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Here’s the E9 geo chart. Some slight differences but nothing significant.
For the XL, it’s decent changes. The chainstay gets increased by size, so no longer 435 on XL. Also the reach is up 5-10mm with almost 20mm for stack. Not crazy but if I had to buy an XL E8 or 9, I’d prefer the new numbers.
Oh it gets increased all right, a whopping 3 mil per size
I was under the impression that mtbs were on 26" initially because 700c wheels were too weak in the early days.
Though it may have been because that's what beach cruisers used. I dunno enough about the early days. I just know that all bikes aligned briefly and now it looks like that brief, beautiful alignment is going to pass.
Yeah, go ahead and put a 29 x 2.3 tire on a 700c road bike. Hell go try to put a 45C tire on a road bike. Hell some road bikes won’t even clear a 32.
I don’t know what the hell you guys are trying to say but you’re wrong and it has nothing to do with the fact that 32 inch wheels are than 29. If you are a racer there is no chance in hell that you are going to leave speed on the table. Our sport will continue to evolve so long as people keep racing. If you bitch and complain, you need to understand that our true enemy is racing. It is the thing that has ruined bikes over and over again. But unfortunately, it also is pretty much all of the innovations that make our bikes, so freaking sick to ride.
take the same wheel and put it in an oldschool 29er with 142 hubs and suddenly it fits. magic.
So now we're back to "pick a wheel size and be a dick about it"?
Anyone got any rumors?
I'm not sure if this is an indication it's close to release, but Norco just posted pics of the dh bike ahead of Korea and it's got "Team DH" printed on the top tube. Would be cool (and make sense) if they went back to the Team DH name for the race bike.
Official SRAM Ochains... https://www.sram.com/en/sram/mountain/series/ochain
Was hoping they manage to use a 30T ring on the R-Version, bummer. Any tweaks or tips for that use case?
More deets on new Ochain B1 - https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/chainrings/ochain/r-chainring-spider-b1-75541#comment-787921
TLDR: SRAM has taken over manufacturing and has improved the tolerances and sealing of the system to keep stuff from getting in, increasing service intervals. They’ve also introduced an external travel adjust upgrade kit to convert internally adjustable models. And the new B1 models are only available for SRAM 3/8-bolt cranks and Bosch’s CX5 motor. No more Shimano/Race Face models.
I’ve ridden one for almost three months and it has faired way better than any Ochain I’ve had in the past. No creaking, no need to clean it out yet. The elastomers are beginning to get worn down, but that’s been the only real wear.
Although, I am on 3 bolt, that is still lame about losing Shimano/Race Face models. An obvious for why but still a bummer to lots. Mega stoked to hear increased sealing and longevity between rebuilds. That was a gripe that I was happy to deal with and now is getting better. Honestly, I am just pumped it's so easy to get a rebuild kit now. Minus the fact any older or other model is SOL sourcing a rebuild kit... hope those can still be found!
Interested by what the Shimano guys like JG will do and also about how he was doing prototyping etc
I remember when this near word for word argument was used in favour of 26ers.
From the latest Downtime podcast w/ Dustin Adams it sounded like a (bombproof) Hydra V3 hub is near. Also I'd assume a 32" "system" wheel is in the pipeline.
Nothing i9 has made in a LONG time has been bombproof. Love them but they are not even close to bombproof
I've successfully run a 30t amazon chainring on an OChain R. I don't remember if I had to file down any material or not but that should be the only thing stopping you, the chain shouldn't contact the spider.
@Jason_Schroeder, do you know if the service kits are backwards compatible?
New service kits are not backwards compatibility to previous “A1” models, per SRAM. They say it’s due to new unified internals but I haven’t pulled an old & new one apart to spot the exact compatibility issues.
They did say they will continue stocking old service kits into the future.
Garbaruk has 30T 104BCD rings with claimed compatibility
I know the crew in this particular forum thread is probably the most up to speed of any group of MTB-addicted individuals on the internet, but in case you want a 5-minute recap of the impressive amount of new gear that dropped in the last month, the latest Gear Show episode is for you: https://www.vitalmtb.com/videos/member/biggest-news-issue-year-vital-mtb-gear-show-april-2026.
As suspected, the leverage ratio is regressive to start, then progressive once the link and shock go beyond 90 deg.
Probably been mentioned before, but any guesses what’s up with these new Shimano rotors? Hard to tell if they’re thicker, and they look similar to the cheaper RT66 rotors Shimano currently sells. I wonder if they’re messing with tuning power via different rotors/pads? Or maybe these are a 3rd party I don’t know about.
Those look thick... at least as thick as my 2.3mm TRP S05e rotors, possibly more.
Agreed
My A35 stems haven't had any issues. 😄 When I had Hydra 1s, my issue was mostly with how quickly the Enduro bearings wore out (not rusted, just wore out). I don't think the Hydra sealing is any worse than a DT 350, it's more that Enduro bearings suck.
jackson's v10 from korea
They look a lot like the crappy stamped RT66 rotors.
In the first picture you can even see where the poor flatness is causing the pad to not contact the rotor fully.
Moving over to the new duel spring setup?
Very different to the prior Saint prototypes spotted in 2020. For comparison:
Also, FWIW, Minnaar was testing what appeared to be a clutchless/dual-spring proto last fall. As seen here: https://theloamwolf.com/news/spotted-greg-minnaars-norco-with-prototype-shimano-saint-more/
Certainly looks like Shimano is leaning that direction, which is interesting given the negative reports about chain slap on the new XT/XTR derailleurs.
Are less oChain options an innovation? I might not know the meaning of the word "innovation" if it is?
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