The underside of the chassis uses a deep central slot that helps it flex to absorb bumps and impacts, even on really rough ground.

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With a dropped nose profile and a very curvy whale-tail, the overall shape is great for shuffling weight around to shift seating position to maintain traction or to relieve pressure points.

The micro-fibre cover has proven completely watertight even after extended use, and the chassis has shrugged off some crazy crashes and plenty of upside-down trail repairs with no ill effects.

The weight is just about competitive on the cro-mo railed model, but lighter versions are available, one even boasting a carbon chassis.

Widths range from 135mm at the narrowest end (we opted for the 142mm version) up to the positively sofa-like 150mm wide.

Whatever the width, the Volt feels more deeply padded than the scales suggest and is a tough, no-nonsense product that we rate highly.