I think there is an unofficial arms race among light manufacturers to make the most powerful light on the market, and with the Monteer 12000, Magicshine is currently king of…
Reviews
Rapha’s Trail Lightweight pants are a cut above the rest
Saving £20 and more than 100g over the standard Rapha Trail Pants is the brand’s Lightweight option. In fact they are among the lightest pants in our round-up of the…
Fox Flexair Race Pants are the Speedos of downhill racing
Fox has a bewildering array of riding pants in its line-up, but these Flexair Race pants are the ones worn by all of the World Cup shredders, which probably explains…
Lazer’s Coyote KinetiCore helmet is great value, but I needed a trailside twig bodge to make it work
Like the best mountain bike helmets on the market, Lazer’s new Coyote helmet uses something more than just EPS to protect your head in the event of a crash. Like…
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…
I’ve been testing winter jerseys for two decades, and the Rapha Explore Zip Neck Pullover is the best I’ve tried
The Rapha Explore Zip Neck Pullover is part of the brand’s bikepacking range, so this zip neck top isn’t strictly in the MTB line-up. Just don’t tell anyone you’re wearing…
I tested Cannondale’s Habit 4, a do-it-all trail bike that costs less that £2k… and it blew me away
When looking for one of the best full-suspension trail bikes around two grand, the ride quality, geometry and suspension ought to be at a level where an advanced rider can…
Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup – Review
Specialized teased the new Epic World Cup on the race circuit for several months, and SRAM even revealed it before the official launch, but Specialized still had a surprise up…
The Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works is a big-battery, full-power e-bike… so how on earth does it weigh under 20kg?!
Just as you thought the lightweight mid-power e-bike category couldn’t get more complicated, along comes the Bosch Performance Line SX motor boasting 600 watts peak power and 55Nm torque. All…
Gorewear Endure rain jacket review: The most waterproof jacket I’ve worn in 10-years of testing
Gorewear’s Endure jacket uses the latest generation Gore-Tex Paclite Plus fabric and that gives it a real advantage over the manky winter weather. In fact it’s well on the way…
Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy (2023) review
Specialized’s Stumpjumper Evo has been a hit here at MBR since it was first introduced over ten years ago. And the last time we tested it, it walked away with…
Trek Fuel EX 9.7 XT Gen 6 review
Hot on the heels of the Trek Fuel EXe, the new Fuel EX shares a similar silhouette, albeit without the compact TQ motor and 360Wh battery. And just like the…
Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag review
Flying with your bike is a stressful experience at the best of times: manoeuvring through the throngs, trying to avoid the retractable barrier poles at check-in; praying that you don’t…
YT Jeffsy Core 5 (2024) first ride review
Need to know Latest Jeffsy Core 5 has 145mm travel and a 150mm fork, with Fox Factory suspension Core 5 model is top of the range, comes with SRAM XO…
Cotic Jeht 2 Gold XT first ride review
The Cotic Jeht trail bike propelled itself straight into a position as the UK brand’s most popular model, with sweet spot mid-travel suspension and sorted geometry. Although only lightly evolved,…
Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 review
Trek’s new Supercaliber is very much an evolution of the original ‘revolutionary’ design. As a result, it feels like a very sorted, balanced and predictable XC bike, its eagerness for…
Scott Trail Tuned Pants review
Scott makes three pants designed for mountain biking, including the cheaper Trail Vertic and Explorair Fast versions. The Trail Tuned pants are its poshest offering and one of the lighter…
Troy Lee Designs Skyline Trousers review
Most of us put on weight as we get older, and Troy Lee Designs’ updated Skyline pant is no exception. This latest version is 60g heavier than the old model,…
Specialized Demo Pro Pants review
The Specialized Demo Pro Pant is made from a material called VaporRize, which is treated with a DWR water- repellent to enhance water run-off.
Topeak D-Torq Wrench DX review
When I tested Topeak’s Torq Stick earlier this year I said it was the perfect torque wrench for the first-timer, because it was so easy to use and also reasonable…