Shimano SLX M670 transmission

IF YOU'RE NOT bothered about weight, Shimano SLX is literally a super-solid, full feature gearset.

The angular rear mech looks great on aggro trail bikes and the thick, pressed steel inner parallelogram/ actuator arm creates a bombproof spine. There's a standard low-profile Shadow version but hardcore riders should pay 15$ more for the tension adjustable and on/off switchable chain-taming clutch of the Shadow + version included here. It's heavier than the XT mech though and the jockey wheels get lower quality bearings that are slightly less durable.

Lever throw before each shift is also noticeably longer than with XT, which means a maximum downshift of three rather than four gears per stroke. Individual shifts aren't as crisp and positive when new either, though it still stays functional in filth for significantly longer than SRAM's 2x10 gear.

The PTFE coated, asymmetric plate HG75 chain is a great blend of performance and price, and the HG81 cassette mounts the largest three sprockets on an alloy carrier to save 66g over the solid Deore block. It's still worth trading up to XT if overall bike weight or high mileage is a concern though, and Zee would be our choice if we were planning to build up a hardcore 1x10 bike.

WEIGHT 1,408g

FORMAT 2x10

PRICE 285$ (w/ Shadow Plus mech)

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

READ MORE >>

ENVE M50 29" Wheels

Utah based company ENVE have been making drool-worthy carbon components for some years now. Despite the fact that carbon rims are becoming more and more common on mountain bikes these days, you can guarantee that ENVE wheels will be a talking point when someone is eyeing off a steed. Instantly, the big bold logos on each rim scream "fast", "light" and to some extent, "expensive" The kids call this 'bling'.

READ MORE >>

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

READ MORE >>

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

READ MORE >>

YT Tues downhill bike

The new Tues downhill bike is here – and won a World Cup on its first outing While a number of big brands have launched 29er downhill bikes,YT Industries are sticking with proven 650b wheels – for now, at least. The latest Tues comes in five sizes (S-XXL), with the biggest sporting a reach of 495mm. Head tube and chainstay lengths now vary between sizes, to put the rider in a better position on the bike. The S-L bikes have 435mm stays, while the XL and XXL are a shade longer, at 440mm. Reach is longer than last year on some sizes, including the XL ridden to victory by Aaron Gwin at this year’s openingWorld Cup round.A reachadjust headset can be used to tailor the fit further. YT have also made subtle but significant changes to the suspension. The initial stroke is said to be more sensitive, while there’s more mid-stroke support, to sit the bottom bracket a shade higher when on track.YT have decreased end-stroke progression, by five per cent, to make tackling really big hits th...

READ MORE >>

All Arround MTB

Search This Blog