Squint, and you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference between the brand new Pivot Switchblade V6 and the one that was released in 2020. It doesn’t help that both…
Alan Muldoon
Bike Test Editor
Will you be swapping your Trek Rail or Specialized Turbo Levo for a Honda, Ducati, or Yamaha e-bike?
E-bike sales are currently dominated by traditional mountain bikes brands like Specialized, Trek, Canyon and Giant. But there are an increasing number of motorcycle brands keen to get in on…
My job is Bike Test Editor, and here are my predictions for 5 hard-hitting enduro bikes that will get a complete refresh in 2024
Most bike brands operate on a three year model cycle, so you don’t need a crystal ball to predict which models are due an update. It’s not a hard and…
Riding the Intense Tracer 279 Pro made me feel 20 years younger
First, I want to get some facts on the ground. At 16.33kg the Intense Tracer 279 Pro is a ballpark weight for one of the best modern enduro bikes with…
My job is testing mountain bikes and these are the best products I’ve ridden this year
I’ve been the Bike Test Editor here at mbr for over 20 years, and I’ve been reviewing mountain bikes professionally for another ten, so it’s fair to say I’m very…
Forbidden’s new Supernought DH bike gets a high-pivot, but that’s not its most interesting feature
With a season of World Cup racing under its belt, Forbidden’s prototype race bike is finally ready for production. Sporting 205mm of rear wheel travel, the Supernought is designed to…
Aper Bikes’ new KOMPace enduro bike gets a CNC-machined frame, sliding rail pivot, and EXTREMELY rearward axle path
Designed and manufactured in Greece, Aper Bikes also brings something new to the table. Its innovative Rising Pivot suspension configuration uses a rail design to achieve 160mm travel and a…
Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6 Vs YT Capra Core 2 GX – Which is the best direct-sales enduro bike?
While top end bikes costing five figures are not uncommon (£20,000 one day soon?), most of us are priced out. It’s to the Germans’ great credit then, that you can…
I’ve awarded the Vitus Nucleus a perfect 10 rating four times, now it’s half price at £400 for Cyber Monday
The Vitus Nucleus has won our Hardtail of the Year award four times. That makes it one of the most winningest hardtails I’ve ever tested as Bike Test Editor here…
Watch the mbr show episode 1: Specialized Kenevo SL, Orange Phase Evo, YT Jeffsy and Neko Mullaly’s dream downhill bike
Welcome to the new mbr show! In this first episode we open with the recent launch of the Specialized Kenevo SL 2, which gets the latest SL 1.2 motor that…
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…
Mullet riders rejoice: Specialized’s MTN Mullet inner tube fits both 27.5in and 29in wheels
Fitting the right size inner tube used to be so easy. Mountain bikes pretty much all had 26in wheels, so your only real concern was if you had a tube…
Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Vs Trek Fuel EX test – which is the best trail bike with adjustable geometry?
We all like freedom of choice, right? Whether it’s the little things in life, like a latte instead of cappuccino, or the big things like who gets to run the…
Specialized updates the Kenevo SL 2 with more power and torque, but the frame hasn’t changed
When the Kenevo SL launched back in 2021, it pretty much had the long-travel, lightweight e-bike category all to itself. It was certainly a pioneering bike, but with its relatively…
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…
The new Giant Stance gets more travel and better geometry, but the prices stay the same
With a less complex suspension design, but all of Giant’s engineering knowhow, the Stance has always been a great option if you’re shopping for one of the best budget full-suspension…
Is this Specialized’s new suspension layout for the next generation Turbo Kenevo SL e-bike?
There’s been a lot of excitement about Specialized’s Under Bottom Bracket patent application online. And, while the focus of most articles and pundits has been on the possibility of a…
Ducati Powerstage RR first ride review
I have an admission to make. I don’t follow motorsports; never have done. But when someone says Ducati, I instantly think ‘red’ or ‘yellow’, quickly followed by ‘916’ or ‘Monster’.…
Nukeproof Megawatt Carbon RS 297 e-bike first ride review
When I tested the alloy Megawatt Factory 297 in our 2023 best E-bikes of the Year test, I loved the handling, fit, suspension performance and top-end specification. The stumbling block…