SRAM’s latest family of Eagle Transmission derailleurs hyped their durability, but nothing is indestructible, and MRP thinks their new Cage Guard is the perfect insurance policy. Sure, it’s just a little $30 piece of engineered plastic. But MRP knows a thing or two about keeping mountain bike drivetrains safe. And based on the dents & gouges in my own Transmission derailleur after just a half a year of riding, I feel like mine could use a bit of extra protection…

MRP Cage Guard protects SRAM Transmission derailleurs

MRP has been in the business of creating bash-guards and low-friction sliders to protect our sensitive drivetrain, literally since the birth of technical mountain bike riding took hold in the 1990s. So seeing them decide to make a bash guard for some of the most expensive mountain bike derailleurs ever mass-produced seems pretty logical to me.

Machined in-house in Grand Junction, Colorado from durable & slippery Delrin thermoplastic, MRP created the 8g Cage Guard “to protect your SRAM T-Type derailleur pulley cage from costly damage caused by rocks and debris“.

MRP says the new Cage Guard does double-duty of first preventing impact damage, and secondly of keeping your alloy cage from snagging when it hits a sharp or especially abrasive rock.

Bounce off, and glide over rocks. Because ultimately, limiting cage damage ensures the best shifting performance out of your premium SRAM Transmission.

Do you really need a bash guard on your SRAM MTB Transmission Derailleur?

Look, making a derailleur that works with a 10-52T spread is always going to mean a long cage hanging down within reach of trailside rocks. I know a big part of SRAM’s latest direct-mount Eagle T-Type Transmission derailleurs was easier serviceability. And the spin-off cage trick really makes replacing a cage faster & easier, that is if you have a spare lying around. But these big angular cages do seem to stick out more than even the previous generation of Eagle derailleurs, making them more vulnerable low-hanging-fruit for hungry rocks.

Sure, the new T-type design means you can easily replace the quick-release alloy GX cage for around $100, a shiner alloy XX cage for about $150, or the fancy carbon XX SL cage for $200. But that means the cheapest replacement Transmission cage will still cost you more than 3x the price of the MRP Cage Guard. So, maybe with $30 of Cage Guard prevention, it’ll never come to that.

Yes, it is maybe debatable whether 8g of plastic is really going to prevent a well-placed rock strike from killing your derailleur cage. But it certainly won’t hurt, right?

I can say that I’ve hit a lot of rocks, bashing my trail & enduro bikes through rock gardens. And I also fondly remember more than two decades of bashing crankarms and chainrings onto rocks with MRP guards protecting me.

MRP Cage Guard – Pricing, compatibility & availability

This new little Delrin plastic MRP Cage Guard sells for $29.95, directly from Mountain Racing Products. And yes, that’s a pretty expensive piece of plastic, but it’s a lot cheaper than any replacement T-type derailleur cage. The Cage Guard is designed to bolt onto the latest generation of direct (full) mount SRAM Transmission derailleurs. Just remove the T25 lower pulley bolt, slap the Cage Guard on, then tighten it in place with the included longer stainless steel M4 bolt.

It’s compatible with everything from the OEM-only S100, GX, X0, XX & the top XX SL T-type derailleurs. So you get bash guard protections whether you have a steel, aluminum, or carbon outer cage.

MRPbike.com

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A new generation of the meticulously machined Actofive I-Train mk2 aluminum trail bike lets MTB riders pick from 120-140mm of rear wheel travel and then fine-tune anti-squat to create their own perfect mountain bike. More travel, more adjustability, and more capable than ever. This second generation of Actofive’s full in-house CNC-machined aluminum mountain bike can be built into a lightweight downcountry bike or with a bit more burly build into a beast of a trail bike blurring into short-travel enduro for the capable rider…

ActoFive I-Train Mk2 versatile, adjustable CNC alloy Trail bike

Just over a year and a half ago, Actofive introduced the I-Train as a simplified shorter-travel and more affordable example of their beautifully precise CNC-machined mountain bike handiwork. Compared to the much more complex and longer travel variable high-pivot P-Train enduro bike, the I-Train was meant to be a more accessible bike, and a bike more suited to the type of riding most mountain bikers actually experience.

But now, with 15mm more travel in each of three settings, three different flip-chips to fine-tune suspension, wheelsize combos & ride height, plus an angle adjust headset… the limitations of what the new I-Train mk2 can do are kind of flying out the window. What you are left with is a bike that can adapt to almost any style of modern mountain biking.

Actofive calling this machine a short-travel trail bike seems to undersell what is clearly a capable tool in the right hands. I watched first-hand as Czech enduro racer Vojta Blaha rode his new I-Train mk2 to a Blinduro Podzim win on the bike’s first weekend racing after its debut at Bespoked, while most riders (myself included) raced the 2 days of steep, rocky & loose blind stages on much longer travel bikes.

Yet, Blaha had nothing but great things to say about the playful new bike… calling it a “Shred machine. The ultimate trail bike that you can pedal for 100km and then throw a DH track at it”.

What’ new?

The new all-29er I-Train Mk2 gains 15mm longer rear wheel travel, now reaching 120mm / 130mm / 140mm depending on your choice of rear shock. It’s simple plug-and-play according to Actofive, so you can always change travel down the road with a simple shock swap – no other parts/modifications required.

While the original I-Train used welded Nicolai seat & chainstays, now Actofive machines the entire bike in-house. The new stays feature intricately hollowed-out truss-like structures that you can see on their backsides. We got a preview of the new stays in our recent Actofive Factory Tour.

What’s really most unique about the new I-Train mk2 is its newfound adjustability, giving more options to fine-tune it for various styles of trail riding. It keeps the same 3-position ride height adjustment & angle adjustable headset cups.

But now adds the option for a 10mm shorter chainstay link for mullet builds AND a new 4-position suspension tuning flip-chip they’re calling Adjustable Pivot.

By minutely adjusting the height of the main pivot just above the bottom bracket users can significantly adjust the anti-squat response of the suspension, while fine-tuning the pedal kickback curve, as well. This lets riders easily adjust how lively or planted the bike feels to suit their riding & pedaling styles. Read our summary of Anti-Squat here if you want to learn more on why it is great to be able to adjust it to your preference.

The new bike also features more progressive geometry, inspired by its Enduro World Cup-racing P-Train sibling. Its headset is now a degree slacker at 65° (+/-1°), seattube a degree steeper at 78°, and frame Reach 5mm longer.

Perfect for fast and technical trail riding.

Tech details

• fully CNC-machined from 7075-T6 aluminum billet in Dresden, Germany
• two-piece hollow clamshell adhesive-bonded front triangle
• open machined seatstays & open machined chainstays with press-fit polymer bridge for tuned rear-end flex
• two-piece keyed & bolted-together aluminum rocker link

• 120, 130, or 140mm of 4-bar rear wheel travel via different shock stroke (190×45 or 210×50/55mm)
• matched to 130-150mm fork travel
• 4-position Adjustable (main) Pivot to tune suspension anti-squat characteristics
• 3-position bottom bracket drop settings: Low 43mm, Neutral 39mm, or High 36mm
• 2-position size-specific chainstay lengths: 437mm (S1/2) or 444mm (S3); adjustable -10mm for Mullet setup
• three Reach-based sizes: S1 455mm / S2 475mm / S3 505mm
• slack 65° headtube angle, adjustable +/-1° with eccentric headset cups
• steep 78° seattube angle
• full 29″ or Mullet wheel size combinations
• max 2.4″ tires
• UDH for SRAM T-type Transmission or conventional derailleurs
• 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket with ISCG 05 tabs
• Boost 12x148mm thru-axle, PM 180 brake & 31.6mm seatpost
• bottle cage bosses on top & bottom of downtube, plus tool bag/carrier mount under toptube
• internal cable routing through main triangle (external routing optional)
• custom anti-noise chainstay protector & downtube guard
• 3300g frame weight (size S2, without shock)
• raw aluminum or several anodized colors available

Actofive I-Train Mk2 – Pricing, options & availability

The new Actofive I-Train Mk2 is available made-to-order as a frameset starting at 6000€ without a shock.

Once you hit the order button, Actofive’s Simon Metzner will work out exactly what you are looking for to customize your bike, including figuring out what the best shock is suited for your build… from a 420€ Fox Float to a 1079€ Intend Hover Opt and every coil or air option in between.

Then, once you put a 2/3 down payment, he’ll get to machining your bike. Frameset lead time is currently around 4-5 months. Custom complete Actofive I-Train Mk2 dream bike builds are also available. The sky is the limit, but complete pricing starts at 12,900€, and again Simon will help you build a one-of-a-kind shredder.

ActoFive.com

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We got a preview of it over the summer, but now the 2025 Leatt MTB clothing range is officially here. And there’s some great riding footage to get us psyched for a new season of hitting the trails in new shred-worthy mountain bike riding kit. The new 2025 line-up includes their all-new Women’s Trail & Enduro Apparel line, a new DH & gravity race kit developed with Pivot Factory Racing, and the simple low-cost Ride Kit 1.0 that pairs a set of long-sleeve jersey & pants combined for less than a hundred bucks for kids or adults…

2025 Leatt expanded mountain bike riding clothing line

Forgive me, but this is almost gonna seem like a regurgitated marketing press release from a new season of mountain bike riding clothing. But that’s kinda exactly what it is.

We already covered Leatt’s huge new move into MTB components in-depth this past July. There will be pedals, bars, stems, grips, and even a full-face-specific water bottle. All interesting new tech to geek out on with us. And at the time they teased us with new riding clothing too.

The big clothing news they gave us detail on then, were the sub $100 / 100€ sets of riding pants and long-sleeve jerseys that were meant to make their premium fit, quality materials, and style much more accessible to the average enduro and gravity mountain bike rider. And even cheaper for the next generation of kids shredding trails these days.

But they also promised more gender parity – expanding full Trail & Enduro line-ups for women. That’s a pretty big deal in our book.

Because what they had already offered for women was generally great – and has been some of my wife’s favorite riding gear for the past 2 years – but the options for women have always been quite limited.

So we’re happy to see more options for women. And we’ll definitely try to get a bunch of this new clothing in to test at the beginning of next season.

Plus, Leatt’s big deal is really protection, so there’s new knee & elbow pads, and new upper body protection vests, too.

OK, read on for the PR-speak directly from the mouths of Leatt…

All-New 2025 Leatt Women’s Trail range

Leatt’s new Women Trail jerseys are constructed from a Bluesign-approved fabric called IceYarn Knit, a quick-drying material. The casual T-shirts and long sleeves have subtle Leatt branding, with barely any logos visible apart from the small reflective branding at the back bottom hem (from $65 / 65€).

The new Women’s Trail shorts and pants include detachable chamois-liners and have a lightweight, flexible fit. The stretch of the waist and back panels ensure that the shorts or pants are comfortable from the first ride (from $99 / 99€).

All-New 2025 Leatt Women’s Enduro range

Leatt claims to have created THE Enduro pants and shorts for women. A flexible and supportive waist construction is combined with a 3-layer waterproof and taped seat liner. The result is full freedom of movement as well as complete waterproofing, no matter how muddy the saddle gets. The overall 4-way flex construction has an additional “DeFlextion” reinforcement in the seat area and knee section, making it as comfortable as durable. Storage comes in the form of five zippered pockets, one of which is mesh (from $99 / 109€).

Like the Trail range, the long and short-sleeved jerseys are made from IceYarn fabric. The prints and colorways are simple and understated, and the finish is super soft for sensitive skin. With laser-cut ventilation and an integrated goggle wiper, these jerseys have all the bases covered at a fair price point (from $65 / 65€).

Men’s premium Downhill 5.0 line-up

The 5.0 Gravity models are the result of all of Leatt’s R&D knowledge, plus the experience of the Pivot Factory Racing team. The 5.0 jersey uses state-of-the-art fabric construction technologies – the sleeves are made from a combination of CoWeave and DeFlextion materials. Using a custom-programmed 3D-knit, it has seamless transitions from ventilation areas into reinforcement areas. The sleeves have a tight fit, ideal for aerodynamics, while the torso section is looser to maximize freedom of movement.

The 5.0 Gravity pants also feature a CoWeave and DeFlextion seamless construction in the lower leg. The upper leg is made from a flexible, lightweight 4-way stretch fabric, while the seat area is enhanced with a bonded, waterproof liner. For a perfect fit around the waist, Leatt uses a slimline, lightweight, motocross-inspired Hypalon belt construction. Due to these advanced production techniques and the chosen high-end fabrics, the pants and jerseys aren’t cheap: Pants are $189 / 189€, Jerseys $99 / 99€.

The Ride Kit 1.0: ultra-affordable enduro, gravity & DH MTB riding sets

Less than 100 bucks for a jersey and pants set! And for kids, it’s less than 90.

The Ride Kit 1.0 shares the fit of the high-end 5.0 Gravity kit, but makes use of more “classic” fabrics and seam-stitched construction. The chosen material is still Bluesign-approved, flexible, breathable, and fast-drying. OK, fewer zippers & pockets and a simple moto-style buckle waist closure… but still some laser-cut vent holes and goggle wiper included.

This jersey-pant combo looks and feels way more expensive than it is. The cut and style, featuring minimal branding, makes it great for trail riding, as well. The pants and sleeves come in all black only, and the main body comes in a choice of black, grey, brown, or teal. Recommended retail pricing is: Adults $99 / 99€ and Kids (starting on a body height of 110cm) $89 / 89€ for set of both pants & long-sleeve jersey.

New 5.0 3DF EVO Pads protective gear

Leatt’s best-selling pads have been around for 8 years now. How to make a good product even better? Make it more lightweight, improve fit and breathability. That’s it.

The latest evolution of the 5.0 features a more ventilated, ergonomic 3DF pads, with a slightly lower profile. It is constructed with DeFlextion fabric, keeping it super robust, but still light and flexible. The main sleeve construction has also been ergonomically improved. The knee pad comes in three versions: a full-sleeve knee pad, a FastFit open-construction knee pad (no need to take the shoes off), and a knee-shin pad combo. Prices start from $99 / 109€. Elbow pads retail at $89 / 99€.

FlexMesh & FlexMesh Pro protectors get better ventilation

Leatt’s 2025 MTB range offers six new upper body protectors, including Chest and Backs-only. The biggest change has been made to the damping material and its construction, with the introduction of FlexMesh (single density) and FlexMesh Pro (dual-density) padding, a 3D mesh construction. Traditional damping material is heavy and bulky, and has small ventilation holes. Conversely, FlexMesh holes are bigger than the damping material itself, maximizing ventilation (Leatt claims plus 50%) and bringing the weight down by 11%. Flex joints allow for 3D flexing and a comfortable fit.

The hard shells covering the FlexMesh pads are also fully vented, and are available in black and white color options. Prices start at $179 / 189€ for a Chest/Back FlexMesh protector 4.5 Evo, and go up to the maximum protective product, the Body Protector 5.5 Evo (FlexMesh Pro at chest & back, plus additional flanks/rips, shoulder, and elbow protection) retailing at $349 / 379€.

Leatt.com/2025MTB

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Earlier this year, Bontrager launched four all-new MTB treads. Those tires started with the super-fast Vallnord, ranging up to the all-around trail tire called the Gunnison. Now Bontrager is completing their new MTB tire lineup with the most aggressive options in the lineup – the Brevard and Galbraith.

Like those launched in April, the Brevard and Galbraith ditch the ‘XR/SE’ naming convention of the outgoing tires. Instead, the tires take naming inspiration from legendary MTB zones where the tire would be appropriate. For enduro and aggressive trail, the Brevard replaces the XR5/SE5 while the Galbraith replaces the SE6.

The new naming structure also includes some changes to the levels and constructions. While the old tires went from Comp, to Expert, to Team issue for Entry/Good/Best, the new level goes Comp, Elite, Pro, and RSL for the top end. Constructions are noted as XR for XC/Trail, XT for Trail, SE for Enduro, and G for Downhill. That gives you three parts of the name, as in Brevard RSL SE which would be the top-level Brevard tire in an SE casing. Four parts if you add the TLR Tubeless Ready acronym.

Named after Brevard, North Carolina, the Brevard is optimized for loose and mixed terrain. Looking at the tread pattern, it’s hard not to think Minion, which is fine since it’s one of the most popular all-around aggressive tires.

The Galbraith is named for Bellingham, Washinton’s Galbraith Mountain, and these tires claim to be ideal for anything from rocky to loose, soft, and loamy trail conditions like you’d find in the Pacific Northwest.

The Brevard tire comes in either Bontrager’s new Trail Dual-Compound, or their Trail Triple-Compound. The Galbraith is only offered in Triple-Compound which adds softer shoulder compounds for better cornering grip, a medium center for climbing and braking grip, and a firm base for knob support. The Dual-Compound uses a medium shoulder for cornering grip and a firmer center for faster rolling and better longevity.

Both tires are also offered in Bontrager’s new RSL SE construction which uses a 60TPI casing with sidewall, bead-to-bead, and apex puncture protection. This is the only casing offered for the Galbraith, but the Brevard also comes in XR and XT. According to Trek’s testing, the new SE casing improved pinch-flat resistance by an impressive 33% on the Brevard compared to the SE5, while the Galbraith improved by 26% from the SE6.

The Galbraith is also only available as a 29 x 2.5″ tire, while the Brevard is offered 29 x 2.5 and 27.5 x 2.5.

Actual Weight

These tires have thick casings and a lot of rubber. As a result, they’re not super light at 1406g for the Brevard RSL SE 29 x 2.5, and 1414g for the Galbraith RSL SE 29 x 2.5.

First Impressions

First impressions always start with the installation, and for me that meant mounting to a pair of Forge + Bond 30 AM wheels with a 30mm internal width. Out of the box, the Bontrager tires are pretty stiff and were a bit of a challenge to mount to the rim. An application of Schwalbe Easy Fit Tire Mounting Fluid seemed to help. Still, I had to use a tool at points, but once they were on the beads easily popped into place. I mounted the Galbraith to the front and the Brevard to the rear in hopes that the Galbraith would help hook up on the sketchy loose-over-hard fall conditions.

Starting at my usual 21psi rear, 19psi front, it was immediately apparent that these tires are stout. I could definitely feel the weight difference from the 19 x 2.4″ Maxxis Dissectors that came off the bike, but the trade-off was a nicely damped ride feel.

The SE casing is supportive enough that I started lowering the air pressure, eventually setting at 16/17psi front/rear. Even at those pressures on a light weight ebike, it didn’t feel overly squirmy and offered excellent traction.

All of my rides so far have been in the same conditions – tons of leaves, acorns, walnuts, and sticks over rock-hard dirt. This time of year you can’t even see the trail in most spots, so you really have to trust your tires. So far, the Bontragers have worked out pretty well as long as you’re OK with some controlled sliding. Understandably, with so much loose debris on top of the trails, the tires haven’t been locked into place, but the sliding is predictable and there is still plenty of grip while climbing and braking. The tires also improved quickly with some miles, but it’s still early.

Pricing & Availability

Available now, the Brevard and Galbraith RSL SE TLR both sell for $69.99. The Brevard is also offered in Black/Tan.

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Today on Instagram, with the caption “Should we make this?”, Trek Bicycles teased a possible new full-suspension mountain bike. They’re calling it the PipeDream. The IG post continues by saying that the bike was designed by Trek’s Industrial Designer, Kyle Neuser, and “crafted by Trek’s prototype lab.”

According to the post, the geo is borrowed from the new Top Fuel, as well as the rear end and rocker link.

The Instagram post mentions that it was Kyle’s vision to “combine the natural damping of steel with the proven geo and pedaling performance of the new Top Fuel”.

Steel is Still Real

The PipeDram is running bolt-on aluminum shock mounts that allow for future suspension tuning. It’s also nice to see some exposed cable routing on the classic skinny steel tubes.

The paint scheme on the PipeDream is meant to reflect the colorways of the steel Trek bikes of the 80s and 90s – their attempt to remind everyone that steel can still meet the demands that today’s trails dish out.

This “prototype” checks a lot of boxes. It is both modern and retro, and very good-looking. This is not the first nor the last bike company to make a kick-ass steel full-suspension MTB, but it’s rare to see something along these lines from one of the manufacturing giants.

Yay, or Nay?

For more on this bike, or to give a Trek a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on the PipeDream. Let them know if they should move forward with production, check out their Instagram account.

TrekBikes.com

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After a post-Covid hiatus, the UK’s Royal Racing is back with a new Limited-Edition Series of its popular Core Gloves. As a brand that prides itself on making a “no-nonsense kit for the real rider”, these new gloves promise to be “versatile and comfortable with the Royal Racing styling turned up to the max.”

Core Gloves seem to be a staple item for Royal. The Core Series offers all-around performance with what appears to be a lightweight design with minimal padding or extras.

Royal Racing’s Limited-Edition Core gloves are available in various styles, with limited-edition graphics, so riders can decide to make a statement or keep things low-key.

Royal Racing Core Glove Pricing & Availability

Retail:
Adult: £24.99
Junior: £22.99

UK – Available through your local bike show or, at RoyalRacing.com
US – Exclusively through CambriaBike.com

• 4 limited-edition graphic styles
• Durable 4-way stretch back of hand fabric
• Vented AX suede performance palm
• Sticky printed palm for max grip
• Secure hook and loop closure
• Moulded cuff for security

RoyalRacing.com

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From deep in the Dolomites, Alpitude lays up a new ultralight full-carbon Navene saddle with a short-fit, extra reinforcement, and new engineered flex for gravel and XC weight weenies. With weights as low as 72g, Alpitude developed the Navene to withstand the toughest off-road conditions whether you’re a full-tilt racer or just looking to lighten up your ride.

Alpitude Navene short-fit ultralight carbon off-road saddle

Alpitude calls the short-fit Navene the latest in their ultralight ‘naked’ carbon saddle line-up. As a follow-up to their ultralight split Gardena road saddle, the new Alpitude Navene shares a similar short fit, but now, reoptimized for more demanding off-road riding and racing conditions.

It’s a project that Alpitude has developed over the past 3 years with a couple of pro Italian racers – Lorena Zocca & Mirko Tabacchi – who between the two have won more than a dozen national championship titles between them in XCO, XCE, XCM, CX, Gravel & eMTB. The idea was always about creating one of the lightest possible and stiffest race-ready saddles, but also making it flex at the back where it needs to for comfort and durability.

They even teased us with the Navene last autumn. But now, it’s officially ready for consumers.

What’s new?

The most obvious difference compared to the Gardena is the connected tail of the new off-road saddle, said more to prevent snagging your shorts when hanging off the back on steep descents, rather than increasing strength. But those biggest durability & robustness improvements are harder to spot. Like wider reinforced edges all around the Navene to make the saddle stronger overall, but especially more impact-resistant.

More precision attachment of rails to shell and tougher reinforced carbon rails to handle bigger G-out forces while in the saddle. In the end, there’s about 10% more weight in the Navene vs. the Gardena. But at the ultralight levels of an unpadded, full carbon saddle, that only amounts to just a 7g difference to make this off-road-ready.

Tech details

• full carbon construction, handmade in Italy
• available in three finishes: large 3K Twill, tighter 1K weave, or UD
• 245mm long short-fit design optimized for off-road riding
• 130mm standard or wider 142mm options
• 7×9mm oval carbon rails, max 6Nm rail bolt
• 95kg max rider weight

• designed for XC, gravel, and road riding
• 72g for 3K x 130mm wide or 75g for 3K x 142mm
• add 5g extra for either UD or 1K finishes
  (all weights claimed +/-5%)

Alpitude Navene saddle – Pricing, options & availability

Alpitude’s all-new ultralight carbon Navene gravel and cross-country mountain bike saddle is available now directly from Alpitude for 320€. For that price you get to pick your ideal finish – 3K, 1K, or UD – and 130mm or 142mm widths.

Alpitude keeps some size & finish combos in stock, while others are made-to-order, with an approximate 2-week leadtime. And global shipping adds 12€.

Alpitude.cc

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Just over a week ago Merida launched their first real lightweight eMTB with the all-new eOne-Sixty SL powered by the Bosch SX ebike motor and a 400Wh internal battery. Mixing the smooth feel and ‘just enough’ power of the SX eMTB powertrain, Merida gives the e160 SL a full carbon frame with truly enduro-capable all-mountain geometry and 160mm of travel front & rear to create a do-it-all shredder for riders looking for ultimate lightweight and a more natural ride.

I spent a couple days riding this new light eMTB on familiar steep, loose & rocky trails in Catalonia, and came away truly appreciating an ebike that felt like riding a regular bike, just with several hours of fresh legs built-in!

First Rides on new lightweight Merida e160 SL Bosch SX eMTB

I’m a little torn over whether I should call this ebike the eOne-Sixty SL like Merida does on their website, or the e160 SL like is written on the top tube. But I’ll stick with the latter, if for no other reason than simplicity.

I feel like this new e160 SL is the real highlight of Merida’s 2025 move to Bosch. After years of Shimano pedal-assist power, Merida diversifies with their first move into Bosch motors. The Shimano-powered bikes aren’t going anywhere, but now German motor lovers get their options, too.

Together with this Performance Line SX-powered e160 SL, there’s a new Performance Line CX-powered e180 and a few base CX-powered eFloat commuters of various sorts. All come at a time as Bosch has seriously overhauled their premium performance ebike motors, while also adding the same small unobtrusive handlebar style mounted displays that Shimano has used for years.

Important details – Bosch SX

The heart of this e160 SL ebike then is the lightweight Bosch Performance Line SX motor that debuted last year, tucked under this custom plastic protector.

You get a nominal 250W ebike motor cranking out 55Nm of torque but at a claimed motor weight of just 2kg. That makes it 35% less torquey than the latest CX motor, and 40% lighter. But it still peaks at 600W of pedal-assist support – the same as the CX, making it double what you get out of a TQ motor, for example. The lower overall SX torque actually translates to less power drain, though.

So even though this Merida e160 SL only has a 400Wh battery inside, you’ll get a lot longer range than if you put that small of a battery into a CX-powered eMTB.

+250Wh if you need more

Yet still, if range anxiety is a concern, the Merida eOne-Sixty SL has its charging port right on the side of its seattube below the rocker link pivot. And you can strap an extra 250Wh Bosch PowerMore range extender external battery in place of the regular water bottle to carry you 62.5% further than without it.

In fact, I would probably recommend that everyone who buys this lightweight ebike plan to cough up another 400€ for that extra battery.

The greatest thing about this eMTB is probably how light it is and how that makes it handle more like a regular enduro or all-mountain bike. And I think the building 400Wh battery offers plenty of range for the majority of rides you’ll do on it – where you don’t want the penalty of an extra 1.6kg on every ride, when it’s usually not needed. But being able to increase your range by so much when you do plan on an all-day ride with more climbing than usual, just makes this a much more versatile ebike in the end.

29er eMTB with 160mm front & rear

This new lightweight 29er Merida eOne-Sixty SL ebike gets 160mm of travel front & rear in a <2kg full-carbon frame with a simple linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design and flex stays that help keep it simple & lightweight. Or 174mm in the rear if you convert it to a mullet setup via the flip-chip and a 27.5 rear wheel swap.

It looks quite a bit different, but suspension kinematics-wise it’s quite similar to the new Shimano EP8-powered eOne-Sixty that launched last spring (which was actually already a mullet with 174mm of rear wheel travel paired to a 170mm fork). Plus, this new eMTB is about 3.5kg lighter.

With its new lighter weight, this SL eMTB even feels a bit more capable off-road too, even with the shorter fork travel. It does get a half a degree slacker headtube at 64°, the same ultra-steep 78.5° seat angle, 4mm longer chainstays at 450mm, and an extra centimeter of Reach to 489mm on my size Long test ebike.

So, it’s a bit longer and slacker for more stability. But it is lighter, so it’s much easier to hop and maneuver around on the trail – and still available in 5 Agilometer sizes (XS-XL).

A few more key details… all the cables are routed in through the Wire Port cap on the Acros block-lock headset, and there’s an UDH out back. There’s a downtube protector, thick sculpted wrap-around rubber chainstay protector to silence the drivetrain, and optional short or long rear fenders to keep mud away from the main pivots.

The e160 SL has clearance for 29 x 2.4″ tires, and is rated for enduro Category 4 riding, anything shy of DH racing. Plus, Merida backs the carbon frame with a lifetime warranty.

Want more details? Check out my eOne-Sixty ebike launch story, here.

Actual weight

Okay, so the new Merida e160 SL 8000 that I tested in size L (Long or Large) weighs 20.4kg That’s set up tubeless without petals, but with the mini-tool strapped under its seat.

That’s not really light for a regular bike, but it is only about 2.5kg more than an entry-level pedal-it-yourself One-Sixty. And so for an ebike, it’s a pretty lightweight feel. 


A lot of weight savings comes from that 400Wh battery in it, which is relatively small. But it still seemed to be plenty for what I was getting up to and riding.

So how does it ride?

Riding Impressions – Lightweight All-Rounder

Merida describes this as an ebike meant to blur the divide between conventional regular bike riding and pedal-assisted ebiking. 
And it does that for sure. There’s no doubt that the Bosch SX powertrain makes you feel like you have fresh legs zipping up climbs easier than you probably should. And the complete package is still light enough that you go downhill without really feeling like being weighed down by a heavy, clunky ebike.

At just 20 kilos, it’s plenty light enough to still be maneuverable under you. This is an eMTB that’s easy to pick up and hop around on tight technical trails. And it’s really easy to get it off the ground. Riding a number of heavier, ‘full-power’ ebikes, I often feel I’m plowing into things, smashing through loose rock gardens, dragging through creek crossings. But not with this e160 SL. This ebike still feels light enough that you can pick lines easily, change direction effortlessly, and confidently tackle more challenging lines. It just feels much more natural.

But still plenty of power

Going uphill though, yes, the Bosch SX motor is less powerful than its heavier-duty CX sibling. But still it offers that same peak power of 600W, even if the torque is lower. So it’s still feels like it’s going to carry you up some of the steepest terrain. 
Sure, its torque is about 40% less than the most powerful motors out there, so it won’t feel quite as zippy.

But to just make getting back up the hill a bit quicker, a bit easier, it definitely felt like plenty of zip for me. And that lower torque in the end actually does create a more natural ride – a feeling I prefer when getting pedal-assist.

Balancing battery & range

The SX setup kind of strikes a balance between really lightweight and full-power motor support. And it manages power well with the 400Wh battery to still deliver quite long range.

I (85kg) had no problem getting 2 solid hours of riding and 900-1000 meters of climbing out of this relatively small motor and small internal battery while pushing it hard, mostly in Turbo mode. Knocking it down to eMTB mode looked like it would get me about 10% more, or 50-60% more in Tour or Eco modes.

For sure, it won’t keep up all-day with full-power eMTBs with much bigger batteries if you head high into the mountains. But it’s definitely a compromise I’m willing to make in order to have that much better maneuverability and much more playful feel to the ebike – both when going downhill and especially carving the ebike through tight technical terrain & more flowy trails. Saving 3-5kg off many of the more powerful eMTBs out there, the e160 SL just creates a much more enjoyable feel that is much more like riding a mountain bike and less like lugging a heavy ebike up & down in the forest.

Going further & countering range-anxiety

And I think it’s simply more fun to throw a lightweight eMTB off of jumps that it is a heavyweight ebike.

Now like I’ve already said, if you’re looking to ride further, you can just strap on a range extender battery. And while a 250Wh is a relatively small addition to a thousand Wh battery, when you’re already starting from just 400Wh, it’s a sizable boost. So you’re genuinely increasing your range by more than 60%! Of course, the one thing I don’t like is that the range extender takes the place of your water bottle, and on those longer ebike rides, you’re going to need more water, too. So, you’ll just have to accept wearing a hydration pack.

Hiccups

One recent Bosch update that I can really get behind is their new Purion 400 display (which looks a lot like Shimano’s similar Di2 & ebike display). It simply puts useful ebike info in an easy-to-see spot and lets the rider cycle through whatever you prefer to focus on – estimated range, speed, cadence, assist level, ride stats, etc. It’s simply much more informative than the LED indicator bars that Bosch puts on your toptube. Although sometimes it gives bad news, as well.

The one issue I had tested this Merida e160 SL 8000 was that this model includes a wired-in SRAM AXS transmission rear derailleur. While that would normally be wireless, here it’s powered directly from the ebike’s battery. But the Bosch system & SRAM don’t talk. So ultimately, when you get to 0% battery on your motor, you have 0% battery in your derailleur, too. That means when you run out of battery for the ebike, you run out of the ability to shift. It shuts down, and you’re left in whatever gear you’re in. To be fair, you get a decent warning, it runs on 0% for a bit. So definitely, when you see your ebike hit 0%, you should just turn off any pedal-assist to still get more shifting.
But once it shuts down, that’s it. Yes, you can start it back up for a second and probably get a couple extra shifts out to get back to a pedal-able gear. I was able to, but your results may vary. And ultimately, it’s going to shut down again with its lovely Bosch message of “See You” at the end. 


But easy enough to fix…

My recommendation if you get any Bosch ebike with a wired-in SRAM derailleur is just to buy an extra AXS battery to carry as a spare so you don’t ever have to worry about it again. It’ll cost you about 60€ and weigh <25g. Surely worth the peace of mind.

Parting thoughts

What I come away with is that this new e160 SL is my favorite Merida ebike, yet. It actually rides a lot like the regular 160s, which I liked a lot for the it simple, playful ride, and great slack & capable geometry.

The Merida e160 SL is not super long travel, so it’s not really e-Enduro. Although its geometry is really trying to emulate full-on enduro bikes. But it’s much more of an e-All-mountain shredder type of thing. But with light weight, long reach, long chainstays, a slack 64° head angle, and Merida’s characteristically steep seattube angle, you can comfortably ride this thing down just about any trail. And with plenty of eMTB motor support,
you can get back up just about any trail, too.

It’s probably the most versatile e-mountain-bike that Merida has made. And at this light weight and natural ride feel, it really just handles so much like a regular bike that it’s just fun for all types of trail riding and makes you feel like you always have fresh legs.

Merida-bikes.com

The post Merida e160 SL eMTB Review: Light Enough to Ride Like a Bike, But Always with Fresh Legs appeared first on Bikerumor.

While Bike Ahead is mostly known for 6-spoke monocoque wheels, their Three Zero line-up delivers 3 types of lightweight & strong, but conventionally-built carbon mountain bike wheels, at much more attainable prices. And now, in addition to the two light XC versions, Bike Ahead adds a tough new EN enduro version with the same Safe-Wing carbon rim design.

Bike Ahead Three Zero EN MTB wheels go enduro & SL

Bike Ahead’s lightweight Three Zero wheel lines get its name from the 30mm internal width of their German-made tubeless carbon mountain bike rim. It started a couple of years ago with XC wheels. But now Bike Ahead add tougher EN wheels to handle heavier bikes and more trail abuse, plus even lighter SL wheels for cross-country weight weenies to shed even more grams.

The core of the Bike Ahead’s Three Zero range is the unique (and patented) Safe-Wing rim design. It features a relatively straight & tall hookless interface where it contacts the tire bead, with small radius curves to lock onto the tire offering a secure fit and good support so you can get the most grip out of your tire with confidence, even at extremely low pressures. But on the outside of the rim, a much larger radius means a more rounded profile so pinch flats and sidewall cuts are much less likely when you hit a sharp-edged obstacle.

Tech details

• one-piece, 3mm offset asymmetric hookless tubeless carbon MTB rims
• carbon rims handmade in Veitshöchheim, Germany
• 30mm inner rim width
• shallow 20mm depth
• patented Safe-Wing design with large outer radius for max puncture resistance

• 3K outer bead reinforcement to limit rock strike damage on the EN wheels only
• molded in nipple seats (not drilled)
• 29er and 28-spoke only
• 105kg max rider+gear weight
• all handbuilt in Germany with straight-pull DT Swiss Aerolite spokes and 6-bolt 240 EXP or 180 EXP hubs

• 1580g for the Three Zero EN enduro & all-mountain wheelset
• 478g carbon enduro rim (available separately only to professional wheelbuilders)
• 1380g for the Three Zero XC cross-country, marathon, downcountry & trail wheelset
• 1335g for the Three Zero SL cross-country to trail race wheelset
• 378g carbon cross-country rim, now 40g lighter than the previous generation (available separately only to professional wheelbuilders)

Bike Ahead Three Zero MTB wheels – Pricing, options & availability

Three versions of the Bike Ahead Three Zero mountain bike wheels are available. The Bike Ahead Three Zero EN & XC wheels both sell for the same 1900€ price tag, with DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs. And for the gram-counters, the SL wheels get upgraded to DT 180 EXP hubs with SINC ceramic bearings to get even lighter.

Bike Ahead offers a 2-year warranty on the wheels, plus a discounted 3-year crash replacement program, as well. Or if you buy the wheels directly from Bike-Ahead.com, they extend the warranty to 3 years, and crash replacement to 5 years from the date of purchase.

All mountain bike wheels include tubeless tape and tubeless valves, and the choice of Shimano MicroSpline or SRAM XD freehub bodies.

Bike-Ahead.com

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No one likes a flat tire, and the industry has worked tirelessly (zing!) to develop more straightforward and efficient ways to fix punctures. Stan’s (one of the OGs in tubeless sealant technology) has updated their unique DART system, this time working alongside Daysaver to help store and keep the updated tool lasting longer and performing consistently. 

What is the Stan’s Incredible DART?

The DART is a plug-style tubeless flat tool that uses a unique blow-dart-style insert to fill cuts in the tire carcass. The flexible nature and flower-style design of the DART plug allow it to fit nicely into large and small tire cuts and cover more space. 

What’s New? 

The Stan’s Incredible DART builds on the base design launched some years ago. There was never a great storage solution for the DART; you mostly had to store it in your jersey pocket, but it wasn’t a burden – it was just easy to forget (or lose, in my case). 

The updated Incredible DART design focuses on elegant storage and ease of use. Stan’s partnered with the engineers at Daysaver in Switzerland to create this sleek, updated design that will be much harder to forget.

How Does the Stan’s Incredible DART Install? 

The Incredible DART can be installed inside a handlebar (with Stan’s Incredible Handlebar Mount, sold separately) or stored in a pocket or backpack like the OG DART. 

Stan’s supplies three different grommets with the Incredible DART handlebar kit, and they should fit most flat bars. To install the Stan’s Incredible DART on your bars, all you need to do is install the grommet on the tool (opposite the side of the Stan’s logo) and slide the tool onto the bar end clip. 

Next, tighten the 3mm fitting while the quick release is engaged and secure the fit. To use the tool, flip the quick release, and the tool will slide out when you pull the tab. Then, you’re ready to fix a flat.  Also – the new Stan’s DART works with any of Daysaver’s modular Incredible tool ecosystems. 

How Do You Use the Stan’s Incredible DART? 

If you’re familiar with tire plugs or bacon strip-style repairs, the Stan’s Incredible DART works nearly the same. You take the tool out of your bar end (or your pocket) and twist the tool while holding the silver alloy piece. 

Twisting will pop the spring-loaded DART installation bit and DART plug from their hidden home in the tool. Mind how quickly you turn the preloaded tool—I’ve had the DART plug fling off into the installation tool. 

Then locate your flat, and push the Stan’s Incredible DART plug into the puncture. The installation tool has a bottom-out feature that only allows the plug to be installed at a certain depth. 

After you successfully install the DART plug, spin the wheel and flood the puncture site with the tubeless sealant in your tires (Stan’s or not). After this, you should be ready to inflate and roll. 

If you unfortunately get another flat (we’ve all been there), the new Incredible DART holds three DART plugs. So you should be good to get home or at least go to a corner store. 

First Impressions: Stan’s Incredible DART

I’m a fan of the current Stan’s DART, it’s easy to use and fits in my flat kit. My only complaint is that it takes up more space than the bacon strips or slim Dyna Plug tool. It seems that the updated Stan’s Incredible DART has solved most of those problems.

The installation installation is easy enough, and the tool is well-designed. I like how resilient the design is. The alloy outer looks like it will last the long haul, and the tool doesn’t rattle in your bars, thanks to the various-sized grommets in the hardware kit.

A No-Go For Most Road

I was bummed to see that it wouldn’t work in any of my drop bar bikes. There is a minimal chance it could work with gravel bars that are very flared, but that’s wishful thinking. As I imagine, this is a flat bar-only install tool. BUT its slimmer and cylindrical design is better for packing and storing quickly.

The updated tool design is a nice improvement and upgrade from the current model. The spring-loaded piece is a bit novel, and it’s not just for show; it works, and that’s all that matters. Just don’t spring your DART plug into the woods.

Premium Price for Premium Tools

The cost is significantly higher than that of the original model. The Stan’s DART tool (OG) is $25.00, with refills being $20.00. The new Stan’s Incredible DART is $72.00, and an extra $35.00 if you want the hardware kit. That means getting the whole kit (hardware for the bar installation) will cost $107.00.

Why the price increase? The OG DART is crafted out of plastic and is slightly less refined. The new Stan’s Incredible DART feels like a tool that you can get more use out of, one that will last a long time — primarily because of its alloy construction.

Is it worth the extra cost? I would say yes – especially if you’re a Stan’s DART fan. The tool fits seamlessly into the bars of most flat-bar bikes (it fits all of mine, but I don’t want to say it fits them all). Plus, the tool design is cool, and I like cool, neat tools, especially practical ones.

What about the weight? The original Stan’s DART weighs 15g with two DART plugs in the chamber. The Stan’s Incredible DART weighs slightly more, at 37g with the hardware piece and 29g as just the tool.

Stan’s Incredible DART 

• Include 3 DART heads
• Precision engineered in Switzerland
• Compatible with Daysaver’s modular Incredible tool ecosystem
• Incredible DART Handlebar Mount sold separately
• 6061-T6 alloy body
• Color: Silver with laser-etched logos
• Made in Taiwan
• Compostable packaging 
• Weight:
• Price: $72.00 (tool only) $35.00 (Hardware Mount)

Stans.com

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