Reviews
XC bikes have seen a renaissance in the past few years, melding more confident Trail-inspired geometry with super-efficient pedaling performance. Salsa has made their entry into this brave new world of XC bikes with the Spearfish, and it looks rather promising. Our First Look digs into what they’ve cooked up.
Flash Review: 25/26 Salomon QST 106
We’re rounding out our Flash Reviews of the updated Salomon QST series with the longest-standing model, the QST 106 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the prior-gen version and other QST models.
2025-2026 Salomon QST 106
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for Salomon's updated QST 106.
TRP Evo Pro Brakes
TRP’s Evo Pro brakes take over from the popular DH-R Evo as their flagship gravity offering, and TRP says the new stoppers offer better ergonomics, more power, and greater adjustability. We’ve spent the last seven months putting those claims to the test. See how the Evo Pro brakes stack up.
Ibis Oso 1.1
The Ibis Oso 1.1 got a few construction tweaks and a smaller price tag, but it’s still a very unique-looking offering on the eMTB market. It comes with a unique ride, too, but one that should appeal quite a bit to the right buyer. Read on to find out who the Oso might be for.
Salsa Blackthorn 125 C & Blackthorn 145 C
Salsa’s new Blackthorn siblings bring some interesting design details — and a ton of on-bike storage — to a new Trail / All Mountain platform with two different travel options on the same frame. Check out what they’ve cooked up, and our early impressions of the Blackthorn 145 C.
2026 Orbea Occam SL & Occam LT
Orbea has updated the Occam SL and Occam LT Trail bikes, and while the changes aren’t massive, there are a couple of nice tweaks — including the option to forgo headset cable routing.
Shimano XTR M9200 Di2 Wireless Drivetrain & Wheels
Shimano’s long-awaited wireless XTR group is here. Here are all the details — and our long-term Full Review after spending several months with the new shifter, derailleur, cassette, cranks, and wheels.
Shimano XTR M9200 & M9220 Brakes
Alongside their new XTR Di2 drivetrain, Shimano also updated their longstanding and very popular XTR brakes, and we’ve been testing the Trail / Enduro version for the past few months. Here’s the design rundown on both of the new XTR stoppers, and our take on how the four-piston option has performed.
Yeti MTe
Yeti just launched their second-ever eMTB, the MTe, a light-assist offering featuring TQ’s new HPR60 drive system. With design cues from Yeti’s 160E and their unpowered mountain bikes, Yeti has packed some familiar things into the MTe, as well as some new features. Check out our First Look for the whole story, and our Flash Review for our initial on-trail impressions.
Flash Review: 25/26 Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA
Several of our reviewers have become big fans of Atomic’s low-volume Hawx boots, but what about the roomier ‘Prime’ version? Here are Luke Koppa’s initial thoughts on the freeride-touring Hawx Prime XTD 130 BOA.
Stuff We Like: May 2025
This month’s assortment of gear includes several impressive cycling components, coolers made from coconuts, some summer apparel favorites, and much more. Check it out to see what our reviewers have been liking lately.
EXT Vecta
EXT has made a name for itself building unapologetically high-end suspension products. However, their new Vecta coil shock is their take on a more affordable offering, and it’s impressively fully featured relative to the brand’s flagship options. Here are all the details.
Hope Carbon Cranks
Hope has added a carbon fiber crank to go along with their Evo aluminum one, and we’ve spent a ton of time on it to see how it stacks up. Check out what we’ve found.
Specialized Turbo Levo 4
Specialized is adding aluminum models to the Turbo Levo 4 lineup. The Turbo Levo 4 has a more powerful motor and a bigger battery than the outgoing Turbo Levo 3, plus a host of other innovations that, combined with the new drive system, make us eager to spend time on it. Check out our First Look for the details.
Pivot Trailcat SL & LT
Pivot’s twin Trailcat models share a frame, but their on-trail differences are bigger than one might expect. We’ve spent the spring testing the Trailcat LT alongside its shorter-travel sibling, the Trailcat SL, and are ready to share our thoughts.
2026 Orbea Rallon
FMD Racing unveiled the prototype Orbea that they’ve been racing on at the Bielsko-Biala DH World Cup last weekend, and it turns out that it’s the new Rallon — historically Orbea’s Enduro bike. The new version is meant to fill double duty as both a DH and Enduro rig, with a big range of adjustments to suit, and looks to be a massive departure from the Rallon of old. Check it all out here.
Propain Tyee — 2025 Update
Propain has revisited the Tyee, but instead of a full overhaul, they’ve focused on smaller refinements, new colors, and new build kit options. Check out the changes in our First Look.
Flash Review: 25/26 Head Kore 112 Ti
The new Kore 112 Ti features many of the same updates as the rest of the overhauled Kore collection, but the 112 (and 118) offer something a bit different on snow. Here are our initial thoughts on how the Kore 112 Ti compares to the Kore 118 Ti, the previous Kore 111, and the narrower Kore Ti models.
2025-2026 Head Kore 112 Ti
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pictures, and flex pattern numbers for the new Head Kore 112 Ti.