14 More Bikes That Could See an Update in 2022

 Very much onboard with this, if it's a good product, there is no need to keep updating or "improving" it every 1 or 2 years.
There are plenty of times I wish manufacturers keep a certain product around for longer as opposed to wanting something new ever so often just because it's new.

 Ah an Orange Bikes stan.

 @tdbh: what’s the right amount of time for updates in your eyes? Updating colors etc each year is stupid, but iterative tech improvements are not. I’m assuming you wouldn’t want companies to still be making bikes from 1997?

 exactly the case with the V10

 It probably doesn’t cost much more to manufacture a batch of new frames vs old ones in the grand scheme of things so why not. I like keeping bikes for quiet a while but when I do need to replace one, upgrading is fun.

 Does that also apply to finances?

 Well, the manufacturers are in business to make money. I can't fault them for making marketing decisions. If you don't update the bikes they can fall to the bottom of the headlines and relevancy ranks. I'd love to see sales for SB130/150 models year over year. Those bikes are just as good today as they were 3+ years ago but I don't know how many people think about buying a brand new one at this point.

 Fix it until it breaks

 @cougar797: carbon fibre tooling is not cheap. That’s why you see them used across multiple bikes in a brands range.

 @cougar797: Oh yes it does. The tooling (molds and form pieces) are extremely expensive. There's a huge cost to bringing a new bike model to market.

The worst thing is that as a brand you're usually deeply out of pocket for the huge upfront cost and will only recover that investment over time. It could be as drastic as having to pay for tooling and RND right now, but only selling the first bike 12 months down the line. That's not unusual at all.

 We are getting to that point in bike design for sure.

 @witica: You ever custom paint your bike? Feels and looks like a whole new rig. Personally I think annual color changes are sick. If bikes reflected those from 1997, yes we would have a problem. They don't though. They are pretty f*ckin dialed in the geo department. colors though. COLOORS! Trigger warning: this post was written by a white male with an all black bike.

 When was the last time you bought a new downhill bike that wasn't better than your last one? I personally notice leaps and bounds between my bikes, its never gone backwards. (I dont get one every year)

 Companies are never going to stop updating. It’s what makes work engaging and worthwhile, both for the worker and profits. Kaizen babyyy

 Get On on the High Pivot Idler Pulley Train or get Run Over!

..and we’ll notice it 7% less than we would have before!!

 @witica: to be fair 1997 was a great year for bikes.

 @tdbh: So the price should go down then...dated tech....

 @curendero: tweaking geo is new technology?

 @tdbh: They can charge more money if they "update" it.

 It's not about you being old, whatever your age is. It's about making you think your bike is old, to push you for a new purchase.

 My personal bike is a model introduced in 2018 (Scott Ransom) and there’s honestly nothing I’d rather want. It feels like bike design has plateaued and there hasn’t been any significant improvements over the last couple of years. There’s just nothing out there currently that feels worth upgrading to.

 Julian Neubauer is on it: www.pinkbike.com/news/iron-horse-sunday-reborn-the-rebuild-of-a-classic-downhill-bike.html.

 Yep, there are so many Slayers out here on the Shore, and I haven't heard of one breaking (nothing's invincible, obviously). Also, the fact that improper axle tightening probably contributed heavily to that failure, should really dull the "Slayer Breaks" narrative after the bikes have been around for a few years now.

Of my two friends who own current Slayers, one is a very highly skilled rider who seeks nothing but the kind of North Shore gnar that makes me nervous, and the other one is basically a Rhino on human legs who breaks EVERYTHING if given some time. Neither of them have had any issues with the Slayer frame.

 Yep, the article basically reads "Slayer is 3 years old and a great bike that fills a perfect gap in their lineup, but one broke once so... y'know, update."

 Here here. At least re-test it and if breaks again, fair enough. Just need to find someone at PB brave enough, ha!

 I have a 21' Slayer, screws on both side of the pivot between seat stay/chain stay did come loose (same failure point as the one in the field test). Easy fix with some Loctite. But I expected Rocky to have addressed this already on the 21's model.

 @mirage1s7: I'm interested how long/how much riding it took for your pivots to come loose?

 @mammal: around 5 rides in, that when I noticed the rattling noise from the seat/chain stays

 That sucks. Although it shouldn't happen that quickly, I would suggest that anyone with a brand new bike should do a complete bolt check after the first ride. Even after the second or third, that way you get a good grasp of what areas might like to come loose and the areas that are more reliable in the long-haul. It's a pretty safe bet that every production bike has an imperfect track record at the assembly plant, but some more than others, obviously.

 Rocky knows where to send the cheque.

 Aparently when they did that bike test Brian Park was still salty about being let go from rocky and intentionally rode the axle loose to break it. Since release I havent seen that issue on any other slayer

 While I agree it’s not necessary to bring up that specific incident in the context of this article, I’ve broken the rear triangle on my 2020 slayer on a drop. Ripped the seatstay linkage bolt right out of the threads. I am also changing main pivot bearings 3-4 times per year. I do think the rear end needs some re-engineering (eg: don’t thread bolts directly into the triangle aluminum - if it’s strips the whole thing is done; also use bigger pivot bearings and/or double seal them - it’s a slayer, don’t save weight on undersized bearings).

 @Tr011: name checks out!

 It’s funny how often they mention that single one incident of a broken frame for one brand just because it happened during the review. But they didn’t even once mention the literally dozens upon dozens of examples in the forums of broken frames from another brand.

 The stupidest thing about that whole break that Happened on the Slayer is the FACT that it doesn’t take a genius to guess the reason the axle/frame broke the way it did was from a insufficient torque on the axle.

 @MrTylerHaines: Norco does that too - cutting the threads for the rocker link bolts straight into the alloy seatstays without any inserts. Very annoying. These companies should take a page out of Canyons book. Their latest frames have steel inserts for the pivot bolts.

 Been on a 2020 slayer since it came out. 6,2" 230 geared up. Bike park, shuttle usage ect and not one issue with the bike. Only been through 1 set of pivot bearings. Was going to sell it when I got the new range but changed my mind (got bored) this winter and rebuilt the bike mullet. Now after riding it mullet the range may go bye bye

 I’ve got 2 seasons of hard riding at Mountain Creek on mine and not a single issue with it. I put a OneUp rear axle in it from new (just in case) and check torque before every ride. It’s an absolute beast of a park bike.

 I think it is worth mentioning that every single Rocky with a 148mm rear end has had this exact same axle. There must be 1000s and 1000s of them out there. If it was actually a problem I think we would have heard about it more that PB whining about it at every opportunity. Maybe they should put all that effort into checking that things are tight!

 @Muscovir: The steel inserts come only in the AL frames right? Are they any good ? what the use for Them?

Isnt it better to have those threaded classic style ? Forexample the what the slash currently has.

Regards.

 Hence the forthcoming Gravel DH boom of the mid '20s.

 @TwoNGlenn: I'd pay Discovery good money to watch a bunch of gravel bikes drop into the Champery World Cup course

 Do you work for the trail team in Bentonville or something?

 @TwoNGlenn: I will throw away my now obsolete and useless non-DH-gravel bikes immediately.

Also, where can I buy a totally new DH-gravel specific clothing? Has Rapha released their lineup yet?

 @TwoNGlenn:

That reminds me, I've been meaning to ask in the forums if I can put a boxxer on my gravel bike.

 @lancemountainbike: Sam Pilgrim says yes!

 @lancemountainbike: my kona rove st has a tapered head tube so...maybe? It's also got 27.5 wheels if that helps compatibility

 @lancemountainbike: idk about the boxer, but the ohlins dual crown can be set up as 120mm iirc

 Red Bull Road Rage - this was/is actually a thing.

 @cougar797: Zing! Bentonville has been working hard to make the very accessible trails green and blue in hopes of bringing new people into the sport safely. The rocky or black rated stuff is a touch more off the beaten path, though that's a challenge when all trails are so easily accessible from greenways in Bentonville. Neighboring trail networks outside of Bentonville have more rock, too. Thinking Fitzgerald, Kessler, Eureka, etc. All within 1 hour drive. Things continue to evolve here, for the better I reckon.

 Velo solutions could even lay down some asphalt so they never rut up or get braking bumped

 @garrettstories: Coler seems a bit gnarlier than the surrounding trails.

 @garrettstories: There are a ton of people that ride here already. Quit drowning in the koolaid. You’d think the “mtb capital” would have world class trails not hundreds of miles of generic green stuff.

 @TwoNGlenn: It’s actually getting much improved from what it used to be.

 I pretty much agree with your comment, I think that some of these new "upgrades" on new bikes aren't really worth the asking price(12 speed vs 11).

The Giant Reign is the only bike on their list that I feel "needs" a change, because a lot of people felt like the drop in rear travel from 160-145 was kind of a bummer.

 But without a 3 year product cycle, it slows down innovation. Without frequent refreshes, we wouldn't have gamechanging new technology like Boost spacing, Super boost plus, 650b+, integrated headsets, 35mm bars WAIT A MINUTE!

 Peak since about 2018

 @Glory831Guy:
I ride a reign 29 and kind of disagree. If I were to sell and buy a new bike it would be in the same travel bracket with similar geometry.

 @notthatfast: Agree with you. I have a 2020 Reign 29 Advanced Pro with a Fox 38 170mm up front and I wouldn't change a thing. It has a longer stroke shock then my other bike which has more travel and as a result feels better on big drops.

 I think the Reign 'needs' a little more rear wheel travel, just for product differentation within the product line. At 146mm, it only has 11mm more travel than the Trance X 29, and 1mm more travel than the new Trance X 27.5 (which has a slacker head angle as well).

FWIW, I just bought a 2018 Reign and I wouldn't want any less travel for really chunky sections of gnar. Pedals pretty alright too. I passed 2 Ripmos and 2 Santa Cruzes today on the climb.

I realize that the 29er rear wheel adds some plushness too, but 146mm is on the small side for Enduro and very close (too close IMO) to other bikes in Giant's model range.

 @Glory831Guy: Yeah, I can see the argument both ways. I just don't want to change anything about my current Reign which I use to race enduro (other than make it lighter).

 Giant renews their most popular frames every 3yrs I think. It's a good amount of time between models. Plenty of time for the bike to get long term tested and get a reputation and value in the used market. It's also enough for the brand to do r&d and come up with an improved next version that also takes into account industry trends, new standards and customer feedback. Also gives them a bigger window to get their manufacturing set up expenses back for the specific model. You can still have a new paintjob to tell apart what year each model is and keep it a bit fresh.

Redesigning models anually from scratch is a terrible idea for all involved - manufacturers, shops and customers.

 When do you think dirt bikes peaked?

 @justwan-naride: 2022 Reign already here and no change apart from fox live.

 @Glory831Guy:
While you have a point from a marketing perspective, and I agree with you - as a bike to ride and nothing else, it suits my needs almost perfectly.

If anything I think the Reign should stay the way it is and Giant could thin down the herd of trances little and introduce a bigger bike above it. That won't happen though, the Reign will get bigger and I'd probably make the switch to the Trance X 29.

 I have alu 8 version of that bike and Im really happy with it. As you mentioned good for up, down and all around, pretty maneuverable bike and easy to ride.
Cant wait to see new model.
I would like to see on new model: 140rear-150mm front, 65hta-77sta, threaded bb, same tire clearance, bigger and same size bearings on frame pivots, piggyback shocks.

 @Brdjanin: I think it's maneuverability is what made it good at descending - you didn't have to plow as much as stay light and nimble.

I agree with your mention of the geo, STA, and travel. 65/65.5 HTA depending on the mino-link, 76 STA, and piggy back shocks. The bearings on the current model are still A LOT better than the previous model with the full floater - that model ate bearings. I think it's a given that we see the new model transition into a 140/150 bike, since the Top Fuel is so close to the current model.

It will be like a mini 2017 through 2020 Slash.

 Wonder what will happen with the remedy if the fuel ex is supposed to close the gap to the slash. A mullet remedy would be dope...

 @moerkster: I think it's slated to disappear - but I'm in total agreement with you. The Remedy would be sick to design as a mullet specific bike.

 Would you recommend the current carbon version? There are a few at a local bike shop, and I’ve been liking the look of them.

I’d be nervous about the cracking issue though, even though I’m not overly hard on bikes.

 @ZSchnei Having just bought a Fuel EX9.8 i'd be curious what to look out for on the carbon side of things please.

 @ZSchnei: I hope they keep it 27.5. I hate 29 and dont care for mullets.

 @MB3: There was a phase where cracks kept appearing at the junction of the BB and seat tube. Although it was annoying to have to strip and rebuild, Trek took care of me and others. The newest replacements seem to have fixed the issue.

I rode my first frame for nearly 2,000 miles before the crack, and rode it hard. I still think it was the best bike I've owned in regard to how it rode and how versatile it was.

 @weeksy59: Small hairline cracks were appearing at the junction of the BB and seat tube. Trek replaced two of my frames no questions asked, and did so for many other riders. What we never found out is whether it was paint/clearcoat cracking or carbon - they didn't question it and just replaced the frame. My buddy is on his third frame and it seems to have been solved. My fiance is still on her 2020 frame with zero issues.

 @Jonahn1234: I'm curious to get on one and try it out.

 @ZSchnei: thanks lots mate, gives me something to look out for. Mine is a 2020 so hopefully will be OK... but comes with a lifetime warranty anyway so if it breaks, it breaks..

 I opened this article hoping for the same

 I believe as long as professional dh racing is still successful, there will always be a focus on keeping dh bikes updated and modern. The fact that there is fewer dh bikes at the park is just part of a trend that people have followed because it's new and popular. I can't tell you how many times I've heard an enduro bike rider gets on a dh bike and says something like, "Wow. I forgot how good downhill bikes are." Dh bikes have their place and so do enduro.

 @Will-narayan:
If the tracks got less steep and more pedally they would start using super-enduros.

Also, DH bikes are more "capable," enduro bikes are more "versatile."

 New technologies can start out on DH bikes and then trickle down the line to a manufacturers/component companies other ranges of bikes. So even if they aren't selling as many DH bikes there is still value in producing and refining the DH bikes.

 Lol, guys are trigger happy here. By "always more capable" I meant "...than their previous iteration", not than DH bikes.

Don't get me wrong, I like DH bikes, they're a different category, but in the future I wonder if progress won't trickle down more from what's created for ebikes rather than for DH bikes. Maybe ebikes will even drive DH bikes technology. With the motor, who cares if you have to move 200m of travel and bigger brakes and bigger everything on your electric trail bike. But then it may be a good idea to use it on DH bikes.

 @Will-narayan Ive heard a lot of comments in the vain of "with the motor, who cares if you have to move 200m of travel and bigger brakes and bigger everything on your electric trail bike" The big issue with this is that even with lighter single crown forks and 160mm travel, ebikes are already a handful on the descents. they require a lot of muscle to move around and are way more tiring than regular bikes. Adding all that extra weight of a dual crown fork, DH brakes, big coil shocks, and DH wheels and tires will push them to 60lb+ which is just way too heavy to be manageable for the average rider IMO

 @Will-narayan: I think what your looking for is something called the EWS. People racing (nearly) dh courses on Enduro bikes....

 @Will-narayan: I think what you're looking for is called the EWS. People racing (nearly) dh courses on Enduro bikes...

 More stuff like the Shore and the Spindrift. Modern DH bikes are really pigeonholed towards racing, which makes sense, but isn't practical for us. Dropper and a water bottle on my DH bike pls. Don't have time to ride park as much as you used to? Just slap a single crown on and change the drivetrain out. Boom, you now have the travel of an an enduro race bike but with a much more fun feel. Plenty of us have places that are just a long fire road climb to rowdy DH bike trails and having a bike with the practicality to do that is much more appealing than a DH race bike. Bullish on modern freeride bikes.

 @gravitybass: Another one that comes to mind besides the Spindrift and Shore would be the new Canyon Torque. Looks really promising. Alloy frame, all wheel sizes, can be long-stroked to 180mm of travel, dual-crown compatible and proven Redbull Rampage worthy by Thomas Genon.

 Wasn't the 2020 Slayer based off the Pipedream? If I'm not mistaken. I think the Slayer just needs a new paintjob then

 @iduckett: Yeah. But its definitely a different looking bike that than metal beast they originally built.

 @Svinyard: No doubt! Throwback to late 90's early '00s.

 Carson Storch has been posting and obscuring the frame so that may be a sign that somethings coming (except for that minor issue of who is actual bike sponsor is now).

 Pipedream in purple!

 @iduckett: Yes, the PipeDream was a geometry and kinematics concept bike for the Slayer.

 @dirtpedaler: the only reason he's darking out the frame is because he's no longer riding for Rocky Mountain but still rides his Maiden.

 A stronger seat tube would be nice.

 @Thendeb: and steerer tube

 Needs steeper STA

 Probably referring to the enduro and or sb150
"Again, a reminder: While some Pinkbike editors do have knowledge of some unreleased bikes, those bikes are not on this list."

 They definitley need to do something about that frame. So weak and unreliable.

 Would be interested to know what percentage of Enduro owners have broken a frame? Been on mine for 18 months and no issues. Absolutely love it. Previously, I had a carbon Stumpy Evo (year 2020), of which I did crack. And the bike had before that I also cracked a weld. And occasionally have broken cranks and other bits, so prone to break sh×t.

 @deknarp: they updated the carbon layup to address the head tube issue!

 @JDFF: not many... been on mine for almost as long as you and have take it down the gnarliest trails on the north shore at least 3 times a week. Mine is a 2021.

 Trek styling is the equivalent of khaki pants and a polo shirt, tucked in.

 @RonSauce: don't forget the top siders/loafers

 Ask and you shall receive...

 They updated the most popular bike catagory first on purpose, gave a good idea on where they should head. but the 27.5 trance x is a much much better bike than the Steep new trance x 29er... Giant lost their way between 2020-22 with the 29er bikes.

 @HeatedRotor: Yes, I was very bummed to hear that there was a 27.5 Trance X and it wasn't available in the US. That's absolutely a bike I would be interested in since I am interested in their old 275 Trance but am hesitant to grab one with the older frame geometry.

Also trying to find a used 275 Reign potentially. But would love a shorter or mid travel bike in 275 instead.

 @lepigpen: The all new 2022 Trance X 27.5 is available in the US. They just have not started shipping yet.

 The norco already is pretty short, considering it has a chainstay of 420 for 29 and 430 for 27.5. The wheel base is also really small for a DH bike. It is still a slack bike though. If you referring to bikes in general, do you think "super" enduros have gone too far?

 @Thendeb: if your talking about the aurum hsp thats probably because it's a high pivot so under sag the wheelbase would be normal if not longer.

I guess I was really just talking about my bike, which is an altitude, because in pos 1 its like 474 reach 64.4 hta and either 449 or 438 cs but like in pos 9 its 487 and 65.5. In instinct mode pos 9 is like 493 reach and 66.2 hta. I just kind of wish the range of positions was like a better fit, like if they made pos 5 474 reach and 64.4 hta so I could go like 64 hta and 470 reach or 480 and 65.5 which would be a way more usable range.

And like thats sort of the same thing from the ews team where they are running those anglesets to make the bike slacker but also because it like brings the bars in. But like because of the way the bike industry works if they release a new altitude it will probably be longer or the same size. I guess I'll just have to wait for the medium to eventually become the size I want.

honestly I don't know but I feel like at some point we will either hit stupid long and stupid slack to the point were nobody can ride there bike anymore and then bikes will possibly get smaller again.

 Any links to those threads?

 Nvm, should've scrolled down

 That's a good point. A normal driver, even aggressive one surely can't handle an F1 car and yet, when you buy a DH bike that's what you're getting in a way. Not a perfect analogy, but there is no distinction between bikes for mortals and bikes for DH gods.

 The Optic will definitley not be updated this year and most likely not next year.

 I think the Norco AMA suggested a revised optic was in the works. I wonder if I can find the link...

 Here it is...

norcobicycles (Jan 25, 2022 at 10:15)
@entirepopulation Our team has been working on the Optic next generation, but we can't give you guys too much information at this time. From our side, we feel that the Optic suites a more rowdy or shorter travel trail bike and not really the "down country" market. That category lines up more with our 120/120 Revolver. Just stoked that the bike will be updated and more dialed for the intended use. - JJ

 They need a 29er version of the 27.5 trance X aswell, that 27.5 bike is one of the best mid travel bikes ive ridden

 Where?

 @unrooted: They've been spotted on Instagram and posted to a thread over on vital. same with photos of an updated Strive I believe. Start around page 204 for these specifically.
www.vitalmtb.com/forums/The-Hub,2/2020-MTB-Tech-rumors-and-innovation,10797?page=204

 @loamfiend: nice! I hope they do an AL version, I can’t see ever getting a carbon park ride.

 @unrooted: seems to be alloy to me. Not just cuz it's grey but that looks like a weld between top and down tube. Or just an alloy mule.

 @Will-narayan: I worry that its just an aluminum prototype for another carbon TR11. . .

 @unrooted: I'm think aluminum DH bikes might make a comeback.. Commencal hasn't suffered much using AL and with DH bikes being a small market, it's probably not making sense for a lot of companies to keep going that route.. Look at the latest Session..

 An SB115 with a bit more travel is an SB130. I hope they update the geo but keep the travel at 115 or reduce it to fill the niche that the 100 better fit into.

 Or an Ibis Ripmo V3?

 I know, maybe Jack will finally be able to win a race. . .

 @sunringlerider: you’ve seen what he’s done to his, right?

 That was on the previous list - it's due for an update too: www.pinkbike.com/news/18-bikes-that-could-see-an-update-in-2022.html.

 @mikekazimer: Is it because you are currently testing the new one coming out soon?

 The new Megatower is supposedly fully finished and production ready. The distributors already sent out the announcement e-mail to the dealers over a month ago. But they didn't follow it up with an official announcement and no one really knows why. Since then, there was no new info.

 @Muscovir: Just under a month to go, hopefully. For a multitude of different reasons (mostly financial), I'm buying the first large that I can get my hands on. I love my V1 and am hoping the V2 is at least as good. Can't wait to see some leaked colors and specs... been checking daily (literally) with no luck.

 How about every bike they make that doesn't have a motor or mixed wheel sizes. Seems like that's all they've been releasing lately.

 And I really like SC, or at least I think I still do.

 @PJJ205: I've ridden a friend's V1 Megatower and it's a great bike and I'm sure the V2 will sell like hotcakes. Not an option for me personally though. Too expensive for a broke-ass uni student and no alloy frame option available.

 I was also wondering about a Santa Cruz Hightower 3

 Yeah I wouldn't count on it. The push just isn't there for widespread adoption 7 years later...

 they aren't paying Pinkbike enough to mention it.

 m.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-intense-tracer-279.html

 @mikekazimer: I'll believe it when I see the bikes.

 @Will-narayan: still ride one

 Probably got mixed up with Ethan Nell

 This is the major oversight of this list. The carbo version of the AF geo will be coming (at least). It'll be one of the most popular trail bikes once it's released.

 I don't think that's really an elephant - it happened, so it's getting mentioned. And yes, there are plenty of people out there enjoying that bike, which is great.

 Yep I had one in 2019 and in no way was I worried it would break. And after 2 years of people riding them hard it is obvious that it was a "one off" occurrence. I think Pinkbike should do another review on this years model since it has proven itself over the past 2 years.

I am sure it will be the last year for this model though. There must be a high pivot in the works that will be annouced this summer. Crankworks Whistler weekend me thinks.

Having said my 2019 was my favourite bike in years and I am sad I sold it.

 Absolutely. I made a similar comment above. Over the past 3 years, they've proved to be as bomb-proof as any mountain bike frame, and most of the people who buy them are seeking out tough bikes to ride some pretty nasty terrain (the best kind of nasty).

Kaz's reply is kind of funny, because the article brought up "the elephant" in the first place. If PB has mention that incident in every sentence that includes Slayer over the past 2+ years, it's definitely no longer an elephant.

 The Slayer might be one of the most common bikes in my local area and don't know of anyone (including my super-clyde self) who's had any kind of issues, let alone failures. Such an amazing bike!

 @powderhoundbrr: My 2020 broke (rear triangle related but not the axle) but I still like it a lot.

 Basically buying a new bike every few years is a tiny fraction of environmental damage compared to the daily habits of most mountain bikers, and generally people.

 @L0rdTom: #sarcasm

 no.

 Slayer is sexy as hell. Have you looked at your Glory recently?!

 @OldMan76: I sold that ish years ago

 @preach: you did the right thing. They’re ugly as sin.