The Sickest Bikes Of Red Bull Rampage 2022! | GMBN Tech Show 251

[@gmbntech]

Who do you think had the sickest bike at Rampage this year? Do you think this is a pre-production 26" rear end or just a special for the pros? Let us know your thoughts below 🤔 Let us know 👇

[@MIsterioStudios]

Jaxson Riddle's bike was also sick! It's was sprayed up like Travis Pastrana's MX bike - the RM Suzuki. All the bikes were amazing.

[@tommycooperfish]

How did you leave out Jaxson Riddles transition in the cool paint job list? Perfect homage in both bike and run. Mans an absolute beast, love his style.

[@Dukhanstmichmal]

Loved Jaxson Riddles paint job. Also I really enjoyed seeing a new bike at Rampage with Carson Storch and his Propain - sick looking linkage on that one.

[@dylan-5287]

Godzieks bike looked insane. But they all looked really cool. Riddles bike was definitely sick. Definitely can appreciate his decision to hang that bike up on the wall.

[@harveyjoneswoodsman5956]

in my opinion 26 never really died it just was lost in the chaos of 27.5 29 hype, but as usual in the mtb world every thing comes full circle

[@unzulaessig]

word!

[@fcktherich6913]

I have a 69er that I think is fantastic. So 26 will never die in my house

[@edrcozonoking]

Really? Have you looked at how few good bikes are offered with 26”?

[@unbentcrayfish]

Still rocking 26" on my TR500!

[@seano218]

@@edrcozonoking let alone 27.5 as well!

[@th_js]

I hope 26" makes a comeback. It's a fun wheelsize and might suit some riders better. On flowy Bikepark trails with jumps 26" would be great.

[@burningatthetrailhead]

Mullet has been around forever. I remember the freeride era when people were running 26 front and 24 x4 " on double track rims. The mullet setup really fits freeride because the smaller rear wheel is tougher

[@gmbntech]

It also allows them to get the seat lower and out the way for tricks, while still allowing full travel. With larger wheels, tyre/seat buzz can be an issue!

[@thusmarshal8815]

I honestly love My 26 inch bike from 2011 the best feel I have ever gotten and I have tried every size .

[@glennokert8263]

I think it's great to hear about the 26in re emerging👍👍👍👍👍

[@gmbntech]

For sure! Having more variation in wheel sizes is never a bad thing! 👍

[@billydasher5518]

26 - 27.5 mullet will keep my old blur current. I've been riding this set up for years. It keeps the bike agile and the small diameter rim makes it strong and rigid.

[@sixtring73]

Always good to see 26" being used still. I imagine the main reason is strength?

[@BFBMTb]

Strength but also more nimble compared to like a 29er. This is at a cost of rollability over obstacles.

[@robbchastain3036]

26" is BMX freestyle for big kids and my first 26" bike was a single-speed Mongoose for competition in the BMX cruiser class in '82.

[@alvinthfdby1915]

26" shouldn’t ever have gone away, the desperation of the cycle biz to make sales and convince many to ditch it has always annoyed me a bit tbh. Innovation is all well and good, I’m no Luddite but yeah this almost reinventing the wheel as it were gets so wrapped up in "but it’s new, and you want it" the real world reasons get lost a bit. Either way enjoy what you ride how you ride.

[@MrMORITU]

26 inch must be back FULL TIME! love it

[@gmbntech]

Maybe! 👀

[@marklouieadame]

26 and 27.5 on regular trail is so fun to use, so agile the main reason it’s not being use because they skipped making 26 inch full suspension

[@kaltonian]

I tried out a 26" wheel set the other week & you know what it made the bike feel like a bmx, so much more nimble to manoeuvre than my 29'ers that are great for powering through tracks, maybe that's what....agility.

[@adambrown3759]

26 FOR LIFE!!!

[@unzulaessig]

...26" on a 29 inch frame??

[@seano218]

That's exactly it!

[@gmbntech]

You can't beat the feeling of a 26er! They're good fun!

[@geoffsimons3475]

If only there was an intermediate size between 26” and 29”. That would be the sweet spot of speed and manoeuvrability 🤣🤣🤣

[@Tony-508]

Mini mullet is awesome and I think would really take off. 26 needs to make its triumphant return, even though I do think the mini mullet is specific to free ride applications. Still would be cool to see.

[@deividas_kimontas]

I'm happy for Brett Rheeder! 🏆🔥👏

[@BryanHoefer]

26 has never left for jump bikes. As Rampage moves more away from it's original freeride form and more into big freestyle, it's no wonder that the equipment is moving towards that used on jump bikes aka 26" wheels.

[@ianmangham4570]

26 for life

[@anseladams5634]

I got 29, 27'5 and a 26'' bikes. More than often I go for the 26'' bike ;)

[@senorh1272]

In Mexico the majority of the bikes in general use 26' infact in Mexico is hard to find 29' or 27.5 tires in normal bike shops. ( Don't mention they are expensive and low stock) in my case I always bought Maxxis 27.5 on Amazon (import)

[@AnnaOnTheBike]

That’s a really interesting point! I’m not familiar with the bike market in Mexico, so thanks so much for sharing!

[@senorh1272]

the Majority are "Walmart bike" steel, cheap and old models bikes. So the market is quite limited but the good news the last couple years the mountain bike sport is growing and more brands take a look to my country

[@erickcano23]

Well if you want good tires you can't find them anywhere unless you order them, I wouldn't count Walmart bike tires as tires, they're sh*t, all my current rigs are top notch 26'ers, invested quite a few bucks in tires all alone.

[@22Jeffers]

I do t think that’s new or coming back. There’s always been 26” rear wheels in Rampage. As it’s like slope style on steroids and jump bikes have 26” wheels to make them more trickable, it makes sense for a free ride bike to have a 26” rear wheel.

[@KillaMTB]

26 ain't dead it's very much alive and I think always will be old skool dh used to run 26/24 mullets before we had 2.75 and 29 I think for free ride the 26 rear makes the bike much easier to chuck around

[@fatpinarellorider]

Nothing wrong with 26" wheels. I'm kinda miffed at the speed at which the industry shifted away from them. All my mtbs are still 26. Can't afford to replace them with 27.5" bikes now, nor would I really want/need to. I'm happy enough to stay on 26.

[@lillarry85283]

Wish 26 in coming back that be super nostalgic memories for in modern technology. Early days had 26 in specialized rock hopper I miss that bike so many miles on that beauty

[@yamaha04rider]

Dylan stark is the man. That man knows all about playing around on a bike and how he wants it to feel. Whatever he’s doing is experimental and pushing boundaries

[@LukaszMielczarek]

That's interesting topic why rampage bikes are setup this way (specially tubes) you should get Blake on the show so he can elaborate why it's that way.

[@seano218]

Because they're simply more playful! Not all of us like to roll over everything for the sake of speed! Some of us like to play on the terrain and I wish more manufacturers would accommodate us!

[@energ8t]

26” is mainly popular because it is better for agility, tailspins, etc. It doesn’t mean I personally need to sell my 29er, which is better for ripping over rocky terrain. It’s not a new “fad”. It’s just purpose.

[@Calispeedboi]

The scoring system for rampage makes little to no sense. Scores should be given after everyone takes a run. Rampage should have a longer line build time and be about the insane drops and lines that need a full dh bike. If you can ride your rampage line on a single crown it’s not a rampage line.

[@Dempsey222]

Commencal makes some of the best bikes . They deserve more credit.

[@somanysevens]

Each wheel size has a specific use whether it’s mixed or not, 29er have great rolling efficiency while 26 will be better at tricks, less moving mass I guess.

[@dilloncleiren1885]

26’’ wheels have always been a freeride thing i think

[@FedericoTesta1]

Long live 26"

[@leereinhardt6885]

I imagine that the mini mullet would suit the slope style rider like Rheeder/Semenuk especially in this gnarly terrain.Can you imagine buzzing your back tyre on any section of those critical lines?! Don’t think it will be a thing for us mere mortals on our everyday trails. Still loving my 27.5. We get along so good. Love this daily MTB nerd out with Anna and Doddy! Cheers!

[@user-pp5or5og4k]

Once upon a time I ran 26" front 24" rear on two different bikes. Big hit downhill bike and Azonic dual slalom hard tail. Mini mullet has been done before.

[@georgiaguardian4696]

I still rock two Trek Fuel bikes with 26” wheels. All good.

[@ThunderGoatz]

Just goes to show you how capable Enduro bikes and single crown forks have become.

[@djsonfire0001]

Putting 26-in rims back on your mountain bike is kind of like putting 14 inch wire spoke rims on your vehicle😂🤣

[@nachiketa3629]

Legend has it there will be a mullet’ed 36”/26” bike at next years race.. stay tuned!

[@psvhangoveral]

My Patriot from 2001 is a 24/26 mullet. She literally flies 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@AndyJohnson-hi4rb]

K.I.S unlocking suicide no handers for sure :)

[@uldi1s]

If there is no danger of the bar spinning it won't be called "suicide" anymore, just "no handers" 😁

[@wastedqba]

I hope 26" will be back and looking for 26" Maxxis DHFs or 26" DH rims will no longer be like a quest for the holy grail.

[@arkoutarkout3654]

Yes I need new 26" rims

[@underbikedoverconfident1142]

I actually think that K.I.S. system is exciting to see. If I'm honest I didn't get it the first time I read about it but after some thought, I really like the idea. I think for someone who is not getting any younger like me it could turn the clock back in terms of reaction times and the best part about it is there are no campaign apps or batteries. Brillant!

[@nachiketa3629]

My 2010 26” hasn’t failed me since.

[@mtbstefano]

I've always run 26" and just recently put a 27.5 on the front and i can say i do enjoy riding it more now

[@Whatshouldicallit660]

26“ rear + short as possible chainstays are mainly for 360 tricks, because the longer the back and the bigger the rear wheel it’s easier to spin the bike + less risk to touch the lip with your back tire when you’re already in the rotation. Atleast that’s what makes most sense to me and is why I personally would run such an setup. Another reason could be that a smaller wheel is stronger.

[@markclancy5714]

I never got to experience modern goemetry and modern shock systems with a combo of 26 wheels they must be great for smaller/younger riders and translate the similarly to a 27/29 combo but smaller.

[@paulcole9636]

I run a 29 but I do love a 26, I somehow find them easier to bunny hop etc., That might just be me though

[@kristianpopov7335]

Smaller wheel in the back means less weight, less wind resistance when spinning and doing windshield wipers , easier control of the rear and stronger wheel, combine that with a flip chip and it means you can bring centre of weight over the rear axle much much easier = easier to flip + better control on the flip, and it's easier on tight corners.

[@jeehoonjones1389]

One year along now, I love my KIS spectral. It really can make you faster, but I reckon it can hinder you're performance a bit on the flow sections because its actively steering against you with the springs. Also the Mini Mullet style would be specifically for freeride/bikepark bros, as the 26 gives really good, light rotational mass and with that easier tricks and whips, and for the blokes on 26 and single crown easier tailwhips

[@jklmnop943]

I think K.I.S. is a game changer

[@Yan7001978]

The KIS steering damper is a good Idea. It makes a big difference on motorcycles and atv's I've owned.👌 For the 26" I honestly think it will stay as a mullet set up only.

[@mswizle]

Smaller wheels have less rotational weight meaning easier spinning and tailwhips

[@maurix60]

I set up my Orbea rallon r3 mullet 27.5 front and 26 rear and let me tell you I fucking love this set up!

[@AndreasJacobson]

Short chainstays & 26" --> easier to spin, easier to manual/flat drop backflip, stiffer etc.

[@jacobg130productions]

Broke: Showing the winners bike. Woke: Showing the Best Style winners bike. Bespoke: Showing Both.

[@mickshred2886]

got an older geometry trek slash 26' dually , put in a set of 29' forks with a 27.5' front wheel & it is a weapon., with a new geometry.

[@andyarchitect]

let's not forget to give Suntour forks some love. Putting the budget forks to one side their higher end models are pretty decent. I have ridden a couple of their Aion models and they are great forks. Great performance for the price and simple to work on.

[@1969Escobar]

Anna great work, love the COMMENCAL army bikes, all RBR bikes are art, cheers

[@gmbntech]

Thanks, Andres! They're super cool, aren't they?!

[@willlange9978]

Great research for this show Anna. Thanks. Dear Europe, you’re going to really like the Zerodes. A few years from now Z riders will be remembering way back when they had to maintain their drivetrains. 🍺

[@TrIpMo1981]

They are running shorter chainstays so they can throw the rear-end easier. In regards of tubes instead of tubeless. Tubes you can pump up harder, so you don't lose much speed over jumps. Also 26" is having more control of your bike in the air vs a 29". 29" bikes are just too much bike for slopestyle or dirtjumps. Hence dj bikes are mostly 26 or 24".

[@djsonfire0001]

I'm tall I'll take the 29 in! Must be a bunch of shorties in the comment section riding those 26ers

[@stuartwest5125]

Cane creek came up with a more elegant steering solution with the Viscoset. I have one on my cargo bike to prevent speed wobble and one on my freeride bike. #askgmbntech has anyone tried one on their bike around you? I cant be the only one.

[@jamesfriedrich4663]

They're almost slope style bikes on steroids. Short chainstays, smaller wheels with less rotational mass. Some of them don't even look particularly slack. Just loads of bounce for huge hucks. 26" rear would make a great park bike!

[@curtvaughan2836]

I still really enjoy riding my 2002 Klein Palomino with 26" wheels. It's nimble and handles well. My new Transition and Cannondale 29-ers have the rolling benefits of the larger wheel, and the modern 1X drive trains, but I still love the feel of the old Klein despite its 3X drive train. Don't really mind the 3X so much, but it's hard to adjust to using the front derailleur and worrying about cross chaining after the 1X experience.

[@dadventuretv2538]

I think the more active and playful a rider, the better smaller wheels. Not all of us want to be taken along for a ride on wagon wheels that do much of the work for us. Since Rampage is the ultimate of active and playful riders, makes sense they are going with smaller wheels. And I guess their bike brand sponsors have decided that they have run the 29er hype long enough that the way to sell more bikes is hype the return of the 26. For riders that don’t follow the hype and think for themselves though, smaller wheels never died. I still see lots of 26 and full 27.5 bikes on the trails. And my full 27.5 ain’t going anywhere. 🤙

[@ianbrown2336]

Kyle straight tires look like just hellkats

[@oliverskjelvan7264]

That NEWS, scared me😂

[@danielmoore2555]

Looks like freeride is going back where it came from. 'Short travel' downhill bike specialised for tricks. Short rear ends. Long single crown forks that can be bar spun and tailwhiped. I'm all for it

[@TownAdventures]

Likely running the flip chip in short because the wheelbase geo was originally for the larger wheels position, stretching out for the 26 could make it feel to low, or they just want it short as possible for maneuvers. Side note: been running 27.5/26 mullet on a 2006 Nicolai M Pire ST for a years....hard to beat that 26 strength 💪.

[@MrColtnutz]

Mini mullet? 29 to 26 is the OG! Trek 69er...

[@coreyfromaus]

I'd guess they are running 26 due to the rotating mass is less on the small wheel which makes the bikes easier to spin(During a 360) and do bar spins/tailwhips. Plus they are easier to do sudden line changes which is crucial for an event like Rampage.

[@oldmtngoat]

Have to say that steering dampeners are really *old* school. Like pre-Internet (circa 1980's?) so you might have a difficult time finding images of them.

[@aumtb]

I reckon DH bikes will have 24” bikes soon! 😂

[@gmbntech]

Imagine! 😂

[@scchua4203]

It seems that the K.I.S. is effectively a steering damper (dampener?), or stabiliser, helping to control the 'wobble' or oscillations that would send a bike out of control. As mentioned below, the 'tank slapper'.

[@1barnet1]

The irony is using the words of keep it simple to make something more complicated and hard to repair.

[@wkgeddes]

27.5f+26r makes sense to maximize wheel strength and allow for tight cornering on some of the lines

[@akaraikiriakatsuki3157]

I never understood why 26er got out of trend. We short people could get some love you know. Small 27.5 or 29er are too big for some people.

[@kft4764]

I still ride and love the feel of 26. They're so light and nimble.

[@KarlosEPM]

The wheels are light and very strong. 5'7 / 1.70m, yeah, 26 inch forever xD.

[@1barnet1]

@@KarlosEPMDepending on disciplin 1.70m is fine on 29 inch. Arround 1.60m they just become too large. Especially for the lighter ladies. The heavier tyres and wheels just require a bit more weight to change direction. I am 1,92m. I will never go back to that children rim size.

[@cktrading72]

Hi, newbie here.Whats the difference between Enduro Bike,and Cross Country Bike? Thanks from the Philippines

[@arkoutarkout3654]

It in-between down hill and cross country

[@ThunderStruckMTB]

I'll just over torque the stem top cap and save myself a ton of money on KIS.

[@ricusmate]

I'm still 26 on my Slopeduro Freemountain custom bike and 27.5 front 24inch rear mullet on my jump bike.

[@wheels.3239]

Not everybody wants to race, for me its about fun, Long live 26ers!!!!

[@Calispeedboi]

Orange Velo makes a steering stabilizer for $15 already

[@spicymountainbike]

27.5 front 26” rear LETS GOOOOO

[@unzulaessig]

Flipchip in the chainstay is cool when you wanna trick the machine hard! And btw #askgmbn what do you think where is downhill and all the other mtb sport the next year after red bull quit this year? You are Discovery Channel and i heard something that you can present it but i dont know. I think this was the last year we all who wanna not pay for streaming or any and i think we bikers have to pay for any XC, DH, HL, or Rampage transmission. Whatever Red Bull did the whole last 20 years, this is maybe the end unfortunaly. But when you can say something, please!

[@MessieuxLion]

i have a mollet 26 27.5 on a old 26 Norco Aurum and it awesome. i think it s a bit slow nd hard when come time to pedal compare to my 27 trail bike lol

[@HamishBoytMTB]

rampage is turning into slopestyle. bring back the double crown forks and massive steep chutes with 70 foot drops

[@SwissCrypto]

Spin a wheel, holding it at the wheel axle. Now compare the rotating mass of a 29“ vs a 26“. What combination would be more trickable?

[@serenidadypaciencia]

my hardtail is a 2013 Chromag Stylus with full DH mavic deemax 26' wheels inside michelin DH casing ruber... .... i just love it and i can keep up with my pals riding 160-180 mm fs bikes... so as far as I am concern, 26' is very alive...

[@dschingy]

Hebie 0696 That's what I'd compare to the KIS system. You have such high forces in the steering on an MTB that if it really were to to do anything you'd probably feel it in a negative way. I don't see the point in that. It adds weight, complexity, and wants you to go straight only. You should rather train your arms to compensate for tricky situations. Klieber is probably trying to be significant again.

[@MG_Gily_Wut]

26 will never die..

[@evan5167]

They probably did that after last years rampage with Semenuk being on that set up

[@chiliishot]

26" probably has to do with rotational/giro momentum? Makes it a lot easier to spin with smaller wheels.

[@praysuguitan779]

27.5in/26in are the best combo wheels

[@glensainsbury428]

The k.i.s looks interesting, would this help with the dreaded "tank slapper"? Could this also be used on gravel bikes?

[@aljalilhamor3814]

26er is easy to tailwip to bar and to 360 then 27.5 and 29 😁

[@lidarman2]

In early 2000s, Hopey had a steering damper. I wonder how this one, if loaded up, returns to center. I mean if one lets go of the bars, does it snap back?

[@Illest1987]

I bet 26" is easier to spin to tailwhip etc... Aall these younger guys bring slopestyle into rampage..

[@jasonkroll2735]

26ers were about maxxed out..companies need to keep making money... pushed different wheel sizes... But tall people on 26ers look lil funny vs them on 29ers. 29er is smoother , but if you have full suspension doesn't matter... Really like the 26er top the charts..wow..far from the narrative. Lol How'd they let that out.

[@flatism]

Dylan Stark, former bmxer. Rides Dj's though nowdays. Therefore 26 crossover would lend to his take on this discipline too.

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

I think he was just on 27.5 but I could be wrong.

[@pkvillager]

I really wish Reverse Components would make their singlespeed tensioner to be able to support more tooth ranges, at least 20T. I don't really like the Surly tensioner I'm using now. I like the idea of the steering stabilizers for MTBs.

[@BFBMTb]

Irc, Cam zink ran 27.5/26 years ago.

[@DaBinChe]

26" rear, 29" front, Ultra Mullet! LOL

[@gmbntech]

36" front with 26" rear? 🤔

[@DaBinChe]

@@gmbntech Ultra Mega Mullet!

[@richardluvsford7849]

Cane creek has the viscoset steering dampener. Was Initially designed for e-bikes. I recommended you guys try it when you did the "how narrow can we make the bars" Episode a few years ago.

[@th_js]

Dampener makes things moist. Damper converts kinetic energy into heat.