Tested

Orbea depicts Wild as the “yes” machine, an enduro eMTB without compromises. An acclaimed favorite in the full-power eMTB category since its reinvention in 2022, the Wild now receives updates that focus on refinement rather than reinvention: more rear suspension travel with mullet compatibility, Bosch’s updated CX Performance motor, and a larger-capacity battery option. We spent a full season of shredding on the new Wild to see if it still stacks up to the fanfare in a category evolving at race speed. Wild Highlights OMR Carbon frame with 29-inch wheels (mullet compatible) 170mm (6.7 inches)...

The trail bike category is probably where most people go shopping for a Goldilocks do-it-all bike, although the same could be said for the enduro category. With 150mm of travel and a generally light build, the Primer is Intense’s answer for those looking to cover some miles and enjoy themselves on the way down. The Primer was quietly updated for 2025, and we’ve had this new version out on the trails for about a month to help you figure out what it is and what it isn’t. 2025 Intense Primer 29 Highlights Full carbon fiber front and rear triangle utilizing a carbon layup optimized for the trail...

One of the most talked about recent developments in the e-MTB market has been the arrival of the Avinox motor and battery system. Created by a company that has its roots in using batteries and motors to make things fly, it shouldn’t have come as a big surprise when the performance of the newcomer turned out to be quite spectacular. Amflow is the bike brand launched in parallel to essentially showcase the new motor system, and the PL is their first model. Today, Amflow makes its highly anticipated debut in the North American market, so we thought this would be the appropriate time to tell you...

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 travel // 170mm fork 29-inch or mixed wheel options (XS frame MX only) Full carbon frame DW-Link...

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 build, this 39.9-pound (size Medium without pedals) eMTB is aimed to be an all-mountain ripper that...

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, Rocky Mountain has once again pushed the limits of e-bikes with the 2025 Instinct Powerplay SL—their...

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 all the fables and lore, I joined the cult of the Mezzer for a few months to find out if I'm a true...

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. Aside from the excellent safety ratings, we were also very impressed with the overall fit and function...

Yeti has entered the SL eMTB arena with its MTe model, a 145mm travel platform powered by TQ's sleek new HPR 60 drive unit—which promises to blend analog feel with e-powered efficiency. With two battery options and featherweight builds claimed to be as light as 38 pounds, can the legendary, premium trail bike brand's new offering stand out in an increasingly competitive eMTB environment? Let's find out. Highlights 145mm rear wheel travel // 160mm fork (compatible with up to 180mm forks) Carbon frame enhanced with Vectran plies 29-inch wheels with mullet compatibility via a flip chip Sixfinity...

Race Face has been making quality flat pedals for a while now, with the 2nd generation of their Atlas model holding down a respectable if not spectacular position in our flat pedal rankings . Those rankings are in for a shake-up now though, as Race Face has recently introduced an all-new pedal that boasts some seriously impressive numbers and delivers an incredibly locked-in performance out on the trails. This is the 2025 Turbine. Race Face Turbine Flat Pedal Highlights Chromoly steel axle Inboard bushing, outboard bearing 6061 aluminum body, steel pins Platform concavity: 3 mm Platform...

If you’re a flat pedal rider and you’ve been around the sport for a while, you’ve probably ridden a Five Ten shoe at some point - chances are pretty good you’ve stuck with them too. Long the ONLY option if ultimate grip was your number one requirement for a flat pedal shoe, the legendary Stealth S1 rubber still sets the bar today as far as stickiness and feel go. Competitors have arrived though, and there are now other options that perform as well, notably Specialized with the latest iteration of their SlipNot compound. Fox also gets close with their Ultratac rubber, and they were also the...

When Orbea launched the Rise five years ago, it defined the emerging category of lightweight eMTBs, offering just enough motor support while preserving the feel of a traditional mountain bike. Its blend of agility, efficiency, and subtle power delivery set a benchmark that took others years to match. Although it took years for the competition to catch up, the eMTB category has gained traction with lighter SL offerings and bigger, full-power bikes at reduced weights. As the eMTB landscape diversifies and expands quickly, where does the Rise stand in 2025? Rise LT Highlights OMR Carbon frame 29...

When Schwalbe released the Tacky Chan in June 2023, I wasn't super impressed. I racked up just enough rides to write it off for anything but firm, consistent conditions, and that was that. But after seeing plenty of fast riders ripping on TCs in deeper, steeper, sloppier conditions (and reading some mixed reviews in our tire forum), I began to question if I'd done my due diligence. I felt like I owed Mr. Chan a second chance and our audience further insight into when and where this tire rips and slips. So here's an attempt to foe into friend with Schwalbe's Tacky Chan. Highlights 2.4-inch...

In the spring of 2022, SRAM quietly released the DB8, their first-ever mineral oil brake, after decades of using DOT fluid exclusively. Initially sold as an OE-only product, the DB8 was featured on price-conscious builds as a cheaper alternative to their go-to gravity brake at the time, the DOT 5.1-powered Code. Three years later, SRAM's entire brake lineup has moved over to mineral oil, with the addition of Maven and the recently released Motive. The DB8 holds an odd space in SRAM's lineup. It takes over the middle-of-the-range spot from the outgoing Code and, according to SRAM, delivers...

This is a first for Vital as we review a full-suspension e-MTB aimed at kids - the Rocky Mountain Reaper Powerplay 26. We won't be surprised if a bulk of your response to this bike is something along the lines of "Don't make kids soft by giving them a motor! Make them earn their laps." That's how we generally feel too, but we wanted to A) test this bike and B) see if our pint-sized punters would shun regular mountain bikes altogether after motorized assistance to the top of the hill. At the time of this review, Rocky Mountain has recently gone through corporate restructuring and their future...

The Race Face Chester composite pedal was always good value, but the original version was held back by its design. A bit too small and lacking effective concavity due to the presence of a prominent bulge over the axle, it never really provided that locked-in feel that we cherish in a flat pedal. The all-new version being reviewed here today addresses these points with a ground-up redesign that has made the Chester a much better pedal. Keep reading to learn more! Strengths Weaknesses Affordable, great value Very good grip Generous dimensions, two sizes to match rider foot size Composite body...

We’ve been running Hope cranks since they first started making them in 2015 . The very first iteration sported a unique spindle interface which functioned as intended but was a bit faffy to work with, and Hope moved to a more traditional self-extracting bolt system for the release of the EVO version of the crank in 2019. We still have our first EVO test sample running on a bike in our fleet to this day, testament to the great reliability of the updated design. Fast-forward to 2024, and Hope has added a carbon crank to their drivetrain catalog – in typical Hope fashion, it’s ingeniously named...

We first started coming across Turnon Components at trade shows a couple of years ago, intrigued by their use of a submerged dropper post as part of their exhibit. The point of the display was to showcase their “water and dust proof” dropper post, aptly named the Bunker. What sets this post apart from others is the lack of any kind of venting holes at the bottom of the post, which essentially creates a second air chamber inside the post as the air compressed by lowering the post has nowhere to go. To see what all this translates to in real life, we’ve been testing the Bunker for a few months...