EXT Storia Lok V4 Rear Shock
Vital Review
Tested: EXT Storia V4
Overall Review
Italian suspension specialist EXT has been on a roll recently, introducing new products and updating existing models regularly. The Storia (enduro) and Arma (DH) coil shocks have now been given a complete overhaul, with plenty of new features added and further construction improvements implemented. We’ve had the Storia V4 on a test bike for a few weeks now, keep reading to learn all about the changes and find out what we think of it on the trail. EXT Storia V4 Highlights PSR (Position Sensitive
EXT Storia Lok V4 Rear Shock
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5
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DT Swiss EXC 1200 Classic Wheelset
Overall Review
Always looking for innovative ways to make better products, DT Swiss has developed new, patented techniques and tools for manufacturing carbon rims. Instead of building up the carbon layers from the inside and out, DT Swiss now uses a singular mold to directly construct each 1200 series rim from the outside in, which they say improves the consistency of the layup and minimizes any imperfections. The new 1200 range of wheels features different layups and builds to suit different riding scenarios
DT Swiss EXC 1200 Classic Wheelset
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4
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2024 Norco Fluid VLT C1 130 E-Bike
Overall Review
Light-weight e-bikes are here to stay, and with all the offerings from nearly every major brand, it's safe to say, like it or not, that the future of mountain bike riding for a majority of the population will involve a battery and a motor. If that's something you despise, move along. If you're down to embrace the power of electricity in a trail-riding application, then Norco's 2024 Fluid VLT lineup should pique your interest. Norco Fluid VLT Highlights Full carbon frame or carbon front triangle
2024 Norco Fluid VLT C1 130 E-Bike
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7iDP Project.21 Holographic Ltd Ed Open Face Helmet
7iDP is Legit
The Good
Quality and Fit!
The Bad
Not much at all.
Overall Review
Great review! I can't wait! I have several gloves, the M1 trail lid, knee/shin pads, and elbow pads for my daughter and me. All are so great I went ahead and orderd the LE Project 23 lid and it fits like a glove right out of the box, its SUPER light and looks INCREDIBLE! So, as soon as the new LE Project 21 trail lid went on sale yesterday I scooped mine up! I'll test it out in Bentonville next week, but I expect to be 100% satisfied with it as I am with everything else they put out. Hoping we
7iDP Project.21 Holographic Ltd Ed Open Face Helmet
Vital Review
Tested: 7iDP Project.21 Helmet
Overall Review
Protection is serious business, and 7iDP has always been serious about it. We’ve had great results with many of their products over the years, from kneepads to helmets, so we are excited to see them release a new high-end half shell now. The Project.21 was designed with increasingly technical and demanding riding in mind, and it comes loaded with both comfort and safety features. Keep reading to learn more! 7iDP Project.21 Highlights (Holographic Ltd Ed Series 1) ERT™ System Conehead™ Technology
DEITY SUPERVILLAIN Flat Pedal
Overall Review
D eity’s TMAC pedal has been around for quite a few years by now, and in that time it has become widely recognized as one of the leading options on the market. Case in point, it has been holding down a podium position in our long-standing flat pedal face off ever since it was first published in 2016. Building on the legacy of such a successful product is always a daunting task, but that didn’t deter Deity from looking for ways to make it even better. The result is called the Supervillain, and it
DEITY SUPERVILLAIN Flat Pedal
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8
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Nukeproof Horizon V2 Wheels
The Good
- The Nukeproofs rolled fast, at least compared to my previous Race Face Turbine R wheelset with the Vault hubs.
- Not as heavy as you might suspect. The front wheel weighed in at 912 grams at the bike shop. Couldn't weigh the rear as the shop had installed the cassette before I thought about weighing it.
- Laterally stiff, vertically compliant. Yeah, you've heard that before. My hands tell me that the front is a bit softer than the Crankbrothers Enduro wheel, even though the Horizons have 32 spokes as opposed to 28.
- Fast and solid engagement. It feels just as fast as the Vault hubs without any of the skipping that I experienced with the Turbine R wheelset.
- Durable. No need for truing after four years. I can't say that about the i9 Enduro wheels. Finish is durable, too!
- Price, especially with their bundle with inserts.
The Bad
The valve cap is supposed to double as a valve core remover. It worked fine until it got stuck in the valve core. I went back to using a dedicated valve core remover.
Overall Review
I liked it so much that I bought another set for another bike from Chain Reaction before it went out of business. Unless someone somewhere comes up with a better, stronger, or lighter wheelset, I will continue to have the Nukeproofs on two of my bikes.
Nukeproof Horizon V2 Wheels
1
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2024 Yeti SB165 T3 X0 Transmission Bike
Vital Review
REVIEW - The Updated 2024 Yeti SB165
Overall Review
The Yeti SB Lineup has morphed into a new generation of bikes over the last two years, with some models switching over to 29-inch wheels and others popping up in 27.5-inch variants. There are revisions to frame construction, suspension kinematics, and size-specific geometry across all models. With the latest iteration of the SB165 being teased over the last couple of months, it was no surprise that it has undergone the same treatment. Created initially as the dual-27.5-inch option for the wildly
2024 Yeti SB165 T3 X0 Transmission Bike
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2022 Kona Process 153 27.5 Bike
The Good
Geometry, part spec
The Bad
Wheels/hubs, price/value
Overall Review
Long-ish travel, 430mm chainstays, and a lot of laps of any trail you want. One of the last fun mountain bikes and sad to think it will disappear with the dissolution of Kona. That said, it was arguably one iteration too far on the modern geometry for Kona's loyal fanbase and worse yet the price per spec was becoming harder and harder to justify, even post-covid and during the sales. Luckily, I got the Shimano spec of this bike but sadly... The wheelset is I guess about as low end a boost
2022 Kona Process 153 27.5 Bike
Member Rating: