Flash Reviews: MTB

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Salsa Blackthorn 145

Flash Review: Salsa Blackthorn 145 C

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Update 7.2.25: We have another reviewer spending time on the new Salsa Blackthorn 145 C, so check out our updated Flash Review for some more early impressions.

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David Golay reviews the Pivot Firebird V5 for Blister

Flash Review: Pivot Firebird V5

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Pivot’s Enduro race bike, the Firebird, has gotten a bunch of updated features and other tweaks, so how does it ride, and how does it compare to the prior-gen version? We’ve got some early thoughts.

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David Golay reviews the EXT Vecta for Blister

Flash Review: EXT Vecta

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EXT has historically made very high-end suspension, and while their new Vecta coil shock isn’t cheap, it’s a lot more affordable than EXT’s other offerings. But how does it perform? We’ve got some initial thoughts.

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David Golay reviews the Fox Podium for Blister

Flash Review: Fox Podium

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The new Fox Podium doesn’t look like much else out there, and its on-trail performance stands out, too. Check out our take so far.

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David Golay reviews the Formula Selva V for Blister

Flash Review: Formula Selva V

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The new Formula Selva V stands out from the market for being lightweight and highly tunable via Formula’s CTS valve system, but how does its performance stack up next to other long-travel single-crown forks? We’ve got some early thoughts.

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Simon Stewart reviews the Esker Woodsy

Flash Review: Esker Woodsy

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We’ve started testing Esker’s Woodsy Trail / All Mountain bike, and its combination of a compliant ride, efficient suspension, and all-day comfort has it looking like an interesting option in a crowded category.

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Zack Henderson reviews the Revel ReRun

Flash Review: Revel ReRun

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Revel Bikes is back in action after being reacquired by its founder, and that means their new bikes, like the ReRun, are hitting the market. Check out how we’re getting along with Revel's first eMTB so far.

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Blister reviews the Salsa Spearfish

Flash Review: Salsa Spearfish

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Salsa has jumped right into the modern XC bike mix with the new Spearfish. Check out our Flash Review to see how we’re getting along with it after a few rides.

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Flash Review: Yeti MTe

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We’ve been spending time on Yeti’s brand-new MTe, a mid-travel, light-assist eMTB that includes TQ’s new HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial impressions.

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Zack Henderson reviews the Magura Gustav Pro brakes

Flash Review: Magura Gustav Pro

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Magura’s Gustav Pro brakes promise consistency and heat management, so do they deliver? Our Flash Review has initial impressions from the first couple of rides with Magura’s latest stoppers.

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Pivot Shuttle SL/AM

Flash Review: Pivot Shuttle SL/AM

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We’ve started testing Pivot’s Shuttle SL/AM, and its combination of impressively low weight and solid all-mountain capability has it looking like a compelling new option in the light-assist category.

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Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Comp Alloy

Flash Review: Specialized Turbo Levo 4

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We've been spending time on the Specialized Turbo Levo 4. Find out how the new motor compares to the competition, plus some initial ride impressions.

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Zack Henderson reviews the OneUp Wave flat pedals

Flash Review: OneUp Wave Flat Pedals

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The OneUp Wave pedals aren’t shaped like any other flat pedals we’ve seen, and their performance is proving equally unique so far. Check out our impressions from the first few rides.

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Flash Review: Santa Cruz Hightower 4

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We had some questions when Santa Cruz updated their popular Hightower, which sits right in the middle of their MTB lineup, and now we have some answers. Check out our first impressions of this new Trail bike.

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David Golay reviews the Trickstuff Maxima Brakes for Blister

Flash Review: Trickstuff Maxima Brakes

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The name of the Trickstuff Maxima brakes gives a good idea of what they’re about, at least on paper: big power, big bling, and a pricetag to match. We’ve started spending time on Trickstuff’s most powerful, gravity-oriented brake to see if they deliver.

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David Golay reviews the Fox 36 SL for Blister

Flash Review: 2026 Fox 36 SL Grip X

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The new Fox 36 SL replaced the longstanding 34 as their shorter-travel Trail bike fork, and Fox claims it’s got a much stiffer chassis at a modest weight penalty. Let’s check how our time on the 36 SL is going so far.

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BLISTER reviews the updated Specialized Butcher and Eliminator

Flash Review: Specialized’s Updated Butcher and Eliminator

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Specialized’s changes to the Butcher and Eliminator are a case of incremental improvement, but those updates are ones we’re awfully excited about. Do those tweaks add up to upgraded performance? Our Flash Review covers our initial impressions after some on-trail time.

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Flash Review: Kona Hei Hei 10

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The Kona Hei Hei has taken many forms over its 30+ year history. So, where does the most current, 10th generation of the Hei Hei sit in the market? We’ve been spending some time on it and have some initial thoughts.

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Simon Stewart reviews the Santa Cruz Bullit

Flash Review: Santa Cruz Bullit 4

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Santa Cruz has added the 170 mm travel Bullit to thier revamped lineup of Horst Link euipped eMTBs built around the latest Bosch CX drive system.

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David Golay reviews the 2026 Fox Float X2 for Blister

Flash Review: 2026 Fox Float X2

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Fox’s new Float X2 has dramatically different damper architecture from the prior version and some air spring tweaks to go with it. Check out our early thoughts after A-B testing the two generations of Float X2 for a few rides.

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