern 12-speed drivetrains, but I think it's safe to say with the motor, do we really need 12 speeds? We'd have to think the limits of standard MTB drivetrains are being pushed with the current crop of motor options, so a gearbox application makes sense. Word is that there are a handful of frame manufacturers interested, and 2027 should be when we see them hit the primetime. https://www.intradrive.co.uk/gd8
Mug’s and replacement units for older e-bikes is actually fucking dope to combine. Kinda figured someone would jump to offer a upgraded motor for old e-bikes, like a smaller TQ unit could be made to fit backward compatible, but going all in on a gearbox and making the whole system serviceable is actually making your clanky-clackattity old Shimano bike relevant again!
Hiding in plain sight was presumably the production version of the new Demo. It was placed directly next to a prototype frame, and while no specific details were provided, it can be assumed that the bike will be going to market very soon.
Some things that stood out from staring at the bike for 5 minutes:
Head tube fits different cups, likely to change head angle and/or reach
There is a flip chip in the lower shock mount, and the forward-most pivot
The bottom of the bike is going to be left completely open like the bike that was on display. I thought maybe it was a cutaway to show the linkage, but I confirmed that was not the case.
MRP bash guard integration is nice and tidy
Chain stay and rocker link both have a bridge, which was something we saw the team test with/without over the years
75mm stroke shock
Mixed wheels, and no sign of a flip chip in the Horst link to accommodate dual 29”
The bike looks 1000% intended for racing, and is an absolute beaut
Bronson was showing off the fifth iteration of his prototype bike. It’s a wild bike designed to test the limits of geometry and amplify the benefits of their RR stem (made famous by Reece Wilson). You can find plenty of details about the goals behind the stem and bike on Instagram, but here are some details of the bike:
Steel frame
500mm chain stay
445mm frame reach
Reach to bar is ~350mm
100mm stem rise / -15mm stem reach
Stem + bar back sweep puts handlebars ~40-50mm behind steering axis
Custom drop crowns to accommodate the 180mm head tube
~1360mm wheel base
380-390mm bb height. Benefit: bike tips and leans more turning and holds a line better.
bb drop is positive at static, but does drop under sag
Stack is around 800mm
Head angle is 63°
Seat angle is 75°
Suspension: single pivot, semi high pivot, rearward for 80% of travel, 6% progression, 206mm of travel.
200mm fork
Rear end grows to 520mm
Welded by Marino in Peru. $900 for the whole frame
Pretty epic dirt jumper from TBD Bikes, created by 17-year-old Dylan Banera. Currently going to school to become a machinist with the plan to get an engineering degree afterward, Dylan has been 3D printing since he was 10. This is the second generation of his prototype dirt jumper, appropriately called the ‘Neck Twister.’
Highlights
3D printed aluminum frame with generatively designed lugs, internally latticed tubes, bonded with aero-grade epoxy
Can run a chain or Gates carbon belt drive. Belt tension is still under refinement.
Kitworks makes a bunch of storage solutions to help organize gear for basically any activity. Everything is super modular and durable, and I’ve been using one of their gear boxes in my van for the past year to keep bleed kits and spare parts neatly packed away but readily available. Way better than my old method of using a cardboard box ha! Some of the bags fold down pretty small too which is also nice.
God damn that 3d printed dj is cool as fuck. All of the steel enduro frames are also gorgeous.
Wonder if spech will cover up the bottom in the end. Just seems like a great way to end a run with 5lbs of glop stuck to the bottom of your rig. I know strapping shit to your bb is really hot right now but I doubt most people are looking to do it ad hoc mid run.
Zink's Rampage Bike
Five Ten had Cam Zink's Rampage Vacay on display and it looked good!
FSA
FSA had an Atherton S.170.2 on display decked out with their Gradient cockpit and carbon wheels.
Blues Bikes Tripping Balls at Gates
Steel, belt drive, gear box. Checking the boxes at the Gates booth with the Blues Bike Tripping Balls that gets 145-160mm of travel via "Chris Canfield Suspension Formula" according to the placard.
Norco
Norco had their new Sight VLT Bosch A with Bosch PX motor front and center. The A1 model with Deore Di2 is $6,599 while the A3 with DVO suspension and CUES drivetrain is priced at just $4,799. The motor delivers 90Nm of torque, 700W max power, and 400% support, and while we haven't ridden it yet (a test bike will be coming soon), reports are that it's quieter than the current CX. It's nice to a see an ebike price tag starting with 4 instead of 14.
Five Ten
Kicks that keep your feet on the pedals. Five Ten had their full range of shoes for flat pedals and clips. The new street-ready Sleuth DLX 2 retails for $135 and features their Stealth Phantom rubber.
Dunlop
Dunlop has soft-launched into MTB with four new models. Expected availability is set for early summer in the U.S. only, with MSRP still to be determined but anticipated to be in the $95-110 range.
There are DH and enduro casings. The DH casing uses 2x60 TPI layers with an apex layer at the bead, while the enduro casing uses one 60 TPI layer with a smaller apex layer. The downhill casing also uses a softer rubber than the enduro casing.
The tread designs are front/rear specific and share similarities with other popular designs. The rear tires are the most intriguing, offering a lot of braking edge. They also mentioned putting equal focus into feel/grip as they did with durability, so it'll be interesting to see how the tires hold up. The hope is to have some test tires in the short-ish term, so stay tuned to see if the Dunlops hook up.
*also apologies for the subpar photos, not my best work haha
Freedom Coast Lever for TRP EVO Pro
Freedom Coast had a new lever to upgrade for TRP’s latest EVO Pro model. Key changes vs. stock include - different lever hook and profile, easier to grip reach adjust knob, and textured braking surface. MSRP is $119 USD, and there are 5 color options.
New DEITY Slip-on grip, DJ Saddles, & 50mm Alloy Bars
DEITY is launching its first slip-on grip, the Nightcrawler, coming very, very soon. Grip details include:
They’ve also got two new Frisco DJ railed saddles (before they only had pivotal or I-beam), the O.W.T.H. (Off With Their Heads) and Hypergrip models. The new saddles have a thinner shape than the previous Frisco, use Hollow CrMo rails, and retail for $54.99 USD.
DEITY is adding 50mm rise options to its alloy bars - the Blacklabel 31.8mm and Racepoint 35mm. Both will be available in 8 colors and retail for $89.99 USD.
I really like that new Marin - the peoples' XC bike!
Love those new Deity grips. Push-ons are king for comfort.
Hey Five Ten- those kids freeriders with the 3 Velcro straps are great. My son loves them. I bet adults would like em too. Do a survey I’m sure I’m not the only one who would by them.
The tire choice tho...Makes sense and also hurts my brain.
This is not radial. "Low Bias" maybe, radial tires have ply oriented perpendicular to the rolling direction, and thats it.
No one in this modern "radial" tire fad has made a radial tire yet. All just low bias.
From the press release on the new Vee tyres they seem to be the only real radial tyres
Mug’s and replacement units for older e-bikes is actually fucking dope to combine. Kinda figured someone would jump to offer a upgraded motor for old e-bikes, like a smaller TQ unit could be made to fit backward compatible, but going all in on a gearbox and making the whole system serviceable is actually making your clanky-clackattity old Shimano bike relevant again!
Crankbrothers was doing some wheel-related math, and had rumors that Bruni is racing flats at select World Cups this year.
Zoceli Naosm steel enduro bike
Beautiful hand-made bike sitting out front of HUNT that I’ve never seen in person. You can get all the details on the Naosm here
Intense prototype gear box DH bike
On display at HUNT with some one-off custom wheels.
Specialized Production Demo
Hiding in plain sight was presumably the production version of the new Demo. It was placed directly next to a prototype frame, and while no specific details were provided, it can be assumed that the bike will be going to market very soon.
Some things that stood out from staring at the bike for 5 minutes:
Be More Bikes prototype
Bronson was showing off the fifth iteration of his prototype bike. It’s a wild bike designed to test the limits of geometry and amplify the benefits of their RR stem (made famous by Reece Wilson). You can find plenty of details about the goals behind the stem and bike on Instagram, but here are some details of the bike:
TBD Bikes 3D Printer DJ
Pretty epic dirt jumper from TBD Bikes, created by 17-year-old Dylan Banera. Currently going to school to become a machinist with the plan to get an engineering degree afterward, Dylan has been 3D printing since he was 10. This is the second generation of his prototype dirt jumper, appropriately called the ‘Neck Twister.’
Highlights
Kit Works Gear Storage
Kitworks makes a bunch of storage solutions to help organize gear for basically any activity. Everything is super modular and durable, and I’ve been using one of their gear boxes in my van for the past year to keep bleed kits and spare parts neatly packed away but readily available. Way better than my old method of using a cardboard box ha! Some of the bags fold down pretty small too which is also nice.
Oak Components Cranks, Bashguard, Brake Adapters, Compression Dials
Oak components had a mix of anodized parts in every color of the rainbow. The simplicity of the bashguard was the most intriguing.
UNCOOL #flatbed
Mud spikes and bike packing, what a combo
Something for all you heel draggin', seat dropped climbing, e-bike rippers.
Bro had to raid the spare parts bin from three different shops to find all those stem spacers.
God damn that 3d printed dj is cool as fuck. All of the steel enduro frames are also gorgeous.
Wonder if spech will cover up the bottom in the end. Just seems like a great way to end a run with 5lbs of glop stuck to the bottom of your rig. I know strapping shit to your bb is really hot right now but I doubt most people are looking to do it ad hoc mid run.
man, as a 3D printing nerd. That DJ bike is so sick.
May I request a rundown on the Trinity / WRP bike
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