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ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/26/2026 10:16am A few snipes of tech rumors that I am going to steal from a few pinkbike's posts from today. I want to be respectful of their efforts/journalism, so I am providing a link to not be a douche, sorry @sspomer if that's not cool. Fox Live Valve neo x2, on seb's firebird from the 38 release article. This seems like...
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DServy Liked a reply to forum topic Shock Suggestions?
3/25/2026 9:53am
I completely agree with this post and my own experiences with rear shocks. Slapping a new rear shock on isn't going to magically make the bike feel "better." In all honesty I think people expect their suspension to somehow remove any feeling of terrain underneath them which is just not what suspension does. In my opinion suspension is meant to make the force vectors controlled by you tolerable for you to control. It's why stronger people can run firmer suspension then folks who don't bother to lift at the gym. Steve at Vorsprung talks about this a lot in his...
This forum topic has 39 replies.
ebruner Added a reply to Tire chat (nerds only)
3/25/2026 9:47am That was my experience with the argotal in front, especially when new as the argotal is less of an intermediate and step towards mud spike in knob height then the hr3. Neither are at their best on rock slabs to be fair.
ebruner Added a reply to Shock Suggestions?
3/25/2026 8:33am Disclaimer, I am very opinioned about suspension upgrades and setup, so take my comments with a grain of salt. On the other hand, playing with suspension setups on various frames of my own and my friends (as well as on other vehicles) would qualify in my top 5 as a tangent hobby to mountain biking. I do not believe you...
ebruner Added a reply to Suspension Component Technology/Functionality Discussion
3/19/2026 4:06pm Damper, no N. You will need a response from fox. this is a new chassis so there is no guarentee that the air spring is a drop in. I would be very surprised if the damper (no n) isn't a drop in to the previous generation.
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/19/2026 2:32pm I honestly appreciate the fact that we are working our way away from model year names, or re-branding of products for slight updates and tweaks. Those that want to latest and greatest or want to validate what off the shelf product they are buying can work with their IBD to validate the serial numbers or they can do that themselves...
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/19/2026 9:37am Honestly, the Reya is the first XC bike that I really, really want to try as a 6'3" individual. I feel like that jack nichelson nodding meme as I work my way down the geo chart on the XL. Edit: Can we also agree that peak bike industrial design is a straight top tube that aligns directly with the seat...
TEAMROBOT Liked a reply to forum topic 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/18/2026 4:07pm
Coming from the PNW and never seeing running water on a long ride in SoCal has been a real adjustment, and it means I have to carry way more water on my person, or spend a lot of time looking at maps to figure out where all the stores and water fountains are, or both. I miss creeks. And shade. And overcast days. Don't ever leave. Stay there as long as you can, Cam. AS LONG AS YOU CAN.
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ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/18/2026 12:30pm Location matters. I have an xc hardtail in the midwest at my MIL's house... that bike has a 170mm dropper and it is more then enough. Out west where I live, I do not ride anything less then 210mm drop because it makes a difference. The riding is completely different however... one is gaining and losing elevation at 20-50-100' at...
sprungmass Liked a reply to forum topic DT Swiss DEG DF
3/16/2026 4:27pm
Other than the engagement feel, really can't a difference between both when it comes to descending. They both mitigate pedal kickback and let your suspension work more freely. If you have a DEG hub then get the DF kit. If you are in the market for a new wheelset with DEG DF then Reserve wheels is a killer cost effective option. If you already have a solid wheelset then get OChain. Also if you like to run a smaller <30T chain ring on a big heavy enduro bike then DT/e13 sidekick are really the only options. Lastly, servicing OChain is...
This forum topic has 67 replies.
sprungmass Liked a reply to forum topic DT Swiss DEG DF
3/16/2026 4:27pm
I have two sets of Reserve wheels with DEG DF hubs. One carbon frysauce and one AL SL. One is on my 180/170 Madonna with the 20 degree setting and one is on my 160/140 Trek Fuel EX in 10 degree setting. I have also had OChain on the Madonna so I can compare the two. Climbing: DF in 20 degree setting has a LOT of free play and it very odd when trying to rachet pedals especially in bigger cassette gears. The free play has no resistance and can be compared to having one of their 18T rachets with...
This forum topic has 67 replies.
ebruner Added a reply to DT Swiss DEG DF
3/16/2026 1:33pm @sprungmass pretty much nailed it. I have 2 bikes in my rotation that have ochains and just recently tried a deg-df kit in the only deg dt350 hub I have in my families fleet of bikes. The degdf kit is 90% as good imo. I prefer the ochain over the degdf, but the ochain is a pain, maintenance heavy, physically...
ebruner Added a reply to E-bike talk: not tech rumor derailment
3/16/2026 8:03am I don't know whether to be alarmed or relieved that bikes are so homogenized that even aventon can release one.
ebruner Added a reply to 2026 MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation - Longer and Slacker
3/13/2026 1:34pm Are smaller wheels not an equal disadvantage to taller riders right now?
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...
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...