All

Maybe this has been mentioned before, but I saw Finn and Loic in Queenstown this week in head-to-toe Alpinestars (both in the same kit). Would assume that means the team isn't wearing Specialized gear this season.

Friends talking about one guys cool bike project, and Moi Moi probably itching to try one out. That's almost certainly the extent of it.

IIRC, Pinkbike mentioned in a photo caption that Brook was testing the EXT fork for the first time at Hardline. Perhaps he just couldn't get comfortable with it and switched back to something more familiar?

maybe the wrong forum but I noticed Brook riding the EXT fork at hardline but when he posted his crash yesterday the bike has Boxxers on it ? Anyone know of hardline killed the EXT and he didn’t have a spare ?

I think it was said elsewhere on here before, but Specialized is winding down their apparel production and will no longer be producing anything besides gloves, helmets and shoes. Even those will have heavily reduced SKUs.

Yea exactly. He’s the goat in my book but he’s not really a pro biker anymore.

Blasphemy!😁 I want to disagree, but... you're actually right. Sort of. I am just offended that the hero of my youth isn't full factory anymore.

Came to say the same thing. Sam is a legend, however he is pretty quiet on the socials, does the odd race, man of few words, isnt proactively chasing media and doing the moto life with his sons. Not really what a brand would be looking for in an ambassador.

Back to rumors I lost the pic but a while back (like October? There was Nina Hoffman on an alloy test bike that clearly had the VPP lower shock and a dual crown that was a nomad mega tower Bronson act look a like. I’d have to say it’s prolly not going away from VPP on long travel stuff. We technically should be in development time for the next v10 as well. (Usually 2nd color way means next version is on its way to being made). As long as they keep putting the same workmanship into the next bike they...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/2026-team-rumors?page=25

Made a modular bike thread so we can dig deeper: https://www.vitalmtb.com/forums/hub/modular-bikes-evolution-or-devoluti…

Race team vibe im here for. Brage just doesn’t do it for me. The metal, the vibe, the approach turns me off. Riding is mental but the style is not there for me - I’m sure I’ll get torched for this take but it’s just how I feel. Tippe is the same…we get it, you’re that guy. But to be fair I was sick of his schrik 25 years ago. Effortless style does it for me. Maybe just coincidence but Kamloops style (Tippie aside) is my jam. Aggy, Matty Miles, Hunter Paul, Matt Hunter. Those guys ride like I imagine...

I don't get the move away from VPP, especially if they're going horst link like the Vala. I don't think the market needs another four bar trail bike, and SC prices are a little steep for selling what is effectively a smuggler with a swat box.

Vala style 4 bar? I thought I remembered hearing SC say the "weren't going to shift away from vpp" for their acoustic bikes or something like that.

Don't know if this was mentioned. New tallboy is no longer VPP, 140 130mm

The more important question should be what does it gain you. Magnetorheological suspension works with cars because you can set it soft for the street and hard for the track. Bikes more or less just work. And we also have the option of a lockout. Then there's flightattendant. Other than marketing, what does it genuinely add?

Could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that Marzocchi and Fox forks have very similar chassis sizes so that the racers and other pros can just run Fox guts in their Marzocchi forks.

Just drop it please or indeed find the coil vs air thread. No, it is not the case. And if you have an air fork, I have no idea what do you do with it because between all the air forks I've had in a decade, I haven't spent enough on air seals nor grease to purchase a SINGLE coil spring for any fork. (not here to talk about whether I actually use it hard enough or whatever) Coil isn't innovation, certainly won't make your bike slacker nor longer. Whether it's better or not, this thread should be about innovation...