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!
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Showing reviews 21–40 of 921

Specialized Status 160

With one model, five frame sizes, mixed wheels, two geometry settings and 160mm travel, the new Specialized Status ticks all the right boxes.

£2,399.00
Score 10

liv intrigue x e

Liv, the women's division at Giant, offers a comprehensive range of women's bikes including three Liv Intrigue X E+ e-bikes, named simply the 1, 2 and 3.

£5,799.00
Score 10

nukeproof giga 290

For when Mega just isn't enough, here's the Nukeproof Giga 290 – a 170mm travel 'super-enduro' bike. But is it 1,000 times better? We find out.

£5,499.00
Score 10

ebike of the year YT DECOY Shred

Here’s the YT Decoy Shred: mid-priced mullet bike that comes with a coil-sprung Fox DHX2 shock that’s guaranteed to make it the life and soul of any party.

£5,399.00
Score 10

Transition Spur joins the downcountry mountain bike wave. Sporting modest amounts of suspension travel but not shying away from aggressive geometry.

£5,999.00
Score 10

Evil Following

Third-generation Evil Following includes a jutting jawline that’s sharper-edged, a seat tube brace for improved standover clearance and internal cabling.

£5,500.00
Score 10

calibre bossnut

Since its introduction in 2015, the Calibre Bossnut has been the entry-level full-suspension bike by which all others are measured.

£1,100.00
Score 10

If you crave ultimate performance, and personal service from a local shop, the Nukeproof Reactor 290c Elite is the bike to get

£3,799.99
Score 10

Radon Slide Trail 9.0 includes a carbon composite front triangle, alloy rear end, full Fox suspension and the latest Shimano 12-speed drivetrain.

£2,610.00
Score 10

Trek Procaliber 9.7

The Trek Procaliber 9.7 crossed our finish line first because it’s the fastest bike on test. And in XC racing, that’s all that counts.

£2,250.00
Score 10

Yeti SB150

Ultimately, we have a lot of great bikes passing through the mbr office, but none this year have impressed us as much as the Yeti SB150.

£7,199.99
Score 10

Does the new Santa Cruz Hightower version have the same significance, or will it simply languish in the shadow of the Santa Cruz Megatower?

£6,599.00
Score 10

vitus sentier

Successfully defending its 2018 title, the handsome Vitus Sentier 27 VR defies its sub £1,000 price point with the best spec, geometry and overall finish.

£999.99
Score 10

vitus nucleus

What can we say about the Vitus Nucleus 27 VR that’s not been said? As winner of this test four years in a row, its accolades say everything.

£499.99
Score 10

Nukeproof Mega 275C

The combination of the race tuned geometry, floaty suspension and functional build kit, makes the Nukeproof Mega 275c Pro an extremely capable bike.

£4,199.99
Score 10

vitus e-sommet

Using Shimano’s smooth STEPS motor and 2.5in tyres, the Vitus E-Sommet VR delivers the same great value as the original, non-motorised version.

£3,599.99
Score 10

Canyon Spectral AL 6.0

Our Trail Bike of the Year 2018, the Canyon Spectral AL is the 27.5in bike which all others are measured. It’s undergone revisions to make it more capable.

£2,249.00
Score 10

Canyon Torque CF 8.0

The new 175mm travel Canyon Torque CF 8.0 shares a lot of the same design cues as the Trail Bike of the Year winning Canyon Spectral.

£3,199.00
Score 10