MTB Tech Rumors and Innovation

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MTBrent
Posts
61
Joined
7/7/2015
Location
Concord, NH US
1/31/2025 9:39am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 9:39am

I see your gearbox/belt/chain talk and raise you an enclosed primary chain with secondary "standard" drivetrain!  This is cool:

https://www.zoceli.cz/en/vysoko

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1
JVP
Posts
129
Joined
4/20/2016
Location
Seattle, WA US
1/31/2025 9:51am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 9:55am
MTBrent wrote:
I see your gearbox/belt/chain talk and raise you an enclosed primary chain with secondary "standard" drivetrain!  This is cool:https://www.zoceli.cz/en/vysokoMore

I see your gearbox/belt/chain talk and raise you an enclosed primary chain with secondary "standard" drivetrain!  This is cool:

https://www.zoceli.cz/en/vysoko

How on earth does the secondary chain fit inside the seat tube with enough room to drive the upper pulley with any degree of efficiency? I don't get it.

The more I read about all this high pivot, gearbox, dual chain, 19 link stuff, the more I'm happy to be running a simple Horst or a single pivot.

9
HexonJuan
Posts
195
Joined
6/10/2015
Location
WI US
1/31/2025 10:20am
New brakes, coming out soon from famous ( B )rake company in collab with american ( S )upreme bike company.More

New brakes, coming out soon from famous ( B )rake company in collab with american ( S )upreme bike company.Famous-brake-company-american-mtb-2

Famous-brake-company-american-mtb

Huh. Wonder if Brembo licensed the lever reach adjust from Hayes, USP US11124263?

2
1/31/2025 10:30am

one last derailment (hehe) of this thread for the gearbox debate: 

even if a gearbox is 100% efficient, the total efficiency of the system will never exceed that of a system with an idler pulley, since you have something additional inbetween the cranks and the rear hub. 

That being said, I'm starting to suspect that idlers' main performance benefits are less the more rearward axle path and more the reduction in chain drag on the suspension (like what ochain is trying to solve)

2
FaahkEet
Posts
78
Joined
3/12/2023
Location
Falls Church, VA US
1/31/2025 10:48am

Forget belts and chains, what about a wheel on the spindle that drives a counter-rotating wheel to spin the rear wheel? 

1
1
Simcik
Posts
390
Joined
8/1/2009
Location
Loma, CO US
1/31/2025 11:15am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 11:24am

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

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1
sspomer
Posts
5062
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
1/31/2025 11:20am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 11:25am

the ultimate in pedal kick back elimination!

seriously though, they have to be fun on a DH bike, don't they? 

10
TEAMROBOT
Posts
809
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
1/31/2025 11:28am
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

16
ballz
Posts
103
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
1/31/2025 11:34am
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

The e-bike story arc is now complete.

22
1/31/2025 11:37am
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

Strider bike for adults after they first take off the training wheels. 

ballz
Posts
103
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
1/31/2025 11:40am
MTBrent wrote:
I see your gearbox/belt/chain talk and raise you an enclosed primary chain with secondary "standard" drivetrain!  This is cool:https://www.zoceli.cz/en/vysokoMore

I see your gearbox/belt/chain talk and raise you an enclosed primary chain with secondary "standard" drivetrain!  This is cool:

https://www.zoceli.cz/en/vysoko

Looks like a Lahar's 3rd cousin twice removed. I dig it.

2
sspomer
Posts
5062
Joined
6/26/2009
Location
Boise, ID US
1/31/2025 11:42am Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 12:02pm
TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

cue all the 'but what about motorcycles' comments

6
amaranth
Posts
89
Joined
10/19/2023
Location
Nutley, NJ US
1/31/2025 11:49am
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"

11
ballz
Posts
103
Joined
7/30/2024
Location
Ouagadougou EH
1/31/2025 12:07pm
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

amaranth wrote:
The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"More

The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"

O/T Is there a consensus on what the correct foot forward is?

3
nicasucksdude
Posts
16
Joined
1/30/2024
Location
Salt Lake City, UT US
1/31/2025 12:41pm
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

looks like they're the creation of that Lee likes bikes guy. I've always thought that guy was kinda an idiot.

24
3
torw
Posts
1
Joined
1/31/2025
Location
Bellingham, WA US
1/31/2025 12:54pm
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

amaranth wrote:
The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"More

The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"

I just made an account to make this comment, I'm the guy in that video. They definitely felt bizarre and completely wrong the first couple days with them, which is all we showed in the video. After riding them more I started to love them, and I'll get them on again once the bike park opens. They're not an advantage over normal chainless riding, they're just goofy and fun. 

Lots of people reached out to buy a set from us, but ours was just a one off we made. If those people put their money where their mouth is that guy's gonna have some sales. 

22
1/31/2025 1:06pm
TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

amaranth wrote:
The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"More

The lostco guys made a video on basically the same concept. I remember it being described as "always feeling you have the wrong foot forward"

ballz wrote:

O/T Is there a consensus on what the correct foot forward is?

Left, wait no Right. 

I intentionally swap my forward foot to get used to it and hopefully lessen any side to side strength imbalances from riding. 

8
boozed
Posts
350
Joined
6/11/2019
Location
AU
1/31/2025 2:03pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 4:27pm
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

My initial reaction (well, next after "I want to give that a try") is that these will exert a torque on the BB shell that it doesn't normally experience,because the pedal load is now cantilevered and applied directly rather than transferred radially by a crankshaft, and I wonder what that means long term.

Edit: Threaded BBs are already slightly cantilevered, since the bearings are external to the frame, but only by that very small offset distance.  So this might not necessarily be a new force, but I think it will be significantly greater.

4
Blake_Motley
Posts
49
Joined
11/14/2013
Location
Chula Vista, CA US
1/31/2025 2:49pm
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

TEAMROBOT wrote:
I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to...More

I could see these being a helpful training tool for isolating different skills in a coaching environment (like doing drills with only one ski), but to me these things look terrible for general use. And I don't just mean because you can't pedal, I mean I wouldn't want to ride skate parks, dirt jumps, or pump tracks with these. Or A-Line. I don't want to keep my crankarms dead level when I'm riding. Dropping an outside foot lowers my leverage point on the bike by 175mm. Why would I want to lose that? Also, when I'm pumping, I can move my center of gravity even higher and even lower using the cranks, and do really complicated stuff into and out of corners where there's a pump bump in the transition. All of that gets obliterated when you just stand on a crank spindle. I think cranks make bikes more capable and more fun to ride, even when you're not pedaling. 

What I took away from this Charlie is that you’re still riding 175mm cranks 

24
drakefan705
Posts
26
Joined
12/22/2022
Location
North Vancouver, BC CA
1/31/2025 3:35pm

Has anyone considered the possibility that the belt might in fact be the weakest part of the gearbox ecosystem? Sounds like most of the concerns over gearboxes on the wc circuit involve belts slipping. 

4
TEAMROBOT
Posts
809
Joined
9/2/2009
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
1/31/2025 5:13pm

What I took away from this Charlie is that you’re still riding 175mm cranks 

ALL DAY

6
bermed
Posts
65
Joined
6/28/2023
Location
Boston, MA US
1/31/2025 6:57pm Edited Date/Time 1/31/2025 6:58pm

All these new bikes coming out, but is Yeti ever gonna update the SB160? I don't see any reason why they would tbh. I was just marveling how they knocked it out of the park 6 years ago (sb150 basically same) and have been able to just sit back and print money since then, maintaining consumer awareness purely through their race sponsorships. 

I wonder how long they will be able to go without a refresh...

2
therock911
Posts
110
Joined
11/23/2010
Location
Orange County, CA US
1/31/2025 7:34pm
bermed wrote:
All these new bikes coming out, but is Yeti ever gonna update the SB160? I don't see any reason why they would tbh. I was just...More

All these new bikes coming out, but is Yeti ever gonna update the SB160? I don't see any reason why they would tbh. I was just marveling how they knocked it out of the park 6 years ago (sb150 basically same) and have been able to just sit back and print money since then, maintaining consumer awareness purely through their race sponsorships. 

I wonder how long they will be able to go without a refresh...

Big changes will be happening across yetis sb line but haven’t heard timeline yet

5
1/31/2025 8:44pm
saskskier wrote:

Confirmation about the new aluminum, fs, freeride/park bike came from my shop today. 

The Signature (slope hardtail bike) was announced a while ago.  

Sorry about that, while I've heard the rumors I stay out of stuff unless I've got links/data to back it available to everyone. Exxxx Cycles dropped the new S90 drivetrain and it's been out on an indexed page but not linked on their site for a while now. Thats the stuff that i understand the red site listed the patent for. If it makes up for any perceived shortcomings on the chromag bits? 

Keep an eye on bikeinn, I believe they're a distro but also do consumer sales. Seems they took down their reverb listing but we may have a new longest drop contender. 

 

1
1/31/2025 8:45pm
New brakes, coming out soon from famous ( B )rake company in collab with american ( S )upreme bike company.More

New brakes, coming out soon from famous ( B )rake company in collab with american ( S )upreme bike company.Famous-brake-company-american-mtb-2

Famous-brake-company-american-mtb

Very interesting! I'd have my money on 5Dev but it doesn't match the hints.

1
krabo83
Posts
586
Joined
12/26/2017
Location
AT
1/31/2025 9:30pm
bermed wrote:
All these new bikes coming out, but is Yeti ever gonna update the SB160? I don't see any reason why they would tbh. I was just...More

All these new bikes coming out, but is Yeti ever gonna update the SB160? I don't see any reason why they would tbh. I was just marveling how they knocked it out of the park 6 years ago (sb150 basically same) and have been able to just sit back and print money since then, maintaining consumer awareness purely through their race sponsorships. 

I wonder how long they will be able to go without a refresh...

therock911 wrote:

Big changes will be happening across yetis sb line but haven’t heard timeline yet

usually not before summer/fall 2026 and i guess at least the longer travel bikes (140 onwards) could get the six-finity system from their e-bike and DH-proto replacing the switch-infinity.

2
2/1/2025 5:39am
Simcik wrote:
Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack...More

Not really a rumor but perhaps an innovation, but could see these being popular with the no drivetrain Whistler crowd and folks who have a pumptrack only kinda bike. Paging Remy Morton

MOTOCRANX

Nah dude, those crancks are still way to long... 

1
1
yzedf
Posts
81
Joined
1/27/2015
Location
Hebron, CT US
2/1/2025 6:09am
ballz wrote:

O/T Is there a consensus on what the correct foot forward is?

In a turn situation requiring lean? Yes. Otherwise? No. 

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