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https://www.sram.com/en/life/stories/specialized-highgear-co-development From the outset, the core challenge was clear: transmitting full downhill sprint and impact loads through an extremely compact system. Traditional solutions such as belts or meshing gears were quickly ruled out due to inefficiency, packaging limitations, suspension constraints, and durability concerns. Chains remained the most efficient and proven option, but early analysis showed that a single chain could not withstand elite downhill loads within the desired compact gearing and envelope. That insight led to the project’s defining architectural decision: a two chain system. Two parallel chains could theoretically share the load, but ensuring equal load distribution introduced a...

Good questions! I had a great conversation with Kiran MacKinnon of Santa Cruz Bikes at Sea Otter (and it should be published as a podcast at some point), and he said that because e-bike frames have to be so much stiffer than pedal bikes, taking the motor and battery out basically produces a bike that rides like a block of wood (i.e. overly stiff and harsh over bumps). That doesn't mean that an e-bike with the motor removed is unridable (i.e. Martin Maes racing DH on the e-Wild frame as a development project for the new Rallon DH bike), but...

“Hey do you guys have a spare HighGear perimeter seal and lower case bolt o-ring in stock? I’ve got a race this weekend.”

Page 100 folks. Already a tenth of the way to the third version of Tech Rumors!

I'm pretty sure it's a case of: Motor, VPP Shock tunnel, dropper insertion, Pick 2.

Engineers at Scott must be going insane after finding out Specialized has beaten them at making the most complicated MTB to service, the next Gambler will have 32 pivots in retaliation

Kind of hilarious that the marketing line is that "you don't have to deal with the complications of a normal idler" - like this isn't the world's most complicated bike 😂 I think the highgear thing is cool but the design of the frame around the bottom bracket seems a bit awkward. Even with the frame protection I don’t like those thin-ish carbon edges. The fully open linkage area is also a concern - yes mud can get in and out, but in UK winter conditions all of those interior surfaces are going to get wrecked by any fine dirt...

interesting demo mule: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXZqJ-TFEYI/?img_index=6

Saw this in the background of an Instagram story, must be the new tall boy going away from VPP

It would be really cool if they kept selling the current aluminum demo with a poverty spec for people that don’t want to refinance their house. For what it’s worth that bike seemed universally liked.

I think this is as close to a „for racing purposes only“ bike we’ll get from specialized. Who is the realistic target group for this? A few age groupers, the occasional dentist and maybe some kids sponsored by their rich parents. The ones who want it will buy it anyways, other than that I see it as an engineering exercise and podium representation at the World Cup for spesh. Low production numbers, complex molds and layup, high structural requirements and engineering costs, it was never gonna be price competitive and i don’t think specialized will care about the hardtail dad...

While I’ll never own one, I have to give credit to specialized for creating this. It’s giving me nostalgia vibes from the late 90’s/early 00’s when there was a lot of weird and wacky experimentation in DH. The fact that after 3+ years of development, this is an actual production frame (regardless of cost) is pretty cool.

I didn't realize I was buying the value option when I spent $4k USD on my v10

I want to see Shimano release something developed from their 2019 internal "gearbox" patent. It had an even higher output shaft position and would make high-pivots easier to pull off without an idlers.

Another athlete signing from Polygon: POLYGON BIKES SIGNS BRAD SIMMS April 15th 2026 - Polygon Bikes welcomes the signing of athlete Brad Simms to the team for 2026 and beyond. “I’m super excited to be joining Polygon. They have a solid crew of riders doing some interesting things, as well as taking a different approach to making riding more accessible. Looking forward to some more bike time, showing everyone what we’ve got planned.” - Brad Simms Building his reputation in street riding’s most respected names, Brad has amassed a large following through his video content, stamping his mark in BMX...

SO happy to see that derailleur cable

What's the scoop on the new Saint? Rallon DH has it listed...

Every one of us is dumb to someone else at least once a year Can we just keep rumoring and innovationing now? Please. Thanks 🙂