Top 13 Best Trail Bikes | The best trail bikes ridden & reviewed
Lows: The Merida branded dropper post has some reliability issues, and the headset cable routing is not service-friendly and prone to creaking. The new Merida One-Forty is a radical change from the previous design. Now with 143mm of rear travel and equipped with a 150mm fork, the One-Forty is close to what many would consider the definition of a modern trail bike.
2024 Giant Trance X Review | So Close To Trail Bike Perfection
Wil has been loving the updates to the new Giant Trance X. An overview of the Giant Trance X. Sandwiched between the Trance (the 130/120mm travel mile muncher) and the Reign (the 170/160mm travel enduro racer), the Trance X is the versatile all-rounder of Giant’s full suspension lineup. It splits the difference with a 150mm travel fork and 140mm of rear travel, and it comes from the factory ...
Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Review | The best trail bike out there?
Wil reviews the 2025 Specialized Stumpjumper. The most recent version of the Specialized Stumpjumper launched in 2020 alongside the Stumpjumper EVO.Having earned plenty of media praise from around the globe, it didn’t take long for them to be established as two of the most popular trail bikes on the market.
Specialized Epic 8 Review | Is this the best XC bike we've tested?
I gotta say, we are absolutely loving this new trend for 120mm travel XC bikes, and the Specialized Epic is arguably the best example yet. We’ve been ripping laps of the Buxton MTB Park aboard the new Specialized Epic and Epic EVO.
First Ride | 2025 Fox Forks Updated With 3 New GRIP Dampers
Mick & Wil ride the 2025 Fox 34 & 36. This year Fox Racing Shox celebrates its 50th anniversary. That’s a big deal, and the suspension brand is set to go all-out with a range of limited edition forks that feature a glossy gold finish to match the iconic Kashima coating.
Specialized Epic 8 EVO Review | More travel & SWAT storage
Wil reviews the Specialized Epic 8 EVO. The Specialized Epic EVO was first concocted in 2018 as a spicier offshoot of the Epic race bike. It featured the same frame and shock with the Brain damper, but added a 120mm travel fork, dropper post and chunkier tyres to create a more approachable XC bike.
Top 12 Best XC Bikes | The best cross country bikes reviewed
The Specialized Epic EVO uses the same frame as the race bike, but pumps up the fork travel to 130mm. Specialized Epic EVO. Highs: Impeccable handling, smooth & capable suspension, trail-ready build kit, SWAT storage, mechanic-friendly frame furnishings Lows: Fox shock and dropper post issues, high starting price, no alloy models Alongside the Epic 8 race bike, the Specialized Epic EVO is a ...
Flow Mountain Bike | Mountain bike news, reviews and videos
Flow Mountain Bike is Australia and New Zealand's leading mountain bike news and reviews site. Covering the latest mountain bike content and riding destinations across Australia and New Zealand.
First Look | 2025 Pivot Phoenix gets 6-bar suspension & 2 chains
From prototype testing on the World Cup stage, to the production bike; the new Pivot Phoenix. An overview of the new Pivot Phoenix. The new Pivot Phoenix is a full carbon downhill race bike that has been purpose-built around a mullet setup with a 27.5in rear wheel.
On Test | The 2025 Fox 34 Step-Cast Factory Series Fork
The 2025 Fox 34 Step-Cast (left) next to the previous version with the old FIT4 damper (right). An overview of the 2025 Fox 34 Step-Cast fork. The 2025 Fox 34 Step-Cast shares a lot in common with the 2024 fork that we’ve reviewed previously.Indeed the chassis is identical with 34mm diameter stanchions and one-piece magnesium step-cast lowers that feature oil channels down the back of the legs.