ALPINE BIKES - YT Industries...dropper post lever. Dual compound A tyre with harder, faster rolling, longer lasting rubber in the centre and softer, grippier shoulders for safer cornering

Bike TestA L P I N E B I K E S

£2,950-£3,100

ALPINE BIKES

126 Mountain Biking UK

Words Guy Kesteven Pics Steve Behr

Guy Kesteven No one’s tested more bikes in the past decade than our northern test chief. He’s a veteran of the world’s most radical mountain routes, from the Megavalanche race track to the trails of Finale Ligure and the Sierra Nevada.

THETESTER

Alpine, all-mountain, enduro – whatever you want to call them, the best big-hitting all-rounder bikes are now even faster and

more fun downhill, yet easier to get back to the top again than ever before.

Downhill bike style geometry boosts flat-out technical terrain confidence massively. Wide bars and short stems are now standard issue for sorted steering, and dropper posts let you get loose on descents but give a perfect pedalling position

on climbs. Mid-sized 650b wheels roll slightly smoother and faster, and the latest enduro tyres give DH grip and strength at ride-all-day weight.

But as bikes seemingly get more and more expensive, how much do you need to spend to get a properly top-performance machine? And should you be looking at the bigger picture or is the devil in the details? We’ve tested four quite different bikes for around £3,000 to see what’s available and work out what really matters when you’re riding in real mountains.

MBK303.biketest.indd 126 4/11/14 3:56 PM

Mountain Biking UK 127

COMMENCAL META AM2 £3,099.99

YT CAPRA COMP 1€3,563 (c. £2,950)

MONDRAKER DUNE R £2,999

SCOTT GENIUS LT 720 £2,999

T H E L I N E - U P

B I K E T E S T


SO GOOD

Well shaped, neatly detailed, reasonably light frameset

Decent own-brand kit including large diameter bar/stem

NO GOOD

Rear end fails to deliver anywhere near 170mm worth of control

Extended travel Fox 34 fork is flexy when worked hard

Unbalanced suspension undermines sorted geometry

The shape and spec of Scott’s Genius LT mean it looks like many other bikes on paper. But some unique features give this long-travel bike a significantly

different ride character.

The frameWhile the ride is a definite opinion divider, there’s no doubt that the frame is superbly put together. While you don’t get the carbon mainframe of the shorter-travel Genius 720, Scott’s alloy frames have always been among the lightest and neatest detailed, and the Genius LT 720 is no exception.

Smooth formed and curved main tubes leave plenty of standover clearance, while the offset curved seat tube lets the rear wheel tuck right in to give the LT 170mm (6.7in) of travel – 20mm more than most comparable 650b wheeled bikes.

The way the shock driver linkage wraps around the seat tube is particularly neat, while a flippable insert changes the ride height by 6mm and slackens the geometry by half a degree too. External down tube control routing protects the frame and keeps servicing easy. The rear axle is 142x12mm, the bottom bracket is

press-fit with ISCG chain guide tabs if you need them, and there’s a small rubber chain keeper dangling under the chainstay as standard.

The kitTo match the frame, Fox have stretched their 160mm (6.3in) travel 34 Float CTD fork out to 170mm (6.7in). It also gets a remote low-speed compression adjuster to sync with Scott’s unique TwinLoc bar lever. As the name suggests, this also links to the custom designed Fox rear shock, toggling it between fully open, a reduced travel ‘traction’ mode and a ‘locked’ setting to match the fork.

The rest of the kit is more conventional, with a mix of X5 to X9 spec SRAM gearing and a twin-ring and bashguard equipped chainset. Solid Shimano braking power is boosted by a 203mm front rotor, while the Performance series Schwalbe tyres get a dual compound mix for better wet grip.

Scott’s own-brand Syncros kit includes a super-stiff, on-trend 35mm diameter stem and bar. DT Swiss spokes and Shimano hubs create a durable centre for the Syncros rimmed wheels, and an externally routed KS

dropper post completes the reasonable value kitlist.

The rideWith the geometry set to low and the front wheel stretching out beyond the fat diameter, wide span 760mm bar, the Genius LT feels ready to get stuck into some serious terrain. But the TwinLoc lever is a big part of the bike’s character rather than just being an incidental extra like most remote lockouts.

As soon as you press the pedals in the ‘open’ position, there’s noticeable sag and wallow in the already linear stroke that saps enthusiasm and wastes effort. Fortunately, clicking into the ‘traction’ mode with its firmer compression tune and smaller volume shock chamber makes for a tighter, more pedalling friendly feel that still moves enough to boost traction on rocky climbs or chattery corners.

The light wheels are also a noticeable bonus when you’re hard on the pedals out of corners or fighting gravity. Add lockout when you need it, plus a decent length top tube to balance the short stem, and the Scott is a bike that you can hustle surprisingly fast round flat cross-

Scott’s smart-arse Genius is as much about going up as going down£2,999

SCOTT GENIUS LT 720

RemoteA handlebar-mounted suspension switch or dropper post lever.

Dual compoundA tyre with harder, faster rolling, longer lasting rubber in the centre and softer, grippier shoulders for safer cornering.

JARGON BUSTER


£2,950-£3,100

BIG BROTHER The Genius LT squeezes 650b wheels and 170mm of travel into Scott’s proven Spark and Genius full-sus template


BIT OF A STRETCHExtending Fox’s 34 fork to 170mm of travel adds structural flex but the Factory damper is an improvement over the Evolution version if you tune it right.

REMOTE CONTROLScott’s three-position TwinLoc lever gives a unique level of ride tweaking from the handlebar, but the system seriously affects overall suspension control


BIKE TEST


THE SCOTT IS A BIKE THAT YOU CAN HUSTLE SURPRISINGLY FAST ROUND FLAT XC TRAILS OR

EVEN UP EXTENDED MOUNTAIN CLIMBS

Scott’s unique alpine all-rounder clearly puts its priorities in trail, climb, descend order

country trails or even up extended mountain climbs.

Unfortunately, while it works OK as a slack-angled short-travel bike (though it’s heavy for that category), it’s much more difficult to find a happy medium with the suspension in full-travel ‘open’ mode. Despite months of extended testing and tuning time on our test sample and our long-term Genius test bike, we’ve still not found a sweet spot. The rear shock either blows through its travel very easily once it gets moving or chatters

really badly off an over-solid top. There’s little sense of additional control despite the extra travel either, and certainly nothing to push through corners with.

As a result, we ended up leaving the shock in the more progressive, shorter-travel ‘traction’ mode on even the roughest descents to get more predictable control and handling. The trouble is, that automatically switches the fork into the middle ‘trail’ mode of an already firm damping tune. You can loosen the remote cable so it leaves

the fork in ‘descend’ when it should be in ‘trail’ or run much soft pressures than normal and learn to cope with excess upper stroke dive, but neither solution is ideal. The extended fork length also means a noticeable loss of wheel precision no matter how firm things feel through the big bar.

B I K E T E S T


SO GOOD

Super-strong and surefooted frame

Design makes the best of the Evolution series Fox shock

Kit is low on bling but works fine

NO GOOD

Evolution series fork undermines control on rougher trails

Weight makes long climbs murder

Rear shock needs careful tuning

Commencal totally changed their Meta frame family a couple of years ago to create one of our favourite hardcore bikes. You’ll need to work on the fork to get

the full potential from the AM2 though.

The frameThe Meta AM frame is bang up to date in terms of its fully internal cable routing and super-wide press-fit bottom bracket. This helps maximise stiffness and is equipped with ISCG mounts for a chain guide, should you wish to switch to a single chainring at a later date. The oversized top tube is super-sloped for huge standover and the whole back end is shifted to the left for better crank clearance.

The bottom half of the seat ‘tube’ is actually an open hoop that the shock drives backwards and downwards through, thanks to a solidly built rocker link. The massive rear stays are joined together with similarly earthmover-sized double-sided pivots and the solid barrel dropouts are pinned through with a 142x12mm Maxle screw-through axle.

The end result is massively stiff and strong, with most of the weight as low and centred as possible. The high

chassis mass is obvious when accelerating or climbing though.

The kitThe Meta’s SRAM transmission is fractionally below the level of the other shop-bought test bikes here. The Formula C1 brakes are OK as long as you bed them in properly and the 180mm rotors are heavier and more robust than those that come with aftermarket brakes. With their Joytech hubs, Jalco rims and straight gauge spokes, the wheels aren’t big on pose value, but they’re a decent width and average weight. The Maxxis High Roller and Ardent tyre combo is spot on for maximum control and easy speed on all but the rockiest alpine trails too.

Commencal’s own-brand Alpha cockpit kit is well shaped and sized for the job in hand, and the KS Lev Integra post gives clean, internally routed saddle dropping simplicity that’s as reliable as any other dropper we’ve used. The other good news is that many places selling Commencals are already offering significant discounts on 2014 models so ‘real world’ value is better than the official pricing. Like many manufacturers at this price, the Andorran brand have opted for an

entry-level Evolution series Fox 34 fork and Float rear shock though, and that’s a choice that dominates the ride.

The rideAfter criticism for having too linear a fork feel in 2013, Fox have flipped the situation around. The 34 now has a much more progressive feel that’s softer off the top and then slows down dramatically in the mid-stroke. With the angles of the bike naturally pushing weight back rather than on to the fork, that meant we spent most of our first rides repeatedly lowering fork pressure to get into the deeper part of the stroke. Unfortunately that leaves the fork diving through the top and it can still spike dramatically if it slaps into something big at speed. That means rapid arm fatigue is an issue on longer, rockier descents and we’d recommend getting it professionally re-tuned (approx £150 from www.mojo.co.uk) as soon as possible.

The good news is that the spiking and choking we often experience with Fox’s Evolution series rear shocks is much less obvious on the Commencal than on other bikes we’ve ridden. It still needs smart tuning to balance the linear stroke against the chattery

The Meta’s solid frame still shines despite suspension issues£3,099.99

COMMENCAL META AM2

SpikeA sudden jolt in the suspension stroke caused when the oil in the compression damping circuit can’t move fast enough to keep things smooth.

Press-fitA bottom bracket with bearings that push, rather than screw, into the frame.

JARGON BUSTER


B I K E T E S TUNEVOLVEDFox’s Evolution series 34 forks are seriously lacking in sophistication and consistent smoothness this year, so a pro retune is recommended.

LOW SLUNGCommencal’s Meta frame design puts all the suspension weight as low and central as possible for maximum stability.

NO HOOPLAJoytech and Jalco are the names behind a lot of more fashionable brand products and they create a solid wheelset for the Meta.


LOW-SLUNG WEIGHT AND THE MASSIVELY STIFF FRAME ARE A BIG BONUS WHEN IT COMES TO BLASTING HIGH-SPEED TURNS

Disappointing fork and leg crushing weight, but a great hardcore frameset with some decent kit

compression, but get it right and the back end still feels good whether you’re blatting through rocks or driving the Meta hard through berms.

Tons of low-slung weight and the massively stiff frame are also a big bonus when it comes to blasting high-speed turns. Whether you’re riding roost-spraying natural berms on a big mountain moor, alpine fireroad gravel or sculpted trail centre rollercoasters, the Meta loves to get its

super-surefooted groove on. The slightly shortened 150mm (5.9in) stroke of the Fox fork tangibly improves its stiffness on smoother trails, where its suspension shortcomings are less obvious. The Maxxis tyre combo also naturally keeps the front hooked up and the back end flaring wide if you push things a bit too hard.

The faster rolling semi-slick rear tyre helps offset some of the bulk of the

bike under power as well, but you’ll definitely want to flick the shock into ‘Trail’ mode to get a positive pedalling experience. The Meta’s near 15kg mass still makes any climb a real chore as soon as momentum dies too.


£2,950-£3,100



SO GOOD

Impeccably balanced and precise Forward Geometry handling

Zero suspension soaks up the hits

Surprisingly good technical climber

NO GOOD

Serious clatter and arm pump from the Evo series Fox fork

Heavy wheels/tyres kill acceleration

Spanish innovators Mondraker have now built every aggro bike in their 2014 range around their radical Forward Geometry concept. What is it, and can the

rest of the Dune R match up?

The frameThe physical side of Forward Geometry is simple. Mondraker add 25mm (1in) to the top tubes (and wheelbases) of their frames and take it off their OnOff stems, which are available in the 30mm format here or a mad looking ‘bar on top of the head tube’ 10mm length. The angles are pretty standard, but the seat tube and chainstays are very short.

The bottom corner of the mainframe is an open bottomed ‘basket’ that allows the Fox Float X shock to be squeezed between the upper and lower linkages that join the front triangle to the relatively skinny-tubed rear subframe. There’s a lifetime frame warranty, though details like the easy-to-lose 142x12mm rear axle terminal and a glue-on cable guide that peeled off our bike are disappointing.

The kitNon lock-on grips and an Evolution series Fox 34 fork aren’t a welcome

sight when it comes to smoothly consistent control either. Happily the Factory series Float X piggyback shock is much smoother than the Evolution series standard Floats on the Genius LT and Meta. Tuning is complicated by the almost impossible to reach rebound adjuster, but leaving the CTD lever in ‘Trail’ mode kept the bike on its toes without it tapping out too much on stutter bump sections.

The mixed SRAM 2x10 transmission and Formula C1 brakes are roughly on par with the kit on the Commencal and Scott. The externally routed X-Fusion dropper post works OK too. The straight-pull spoke DT Swiss Spline wheels and heavy-duty Onza IBEX tyres don’t do overall weight or responsiveness any favours but they provide a reassuringly surefooted baseline to the Dune’s radical handling.

The rideIt says a lot about Mondraker’s mindset that they put geometry before specification on their website. You’ll soon realise that’s totally appropriate too, as the Dune rapidly begins to outride its kit restrictions on the trail.

Despite the radical looking front end, if you stop looking down and

concentrate on riding the trail, not the bike, the Dune feels ‘right’ surprisingly quickly. The 30mm stem and wide 760mm bar need minimum effort to turn but the slack head angle keeps the steering totally stable and on track.

The long front end also means you feel sat within the bike rather than about to be spat over the front, while the short back end flicks out with insolent ease. The result is a bike that can corner so fast and confidently that it can potentially reset all your braking point, grip level and exit speed expectations on any turn, from loose and open to ragged and rutted, if you’re brave enough to trust it.

Despite noticeable flex in the back end, the extra long wheelbase and rock eating Zero suspension set-up keep the Dune trucking or carving through serious trouble without stammering off line or hanging up on square edges. The Float X shock works OK to shrug off hits and stick the wheel on to the trail through most random rock and root sections too.

The Evolution series fork was as underwhelming as ever though, feeling OK for the first 40 per cent of the stroke but then refusing to give up the rest even at super-low pressures.

Does Mondraker’s mad looking geometry make perfect sense on insane trails?£2,999

MONDRAKER DUNE R

CTDFox’s three-position low-speed compression damping system. ‘Climb’ mode is almost locked out, ‘Trail’ has an initial stubbornness to stop pedalling bob/braking dive, ‘Descend’ is the fully open setting.

RetunedOil height, spring volume and internal valving can be altered to change the way your fork feels.

JARGON BUSTER


B I K E T E S T

TENACIOUS TREADS The big Onza tyres underline the already comically surefooted Dune with maximum grip to create a total ripper of a bike

FLOATING SHOCKThe open-belly frame allows the Fox Float X shock to be squeezed between the upper and lower linkages

POWER STEERINGMondraker’s Forward Geometry centres around a radically short 10 or 30mm stem and extended front triangle to deliver super-light steering with impeccable balance


IT CORNERS SO FAST AND CONFIDENTLY THAT IT CAN RESET ALL YOUR BRAKING POINT, GRIP LEVEL AND EXIT SPEED EXPECTATIONS

Disappointing fork and hefty weight, but outstanding high-speed control if you’re into the radical handling

It’s a mark of how well the geometry works that even with the fork banging off more stuff than it soaked up, the front wheel was always where we wanted it – or at least back there a split second after being knocked off line. It’s definitely worth getting the fork retuned to give a more consistent feel right through the stroke though.

While the wheelset weight certainly doesn’t help the Dune’s acceleration, it still climbs surprisingly well, clambering up steps and rock ledges

with enough pedal feedback to let you know when to power up or back off. Flicking into ‘Trail’ mode keeps the suspension steady even when you’re stomping the pedals in the big ring, though granny ring pedalling is more mushy. Wheel placement is impeccable even on tricky switchbacks too, with none of the usual pop-up or flop of slack, long-travel bikes.

As you can probably tell, most of our test team were really into the Forward Geometry handling, though some

riders complained that the Dune was too glued to the ground to feel alive (in which case, try the 140mm Foxy). A few just didn’t sync with the handling at all, but with Mondraker’s UK distributors Silverfish running an extensive demo tour, we’d definitely give one a go if you can.


£2,950-£3,100



SO GOOD

Phenomenally damped downhill speed, but fast uphill too

Incredible value for money spec

Lightweight yet stiff, mostly carbon fibre chassis

Sorted flat-out fast geometry

NO GOOD

Comes in a box, not from a shop, so needs DIY set-up and careful size checking

With its carbon frame and wishlist spec, the new Capra from German direct-sell hardcore bike specialists YT Industries offers incredible

performance for the price – as long as you get the sizing right.

The frameThe Capra (it’s named after a breed of mountain goat) gets a broad-tubed carbon fibre mainframe with a tapered head tube, multi-section down tube and an extra reinforcing bridge between the curved seat tube and down tube to keep steering and power inputs tight. A RockShox Monarch piggyback shock delivers 165mm (6.5in) of progressive travel via the V4L four-bar linkage suspension layout.

Gear cabling is internal but an external rear brake line means easy servicing. The front mech mount is removable and the e*thirteen chain guide mounts on to moulded ISCG tabs, while alloy chainstays and rubberised belly armour provide increased impact resistance.

YT still claim an impressively light 2.4kg (5.3lb) weight for the complete frameset, and given that their claimed bike weight of 13.2kg (29.1lb)

is absolutely bang-on, we’re inclined to believe them.

The kitBy cutting out the inevitable costs that national distributors and local shops have to add to stay afloat, YT can fit an outrageously good spec for a few hundred quid more than most brands would ask for the carbon frame alone.

RockShox provide their top-of-the-range Pike RCT3 fork, Monarch Plus RC3 shock and Reverb Stealth dropper post. Super-tight, monster hubbed e*thirteen wheels are wrapped in excellent Maxxis rubber, and the Avid four-pot brakes get power-magnifying 200mm rotors at both ends. Race Face provide the thick/thin-toothed crankset to drive the 11-speed SRAM gears, as well as the super-stiff 35mm diameter Atlas bar and stem.

The fact that YT highlight the spare gear hanger option on their website isn’t a sign of weakness (it’s a super- thick piece) – it’s a sign they’re serious riders themselves who know that carrying a spare mount is a wise move.

The rideWhile outstanding kit value is definitely the bait that attracts most riders to YT,

it’s the ride of the Capra that blew us away. Within a couple of stepdowns and corners of our first set-up ride, it was obvious the YT was something special. The overwhelming impression is of an incredibly well damped and quiet ride that still leaves all the essential feedback coming through, like the suspension equivalent of noise reducing headphones. With just a few tweaks of pressure and clicks of the RockShox dials, it delivers an impeccable balance of sensitivity and support that can easily be altered to different rider styles.

The progressive linkage stroke that gives the Capra the bite and feedback that’s so vital to its dramatic velocity means you’ll rarely hit full travel, and it’s certainly no trail-soaking comfort sponge. The way it tightens every corner, opens every exit and stays composed through the roughest rock sections is inspirational though. Add a dramatically low weight (considering its travel) to the super-precise feel from the frame, dampers and wheels, and this is a bike that loves to be thrown around or thrashed through the pedals. It climbs remarkably well too, with the same power neutrality that glues it through corners serving it well

Is this direct-sell enduro racer as good as it looks?€3,563 inc shipping (approx £2,950)

YT INDUSTRIES CAPRA COMP 1

SUSPENSION STARS The RockShox Pike RCT3 fork and Monarch Plus RC3 rear shock are in a different class to the Evolution series Fox dampers on the other test bikes

PiggybackA rear shock that has an additional chamber parallel to the shaft to increase the volume of damper oil.

Well dampedSuspension that holds ride height well and doesn’t dive too deep or bounce after an impact or hard braking/cornering.

JARGON BUSTER


£2,950-£3,100

WISHLIST KITThe Race Face, SRAM X01, e*thirteen, Maxxis and RockShox Reverb Stealth specification is an enduro Who’s Who and incredible value too


FIBRE DIETThe carbon mainframe is cross-braced for extra stiffness but still impressively lightweight and fully loaded with all the essential features


THE WAY IT TIGHTENS EVERY CORNER, OPENS EVERY EXIT AND STAYS COMPOSED THROUGH THE ROUGHEST ROCK SECTIONS IS INSPIRATIONAL

The fastest, best value enduro all-rounder we’ve ever ridden, if you don’t mind DIY set-up

up steps and stutter rocks. With the dampers flicked into firmer settings it’ll happily chase XC bikes round flatter trails for hours on end too.

The result is a true all-mountain all-rounder that’s genuinely in a different class to the other bikes on test in terms of speed and composure, and at least an equal to any other bike we’ve ridden on our test trails. If that sounds a bold claim for a new bike, then the fact it picked up four Strava descent segment personal records on

trails we’ve ridden for years on our first 30-minute ride shows just how fast this bike can go. It continued to pick up more personal records throughout testing too, literally leaving the other bikes in the dust on the way to an increasingly inevitable perfect score.

The only thing to watch is the sizing. With a top tube that’s only 580mm long, a super-steep seat tube and 50mm stem, the medium Capra is very short and we’d have gone for a large (602mm) if we hadn’t been

sharing the bike with smaller testers. The large is the biggest option available too, so if you’re proper tall you’re out in the cold. We’d also put a 180mm rotor on the rear, as the big 200mm disc can jerk the back end up into your butt if you pull the lever too hard.


£2,950-£3,100



SCOTT GENIUS LT 720 COMMENCAL META AM2

MONDRAKER DUNE R YT CAPRA COMP 1

PRICE £2,999 £3,099.99 £2,999 €3,563 inc shipping (c. £2,950)

DISTRIBUTOR www.scott-sports.com www.decade-europe.com www.silverfi sh-uk.com www.yt-industries.com

WEIGHT 14.36kg (31.66lb) 14.92kg (32.89lb) 14.77kg (32.56lb) 13.21kg (29.12lb)

FRAME 6061 alloy, 170mm (6.7in) travel 6066 alloy, 150mm (5.9in) travel Stealth Evo alloy, 160mm (6.3in) travel

High-modulus carbon, 165mm (6.5in) travel

SIZES S, M (tested), L S, M (tested), L, XL S, M (tested), L, XL S, M (tested), L

FORK Fox 34 Float CTD (Factory Series), 170mm (6.7in) travel

Fox 34 Float CTD (Evolution Series), 150mm (5.9in) travel

Fox 34 Float CTD (Evolution Series), 160mm (6.3in) travel

RockShox Pike RCT3 Solo Air, 160mm (6.3in) travel

SHOCK Fox Float CTD (Factory Series) Fox Float CTD (Evolution Series) Fox Float X CTD (Factory Series) RockShox Monarch Plus RC3 HV

HEADSET Syncros FL2.0 Neco tapered FSA Orbit 1.5 ZS No.57 Acros tapered

WHEELS Hubs: Shimano M618 (15mm F, 142x12mm R)Rims: Syncros XC67Spokes: DT Swiss CompWheel weight: 2.01kg F, 2.56kg R

Hubs: Joytech (15mm F, 142x12mm R)Rims: Jalco 26.5mmSpokes: Stainless plain gaugeWheel weight: 2.14kg F, 2.58kg R

Hubs: DT Swiss E1900 Spline (15mm F, 142x12mm R)Rims: DT Swiss E1900 Spline 27.5Spokes: DT ChampionWheel weight: 2.24kg F, 2.79kg R

Hubs: e*thirteen TRS+ (15mm F, 142x12mm R)Rims: e*thirteen TRS+ 650BSpokes: e*thirteen TRS+Wheel weight: 2.13kg F, 2.59kg R

TYRES Schwalbe Hans Dampf (Performance Series), 27.5x2.35in

Maxxis High Roller II 27x2.3in F, Maxxis Ardent 27.5x2.25in R

Onza IBEX FRC TLR 27.5x2.4in Maxxis High Roller II 27.5x2.4in

CRANKSET/ BOTTOM BRACKET

SRAM S1000 w/ bash, 38/24t/SRAM PF92

SRAM S1000, 38/24t/SRAM PF92

SRAM S1000 w/bash, 38/24t/SRAM GXP

Race Face Turbine, 32t/Race Face Turbine X-Type PF30

DERAILLEURS SRAM X9 Type 2 R, SRAM X5 F SRAM X7 Type 2 R, SRAM X5 F SRAM X9 R, X7 F SRAM X01 R

SHIFTERS SRAM X7 SRAM X7 SRAM X5 SRAM X01

CASSETTE/CHAIN SRAM PG1050, 11-36t/KMC X10 SRAM PG1030, 11-36t/Yaban SH-10c

SRAM PG1030, 11-36t/SRAM PC1031

SRAM XG-1195/SRAM PC1090

BRAKES Shimano M615, 203/180mm Formula C1, 180mm/180mm Formula C1, 180mm/180mm Avid Elixir 7 Trail, 200mm/200mm

BAR/STEM/GRIPS Syncros AM1.5, 760mm/Syncros XM1.5, 50mm/Syncros Pro lock-on

Alpha, 750mm/Alpha Enduro, 60mm/Commencal lock-on

Mondraker, 760mm/OnOff Stoic FG, 30mm/OnOff Wave

Race Face Atlas 35, 770mm/Race Face Atlas 35, 50mm/Race Face Half Nelson

SADDLE/SEATPOST

Syncros TR2.0/KS EXA eTen KS Lev Integra/Commencal Meta by Velo

X-Fusion Hilo Remote/SDG Circuit Mountain

RockShox Reverb Stealth/SDG Duster

DIMENSIONS

FRAME ANGLES Head 66.3° Seat 74° Head 66.5° Seat 73° Head 66.5° Seat 74.5° Head 65.5° Seat 75°

VERDICT

THE SPEC DECKBike Test

A L P I N E B I K E S

£2900-£3100


Below average: fl awed in some way

Good: it’ll do the job and do it well

Very good: one of the best you can buy

Exceptional: a genuine class leader

Poor: simply put, don’t bother

WHAT OUR SCORES MEAN: We give each bike one overall score to sum up how it performs and its value for money. If a bike gets a score of fi ve, it really is the best you can get in terms of both

Disappointing fork and leg crushing weight, but a great hardcore frameset with some decent kit

Disappointing fork and hefty weight, but outstanding high-speed control if you’re into the radical handling

The fastest, best value enduro all-rounder we’ve ever ridden, if you don’t mind DIY set-up

Scott’s unique alpine all-rounder clearly puts its priorities in trail, climb, descend order

600mm

Standover 760mm

346mm

1,176mm

44

0m

m

440mm

595mm

Standover 695mm

350mm

1,148mm

44

0m

m

438mm

625mm

Standover 725mm

345mm

1,197mm

420

mm

432mm

581mm

Standover 730mm

350mm

1,169mm

450

mm

430mm



FINAL VERDICT

L ooking at the scores, it could look like this test was a foregone conclusion. Read the reviews though and you’ll realise any of these bikes

could be your personal winner.As a trail, climb, descend (in

that order) all-rounder, Scott’s Genius LT has some unique features that make it ideal for the German ‘marathon tour’ fireroad-centred style of alpine riding. If you’re after a seriously strong bike with surefooted handling and the support of a proper shop, then Commencal’s Meta AM is a great

long-term upgrading platform. And if you’re prepared to get your fork fettled, Mondraker’s Forward Geometry Dune R is a uniquely balanced, runaway train of corner-carving confidence.

If you don’t mind getting your bike in a box though, then YT’s Capra is a true standout machine. Its impeccably balanced handling, superbly damped suspension and lightweight frame make it race-fast on descents yet trail-fast on climbs. Add an incredible spec and a rare perfect score was the unanimous verdict from our testers.

Cycle to Work Scheme bikes What’s the best buy for sub £1,000? ON SALE 30 MAY

B I K E T E S T

NEXT MONTH

WINNERYT CAPRA

COMP 1


Documents

ALPINE BIKES - YT Industries...dropper post lever. Dual compound A tyre with harder, faster rolling, longer lasting rubber in the centre and softer, grippier shoulders for safer cornering