13 Bikes That Could See An Update In 2023

by · September 20, 2022

Each two or three years you may count on to see prototype bikes in growth rolling round races and commerce exhibits, however that timeline appears to have slowed down if we recap what bikes we anticipated getting an replace by now. That may very well be attributable to a few causes, however the ones that stand out essentially the most in my thoughts are the speed of change in geometry, and naturally, covid provide constraints.

Have a look at our most up-to-date Subject Take a look at from Bellingham, which was full of the newest and biggest enduro bikes. I wouldn’t say the geometry was the identical as a result of there have been one or two outliers, however the numbers all through the checks bikes had been very, very shut.

Secondly, the worldwide pandemic slowed the manufacturing of parts, primarily drivetrain components, which meant that bike manufacturers had been/are caught in a stalemate. They sat eagerly ready for the components to catch up as a way to launch a brand new bike.

Santa Cruz V10

Whether or not it was deliberate or not, Santa Cruz stormed into 2022 by uncorking a bottleneck of latest bike releases: the Heckler, Megatower, Nomad, Hightower, 5010, and most lately, the Tallboy, all obtained updates. One bike absent from that listing is the V10. The 29” model was formally launched again in Dec of 2018, and the combined wheel model launched in July 2020.

Apart from just a few tweaks to the kinematics and geometry through machined alloy parts, the carbon body members haven’t undergone any modifications since then. It’s not like both bike has slowed down their riders, although, with Jackson Goldstone grabbing a number of first-place finishes. Even so, do not be shocked to see Santa Cruz launch a new-ish V10 quickly.

Commencal Meta P003.1 and Flame (?)

This one looks as if a useless giveaway. Commencal seems to be reworking its full suspension lineup to imitate what they realized from the success of their newest downhill bike. They’ve already hooked us with the bait a few new Meta, however we’ve seen Commencal affiliate, Cecile Ravanel, rocking a shorter journey whip too, teaching Pauline Ferrand-Prevot by racing traces on World Cup Cross-Nation programs.

Contemplating that Commencal simply launched the mixed-wheeled Meta SX, it is unclear how that line will evolve since no statistics on the prototype have been shared. The Andorran model solely builds their frames with aluminum tubing, which means their turnaround time from paper to manufacturing may very well be a lot shorter than carbon rivals, however I would not be shocked to see each layouts in this system for 2023.

Specialised Demo, Enduro, and Kenevo

One other juggernaut within the gravity world of mountain bikes is Specialised, who’ve but to totally unveil their prototype downhill bike. Finn Iles clinched his first World Cup win onboard a prototype on the 2022 Mont St. Anne World Cup whereas his teammate, Loic Bruni, locked down his fifth World Championship win utilizing the present Demo. The brand new platform seems vastly completely different from the present 4-bar, FSR design which arrived on the scene in 2020.

Likewise, their Enduro mannequin may very well be in line for an replace as nicely. We don’t count on too many modifications there, although, because it makes use of a finely tuned suspension structure and already has a SWAT field, however it may tackle extra geometry changes like its sibling with a motor, the Kenevo SL.

Talking of eMTBs, the full-powered Kenevo has additionally been round since 2019. A carbon model of this monster e-bike with an up to date motor and battery system would certainly shed some weight.

Devinci Wilson

Devinci launched the Spartan HP final yr and we noticed an aluminum mule at Crankworx underneath freerider, Cam Zink, that doubtless has greater than 160mm of journey. They weren’t afraid to point out off a prototype of the Wilson with an loafer by the tip of 2019 both.

Presently, the Canadian model makes the aluminum body parts of the Wilson of their Quebec manufacturing unit, however that 29er-only bike hasn’t seen a product revision since launching in 2019.

Norco Aurum, and Sight

One other Canadian model that’s nonetheless invested in downhill bikes and isn’t afraid to construct aluminum prototypes. We’ve seen two-time Canadian Nationwide Champ and Norco engineer, Kirk McDowall, pilot precisely a kind of venture bikes to 3 top-40 World Cup finishes this season. It’s doubtless that it is a new Aurum, Norco’s devoted downhill bike, which is completely different from the reconfigured Vary their workforce has been rocking at World Cups for the final two seasons.

Norco’s common 150mm-travel Sight may be going underneath the knife to see some modifications. The mid-travel enduro bike’s capabilities are onerous to fault, but when it did obtain and replace it isn’t onerous to think about it going by a high-pivot transformation just like the Vary did.

Scott Gambler and Ransom

I liked when Scott owned the notorious “seems like a Session” remark, referring to the similarities between their Gambler and Trek’s downhill bike, after which turned it into a motorbike giveaway contest. That was spectacular, however so is the bike’s 35 lb weight.

The place do you go from there? The Gambler already has two units of flip-chips that allow you to run both rear wheel dimension and alter the suspension’s development. We’ve seen Scott mess around with pulleys and excessive pivots at the beginning of that pattern, however it’s uncertain way more weight may very well be shed.

One other mannequin due which has remained the identical since 2020 is their 170mm journey Ransom. A method this svelte-looking, long-travel enduro bike may change could be extra integration. Scott pulled that transfer with their cross-country bike, the Spark, by hiding the rear shock within the seat tube/backside bracket junction – fellow Pinkbike tech editor and PBR mechanic, Henry Quinney, would love nothing extra.

Pivot Phoenix

Now we all know that the Grim Donut V2 have to be the quickest, most succesful bike on the earth, however would possibly it truly be the brand new Pivot Phoenix in disguise? Positively not. Would a brand new Phoenix obtain a vertically mounted shock and get the geometry stretched a bit additional? Most definitely.

Because it sits now, Pivot’s downhill rig is the final of their household to obtain a brand new suspension structure. The sizing additionally tops out at a 485mm attain on the extra-large, which traces up with most producers’ massive frames now.

Yeti SB150

August 2018 is a very long time in the past, however Yeti was on the heartbeat and the SB150 continues to be pulling podiums at Enduro World Sequence occasions. It’s taken roughly 4 years to identify a brand new iteration of the enduring turquoise enduro bike, however there was this model floating across the Crans-Montana EWS pits. Certainly, it will likely be slacker, and longer, however how way more costly can it get?

I’d have guessed the second model of the SB150 would use the spectacular 6-bar suspension discovered on the 160E eMTB, however I’ve been fallacious earlier than. Regardless of the moniker is on this new Yeti, it nonetheless makes use of the Swap Infinity system.

Big Glory

The biggest producer of bicycles on the earth appears to be softly main as much as a brand new Glory downhill bike. We’ve noticed loads of prototype fashions at World Cups over the previous few years, however they haven’t produced an up to date model since 2018. That was a time when 27.5” entrance wheels had been nonetheless in use at World Cups.

With stand-out, seasoned veterans like Rémi Thirion, Big isn’t sitting nonetheless although – simply taking their time. Downhill is simply a drop within the bucket in comparison with the variety of models offered in different segments, so I wouldn’t count on to see the funding in a carbon body. Clearly, the prototypes Thirion has been racing had been up to date since that 2018 mannequin and 2023 may carry alongside a brand new form of Glory.