The new Epic 8 Evo isn’t the pumped up race machine it once was, weight and stiffness are no longer the driving forces any more and really it’s impossible to…
120mm-140mm Full Sus
I hate to admit it, but the AI suspension control on the new Specialized S-Works Epic 8 works better than a brain ever could
Specialized’s new S-Works Epic 8 is possibly the fastest XC MTB ever made and definitely the most high tech. It’s not just the latest RockShox Flight Attendant Ai suspension that…
Norco’s new Optic is the bike I’ve been waiting for: gravity suspension and aggressive geometry meets some very short travel
It’s been more than four years since we’ve seen a Norco for sale in the UK, after distribution through Evans Cycles fell apart, but now in 2024 Norco is back…
I love the look, the feel, and the concept behind the Production Privee Shan 5, but the short chainstays compromised the handling
The Production Privee Shan 5 is a bike that’s impossible to pigeonhole. With 140mm of claimed travel and a skinny-tubed steel front triangle, it’s the kind of oddball machine you’d…
Forbidden’s high-pivot Druid V2 cast a spell on me, and after six months testing I’m still bewitched by it
“Pedals like an XC bike, descends like a DH bike” is a cliche as badly worn as the back tyre on a bike park rental in September. It’s a promise…
Transition’s new Smuggler will steal your heart, but the Santa Cruz 5010 is better value
Transition has a new version of the Smuggler out, a bike that really should have been called the Spur LT. Or perhaps the Spur Lunch Ride. Transition reckons it’s made…
Santa Cruz Tallboy CC X01 AXS RSV review
The Santa Cruz Tallboy is the short 120mm travel 29er but don’t let the travel numbers decieve you – this is a bike that’s designed to be aggressively fast, full-send…
Yeti SB120 T-Series T1 review
The top-line Yeti SB120 T-Series T1 is now longer, slacker and has more travel – as the name suggests. And it’s comfortably one of the best down-country bikes on the…
Pivot Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR review
Boasting low weight and impressive climbing efficiency, the Pivot Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR is a 110/130mm 29er built for trail riding. This is the top-spec model, which features Fox Live…
Santa Cruz 5010 C GX RSV first ride review
The Santa Cruz 5010 has a reputation as the playful, capable bike in the stable that’s ready for fun times. Of course, it’s evolved over the years, and there are…
Jamis Faultline A1 review
The Jamis Dakar has always been a strong contender in our entry-level, budget full-suspension bike test. But with the category shifting to embrace the improved rollover and stability that bigger…
Specialized Stumpjumper Expert review
The Specialized Stumpjumper Expert is a 29er full-suspension bike with a long history – after all, the first Stumpy came out an impressive 40 years ago! Of course, its had…
Canyon Spectral 125 CF 9 review
Take a cursory glance at the new Spectral 125 and you could easily mistake it for the full-blown 150mm Spectral. Make no mistake though, the Spectral 125 is a unique…
Santa Cruz Chameleon first ride review
The much-revered Santa Cruz Chameleon turns 25 in 2022 (much like our beloved MBR magazine). This do-it-all hardtail rolled into production in 1997 and is one of the longest-running model…
YT Industries Jeffsy Uncaged 6 review
YT’s contender for best trail bike on the market is the acclaimed Jeffsy, and the flagship bike in the Jeffsy line is the Uncaged 6. Why uncaged? Well, not only…
Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29 1 review
Fox Live Valve equipped bikes have always demanded a premium. And while that’s unlikely to change any time soon, the recent introduction of the new Giant Trance Advanced Pro 29…
YT Izzo Uncaged 7 first ride review
YT launched its short travel Izzo 18 months ago, and in its original form it was a short travel bike with 130mm travel that bridged the gap between trail and…
Privateer 141 SLX/XT review
Privateer 141 SLX/XT review: UK-designed trail bike promises to bring same big sizing and aggressive geometry concept as its 161.
Nukeproof Reactor Pro 290 Alloy review
If you’re a rider that’s focused on shredding singletrack rather than bike parks, the Nukeproof Reactor Pro 290 Alloy is a superb mid-travel trail bike.
Trek Top Fuel 8 2022: first ride review
New Trek Top Fuel 8 is a short travel - 120mm travel front and rear - down-country trail bike with internal frame storage for both alloy and carbon models.