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Wasn't Zerode using GBs years before the Gates prize showed up.

Imagine strapping a pound of weight to your front fork axle... bet it's a pretty noticeable effect on suspension performance

For what it's worth - here's Google's AI snippet asking about belt CVT efficiency: Belt-driven CVTs are 80% to 88% efficient in cars, and 70% to 75% efficient in scooters. They are less efficient than traditional manual transmissions (which hit 97%) because they rely on sliding friction to transfer power. However, their ability to keep the engine at its most optimal power zone balances out these losses.

The derailleur cabal is strong in this thread… Looking forward to the hanging chad getting off my bike one day

excuse linking the "other site" but pretty funny given recent convo on gearboxes, especially claims about only being viable on ebikes https://www.pinkbike.com/news/gates-patents-a-cvt-gearbox-for-non-elect…

I love that chris Canfield is dropping weird bikes all the time now . Titanium DH bikes with gearboxes ? I’m Here for it.

If they already have a way above average finished product (avinox mg), while they released the m2s a few months back, why couldn't it be that they also have semi solid state batteries already? By the way, that mondraker frame looks damn nice!!!

Global mountain bike network joins pinkbike as vital forum stalkers. Here is a derailleur versus gearbox test posted just a few days ago https://youtu.be/FgQb1GWJMTw?is=lxjFyTPbcGw6F1aj

I have both a singlespeed and Zerode Katipo with 12spd analog Pinion gearbox. Constant drive lines FTW. Never having to worry about maintaining, hearing or shearing off a derailleur is far worth any drag compromise. Any noticeable "drag" is on gears higher than 6-7, plus shifting from say 5th to 2nd gear is instant, not a massive clunky chain moving event. That said I don't see current gearboxes being relevant for anything less than enduro or heavy duty trail bike applications. /2c

The average rider does care about efficiency, most just don't know how to articulate it. They talk about the bike feeling slow, or that they're working really hard on climbs, and making improvements to how efficient the bike is (mostly by going to faster rolling, lighter weight tires since most are on traditional drivetrains) makes a huge difference to their ride experience. Can't forget the average rider isn't smashing wheels and ripping off derailleurs all the time, and shouldn't build their bikes up like a lot of us do.

I'm mostly a sea-level XC rider these days, and mostly ride fast tires. My trailbike came with Minions, and I took it on a trip to Tahoe when it was new. Did a loop in the Tahoe-Donner area that was about 35 miles with 3500' of climbing with a lot of black. That was punishing. I swapped out the Minions for Forekaster/Rekon for a trip to Sedona, and that was a much more enjoyable experience. Steep braking performance with the Minions is pretty insane though.

For what it's worth: I'd still rather have all my tech rumors in one place instead of having to subscribe to a new thread for every new rumor. The current concept of one, singular annual tech rumors thread would work beautifully well if everyone just stuck to posting actual tech news and rumors. The problem is the guys endlessly talking themselves in circles or posting e-bike content (-for which there is a separate thread) or starting completely redundant discussions (like the 78th discussion on the feasibility of gearboxes). Maybe, what this thread needs is a more hands-on approach to moderation...

Let's not forget 2nd place mens overall for enduro world cup is currently on a gearbox belt drive bike - gearboxes are coming for pedal bikes too people. Idk how anyone in their right mind defends a derailleur. Seems absurdly obvious that a gearbox will soon be the better option for most long travel applications. It will start with ebikes and continue to make its way to DH/Enduro/Trail.. XC might be a while. An encased system with the weight at the BB is going to beat an exposed system hanging off the rear wheel.

I think it’s important to remember in the tech rumors forum that we all have dope bikes, tailored specifically for where we ride, and that it’s never the same everywhere for everyone and that minion DHF is still the best tire ever always

that’s a YOU problem then

Yeah that should be possible - I remember a thing years ago where people were running some oddball XT crankset (I think it was for touring bikes at the time) because it had a longer spindle and would slot straight in to a DH bike. It might have been for a narrower q-factor instead of the chainring mounting but either way it fitted on the wider BB no worries but removing the spacers

The rose colored glasses was directed specifically at the your comments on the Amflow bike itself (not the motor). The first one was by and large a sub-par bike in and of itself. I haven't read any long term reviews of the second gen ones yet but it does look like they've addressed enough of the issues to bring it up to average. Regarding what ebikers change out on bikes, that must be a regional thing. Around here, the number of guys I see on bone-stock ebikes is tiny, like maybe 1/20. Bars, stems, & grips all get changed out...

xynradital

they are about to, but Conti will call it xyzzy or some shit