#sram-red-xplr

#sram-red-xplr

Transition has increased the rear travel to 211mm, which translates to more traction and control when charging downhill. This straightforward approach enhances the riding experience significantly.

Race Face's Turbine stem has been a popular choice for years, with several lengths and a range of anodized colors to choose from. The new 'standard' Turbine follows in the SL's aesthetic footsteps, with a similar, squared-off, and more angular design.

Mass dampers help with vibration damping by using a weight suspended between two springs, which absorbs vibrations and reduces the transfer to the rider.

The most significant change for the newest Spartan is Devinci's move away from the previous version's high-pivot linkage. This shift aims to enhance pedaling efficiency and reduce weight, addressing key performance aspects for riders tackling rough terrain.

The new Levo R Alloy features the same Specialized 3.1 motor and 840Wh battery as the carbon version, providing similar performance at a lower price point.

The Trek-Unbroken prototype is a clear signal that the '80mm of travel is enough' era of cross-country racing has officially been put to pasture.

Terra describes the Nera as a bike that can easily crossover from World Cup race tape to the freeride scene. They use high-strength chromoly steel to deliver their desired flex and ride characteristics. Terra also claims excellent vibration damping, and, well, steel is pretty strong, too.

The Era SL is Race Face's lighter, more XC-oriented version of the standard Era crankset, available for eMTB and gravity use, but it's heavier. To create the Era SL, Race Face has shaved weight through an integrated spindle design and stripped-down hardware. The result is a claimed 422 grams with a 32T chainring installed. That's a 78-gram reduction over the already-respectable standard Era.

With the new Tiagra R4000, Shimano provided the modern performance roadies are looking for. Along with improved performance, it also hit the price points they wanted and saved about 200g along the way.

The new Mach 4 SL maintains a familiar silhouette, including the brand's signature DW-link suspension platform, but adds a touch more travel, in-frame storage, notable geometry changes, and several new complete builds to choose from.

Without using any tools, the Moustraps easily convert SPD clipless pedals into flat pedals. Just grab the Mousetraps, and in seconds, that bike becomes rideable with regular shoes. The Mousetrap adapters attach to existing SPD pedals, creating an 80 x 105mm platform that lets cyclists wear regular shoes for quick trips to the store, casual rides, or unexpected detours.

For 2026, the Superior Peak ships in a mixed wheel configuration (29" front, 27.5" rear). This is what people have been asking for, and Ari has delivered. Riders who prefer a matched setup can still run a full 29" configuration front and rear. Paired with 200mm of travel and Ari's Tetra Link suspension platform.

With a laundry list of accolades and praise from across the industry, the Madrone Jab is one of the best cases against wireless shifting. With compatibility for all the major drivetrains found on drop bar and flat bar 1x bikes, the Jab is an elegant and robust solution to shifting problems for many riders, and it's now available in even more eye-catching color options.

The results are in, and although the sample size for this poll isn't as deep as we would have liked, it still shows that many riders still prefer mechanical MTB drivetrains over wireless and electronic ones. In October, we published an article in defense of the mechanical derailleur in the lead-up to the review of the industry-leading Madrone Cycles Jab. As it turns out, most riders are still dedicated to the familiarity and reliability of mechanical shifting, with over 80% of votes in favor of mechanical derailleurs. Results that we can fully understand.

Cascade Components has delivered what could be the best upgrade for the Amflow PL. For $257 USD, Amflow owners can now increase rear travel to 160mm and improve suspension performance, all without tweaking the geometry. With 10mm more rear wheel travel and a more supple rear end, the Amflow PL Link from Cascade Components could make one of the best e-mountain bikes on the market even better.

Simply put, with the uppers and lowers flip-flopped, there is no supporting arch connecting the lowers on the Podium. Instead, the inverted fork uses a larger 20mm axle, which is most commonly used on DH bikes to achieve the required stiffness and support. But this lack of an arch also means there is no place to mount a fender. Also, due to the upper and lower flip-flop, the only place left to mount a fender was at the crown.

Drop bars on mountain bikes aren't exactly new. People have been experimenting with curly bars on mountain bikes since the 1980s, but in 2025, they saw a major resurgence in popularity. With high-profile racers like Keegan Swenson - among many others - modifying XC race bikes with drop bars for events like Leadville, the drop-bar MTB became a much-hyped and frequently discussed topic for the first time in many years.