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…
Alan Muldoon
Bike Test Editor
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…
Specialized Epic Hardtail Comp review
Who is the Epic hardtail for? That’s the question I posed to the product manager responsible for Specialized’s XC race bikes. His response was both honest and telling. “It’s for…
Canyon Stoic 2 review
If you’ve been following our Hardtail of the Year test, you’re probably wondering why the Canyon Stoic 2 wasn’t in the mix. And the answer is simple. It didn’t arrive…
Polygon Xtrada 5 review
Xtrada literally translates to crossroads. And that can be interpreted a couple of different ways. Did Polygon intend the Xtrada 5 to meet at the intersection between on and off…
Carrera Fury review
When unboxing the Carrera Fury our first thought was that Halfords must have made a blunder. How could the Fury possibly have an air-sprung fork, wide-range Shimano Deore 1×10 drivetrain,…
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…
Interview – Owen Pemberton, Forbidden Bike Co. The high priest of high pivots
Almost 10 years ago to the day, we shone the spotlight on Owen Pemberton in a feature titled, “These People are Changing Everything”. The idea behind the feature was simple:…
Pivot Shuttle LT 29 Team XTR first ride review
I find it ironic that my news feed is constantly presenting me with horror-stories about the potential dangers of AI. Yet, the feed itself is driven by AI. Maybe it’s…
Vitus E-Mythique LT VRX e-bike first ride review
With e-bike prices fast approaching £15k, it really seems like the sky’s the limit in terms of pricing. And while those super-bikes are super-cool, Vitus has taken a very different…