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BLAST FROM THE PAST: MBA’S WHEEL-WAR SHOOTOUT— 29″ vs. 27.5″ vs. 26″

This story first appeared in our March 2012 issue, when only a few companies were offering bikes with 27.5-inch (650b) wheels. At that time, the dilemma for most riders was to choose between bikes with either 26 or 29-inch wheels. Take a look back at what we said about the three wheel-size choices, back when the 26-inchers still ruled the market, and only a few companies were offering the 27.5-inch wheels (better known as 650b-sized wheels back then).

What's The Right Wheel Size For You?
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FLASHBACK FRIDAY: WHEEL-WAR SHOOTOUT— 29″ vs. 27.5″ vs. 26″

This story first appeared in our March 2012 issue, when only a few companies were offering bikes with 27.5-inch (650b) wheels. At that time, the dilemma for most riders was to choose between bikes with 26 and 29-inch wheels. Take a look back at what we said about the three wheel-size choices, back in the day when the 26-inchers still ruled the market

What's The Right Size For You?
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LONG TERM REVIEW: KONA HONZO ESD

A hardtail with the heart of an enduro bike

Photos by Traece Craig We have been longtime fans of the incredibly capable and versatile Kona Honzo line, so when the slacker and more aggressive Honzo ESD was released, we just had to test it. ESD stands for “Extra Slack, Dude,” and it…
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Throwback Thursday: 27.5 Plus vs. 27.5

The pros and cons of wider tires (from May 2016)

Back in 2016, we compared regular 27.5-inch wheels with 27.5+ wheels, which back then ranged from around 2.75 to 3 inches in width. Nowadays, the differences are not as great as they were before, since the regular 27.5-inch wheels now often…
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MBA LONG TERM TEST: NORCO SIGHT VLT C1

One of the most versatile e-mountain bikes we’ve tested

The Canadian brand Norco brought the heat for 2022 with its updated VLT line of e-mountain bikes. Norco will offer a shorter-travel, trail-style Fluid VLT; an enduro, heavy-hitting Range VLT; and the Sight VLT. Norco offered Mountain Bike…
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MBA LONG TERM REVIEW: KONA REMOTE 160 DL

A fast and capable eMTB without the cookie cutter vibe

Already well known for its line of big-hit-loving Process pedal bikes, legacy Canadian brand Kona continues to bring its off-road R&D smarts to its e-bike line. For 2021 Kona has produced two versions of its Remote 160, with the major…
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MBA HARDTAIL ROUNDUP

Ride more and spend what you have to

This past year a plethora of new riders have developed a desire to escape and experience riding a mountain bike. Due to this high demand, bikes have been disappearing off showroom floors in record numbers, creating a shortage of new bikes.…
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ENDURO BIKE ROUNDUP

We test ten heavy-hitting enduro mountain bikes

While trail bikes reign supreme on many types of terrain, enduro bikes hold their own by offering similar versatility in a heavy-hitting package. With major improvements to enduro bikes being made every day, these downhill shredders retain…
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