Bikes

All the latest bikes comprehensively tested. If we don’t think a product is worthy of our hard-earned, we won’t tell you to part with yours for it. That’s the promise we make with our bike and equipment tests. For all our tests we guarantee that:

  • They’re conducted by some of the most experienced and knowledgeable riders in the business.
  • Ratings are awarded only after a thorough testing process on a variety of terrain.
  • Tests are independent, and in no way influenced by our advertisers.

In most cases, we fit control tyres, bars and stems to the test bikes to ensure a level playing field and to highlight differences in handling. Tyre pressures are equalised to keep grip levels identical. We also weigh and measure the bikes ourselves, because this data doesn’t always tally with the manufacturer’s official figures. The numbers you read in the tests are the actual angles and measurements.

Our ratings are awarded out of 10, with 10/10 being the top mark.

  • 1-4  Means something’s wrong. Possibly a design flaw or a major weakness.
  • 5-6  OK – one or two faults but has potential
  • 7  Worth considering
  • 8  Very good – for the money, we’d buy it
  • 9  Excellent – a slight mod or two and it might be perfect
  • 10  Simply the best!
to

Showing reviews 561–580 of 898

whyte 605

The Whyte 605 is our Hardtail of the Year in the £750 category, but it isn’t perfect. A proper front tyre and a wider bar it would be on a…

£699.00
Score 9

trek fuel ex plus

Trek’s venerable Fuel gets a high-octane boost in the form of Plus-size wheels with the Trek Fuel EX Plus 9.8 27.5. Beautiful to behold and a joy to ride.

£4,100.00
Score 9

whyte t129

The Whyte T129 RS really comes into its own on smooth, flowing trails where it has a great turn of speed. It's less convincing on rough trails, though.

£3,000.00
Score 8

cube stereo 140 29

Some positive changes to the geometry and handling of the Cube Stereo 140 29 C:62 SL for 2017. It’s also upgraded to a full carbon chassis and handlebar.

£3,299.00
Score 8

scott spark plus

The Scott Spark 710 Plus has been ridden to two Olympic gold medals; well now it can add our Trail Bike of the Year award to its glittering palmarès.

£3,899.00
Score 10

cannondale moterra

At nearly 24kg, the Cannondale Moterra is certainly a brute — even for an e-bike — but clever engineering means it stops short of being a blunt instrument.

£5,199.99
orange four

With a revised frame construction, the new Orange Four is light, fast and a bundle of fun. Short-travel trail bike with 130mm travel front, 120mm rear.

£4,200.00
vitus escarpe 29

Having endured all four of the UK’s seasons as one our fleet of long termer test bikes, how has the keenly priced Vitus Escarpe 29 VR held up?

£1,529.99
Score 9

sonder broken road

The Sonder Broken Road is built for adventure, so where better to test it than on a 10-day expedition in the Himalayas? Great geometry and pricing.

£1,899.00

The Merida eOne-Twenty provides a thrilling and intoxicatingly addictive ride. Great geometry, rapid and flickable. One of the lightest e-mtbs available.

£5,000.00
Score 9

The Cannondale Habit 5 has totally nailed the fit and sizing and the tighter suspension response makes it feel fast, efficient and fun to ride.

£1,799.99
Score 8

giant trace 3 2017

Get the front end dialled and the Giant Trance 3 is instantly transformed into a weapon. The suspension response is super stable, it’s not lost any sensitivity.

£1,749.00
Score 9

Expanding its range, sorting its sizing and making the best of Plus-size tyres — Genesis Tarn 20 is another trail-ripping hardtail from Genesis.

£1,799.00