Friday News Roundup

Evil Releases Updated Following

Evil's new The Following MB is kind of exactly the same, just different. More Better'er, to use the technical term. The only geometry change with The Following MB is a 20 millimeter increase in reach throughout the size run. It still has short 430 millimeter chainstays, still has a 75 degree seat angle and 67 degree head angle in the low (as opposed to x-low) position with a 120-mil fork, and it still uses Dave's Extra Legitimate Travel Apparatus, or D.E.L.T.A. The MB gets its added bad-assery by coming spec'd with a trunnion-mounted piggyback shock, specifically a Metric size RockShox Super Deluxe and gets the added spacing of 148 boost in the rear, making for a stiffer frame, but also allowing for 27.5+ tires. Between the two wheel/tire options, the two geometry positions, and messing around with different fork lengths – they suggest 120 to 140 millimeters in the front – you can set The Following MB up a whole bunch of ways.

See our full first ride impressions.

Rocky Mountain Updates Instinct, Instinct BC and Pipeline

As one would expect, the updated bikes from Rocky have gotten longer, lower and slacker, with an added boost in rear wheel travel. The Instinct, Rocky Mountain’s 29-inch trail bike, has received a full overhaul to catch up with the other do-anthing 29er trail bikes that are leading the industry trend right now. With an extra 10 millimeters of travel in the back, the bike is rounded out to 140 millimeters front and rear. The new Instinct BC takes things a little further, with 155 millimeters in the rear and 160 up front. The Pipeline, Rocky's 27.5+ bike had also received the same update as the Instinct, with 140 millimeters front and rear. Combined with geometry changes and a whole slew of smaller updates, these bikes look like a lot of fun.

See all the numbers here.

Transition updates line for 2018

Transition announced their new geometry idea, Speed Balanced Geometry, or SBG around two months ago. Clearly they believe in the idea, because they have now brought it to almost their entire line. Adding travel here and adjusting geometry there, along with introducing a completely new aggressive 29er, the Sentinel, Transition's new line is undoubtably turning heads.

Check out all the updates here and see what we think of the new Sentinel here.

Hope Releases Its First Bike.

Defiant of any and all standards, Hope's HB. 160 27-inch bike is completely different than anything we have seen. Known for their bike components, Hope decided to build the bike exactly how the engineers wanted it. This meant building their own parts also. From a 17-millimeter through-axle to a 130mm rear hub and radially mounted disc brakes, the bike is one worth attention.

Our gear editor Travis Engel got to ride one. See what he thinks here.