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If this is true, Specialized have done an amazing job keeping it under wraps prior to the bike landing in shops. Not a single spy shot has surfaced and it's not been spotted under any of the team riders at an EWS (or whatever it's called now). Prior to the current version's release, there were a number of pics like these floating around. Did NSMB's whining have an effect?

I’m sure the enduro could be totally different but I don’t really see why it should be, from a consumer standpoint. Geo is still completely dialed 3 years after release (or 5 years I don’t really know) I have only been really into mountain bikes for like 8 years so maybe but I don’t see where they can get much better geo/kinematic wise.

STREWTH, first “overbiked” and now “overtired”. Look mate, some folks only have one bike. It’s nice to have a big rig with meaty dh rubber. Just cos you see people riding mellow trails on big bikes doesn’t mean they don’t also see proper terrain and abuse. We get it, you’re amazing. You ride WC DH tracks on a XC unicycle with a 23mm slick. Good for you. DH casing tyres on trail/enduro bikes, yes please.

Yo guys I'm real happy for you and Imma let you finish but DH tires on enduro bikes is one of the greatest combos of all time. Of all time!

Or, and hear me out here, this might be tough for some to hear, our own individual experiences do not define those of others. None of us ride the same trails, on the same bikes, in the same style, at the same speeds. What works for one, might not work for others, and our individual experiences are proof of nothing other than our own experiences, and even those are full of bias cause we all think we are doing/making the best decisions for ourselves. We could all do with taking a step back every now and then when telling others...

That tread pattern looks identical to the tacky chan, atleast from a distance. Same block layout and pattern and looks to be the same side knobs too. Maybe it’s “old” stock from before they finalized the name??

I suspect the strategy of many of the big brands (this is especially egregious for Trek) is to fatten up the downtubes of their "natural" bikes so that their ebikes are harder to distinguish from the normal model.

Shorts topic thread incoming

If you're catching shorts on your brake levers you have bigger problems.

Yeah, I know. My comment was tongue in cheek as Ric is always going on about no riders from NZ wearing gloves.

Funny, but still a shit Scott with all the things nobody should even consider hidden shock, stupid remotes, cable tourism

They fixed the seat tube angle though. I considered a Gen 5 Slash but my legs, they're just too long!

That pricing for the slash 9 doesnt seem right. 7k euros for that. Ridiculous, if that is correct and if the cost in New Zealand for it is similar. Thats 14,000 nzd for that, like yes its got transmission and the new vivid but they aren’t even the top of the line versions of those products. Spec on that looks like, alloy frame, gx transmission, code bronze brakes, zeb select, vivid select plus, bontrager dropper, presumably a bontrager line elite 30 wheelset aswell.

At over 7000euros, I'm expecting a motor to be in there somewhere!

Its not a looker is it?

I thought the Nicolai Nucleon 16 looked a bit "busy" with the idler and rear LAL derailleur, and maybe it's the angle/lighting, but this Slash with both pulleys, big chain slap guard, long rear fender, chunky seat tube, shock mount etc. brings me late 90's vibes too. It probably rides great, but with the swoopy tube junctions and straighter/angular rear end, the lines don't flow that well IMO and it looks a bit "unfinished" in the industrial design department. In front of a white background with studio lighting, it would probably look more finished. My 0.02$.

New Lapierre Spicy incoming. 29 or MX, 180 front and rear and suspension layout à la new Mondraker Summum. Price will be high and no pros ridden it yet...

FWIW, The new Vivid model specific offering refers to the current Slash as (2021-2023) where most other models are 20XX+)

alu gt fury… hope it‘s more durable 😅