2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker

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Primoz
Posts
4677
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
SI
7/29/2026 9:37pm Edited Date/Time 7/29/2026 9:38pm
The nighttain has a 20T for the larger of the jackshaft rings, not sure about the smaller, and a 27T chainring. A chain link rotates 11.25...

The nighttain has a 20T for the larger of the jackshaft rings, not sure about the smaller, and a 27T chainring. A chain link rotates 11.25 degrees (22.5 total) going onto and off a 16T idler and 9 degrees going onto a 20T ring. Add in the fact that there are two rings on the jackshaft and that's at least 18 degrees total. A little more because one of the rings is smaller by the looks of it. Then the smaller chainring is a little less efficient than a 32T. Maybe if you compare it to a bike that uses an idler on the slack side of the chain the claim could work out, but with no idler on the slack side it looks like a wash at best.

Edit: I just laid it out and it appears the jackshaft configuration has the edge by about 1 degree, which I would not consider appreciable considering no one talks about drivetrain losses going to a smaller chainring up front.

I just checked the RMU I have on hand for testing and the smaller Jackshaft pulley is a 17. I imagine the difference in your calculations...

I just checked the RMU I have on hand for testing and the smaller Jackshaft pulley is a 17. I imagine the difference in your calculations is pretty marginal 

Huh, interesting choice of rings. I would hope they would go for something more standard, for example for the final output ring a 32 or something similar. Where in the world will you get a new 27T chainring? And it can't be narrow wide as well.

I was fully expecting they went with a layout that gave them a standard 32ish output ring, that's where my back of the mind calculation came from.

What's the layout on the Phoenix? 

1
Blake_Motley
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11/14/2013
Location
Chula Vista, CA, USA
7/29/2026 9:42pm
Primoz wrote:
Huh, interesting choice of rings. I would hope they would go for something more standard, for example for the final output ring a 32 or something...

Huh, interesting choice of rings. I would hope they would go for something more standard, for example for the final output ring a 32 or something similar. Where in the world will you get a new 27T chainring? And it can't be narrow wide as well.

I was fully expecting they went with a layout that gave them a standard 32ish output ring, that's where my back of the mind calculation came from.

What's the layout on the Phoenix? 

To be fair there’s no need for a narrow wide between the chainring and jackshaft pulley since is perfectly in line and the chainline will never change 

5
chriskief
Posts
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4/15/2017
Location
New York, NY, USA
Fantasy
7/29/2026 9:48pm
The nighttain has a 20T for the larger of the jackshaft rings, not sure about the smaller, and a 27T chainring. A chain link rotates 11.25...

The nighttain has a 20T for the larger of the jackshaft rings, not sure about the smaller, and a 27T chainring. A chain link rotates 11.25 degrees (22.5 total) going onto and off a 16T idler and 9 degrees going onto a 20T ring. Add in the fact that there are two rings on the jackshaft and that's at least 18 degrees total. A little more because one of the rings is smaller by the looks of it. Then the smaller chainring is a little less efficient than a 32T. Maybe if you compare it to a bike that uses an idler on the slack side of the chain the claim could work out, but with no idler on the slack side it looks like a wash at best.

Edit: I just laid it out and it appears the jackshaft configuration has the edge by about 1 degree, which I would not consider appreciable considering no one talks about drivetrain losses going to a smaller chainring up front.

I just checked the RMU I have on hand for testing and the smaller Jackshaft pulley is a 17. I imagine the difference in your calculations...

I just checked the RMU I have on hand for testing and the smaller Jackshaft pulley is a 17. I imagine the difference in your calculations is pretty marginal 

Primoz wrote:
Huh, interesting choice of rings. I would hope they would go for something more standard, for example for the final output ring a 32 or something...

Huh, interesting choice of rings. I would hope they would go for something more standard, for example for the final output ring a 32 or something similar. Where in the world will you get a new 27T chainring? And it can't be narrow wide as well.

I was fully expecting they went with a layout that gave them a standard 32ish output ring, that's where my back of the mind calculation came from.

What's the layout on the Phoenix? 

1
Primoz
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Location
SI
7/29/2026 10:14pm

Yeah I went and checked and see it's the same.

This is terrible. Not only are you stuck with a bunch of non-standard parts you can only get from the company that sold you the bike, you're also stuck with what is essentially a 35T chainring. Fine on a DH bike I guess, but on an enduro bike that's supposed to get pedalled? Who is going to live with that??

True that Dave Weagle was the first to (successfully at the end of the day) implement this idea, but him patenting it essentially just cockblocked everyone else at trying to make a GOOD implementation. Because this is anything but good.

6
Blake_Motley
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Location
Chula Vista, CA, USA
7/29/2026 11:50pm
Primoz wrote:
Yeah I went and checked and see it's the same.This is terrible. Not only are you stuck with a bunch of non-standard parts you can only...

Yeah I went and checked and see it's the same.

This is terrible. Not only are you stuck with a bunch of non-standard parts you can only get from the company that sold you the bike, you're also stuck with what is essentially a 35T chainring. Fine on a DH bike I guess, but on an enduro bike that's supposed to get pedalled? Who is going to live with that??

True that Dave Weagle was the first to (successfully at the end of the day) implement this idea, but him patenting it essentially just cockblocked everyone else at trying to make a GOOD implementation. Because this is anything but good.

The pivot uses a 17/22 vs the RMU’s 17/20. that should work out to about a 32 tooth on the Nighttrain

4
Primoz
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4677
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Location
SI
7/30/2026 12:13am

Details, of course. 

Time for me to eat another hat then? 

5
zscs
Posts
14
Joined
3/21/2024
Location
Budapest, HU
7/30/2026 4:29am

It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very soon. (Please don't take the following pics too seriously, no confirmation, no source I've found. There's a chance these are fake ones.)

55430570930 74607de405 o.jpg?VersionId=CMRnoUPmD6ggCi OlghX0L55430184206 4ae8f18504 o.jpg?VersionId=boKc0kB ugyW.1pk2szu70Rr55430296508 8b511e2046 o

Source: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179309&start=60 

5
nskerb
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372
Joined
3/3/2020
Location
Kelso, WA, USA
7/30/2026 5:25am

Oh god. That one dude who was clutching his pearls a few pages ago about the rumored 32” trek is gonna blow a gasket when he sees those pictures. 

14
Evil96
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878
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Location
Portogruaro, VE, IT
7/30/2026 5:52am

Ugly af those treks as I mentioned 

1
4
AJW1
Posts
92
Joined
5/11/2023
Location
Bracknell, GB
7/30/2026 6:03am

especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.

I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their intended market) are going to struggle on that arent they?

3
1
ioni
Posts
32
Joined
1/18/2024
Location
Villa De Alvarez, Col., MX
7/30/2026 6:18am
AJW1 wrote:
especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their...

especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.

I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their intended market) are going to struggle on that arent they?

I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s  the first 32”) but surely to goodness, they get the geometry fairly dialed, and not repeat the geometry challenges we had with the first 29ers. Time will tell. 

3
Jotegr
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Location
Interior, BC, CA
7/30/2026 6:23am

The source is allegedly a European retailer who accidentally pushed a website update earlier than they were supposed to. Tale as old as time for this thread. 

3
7/30/2026 6:41am
Dave_Camp wrote:
Anyone ever flat from spokes poking through the rim tape?  Recently happened to me- DT Swiss FR560 32H- smashed very hard on something- got 2x holes...

Anyone ever flat from spokes poking through the rim tape?  Recently happened to me- DT Swiss FR560 32H- smashed very hard on something- got 2x holes from spokes poking up through the rim tape.  DH tire and cushcore.  

 

I'm guessing the ghetto tubeless tube would have saved me but installation with a cushcore would be impossible.  

kperras wrote:
Pretty common issue AFAIK, from both being a mechanic back in the day to riding lots and testing new product all the time. WTB resolves this...

Pretty common issue AFAIK, from both being a mechanic back in the day to riding lots and testing new product all the time. WTB resolves this issue with a designed-in rim liner that sits perfectly in a channel. Tubeless tape goes over this. At home, I use either gorilla tape or my personal preference, the old school 8934 filament tape (not the cloth variety) that's been used on wheels since time immemorial. 

TEAMROBOT wrote:
Thank you for alerting me to this product. Yes I've also had spokes break and poke through my rim tape, and with Cushcore installed the trailside...

Thank you for alerting me to this product. Yes I've also had spokes break and poke through my rim tape, and with Cushcore installed the trailside fix process is absolutely maddening. Will be buying this $5 insurance policy for all of my tubeless wheels for the rest of forever.

Also thanks to wtb for not charging 25 bucks for a lasso with a hole in it.  I am also gonna give em a go next tire change.

3
jorvay
Posts
8
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7/14/2021
Location
CA
7/30/2026 6:46am
AJW1 wrote:
especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their...

especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.

I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their intended market) are going to struggle on that arent they?

ioni wrote:
I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s...

I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s  the first 32”) but surely to goodness, they get the geometry fairly dialed, and not repeat the geometry challenges we had with the first 29ers. Time will tell. 

Plus the hardtail is going to get a bit steeper once the fork sags, unlike a FS bike where the sag is relatively consistent front and rear.

5
7/30/2026 7:10am
ioni wrote:
I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s...

I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s  the first 32”) but surely to goodness, they get the geometry fairly dialed, and not repeat the geometry challenges we had with the first 29ers. Time will tell. 

That's one thing I've wondered about... Will the 32in development curve look like the 29 or will we get to a sweet spot quicker?  I think a lot of time was spent trying to make 29ers ride like a 26 as opposed to playing into the strengths of the 29.. 27.5 lurking in the background probably didn't help much...

4
dolface
Posts
1713
Joined
10/26/2015
Location
USA
7/30/2026 7:41am
zscs wrote:
It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very...

It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very soon. (Please don't take the following pics too seriously, no confirmation, no source I've found. There's a chance these are fake ones.)

55430570930 74607de405 o.jpg?VersionId=CMRnoUPmD6ggCi OlghX0L55430184206 4ae8f18504 o.jpg?VersionId=boKc0kB ugyW.1pk2szu70Rr55430296508 8b511e2046 o

Source: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179309&start=60 

No valve stems...?

1
fartsack
Posts
156
Joined
10/13/2021
Location
咸興市, KP
7/30/2026 7:45am
AJW1 wrote:
especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their...

especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.

I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their intended market) are going to struggle on that arent they?

ioni wrote:
I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s...

I would assume that they take that in consideration. Think about Trek what you will, but it’s also not their first bike they making (ok, it’s  the first 32”) but surely to goodness, they get the geometry fairly dialed, and not repeat the geometry challenges we had with the first 29ers. Time will tell. 

Especially Trek was quite behind with seatangles in bigger sizes.

look at the XL sizes of the old Gen Slash for example

3
fartsack
Posts
156
Joined
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Location
咸興市, KP
7/30/2026 8:16am Edited Date/Time 7/30/2026 8:17am
58678.png?VersionId=K8WbI8XKvd9Lj5ofKn.ifnHpe6drcN

 

Brendog and schurter teasing with a Spark DC.

 

10
Shinook
Posts
172
Joined
12/29/2015
Location
Asheville, NC, USA
7/30/2026 8:52am
zscs wrote:
It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very...

It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very soon. (Please don't take the following pics too seriously, no confirmation, no source I've found. There's a chance these are fake ones.)

55430570930 74607de405 o.jpg?VersionId=CMRnoUPmD6ggCi OlghX0L55430184206 4ae8f18504 o.jpg?VersionId=boKc0kB ugyW.1pk2szu70Rr55430296508 8b511e2046 o

Source: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179309&start=60 

If they move those bars any lower, we're gonna have to start worrying about bar <-> tire clearance at full compression

9
7/30/2026 9:34am
Primoz wrote:
Yeah I went and checked and see it's the same.This is terrible. Not only are you stuck with a bunch of non-standard parts you can only...

Yeah I went and checked and see it's the same.

This is terrible. Not only are you stuck with a bunch of non-standard parts you can only get from the company that sold you the bike, you're also stuck with what is essentially a 35T chainring. Fine on a DH bike I guess, but on an enduro bike that's supposed to get pedalled? Who is going to live with that??

True that Dave Weagle was the first to (successfully at the end of the day) implement this idea, but him patenting it essentially just cockblocked everyone else at trying to make a GOOD implementation. Because this is anything but good.

The patent was never actually granted. It was issued a non-final rejection based on being an obvious combination of prior art. If you don't respond to that within a certain window the patent office considers it abandoned. So anyone that wants can have at it.

image 769.png?VersionId=kHWSFVji8hGnWMWyX3MUWYmlwImENXM
23
7/30/2026 10:00am
zscs wrote:
It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very...

It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very soon. (Please don't take the following pics too seriously, no confirmation, no source I've found. There's a chance these are fake ones.)

55430570930 74607de405 o.jpg?VersionId=CMRnoUPmD6ggCi OlghX0L55430184206 4ae8f18504 o.jpg?VersionId=boKc0kB ugyW.1pk2szu70Rr55430296508 8b511e2046 o

Source: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179309&start=60 

Shinook wrote:

If they move those bars any lower, we're gonna have to start worrying about bar <-> tire clearance at full compression

Imagine crushing your fingers between your headtube and fork crown in a blow-your-hands-off otb moment.

2
DylanJM
Posts
52
Joined
7/2/2024
Location
Frederiksberg, DK
7/30/2026 10:27am
zscs wrote:
It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very...

It seems not only 32" bikes are coming (leaked Trek models in this case) but also new 32" forks from Fox and RockShox will appear very soon. (Please don't take the following pics too seriously, no confirmation, no source I've found. There's a chance these are fake ones.)

55430570930 74607de405 o.jpg?VersionId=CMRnoUPmD6ggCi OlghX0L55430184206 4ae8f18504 o.jpg?VersionId=boKc0kB ugyW.1pk2szu70Rr55430296508 8b511e2046 o

Source: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=179309&start=60 

dolface wrote:

No valve stems...?

They're renders. Valve stems not usually the highest priority. 

5
FullSendy
Posts
47
Joined
4/3/2026
Location
High St, IL, USA
7/30/2026 11:07am

No, I think no valve stems is a new Trek innovation. Y'all just don't want to give them credit for it. 

10
TEAMROBOT
Posts
1570
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/30/2026 11:49am
AJW1 wrote:
especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their...

especially that blue hardtail... super slack effective seat angle.

I don't have the visual cues to work out what size those bikes are, but taller people (their intended market) are going to struggle on that arent they?

Holy seat tube angle, Batman.

3
Carraig042
Posts
86
Joined
3/4/2013
Location
Jonesborough, TN, USA
7/30/2026 11:50am
FullSendy wrote:

No, I think no valve stems is a new Trek innovation. Y'all just don't want to give them credit for it. 

Actually just ball needle valves, all about being lightweight.

6
7/30/2026 11:57am
fartsack wrote:
 Brendog and schurter teasing with a Spark DC. 
58678.png?VersionId=K8WbI8XKvd9Lj5ofKn.ifnHpe6drcN

 

Brendog and schurter teasing with a Spark DC.

 

Brendog for the Down, Nino for the Country. makes sense to me. 

10
Kusa
Posts
296
Joined
6/25/2010
Location
CH
7/30/2026 12:11pm

Seeing these Trek abominations its funny how it goes exactly in the opposite direction of what we see with high rise bars and reverse stem combo in gravity. Once these realities will meet in the near future we will end up somewhere in the middle with straight 50mm stems… oh wait.

5
1
Eae903
Posts
464
Joined
10/20/2023
Location
Not Saying., WY, USA
Fantasy
7/30/2026 1:24pm
DylanJM wrote:

They're renders. Valve stems not usually the highest priority. 

Probably not renders, but quickly photo shopped images. Treks done that for years so they can show all the configurations quickly and update them if there is a spec change. 

2
Eae903
Posts
464
Joined
10/20/2023
Location
Not Saying., WY, USA
Fantasy
7/30/2026 1:26pm
fartsack wrote:
 Brendog and schurter teasing with a Spark DC. 
58678.png?VersionId=K8WbI8XKvd9Lj5ofKn.ifnHpe6drcN

 

Brendog and schurter teasing with a Spark DC.

 

Poleczechy wrote:

Brendog for the Down, Nino for the Country. makes sense to me. 

From what I know, it's going to be like 140mm travel. What I don't know is if it's a flex pivot or a Horst link. If it's a Horst link they should call it the new genius because that what it'll be. 

2

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