Browsing Category

Product Tests

All-Mountain Bike Anneke’s Blog Appetite for Instruction Ask MBA B's Buzz Back Issues bike building

PARK TOOL HYDRAULIC BRAKE BLEED KIT REVIEW

Park Tool's hydraulic brake bleed kits might be the ultimate setup for the home mechanic who services a wide variety of mountain bikes

Jan 17, 2025

This tool is made for the person who expects to work on a wide variety of bikes or bike shops with high-traffic repairs.
Read More...

USWE WATERPROOF JACKET REVIEW – LIGHTWEIGHT AND WATERPROOF

A mountain bike jacket that keeps you riding on rainy days

Jan 13, 2025

USWE designed the Waterproof jacket to be lightweight, adequately breathable, and waterproof.
Read More...

RAILIAS PRO TAILGATE RACK SYSTEM REVIEW

Jan 9, 2025

When we first saw the Railias Tailgate rack system at the Sea Otter Classic in 2023, we were instantly intrigued.
Read More...

SPECIALIZED TRAIL ALPHA JACKET REVIEW – WARM AND EXCEPTIONALLY BREATHABLE

Mountain bikers sweat a lot so Specialized designed the Trail Alpha jacket to combine warmth and breathability

Jan 6, 2025

The Trail Alpha jacket is part of the new generation of warm yet highly breathable winter outerwear that’s designed for cold, dry conditions.
Read More...

LIMAR ARGO SUNGLASS REVIEW – LIGHTWEIGHT FULL COVERAGE EYE PROTECTION

Limar's Argo checks most of the boxes for mountain bike eyewear

Jan 3, 2025

Test riders were immediately enamored with the Argo’s combination of the large wraparound lens and and the lightweight, hardly-there feel of the glasses.
Read More...

RACE FACE CHESTER GRIP REVIEW – THE FIVE STAR GRIP THAT WON OUR TEST RIDERS’ HEARTS

An exceptionally soft compound, great shape, and multiple diameters make Race Face's Chester one of the best mountain bike grips out there right now

Dec 16, 2024

Our experience with the grips was similar to that of our first experience sleeping on a memory foam mattress; it’s as if our hands were floating in comfort.
Read More...

LEATT 7.0 HYDRADRI FLAT REVIEW – WINTER FLAT PEDAL SHOE PERFECTION

Leatt's winter flat pedal shoes are designed to check all the boxes a mountain biker could want from winter footwear

Dec 13, 2024

Leatt built these shoes around an integrated 10K/10K HydraDri membrane waterproof bootie with taped seams and a water-resistant zippered closure designed to keep these shoes impervious to moisture.
Read More...

ENDURO ENGINEERING MTB STAND REVIEW – A DIFFERENT TAKE ON BIKE STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE

A pricey mountain bike stand that comes with some advantages

Dec 10, 2024

No doubt taking its inspiration from the off-road motorcycle world where motorcycles are supported on stands under the frame/motor, the Enduro Engineering MTB stand supports the mountain bike under its bottom bracket with the front wheel in…
Read More...

GOREWEAR LUPRA WINDSTOPPER JACKET REVIEW – ADAPTABLE TO WINTER VARIABLES

Gore's Windstopper mountain bike jacket is well thought out and versatile

Dec 9, 2024

It may not protect from driving rain like other rain-specific jackets or ventilate quite as well as cold-weather jackets, but very few bridge this gap as well as the Gorewear Lupra.
Read More...

GALFER SHARK ROTOR REVIEW

High end mountain bike brakes rotors for those looking for ultimate performace

Dec 5, 2024

Other than the trick aesthetics, the main benefit we noted is how resistant to heat-induced fade and how true these rotors stay.
Read More...

THROWBACK THURSDAY: MBA’S 1989 REVIEW OF THE FIRST ROCKSHOX SUSPENSION FORK

RockShox was the first mass-produced mountain bike suspension fork and it changed everything

Dec 5, 2024

Rock Shox are going to blow the lid off of the critics of mountain bike suspension, because they answer all the questions that scofflaws have been asking.
Read More...

LONG TERM REVIEW: REYNOLD’S BLACKLABEL 329 TRAIL PRO WHEELS

Lightweight carbon trail wheels that may be too rigid for some

Dec 4, 2024

They provide an excellent platform to push against in these situations where we needed to maximize the pump and keep our momentum moving forward.
Read More...

THE FAST TRACK TO XC SPEED – SPECIALIZED FAST TRAK CONTROL TIRE REVIEW

A great balance of speed and grip for the cross country racer or rider

Nov 18, 2024

Overall, the Fast Traks feel fantastic on a fairly wide range of dry to moderately moist soils, with a perfect balance of trail feedback and absorption.
Read More...

FASTHOUSE TRACKER PACKABLE WINDBREAKER REVIEW – LIGHTWEIGHT PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS

This lightweight yet versatile mountain bike jacket packs down small enough to never leave behind

Nov 15, 2024

It stays true to the brand’s ethos, with a modern and minimalist design that is suitable for a wide range of variable weather conditions.
Read More...

DELTA PIVOT RACK REVIEW – A SWINGING WALL RACK THAT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES

This wall rack makes mountain bike storage a snap thanks to its swinging and folding design

Nov 11, 2024

We really like the fact that bikes can swing to either side, making it super easy to access the ones in the middle.
Read More...

SPECIALIZED TRAIL AIR SHORT REVIEW

These mountain bike shorts are lightweight and breathable but far from perfect

Nov 7, 2024

As comfortable as these shorts were, we found ourselves reaching deeper into our drawer to find something a little more practical more often than not.
Read More...

CHROMAG DUNE GRIP REVIEW – TWO COMPOUNDS TO SUIT PERSONAL PREFERENCES

Chromag's two compound offerings give personalized grip feel

Nov 6, 2024

This combination of features in the Chromag Dune grips makes them adaptable for a wide range of riders and riding conditions, whether the preference is for longevity and durability while still feeling soft or maximum grip performance and…
Read More...

LONG TERM REVIEW: PNW’S LOAM XL GRIP IS GREAT FOR LARGER HANDS

PNW's larger size of its popular Loam grip scores high marks with large hands

Nov 1, 2024

PNW’s original Loam grip (reviewed here) has an average diameter of 30mm, but they have expanded the line with a new Loam Grip XL with a larger 34mm diameter.
Read More...

LONG TERM REVIEW: SCHWALBE TACKY CHAN – THE TIRE WITH A FUNNY NAME BUT UNDENIABLE PERFORMANCE

Downhill World Cup developed and proven, the Tacky Chan is a mountain bike tire optomized for grip

Oct 30, 2024

Schwalbe says that the Tacky Chan tire is engineered for precision with features like 10-percent more stable shoulder lugs than the Magic Mary model, enhancing its capability for aggressive cornering.
Read More...

LONG TERM REVIEW: ROCKYMOUNTS GUIDERAIL HITCH RACK

One of the best hitch style racks we have tested but we had a few small snags along the way

Oct 28, 2024

Our trust in the GuideRail rack and its utilities was unwavering throughout the test period, which is the reason we feel comfortable saying that this is one of the best tray racks we’ve tested to date.
Read More...

REVIEW: CRANKBROTHERS NEW SLIDER TIRE LEVER KIT IS THE BEST $10 YOU’LL EVER SPEND

Work smarter not harder when it comes to chainging stubborn tires with this innovative lever kit

Oct 22, 2024

Using these tire sliders in conjunction with the excellent levers is game-changing for tight stubborn tire and tire insert installations.
Read More...

REVEW: USWE SKRUBB SHORTS – ENDURO AND DOWNHILL TOUGH

The brand may be better known for its hydration packs but its apparel is making a splash

Oct 14, 2024

These shorts are great for riders looking for something tough for riding enduro or downhill.
Read More...

SPANK SPIKE GRIP REVIEW – PUTTING THE ‘HUMAN FACTOR’ IN GRIP DESIGN

Oct 7, 2024

Depending on your preference, the Spike grip is built for anything from trail and all-mountain riding to full-on downhill racing and freeriding.
Read More...

LONG TERM REVIEW: ONEUP COMPONENTS V3 DROPPER POST – THE PINNACLE OF SEATPOST EVOLUTION?

OneUp's latest dropper post is lighter, more compact, and easier to service creating a package that's tough to beat

Oct 3, 2024

This third-generation dropper post has undergone over three years of development and is made to surpass its predecessor, the V2, in various aspects.
Read More...

REVIEW: FOX LIVE VALVE NEO – WIRELESS AND STILL FASTER THAN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

Fox's new Live Valve system introduces wireless technology to its electronic suspension

Sep 25, 2024

Live Valve Neo simply consists of three components - a sensor mounted to the fork’s brake caliper, a sensor mounted to the frame’s brake caliper, and a Neo-specific Foat X or DHX that houses both the controller and a proprietary battery.
Read More...

DRIVETRAIN SHIFT-SPEED SHOOTOUT – SRAM VERSUS SHIMANO

Mountain bike drivetrains new and old dump gears in the name of shifting speed and the results are surprising

Sep 24, 2024

We were curious about how the actual gear-change speeds compared, so we gathered the most popular systems currently on the market, as well as a few old favorites and compared them.
Read More...

QUIKRSTUFF MACH2 BIKE RACK REVIEW

Is this the best hitch mount bike rack ever made?

Sep 19, 2024

The arms are held in place using a clever spring and tension system that allows them to easily fold down, yet securely hold in place and resist folding back out when a bike is mounted.
Read More...

ENDURA SINGLETRACK LITE SHORT REVIEW

Lightweight mountain bike shorts with breathable material and lots of options

Sep 16, 2024

The lightweight and breathable nature of the Endura Singletrack Lite shorts is apparent as soon as you get out on the trail.
Read More...

REVIEW: ONEUP THICK GRIPS – COMFORT AND CONTROL FOR BIGGER HANDS

The ultamate mountain bike grip for bigger hands?

Sep 5, 2024

Riders who go sans gloves still give these grips high marks but those with sensitive hands gravitated towards softer ones.
Read More...

REVIEW: STAN’S FLOW MK4 WHEELS WITH M-PULSE HUBS

Do magnets make these mountain bike wheels better?

Aug 28, 2024

Though the M-Pulse hubs are a little more complicated than other hubs, they are excellent in execution and work well on the trail.
Read More...

Load More Posts