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ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/13/2026 1:22pm These are good posts and discussions for the bikeconomics thread. This thread, is about new technology rumors and new tech. Remember, no one forces you to buy a new bike. The gear in this sport would be less interesting and not worth talking about if the prevailing notion was, "meh, we didn't develop this any further because it didn't fix...
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ebruner Added a reply to Enginerding: Inverted Forks and Front Hubs
3/11/2026 9:46am thank you for posting this. I did my 3 of my 4 weeks of testing the 9.1 with a dt350 front hub and standard end caps. The last week, I used a i9 1/1 hub and standard end caps. The 1/1 hub was noticeably better in terms of front end accuracy, specifically in situations where I was doing very large...
ebruner Added a reply to Affordable bikes?
3/10/2026 8:29am Just popped in here to say that I spend on average, 2-3 hours wrenching in the garage for every 1 hour I spend riding my dirt bike. I will admit that my 26' Santa Cruz Bullit cost more or less, the same as my 2017 500 EXC... But my 500 has fork bushings that can be loose enough to knock...
ebruner Added a reply to E-bike talk: not tech rumor derailment
3/9/2026 9:41am Every brand has bad samples out there. I put 4k miles and my wife 3k miles on an ep8 with zero issues other than going through speed sensors. In contrast, I went through 2 fazua ride 60 motors in just 800 miles. Now 3k miles on cx gen 5 and my wife 2k miles on an sx. The shimano motors...
ebruner Added a reply to Nerding out on Brakes shall we? Not another tech deraliment
3/6/2026 6:12am Depends on the brand. I have tried going from trp organic (blue pad backers) to shimano metallic pads and that did not work so well. I have had good luck going from sram organic to sram metallic, but not 100% success on that process over the years and did have one rotor that would brake fine, but never stopped making...
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/5/2026 9:47am I'll be leery of billstein stuff until I get a chance to try it. They are known for pretty digressive damping in automotive applications, which is good for performance cars. Their 8112 and 5100 stuff (I have used both on personal vehicles) still has a very digressive damping curve, and honestly is not great for off road applications compared to...
ebruner Added a reply to MTB Component Pricing
3/4/2026 10:10am Let's give Darren the benefit of the doubt here. He did not say that chromag had it wrong, he was responding to my post. It could easily be that the bead blasting and painted finish is more expensive, but the quantity that they are purchasing of the same color/finish sizes provides them economics of scale to bring the price down.
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/4/2026 9:50am That's good to hear. I was on a guided mtb trip/tour once and one of the other guys in that group had berd spokes on his wheel build. Half way through the trip he had a stick get sucked into his rear wheel (incredibly bad luck granted) and it tore 3/4 of the way through one of his spokes and...
ebruner Added a reply to MTB Component Pricing
3/4/2026 9:47am Interesting. I've only priced this out with rather low/limited run (under 500 pieces) car parts sourced through chinese factories. In that case, the polished and anodized parts were more expensive due to finishing then the tumbled and bead blasted finishes. When dealing with overseas factories, it's always hard to get the real story behind the pricing and options you're looking...
ebruner Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
3/4/2026 8:41am Yeah I had read those articles, and that's obviously a huge blow... but it does seem like there is something deeper going on over there as well. I wonder how much of that CBP action has impacted their sub-contracting and fabrication for other brands.
ebruner Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
3/4/2026 8:23am Has anyone got any information about Giant? I've heard some things that make me think they could be in deeper trouble then I could have predicted. My LBS used to lean heavily into giant in the sub 3k segment and lately, giant bikes have been no where to be found on their floor and they have been looking to bring...
ebruner Added a reply to MTB Component Pricing
3/4/2026 8:25am Both of the stems you listed are cold forged, meaning they are forged at room temperature. As far as forging goes, this way is slightly more optimum for resulting grain structure/strength then flow formed or cast. Since the manufacturing method is the same for both of these stems, you're paying for the surface finishing of bead blasting and painted vs...
ebruner Added a reply to E-bike talk: not tech rumor derailment
3/3/2026 10:52am I have a gen 5 bosch cx and my wife has a bosch sx. The sx motors are plenty powerful enough if you're not riding with a ground of full power people. The SX motors however, are quite loud both with gear/motor whine and with sprag clutch clacking on baby head sized trail undulations. That being said, if those things...
ebruner Added a reply to E-bike talk: not tech rumor derailment
3/2/2026 4:18pm these are good questions... I have opinions of my own based on my own preferences and experiences. What your questions tell me, is that you aren't ready to buy an ebike right now, and you need to spend more time demo'ing them and answering those questions for yourself. No offense meant here... but time in the saddle is the only...
ebruner Added a reply to Nerding out on Brakes shall we? Not another tech deraliment
2/26/2026 12:45pm The swing link is different, as is the black reach adjust lever pivot cam. The levers are physically the same, but they do not sell the swing link and the cam separately at this time.
ebruner Added a reply to Nerding out on Brakes shall we? Not another tech deraliment
2/26/2026 11:28am One stupid question and one observation regarding the maven discussion: Question: Can I get a bit of clarification on the exact meaning of deadband in the context of mtb media outlet and sram marketing material. I ask because I have maven base, bronze and ultimates. The base, have a lot of lever throw overall (duh) but to my estimation, the...
ebruner Added a reply to Affordable bikes?
2/24/2026 1:18pm A sub 1k full suspension bike isn't worth riding... especially so in 160/160 format where you can't hid poor suspension behind a firm feel with limited travel. The last FS i test rode in this bracket was a giant stance at ~1,600 dollars a hard tail would have been my choice in that price range. As @ervin321 mentioned... There aren't...
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
2/24/2026 1:06pm Yes on the XX chains, not so much with GX. I wear out a GX transmission chain in ~1,500 miles on a pedal bike and 1,000 miles on an ebike.
ebruner Added a reply to Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast - Community Conversation
2/23/2026 9:48am I was absolutely rolling laughing while listening to the last podcast. Never before would I have thought a discussion about catheters on a mtb podcast, would have been something I was into lol. Podcast name ideas: Vital's Mostly Bikes Podcast B Lines & Good Times Vital MTB - What's In, What's Out Vital Tech News and Pontification
dolface Liked a reply to forum topic Vital’s Bikes: Unaffiliated Podcast - Community Conversation
2/23/2026 9:42am
PSA: Peeing while sitting causes your blood-pressure to drop. I know this because I did it up in Mammoth and apparently dropped like bag of cement when I stood up. Bounced my head off the toilet and tagged the baseboard on my way down to the stone floor and opened up a 3" gash in my scalp. My poor wife found me in a pool of blood on the floor and thought I was dead... The ER doc who stapled my head closed told me that it's called micturition syncope, mediated primarily by the vasovagal reflex, and was likely caused...
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