Varaxis

Combine this with those electronic Oakley goggles, combined with google glass, and that 3d radar thing, plus whatever crazy software Lockheed has in the F35? JK JK! Cool idea, at least as a novelty.

How the heck is Clay Porter getting these pans? Is there a prodigy behind the controls of the quadrotor? Guessing there's a team, since one can't be on a DSLR with telephoto lens on the ground for the close-ups, without being actually close-up, all the while getting aerial shots, and be able to get the shots in a span short enough to have consistent daylight conditions. Oh and... holy sh!t is Gwin unbelievably fast.

I just want to watch Nico, BLopes, and CG do amazing things on their bikes, shortcutting sections with skill and speed. Getting fast times wins races, which is cool and all, but style and skill wins fans. :D As for the winners, I'd probably bet on Clementz and T-Mo.

Looking forward to trying out those E.I. shock equipped bikes and getting a better appreciation of the bikes that Loic Bruni, one of my fav DH racers, rides. Gotta say that Nico has a cool office. Interesting to see what kinds of bikes a legend like Nico helps design. Speaking of legends, I find it sad that Tomac bikes stopped production just a short while ago.

Contrary to popular belief, the Horst Link itself isn't patented under a single patent. I believe there's multiple patents covering "FSR" and various linkage designs using the Horst link, which have their own patents. I know that much just from seeing 2-3 patent #s on chainstays of FSR designs in the US (Titus, Spec, etc.). I'm going on a limb and going to say that the FSR design that Spec uses mostly, the kind that has a short link connected to the seat tube, that comes back to the seat stay, which connects to the shock and pushes it forward (roughly inline with the seatstays), is still active. I believe the design where the seatstays extend past the seat tube, and drive the shock (or uses a dogbone link connected to the top tube), using the Horst Link, is expired. The walking beam style, with horst link, is another design that's patented; I'm not sure if that one is expired or covered under some other patent like ICT. Anyone want to confirm? This is only my vague understanding of it, after looking into it a while back.

XTR 986 -> XTR 99x -> XTR electronics?

Grease ports for bushings?

I wait for reviews and sales anyways, when it comes to upgrades. If I were to buy latest model year stuff, it'd be already attached to a complete bike when I pay for it.

I'm surprised the XO (non-trail) brakes are rated for such light duty. I thought they were no worse than the Elixir series.

Any details on the brake pads? How much do they cost to replace? I'm assuming they're a new design that's larger than the typical avid brake pads.