What is the MTB tech trends in 2023?

Mountain bike will still be blooming in 2023. Bike brands and component manufacturers are looking for new technologies. we will analyze and predict the mountain bikes tech trends in new 2023.

1,Suspension gets even smarter

We’ve seen an influx of electronic suspension gadgetry over the last couple of years – and we’re only going to get more in the future.While downhill racers continue to use data acquisition and telemetry equipment more than ever to optimise the Mountain bike suspension setups, the tech is now going mainstream, too.

2,Bicycle industry will be blooming after worldwide Covid 19 over

More and more countries have lifted entry restrictions on epidemic prevention, that means the economy recovery will come out. In particular China has fully lifted entry controls on COVID-19 in Jan 2023,which will greatly relieve the pressure was put upon the bicycle supply chain, and the problems of delays and vastly increased lead times.

Bike sales, both new and second-hand, went through the roof, as did purchases of components and accessories.

Brands and shops seemed to sell everything they had with little need to discount. As a result, they ordered more and more inventory from their suppliers – whether that be in the manufacturing supply chain or from global headquarters.

Some small brands, able to capitalise on their agility, may also manage to thrive, picking up components and stock from non-traditional sources, and quickly adjusting their model ranges to suit availability, demand and pricing.

3，Shimano faces off with SRAM with the launch of a new groupset

Shimano was the first big drivetrain manufacturer to bring electronic shifting to mountain bikes

We’re seeing the gradual demise of cable ports on mid-to-high-end frames, with bike manufacturers eyeing up the end of wired or cabled systems altogether by removing the option to connect shifter and derailleur.

Headset-routed cables may be the necessary evil that comes in the interim, designed to make next-gen, cable-free bikes compatible with the current-gen shifting technology.Perhaps once Shimano is up to speed with wireless shifting, the removal of cable ports will make sense, or even speed up industry-wide electrification.It could be that broader wireless electronic shifting is just around the corner, and bike brands are readying themselves for the move.

Either way, the end result of fewer cables to route through a bike is a win, and long may it continue.

4，New race formats will make enduro bikes more aggressive

With the Enduro World Series now being integrated into the UCI’s World Cup structure, now known as the Enduro World Cup, resultant changes to the race format have the potential to impact upon bike design.

For UCI regulations, an enduro race can only be a one-day event to allow for a one-day World Championships event, with the inaugural race coming in 2024 for enduro bikes.

As a result, all Enduro World Cup races will be one-day competitions from this year forward. Gone are the traditions of long loops over multiple days. This may also help with broadcasting of the event, with Discovery Sports coming on board.

All of this has the potential for brands to make the best enduro bikes even more capable on the descents. Sure, races won’t be easy, and venues such as Finale Ligure continue to host punishing courses with upwards of 2,000m of climbing.

However, one-day races, with the use of chairlifts where available, will emphasise bikes that can descend faster and reduce rider fatigue. Here, enduro bikes at the more extreme end of the spectrum may have an advantage over more conservative bikes that are better all-rounders.

With that in mind, I expect enduro bikes to become more downhill-bike and less trail-bike, with longer travel, bigger brakes, moderate weight and geometries that rival downhill.

5，Internal struggles ahead and more integration

Internal cabling bikes has become more complicated over the years, with an increasing number of wires for brands to hide, whether that be stealth droppers, lockouts or Di2 cables. And now, with the rise of ebikes, there’s a whole slew of additional cables to be hidden in ever-tighter spaces.

Internally routing cables does result in a super clean-looking bike, which is easier to wash. There’s also no chance of your paintjob getting scuffed by flapping cables and you won’t snag yourself on exposed cable guides.

The big trend for 2023 looks to be internal headset cable routing where, as we’re starting to see on a growing number of mountain bikes,the cables run in through the headset bearing to enter the frame.

If you keep an eye on the skinny-tyred world, you’ll know this is nothing usual on road bikes. In fact, complex internal routing has become standard on road bikes even at the affordable end of the spectrum.

The purported aero benefit of hidden cables on a road bike hardly applies to the off-road world, unless you’re racing at the very sharp-end of cross-country.

With headset cable routing, changing a headset bearing means bleeding the rear brake and setting up your dropper and gears again.

Inevitably, that makes the bike more difficult to work on for home mechanics – simple jobs may now be out of reach for many fettlers. And, if you take your bike to a shop, it’s going to be more expensive as the bike spends longer in the workstand. More brake fluid, more labour costs and more biscuits for hungry mechanics.

There may be some beautifully sculpted bikes out there thanks to this trend for headset cable routing, but I’m a firm believer in keeping things simple.

Riders should be able to work on their bike quickly and easily, with less disassembly, fewer tools and less time spent. All that is far more important than clean-looking lines.

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