Greg's Weekly eMTB Briefing - 09 February 2026Well, what a thrilling week in the world of electric mountain biking, where the most exciting development was Stromer finally promising to fix their dodgy forks and Shimano settling a recall that's been dragging on longer than a climb up Box Hill. Meanwhile, the forum's been buzzing about Pivot's latest offering and some rather optimistic rumours about removable batteries, because nothing says "progress" like rediscovering features we had five years ago.
Stromer Promises Fork Fix "This Month" After Recall DramaStromer has finally announced that repair kits for their recalled forks will arrive "this month," which is corporate speak for "we've run out of excuses and lawyers are getting twitchy." The Swiss e-bike manufacturer issued the recall after reports of fork failures that presumably made riders rather more intimate with terra firma than intended. It's a classic case of "better late than never," though one suspects affected customers might have preferred "better early than after face-planting into a hedge."
The recall has been hanging over Stromer like a particularly persistent rain cloud, and whilst they've been promising fixes for what feels like geological ages, this latest announcement suggests they might actually have sourced the necessary components. Of course, "this month" in manufacturer-speak could mean anything from tomorrow to the heat death of the universe, but let's be charitable and assume they mean February 2026.
What's particularly interesting is how this recall has highlighted the vulnerability of smaller manufacturers when supply chain issues meet safety concerns. Unlike the big players who can throw money at problems until they disappear, Stromer's had to navigate this rather more delicately, presumably whilst fielding increasingly irate calls from dealers.
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
Shimano Crankset Settlement Finally Gets Official ApprovalThe Shimano crankset recall settlement has officially received court approval, bringing an end to a saga that's been running longer than most Netflix series. After months of legal wrangling over hollow cranksets that had an unfortunate tendency to snap at inopportune moments, affected customers can finally expect resolution rather than legal bills.
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
Nukeproof Gets American Distribution DealZeitbike has picked up distribution rights for Nukeproof in the US market, which means American riders will finally have proper access to the brand's distinctly British approach to mountain biking. Whether this will help or hinder Nukeproof's reputation remains to be seen, given that Americans tend to expect things like "customer service" and "parts availability."
Full story on Bicycle Retailer
FROM YOUR FORUM THIS WEEK
Pivot's New LT Sparks Battery DebateThe launch of Pivot's new LT has got forum members rather exercised about battery technology, with @Nomadic Dad lamenting that they "couldn't get a thinner 800 battery in there like the Avinox but I guess at least it's removable." This prompted @RustyIron to deliver a perfectly timed burn: "If only Avinox could build a good bike around their motor," which frankly deserves framing. The thread's taken an interesting turn with @Rando_12345 getting rather grumpy about bot activity, describing it as "enshitifying every single thread" – strong words from someone who's clearly having a Monday morning every day of the week.
Join the discussion Amflow Removable Battery Rumours SurfaceSpeaking of batteries that come out, @michel uit berg has started tongues wagging with whispers from their local bike shop about an Amflow upgrade featuring removable batteries coming in April. @Polar is having none of it, pointing out that "the carbon on the Amflow is very thin to keep the weight low therefore also the downtube will crack or even break" if they tried to add removal capability. Meanwhile, @Rando_12345 admits hearing similar rumours but questions the reliability of shop owners who can't even get current specs right – a fair point that applies to roughly 73% of bike shop conversations.
Join the discussion
Direct Sales vs LBS Debate ContinuesThe eternal question of buying direct versus supporting your local bike shop has resurfaced, with @Scott_123 sharing their rather damning experience: two bikes from authorised shops had problems, whilst four direct-to-consumer purchases sailed through without a hitch. @ptkatoomer shared their YT Decoy saga, narrowly avoiding disaster when the bike failed just three days before YT shut their California operation – talk about dodging bullets. It's become a fascinating case study in how the traditional retail model is being challenged by companies that actually know how to pack a box properly.
Join the discussion
Big Thread Round-UpThe Levo Gen 4 rumour mill continues grinding away with over 3,500 new posts since the last update, proving that nothing generates forum activity quite like speculation about Specialized's next move. The Specialized Generation 4 official thread is still seeing heated debate about firmware updates and real-world performance. Meanwhile, the Cube One77 thread soldiers on with typical Germanic efficiency, and the Ultimate Tyre Thread continues its noble mission to catalogue every possible rubber compound known to humanity.
Stay muddy,
Greg
Got news I missed or spotted something good on the forum? Tag me @Greg Watts or drop it in my forum.
