BikeRadar's long-term review bikes

BikeRadar's long-term review bikes

Welcome to the home of BikeRadar’s long-term test bikes.


At the start of the year, every member of the BikeRadar team selects a long-term test bike to ride over the course of the following 12 months.


Some choose a bike from their favoured discipline and ride it hard for a year, constantly scrutinising its performance; others opt for a bike that takes them outside of their comfort zone, in a bid to get to the bottom of the burning questions facing prospective buyers.


Our long-term test gives us the opportunity to truly get to grips with these machines, so we can tell you how they perform through different seasons and on ever-changing terrain.


We also use them as test beds for the latest kit, chopping and changing parts to see what really makes the difference – and help you decide which upgrades are worth spending your money on.


Below you’ll find the latest updates to this year’s machines. There’s something for everyone, from lightweight road bikes to enduro mountain bikes, via electric bikes and gravel bikes.


If you have any questions about the bikes on test – or upgrades you want to suggest – click through to the reviews and post your questions and suggestions in the comments.


Alex cuts the cables and focuses on upping the Marin Rift Zone 29 XR's practicality

The Rifty gets a few more performance-enhancing upgrades
more
4289.00
5499.00
3775.00
3899.00

Gary takes the Temple Adventure Disc 2 down to the woods

Can wider tubeless tyres make the versatile Adventure Disc 2 even more capable off-road?
more
2850.00
1763.00

Rob makes some spec changes to the Pivot Firebird as winter beckons

Bike-park laps and rigorous testing helped Rob make the most of a short UK summer aboard the Firebird
more
4200.00

Has Kai been won over by the simple charms of Orbea's Laufey H10 hardtail?

Kai wraps up his adventures with this versatile hardtail
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1899.00
3499.00
2099.00
2499.00

Carbon exotica for Jack's Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2

Jack returns to riding on a gravel-ready TCX with an upgraded carbon cockpit
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3200.00
3999.00
2699.00
3000.00

Tom finds the Transition Smuggler Carbon GX is not what he expected

Tom gets to work on the Smuggler's suspension
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6499.00
5899.00

Rach takes the Orbea Oiz M-Team racing

Rach and the Oiz kick off the race season and hit the road for all sorts of adventures
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7999.00
12999.00
8399.00
8599.00

Luke wraps up his year with the Canyon Strive CFR Underdog

Luke says a fond farewell to Canyon's hard-charging enduro race bike
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AU$7,399 / €4,999

Nick meets the gravity-focused Ari La Sal Peak

Nick is planning on eating up his local dirt and hitting bike parks on the Ari La Sal Peak
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4799.00

Oscar wraps up an endurance-heavy year aboard the Look 765 Optimum

Oscar reflects on his year with the 'genre-defining' Look 765 Optimum
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4690.00
4690.00
5500.00

Robyn reflects on a year of memorable adventures on the Sonder Camino Ti Rival 1

Robyn wraps up 12 months of big bikepacking miles on the Camino
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2449.00

Tom Marvin delivers his verdict on the Merida One-Forty 6000

Tom says farewell to the Merida
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4500.00

Nick’s Ari La Sal Peak Elite Shimano long-term review

Nick is planning on eating up his local dirt and hitting bike parks on the Ari La Sal Peak
more

Will looks back on an Intense year with the Tracer

Will's time on the Tracer comes to an end
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6499.00
9499.00
5799.00
6899.00

Is the Ridley Noah Disc Essential the right bike for Stan?

Stan reflects on his time riding the Ridley Noah Disc Essential and how his cycling has changed
more
5195.00
4729.00

Gary's Ribble Hybrid AL Leisure Fully Loaded Edition

Gary reaches the end of the road on the versatile Ribble
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1278.47
1948.42
1199.00
1351.66

Rob’s Rå Valravn S custom gravel bike

The Rå Valravn hasn’t had an easy summer and is in need of some love
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2700.00
Custom-fitted frame

Max's Vitus Sommet 297 AMP

Max enjoys the hair-raising air time that longer-travel bikes can offer. He's hoping this mullet-wheeled setup will enable playful yet planted feelings when shredding
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4599.00

Robyn’s Canyon Grail 6 WMN

Is this versatile gravel bike the perfect answer to the question ‘I wonder where that trail goes’?
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1499.00
2349.00
1649.00
1699.00

Tom's Lauf True Grit Race AXS

Tom’s well acquainted with the True Grit and is looking to put this latest version through its paces over south-west England's finest gravel
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4290.00
3890.00
4190.00

Liv Devote Advanced 1

Helen hopes to improve her off-road skills with Liv’s adventure-ready gravel bike
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4199.00
2599.00
3450.00

Simon's Giant TCR Advanced Pro 2 Disc

Simon hopes the latest TCR might be the perfect all-round road bike at a great price
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3350.00
4999.00
3499.00

Alex's gravity-focused Yeti SB165 final update

Alex tries to prove why 27.5in wheels still have a place on the mountains
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3799.00
4000.00

Helen's Specialized Diverge X1

A year of getting off the beaten track exploring local tracks and byways
more
2499.00
2199.00
2500.00