Bikes - Hardtails

Andrew hits on some updates for five products - with full reviews coming in 2024

The most interesting build and potentially the best value in Nukeproof's mountain bike lineup.

Like a modern hardtail, We Are One's Arrival platform will happily wear a fork from 140mm to 170mm in several rear suspension set ups

The Banshee Enigma hardtail is designed to run 140-160mm of travel up front with dual-27” wheels, or 100-130mm travel as a mullet.

With its great drivetrain, worthy frame, and excellent smile-per-dollar ratio, the Roscoe 7 may be the best value in mountain biking.

Steel hardtail frames can deliver an excellent mix of ride quality and durability. The same goes for carbon and titanium. And, for a well-designed aluminum frame as well.

Swapping out the Recon on a Trek Roscoe for a 510 mm axle to crown fork with 0 mm of travel

Trek's Best Looking Bike is a solidly-priced, Deore M6100 equipped hardtail with an awesome appearance in any of its three livery choices.

Steel may be real, but aluminum is actual, and so are the savings in suspension and drivetrain maintenance on Arden's #1FG RSD Bikes Middlechild.

A Titanium beauty, a book, a true flannel, and something every trail builder has on their wish list.

Diving into Knolly's Titanium Hardtail after some time spent on the steel version...

8 Months of hardtail tough love with an unruly Smurf

The complete Marin San Quentin 1 (SQ1) hardtail costs about the same amount of money as a top-end RockShox suspension fork...

A hand-crafted steel hardtail, in a world of carbon, built during the pandemic. Meet my Falconer Pro Cruiser tribute.

Andrew discusses expectations for first time mountain bike buyers who don't want break the bank to start riding...

Rob's slackened Stache is a bittersweet reminder of how awesomely fun these bikes are and how deserving the platform is of a re-imaging...

What's the point including shitty plastic pedals on budget mountain bikes when spec. dollars are so tight?

Bean's Salsa Timberjack is loaded down with interesting tales while satisfying a selectively-sourced, budget-forward build...

"A feature set and price point that any competent product manager would have rejected immediately."

Andrew's scheme to test a bunch of budget hardtails, in the 1-2K CAD range, both stock and with an angleset installed...

Some love for old mountain bicycles that have been well-cycled and a moment of sorrow for those that have stayed showroom sweet in stasis.

Andrew's third and final look at the latest aluminum Chameleon frame from the perspective of owning one mountain bike to do it all.

Is it "XTR or bust" or could you happily pedal a complete that costs less than some of your friends' wheelsets?

Kona’s venerable Swiss Army Knife hardtail weathers the test of time