14 DH Bikes from National Downhill Round 2, Fort William

 Lolzzz

 @Trudeez They must be bad if he’s actually using bontragers!

 @jimoxbox: not sure about the front but the one on the back is a DHR II.

 Same for Revelli's back tyre. Pretty bad when Pirelli are a title sponsor of his team.

 Where is cathros bike.

 @dick-pound: Assegai I think

 @jimoxbox: I think they're maxxis. you can see some yellow on the rear tire

 @Sardine-Vladu: Definitely maxxis, was trying to figure out which model. Not DHF for sure, pretty sure Assegai.

 Honestly what a shit show. Being a sponsor of one of the bigger teams and they consequently don't ride their products is one thing. But Pirrelli being head sponsor of the canyon pirelli team and not even they are riding the tires is just another level.

 @redrook: hard to tell for sure, but I think you're right about it being an Assegai. Loris typically does DHR front and rear though.

 which loris...? oh wait

 Searching for El Dorado?

 If there is any fork that could benefit from a throwback colorway, it's the Dorado.

 There is something so right about it. Seeing them reminds me of the old days of intense dh bikes with usd dorados.

 Either someone is playing with the edit feature on their IPhone or 67* is the new 62* head angle

 @scary1: v10s appear that way due to the sloping frame & top tube.

 yep agree, florent's scott gambler for me is absolutely stunning.

 Not huge on the Nukeproofs but everything else yes

 It would make sense

 @skiboot1: Would it..?

 Good spot - can't unsee it now

 Photo is at a slight angle.

 I want to know why Bernard isn’t riding/racing the NEW Phoenix?! He was on it earlier this year in New Zealand. Release that thing already, would ya?

 I'd guess..... sell all the 'old' models stock mountain first

 @naptime: I think they need to clear them out like the Charger 2.1 single crowns.

 @naptime: It would probably help if they weren't like $2400 retail

 @notthatfast: Agreed, still really expensive here too, you would think they might lower the price with the impending new fork.

 @Smokey79: unless the new fork price is (more than likely) gonna be ballistic......

 I would agree, but am also not really digging the latest RockShox graphics....

 @Spoony187: Black Box prgrm

 If you pull up aimi kenyon's V10 and the new V10, the whole downtube/bottom bracket/rear triangle area is basically the same, I'm sure it's plenty strong then as we haven't heard of V10s folding minus that one argument that greg minaar and a pole had a while back.

The upper linkage and the toptube look different, more standover and a different angle on the linkage probably making for some different progression.

Just my 100% armchair engineer take

 I'm sure the designers did some analysis to make sure it's strong enough, but yeah, that link better hold on tight. The Commencal's tubes looks even more skinny.

 My armchair engineer input is that if you want to experiment with saddle height, you'd just end up cutting up a lot of seatposts until you have the correct one (which keeps the saddle at the correct height and has enough insertion in the seattube).

 Compared to all the others, it looks really retro, like those Trek Y frames from the mid 90s... Especially in that custard yellow

 @mountainsofsussex: Love that you just compared 2 different V10's
If you think the latest frame (without a high pivot and they tested that concept) is retro, you dont remember the last high pivot fad that died out (like this one will).

 it's all good, if the frame breaks or folds - you have a special handle to lift the bike under the seat

 I’d be more concerned about the commencal, which has a reputation for their dh bikes cracking, than the new v10.

 @TheSlayer99: So many bikes have been called out for cracking. Kona, YT, Commencal... Yet on all of them, lots of races have been won. For these top riders (whose bikes see regular inspection and maintenance), that's what matters most.

 @vinay: sure but anyone who is receiving support to race world cups is getting their frames checked after every run, and have back up bikes or frames ready when a frame fails. That’s not the point I’m trying to make though. The V4 supreme cracks at the junction between the down tube and the seat tube under the linkages and shock where the average rider wouldn’t look. I guarantee you at least half the v4 supremes on the buy sell are there because they’re cracked or the owners got tired of warranting frames. Go have a look at Paul Aston’s statement about the V4.

 If there is one thing that Santa Cruz does, it is building crazy strong carbon frames. They basically weigh as much as other companies' alloy frames but it's mostly from added layers of material. In one of their recent factory tour videos one of their testing lab guys said that their strengh target is usually double what the competition is doing. I'm sure the new V10 won't be an exception.

 @TheSlayer99: Yeah, fair. Stil, somehow it is harder to shrug off a bad reputation of a bad era of products even though they've fixed the issue. Look at Manitou for instance. They've been a common OEM suspension supplier until they went through a while with sub-par units. It's only the past few years that I'm seeing more people being excited about their forks again. Similarly with Kona, there really has a been a long while that people claimed to be worried about their frames cracking, even though I think they weren't really cracking anymore at a worrying rate. I just don't think it should take that long for a brand to fix their reputation. The V5 is a new frame. It might crack like the V4 does, it might not. Let's just wait and see. But as for being "concerned" under this particular article, these are pro racers and we can trust their bike are getting the appropriate care and attention. Commencal has had a couple of great seasons under some wild riders in various teams, even on that notorious V4 bike. I can obviously imagine one would be wary of spending their own hard earned money on such a bike if the preceding model has had issues. But then again, to some extend it is always a bit of a gamble to buy the latest and greatest.

 Everytime I see it my brain thinks it's an old Trek Y-frame for half a second.

 @vinay: as a data point, I spent my hard earned money on pre ordering a supreme v5. I saw all the cracking issues they had on the v4 but I figured they would probably make sure not to repeat that with a completely redesigned frame. If one bad version forever ruins a company, nobody should be driving a ford since they released the pinto.

This reminds me of how cannondale was teased as “crack and fail” yet circa 2013 they absolutely dominated the US amateur road racing scene and have cemented their legacy as a top player in alloy road bikes.

 You're right. And BTW, disappointed not to see any steel bike in a UK competition. I know steel is not "race compatible", but there must be 1 or 2 aliens that ride some kind of steam punk machines, na?

 Sure it looks great until you crack the frame under normal riding conditions.

 @danstonQ: Curtis has a pretty cool steel DH bike, but I don't think it is a production bike. But as for "race compatible", I trust you'll see a good few steel bikes on the enduro races or those smaller DH races where one could get away with an enduro frame.

 @danstonQ: we'll see some steel dh race bikes during the world cup this year. Neko's Frameworks is testing a steel front triangle, so we might see a FW bike with steel racing, and Contra is sponsoring a couple of Woman to race steel dh bikes.

 @danstonQ: Just a matter of time. Steel is trendy right now.

 probably just one run, then back to service/repair

 My lad ran a Float X2 all weekend. There's more and more air shocks coming into racing than i've seen in previous years. Mine was 28th in Youth and absolutely loves the X2 compared to the coils we've been running until earlier this year. He's now put 45 hours on the X2 and raced twice at Rheola in the previous National DH/Gravity and 8 runs this weekend at Fort William. No issues on it at all.

 @weeksy59: you must be new here.

 Can't be worse than a purple Formula fork IMO.

 same goes for them purple hayes brakes everyone on the internet seems to be rocking at the moment, haven't seen a pair that match the bike yet lol

 @danstonQ: the monster energy green themed suntors i mean DVO forks are right up there with the formula.

 @englertracing: true, especially if you add some fluo yellow Magura calipers and a pair of white Onza Porcupine

 Absolutely. Why haven't they given it up with the orange yet?

 @rad-but-also-sad: Magura (arguably) does it worse with the flouro - I think the purple Hayes are sick and don't need to match to make a statement

 The guy behind those bikes at Sunn at that time was Max Commencal...

 the've become to expensive for everyone

 Schwable,Michelin and Continental are quite good too,even Specialized tires. I think the best overall DH tire is Michelin DH22 over any Maxxis tire or any other brand. In the last 4 years I only bought 1 Maxxis Assegai DD,rest of the tires I got Michelin and Specialized.

 Not really. Pirelli, Conti, Michelin are huge tires manufacturers who can easily afford to donate equipment and sponsor a team to run their products. Maxxis is big MTB player, but a relatively small player in the tire world.

 @CaptainSnappy: 3 or 4 years ago you only saw Maxxis in every bike. Now are multiple brands with good products,not just Maxxis. Maxxis is part of a huge tire company (9th largest in the world Wikipedia info hehehe) so not a small player by any means. In some markets their products are very well know outside of Mtb.

 Just put the bikes on a scorpion stand and be done with it lol

 @rip8569: Run what you brung

 For months if you follow their Instagram. Weird how they have Ohlins rear still

 @wburnes: How is that weird? It wouldn't hurt a sponsor deal as, afaik, Ohlins doesn't sponsor anyone.

 They're sponsored by manitou but they don't make a coil shock currently

 @8a71b4: when was that? 20 years ago!!!
They might have updated the design in that time.
Look what happened in the urban races with the young pinners smoking it on Dorados.

(My Dorados were so bad 20 years ago too)

 @vinay: Öhlins sponsor Specialized gravity

 @Jules15: Ah yeah I stand corrected, I see it now.
www.specializedgravity.com/nos-sponsors-1?lang=en

 @Jules15: Would almost put money on it that its more of a R+D partnership then an outright sponsorship. Spesh has some serious R+D potential for Ohlins, not to mention Bruni's apparent keen sense on the bike and outright speed he can go at any moment. Ohlins may sponsor the team but not the riders and Spesh tends to always have the fastest guys at any given point.

 @betsie: Last year.

 @8a71b4: Its easy to have a bad experience with a fork and get unlucky.
They are a USD fork so always going to feel heavy up front compared to a traditional air fork.
Then folk run full DH tyres with inserts and lots of sealant!!!
Wouldnt go USD myself, when its wet (which it often is in Scotland) the mudguard just doesnt look good.

 I thought I saw a picture of one of the bikes with a Fox X2??? Not sure whose it was.

 When did they last update it? Maybe we'll see flight control, bigger stanchions, and a zeb-like arch

 @wburnes: There’s a few boxxers in those photos that have the new 38mm stanchions. Look close.

 Nuke Proof still on the old one with a 56mm offset.

 I wanted to but it’s not allowed as yet !

 @Mandownmedia: Ah no worries....I want to know more, amazing looking thing isn't it. Silent as well!

 @Spooky221: Me to I’ll keep chasing it

 retired from WC

 Same retirement plan as Mik Hannah

 @Tormy: Product development makes WC DH retirement more affordable. Smart.

 @qblambda: you're right, thanks

 gin & juice??

 @stacykohut: I’ll allow it

 @stacykohut: Sittin on them low lows

 A few riders on the XTR brakes (Laurie included) at the weekend too.

 Or a 30" front wheel?
Or my edible is kicking in?

 Where we going?

 @jrocksdh: to the party, out the back

 Loving the Paintjob!! Wanna see more of this.

 Small diameter tubes '> thin tubes

 Loris doesn't like to play unplugged.

 point the bike down (a hill.......)an then it's OK