Brandon Semenuk's Slopestyle Inspired Red Bull Rampage Bike

 That bikes about as dull as his personality. Which means he'll probably win again. Was just telling someone that they need to start valuing gnar as much as they do tricks or Rampage is going to lose it's soul. When you have lines like what Zink and Strait did a couple years ago that were INSANE they should get the same or higher value than someone that does a regular 3 and and opo 3. Gotta be a balance. Tricks are rad. Gnar is rad. Every rider is different.

 @onemanarmy: Gonna miss Fairclough this year

 @onemanarmy: I think it's funny when people think Rampage doesn't have the gnar still. The riders are just that good now, that everyone has gnar in their runs, and it's usually glossed over because it happens so quick. The chutes and double drops, exposure etc. of modern rampage are way beyond what they used to be in the "golden" times of Rampage. Things are more "groomed" because if they weren't people wouldn't be able to go as big, or they would straight up die. Riders are also now having to add tricks to the already ridiculous features because the level is there. Back in the day, if someone sent a 50 foot drop, it would have been absolutely bonkers (it still is, don't get me wrong), but now, you have people spinning and flipping off said drops, and straight airing or Sui-ing 70+ foot drops. Zink and Strait are still in it, and I'm sure if you asked them, they would tell you that every year they are doing gnarlier shit than they year(s) before.

 @onemanarmy: I think its funny that you are talking about a balance between tricks and gnar, while also knocking Semenuk. I think his runs are probably the best combination of trick and gnar that we see, which is likely why he scores so well

 @leon-forfar: Well said! I think it was mentioned somewhere before in either PB video or a podcast, but it was a rider or two that competes in Rampage saying its always funny reading/watching keyboard warriors on PB say how "this isn't gnarly" "this is stupid" "why didn't/did he do that" etc. Us as viewers have no comprehension of what its like to compete at the level they do and ride what they do; not to mention after a very long build week. Like Leon said, all the riders are definitely doing way gnarlier stuff than they have before and I would guarantee that they would agree with what he said.
I'm a big fan of Semenuk and always have been, and my PERSONAL opinion is I do not like the single crown. But thats it, just my opinion and perhaps it'll change after this event. The guy is probably running this set up for a very specific reason because he competes in the event and knows waaaaaay better than any of us here what it takes to try and win. Whether its riding straight down a 80 degree chute or flat drop flipping onto a lilypad drop, both are gnarly. Rampage will always be gnarly no matter what and it'll still get the views it always has gotten. Every rider is different and all us viewers have a different opinion but maybe its just best to let the experts out on the mountain ride and judge lol

 @sino428: Not really knocking him at all. Dudes nice as hell just dull. I'd say the same about myself actually. Ha! And by saying dull I mean the actual graphics/design of it. It's boring. What he's doing with the fork and the idea behind the build... I hope it works. I'm sure it's exactly what he needs to do the amazing Semenuk things that I'm sure he'll do. Hence me saying he'll probably win again. I'd say that's a compliment not a knock.

Think maybe people are reading into my post a bit. Maybe I wasn't clear.

But yeah no knock on Semenuk. I watch all his videos... including the ones in his Subaru. Dudes amazing. One of the all time greats.

And Leon... you're damn right. What they're doing is absolutely insane and gets gnarlier every year. Part of the reason they're able to get gnarlier every year is that the equipment gets better and their builds get better. I've been on the Rampage sites. It's freaking nuts dude. TV does it zero justice.

Beyond that... the first 2 sentences were actually a post I was writing to respond to something completely different. So start reading from the Was just telling.... should read a bit differently.

Ha!!

Seriously... talking shit about ANYONE that's riding rampage is foolish as hell. Those guys are all on a level completely different than mortal men.

 @onemanarmy: It's the 20th year of Rampage and every year someone complains about the exact same thing, "losing its soul". Yet here we all are, 20 years later, still super stoked to watch it, still talking about it, still speculating with excitement who's gonna throw what moves with what bike setup and who's gonna get robbed. I'm gonna take a wild guess that Rampage will be amazing this year. As usual.

 Single crown has also just gotten bigger... not uncommon to see 180/190mm single crowns which aren't too far away from a dual crown. Pretty cool really

 or single crown forks have just gotten to the point of handling rampage...

 For barspins and tailwhips.

 I doubt he'd set up a custom single crown bar spinnable session if he didn't plan on incorporating tricks that you can't do on a dual crown

 Consensus by who?

 There have always been a few single crown forks at Rampage. 2021 might be the first year that a single crown fork wins, though.

 If you haven't seen a ZEB fork in person you should check it out. They are beefy as all hell.

 I've seen it in the past but at the last rampage everyone was riding a dual crown. Like other pointed out with the single crown and the cable routing he is clearly looking to do barspins or tailwhips.

www.pinkbike.com/news/pinkbike-poll-vote-for-your-favourite-custom-rampage-2019-downhill-bike.html

 @neilpritchett: The folks that showed up to Rampage like 7 years ago with single crowns, ate shit, and then went back to dual crowns. It hasn't been that long has it?

 @robito: Single crowns are different now... as is Rampage. Brandon's line is going to be groomed better than most DJ sets you've seen.

 @onemanarmy: I guess we'll see. You're not wrong about grooming but I still bet he ends up dual.

 @robito: You might not be wrong either and I would not be surprised. Put a DC on it and it's very similar to what Reed is running.

 @onemanarmy: Watch him switch bikes mid run like he did in that one cut video. Haha

 @robito: wouldn’t put it past him

 Maybe he knows something??? The way those bikes land at Rampage when it bottoms out will the loads be too much on the downtube at that pivot point? Just thinking out loud.

 Horses for courses - I can't imagine chainstay growth is what you want when trying to back flip off a flat drop...

 @ddmonkey: just wish they would bring it back for the public

 I have they're great for racing but not so much for free ride. Seen Ttek sponsored riders using the high pivot for racing but the 'park' frame for freeride.

 ^heard^ stoopid phone

 Probably is an older 26" Session, that's why it's got the old design.

 That’s a session park. There is really zero need for a high pivot at rampage, as the suspension is just there for big hits, not so much keeping the tires glued to the ground, much like a slope bike.... wait....

 @DoubleCrownAddict: it's the previous generation 27.5 session with a shorter aluminum rear triangle. similar to the actual OG 26 inch wheeled session park. The frame shapes and whatnot were different between the two, and all the Trek riders stopped riding the 26 inch version about 3 1/2 - 4 years ago. Look back to R-Dogs Coors Banquet bikes as one of the first on the newer frame platform (no full floater etc.)

 nah. He's gonna flip whip some shit.

 Yes to tailwhips

 Yup, that's why I don't barspin or tailwhip... cause it's stupid. Has nothing to do with it being difficult, especially when riding off cliffs.

 Tell me you're completely out of touch with the bike industry without telling me you're completely out of touch with the bike industry...

 @MikeyMT:

I'm pretty in touch I'd say... I just think that barspins and tailwhips are annoying and if you want to step up the difficulty of your run at rampage, you should build & ride a gnarlier line. Adding in some nimbly bimbly teenage dork shit doesn't make your run cooler in my opinion

 @skimtb1: um have you seen his lines? ever?

 @skimtb1: I'll update. Tell me you've never watched Brandon's line at Rampage without telling me you've never watched Brandon's line at Rampage.

 So flips and spins are ok but barspins and whips are not cool?

 @skimtb1: I don't understand why doing difficult tricks is "nimbly bimbly teenage dork shit"? Maybe you have a hard time understanding how difficult that stuff is because you've never tried it, and have no way to relate to it?

 @EnsBen:

Yup - at every single rampage to date. They are gnarly for sure but I prefer a sorge or lacondeguy-type winning run any day of the week.

 @sino428:

Ya flips and spins are f*cking cool. Barspins and tailwhips are for scooter kids

 @thepwnstar39:

Dude, what self-respecting person over the age of 21 does tailwhips or barspins? They are dorky tricks for 16 year olds to get hyped on watching FMB slopestyles. Or for 8 year olds on scooters at the skatepark.

If you're a god damn adult riding a god damn mountain bike and you get all jazzed about some sort barspin, youre still a f*cking adolescent in my opinion

 Bar spins and whips are cool- ur just super lame

 @SirWonky:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNekxmw0TNw

 @skimtb1: you think Semenuk is gonna take the easiest path down the mountain just so he can add a couple dorky barspins? Na he’s gonna ride some gnarly shit like he always does

 @skimtb1: idk man sounds like you might just be real mad that you can't barspin

 @rabcity:

he's gonna do some medium big/super tech barspinny stuff. Will be super impressive. There there will be others going bigger, faster, more amplitude and more stylish (in my opinion) on more rugged, less manicured features

bike park bitch / bench cut slut doesn't do it for me

 He can do whatever he wants on course. It's his life. I'm just stating that I think barspins and tailships are whack in Rampage and shouldn't meaningfully add to his score if his speed, amplitude, and line difficulty aren't the most badass on the day.

 Who upset you?

 @Jules15:

not upset. Just, like, stating my opinion man