This hodge-podge of stuff I was testing became the first modern mullet I rode. I do think ParkDuro setups will become more common, but that's already a limited set of options - 170mm single crown works so well that if you shoved one 2021 model back through a time machine one decade, it would be on the WC DH podium (though to be fair, Sam Hill showed us a few years back that it's arguably still true). It's fine. About your questions: I've ordered a MX link for my bike and will look to get my hands on a 27,5" rearwheel used or discounted to try this out. Norco has had the right idea all along - adjustability is still preferable, but ~450mm chainstays in L/XL/XXL sizes are a must for me anymore, in the terrain I ride (lots of high speed, flowy, grip limited decomposing granite surfaces). Could we see GT reverting back to a traditional chain line in 2023 for better all-round performance? Dual Crown Forks, So I doubt that we will see new engine in SL 2023. This season was a switch back from DD rear, EXO plus front casings to sub 1kg tires. I had to completely tear it down and clean out the brake assembly multiple times when it started slipping, It leaked air with the original seal head design, and the seat mounting flange eventually broke off the top of the post. Means bigger, heavier hubs though. the move to thicker rotors seems to be the current answer to that issue. But then again at the time I was big into XC 29er hard tails with like 74 degree head angles so On the subject of longer chainstays, a regular at my local park built himself a dh frame with 510mm chainstays. Save. Would you like to receive offers, updates and events from BikeRadar and its publisher Our Media Ltd (an Immediate Group Company)? But how about some new S-Works MTB shoes that weve been waiting on for years? Yes I noticed that you stepped around the dreaded e-bike. Not expecting changes other than paint but *maybe* something crazy like top tube mounts would be added. Agree: longer is better, almost all of the time. 2023 Riding Type Enduro / All-Mountain Freeride / Bike Park Rider Unisex Sizes and Geometry S2 (low, high) S3 (low, high) S4 (low, high) S5 (low, high) View Geometry Wheel Size 29" Frame Material Carbon Fiber Frame Material Details FACT 11m carbon front and rear triangles; molded chainstay, seatstay, and down tube protection Rear Travel 170mm There are a few things I'd change about the Cotic if I was starting over or could go custom, but really it's pretty excellent as well and I am just being picky. Thats all great. Rigid single speeds with purple anodized components, no less. For Bikerumor, Jessie-May is testing the latest mountain bikes, equipment and kit, letting readers know whats hot and whats not. A mullet option also wouldnt go amiss and is certain to please smaller enduro riders looking for a bit more backside-to-rear-wheel clearance. I don't disagree with your comments about droppers in general or the 9.8 specifically, but given the following I'm willing to give them my $$: 1. In my *perfect world a nice stable includes a minimum of: [DJ && aggressive HT && mid travel FS mullet && long travel eBike && road tourer && cheap (or cheap looking) rat/around town basher]. We still have three active freehub standards (HG, XD, MS) but 148x12 rear ends is the de facto hub standard for mountain bikes. You're going to choose differently depending on whether your main choice is Cypress DH or Seymour Shore-XC or something in between. Weight: 30.1 lb. Commodities and Capabilities. Trek believed in mullet bikes in 2008 when 29'ers were still subject to a lot of skepticism and 27" wheels hadn't made their 'comeback' to mountain biking. Christopher Blevins just posted an Instagram photo dropping off a gnarly rock on the Epic Evo with a Rock Shox SID remote fork and rear lockout, A post shared by Christopher Blevins (@christopherblevs). My guess is that this new bike hasnt yet reached a marketing picture stage yet, so pics like the one in the article (or the clearer shot that I have) are fair game. It sports 29" wheels, is priced at $6,600 USD, comes in a range of sizes, including S2, S3, S4, S5 and a SRAM drivetrain. Having recently updated a host of bikes in the Focus portfolio, including the JAM electric trail bike, the SAM should be the obvious next choice for a revamp. Cmon, Specialized.lets get these things launched already! Is there a solution that can be wrangled onto a current alloy lever without making it big and fat? Also, I don't know how big the market really is for $65 tires that aren't the best variety (as compared to the $70 option with all the bells and whistles), so they'd probably be money ahead simplifying those also, just take out the mid-range stuff that doesn't move a lot - make more of the 3C fully-baller stuff, and make even stickier MaxxSticc stuff that wears out quickly, but is glorious while it lasts. The reality is that super steep STA does work better for some folks bodies and some folks that winch-and-plunge but I think the mainstream adoption comes down to making bikes longer/more stable descending while still fitting riders on climbs. Scott Addict RC Pro 2022 2023 road test ride review all you need to know. Maybe Vittoria is on to something? Totally on point on the 1x. I don't hate it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/191705295@N02/albums/72157717808379376. Between designing dual crown forks for the (slightly) lighter applications v. bike park / DH racing and the integrated stems the weight difference would be even less than it is now and I don't feel that's a big deal. For a FS bike the GG ticks all my boxes and this is only season #4. Been riding for close to 40 years ,coming up on my 67th birthday and have not felt the need for a moped. That said, the overall length of the bike is . If ya haven't tried the Vittoria stuff lately, consider it. Photo: AM. Interesting when the racers didnt want to race the standard Epic and preferred the Evo Hopefully they got that feedback before they opened a mold for this bike with a 67+ degree HA. Launched in spring 2019 as YTs first foray into the electric mountain bike market, the YT Decoy remains the only eMTB offering in the German brands stable. Their 'trail' weight casings have a neat sidewall insert. 2022 saw Specialized Gravitys Finn Iles take his first elite World Cup win onboard a prototype Specialized Demo downhill bike. Ive seen plenty of pads get magically contaminated on route and it doesnt really matter what you use for brakes if shops are closed. I could have the 460mm stays I want combined with a seat tube angle I can pedal. Contrary to what the big companies would have you believe, we aren't all the same. Estimated. I thought the MORC 36 had been abandoned until a recent mention of it from Mojo. I'd love to see a production bike company doing something similar. There is no structural issue with the 6-bolt mounting standard. Re: Amsterdam during 7-10 April 2023. Factory X2 in back. Last updated in 2020, it still comes specced with Boschs lowest-spec 625Wh battery and Purion display, which omits Bluetooth connectivity and other smart features found on the latest crop of ebikes. My fingers have been bloody cold at the bottom of a few descents of late. This area of bikes has been a standard for far too long. Super Duper Ultra Boost Double Plus. Due to a neoprene frame cover, the prototypes suspension design is completely open to speculation, although it looks unlikely to be a high-pivot system. Part of the #europeanbikeproject. Would be devastating to a team like Neko's. Can't imagine there would be any return on investment. I was talking with a group of riders and when I mentioned I was considering pulling the trigger on an Enduro, one guy that works in the industry said to hold off as there was an update coming soon. Or lack thereof. And yet it's a safe bet that a couple of model-years from now the majority of local riders are going to still be getting it all done on a bike that's massively more capable and at the same time not that far removed from a noughties Stinky Deluxe, a 2005+ Specialized Enduro, Knolly's Delirium-T, Transition's 2007 Bottlerocket, Rocky's 2006+ Switch And the list could go on ad nauseam. At 5'9" I'm sold on the concept for 6" travel bikes. In this case, it's a short term prediction as the year 2023 isn't very far away when it comes to bikes. I don't disagree it would be great to have an Enduro SL type bike, but not convinced that just stick a motor in an Enduro is the way forward. Andy, there are lots of 'lever skin' style products still out there but most of them are overly thick or offer nothing in terms of managing cold. High speed, rough terrain and compressions always feel more stable and controlled when attacking them with a dual crown fork. Hes covered races, including World Championships and World Cups where he loves to report what the pros are riding. - Short chainstays on 29ers will go away, but not necessarily on Mullets and size small bikes. Save 25% + Crankbrothers Stamp 1 pedals (worth 49.99) when you subscribe to MBUK magazine. But, but, but which brake for the Sea to Sky ? Like you said Andrew, I like how quiet it is. The prototype Fury also has a new suspension layout, with the rocker link housed inside a split seat tube. I would be quite alright if my next bike had them, but I don't expect that to be the case. Gear, Giant Propel 2023 road test ride review. I had good experiences with those; not loving the redesigned "better in every way" 2021 version. Have you seen the Intend Bandit? The S4 we tested, which is around a typical large in 2022, has a 487mm reach for its 440mm seat tube. Its surprisingly easy to do. As awesome as some new bikes (Vitus Escarpe - $4200USD for Fox Factory and SLX!) 4. Count me among the folks who were surprised that the new Fox 38 single crown wasn't a Fox 36 dual crown and likewise for the RockShox Zeb. I've played around with a few conversions, but these invariably have issues that I don't like (BB way too high or way too low, HTA & STA way too slack). As it has been explained to me by folks that are much smarter than I, as regards boost hub adapters (using longer rotor bolts + spacer), the hub/rotor interface in a 6-bolt system is largely a friction load between the surfaces v. a shear load on the bolts. Tags: He said was OK when I asked him. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. My current hard ridden bike had xtr hubs at both ends which survived perfectly until I wanted to move up to 220mm with a galfer kit. Really, the most compelling thing for me is how stupidly hard it is to find DH casing semi-slick tires. A purpose-built link yields a 2.8:1 leverage ratio, and milks bump-devouring performance from its 110-mm rear travel. Grip is excellent still. With the Lyrik/Zeb and 36/38 Fox options [and similar from other brands] I can get all the fork I need from a single crown. I would argue that Nicolai does this (5 year warranty, 10 year parts availability), but could learn from Toyota nonetheless. Maybe I'm just old, but the Bottlerocket is still the bike I think of whenever anyone mentions Transition. My pre-order for a 2022 Crux Expert from Xmas isn't happening according to my LBS but they'll hold over for 2023 ordering. Might mean simpler, less expensive rotors? I would love another quality setback dropper option, just in case they stop making the 9.8. The interest of many locals is piqued by a Transition Spur while some lust for an Intense M29, or both, and many own two ready-to-ride mountain bikes. They are Canadian as well FWIW. The new prototype Fury looks quite different from the current model. Only time will tell, but were more excited than ever to see whats coming from Specialized. It's easy to build a gnar shredder you don't want to do a big mileage day on or a distance crusher that has you walking the nasty tech. Either a big(ger) bike brand - Trek, Specialized, Giant*, Cannondale, Kona, etc - will get on board, which seems increasingly unlikely, or one of the Super Boost Triumverate (SBT) will make a move towards the 148mm industry standard. Thank you for sharing. I really was a big semi slick fan until I rode the Dissector. That might be why we have 38 single crowns and not DC 36 etc, I`m 100% with you though, if my long travel 29er would be rated for a dual crown I`d slap one on in a heartbeat, however the risk of my headtube snapping (know issue for my pole stamina) is a little frightening. Mar 27, 2023, 6:23 AM. I think you're onto something there - shorter chainstays do make it somewhat easier to make weight shifts that load the rear axle (and unload the front axle), which makes a bike feel more nimble in ye olde parking lot test, and for riders who do use the pick & place style more, it's not a bad thing. - Brakes absolutely need to get stronger, but I really don't think this requires a 223mm front rotor to do so. However, we were able to see that the frame itself was made out of carbon tubes joined by metal lugs, a design similar to that of Atherton Bikes. Learn how your comment data is processed. Indeed, last year brought us a wave of new rides to froth over, from enduro bikes. Personally, I'll take a pair of Magura MT 5/7, Formula Cura 4, or Hayes Dominion brakes but the thing about the Code is they deliver a similarly excellent amount of power and they're everywhere stock on bikes. They are definitely better made than most if not all other bikes, which makes them last longer (its not just the welds). Unfortunately, I could see Centerlock becoming the de facto standard - coming over from road bikes along with flat-mount. Surprisingly I feel much more comfortable on Specialized Enduro - it is just a big bike. Not sure SuperBoost spacing is going away anytime soon, but 220mm front rotors are my defacto standard on all my bikes now for the big boys :-). Make up your mind guys. The only thing dumber than overdrive was Padloc grips. It all could have been solved by just growing the rear centres a bit. https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-gear/dustin-adams-of-we-are-one-composites-shares-the-benefits-of-carbon-fiber-mtb-rims/. With that said, I do like the comfort of the longer geometry. A stiff fork, big brakes and tires that mix traction with fast rolling are key. Awesome And so over the top. Im clearly in the minority, but I have never had an issue with centrelock. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. ;p. My understanding with the MT7s is that they're more adjustable and you can swap in different levers that won't work with the MT5s. The best balanced is the 443 RC bike 29er 130/120 which I sized down as a wanted agility v stability. File me under the 'longer is better' camp, but that's because I'm 6'2", so 452mm is probably about where is should be for me and the trails I ride (mostly wide open, flowy, loose-over-hard). Article citations More>>. Maybe somewhere in the world, there's a place where saving a few grams for a pair of SRAM G2 or even Level brakes makes sense, but around here I think it's safe to say that SRAM's Code brakes are the standard for trail bikes. The massive increase in air volume can't be discounted either, which was my first thought looking at 320 USD Secus external air volume add-on kit from Vorsprung . Great to see them growing! How old are you? Which explains why most bikes in XS or XXL are an annoying afterthought to most manufacturers. Former Rocky Mountain engineer - current engineering contractor in the bike industry - D'Arcy O'Connor owned the first DH bike with a 29" front wheel that I saw in person. It's not impossible, but not easy. Its success with mixed wheel sizes across all five frame sizes will certainly influence the future of the Stumpjumper, Stumpy EVO, and Enduro, not to mention the direction of other large mountain bike manufacturers. The only thing a steep STA does for me is let me sit and reach the bars on a very long bike. Also interesting that you did not approach tire/rim technology with some predictions. Have you seen the Moorhuhn? I think MRP touted it to use like your talking, a long travel DC fork for enduro-ish riding. Like pepper said though, I recently put a 180mm Boxxer Deluxe on my Meta and love it I havent weighed it yet but it doesnt seem to weigh any more than the lyric ultimate it replaced. According to the Californians, it will provide "unimaginable trail and adventure fun". The only three things you mention that don't resonate with me are dual crown forks, bigger brakes and long CS. Seems like I have got it dialed and broken in nicely so it would be a shame to move on now. SentaCloss 1 yr. ago Appearance and DOT fluid aside, it's the system I think future brakes should be compared to. (I measured it once at ~64, ~77, 345.). Ride Abbey Road & Yellow Submarines with the State Bicycle Co. x The Beatles Collection, Reynolds Renew Blacklabel 307 & 309 Wheels with More Compliance for Better Tracking, Airplane Mode: OneUp Build New Squamish Trail & Raise $44,000 for Trails Associations. The MRP bartlett ticks a lot of boxes. If all that separates them at this kind of pricepoint is the 'feel' then they all fall into the same box. All rights reserved. I mean, you might know already, but I'm a total sucker for the Dominions and I think they show what brake development should be: Decrease inner friction in the system, optimise flow, make adjusting easier, make the lever feel as good as possible. Given the extra machining we can see on the RockShox SID fork crown, were willing to bet thats a new, lighter model. Like you, I believe dual crown forks have more to do with chassis stability than creak prevention. I also like the fact that they're mineral oil rather than DOT. Stop buying bikes that dont last and wont satisfy your needs for more than a couple seasons. Truly one of the ugliest bikes Ive ever seen. The loam lever is one of the best out there IMO. So I am not an expert on that aspect beyond watching the service videos. The updated Epic design we see in race shots from the Shimano Supercup Massi Banyoles looks jam-packed with new offerings from Specialized. That new Jekyll is lookin good..is that supposed to be posted? They do know about rolling resistance, having won more TDF stages this year than any other tire. Doing a mullet with Smash stays is slightly less slack (63.4 / 75.8 / 334) but I'd still like to see the numbers a bit more normal before I go buy a new rear wheel. sspomer wrote: hearing rumors from lenzerheide that registering a UCI team next year is $20,000 instead of the $3,000 it has been. I think the reach is around 460 or so, but I could be wrong. Photo: AM, Clearance for beefy 29x2.6" rubber with short 430mm chainstays and a plenty stiff chassis. Rode the 29er version on my old Krampus. Given their past efforts at mixing up wheel sizes, I'd expect Trek to be back pushing the mixed setup, with the slightly larger rear wheel, very shortly. Mullet? The 3D printed bikes are here, just that printed titanium (Atherton) in the right setup is still expensive compared to tediously hand-laid up carbon, and ends up slightly heavier, so might as well let Taiwan be a giant frame geometry heuristic algorithm and just buy the setup that happens to work for your application, and enjoy the cost savings or go custom. If I pull the trigger on this I would also likely put a 29 on front to go mullet. Looks to be a new model on Haley and Christophers feet. As a keen rider, Finlay knows the importance of no-nonsense kit that stands up to the depths of Scottish winter. Glad to hear you like the CCDB, nice to support local-ish manufacturing. I do feel like 12x148mm sticking around has merit, as much as I hated it before, the fact that I can boostinate my 12x142mm hardware actually makes that a comparatively more appealing option, even though I feel that 12x157 was practically a better bit of solution space to the same problem, especially if we accepted that we'd be changing standards on freehubs and crank Q anyway, we'd already have viable 14-speed drivetrains. While its geometry is still on point for enduro racing, the Specialized Enduro lacks adjustability. Mad scientist stuff. I'd like to get a full year of riding on it and then I'll see what ideas/opinions stick and what changes the more I get used to it. But that frame bag looks great in there. Also, lack of test ride fleet bikes is the other big part of that, since that's my venue for trying out so many things. Stickin with the wagoon wheels. The current Dissent was launched in 2019 and helped inspire the long-travel Giga enduro bike. Ideally, GG will make a set of stays for a dedicated mullet, so I don't have to wait until 2023 to get this. I'll probably just throw Saint brakes at my already 203/180mm rotor setup, and keep rocking 11spd XT and eTRS Cassette, because I can't be bothered to find an issue with how awesome that setup has been for me. Collegeville, PA US. Kind of a nod to their history but futuristic in a Mad Max sorta way. I have found that in the desert southwest, semislick out back is worth the tradeoffs, and I can make up for its biggest deficiency (braking) with the DHR2 out front. Clever frame details. Rotors themselves start to get flexier/weaker unless if they're made of thicker steel, use a two-piece design (aluminum core), or otherwise have a focus on lateral stiffness. Thanks! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Press Release Lets Build a Jump Trail On a OneUp lunch ride back in 2017, we decided to build a new jump trail in Squamish.. Yes, and Im both a person who can handle the one sided aesthetic (as a previous Lefty fan) AND someone who doesnt understand why they didnt just make it a standard dual crown fork. Photo: D'Arcy O'Connor. Its hard to predict what Focus has planned for the SAM, but we hope to see the next generation specced with an up-to-date motor and battery combination, future-proof geometry and geo-adjust features to bring it up to date with the rest of the Focus range. Photo: Deniz, DH brakes are so good now that Magura's Gustav isn't comparatively mind-blowing like it was fifteen plus years ago. I recently switched to Cura 4s and they've been great but I definitely noticed the cold levers as compared to the carbon levers on my old brakes. The comments sections are as rich and useful as the articles themselves, thank you for your replies. 5. For context, she weighs 60kg and stands at 5ft 4 tall (163cm). Its quite simple. https://s14761.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Disc-Brake-Group-Test-2016-22-15.jpg. And yes, we know we said. Yeah, sounds like a great up you've made to your bike there! Photo: AM. I'd be curious to build up a long travel eBike with a dual crown fork, but I don't have any significant complaints re: my Pike Ultimate or MRP Hazzard Coil for my acoustics. Don't know about the 8spd, but know that the 9spd SRAM let's you run 10spd Shimano to get the clutch, that's a for sure and expect since you can run a 11spd Shimano RD with 10spd Shimano shifter and have good shifting, would expect it would also work with an 11spd RD. Moving the mounting bolts closer to the braking surface seems to make armchair-engineering sense. The Dominion has a very different feel (such light action) but I wouldnt say its better. Speaking of crowns, the quick and easy offset changes that would be possible thanks to swapping crowns would let any interested rider experience different offsets back-to-back for significantly less investment than buying multiple forks. Already have an account with us? Adding front center while keeping things the same (added wheelbase and reach/ETT) keeping things the same is just moving to a longer bike with the same inherent issues, but if you're in terrain where traction limit isn't frequent, that can actually still be a great bike feel if you're into mostly pick&place technical bits, and some straight line fast stuff. Sorry thats less efficient. No complaints and I have put PNW droppers on my GF's bike and on friends' bikes. Of all the places on my bike, brake levers make the most sense for carbon/plastic. In the three years since then, a lot has changed. C. It is definitely possible, and I do feel a whole lot happier that I'm pushing this bike to the decade mark, enough to where I'm quite content about the amount of carbon bling it has acquired over the years. Plus, save 25% off the subscription price!