Tested

During the Vital MTB 27.5 DH Test Sessions, the Norco Aurum HSP went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Aurum HSP. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights Available in 27.5 (tested) and 29-inch models Carbon frame with size-scaled tubing 200mm (7.9-inches) front and rear travel High single-pivot suspension design with an idler pulley Metric trunnion shock with bearings 225x75mm (27.5) // 225x70mm (29) rear shock Gravity Tune: Chainstay length increases...

During the Vital MTB 27.5 DH Test Sessions, the Canyon Sender went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Sender. 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 front end // 6066 T6 aluminum rear triangle 200mm (7.9-inches) front and rear travel MX Link suspension design with industrial bearings and sag monitor Adjustable chainstay length and head angle (included headset cups) // Six distinct geometry options Integrated frame protection throughout //...

Suspension brand loyalty and setups, like most bits on a mountain bike, are highly subjective. A few years back, RockShox and FOX seemed to be the heavy hitters and appeared almost exclusively on most high-end mountain bikes. Recently, however, brands like DVO, Öhlins, Cane Creek, and EXT (to name a few) are gaining traction among both weekend warriors and elites. While SR Suntour may often be associated with entry-level and mid-range products, they have quietly been working their way into the high-end market and have aligned with big-name cross-country and DH teams, world-class freeriders...

Tioga is a brand with a rich heritage in our sport. Most recognizable is their support of one of biking’s greatest — John Tomac. Innumerable riders strapped the original Factory DH tires to their 26-inch rims and dropped into the race course, determined to imitate Tomac’s success. When the time came for Vital to test the new Glide G3 from Tioga, these were the emotions conjured up, and a smirk of nostalgia spread across our mug. Like so many elements of yesteryear, would the reality add up to the memory? It was time to put the Glide G3 to the test. Strengths Cornering traction and consistency...

Last fall we flogged Kona’s updated Process G2 and had a blast doing it. The update improved every single trait of the bike, but many folks were left wondering, “Where’s the wagon wheeler?” Kona hinted at the fact that a 29-inch Process 153 was in the works. Shortly after the release of the Process G2, aluminum versions of the Process 153 29 started to surface. On paper, the 29-inch version of the Process shares just about every trait with its smaller sibling, and we were excited to see if the Process 153 CR/DL 29 retained the qualities we liked about the 27.5-inch version – in addition to the...

Suspension manufacturer X-Fusion has quietly been reorganizing behind the scenes over the last 12 months, closing down their Santa Cruz based US headquarters, moving customer support to Reno, and building a new, dedicated factory in Taichung, Taiwan. The fork, shock, and adjustable seatpost company is transforming into a more vertically-integrated suspension manufacturer and looking to improve their product along the way. New manufacturing capabilities means new product, and X-Fusion recently came to market with the all-new Trace – a 36mm stanchion fork boasting up to 170mm of travel for 29...

The last time we spent some miles aboard the Devinci Troy was back in 2016 during Vital MTB Test Sessions. At the time, we were impressed with the (then 27.5) bike’s ability to be pushed hard. A lot has changed since our last ride. With new standards, shock mounts, suspension improvements, wheel options, and geometry tweaks to look forward to, we were excited to spend a few months aboard the latest Devinci Troy to see if all the updates would retain the qualities we liked and refine those we weren’t so thrilled with. With three months of ride time under the tires, it's time to fill you in on...

With the mountain biking industry booming right now, countless new equipment options are available. When looking for a decent pair of riding shorts, it doesn’t take long before one is up to their helmet strap in choices. In hopes of alleviating some of the stress and confusion, we slid our legs into the Leatt DBX 5.0 riding shorts. With nearly six months of abuse, here’s what we’ve learned. Strengths Waterproofing Rear ventilation Pocket volume Tailored inseam Pre-curved knee Comfort Weaknesses Noisy Front ventilation Few pockets with relatively small openings Rear waistline material...

With 170mm of travel on tap and the ability to morph itself at the push of a lever, Scott's new Ransom is the best all-mountain/enduro bike the company has created. It's truly a blast to ride and handles so many scenarios well. Listen in as Vital MTB's Product Editor, Brandon Turman, rallies down Purgatory Resort outside of Durango, Colorado, telling you everything he thinks about the orange machine. Be sure to check out Vital's First Look article for a complete tech breakdown. Ransom Highlights One frame, two wheel sizes: 27.5 or 29-inch Carbon and aluminum frame options 170mm (6.7-inch)...

As part of the Gravity Cartel, Spank have been sponsoring an eclectic collection of riding talent: World Cup descenders, Enduro World Series dominators and top-level freeriders all rest their confidence in the company with a name for the naughty. Spank seem to be able to think outside the box to try new elements in product design that they feel will offer a discernible ride quality and technical advantage for riders. Many of these riders are relying on Spank’s Vibrocore product line and its newest addition, the Spike 350 wheelset. With a slew of acronyms and bold claims of technological...

If you are looking for cranks that feel solid under your feet and connect you to the bike and drivetrain seamlessly, the Praxis Girder is an option worth considering. Praxis Cycles, based in Santa Cruz, California, is known for its diverse line-up of carbon and alloy drivetrain components. They keep their products accessible with the Girder carbon mountain bike cranks intended for XC, trail and enduro use. Strengths Stiffness Aesthetics Durability Ease of install Chainring included Weaknesses Chain retention Praxis Girder Carbon Highlights Carbon arm construction 170 and 175mm crank lengths...

Outsider Bikes has come up with a crafty new upper suspension link that allows the 135mm-travel Santa Cruz Hightower to be converted into a 150mm machine. The bike retains shreddable geometry and must run a newer Metric shock. Coupled with a 150 or 160mm fork, the new link and shock move the Hightower into a bigger bike category like the Hightower LT without having to upgrade an entire frame. We spent the past few months aboard the “Hacktower” to see what the Missing Link could unlock from our trusty daily driver. Ever since the release of the original Hightower, people began modifying and...

Within the industry, there have been countless products which have altered the way we perceive mountain biking. Well before Boost spacing, dropper posts, and even mountain bike specific 10-speed drivetrains, a motorcycle suspension company dabbling in mountain bikes pioneered suspension as we know it. They replaced elastomers with coil springs and open bath dampers, 26-28mm diameter stanchions with 30mm, and nearly doubled the industry standard travel for single crowns. The weapon that housed these changes was called Z1. Fast-forward two decades and the Z1 has been reborn. The goal for the new...

The Italian word “Arma” translates to “Weapon.” If you currently don’t know anything about this company or piece of suspension, that's at least a pretty good starting point. Extreme Racing Shox, better known as EXT, is an Italian brand that has been immersed in the world of racing for 55 years. They have been helping make rally, F1, Le Mans, and pretty much anything that needs to go fast, do so under precise control with their unique valving technologies and future-minded approach to product development. In 2014, EXT decided to take their decades of experience in motorsports and bring it to...

Itis as close to any objective statement as an opinion can be: the 2019 Trek Remedy sitting in the Vital garage is a damn good looking bike. Clean lines, bold carbon molds and a tuxedo-classy paint job. Trek’s popular trail machine is back in a new version, and like the Session and Slash it now has a stationary lower shock mount – no more Full Floater. Trek states that with updated shock technologies, primarily RE:aktiv and Thru Shaft, off-the-top sensitivity and overall rear suspension feel no longer require the action of the floating shock mount. The Remedy also gains some stiffness and tire...

'What a most super special and awesome best good time thing this bike is. For many times of funs and sends, this off-road bicycle will make biggest splash.' Marketing speak be damned, bikes these days are pretty awesome and the Canyon Spectral is no exception. Yes, light carbon wonder-rigs with the most bitching of parts are fantastic. One can even get a Spectral equipped as such. Thing is, the vast majority of us don’t truly need them and can't fully utilize them, much less do we want to shell out for them. Read on to find out why the Spectral AL 6.0 is the ultimate punctuation in that...

Zerode's 160mm travel Taniwha enduro/all-mountain bike represents one of the best mountain bike frame production efforts built around a gearbox drivetrain system. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Where does it excel and where does it struggle? Does it live up the Māori monster inspired New Zealand name? After more than three months of use in dozens of locations, it's time to fill you in on the all the juicy details. Highlights Carbon frame 27.5-inch (650b) wheels 160mm (6.3-inches) of front and rear wheel travel Single-pivot suspension with 216x63mm shock Collet-style pivot hardwear Pinion C1...

If you’ve been riding bikes for over a two decades or ask your seasoned shop guy (you know, the only mechanic who can setup cantilever brakes within a reasonable amount of time) which fork changed suspension as we know it, one product will come to mind: Z1. Well before the year 2000 and the frantic Y2K computer-crash scare, mountain bike forks consisted of slim tubes containing rubber-like chunks of plastic known as elastomers. Riding with dampers at the time was like playing a spontaneous game of Russian Roulette, but replace the bullet with a shower of fork fluid. Anything offering over 2.5...

After years in the cycling industry, Jeff Soncrant and Kevin Sigismondo put their heads together to create a ground up mountain bike brand of their own. It wasn’t that they hadn’t been working with great folks, but they wanted the opportunity to create products without restraints and in their own image. With a "clean slate" approach to design, Eminent Cycles has set the bar high with the Haste, which they claim to be the ultimate enduro bike. We spoke with Soncrant who elaborated on their priorities: "We feel that we must create product that improves the current market standard and try not to...

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, driven by the unforeseen death of a fellow rider, a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery set out to design a revolutionary neck brace. After several years of research and design, Dr. Chris Leatt (MB ChB) finally had his first neck brace in production, and it wasn't long until the Leatt-Brace earned the product of the year award from one of the largest moto news and media outlets. Ever since that day, Dr. Leatt and his hand-picked R&D team have been pushing boundaries and setting new standards, not only when it comes to neck braces but in all...

During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, the Trek Slash went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Slash. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights OCLV Mountain carbon main frame and seatstays, alloy chainstays 29-inch wheels 150mm (5.9-inches) of rear wheel travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) fork travel EVO link suspension with ABP (Active Braking Pivot) Trunnion style 230x57.5mm Metric shock with RE:aktiv and Thru Shaft Straight Shot frame design with...

During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, the Transition Sentinel went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Sentinel. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights Aluminum frame 29-inch wheels 140mm (5.5-inches) of rear wheel travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) fork travel GiddyUp 2.0hh suspension Trunnion style 205x57.5mm Metric shock Shorter 44mm offset fork Molded rubber chainstay and downtube protection Rattle-free internal cable port covers External rear...

During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, the Specialized Enduro Coil 29 went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Enduro. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights FACT IS-X 11m carbon frame 29-inch wheels 160mm (6.3-inches) of front and rear wheel travel FSR suspension Custom shock size and mount Flip chip adjustable geometry Roval Traverse Carbon wheels SWAT down tube storage and hidden SWAT CC tool Fully enclosed internal cable routing Compatible...

During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, Evil's The Wreckoning went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to The Wreckoning. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights Uni-directional carbon frame 29-inch wheels 161mm (6.3-inches) of rear wheel travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) fork travel DELTA System suspension Various 216x63mm shock upgrades available Flip chip adjustable geometry Internal cable routing Integrated 30% sag meter Downtube, seatstay and chainstay...

During the 2018 Vital MTB Long-Travel 29er Test Sessions, the Orbea Rallon went head-to-head with four other leading bikes. What follows are our thoughts specific to the Rallon. Be sure to check out the main feature for an in-depth comparison video, timed testing results, and more. Highlights Orbea Monocoque Race carbon frame 29-inch wheels 150mm (5.9-inches) of rear wheel travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) fork travel Advanced Dynamics suspension with concentric rear axle/pivot Offset Metric 230x60mm shock Shorter 44mm offset fork Adjustable geometry Internal cable routing Threaded bottom bracket...

When it comes to improving a bike's performance, one of the key areas to consider is suspension. Combined with your tires, it is by and large responsible for controlling your bike's interaction with the trail beneath you. DVO, short for Developed Suspension, has a long history in our sport and knows a thing or two about how to perfect that interaction, maximizing traction and control on your mountain bike. Whether your goal is outright comfort, speed, or a combination of the two, their suspension products offer the tuning means to make it happen. We've been torture-testing the DVO Topaz T3 Air...