Saracen is a brand with heritage and, thanks to team riders Danny Hart and Matt Walker, fantastic race results to back it up. The Myst attempts to be a privateer- and budget-friendly solution for climbing the podium without going bankrupt.
After several revisions, the latest bike is available in three different versions: Team, a replica of Danny and Matt’s bike with a no-expense-spared spec and full-carbon frame; Pro, with the same frame but a cheaper spec; and the entry-level AL seen here, which loses the carbon and has some budget parts and small geometry changes.
Saracen Myst AL frame
Both the front and rear triangles are built from Saracen’s Series 3 hydroformed 6013 alloy, but you do get the same unidirectional carbon fibre rocker link found on the more expensive models.
The brand’s TRL suspension design is a relatively simple single-pivot system with a linkage-actuated shock, which here delivers 203mm of rear wheel travel.
Cables are routed externally, although the gear cable runs through the seatstay to protect it from chain slap. Frame features include a 12 x 150mm rear axle, threaded bottom bracket and tapered head tube.
The large size has a 63-degree head angle, 460mm reach and 1,266mm wheelbase with 440mm chainstays.
Saracen Myst AL kit
Saracen has managed to spec some impressive parts for the money on the Myst AL.
You get a 10-speed Shimano Zee shifter and derailleur paired with a Deore cassette, plus Shimano’s powerful four-piston MT501 brakes. Super Tacky-compound Maxxis High Roller II tyres with the DH casing are a highlight, along with an MRP G4 chain guide.
The X-Fusion RV1 fork has external high- and low-speed compression adjustment, but is coil- rather than air-sprung. While the parts list specifies an X-Fusion Vektor coil shock, my test bike came with a Fox Van RC, with a 350lb spring.
Both are equally adjustable (compression and rebound), and Saracen assures me that the X-Fusion shock’s performance should be almost identical. Kore provides the finishing kit, including the rims, bar, stem and saddle.
Saracen Myst AL ride impressions
Initially, the Myst felt small, with a low front end. I was surprised to find that the bar was actually only 5mm lower than the Vitus Dominer, Nukeproof Dissent 290 Comp and Canyon Sender CF 7.0, which were also on test.
The stanchions of the X-Fusion fork were dropped as far through the crowns as possible, so I couldn’t raise the front end any further. A bit of digging revealed that the RV1 has a shorter axle-to-crown height than the RockShox BoXXer on the other bikes, which helps explains thing.
The 800mm handlebar is a slightly unusual shape too, with only 7 degrees of backsweep, so the simplest fix would be to fit a higher-rise alternative.
Once you’re riding, the bike has a flicky, playful feel, despite its lardy 18.5kg weight. The Fox Van shock on my test bike gave the rear end a smooth feel, and not at the expense of medium/large bump and compression control either.
In fact, the Saracen handles bigger bumps better than smaller ones, giving you a confidence-inspiring and stable base from which you can get on with the job of either hanging on for dear life or riding as fast as you can.
The Myst AL doesn’t dazzle as much as the Nukeproof or Canyon – there isn’t that ‘wow’ factor, it’s just capable and sensible.
The frame geometry is sorted too, if slightly more conservative than on the top models in the Myst range. Push hard into turns and the bike gives plenty back.
I found the rear shock’s rebound tune too light, but this could be rectified with the X-Fusion shock that comes as standard (if not, I’d suggest a retune). Over rough ground, the frame has some inherent compliance, which is amplified by the wheels not being overly stiff.
Despite some small foibles – the coil fork, tubed tyres and lower-than-I’d-have-liked front end – the Saracen is a true downhill performer that’s inherited a lot from its more expensive siblings.
Saracen Myst AL geometry
- Seat angle: 74 degrees
- Head angle: 63 degrees
- Chainstay: 44cm / 17.32in
- Seat tube: 40cm / 15.75in
- Top tube: 63cm / 24.8in
- Bottom bracket height: 35.3cm / 13.9in
- Wheelbase: 1,266mm / 49.84in
Product
| Brand | saracen |
| Price | 2600.00 GBP |
| Weight | 18.5000, KILOGRAM (L) - Without pedals |
Features
| Fork | X-Fusion RV1, 203mm (8in) travel |
| br_stem | Kore Torsion V2 direct-mount |
| br_chain | Shimano HG54 |
| br_frame | Series 3 custom-butted 6013 alloy, 200mm (7.9in) travel |
| Tyres | Maxxis High Roller II Super Tacky, 27.5x2.4in |
| br_brakes | Shimano MT501/MT520, 203mm rotors |
| br_cranks | Samox, 36t |
| br_saddle | Kore Connex |
| br_wheels | Kore Torsion SL rims on Formula/Novatec hubs |
| br_headset | Saracen |
| br_shifter | Shimano Zee |
| br_cassette | Shimano Deore, 11-25t |
| br_seatpost | Saracen rigid |
| br_gripsTape | Saracen lock-on |
| br_handlebar | Kore Torsion |
| br_rearShock | Fox Van RC |
| br_bottomBracket | Saracen |
| br_availableSizes | S, M, L |
| br_rearDerailleur | Shimano Zee (1x10) |
