2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

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lewzz10
Posts
107
Joined
10/8/2015
Location
GB
6/8/2026 3:26pm
Primoz wrote:

Is this their own mechanism or are they buying an off the shelf one? 

lewzz10 wrote:
Per their site -

Per their site - Screenshot 2026-06-08 170904

Primoz wrote:
I understand that but on the other hand it's kinda interesting to me to see so many small(ish) brands coming out with clip pedals, all with...

I understand that but on the other hand it's kinda interesting to me to see so many small(ish) brands coming out with clip pedals, all with very similar mechanisms and so well polished and functioning.

Renthals mechanism looked similar to what Nukeproof was running at first glance. 

It's kinda like there's somewhere a company with a lot of knowhow in mechanism development and experience with stamping small steel pieces selling these to these small companies? 

Nukeproof had the front jaw of the binding sprung too IIRC. 

3
boozed
Posts
684
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
AU
6/8/2026 4:37pm
AgrAde wrote:
I'd love to see someone attempt a hydraulic damper/viscous coupling type thing rather than using friction in the derailleur clutch. Dunno if it could be made...

I'd love to see someone attempt a hydraulic damper/viscous coupling type thing rather than using friction in the derailleur clutch. Dunno if it could be made small/light/reliable but it would certainly improve shift quality and might not feel quite so gross through the suspension.

Does the tension adjustment not do the job?

1
Blake_Motley
Posts
221
Joined
11/14/2013
Location
Chula Vista, CA US
6/8/2026 4:51pm
AgrAde wrote:
I'd love to see someone attempt a hydraulic damper/viscous coupling type thing rather than using friction in the derailleur clutch. Dunno if it could be made...

I'd love to see someone attempt a hydraulic damper/viscous coupling type thing rather than using friction in the derailleur clutch. Dunno if it could be made small/light/reliable but it would certainly improve shift quality and might not feel quite so gross through the suspension.

I’d like to see an articulating lower chain guide that releases tension at the same rate chain growth adds it. Theoretically this would isolate the clutch from the suspension even if it’s exceptionally tight 

2
sspomer
Posts
6221
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
Fantasy
6/8/2026 5:50pm

30+ years ago bullet bros was trying to solve the same problems.

bulletbros.jpg?VersionId=m4kGr4aG89VhRshy
41
Riipper
Posts
6
Joined
5/1/2014
Location
CA
6/8/2026 6:25pm
Jotegr wrote:
I was really excited and then I realized I don't have 11k+ CAD to spend on a downhill bike, so I think I'll have to pass...

I was really excited and then I realized I don't have 11k+ CAD to spend on a downhill bike, so I think I'll have to pass sadly. 

With how long they’ve been testing this bike, I’ve had ample time to save the pennies. 

I have heard that there could be a few smart builds of this new rig that’ll be sub 10k CAD. Still not cheap by any means, but cheaper than say… a new Demo or V10. 

1
tsewhsoj
Posts
11
Joined
1/29/2024
Location
La Grande, OR US
6/8/2026 7:12pm
lewzz10 wrote:
Per their site -

Per their site - Screenshot 2026-06-08 170904

does anyone have these pedals and Can provide a side shot with a shoe? Most SPD pedals offer almost zero sole to pedal contact.

I don’t have these but my one up clips filling contact my shoes. I run them with no pins and no spacer under the cleat. 

3
seanfisseli
Posts
582
Joined
4/16/2024
Location
Santa Cruz, CA US
6/8/2026 11:29pm

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

1
Primoz
Posts
4611
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
6/9/2026 1:45am
lewzz10 wrote:
Per their site -

Per their site - Screenshot 2026-06-08 170904

Primoz wrote:
I understand that but on the other hand it's kinda interesting to me to see so many small(ish) brands coming out with clip pedals, all with...

I understand that but on the other hand it's kinda interesting to me to see so many small(ish) brands coming out with clip pedals, all with very similar mechanisms and so well polished and functioning.

Renthals mechanism looked similar to what Nukeproof was running at first glance. 

It's kinda like there's somewhere a company with a lot of knowhow in mechanism development and experience with stamping small steel pieces selling these to these small companies? 

lewzz10 wrote:

Nukeproof had the front jaw of the binding sprung too IIRC. 

Correct, I didn't have them at hand and only later checked a picture. 

Still, all these new SPD compatible mechanisms are so much alike. 

1
Primoz
Posts
4611
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
6/9/2026 1:49am
lewzz10 wrote:
Per their site -

Per their site - Screenshot 2026-06-08 170904

does anyone have these pedals and Can provide a side shot with a shoe? Most SPD pedals offer almost zero sole to pedal contact.

Any time the shoe will make a meaningful contact with the platform it will be very hard to clip in. The tolerancing on the shoes is probably wide open and even if you had the support, the shoe would wear in a while and again leave you without support. 

If you have pins actually protruding into the shoe sole, you'll have great fixation bit at the same time won't be able to clip out. Until you wear a groove in the sole which again means no effect coming from the pins. 

1
6/9/2026 2:06am
Primoz wrote:
Any time the shoe will make a meaningful contact with the platform it will be very hard to clip in. The tolerancing on the shoes is...

Any time the shoe will make a meaningful contact with the platform it will be very hard to clip in. The tolerancing on the shoes is probably wide open and even if you had the support, the shoe would wear in a while and again leave you without support. 

If you have pins actually protruding into the shoe sole, you'll have great fixation bit at the same time won't be able to clip out. Until you wear a groove in the sole which again means no effect coming from the pins. 

I dunno, my shimano shoes have solid contact with Mallets for years. same with the mallet shoes I have.
Personally I slightly lift my foot to unclip so maybe this "issue" isnt much of a concern to me.
Theres something about Mallets clearly that so many Pro's use them even if not sponsored by them.

I've been off/on using the oneups which provide good support while removing most of the SPD icy feeling.

My shoes With both mallets and oneups are touching where possible when clipped in even without my weight on them because i want a locked in flat feeling pedal - which is why I assume alot of clip platforms are getting bigger.

I get what you're saying 100% but i think shoe flex and logical time owning pedals/shoes means the wear issue isnt much of an issue, atleast for me and many others.

2
6/9/2026 5:01am

We first met Pau at Sea Otter in 2025, where he showed us the early prototype of the Rockintor protective vest. We're stoked to see him push through and make his vision a reality today:

https://www.vitalmtb.com/news/press-release/introducing-rockintor-airvoratm-ce-level-2-body-armor-made-pedal.

5
ahleic09
Posts
81
Joined
7/25/2018
Location
Bend, OR US
6/9/2026 5:29am

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

Like the Hummer X it looks like AI slop from what I’ve seen IMG 8936

3
2
FullSendy
Posts
36
Joined
4/3/2026
Location
High St, IL US
6/9/2026 7:00am

woof. the bike nobody wanted. 

Use : Electric Overland

5
FullSend
Posts
193
Joined
7/14/2021
Location
DE
6/9/2026 7:26am

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of travel.

2
6/9/2026 7:31am

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

FullSend wrote:
All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of...

All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of travel.

A fitting name as that sounds like they're just releasing the same bike over and over.

19
1
DylanJM
Posts
43
Joined
7/2/2024
Location
Frederiksberg DK
6/9/2026 7:45am

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

FullSend wrote:
All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of...

All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of travel.

A fitting name as that sounds like they're just releasing the same bike over and over.

You would have to assume there will be something to differentiate this from to normal Levo 4. Perhaps it's a fixed battery version with a slim down tube? 

3
seanfisseli
Posts
582
Joined
4/16/2024
Location
Santa Cruz, CA US
6/9/2026 7:52am

New speci e mtb tomorrow anyone have any intel?

FullSend wrote:
All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of...

All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of travel.

A fitting name as that sounds like they're just releasing the same bike over and over.

That’s how I’m feeling about their eebs rn. 

3
1
6/9/2026 8:01am
sspomer wrote:
30+ years ago bullet bros was trying to solve the same problems.

30+ years ago bullet bros was trying to solve the same problems.

bulletbros.jpg?VersionId=m4kGr4aG89VhRshy

I remember buying one of those by myself when I was 11 years old and feeling like a visionnary. When I got back home with it, my father was like WTF is this useless gizmo bring this back for a refund! Which I did. #failedvisionnarymoment

2
yzedf
Posts
255
Joined
1/27/2015
Location
Hebron, CT US
Fantasy
6/9/2026 8:08am

Something new from MRP soonish? Email this morning with 40% off Ribbon forks. 

2
FullSendy
Posts
36
Joined
4/3/2026
Location
High St, IL US
6/9/2026 8:51am
FullSend wrote:
All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of...

All I know about this one so far is the name (Turbo Levo X) and the fact that it comes with mullet wheels and 150mm of travel.

A fitting name as that sounds like they're just releasing the same bike over and over.

That’s how I’m feeling about their eebs rn. 

Seems totally fair since they use the same frame for the Levo, Levo R and Levo EVO. Really thought they'd have redone something like Levo SL for what became the R. But same huge battery and stuff for short travel? The EVO was pretty fun to ride, but I perhaps was just enamored with the new RS Linear XL suspension that felt super good. 

2
seanfisseli
Posts
582
Joined
4/16/2024
Location
Santa Cruz, CA US
6/9/2026 9:01am Edited Date/Time 6/9/2026 9:01am
IMG 7240

Wtf is this

22
Finkill
Posts
234
Joined
9/2/2015
Location
GB
6/9/2026 9:01am
yzedf wrote:

Something new from MRP soonish? Email this morning with 40% off Ribbon forks. 

I hope they release the aftermarket  coil conversion kit they had at Sea Otter, keen to get one of those for my Zebs. 

2
DylanJM
Posts
43
Joined
7/2/2024
Location
Frederiksberg DK
6/9/2026 9:02am
Wtf is this
IMG 7240

Wtf is this

WTF are they doing? Seriously. 

6
jsray
Posts
220
Joined
5/20/2017
Location
Gilbert, AZ US
Fantasy
6/9/2026 9:03am
Wtf is this
IMG 7240

Wtf is this

LOL

6
iRider
Posts
110
Joined
12/26/2020
Location
DK
6/9/2026 9:04am
New lower-profile Crank Brothers DH/Trail pedals on Roger's rig?
Screenshot 2026-06-07 at 9.54.19%E2%80%AFPMScreenshot 2026-06-07 at 9.55.56%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=lzmwFCU5ehc48EyScreenshot 2026-06-07 at 9.56.04%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=.b.q3MviU1Gl6K5x7ySbGEI2


New lower-profile Crank Brothers DH/Trail pedals on Roger's rig?

What is with the rear end of the bike though? I thought I also saw BK running a non-production rear end on the Phoenix. Any idea what they are trying to achieve?

1
6/9/2026 9:06am
Wtf is this
IMG 7240

Wtf is this

Those racks are awesome though.

I’ve been wanting to make a bikepacking dual sus mtb with a rear rack coming off the main frame for a looong time. 

5
rgard
Posts
36
Joined
5/2/2024
Location
pemberton, BC CA
6/9/2026 9:06am

What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

1
DylanJM
Posts
43
Joined
7/2/2024
Location
Frederiksberg DK
6/9/2026 9:09am
rgard wrote:
What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

$16,499

5
jazza_wil
Posts
93
Joined
5/10/2011
Location
whistler, BC CA
6/9/2026 9:18am
rgard wrote:
What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

IMG 4112
8
ballz
Posts
510
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
6/9/2026 9:21am
rgard wrote:
What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

What does this monstrosity cost? (in CAD)

About three cool MTBs.

4

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