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Colombia*

Mechanically speaking, nothing is gained with a 15mm axle over a 20mm. What we gained by going with the (mechanically inferior) 15mm axle is the rapid and widespread adoption of thru-axles across all mountain bikes, then road bikes, then gravel and CX bikes. If the axle choices in 2012 (or whenever) were viewed as a binary choice between lightweight XC-oriented QR axles and a heavy DH-oriented 20mm thru axle, I think it would have taken a lot longer for product managers to go out on a limb and spec better forks and axles. 15mm axles gave product managers needed cover...

Somewhere in the last 20 years readers here lost track of the sport's trajectory. We are firmly in upper-middle class sporting territory. Being a young sport ( Performance MTB ) many of us came from various socioeconomic backgrounds to make it happen in the 90s but now that landscape is quite different. I would argue we almost surpassed skiing as the well-to-do hobby for people with money to spend.

One of the most important things in rich people hobbies is having even richer people to get mad at. You and I, we spent what we had to…a dollar more is way too much! And truly: imagine not helping your child pursue their dreams. “Well yeah she loves it, but who gives a shit! We’re going to make her stay home watch the kitchen remodel.” Question: how many people have retired from DH in the black? I’m guessing hmm zero

Just no lift or access infrastructure for gravity racing. The last race in 2006 had 200m vert & the winning time was 2.16.31 by Matti on his Honda... Ended on a beach though... cool...

I kick off the superboost comments, it can indeed without a doubt, F off.

Except you are just wrong. Even in snow sports, a properly executed front flip that is stomped to feet would be considered just as cool or more so than a basic straight backflip.

Motorcycles usually don't need to be as precise with line choice, the machine (and thus system) is heavier and needs more fore-aft stiffness, weight is not as big an issue so larger stanchions can be used, etc. Still, people riding upside down forks don't seem to have much of a problem with torsional stiffness. At least in most cases. BTW, all of this has been discussed over multiple pages before.

Please buy my DH fork that's been ridden super hard and never serviced. The oil seals don't leak because there's not enough oil left in the lowers to properly lubricate the bushings. If you can deflect a 35mm Boxxer to the point it's truly an issue, I'll be the first one to cheer for you on the WC circuit or at Rampage.

If I was selling a bike I'd say "XXXXXX" was rebuilt as a way to indicate it's as good as new, perceivably. Could be BS but I don't think it's related to reliability.

I’ve owned nearly every generation of Boxxer between 2004 and 2020. They’re perfectly fine for reliability. Have you ever even owned one, or are you just shitting on it because you saw a photo online? BTW, if you blow up that G-Out photo and hold up a ruler, it’s nowhere near as deflected as it looks. The number plate and decals are an optical illusion.

Does that groupset not do the job? Would you prefer the bike to be more expensive with a groupset released last year that accomplishes the exact same thing? I love how as a community we complain that novices by bike by the derailleur model, and then we also complain about derailleur models.

MSA is in October this year and was also in October last year.

Removing that large chunk of metal/carbon significantly weakens the frame, so it has to be reinforced around the opening.

started a "cost of mountain bikes" thread here - https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/your-thoughts-cost-new-mountain-bike - shows vital survey data from 2010, 2016 and 2024.