The Snyper 140 Two is Tomac’s second tier do-it-all trail bike. As the name suggests, it sports 140mm of rear-wheel travel and if the spec isn’t flashy enough for your liking, the Snyper 140 One shares the same frame but is adorned with more lightweight, high-end components. The Snyper 140 One costs £2,855.
Up-front, the Snyper frame gets manipulated triple-butted 6061 top and down tubes, with an offset seat tube. A hydroformed section then connects the lower end of the seat tube to the down tube and provides a solid fixture to which the main pivot is welded. Pivot location is in front of the bottom bracket and just in line with the middle ring. All pivots use Japanese sealed cartridge bearings, but instead of having seatstay/rear dropout pivots, Tomac uses carbon flex stays. A flat section on the seatstays provides the vertical flex necessary to allow the links of the suspension to actuate uninhibitedly. Not only does this approach reduce the overall swingarm weight, it also increases lateral stiffness and eliminates a service point.
Due to the space restrictions inherent with a forward main pivot position and non-elevated swingarm design, the front mech on the Snyper is mounted to a stub on the swingarm, rather than the front triangle. Shifting is positive and accurate and, importantly, this approach means that you don’t have to use asymmetric chainstays to accommodate the front mech when the suspension compresses. As a result, the swingarm is very stiff.
For a 6.8lb frame with shock, the Tomac Snyper 140 is taut and responsive. Rider weight is well centred for cornering, and suspension performance feels balanced, front and rear. However, one thing that is instantly noticeable on the Snyper is that the front end doesn’t lift quite as easily as other bikes. This is something of a double-edged sword as, while it keeps the front wheel planted on steep climbs, it also makes it harder to manual through a compression or lift the front end over a log. Ditching the 100mm stem for something shorter would make popping the front a lot easier, and it wouldn’t compromise seated climbing ability, because that is more influenced by saddle position and chainstay length.
With a shorter stem and faster-rolling tyres, the Snyper 140 Two would be a force to be reckoned with, especially when you consider it’s a Gucci brand that’s competitively priced. Tomac bikes are back and our initial impression is that they are better then ever.

FRAME: 6061 alloy front end, black UD carbon seatstay
SUSPENSION: Fox 32 Float R 140mm fork and Fox Float RP2 rear shock
WHEELS: Sun Ringle Disc Jockey, Ringle QRs, Kenda Tomac Signature Nevegal 2.35in tyres
GROUPSET: Truvativ Stylo cranks, Shimano XT front an rear mechs, LX shifters. Avid Juicy 5 brakes
COMPONENTS: FSA XC-280 handlebar, FSA ST stem, FSA FR-200 seatpost, WTB Rocket V Comp saddle
SIZES: s, m, l, xl
CONTACT: www.stif.co.uk