First Ride

Featuring 38mm stanchions and travel lengths up to 190mm, it's clear the all-new RockShox ZEB is ready for business. As enduro race bikes gain additional travel and courses get rowdier, demands on forks increase. The same is true in the rapidly evolving eMTB space. The ZEB looks to meet those needs head-on with a robust, chiseled-looking package and impressive performance traits. In this Tech Talk Q&A podcast, Vital MTB's Brandon Turman calls up RockShox Product Manager, Jon Cancellier, to discuss the ins and outs of the ZEB fork. The two cover everything from stiffness considerations to how...

Brand new halo products don't come around often, and when they do it's worth taking note. The Manifest Spherical represents countless hours of design and thorough vetting in the Dome – Giro and Bell's widely regarded test lab. It has a two-piece EPS liner with progressive layering to better manage high- and low-speed impacts. The two layers can rotate around one another like a ball and socket, something not often seen before. It also vents incredibly well, providing 7% better cooling than their proven Montaro MIPS lid. Join Zach Petersen in the video above for a look at what makes it stand out...

Last year Crankbrothers introduced the Synthesis line of carbon wheels, and in doing so they really brought to light how some added compliance in a front wheel can be a very beneficial thing. Pair that with a stiffer rear wheel and you get a bike that simply rides better through most mountain bike terrain – something Crankbrothers has proven with lots of blind testing. Today they are excited to unveil the aluminum counterpart, and we're joined by MTB Savant in the video above for a first look and first ride. Compliant Front Stiff Rear Wider, lighter aluminum rim Fewer, lighter spokes Lower...

Earlier this year we had the opportunity to spend some time aboard Zipp’s 3ZERO MOTO wheelset. While our initial impressions were mostly positive, we knew that a more thorough test was required to offer an educated opinion on whether or not Zipp’s claims of compliance and traction were marketing jargon or legitimate improvements over traditional wheelsets. Since our initial piece, our 3ZERO MOTO wheels have been used and abused throughout the Sea to Sky corridor of British Columbia and made the trip to World Championships at Monte Sainte Anne. They have put in miles on a short-travel Norco...

Over the past four years, TRP has been researching, prepping, prototyping, and testing a new drivetrain. You've no doubt seen it in use at the World Cup level, beginning with fast man Aaron Gwin and his mechanic, John Hall, both of whom had considerable influence on the final design and features. Today the DH7 downhill derailleur and shifter move past the race-driven development phase and officially launch to the public. TRP DH7 Highlights 7-speed system on 11-speed spacing Designed for downhill bikes Hall Lock - Locks main pivot bolt to prevent derailleur from lifting, slapping, and making...

After suspension, wheels are arguably one of the most impactful components on bicycle performance. While suspension seems to see ongoing innovations, traditional double-wall mountain bike rims and wheel design have not changed dramatically since the 1930s. Improvements to manufacturing processes, materials, and engineering have resulted in a myriad of great double-walled rims and wheelsets, each with their take at the ideal balance of stiffness, compliance, and durability, but no major brand has departed from traditional design until recently. Taking inspiration from motocross along with a...

The Giant Reign has been in production for 15 years, and on the verge of getting its driver license it has undergone some serious changes. We were invited to Revelstoke, British Columbia to have a look and get some quality time on the new rig. Surprises lay around every corner. Across every mountain bike racing discipline we’ve seen big wheels take their place both on bikes and on top of the result sheet, so it should be no surprise that Giant has gone from 27.5 to 29-inch wheels on the new Reign. What exactly would we find waiting for us in Canada though? A long-legged race thoroughbred, a...

Kona is a brand with a history of doing things their way. Their pseudo-delinquent, never-not-having-fun attitude has delivered some noteworthy bikes piloted by amazing athletes. A few weeks back we traveled to Bellingham, Washington for a visit with Kona to learn about what they had in the pipeline for 2020. Our itinerary included three days of solid riding aboard Kona’s all-new Process 134. It was a safe bet to assume the bike would get Kona’s latest platform update but the particulars remained a mystery. What would it be? A 29er trail bike with the latest modern, aggressive geometry greeted...

Ihave learned a thing or two over the years of racing downhill – how to separate the wheat from the chaff as the old saying goes. So when I got the call to swing my leg over one of the most anticipated downhill bikes, from one of the most established brands, at one of the premier downhill riding destinations in the PNW, it took one second to say emphatically, “YES!” I was excited to give the all-new Specialized Demo 29 a good shakedown on tracks I’ve been between the tape on before, and I was prepared to chase Loic Bruni or Finn Iles through the damp woods of Dry Hill located just outside of...

Inits debut, the Santa Cruz Hightower developed a bit of a reputation for being a “dad bike.” It was a pretty good all-rounder that just seemed to lack a certain amount of excitement surrounding its geometry and capability. Fast forward to now… dad grows a beard, gets some neck tats and starts running drugs for the cartel. Santa Cruz made sure dad’s bike is getting all the high-speed rowdiness he needs for his fresh persona with the newly updated Hightower. Strengths Weaknesses Gets up on command and hangs tough in the rough Impressive climbing efficiency Planted and composed Added reach makes...

The time has come to unveil the latest weapon in the Santa Cruz Bicycles arsenal. Meet the Megatower – a bike that is a big enough departure from its predecessor that it deserves its own name. From some perspectives, the Santa Cruz Hightower LT was a compromise, and the race-driven brand knew they could do better. The Megatower is their answer. Strengths Weaknesses Absolutely hauls in wide open bits Added shock compatibility Great tuning options for trail/rider demands Calm, quiet pedaling response that feels very efficient for a 160mm bike Uninterrupted pedal strokes over roots and rocks...

Itis time to lift the curtain on the new Niner RIP 9 RDO. This bike has 140mm of rear travel, 150mm up front, and it comes with a frame specifically designed around each wheel size. That means the 27.5 version isn't just small wheels slapped into the same frame, but a purpose-built frame to suit the wheel size. This is the part where we let Kirt Voreis take over to introduce the new rides: "Why didn’t we just make a 29er that also fits 27.5-inch wheels? Because compromises. If we’re going to do something so big (or should we say, small?) and so contrary to our brand history, dammit, we’re...

Primarily made for use on the rear wheel, semi-slick tires have long been a favorite among mountain bikers in certain types of terrain. People often enjoy them for how quickly they roll, which is attributed to the countless miniaturized knobs running tight together down the center tread. For many brands, pairing these small knobs with aggressive corner knobs often yields good things, and e*thirteen has followed suit with their new S/S tire. It's the long-awaited successor to what is now the TRS "All-Terrain" – a tire we've really enjoyed here at Vital in both its original and more recent forms...