Video: New Bikes from We Are One and Orange, a Titanium Stem, and X-Fusion's Wireless Dropper - Sea Otter 2022

Apr 7, 2022 at 19:47
by Mike Levy  


The sun is out at Sea Otter and so are all the fresh bikes and shiny components, and that means it's time for us to take walk around the venue to see what's new. We spotted the 130mm and 170mm-travel versions of We Are One's Arrival, Orange's linkage-equipped Switch 7, a new down-country tire from Vittoria called the Syerra, 5 Dev's wild cranks and titanium stem that are both machined in San Diego, and X-Fusion's surprise E-Manic wireless dropper post.

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Member since Oct 18, 2005
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71 Comments
  • 57 1
 I love my AXS reverb. (almost as much as I hated the squidgy hydraulic original)
If X-fusion have managed to acheive the same at half the price I applaud them.
  • 8 1
 I bet it is every bit as good if not better. I found the Manic years ago and have run it on all my bikes since. I can't believe people pay more for less.
  • 32 2
 Those, “We are One” bikes have beautiful lines!!
  • 16 1
 I love how good products are in mountain biking now but my god everything in this video is so expensive. "Entry level" bikes and parts seem like they no longer exist. You have to pick between "high end" and "higher end".
  • 10 0
 Micro Shift is trying

m.pinkbike.com/news/microshift-launches-super-short-1x-drivetrain-for-20-wheel-bikes-and-up.html
  • 11 0
 After riding Walmart bikes as a kid, I'll always remember going into a legit bike shop in 2017 with $650 thinking I was about to ball out on a top of the line bike. Then find out they only had one model at that price lmao.
  • 7 0
 @DylanH93: I still feel bad about the amount of abuse I put my Rockhopper through. I had no idea what I was doing, but I had a $700 bike with disc brakes and a suspension fork! Basically a downhill bike, right?!
  • 14 0
 $400 for a titanium stem. Ouch.
  • 20 0
 ...That weighs as much as a RF Turbine stem and more than a 9Point8 stem with a Ti bolt upgrade. Both of which have fully-removable faceplates for easy maintenance.
  • 4 0
 Right! I saw the vid they put out on the manufacturing of it and thought maybe I would get crazy and spend some coin on that thing, It looks great IMO, but $400...GTFO
  • 7 0
 $400 for a HEAVY titanium stem...double ouch!
  • 6 8
 US made isn't cheap. They have aluminum as well at a lower price point.
  • 4 8
flag jaydawg69 FL (Apr 8, 2022 at 8:57) (Below Threshold)
 stem will last a lifetime
  • 2 0
 @jaydawg69: I figure a larger steerer standard is coming up to help accommodate long-travel single crown forks. Something like 2" bottom and 1.5" top maybe
  • 6 0
 @jaydawg69: If the past is anything to go by, handle bar/steerer tube standards will change making this stem obsolete long before it is worn out.
  • 18 0
 @jaydawg69: In my experience most stems will last a lifetime. Maybe my gnar isn't up to snuff, but stem failure is not something I've heard, experienced or read about a lot. @salespunk I hear ya and would love to support US made materials, but 4 bills for a TI stem is crazy. I haven't checked out the AL stem so maybe..
  • 3 1
 @salespunk: It doesn't even seem to matter where it's made anymore.
  • 1 0
 @jaydawg69: but your next bike will need a shorter or longer stem lol
  • 1 0
 @jaydawg69: I doubt it. Not that the stem will fail, but steer tube diameter standards will probably change at some point.
  • 4 0
 Titanium frame: "perfect amount of flex"
Titanium stem "we didn't mean that"
  • 2 0
 @jaydawg69: Is busting a stem that common?
  • 2 0
 @MaplePanda: careful what you wish for bikerumor.com/sr-suntour-introduces-1-8-supertaper-steerer-tubes-and-upgrades-their-air-springs
  • 3 0
 @jaydawg69: And other stems don't last? Never seen or heard of a stem failure in the last 20 years.
  • 1 0
 @flattire: I've broken 3 in the last 10 years. One in a crash, so anything is possible in that scenario. I ovalized the steerer clamp and bent the steerer tube itself when I landed on top of my bike.

But the the other two cracked... those were the same brand. I heard a cracking/snapping noise when pumping into a step-up. Stopped as soon as I could because I initially thought I cracked my bars. Checked my bars and everything seemed OK. Finished the run, and upon closer examination I noticed the crack where one of the top bolts mount. Checked my other bike with that stem, had a crack forming in the same place.... all the stems were aluminum.

And I'm not a big hitter by any means, shit happens though.
  • 1 0
 Mike, I don't think every bar will slide through that stem (Fasst Co Flexx Bar).
  • 1 0
 @big-red: It's all about the 77 Design stem,imo. Cheaper, lighter, almost as cool. Just not Ti :/
  • 1 0
 @jaydawg69: Lifetime of the handlebar standard.
  • 1 0
 @Phaethon85: but also, the 77 Design stem can only work with a 20mm rise or less. This 5DEV works with up to 80mm rise. Wonder what an aluminum version would cost...
  • 1 0
 @dirtworks911: I don't think aluminum can flex as much as ti, making it harder to implement
  • 3 0
 @dirtworks911: The design does make it hard to get higher rise bars in. I actually have 30mm rise bars mounted to my 77 design stem Smile
  • 12 1
 Nice to see Levy in a video, Miss the days when he was the primary presenter
  • 2 0
 Good to see him back from Podcast exile.
  • 3 0
 I miss his written article style as well. Long live Levy
  • 2 1
 Nope, I don't miss that language one bit.
  • 11 1
 5Dev is making some really interesting components!
  • 2 0
 Yeah! How am I only hearing about this company now? It seems my kids are right and I do live under a rock.
  • 4 0
 @toooldtodieyoung: they’ve not been making stuff all that long. Only started taking orders late November last year.
  • 3 0
 Those cranks look better in person too.
  • 2 0
 @tomhoward379: Thanks. That's good to know. Those cranks are mighty tempting ...
  • 2 0
 @toooldtodieyoung: I love mine sooooo much
  • 8 0
 What do wireless dropper post manufacturers have against 200mm versions? I mean come on.
  • 1 10
flag OnTheRivet (Apr 8, 2022 at 10:59) (Below Threshold)
 If you need a 200mm dropper and aren't 190cm tall your frame is too small.
  • 8 1
 @OnTheRivet: ok napoleon, keep in mind there are plenty of us out here who are full grown.
  • 2 0
 Might have something to do with stack height being more ridiculous that 1st gen reverb.
  • 1 0
 @OnTheRivet: so you're saying that I'm 5'11" (180cm) with a 210 and my Large frame is too small? Guess I'll start riding XL frames based on your "extremely insightful input"
  • 2 0
 If OneUp made a wireless version it would be game over for much of the competition.
  • 3 0
 I feel like I’ve seen a lot of companies that make expensive stems lately. Is there that much of a market? Am i the only one that finds the cheapest name brand offering in the length/handlebar diameter I want?
  • 5 0
 $400 wireless dropper? Sign me up. That's less than half the price of rockshox and i've had good experiences with xfusion.
  • 8 3
 So no XC fantasy league this year eh?
  • 3 0
 they could launch it for the sake of it. No itens. If they can get it after, just announce it after. Everybody loves some competition. I bet they have some PinkBike appeal to give away too.
  • 1 0
 @TheBearDen it’s behind a PayWall this year!
  • 3 0
 Those cranks are interesting, still cant beat the ewings though, held a pair in my hands for the first time yesterday. Surprisingly light, catches you off guard.
  • 3 0
 Real question is will you ever be able to get replacement parts or any form of support from X-Fusion on that new $400 robot post?
  • 1 0
 I just want to say that Alchemy has been offering the same idea of multiple bikes in one platform for over a year now. Super cool concept and I like that We Are One is doing it too. I think it helps limit the amount of bikes people feel they need. It’s a bit cumbersome to switch links and suspension, but it beats the heck out of paying $6-$9k for a new bike.
  • 2 0
 I don't know much about the brand, but isn't it kind of a big deal that Orange is adding linkage to their designs? Or have they done so in the past and this is nothing new?
  • 2 0
 They have done linkages in the past (Google Strange Bikes) but this is still a pretty big deal.
  • 2 0
 Monterey is pretty much a liberal dog walking paradise! So the 4hr Canadian dog walk is right up with the atmospher of the 2022 Sea Otter.
  • 2 0
 Only reason I'm here tbh
  • 2 0
 Great opening... the guy installing my dishwasher probably thinks I'm watching porn.
  • 5 0
 Guy installing your dishwasher sounds like a porn plot line
  • 1 0
 The Vittoria tire is labeled "DWN CTRY" lol. Have we reached peak no vowels yet? I wonder how they arrived at CTRY as opposed to CNTRY...
  • 1 0
 DAWN COATRAY
  • 2 0
 I’m still unsure why, but I’ve missed mike levy. This may be the start of a down..spiral. I’ll see myself out.
  • 1 0
 Smile
  • 1 0
 If you want to read about the EXT Air Shock:https://daialnahar.com/ext-is-poised-to-disrupt-the-mountain-bike-suspension-game-with-its-aria-air-shock/
  • 1 2
 I love my orange stage 5 for it’s simplicity. I have ridden linkage bikes and like them too.
If I was after a linkage bike I would almost certainly not be looking at that orange!
  • 2 0
 I've had a Seyrra on my bike for months?
  • 3 1
 $8800 FOR AN ALUMINIUM ORANGE!
  • 1 0
 Stylish office furniture can be expensive! Looks like Santa Cruz ABP
  • 1 0
 I miss pond beaver
  • 3 3
 And enduro results?







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