First introduced last season, the Stache is billed as a trail-ready 29er hardtail designed to meet all the exacting demands of the modern mountain biker. The frame shares most design…
29er hardtail
Scott Contessa Scale 920 review
Read our review of the Scott Contessa Scale 920 in our Hardtail of the Year test
Lapierre Raid 329 review £599.99
Offered in both 26in and 29in guises, the Lapierre Raid 629 is a formidable package at under £600
Pinarello’s gold medal-winning Dogma XC HT is ultra-fast, but without finesse, it can be an unforgiving ride – as I found out when I crashed and broke the frame
Pinarello is a relative newcomer to the world of XC racing. Until 2021 the Italian brand had most of its attention focused on producing road and cyclocross bikes for the…
Jamis Highpoint A2 review
Jamis bills the Highpoint A2 as a true all rounder and it’s easy to see why. With big 29in wheels to roll over bumps better and a 120mm travel coil-sprung…
Vitus Nucleus 29 VR review
Head over to the Vitus website and you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re seeing double. You’re not, it’s simply that Vitus offers the Nucleus VR with either 27.5in…
Norco Torrent S2 review
Slender steel tubing gives the Norco Torrent S2 a distinctly retro look. But make no mistake; this is a thoroughly modern 29er trail hardtail.
Cannondale Trail 5 review
The Cannondale Trail 5 is a new addition to the £750 category and features a Smartform aluminium frame, which is one of the most comfortable here.
Trek Marlin 6 review
The first of two 29er to make it into the sub 500 category, the Trek Marlin 6 certainly didn't behave like a fish out of water.
Specialized Rockhopper Comp
The Specialized Rockhopper is a name dripping in MTB history. There are not many other bikes boasting a heritage spanning over four decades. For many of us, the Rockhopper was…
Trek X-Caliber 8 (2016) review
The Trek looks amazing and has a decent spec, it’s just a shame the frame isn’t more trail-focused
Marin Bobcat Trail 9.3 (2016) review
Stable 29er wheels and great contact points
Cannondale Trail 29 5 Review
A great frame let down by mediocre components
Pinnacle Ramin 3 review £1,000
MBR reviews the Pinnacle Ramin 3 in the £1,000 category of our Hardtail of the Year test
Marin Palisades Trail 29er review £999
Read our review of the Marin Palisades Trail 29er as part of MBR's Hardtail of the Year test
Specialized Rockhopper review
Good components made the Rockhopper a real contender in MBR's Hardtail of the Year — but how did it fare?
Commencal El Camino 3 29 review £599
Great handling and riding position only let down by a few budget options in the drivetrain
Scott Aspect 930 review
At the heart of the Scott Aspect 930 is a lightweight aluminium frame making this one of the lightest bikes in the Sub-£750 Hardtail of the Year test.
Scott Scale 970 (2016) review
A 29er with a 100mm-travel fork, Maxxis Ikon tyres and an equally cross country/race focus
Cube AIM SL (2016) review
Hamstrung by its geometry, proportions and small volume tyres