All

I think semi slicks like minion ss and specialized slaughter are totally underrated. I was turned into these by ridemonkey DH forum guys and the combo of a fast rolling tread with big cornering lugs is addicting. way more grip than the appearance of the tire would suggest, but maybe that’s why it’s been so slow to catch on? People just assume it won’t grip?

This thread is gonna invent a DH casing semislick from first principles.

Your wishes will be addressed soon. But also worth noting that enduro/gravity casing tires can only go so fast. A tires casing is one of the biggest contributor to rolling speed. See my previous comment about this exact topic.

Likely no company is reading this, but I will give my wishes. Make enduro Casing fast trail rear tire. I run Xynotol enduro soft in the rear and I like it but sometimes wish wonder what a faster tire would change my 5010. I've tried a WTB Trail boss light fast (why are tough now 1500g!?) and liked it (but flatted it), and I would love to try a Forekaster, but I haven't had great luck with Exo+ in the rear but have had luck with Conti Enduro. I am curious to try a faster Magnotol or Forekaster, but no...

One interesting move by Avinox is the cross compatibility they have built into the new and old systems..

Jeff, your breakdown seems to be getting noticed.. Seen it pop up on my FB feed a couple times..

Quick update for clarification. It does appear that DJI has officially spun off Avinox and Amflow as wholly owned subsidiaries. They are working hard to distance both brands from DJI while still owning them, which in my opinion is primarily for tariff reasons. I don't read Mandarin so I had to use AI to help with the research, but here's what the Chinese corporate registry data shows: DJI senior management member Song Jianyu is the legal representative of the Amflow entity, which is held by a Hong Kong shell company called Worang Technology. If you guys want, I'll spend the...

I know this is a controversial take, but I don't think the power numbers really matter with respect to trail access. What matters is how we limit speed and whether that limit is consistently hacked or not. Even that is something I'm less and less convinced has a huge real-world impact. What had a big impact was letting e-bikes on trails that were otherwise closed to motorized access (dirt bikes) in the first place. By allowing that, everything changed. I frankly don't care if you can put 150Nm to the rear wheel or 75Nm. Both change the equation relatively equal...

I just really hope they’re not sacrificing the whole industry for a few good quarters because that’s kinda what it feels like with them flirting with higher and higher power numbers.

I spent a good chunk of last night trying to evaluate DJI's move through the lens of business and corporate strategy. While it might sound far-fetched, I genuinely believe DJI could be making a move that fundamentally changes the landscape of the e-mtb industry. A few thoughts: Amflow: I have it on good authority that Fox's number one customer is Amflow. If true, that should signal to the industry that Amflow is not a demo product. It's a company going after the likes of Specialized, Trek, Giant and other major incumbents. To add, there is nothing holding them back from...

A sale is a sale at this point. I think many brands are just hoping to sell through a production run of something at margin these days.

I run which ever works best. In my opinion I do not think there’s one brand with the best fork and shock on the market. Different brands that make the best shock and best fork.

⚠️Rant Warning, no actual advice below⚠️ I don't know what it's going take for the powers at be to come to terms with the fact that EWS/EDR is mostly directly supported by the COMMUNITY of riders that are actively participating in Enduro racing, not random bored YouTube and HBO algorithm drifters. At least to me the most successful period of EWS was when there was a well promoted international web of qualifier events and 100/80 events along side the Elite races. People could actually aspire to racing an elite event and the pathway was clearly defined. Or there was the...

As a former rep for one larger brands in the mtb space, outerwear over $225 CAD, shorts over $120 CAD were difficult to get any buy in from most shops. Top end styles bought by the larger shops often ended up on the markdown rack. Seeing these premium brands enter the market gives me the cold sweats. My time would have been pre E-bike boom, so not sure if that’s had any impact on premium pieces but placement itself was difficult.

thx @BGoldstone and @jeff.brines for the intel on what margins may look like. while i didn't really think they'd be 10x, at $450 for a jacket, i just assume they'd still be pretty darn high.

Given the discussion on ski resorts and the bummer season most have had, and now the chat of high end outdoor clothing brands entering the MTB sphere, is it too much of an assumption to think the decline of winter snowpack due to global warming is one of the causes of these apparel businesses to pivot to other outdoor pursuits?

I guess it comes down to how is new product vs existing products being pushed towards a new audience?

While I'm by no means as knowledgeable as an industry vet like @BGoldstone, I've spent real time in the technical outerwear manufacturing/cost rabbit hole for my own reasons (explored a D2C snowmobile outerwear idea and even had prototypes made). There's a huge range of production costs depending on where you manufacture, how you manufacture, and what materials you use. Gross margin on this product family (ex shorts; ghastly price there) isn't 10x, especially after you layer in tariffs, dealer costs, and the inevitable write-off of dead inventory (weird sizes, stuff that didn't sell). But it still looks very healthy compared...