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Overall Review

When PNW Components launched the first generation of the Loam flat pedal, we were initially taken aback by the somewhat unusual shape and lack of pronounced concavity, but we were then quickly won over by the actual performance of the pedal out on the trails. The all-new Gen 2 version builds on the same general shape as its predecessor, but it has been reworked in every aspect to further improve on its performance and serviceability. The pedal hits the market today, but we’ve been testing it

PNW Components Loam Gen 2 Flat Pedal

2

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iceman2058

7/27/2025 9:43pm

2025 Pivot Firebird Pro X0 Eagle Transmission Bike

Overall Review

The latest generation of Pivot's Firebird enduro bike is a unique beast with an enticing set of skills. Despite its aggressive intent, it manages to balance big-hit capability with surprising efficiency on climbs. It's also got a lot of pep in its step for a 165mm bike. Marketed as the weapon of choice for Pivot's EDR racers, there is a lot more to unpack about the Firebird than just raw speed that makes it a compelling option for those wanting a long-travel bike. Highlights 165mm rear wheel

2025 Pivot Firebird Pro X0 Eagle Transmission Bike

3

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Jason_Schroeder

7/25/2025 2:00pm

2026 YT Decoy Core 4 E-Bike

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Overall Review

Launched in 2019, the Decoy was YT’s first foray into the e-MTB space. Whilst the online chatter often cited its geo as conservative, that did nothing to hold the bike back, whether in tests or in the web shop where it’s still sitting pretty as YT’s best-selling bike to date. Even the somewhat aging Shimano EP801 motor has done little to blunt its appeal over the past few years, driven as always by a strong price/value ratio underpinned by the direct-to-consumer sales model. With all that said

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2026 YT Decoy Core 4 E-Bike

6

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iceman2058

7/22/2025 6:25pm

2025 Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Pro X0 Eagle Transmission E-Bike

Overall Review

The newest eMTB in Pivot's lineup, the Shuttle SL/AM, is the latest offering to the emerging lightweight eMTB category. The "Slam," as it is affectionately referred to, is intended to be as agile as their trail-focused Shuttle SL, yet more capable than their all-mountain Shuttle AM. With 150mm of rear wheel travel, the Slam slots between Pivot's two full-power options—the 170mm Shuttle LT and 148mm Shuttle AM—in terms of suspension capability. But weighing between 8-11 pounds less depending on

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2025 Pivot Shuttle SL/AM Pro X0 Eagle Transmission E-Bike

6

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Jason_Schroeder

7/21/2025 1:01pm

2025 Ibis Oso GX Eagle AXS E-Bike

The Good

To be clear, this is the 1.1 2025.
The lights f/r crack me up, but it's cool.
Lots of suspension
Lots of power
Ride time is like forever
Great component group (not all would appreciate Shimano brakes, but I the 220mm rotors? FTW)
DH casing tires come stock. Which is my jam.
You can put a 190mm dual crown fork on it.
You can extend rear travel to 170mm if wanted.
Bosch CX. Gen4, not Gen5. But It is really that good.
It's like $6500 USD. Full build. Pretty sure my Ripmo frame only was like $3000

The Bad

Being very picky. As I have been riding since 1994.
It's heavy 52ish lbs (freedom units)
I did replace grips/bar/stem and pedals. Because I'm a bike nerd. The stock ones are really fine.
The bike yoke seatpost I did have to reset, but that's literally a 20sec process, once you know what to do.
The bike came from sea level and I'm at a mile high. So you can expect things with air pressure to need to be adjusted. That's not really a "BAD" just a "you gotta expect that" type of thing.

Overall Review

So a bit about me so you don't think I'm an ass. I do have a Ripmo, for transparency. And raced a IH Sunday and Turner DHR for most of my "career") Those are both DW link suspension FYI. As is the Oso. I've owned a Scott e Genius, Commencal eMeta, And Trek Fuel EXE. The Oso is my favorite. So Far.... :) Oh and be sure to test ride one for size. I'm 6'2" and I'm on a medium. They don't recommend that. Usually I'm an L or XL. But I sized down for this eeb. Longer stem and taller bar. Perfect.

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2025 Ibis Oso GX Eagle AXS E-Bike

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SylentK

7/19/2025 8:03am

Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Flat Pedal Shoe

Five Ten Freerider Pro BOAr Mountain Bike Shoes Black IH3050 01 00 standard

The Good

So like many a five ten, the big plus is always what you'd expect, the grip!!!

The Bad

Lets not beat around the bush BOA is both FANTASTIC and a pain in the ass - right move, just not enough of it

Overall Review

As always, they are exactly what you'd want, with that planted feeling of being glued to the pedals and a perfect mix of stability and firmness through the soul of the shoe. Having ridden a few other brands recently, it feels like coming home being back on Five Tens, I wonder why I ever left! So the grip, awesome, the design works, and I really love the fact that they are a lot more water resistant than previous five tens (laced freerider pro's). The BOA was a game changing move, certainly one I

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Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Flat Pedal Shoe

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Benjamin

7/19/2025 2:40am

2025 Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90 E-Bike

Overall Review

Rocky Mountain isn't a brand many riders would expect to develop its own cutting-edge e-bike technology. But back in 2009, they did just that, launching Propulsion Powercycle division under the same roof as their Quebec HQ. When they introduced their first model, the Altitude Powerplay, in 2017, the proprietary 108Nm Dyname 3.0 motor quietly took the top spot as the most powerful Class 1 e-bike motor. A title that was only recently relinquished to DJI's latest Avinox system. Seven years later

2025 Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL Carbon 90 E-Bike

2

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Blake_Motley

7/13/2025 11:16am

Manitou Mezzer Pro Fork

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Overall Review

Early to the party of contemporary thick-stanchioned enduro forks, Manitou's Mezzer Pro has remained largely unchanged since its release nearly six years ago. A relatively low cost alongside end-user tunability and serviceability have earned it a cult-like following in that time. Despite such a following, unconventional aesthetics, rare OE spec and minimal representation under top racers have likely kept the Mezzer Pro from the list of must-have forks for most riders. To get to the bottom of

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Manitou Mezzer Pro Fork

40

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Blake_Motley

7/11/2025 11:25am

Fox Racing Speedframe Pro Helmet

Overall Review

Fox completely overhauled their flagship half-shell helmet range at the beginning of this year, with the all-new Speedframe RS and Speedframe Pro shooting straight to the very top of Virginia Tech’s well-regarded helmet safety rankings at the time. The POC Cularis has since replaced the Speedframe RS in the #1 spot, but the differences are marginal and both aforementioned Fox helmets are still in the top 4, which is not too shabby considering that there are currently 271 helmets on the list

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Fox Racing Speedframe Pro Helmet

3

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iceman2058

6/25/2025 5:49pm

FOX Podium Factory Fork

MY26-Podium Rotation Front.No .Axle .Art

Overall Review

Fox famously dabbled with an inverted DH fork in 2011, and quickly scrapped the project due to negative rider feedback, including excessive weight and torsional flex. 15 years later, they’re bringing back the inverted idea, but upping the difficulty by moving to a single crown platform. The new fork is heavy, unconventional, expensive, and risky, but FOX thinks it’s going to blow your mind. In fact, they’ve already secured spec for the Podium on bikes from at least nine different brands for

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FOX Podium Factory Fork

42

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TEAMROBOT

6/24/2025 9:00am