MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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4/17/2022 1:33pm
nskerb wrote:
Megatower looks like an E-bike. Bummer.
Unno thing looks like my dogs dinner. Also bummer.
Man I get so bummed when a bike I don’t have to buy doesn’t look how I think it should
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LookinForIt
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4/17/2022 1:56pm
WRT the Unno e-bike, I'm mostly disappointed in the through-the-headset cable routing.

It seems to be catching on, and I am severely disappointed.
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boozed
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4/17/2022 3:20pm
29 wrote:
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their...
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their „exclusive“ review of the unno:
https://ebike-mtb.com/en/unno-booes-race-2022-exclusive-review/

Not manufactured in Barcelona anymore but in Asia, same as the other coming models from unno, slight rebranding etc, trying to be more price competitive with new models but all the old ones are sold out anyways.

Also new component brand „Deux“ for bars, stems, both in one, and more shitty cable routing headsets.

And fuck me that bike looks like the result of an orgy between several ebikes, some thankfully unreleased Canyon concept bike, a stumpy evo, an evil and the main ship mast of the Royal Clipper.
I'm subscribed to their RSS feed and the amount of irrelevant and confusing stream-of-consciousness nonsense they publish is impressive. At least their group tests are interesting.
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nskerb
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4/17/2022 3:55pm
Man I get so bummed when a bike I don’t have to buy doesn’t look how I think it should
As you should.
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4/17/2022 10:01pm
29 wrote:
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their...
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their „exclusive“ review of the unno:
https://ebike-mtb.com/en/unno-booes-race-2022-exclusive-review/

Not manufactured in Barcelona anymore but in Asia, same as the other coming models from unno, slight rebranding etc, trying to be more price competitive with new models but all the old ones are sold out anyways.

Also new component brand „Deux“ for bars, stems, both in one, and more shitty cable routing headsets.

And fuck me that bike looks like the result of an orgy between several ebikes, some thankfully unreleased Canyon concept bike, a stumpy evo, an evil and the main ship mast of the Royal Clipper.
boozed wrote:
I'm subscribed to their RSS feed and the amount of irrelevant and confusing stream-of-consciousness nonsense they publish is impressive. At least their group tests are interesting.
for the longest time their blatant bias toward canyon was so obnoxiously obvious from their group tests they lost any credibility in my eyes. But then again, I do like reading about bikes and looking at sharp pictures, so it is still in my bike pages -favorites menu
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metadave
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4/17/2022 11:06pm
Seems I need to do a cable routing shit post again? Ok, pardon the following.... The other day a headset routed gravel bike came out if the box with the caliper not pulled through enough and it took two people to get it to budge. And that was with adding some lubricant to the rubber grommets that the hose passed through. Bikes shouldn't be that difficult to service.

I'm also imagining a basic headset service inusuay do when I'm servicing a form just being bullshit now. Most Enduro bikes I work on also end up with shit kicked bearings after 2-4 years. Now I'll have to remove the brake hose and shifter/dropper cables to replace an upper bearing and it's going to cost the customer $80+ to pop in a new bearing ones I get everything apart, replace it, put it all back together and bleed the brake for something that I do now while I do the fork service.

What is the advantage of this on a mountain bike? PLEASE BIKE DESIGNERS, TELL ME WHAT IT IS. There is zero advantage to customers or service departments to do this. It's not like Enduro and ebike need to save watts with aero routing, so you must just be fucking with everyone, right? Do you understand how accepting a customer is for an extra $80+ fee for something that doesn't actually offer them any advantages?

Headset routing is the new pressfit bottom bracket. Don't buy any bike with it, because it just costs more to fix and causes issues. Nip this one before it even starts to take off please.
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Primoz
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4/17/2022 11:32pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2022 11:36pm
It "looks better". Not gonna lie, it does not look bad, looks clean, but so does internal routing through just the frames. And at the end of the day I want (and currently have) external routing. Based on the grammar of your post, this does REALLY grind your gears? Smile

As for nipping in the bud, I think it's over, the genie is out of the bottle. Ho many bikes don't have internal frame routing these days? It's not as bad, but still is bad... And when a customer will compare two bikes in the store, where one has hidden hoses and cables while the other doesn't, that clean look for sure will be a factor in the sale.

As for pressfit bottom brackets, at least there are some tangible advantages to them, besides making the frames cheaper to make. If they could be removed without destroying the bearings it would be a step in the right direction in my opinion.
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TimBud
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4/17/2022 11:56pm Edited Date/Time 4/18/2022 12:44am
It’ll have saved a few $ to manufacture as they no longer need to drill holes in the top end of the frame for hoses. Its always money.

I lean towards the Hambini way of thinking in that there are few qualified engineers who design bikes. Rob Arbr and Chris Deverson (Deviate) aside.
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Primoz
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4/18/2022 12:01am
The holes will be molded (carbon) or predrilled (like a few other holes on the tubes and the like) so that isn't much of a factor in all of it.

I think quite a few lurkers in this forum will gladly disagree with you regarding their qualifications, as we have seen in the past week if nothing else Smile

I wouldn't be surprised if this issue has to be dealt with by the engineering department, but originates as a request somewhere else within a company.
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gibbon
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4/18/2022 12:41am
29 wrote:
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their...
Still don’t like the bros from enduro magazine because they always seem busier doing insta shoots and spouting buzzwords than properly reviewing bikes, but here’s their „exclusive“ review of the unno:
https://ebike-mtb.com/en/unno-booes-race-2022-exclusive-review/

Not manufactured in Barcelona anymore but in Asia, same as the other coming models from unno, slight rebranding etc, trying to be more price competitive with new models but all the old ones are sold out anyways.

Also new component brand „Deux“ for bars, stems, both in one, and more shitty cable routing headsets.

And fuck me that bike looks like the result of an orgy between several ebikes, some thankfully unreleased Canyon concept bike, a stumpy evo, an evil and the main ship mast of the Royal Clipper.
'Down country' (just typing that makes me feel dirty) bike test -Needs 203mm rotors, 4 pot calipers and dual ply tyres to make it ridable.
Enduro bike test, The 150mm travel bike with 180mm rotors and shortest/steepest geometry was our favourite. Being light is vey important.
They are hard to take seriously tbh.
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Primoz
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4/18/2022 12:46am
The light short bike was snappy/jibby. The downcountry bike was such a sled that it required proper components to hold up. You just don't understand bikes!!! Tongue

I'm guessing it wasn't the same person doing both tests? That's quite an issue with not just testing bikes, but testing anything that can't be measured completely objectively. Even timed runs on a bike are subjective as rider skills and preferences will play a role. Once you are dealing with such subjectiveness, you need to know who tested the product and wrote the test as that is an important insight.
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TimBud
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4/18/2022 12:53am
It'll be a tiny amount, but those kinds of minimal savings do have an effect on decision making at manufacture level. Yes it does look good.
But I see too many bikes, almost on a daily basis with significant design flaws to believe that an engineer has been fully involved.
Plus there's such poor pay in the bike industry that most decent engineers can't afford to work in it, unless its a real passion project.
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gibbon
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4/18/2022 2:32am Edited Date/Time 4/18/2022 2:38am
Marketing says it wants 'features' on a new bike.
Accounting says 'only if we can sell for more or it's cheaper to produce'.
Engineer protests that it's a bad idea and gets told to shut up and do it.


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Primoz
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4/18/2022 3:15am
Considering the Geometron was a nope because of the shock placement/water bottle compatibility... RIP my bank account.
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Fantaman
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4/18/2022 4:00am
Between the Saturn 16 & Geometron there are not so much big differences between the two bikes if we look at both geometry charts.
bulletbass man
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4/18/2022 5:01am
Ebike customers are wierd man. That’s why trek has nine thousand flashing lights and completely unnecessary features for an experienced rider. (I know when I’ve burped air in my tires or my shock isn’t doing what it normally does.)

It’s why unno just made the world’s visually longest seat tube.

If you ever walked into an ebike specialty store the stuff is just way way more out there compared to the very homogeneous and subtle looks that dominate road and mtb cycling. I think it’s honestly cool that brands are putting some extra effort into distinguishing themselves in looks and features. But this headset cable routing is one of the dumbest ways to do it.

Unfortunately I think this issue was likely compounded by how expensive molds are, how far out companies need to order parts to have them, and the fact companies know cyclists just tend to have way too much forgiveness for bike manufacturers and the market is large enough a great reputation isn’t necessarily more profitable. I would not be surprised if multiple brands designed their bikes around this headset for aesthetics, came to the same conclusion vital and other testers did when riding early protos, but ultimately said fuck it we’ll fix it in three years on the next model.
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4/18/2022 6:45am
I have a bad habit of looking through the websites of bike and component manufactures when I should be doing work for college... oh well.
Anyway, Looks like the new stuff from rockshox will have two "Debonair+" air cans, both with negative volume tuning Additionally, there is a "RC3 hydraulic bottom out control" damper option. So if id have to take a wild guess, the RC3 HBC will be the "Ultimate" level shock with the RC3 being the select plus.
10
Primoz
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4/18/2022 8:00am
The Ultimate was, before they went to the 'descriptive' naming scheme instead of the 'letters telling you what it is' (guess which I prefered), the RCT - Rebound, Compression (LSC) and Treshold? (platform/lock). I'd expect the same and the RC3 to stay the open, pedal, firm.

The negative tuning option is present on the Flight Attendant stuff, which makes sense considering it's the new platform.

Care to share the links?
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veefour
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4/18/2022 8:22am Edited Date/Time 4/18/2022 8:27am
I predict more and more companies will choose to route cables this way, leaving customers with no option but to use shit headsets and a limited choice of stems. In around 18 months there will be companies reverting to more traditional routing and using it as a selling point on their new frames.
You have to love this industry sometimes.



3
ride
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4/18/2022 9:01am
TEAMROBOT wrote:
To the adjustable dropouts and chainstay length on the outgoing Megatower, we salute you: [img]https://p.vitalmtb.com/photos/forums/2022/04/17/12419/s1200_mashfinale570_1.jpg[/img]
To the adjustable dropouts and chainstay length on the outgoing Megatower, we salute you:

UDH killed the radio star....
7
lloyd506
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4/18/2022 9:16am
Be nice if bikes came back to externally routed cables. There are holes in the bottom of top tubes now to hold tools/tubes why not add a cable grommet and have them run externally? Makes servicing so much easier.
4
senorbanana
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4/18/2022 9:28am
pinkrobe wrote:
Anyone know what shock Vero Sandler is running on her V10? Looks like Kashima, but she's sponsored by Rock Shox, so...
Older float x2 fromfox, chrck the pics on Pinkbike
Why downvote, he’s right
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Primoz
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4/18/2022 11:11am
Why not check Intend's Instagram page a bit more or their page? You might find the answer Tongue

It's the Intend Hover.
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dolface
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4/18/2022 11:13am
Primoz wrote:
Why not check Intend's Instagram page a bit more or their page? You might find the answer Tongue

It's the Intend Hover.
He's asking about the cover on the rear mech, not the shock Smile
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Primoz
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4/18/2022 11:20am Edited Date/Time 4/18/2022 11:23am
Imbecile I am. Sorry for a bunch of notification e-mails with no value in them.

The cage looks Sram, the shifter is AXS. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck... Looks like a duck in a down jacket then! Tongue
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