Saracen Myst Pro review

New for 2024, Saracen’s Myst uses a six-link suspension design with a concentric chainstay/seatstay pivot and rear axle, doling out 211mm of travel and lowering the bike’s centre of gravity by over 100mm compared to the old one.

This Pro model is the most affordable in the two-bike range, retailing for £3,599.99.

It’s fitted with a RockShox Boxxer Select RC fork, with 200mm of travel, and a coil-sprung Marzocchi Bomber CR rear shock, taking the total size-large weight to 19.33kg.

It runs mixed wheels (29in front, 27.5in rear) and has adjustable geometry via offset headset cups, which can extend or shorten the reach by 5mm.

Each of the bikes in the three-size range (medium to extra-large) has a 63-degree head tube angle and 450mm chainstays. Reach figures span 455mm to 505mm.

On the track, the Myst’s balanced but hunkered-down geometry gives it a conquer-all feel; even the gnarliest terrain, steepest sections and wildest jumps seem to be well within its performance band.

Impressive suspension that remains supple and smooth, whether you’re hunting through chunder or hammering on the anchors, is like a cure-all ointment for even the sketchiest techniques.

The Boxxer’s basic damper would be atop the upgrade list when funds permit, but even if you can’t upgrade, it hardly limits performance.

Overall, though, the Myst feels best on the biggest terrain you can find and will be a truly worthy companion on your annual Alpine pilgrimage.

Saracen Myst Pro frame and suspension

Built from Saracen’s Series 3 hydroformed 6013 alloy, the frame features internally routed cables via ports in the head tube and separate in-built fork bumpers.

There’s plenty of chain-slap protection on the driveside stay. The Myst runs a 12x157mm rear axle, but doesn’t use SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, instead getting a bespoke derailleur hanger.

Saracen’s Ride Tuned Link suspension has 211mm of rear-wheel travel. This uses a six-link design, and concentric chain/seatstay pivot and rear axle.

This system is claimed to improve suspension movement when the rider is braking.

The low-slung shock sits beneath the seat tube; the design enables Saracen to lower the bike’s centre of gravity by more than 100mm compared to the outgoing model, which is claimed to give a more planted feel.

Saracen Myst Pro geometry

Archetypal of modern downhill bikes, the Myst has a 63-degree head angle and long 450mm chainstays, fixed across the size range.

The large bike’s reach is 485mm, but only three sizes are offered (medium, large and extra-large). It’s unlikely all riders will be able to find their perfect fit.

Saracen’s own guide states the three-size range will be suitable for riders from 166cm to 196cm tall.

Wheelbase figures are long, starting at 1,271mm and rising to 1,326mm – ideal for high-paced DH tracks.

The only geometry adjustments offered are reach-extending or shortening headset cups, which alter the figure by plus or minus 5mm.

The rest of the bike’s figures remain set, so riders will have to be content with the bike’s stock geometry.

Saracen Myst Pro specifications

A 200mm Boxxer Select RC fork sits up front, paired with a coil-sprung (500lb spring, size large) Marzocchi Bomber CR shock.

The Myst features SRAM's GX DH seven-speed drivetrain, with stopping taken care of by Shimano’s non-series MT520 four-piston brakes, with 203mm rotors.

Race Face Chester kit is used for the bar, stem and seatpost. The ARC rims are also from Race Face, built to Formula hubs.

These are clad in Maxxis tyres, with Minion DHR II MaxxGrip DH-casing models front and rear.

The large Myst Pro weighs a chunky 19.33kg without pedals.

Saracen Myst Pro ride impressions

I tested the Myst Pro at the Innerleithen downhill tracks in Scotland’s Tweed Valley.

They’re fast, rough and technical, and have been used for plenty of national and international events, making them perfect for finding the Myst’s strengths and weaknesses.

Setup

The Boxxer fork’s air spring was easy to set up, but I ended up with 160psi, which is considerably more than the recommended pressure for my 75kg kitted-up weight.

At the back, I left the stock 500lb installed, which felt as though it offered a good balance of traction, comfort, support and bottom-out resistance.

Riders looking to adjust the spring rate will need to invest in multiple springs and swapping the spring means the shock has to be fully removed from the frame.

While not tricky, it’s not as quick as changing air pressure in an air-sprung shock.

Initially, I fully opened the external rebound and compression adjusters but added plus four clicks of low-speed compression during the test period.

With downhill-casing tyres fitted, I settled on tyre pressures of 24psi on the front and 27psi at the rear.

Saracen Myst Pro descending performance

The Myst’s race-proven geometry gives an impressively balanced feel, both front-to-rear and hands-to-feet.

The 450mm chainstays – which are on the longer side – match up well with the 485mm reach, effectively moving your weight balance forward between the wheels to even out its distribution.

From this centralised position, you can move on and work the bike more before negatively biassing your weight on either the front or rear wheels. You don’t have to compensate for its geometry with any overt body positioning.

Control, therefore, is consistently and firmly within your grasp. Even bad technique is glossed over by the Myst’s forgiving feel.

You also sit in the bike. While the front end feels tall – as it should on a DH rig – the bottom bracket (363mm) gives it a hunkered-down, almost crouching feel, even on the steepest terrain.

Driving grip and control by weighting the front wheel doesn’t feel like a perilous task of precision-like balance. Instead, you can be heavy-handed and meaty with your inputs, the bike responding dutifully with accurate and obedient changes in direction and grip.

Riding at higher speeds and staying in control seems to be the modus operandi of the Myst, and it feels brilliant.

The mixed wheels speed up handling and don't appear to introduce any twitchiness. The only negative – compared to a 29in-wheeled bike – is the rear wheel’s tendency to hook up slightly on successive, square-edge bumps.

However, the rear suspension works hard to mitigate any speed losses introduced by the wheel size.

Hooking around turns with aggressive intent feels inspiring; the suspension squats into its travel, augmenting that high-front, wave-cresting sensation.

With a few clicks of low-speed compression, the rear doesn’t use too much travel under high-load situations; instead, it sits predictably into a corner-hooking, geometry-perfecting position.

In tighter sections, you’ll be grateful for the rear wheel’s diameter. It reduces the amount of energy needed to pick up and place the rear end in tighter turns or to switch lines.

However, the Myst’s DNA is DH bike through and through; enduro turns and tight switchbacks aren’t where it excels.

On the flip side, pummelling through steep, gnarly, fast and outright wild terrain feels stable and damped; it’s an impressive bike when the terrain gets tough.

Its six-link suspension is responsive and supple, smoothing the trail out with total confidence.

On-the-brakes performance is also commendable. The rear wheel still tracks the ground well, even when you’re hammering on the anchors; it's a fortunate trait given the purported advantages of the concentric chainstay/seatstay pivot and rear-wheel axle design.

At 211mm, there’s also a lot of travel on tap.

Front and rear-end pitching when you’re hitting steep, stepped sections of trail is wonderfully muted. The suspension works hard to devour imbalances in the terrain, insulating the rider from off-putting inputs.

The Boxxer fork is well paired to the rear end, thanks to smooth, comfortable and well-sprung performance. It’s perfect 99 per cent of the time.

However, some high-speed, deep-travel compression spiking was present. Slowing down in rough, chopped-out terrain with lots of square-edge hits caused one or two rim-banging moments.

When the same sections and lines were ridden with Fox’s 40 fork – with identical tyre casings, compounds and pressures – there were no such feelings. Clearly, RockShox’s Select-level RC damper isn’t quite as capable as Fox’s GRIP.

The infrequency of this compression spike makes it an almost moot point, but heavier, harder or faster riders might struggle in certain scenarios.

Saracen Myst Pro bottom line

The Myst Pro is a veritable high-performance DH bike. Its suspension is awesomely smooth in even the choppiest, messiest terrain, but still offers plenty of high-load support (with some compression damping) and plenty of bottom-out resistance.

Combined with balanced geometry – a recipe formulated by long reach and chainstay figures – it feels that no matter how wild the riding gets, it’ll remain calm and composed.

The fastest or heaviest riders would benefit from a fork-damper upgrade – and that would be relatively inexpensive (roughly £350).

With a £3,599 retail price, the Myst offers impeccable value for money to boot.