Shimano XT M8120 Disc Brake
The Good
- Immediately available power
- Stiff lever modulated by force, not by "squish"
- Reliable
- Easy to bleed
The Bad
- Fragile lever blade
Overall Review
These feel similar in overall power to the Saint, though something about the "feel" is nicer in the M8120. Had a few pairs, one of those going for 5 years now and they've been nearly maintenance free other than changing pads. The lever blade on the current model is oddly fragile at a very obvious spot. Once I broke one, I replaced the blades themselves with XTR which are made of solid aluminium rather than the XT's sheet or what would I call it. I've heard people complain about wandering bite
Shimano XT M8120 Disc Brake
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TRP DH-R EVO Silver Disc Brake
The Good
LOW maintenance, reliable, consistent lever feel, simple adjustments, easy to bleed, easy to install, badass looks, can use a bunch of different pads on them.
The Bad
a little pricey but worth it
Overall Review
Best brakes I've ever owned hands down! I am far from a Gwin fanboy but I gotta give him credit for helping to develop these brakes, he did a freaking good job. Nice switch to the 2.3mm rotors by the way, I haven't bent one of them yet. I love that they use mineral oil so they are non toxic to work on, super easy to bleed (pretty much same as the shimanos), setup is super easy. You don't even need a full bleed kit (which I found out later that I bought without needing to) all you need is the
TRP DH-R EVO Silver Disc Brake
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2023 Pivot Switchblade Pro XT/XTR Bike
The Good
Lightweight, centered geometry, brakes have great stopping power, super clean shifting, dropper is responsive and suspension is very plush.
The Bad
The only negative thing I can say is the bottom bracket could be a little more higher. I had pedal strikes when I first rode so I had to get some protective boots so I wasn't bashing up my sweet Race Face Aeffect Rs.
Overall Review
The SW makes me a better rider and helped me conquer trails that I thought were impossible to ride. This bike has saved me so many times by keeping me upright when I thought I was going to crash. It wants to stay centered which really helps when negotiating through rocky terrain. I switched the flip chip to see how much it changed the suspension. I was surprised at how it felt like a different bike immediately. I was able to climb better on the different setting and had less pedal strikes.
2023 Pivot Switchblade Pro XT/XTR Bike
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SRAM Maven Ultimate Expert Kit
Overall Review
A fter a long-awaited journey of tech forum spy photo enhancing and humorous bleed port etching , the new MAVEN brakes from SRAM are finally here! The purpose of the MAVEN brakes is not only to bring more braking power to bikes but also to create the most usable power possible out of a braking system. Figuring out how much power is actually usable on a bike is a painstaking process, and SRAM has done their homework extensively over the last few years to learn what that limit is. Is there such a
2017 Cannondale Habit 6 Bike
The Good
Overall bike superb for under two large...seems damn near bomb-proof...a blast to ride...easy maintenance... unique and sharp...and it floats!!!
The Bad
Damn SRAM...but with the current mileage... can't complain...other than that... Excellent addition to the stable
.
Overall Review
I prefer 2x drivetrain on any bike... versatile...
2017 Cannondale Habit 6 Bike
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Renthal Revo-F Flat Pedal
Vital Review
First Ride: Renthal Revo-F Flat Pedals
Overall Review
Y ep, you read that right. Renthal is now making a flat pedal for mountain biking. After 14 years of supplying parts for the cockpit, they felt the time was right to turn their attention to the other crucial MTB contact point – your feet. What were their goals in doing so? What will allow their pedals to stand out in a sea of other options? What do we think of the performance after about 1.5 months on the trail? Keep reading to find out! Strengths Weaknesses High levels of grip Compact shape
Renthal Revo-F Flat Pedal
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Giro Coalition Spherical Full Face Helmet
Vital Review
First Ride: Giro Coalition Spherical
Overall Review
T he light weight full face helmet segment has grown considerably over the past five years or so, driven by the increasing popularity of the enduro discipline and the evolution of mountain bikes in general. More capable bikes increase exposure to speed and gnarly terrain, leading many riders to seek full face protection even on pedal powered rides. E-bikes have also contributed to the proliferation of full face helmets on more types of trails. Giro has been a bit late to address the true light
Giro Coalition Spherical Full Face Helmet
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Fast Suspension Ride E Rear Shock
Overall Review
A mong the rolling hills surrounding the tiny town of Plestan in Brittany, France, you’ll find a small manufacturer of mountain bike suspension called Fast Suspension . Born out of one man’s passion for making things work better, Fast started out in motorsports but has been focusing on mountain bike suspension since 2015 when they released their very first rear shock, called the Holy Grail. Jumping ahead to 2023, Fast dropped their latest product, a simplified yet sophisticated coil shock called
Fast Suspension Ride E Rear Shock
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EXT Era V2.1 Fork
Vital Review
Tested: EXT Era v2.1 Fork
Overall Review
E xtreme Racing Shox or EXT is an Italian suspension supplier with roots in motorsports, where the brand found success working with legendary racers like Sebastien Loeb who dominated the World Rally Championship for years aboard his Citroens. In 2014, EXT decided to try their hand at making products for mountain bikes as well, and brought over many of the technologies and the expertise they have been developing over the years. When the company launched their first suspension fork in 2021, we
EXT Era V2.1 Fork
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EXT Aria Rear Shock
Vital Review
Tested: EXT Aria
Overall Review
E xtreme Racing Shox or EXT is an Italian suspension supplier with roots in motorsports, where the brand found success working with legendary racers like Sebastien Loeb who dominated the World Rally Championship for years aboard his Citroens. In 2014, EXT decided to try their hand at making products for mountain bikes as well, and brought over many of the technologies and the expertise they have been developing over the years. We have previously tested their excellent coil shocks with good
EXT Aria Rear Shock
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