Is suspension a good idea on a kids mountain bike? We all grew up with fully rigid bikes, and “it never did me any harm”, the internet roundly told me.…
£1,349.00
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Reviews
The Ra Bikes Bergsra is like steam punk on wheels: hand welded in Yorkshire from T45 steel, this enduro bike is packed with modern tech
Ra Bikes has been making frames by hand for over a decade in the rolling Howardian Hills of North Yorkshire, but while it’s rooted in James Herriot Country and uses…
£4,000.00
I loved Wolf Tooth’s 8-Bit Pack Pliers when removing pedals, and they’re exquisitely made, but I still needed a chain tool
Wolf Tooth’s pliers don’t fit the conventional mountain bike multi tool mould, so can sink their teeth into a wide range of repairs as a result. There’s some howlers when…
£62.00
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Fox’s Enduro D30 pads haven’t slipped down once in months of riding, and they’re my new favourite knee guards
I always ride in knee pads, and feel really exposed without them. For me, the best knee pads are light and flexible, so they don’t intrude on my ride. Until…
£64.99
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The new Santa Cruz Bullit made me feel cocky enough to try chasing Steve Peat, but I’m worried the small battery won’t keep me satisfied for long enough
Wind the clock back to last year and one of the biggest stories in mountain biking was Santa Cruz throwing out its own rulebook and a 20-year history by ditching…
£9,999.00
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The Race Face Era carbon bar is my pick for riders over 80kg, it’s well damped without being flexy, and has the perfect natural shape
The fashion for low or high bars swings to and fro as frequently as the trend for skinny or flared jeans, and right now we’re squarely in high bar country,…
£139.95
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YT’s fleet-footed Decoy SN 29 isn’t the lightest SL e-bike on the market, but it dances like Swan Lake rather than Daffy Duck
With the mid-power Fazua motor and trail-optimised build, the YT Decoy SN 29 is the e-Jeffsy to the Decoy SN MX’s e-Capra. How has YT differentiated these two bikes, when…
£7,499.00
The new Specialized Turbo Levo has a unique party trick that I love, but only the S-Works bike gives you full power, and that’s not cool
Specialized’s Turbo Levo is so successful, so ubiquitous, and so dominant at the top of the e-bike hierarchy that launching a new version is a momentous event, with millions of…
£12,500.00
Rab’s Cinder Downpour fits great, but it’s not waterproof or breathable enough to really cut it as a bad weather jacket
Rab’s Cinder cycling line currently offers two hooded waterproof cycling jackets (with an all-new ultralight Phantom version joining the line up soon). This Downpour jacket is the more affordable of…
£160.00
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RockShox’ new Reverb might look like a Viagra abuser in Speedos but its huge service interval, big drop option and relatively modest price make it my wireless pick
The new RockShox Reverb AXS wireless dropper post features a longer drop than the old model it replaces. It also boasts a longer service life and a new ‘ActiveRide’ feature…
£535.00
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When did entry level suspension get so good? I love the Marzocchi Bombers on Merida’s entry level eOne-Sixty SL 6000, and it’s one of the reasons it’s my favourite bike of 2025 (so far)
Has the lightweight mid-power e-bike had its day? It definitely feels like the pendulum has swung the other way for brands, with the newest bikes like Transition’s Regulator, Amflow PL…
£5,499.00
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I’ve hammered Hunt’s superlight Proven Race XC wheels for a year without so much as a baggy spoke, and you don’t need to be an lycra-clad whippet to enjoy them: they’re comfy enough for trail bikes too
At 1260g with carbon spokes, Hunt’s Proven Race XC UD Carbon wheels sound like a time bomb for regular trail use. The only thing these super light, super responsive wheels…
£1,599.00
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SRAM’s new Motive brakes have great lever feel and looks, but I’ll miss the raw power of Codes
Motive is the second new brake from SRAM in 12 months, following on from the seriously impressive SRAM Maven Ultimate we reviewed back in 2024. The idea is to slim…
£270.00
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The toughest, most accurate and foolproof mountain bike shift system I’ve ever used: SRAM’s new Eagle 90 Transmission
SRAM’s new Eagle 90 Transmission is the long hoped for cable controlled version of wireless AXS T-Type – that means it’s for battery haters or those on a tighter budget.…
£655.00
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I could buy a new enduro bike for the price of these premium DT Swiss EXC1200 carbon wheels, but that doesn’t stop me loving the extra compliance and rapid engagement
DT Swiss has long been a powerhouse in the world of wheels, renowned for its almost boring levels of reliability and unflashy yet solid-performing products. Its latest range of carbon…
£2,349.98
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Hope’s new trail bike stem is a masterpiece of engineering: stiff, strong, light and beautifully machined… it’s not cheap though
Hope’s been making CNC’d stems from its Lancashire base for years. Its previous generation AM stem felt less solid to me than some competitors when back-to-back testing, but the brand…
£105.00
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The Bel-Air is old school in looks, but it’s comfy, durable and still one of the best saddles I’ve tested… the leopard print helps too
I fitted SDG’s latest Bel Air V3 saddle for the colours, but stayed for the consistent comfort – SDG has levelled up its V3 saddle with enhanced comfort, a slimmer profile…
£80.95
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Reynolds Blacklabel wheels are so tough they’ll probably outlive me, which makes them my pick for heavier riders or proper pinners
Reynolds is a carbon wheel specialist offering high-end road and MTB wheels. Part of the cycling group making Manitou suspension, Answer bars and Hayes brakes, I was just about to…
£2,199.00
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I’ve done two winters and over 1,000 miles on Enduro Bearings’ toughest BB, and it’s feeling smoother now than when new
Enduro has been making top quality bike bearings for suspension, headsets and more for years now, but the Maxhit series takes things to the next level. I’ve been testing both…
£179.99
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Why we test: Transition’s new Regulator looked amazing on paper, but it didn’t set my world on fire
I’d argue that Bosch’s fifth generation CX drive unit is the most significant mountain bike motor of 2025. Not the DJI Avinox with its ludicrous power, but Bosch’s humble 85Nm…
£8,498.00