As raced by Phil Atwill and his Propain Positive World Cup team mates, and ridden by YouTube star, Remi Metailler, the Propain Rage is built for the roughest tracks, gnarliest…
Full-Suspension
I tested the latest Commencal Meta V5 Race, and it was unlike any other enduro bike I’ve ridden recently
Mention the name Meta to any veteran mountain biker and it will evoke fond memories. Personally speaking, I had a Commencal Meta SX back in around 2007, and a Meta…
The new Pivot Switchblade doesn’t get trendy internal storage or a steep seat angle, but there are good reasons for not following the crowd
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…
The Scott Ransom 900 RC hides its shock inside the frame, but boasts a ride that makes mincemeat of climbs and descents
Scott’s brand new Ransom conceals the shock within the frame to create one of the most streamlined enduro bikes on the market. But that’s not the only thing that makes…
Forbidden’s high-pivot Druid V2 cast a spell on me, and after six months testing I’m still bewitched by it
“Pedals like an XC bike, descends like a DH bike” is a cliche as badly worn as the back tyre on a bike park rental in September. It’s a promise…
I tested the Pivot Firebird Pro for 12-months and loved it so much I bought one
Most riders like to begin a relationship with a new bike on local trails, taking the time to ease into things while feeling out the lay of the land. Not…
Transition’s new Smuggler will steal your heart, but the Santa Cruz 5010 is better value
Transition has a new version of the Smuggler out, a bike that really should have been called the Spur LT. Or perhaps the Spur Lunch Ride. Transition reckons it’s made…
I tested Cannondale’s Habit 4, a do-it-all trail bike that costs less that £2k… and it blew me away
When looking for one of the best full-suspension trail bikes around two grand, the ride quality, geometry and suspension ought to be at a level where an advanced rider can…
Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup – Review
Specialized teased the new Epic World Cup on the race circuit for several months, and SRAM even revealed it before the official launch, but Specialized still had a surprise up…
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…
YT Jeffsy Core 5 (2024) first ride review
Need to know Latest Jeffsy Core 5 has 145mm travel and a 150mm fork, with Fox Factory suspension Core 5 model is top of the range, comes with SRAM XO…
Cotic Jeht 2 Gold XT first ride review
The Cotic Jeht trail bike propelled itself straight into a position as the UK brand’s most popular model, with sweet spot mid-travel suspension and sorted geometry. Although only lightly evolved,…
Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 review
Trek’s new Supercaliber is very much an evolution of the original ‘revolutionary’ design. As a result, it feels like a very sorted, balanced and predictable XC bike, its eagerness for…
Merida One-Sixty FR 600 first ride review
The Merida One-Sixty FR was launched at September’s EX Enduro in Devon, so our first ride testing and evaluation was carried out on terrain in and around the event with…
Atherton AM.170 M1 first ride review
We’ve seen it the Atherton AM.170 perform at the highest level in Gee’s latest Ridgeline IV video where he ventures high into the Dolomite mountains on an epic trip, but…
Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6 review
If you’ve been flicking through the pages mbr for a few years you’ll remember the Torque as a 27.5in park bike with bottomless, sensitive, syrupy suspension. We couldn’t shut up…
YT Industries Capra Core 2 GX review
It’s hard to believe but the Capra is nearly a decade old, having launched in 2014 with a carbon frame, killer parts list, 27.5in wheels (modern indeed) and a price…
Cotic FlareMAX Gold XT first ride review
The first generation FlareMAX 29er was a down-country blueprint before the genre really became a thing. We ride the latest evolution, in Gold XT spec, to check out how Cotic…
Trek Top Fuel 8 review
Think Top Fuel, and the image of a XC race bike instantly springs to mind. But like a faded polaroid tucked into the corner for a dusty picture frame, it’s…