What Is The Future Of MTB Suspension? | GMBN Tech Show 336

In this week's GMBN Tech Show, Owen Coutts is joined by Anna Cipullo to talk about electric suspension and determine whether or not it's really the future of mountain biking. In the rest of the show, we look at a 'light shirt' made by PRADA which recently appeared on Red Bull's Kriss Kyle's videos and your usual favourites including this week’s Quiz question, Top Mods and much more!

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
00:00 - Welcome To Another GMBN Tech Show!
00:26 - Is Electronic Suspension The Future Of Mountain Biking?
08:52 - News | Sour Bikes New Bikes | SRAM Pod Rocker / Range Extender | Deity Super Villain | Canyon CLLCTV Clothing | Topeak Sustainable Bottle Cage & New Tools | Prada High Vis Light Shirt
16:52 - Quiz
18:07 - Top Mods
18:56 - Comments

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Do you want to see more electronic tech on your MTB? Share your thoughts down below!

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[gmbntech]

Do you want to see more electronic tech on your MTB? Share your thoughts down below!

[jackiegammon]

As a small shop owner, I have to believe that "easier" setup with electronic suspension, well I have to believe that we are missing something there. It seems to me that the mechanics and the folks that either take care of their own bikes, or for shops doing the work... we're adding a ton of work and getting folks trained in this. That means that there needs to be more "service centers" from the manufacturing side of things, and more parts available. Are we getting to the point where a "bicycle" is going to become fully electronic? I LOVE advanced and improvements, but certainly am not ever interested in this. On another page, as a cyclist, I don't want any of that either. I often times ride in areas that are quite remote, and if I see a convenience store and a couple of gas pumps, well I'm happy. But, that would also leave me with with a sour taste if indeed I had an issue out there.... And as you've mentioned already, I do NOT want to think about "charging" everything to simply go for a ride. Again, mulit day ride in the woods, I would need to carry some sort of charger to take care of all that.... I LOVE advancements and improvements, but for me personally and professionally, this is not what I am looking for. LOVE your video and the contrasts though!!

[Velo]

I remember back in the early 2000’s I saw a Cannondale with an ELO (Electronic Lock Out) on their Lefty fork. I thought it was the coolest thing. The one you mentioned in this video.

[francoinvisser]

If you take what you can from MX bikes, the future is bigger diameter shims in both forks and rear shocks. It lends itself to more sensitive setup, so all around better working forks and shocks.

[garethhughes]

Problem with current suspension is its reliable and doesn't cost enough to justify the ridiculous prices of the bikes.

[shawnpritchard]

I'm happy, my one, and only mtb is a rigid single speed. I do like technology. It's limited to hydraulic disc brakes and a dropper post.
My future is mostly from the past.

[darrenmooney]

Smart suspension with variable settings linked to gps tracking will be a thing of future dh and xc racing.. pre programmed to change depending on location on track..

[tim__sadler]

#quiz - Paul Turner founded RockShox and then Maverick Bikes (and in doing so promptly help build a lot of other companies indirectly)

[matt_acton-varian]

I want to add the caveat in comparing suspension of mountain bikes with motocross, rider weight is a major factor. Depending on bike and rider, the rider can make up between 60 and 80% of total system mass. Different weight riders have a significant impact on how a set suspension setup feels. On MX bikes the rider is around 30 to 40 percent and a 10kg rider weight discrepancy won't make a significant change to suspension feel. Also the potential parameters and complexity of moto suspension mean that the electronic components would need to match that complexity, thus being much more expensive. If, like SRAM AXS, electronically controlled suspension is here to stay, it may start appearing in the MX world.

[topchoice]

I have enough headache with charging my phone 📱 imagine my bike

[bobwilson]

I know it’s heavier, and old tech but fox coils and oil for me, front and rear. Simple and Plush 👍

[andreasbrandstetter]

Ohhh yeah, battery in the shock, fork, shifter, seatpost.... Aaaahm not for me. One battery is enough 😂

[johnli]

Great to see the tech around the race pits. However I don’t think that’s something for us ordinary rider to worry about, as competitive equipments has no obligation to make sense to you.

[mrbmw]

Owen is right that it's both too good *and* too expensive in the car/motorcycle cases. It's banned in every series that I'm aware of for those reasons. I have to say I disagree with Anna that in the racing context it's about not having to worry about setup. There you still want a "correct" base setup (for whatever that means for the type of racing, rider, conditions, etc.) as you would with non-electronic suspensions. All damping systems have limits on range of adjustment. What the electronics afford then is the opportunity for more tightly-optimized damping in particular sections of a course. You always hear about a rider having a particular setup that's better in some sections, because there's more time to gain/lose in those, but be sub-optimal in others as a result. The dream of the electronics, however well they're executed (or not), is that rapid on-the-fly adjustments can be made such that there's much less compromise overall (again, noting the practical limitations of both the physical damping systems and the electronics themselves). I definitely *do*, however, think that ease of setup (or no setup) can and should be a goal for the average trail rider who both doesn't really know and probably doesn't care much for those details. Yes, I understand that the average GMBN Tech viewer probably does know and care. But let us not commit affinity bias by assuming that most/all MTB riders do.

[GrahamFootBicycleLover]

Great topic guys, The fact there's no wiring and it can be fitted to lots of brands this will be the future for ebikes for sure. Same goes for racing. it seems an obvious way to go, but for the majority of everyday mtb riders I'm going to say, most have had enough of batteries. As you say, most don't know, or can't be bothered to faff with suspension setup, even washing their bike, so having to constantly remember to charge this and that is just a no no. There is definitely a big market for simple. Afterall, we've managed this long just fine. As you know I love fat bikes, I know, I'm a weirdo, but for me it's the ultimate mtb and so simple. But I'll stop there. I can hear you yawning from here.
My favorite shock was the FOX Vanilla RC. Worked so well and just rebound, compression and a spring.
You two are quite the double act, never had Owen down for this but he seems to be a natural. Your knowledge is crazy too Anna. ok enough. Cheers guys.

[tl]

The Push Industries fork is the future, electronics will be standard after everyone follows Push.

[jonntischnabel]

E bikes and electric suspension are a match made in heaven. You charge the bike up, and hey presto, you have power. They should take power from the main bike battery, like the lights do on a bosch. As for acoustic bikes, i can see why chargin loads of batteries would be a pain.

[elrictdb]

Well bugger, now I need a TORQ ROCKET mini EX as well as a knippex adjustable wrench....grrr.

[ltrtg]

I have bought tools I have yet to use. I bought a crown race seating tool to do the headset on my hardtail. However it doesn't fit a tapered steerer. I do have a road bike and hybrid which it will work with. But, the road bike doesn't need new headset. As I don't ride it much. My hybrid doesn't need a new headset as the one fitted is a Chris King headset. So I bought a second crown race tool that does work with a tapered steerer tube. I needed to get a new headset. So I bought a Hope headet with the split crown race. So I haven't used that one either.

[smithandshortdogs]

The prada jacket and pants are really similar to what the US is heading towards as prison attire (re: Orange is the New Black)