Crestline x DJI - RS 181 SPECTRE Edition

One thing I've wondered though, when considering the Sidekick vs. the O'chain, is the O'Chain being at the crank is also absorbing chain slap, where I'd think the Sidekick, would deal with PK, but not chain slap as it's at the rear hub.

Also, the amount of deadband the E13 provides, varies depending on which gear you're in where-as the O'Chain is consistent in this manner.

The Sidekick offers a notable advantage in terms of rolling resistance, I'm told.

If I was building a new set of rims for a non-HP bike, I'd almost certainly choose the DT Swiss solution as it's dead simple and can be changed from no deadband to significant deadband depending on your needs. It's also light. but a proven hub design.

I did just get a new set of wheels for my new yet to be delivered Antidote e-bike, although I essentially found nearly exactly what I wanted brand new, in the used marketplace on PB at a great price.

Essentially I was in to the idea of the Sidekick hubs before ordering the Antidote but there was a bit of a weight penalty, everything I've bought from E13 in the past has given me issues (great warranty service however so I was willing to keep trying), but also I have heard riders complain about pedaling on the Sidekick hubs due to the intentional deadband, even on an e-bike.

Anyways, ordering the Mid/ High Pivot bike allowing me to get away from all that extra stuff. Of course I added other 'stuff' like an extra chainring in return!
 
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Suns_PSD said:
One thing I've wondered though, when considering the Sidekick vs. the O'chain, is the O'Chain being at the crank is also absorbing chain slap, where I'd think the Sidekick, would deal with PK, but not chain slap as it's at the rear hub.
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This seems somewhat profound. I felt the same preferring the Ochain, but for reasons not fully articulated. Chains slap for sure the more important sensation to quell than actual pedal kickback (which is why STFU is low-cost effective in this way). Ochain seems to do both, and using elastomers instead of hard pawls may also make a difference.
 
Right, and also, is it possible that a lot of what is felt, the improvement in rear suspension performance with a HP, is just the extra idler puller quelling chain movement at the top of the cranks?
A local riding buddy picked up a Norco Optic yesterday and then knocked out some hard miles. He didn't really understand what the HP does, but told me that he's never ridden something so plush and smooth. And he owns lot of high end bikes and shocks.
 
John_likes_bikes said:
It does not... I think about 15-20mm of seatpost sticks out based on pics somewhere back in the 50 pages.
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Can confirm - my RH2 with 175mm axs v2 dropper slammed leaves about 10mm sticking out before the battery pack stack begins (~50mm total stack including battery)
 
Posvar1 said:
Any rumors or word on what the new CL for 2026 will have? New motor maybe? I still would love to have a second 800 watt battery.
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I made a comment on the test mule on instagram and troydon said just aesthetic changes. From what I can tell, slimmer frame under the shock and different brake/drivetrain routing.
 
It was just a private message I sent commenting on a story that had the new frame in it

IMG_4772.png
 
Looking to buy an S4/XL Crestline S180 (Gen 5 Bosch). If anyone here is thinking to offload theirs I'm here to help.

Located in the US (SF, CA).

Cheers!
 
Has anyone been lucky enough to swing a leg over an RS181 and the druid core and have any comparisons between the two?
 
booostin said:
Has anyone been lucky enough to swing a leg over an RS181 and the druid core and have any comparisons between the two?
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Great question, I'm curious too.

On the Forbidden I don't like that the Stack/Reach is 657/474 on a size large running a 150mm fork. If you wanted to bump up to a 170 fork that means you've got massive and a sub 470 reach. Crestline Geo makes a lot more sense IMO. If they come up with a dreadnought ebike that's got geo designed around a 170/180 fork it could be really badass. Give a frame only option with gen 2 DJI and my money would be gone... but probably asking for too much.
 
sethimus said:
no, that’s exactly what they told me in lenzerheide
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No company with two brain cells is going to say, "we don't give the consumer this option because we want to make more money".

I could just as easily make the argument that more experienced riders usually prefer frame only and tend to require less support from the company. My BS meter is off the charts with this one.
 
2supple said:
Great question, I'm curious too.

On the Forbidden I don't like that the Stack/Reach is 657/474 on a size large running a 150mm fork. If you wanted to bump up to a 170 fork that means you've got massive and a sub 470 reach. Crestline Geo makes a lot more sense IMO. If they come up with a dreadnought ebike that's got geo designed around a 170/180 fork it could be really badass. Give a frame only option with gen 2 DJI and my money would be gone... but probably asking for too much.
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There is an e dreadnought slated to release around sea otter. I’m on a Druid core now with a 170 fork and I do like the geo alot with the high stack and shorter reach. Just debating if I will hop over to the edread or the new batch of spectres coming soon. I got to ride with troydon in Whistler and pedal his bike around but wish I could’ve taken it down a trail to get a feel for that platform.
 
2supple said:
Great question, I'm curious too.

On the Forbidden I don't like that the Stack/Reach is 657/474 on a size large running a 150mm fork. If you wanted to bump up to a 170 fork that means you've got massive and a sub 470 reach. Crestline Geo makes a lot more sense IMO. If they come up with a dreadnought ebike that's got geo designed around a 170/180 fork it could be really badass. Give a frame only option with gen 2 DJI and my money would be gone... but probably asking for too much.
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Don't discount the Forbidden geo until you actually ride one. I was dubious as well, the reach is almost 40mm shorter than my acoustic Enduro bike but get it pointed downhill and it just feels right.


So much so I think Forbidden are gonna be updating their meat bikes with a similar philosophy
 
Highland Wheels said:
Don't discount the Forbidden geo until you actually ride one. I was dubious as well, the reach is almost 40mm shorter than my acoustic Enduro bike but get it pointed downhill and it just feels right.


So much so I think Forbidden are gonna be updating their meat bikes with a similar philosopy
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Maybe. But I’ve ridden/experimented with enough bikes that at 6’ tall I’m honestly pretty nervous about anything under a 475 reach. My current bike is 475 and I’m already running 50mm rise bars with a pretty forward bar roll just to make it feel roomy.

That’s why the new Crestline looks like it’s headed the right direction to me—480 reach and around 650 stack on a Large. On paper that means I shouldn’t have to bandaid the fit with a bunch of rise, and it should actually feel spacious without weird cockpit tricks.

465 reach, even with the high stack, just sounds pretty dang short.

If the new Dreadnought ends up around 475 reach with roughly a 450–455 stack, I think that’s way more in the right ballpark.

And honestly, I don’t think the sub-475 reach on the e-Druid is even what they want—it feels like the compromise you make when you design the whole thing around a 150 fork. What makes zero sense to me is a full-power e-bike designed around a 150 fork, unless the whole point is just to keep it separated from the inevitable e-Dreadnought.

But even then, if it were me: e-Druid gets a 160 fork, Dreadnought gets 170/180. Still different classes of bikes, still clearly differentiated, and the geo doesn’t have to do gymnastics to make the 150 fork full power e-bike thing make sense.
 
2supple said:
Maybe. But I’ve ridden/experimented with enough bikes that at 6’ tall I’m honestly pretty nervous about anything under a 475 reach. My current bike is 475 and I’m already running 50mm rise bars with a pretty forward bar roll just to make it feel roomy.

That’s why the new Crestline looks like it’s headed the right direction to me—480 reach and around 650 stack on a Large. On paper that means I shouldn’t have to bandaid the fit with a bunch of rise, and it should actually feel spacious without weird cockpit tricks.

465 reach, even with the high stack, just sounds pretty dang short.

If the new Dreadnought ends up around 475 reach with roughly a 450–455 stack, I think that’s way more in the right ballpark.

And honestly, I don’t think the sub-475 reach on the e-Druid is even what they want—it feels like the compromise you make when you design the whole thing around a 150 fork. What makes zero sense to me is a full-power e-bike designed around a 150 fork, unless the whole point is just to keep it separated from the inevitable e-Dreadnought.

But even then, if it were me: e-Druid gets a 160 fork, Dreadnought gets 170/180. Still different classes of bikes, still clearly differentiated, and the geo doesn’t have to do gymnastics to make the 150 fork full power e-bike thing make sense.
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The Druid core is designed with a 160 fork in mind. As highland was saying, I wouldn’t discount the geo because they make up for it with the stack. Makes the riding position more upright and very comfortable on steep decents. I’m 6’1 with about 69/70 inch wingspan and the bike fits me like a glove. I have an intend 170 fork on mine so the A2C is a few mm taller shortening the reach a hair more but I threw a 42mm stem on it and geo feels pretty dialed. Forbidden bikes have great geo but I’m sure the edread will be 5-10mm longer being an enduro sled
 
2supple said:
I fixed it for you
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Alas, you're probably correct but both things are likely true (fear of dumb customer decisions / desire to make more per frame with a complete). The $ thing is doubtlessly the driver though and I can't really blame them - this is a tough moment to run a bike company.

Same boat as you between the next Crestline and the impending E-Dread. Absolutely love my Dreadnought v2, especially as a tall dude who's never had proportional front/rear geo before this. It's a revelation. But the fact that the E-Dread almost certainly will not have a frameset option combined with the unlikelihood of a 29/29 setup does not inspire me to wait.

Crestline is a frame only that checks every box (long travel full 29er long-ish rear end) and at this point there's some history behind them (short as it is). Watching Troydon (who is my size) rip on them is a clear if slightly painful indication that the limiting factor would definitely be the soft part contacting the seat.

I'm guessing a big part of Crestline going frame only could just be a personal decision by Troydon to simplify his life. If he's running the company on his own, there may be a massive amount of extra work and headache required to coordinate full builds. So much so that it doesn't justify the risk and headache of adding staff.

I still can't figure out how Santa Cruz dropped the ball so thoroughly. The fact that Troydon (near) single handedly continues to make the bike they should've speaks volumes about not only Troydon's work but also a conservative leadership stifling SC from a geo perspective.
 
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