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 821–840 of 898

Tested head-to-head against its peers, Whyte's new 29er came up trumps

Score 9

Tapared head tube

Yeti's first full-suspension 29er, the SB95, gets a run out in Cali

Giant Trance X 29er, from £1,499

It's the big-wheeled counterpart to one of our favourite bikes of recent years — how does the Giant Trance X 29er compare?

On home turf in the Surrey Hills

After 10 months of abuse hammering the Devinci Dixon all over Europe it’s time to get the low-down on Jamie Darlow's 2012 long-term test bike

The slack head makes the Mojo HD as competent downhill as it is on the climb.

The Ibis Mojo HD delivers a stiff, capable ride. We pushed it to the edge in the Golden State.

Roo took the Orange Alpine 160 to the Mountain of Hell and back, giving it the most abuse of all of this year's longtermers. Is the extra weight worth its…

Score 9

We've just taken delivery of our new SRAM XX1 test bike; here's a low-down of the build

Summer singletrack and the Scale Elite put a smile on Henry's face

After 10 months of abuse Scott’s big wheel hardtail has proved just as adept at a trail riding as adventure racing, says Henry Catchpole. The big question though, are the…

Score 9

2013 Trek Fuel EX 9.9

New for 2013 is Trek’s latest incarnation of the ever-popular Fuel Ex, priced from £1,400. We swung a leg over the latest models in the Dolomites to see how the…