Mountain Bike Reviews

David Golay reviews the Shimano XT M8200 Di2 group for Blister

Flash Review: Shimano XT M8200 Di2 Drivetrain and Brakes

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We’ve been quite impressed with Shimano’s latest XTR Di2 groupset, so how close does the XT version get in terms of performance, for about two-thirds of the price? Here’s our early take.

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David Golay reviews the Rimpact Chain Damper for Blister

Rimpact Chain Damper

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Rimpact’s Chain Damper looks a whole lot like their take on an Ochain. And, yes, they’ve got some real similarities, but the thinking behind their designs — and the designs themselves — are much more different than you might expect. Here’s what you need to know, including our early on-trail impressions.
David Golay reviews the Rimpact Chain Damper for Blister

Flash Review: Rimpact Chain Damper

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The thinking behind the Rimpact Chain Damper is more novel than it may first appear, and its effects on bike suspension stand out, too. Here’s what we’ve learned so far during our initial testing.

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Ibis Ripley AF and Ripmo AF

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Ibis just introduced new aluminum versions of their Ripley and Ripmo, with the same modern, size-specific geometry as their carbon fiber counterparts, in-frame storage, and competitively priced build kits. Check out all the details here.
Santa Cruz Vala AL

Santa Cruz Vala AL

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The new Vala AL brings the first aluminum frame to the Santa Cruz eMTB lineup. Many of the details are the same as the carbon Vala, but there are some differences, beyond just a lower price. Check out our First Look to see what they’ve come up with.

Flash Review: Propain Sresh SL

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We’ve been riding Propain’s first light-assist eMTB, the Sresh SL, equipped with TQ’s latest HPR60 drive system. Check out our initial on-trail impressions, including comparisons to the Yeti MTe and Pivot Shuttle SL/AM.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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David Golay reviews the Schwalbe Albert Radial tires for Blister

Schwalbe Albert Radial

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Schwalbe claims to have made a real leap forward in MTB tire construction with their new radial casings — but how does it actually pan out on the trail? And what about the new Albert tread pattern? We’ve spent a lot of time on the radial-casing Albert in a huge range of conditions and are ready to weigh in.

Cannondale Moterra

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Cannondale just launched the latest version of their Moterra eMTB in alloy frame options, featuring Bosch’s Performance Line CX drive system, a range of build kits that accommodate a variety of budgets, and more. Check out our First Look for all the info.
David Golay reviews the Propain Tyee for Blister

Flash Review: Propain Tyee 6.1 CF

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Propain gave the Tyee some tweaks that look good on paper, but has our take on their Enduro bike changed much? Here's the early version.

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BLISTER reviews the Revel Ritual and ReRun

Flash Review: Revel Ritual

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Revel has been through a lot since launching their Ritual Enduro bike. But they’re back, and the Ritual is available — so how does it ride? We’ve been spending time on it to find out. Check out our initial on-trail impressions.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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David Golay reviews the HEL Advocate Brakes for BLISTER

Flash Review: HEL Advocate Brakes

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HEL is a new brand to the bike world, so how do their Advocate brakes stack up? Here’s our preliminary take.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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David Golay reviews the HEL Advocate Brakes for BLISTER

HEL Advocate Brakes

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HEL Performance has a long history in motorsport, but they’re new to the MTB world. So, how have they gone about designing their first MTB brake — the gravity-oriented Advocate — and what are our initial thoughts on its performance? Check it all out here.
Simon Stewart reviews the Santa Cruz Bullit

Santa Cruz Bullit 4

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Did the Santa Cruz Bullit dethrone its stablemate, the Santa Cruz Vala, as Simon’s favorite eMTB so far this year? Check out our Full Review to find out, and why we think full-power eMTBs with a small battery and a range extender offer the most versatility for a lot of folks.
Simon Stewart descending on the Santa Cruz Bullit

Deep Dive: Santa Cruz Bullit 4

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We compare the Santa Cruz Bullit to the Cannondale Moterra SL, Trek Slash+, Mondraker Dune XR, Devinci E-Troy, and Orbea Wild.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

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Specialized Stumpjumper 15

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The Specialized Stumpjumper might be the most recognizable mountain bike of all time, and it’s long been known for being especially versatile and adaptable. However, what that actually means has changed a lot over the decades, and Specialized made some interesting changes to the latest Stumpjumper 15. So, is it still worthy of its popularity? Check out our Full Review for our take.

Deep Dive: Specialized Stumpjumper 15

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We compare the Specialized Stumpjumper 15 to the previous Stumpjumper EVO, Santa Cruz Hightower 4, Ibis Ripmo V3, Santa Cruz Bronson 5, Yeti SB140, Cannondale Habit, Spot Mayhem 140, Transition Sentinel V3, Kona Process 153, and Norco Sight.

Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions

To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.

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David Golay and Zack Henderson review the Outlier Void and Pendulum pedals for Blister

Outlier Void and Pendulum Pedals

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Outlier’s Void and Pendulum pedals don’t look like anything else out there, so is their performance similarly quirky, just plain good, or somewhere in between? We’ve had multiple reviewers spend a lot of time on both versions and are ready to weigh in.
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