Tested

This Specialized classic has gone through several generations and has been the companion to many historic tails about epic rides of yesteryear. In 2018, the Stumpjumper once again received many updates. Among them, it inherited the previous Demo’s spaceship-like sidearm main triangle design, got a bit longer than before, is now stiffer and lighter, has a geometry adjustment, and the little details are more dialed than ever. For the women’s models, a female-specific Specialized Rx suspension tune comes standard front and rear. It’s safe to say this is a big update compared to Stumpjumpers of...

What is it that makes a bike fun? What do we require it be capable of? What boxes must it check? Pedaling, pumping, jumping, climbing, descending? Surviving, encouraging, enjoying? The list could be a mile long and will vary from bike to bike and rider to rider. Hopping on the Transition Scout, a mid-travel trail/all-mountain bike with Transition's Speed Balanced Geometry (SBG) and GiddyUp 2.0HH suspension, we expect some fun will be had. Will it check all our boxes though? Strengths Weaknesses Great cornering feel and performance Quieting yet lively over chunky descents Doesn't lose much...

Depending on the time of year, the orientation of celestial bodies or the status of soybean futures, I may or may not care how mountain bikes are labeled. I started riding in the mid-1990s, and every ride I went on was a “cross-country” ride. The only other kind of riding was downhill, and in the mid-90s downhill wasn’t an option fiscally or geographically for me. To this day, every ride that doesn’t involve a chairlift is a cross-country ride to me. “I’m gonna go ride XC,” I might tell my wife. Whether it’s for the sake of marketing or real, actual clarity for consumers, various bike style...

Alex Rims might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think about flashy wheels, but they have been making rims in Taiwan since 1992 and have a huge offering from entry-level wheels to top carbon hoops. Alex has built a reputation for a great value. More often found OEM on complete bikes, Alex wheels are also used by privateer racers who need a dependable wheelset that doesn’t break the bank. We couldn’t wait to see if their new Recon 3.0 lived up to their reputation. Strengths Weaknesses Light Tool-free hub disassembly Too stiff Top layer prone to chipping Average freewheel...

With over 30 years in the mountain bike business, Orange Bikes has stuck to their guns maintaining a manufacturing base on home soil and an enduring suspension design which today, defies market convention. While this approach has certainly earned Orange a loyal and often cult-like fan base, the nuances of the brand and indeed their bikes leave others dumbfounded. Are Orange owners drinking their own Kool-Aid or is there something special about these somewhat simplistic bikes that the rest of us are missing out on? We took their big-wheeled, all-day enduro sled, the Stage 6, out on a bunch of...

The iXS Trigger Knee guards have treated us very well during the testing period and yes, they’ve even hit the ground. From deserts to mountains, we have had these pads in all conditions and they have not failed in comfort or protection. They look great as well, with coverage that helps to minimize the shorts-to-knee pad gap that we have seen with other pads. Notably, these pads stay in place without pinching or bunching up. Let's get into it. Strengths Weaknesses Comfort and breathability Easy to wear when pedaling Level of protection Design and features that matter, none that don’t Stay in...

The concept of a high single-pivot is not new. The Balfa BB7 had a cult following almost twenty years ago, and those lucky enough to get their hands on one rode them to pieces after the brand went under. The Canfield brothers, who were sending it aboard the Big Fat Fatty Fat, have also utilized the concept for quite some time. That said, high single pivot designs have been absent from mainstream bike design – especially on trail bikes – for quite some time until they resurfaced more recently on Norco and Commencal DH bikes. No doubt, the success of the Aurum HSP and Supreme DH have confirmed...

Breaking tradition and revolutionizing the short-travel trail bike, Santa Cruz has packed a full case of radness into a tight little package with the fourth-generation Tallboy 4. Straying from the usual shorter travel equals steeper head angle and shorter reach equation, Santa Cruz trickled down similar geometry traits from the Tallboy's dump truck cousin, the Megatower. The result is a long, slack, ridiculously fun, and very capable short-travel whippersnapper. Strengths Weaknesses Downcountry dominator Snappy on the pedals Poppy and fun as hell Comfortable at speed and on the steeps...

When Devinci launched the Django in 2016, it came in either a 27.5 or 29-inch platform. The aim was simple: a fun trail bike for exploring the hills. Vital tested and loved the 29-inch iteration (the only form offered now) so when we were invited out to Bromont, Canada to try out the latest update, it was an eager yes on our end. The new Django is more. More bike, more travel, more rubber and more capable. Despite our American sensibilities, more is not necessarily better. We’ve tangled with Django for the past two months. Read on to see how we fared with the scrappy trail bike from the great...

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...

A27.5 bike update when 29ers are on such a big rise? Absolutely. First and foremost, Yeti's newest bike is made to rip. They're not shying away from the fact that their bigger-wheeled bikes are best for those looking to race. The SB140, on the other hand, is a trail bike that's made to play around. This massive refresh to the SB5 includes 13mm of additional travel out back, 10mm up front, updated geometry, and all the other fine touches and features gained through Yeti's latest platform evolution. Strengths Weaknesses Light feel Makes chill, flowy, everyday trails a blast Good support from...

Going from strength to strength, the last few years has seen rider-run, independent component manufacturer Deity cement its place in the market as a producer of high-quality goods that both talk the talk and walk the walk. Deity prides itself in making stuff that not only looks good (and it generally does), but that also works well on the bike. The 35mm cockpit standard is not without its challenges when it comes to getting the feel and stiffness right, which is why Deity took their sweet time before introducing a 35mm line. When they finally did, earlier this year, they came to the table with...

The Yeti SB6 has been around since bikes with 27.5-inch wheels were first raced by top enduro pros. In practical terms, a long time. Its life officially began in 2014, when Jared Graves rolled up to the Winter Park EWS on a brand new bike and took the win. One year later he built "The Internet Killer," a dual-crown-equipped SB6c that stood atop the podium at a National DH race in Australia. Capability proven. Years passed, technology progressed, and with the things Yeti learned during the development of the SB150 and SB130, it's time for a major update to Yeti's most-loved 27.5 bike. The new...

Tioga is what one may refer to as a legacy brand – a company with roots deeply intertwined in the heart of mountain biking – and the old school racer’s choice for giant saddles is making a resurgence in the tire game. We reviewed the Glide G3 and G3TT previously and were fans of the cornering abilities at play. Tioga replied in kind as if to say, “Hold my beer.” The Edge 22 has a familiar knob design but they’ve been arranged in a distinctly new way, creating a large center channel and greatly reducing any gap between the inner and edge knobs. Strong claims were made by Tioga and when the tire...

With warmer temperature hitting the northern hemisphere and the snowpacks beginning to sluff off, here at Vital we started dusting off our big hitting bikes for a great season of shredding. Before all that and while the snow was still falling, Vee Tires filled us in with their latest project, the Vee Snap WCE tire. This new DH tire is the product of extensive R&D in conjunction with the Propain Six Pack World Cup DH team, and it brings to the table another option for riders looking for a grippy, durable and strong tire for going down rowdy terrain at stupid speeds. With several months of...

Over the past few years, wheel size, frame material, suspension design, geometry, and just about every other aspect of frame design has changed or been tweaked within any given brand. A quick glance at the pile of hub spacers in the toolbox only reinforces the reality that the only constant in the bike industry seems to be change. At Vital MTB, we believe that change is a good thing, but only if there is a discernible improvement over the products being replaced. If brands discover a better way of doing things we’re always keen to give something new a shot, especially if it makes riding more...

Loose Riders Global Alliance apparel departs from the race-inspired aesthetic while retaining the kind of features you want while going fast downhill. The prints and graphics say party. The build and fit say shred. -by Alan Sangma Strengths Rugged build Snug fit Flex where it counts Well-placed and waterproof pockets Jersey has sublimated graphics Weaknesses Heavy for a pair of shorts Tight hip pockets Highlights Protective heft Waterproof pockets for keys, large phone Gripping waistband Built-in mesh liner Ratcheted belt Vented flex areas Shorts: $114.99 / Jersey: $54.99 Initial Impressions...

After a few years of real-world testing, Roval went back to the drawing board with their entire series of mountain wheels before launching things last summer in Whistler. The latest Roval series features a number of refinements and has the potential to put the Roval wheelset near the top of everybody’s aftermarket upgrade list. Let's dig in. Strengths Weaknesses Excellent balance between stiffness and compliance Much quieter on trail than previous version 30mm inner width is perfect for most modern tires Tubeless from the box Same spoke length throughout J-bend spokes all of the same length...

Because the sports are similar in many ways, off-road dirt biking is a popular crossover for mountain bikers. It's my favorite hobby, by far. Still high on adrenaline and a sense of accomplishment, I equated my first off-road moto racing experience to riding two hours non-stop on a downhill bike. With terrain coming at you that fast for that long, it's an absolute two-wheeled rush. Not only did it feel similar to riding DH, but the demands on my body were comparable. Two hours of rock and whoop smashing can put a toll on you physically, and for many it can be downright difficult to just hang...

Aaron Gwin's impact on TRP has been tremendous, and the latest brake from the growing brand benefits from the technologies developed with one of the world's best downhill racers. Together they made the burly Quadiem brake, scrutinizing every detail along the way, and much of it bears a close resemblance to the new Trail SL brake you see before you. You'll find the same G-Spec lever blade and finned caliper body on both brakes, although the Trail SL gets mismatched piston sizes and its own lever body. How does that downhill pedigree transfer over to the everyday trail ride? After over five...

Pyga Hyrax may not be a word set familiar to most, but the name Patrick Morewood does carry a good deal of weight in the mountain bike world. Those with memories or birthdays relevant enough will recall the Morewood line of bikes fondly. The bliss is that Pyga and Patrick are one and the same. Established in 2012, Pyga has generated a following in the South African cross-country and marathon racing scene with their Stage line of bikes. Looking to expand markets in the industry as well as geographically, Pyga brought about the Slakline and Hyrax bikes, as well as distribution in the USA through...

We wrapped our 29-inch rims with some relatively new WTB rubber for this test. Up front we ran the WTB TCS Vigilante 2.5 Light / High Grip, and out back we slapped on the TCS Trail Boss 2.4 Tough / Fast Rolling tire. The Pivot Firebird 29 was our chassis of choice for this review, and the tires were subjected to over 400 aggressive miles in all weather conditions with terrain ranging from lift laps to long trail days. Find out how the tires held up to our long-term abuse. Strengths Both the tires really bite in at aggressive lean angles They handle a pretty wide variety of trail types and...

When Miranda set out to make the XMOD MTB carbon crankset, they wanted them to be lightweight, durable, and compatible with multiple mountain bike disciplines. With over six months of testing on our end, we feel we’ve come to a verdict on how well they did in covering these objectives. Strengths Weaknesses Modular design where the crank arms, spindles, and spider/chainring are completely interchangeable Very lightweight Titanium spindle for size and weight Spectacular chain retention Great looking gloss finish Quick chainring/spider changes The chain may grind with less-than-perfect chain...

During the Vital MTB 27.5 DH Test Sessions, the UNNO Ever went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Ever. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights 27.5-inch wheels Carbon frame with high-gloss, self-healing finish Only 50 bikes produced per year, by hand, in Barcelona 200mm (7.9-inches) front and rear travel Dual-link suspension design Integrated frame protection throughout Internal cable routing with inner guides and rubber port seals Rubber seal on seatpost collar...

During the Vital MTB 27.5 DH Test Sessions, the Specialized Demo 8 went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Demo 8. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights 27.5-inch wheels Asymmetric carbon frame 200mm (7.9-inches) front and rear travel FSR suspension design with concentric main pivot/bottom bracket Lipped and sealed cartridge pivot bearings Integrated frame protection throughout // Additional paint protection included Internal/external rear brake routing options...

During the Vital MTB 27.5 DH Test Sessions, the Pivot Phoenix went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Phoenix. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights 27.5-inch wheels Carbon frame 204mm (8.0-inches) rear travel // 200mm (7.9-inches) front dw-link suspension design 9.5x3.0-inch shock with sag indicator Air shock suggested due to clevis design Internal cable routing with cable port system Integrated frame protection throughout Press fit bottom bracket with ISCG 05...