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SteveClimber Added a reply to Thoughts on the current generation of forks
10/17/2024 2:57pm I think the big point is that forks have been better today than they've ever been. Yes we did take a detour into service and reliability hell after the 2000's open bath dampers that were insanely easy to service and reliable, but were back baby! Are there gripes and potential to get a lemon, yeah totally, there churning out like...
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SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
10/16/2024 3:11pm rear is different as there are (for most bikes) 2 supporting members, chain stay + seat stay, thus axle dimension isn't as important compared to a fork. Its more so about the mounting interface being wider on a 20mm axle than the axle itself being stiffer, this is what torque caps tried to address. But as many people much smarter...
SteveClimber Added a reply to Thoughts on the current generation of forks
10/15/2024 9:49pm Put your fork in a vice inverted at 45 degrees, remove the wiper seals and damper airpspring etc so it's just lowers sliding over bushings, and you'll notice with most forks you'll need to pull apart or push together the lowers to get it to slide smoothly down.
SteveClimber Added a reply to Thoughts on the current generation of forks
10/14/2024 11:39pm No reason other than price, weight and tolerances etc etc. You can't CNC it, its a massive block. You can't cast it, would need heaps of machining anyway, too many defects and you cant make it light without even more failures, which really means the best is some kind of press fit. Maybe it could be welded? Idk, I think...
SteveClimber Added a reply to Thoughts on the current generation of forks
10/14/2024 4:22pm Yes there is a trend towards more damping, as previous generations were terrible (fox in particular) and people have finally realized higher damping is necessary for grip and stability (thanks Ohlins and Bruni). If you look at Rochshox and Fox, compared to their boutique competitors, Ohlins, EXT, Push, Avalanche tunes, Vorpsrung etc etc, the consistent thing is they all offer...
SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
10/14/2024 11:21am I think the M&A is good overall. There are too many large bike manufacturers and not enough small manufacturers (imo). The consolidating of the large manufacturers should alloy more efficient investment and improvement in technology and materials construction, which is really where MTB is heading. Geometry is cheap to engineer, scaling 3D printed yokes, new carbon technology etc isn't, and...
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
10/14/2024 12:06am When did Evil last release a new bike? been a while hasn't it?
SteveClimber Added a reply to The Bikeconomics (Mega)Thread
10/11/2024 1:45pm Private company. They did raise a lot of capital at a high valuation, so you can't say it's overvalued. Just that you wouldn't pay for it at that price (me neither too). It's got all the buzz words, commuting electric sustainable bike for marketing rounds. Not really a surprise they could hit such a valuation from funding rounds.
whitesq Liked a reply to forum topic MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
10/10/2024 1:11pm
😅 We stubbornly wanted to make the sliding bushing work so bad, probably delayed the whole project by a year. At the end of the day in blind A/B testing, riders couldn't tell a difference so it was ease of service and manufacturing consistency that pushed us to fixed bushings. Mountain bikes are similar to motos in many ways but also different, so not every moto concept is a good fit for us. Sure, putting sliding bushings as a feature on our spec sheet would look cool, but if it isn't actually better we're not interested. And yes, it is...
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SteveClimber Added a reply to 2025 Race Talk
10/10/2024 2:58am Hardline, crankworx races, 1199 at Whistler, half the national champs around the world etc. Somebody who says you can't build and race a WC track in a year has either never raced, or never built a track, but most likely both. Will it gets gnarly and blown out, hell yeah, it's a WC track it happens to them anyway.
Karabuka Liked a reply to forum topic MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
10/4/2024 1:20pm
I wasnt joking, I absolutely love Saint as it clearly shows how good a well designed parts can stand the test of time...
This forum topic has 30444 replies.
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
10/4/2024 4:20am Does that groupset not do the job? Would you prefer the bike to be more expensive with a groupset released last year that accomplishes the exact same thing? I love how as a community we complain that novices by bike by the derailleur model, and then we also complain about derailleur models.
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/26/2024 5:29pm its more the fact there isn't a member to connect the chainstay and seatstay at or near the seat tube, meaning the rear isn't a triangle that gives it away
Nobble Liked a reply to forum topic MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/25/2024 2:47am
Go look at inflation, high end bikes have always been expensive. In 2004, an SWorks Enduro was $4800. (Around $8500 today). In 2009, an SWorks Epic was $8800. (Approximately $13,000 today) I don’t understand why everyone suddenly thinks the sky is falling. Next everyone will be complaining that $250,000 for a Huraćan is insane because a Countach used to be $100,000. It’s not like you were going to buy one anyway.
This forum topic has 30444 replies.
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/23/2024 1:24pm If your argument is that when you buy your new fork for hundreds of dollars, make sure you buy enough spare parts for it also for 2-3 years. Your really not understanding consumer behaviour and justifying shitty company practices that shaft consumers at every chance.
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/17/2024 7:23pm I agree with this. But I'll offer a counter point. Low-mid travel suspension is become better than ever also, and tyres and strong carbon rims. So because of improvements like HBO and strong 120mm forks we have bikes like the smuggler that can smash black trails and jump well, whereas previously you'd be lucky for a 120mm bike to not...
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/17/2024 12:23pm I can't help but feel like the travel creep phenomenon is similar to how trucks keep getting larger and larger bonnets and looking more ridiculous, while the trays slowly shrink at the back. Wonder if brands will ever have to do a reset and move the travel back down, or just insert a new name into the 130-140 and eventually...
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/12/2024 2:02pm This has been discussed previously but the TLDR is that T-type doesn't slow the shifts down or know when to shift, it's just a byproduct of where the ramps are in the cassette. Smashing through gears on a mechanical T-type won't shift faster or slower, as the cassette is the same and there are only so many ramps to engage...
notthatbryan Liked a reply to forum topic MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/11/2024 10:17pm
Until the front fell off.
This forum topic has 30444 replies.
SteveClimber Added a reply to MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation
9/9/2024 10:47pm Different from a tuning perspective. Out of the box, not very different for an average rider. A well tuned shock of any variant will always beat an un-tuned shock of another design. Ones twin tube (X2) one is monotube. If you want to learn more id go watch this video: