Mountain Bike Reviews

David Golay reviews the Manitou Dorado for Blister

2023 Manitou Dorado

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There aren’t many inverted forks left on the market, so how does one of the most famous holdouts — the Manitou Dorado — stack up against its more conventional competitors? We’ve spent a lot of time on both the Expert and Pro versions, and are ready to weigh in.
David Golay reviews the Continental Kryptotal Tires for Blister

Continental Kryptotal Tires

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Continental gave their entire gravity tire lineup a major overhaul last year, and having now spent most of the season on their all-rounder Kryptotal pair, we think they’re extremely good tires for a lot of conditions, but are just a couple of tweaks away from being perfect. Check out our full review to find out where they work best and what sets them apart, including comparisons to the Maxxis Assegai, Minion DHF and DHR II, Schwalbe Magic Mary, and more.
David Golay reviews the Santa Cruz Tallboy for Blister

2023 Santa Cruz Tallboy

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The Santa Cruz Tallboy hasn’t changed a ton from the prior V4 generation, but it’s still a great short-travel Trail bike and Santa Cruz has found some nice details to refine. Check out our full review to learn more, including how it compares to several other bikes in its class.
David Golay reviews the Ohlins RXF 34 m.2 for Blister

Öhlins RXF34 m.2

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We’ve been big fans of Öhlins’ RXF 36 and RXF 38, but what about their little sibling — the RXF 34 m.2? We’ve had two reviewers spending time on the short-travel Trail fork and the results are interesting — check out our full review for more, including direct comparisons to the Fox 34 and RockShox Pike.
David Golay reviews the Chromag Darco and Lowdown for Blister

Chromag Darco and Lowdown

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There might not be another brand on earth as well-known for aggressive hardtails as Chromag, but today they’ve launched their first (adult) full suspension bikes — the Darco and Lowdown — and they look to keep a lot of Chromag’s identity intact, just in a squishier package.
David Golay reviews the Vitus Mythique for Blister

Vitus Mythique

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Vitus has just launched US-based distribution for their consumer direct bike sales, and along with it they’ve got a new version of the Mythique Trail bike — and it’s an outstanding value for money. Check out our First Look for all the info.
Dylan Wood and Eric Freson review the Revel Rail 29 for Blister

Revel Rail 29

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The Revel Rail 29 is a well-rounded bike that blurs the line between longer-travel Trail bikes and full-on Enduro sleds — and one that multiple reviewers really got along with. Check out our full review to see how the Rail 29 performs on the trail.
Kara Williard, Luke Koppa, and Eric Freson review the Pivot Shadowcat for BLISTER

2022 Pivot Shadowcat

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We’ve had three reviewers spending time on the Pivot Shadowcat, and while it’s a bit of an unusual offering in 2022 — a very light, efficient 27.5’’ Trail bike — it’s proven to be a ton of fun, and a great example of why 27.5’’ wheels should stick around.
David Golay reviews the Maxxis Shorty for Blister

Maxxis Shorty

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It’s turning to wet-weather riding season in a lot of places, and the Maxxis Shorty is a great option for a soft-conditions tire that still maintains some versatility when things firm up. Check out our review to see where it excels and how it compares to the competition.
David Golay reviews the e*thirteen Grappler tire for Blister

e*thirteen Grappler Tire

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e*thirteen calls the Grappler their most aggressive tire ever, meant for steep terrain across a range of conditions. Check out our full review to see how it stacks up against some other tires that claim the same.
David Golay riding the Fox 36 (photo: Ian Stowe)

Trail / Enduro MTB Fork Comparisons

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There are more options for Enduro forks on the market than ever before, and we’ve updated our roundup with nine of the top contenders from Fox, RockShox, Manitou, Öhlins, and Marzocchi — including RockShox's new 2023 Lyrik and ZEB. So how do all these forks stack up, and who should be opting for the extra-burly Fox 38, RockShox ZEB, or Öhlins RXF38?
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