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The RAAW and ebike comments in the rumors thread are really interesting. Might make for good discussion here or even a good podcast topic. The upshot is: Core Brand has a market niche along the lines of "we got rid of the MBA's and marketing department, and then designed a couple of frames we'd want to ride and maintain for many years." Catering to very avid, highly knowledgeable riders. Core Brand is watching as ebike sales continue to grow and regular bike sales continue to decline. Obviously, they are aware of all the missteps made by frame manufacturers over over...

On the Raaw E-Bike topic: This is quite interesting... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hepha-gmbh-ebike_hepha-raaw-hephaxraaw-a…

The question is, can brands survive without making an ebike? Based on what I know about sales at bike dealers, pedal bike purchases are in persistent decline. In order for a brand to grow or even stay the same size, they will have to make an ebike. I think there have smartly been many hold-outs... and I agree, maybe producing a product like an EMTB is too intensive and requires too much warranty overhead to the point where that process can kill a small/mid sized brand. But I also can assume that most brands aren't in business to persistently struggle...

If they keep their release strategy the same, they’ll release the new 38 on April 7th, 2026.

RAAW is a german company, last year, the total numbers of all MTB sold in Germany was about 80k, that number is getting smaller and smaller in the last years. now look at EMTB sold, that was 800k, 10x as much as non motorized MTB. so they exist in an ever shrinking market if they don’t adapt to the new reality..,

And the 2025 "Simplicity is the ultimate innovation award" goes to Transmission 90 mechanical and XT M8100 for their outstanding lack of electronic component complication, perfectly acceptable shifting performance and general affordability. We thank you for being as good as anyone ever would need.

curious if the new 40 will come at the same time.

Not particularly set on an ebike myself, never owned one,the way I look at it, most of them go from shitty to "good" but poor value with nothing in the middle. Thats why I think that the realibility, serviceability, life expectancy, and quality of life features that Raaw puts at the forefront of the bikes they design will make for a compelling proposition if they decide to enter in the ebike market. Who knows, we will see. Another quote from that same email: ... Julian shapes the RAAW universe – whether it’s owner’s manuals or logos for a new bike...

I don’t have data on this but it feels every smaller company when they release an ebike goes under shortly after, especially if it was carbon. Revel and Deviate that was the case. Maybe it’s the cost of the R&D is so much it strains the company, I don’t know.

The PB article links to the YT website which offers no info on the bike and continues to use the likeness of riders they fired / stop paying months ago. Classy.

Allow me to rewrite this headline: “YT Attempts to Rebuild After Bankruptcy With New Pricing and New Bankruptcy.”

"You miss 100% of the bikes you don't sell." - Markus Flossman - Waynkus Flostzky - Wayne Gretzky

it wasn't a serious question. i know they'll never get paid back. here's another question. didn't markus blame other brands for a price "race to the bottom" as a reason YT cratered last time? starting off 2.0 with a bang.

Megatower is done, according to rumors.

Shoot, I thought Oregon had the gnarliest of trails...

Having ridden on both west and east coast. I kind of disagree. Climbs on the east coast are shorter and most trail centers are on the janky rocky side versus flowy with some tech sections. A lot less machine built trails in general as well. I’d be way more inclined to sacrifice some travel for efficiency if I was still in Oregon. Either way people should really think about what they like to ride and how they like to ride it. Even if you are a park rat you are probably a ok on a mid travel trail bike if...

Isn't Trump trying to make America great again ?

https://www.transitionbikes.com/Bikes/Spire The innovation we see the most this year. Bold new graphics. This is the new Trek Project One Spire