We pulled in several bikes that are sure to catch your eye for this year's Test Sessions roundup. The batch featured five 29ers and thirteen 27.5 steeds, three made from aluminum and 15 from carbon, with bikes ranging from an affordable build at $3,200 to a taste of luxury at $8,050. The rides weighed anywhere from 26.5 to 32.3 pounds while boasting 110 to 170mm of travel for the men and 125 to 160mm for the ladies.
Model | Price (USD) | Rear Travel (mm) | Front Travel (mm) | Wheels (in) | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) | Frame Material | Size Tested |
| Norco Optic Carbon | $5,199 | 110 | 120 | 29 | 29.1 | 13.2 | Carbon | XL |
| Devinci Django Carbon | $5,129 | 120 | 130 | 29 | 28.5 | 12.9 | Carbon | XL |
| Transition Scout Carbon | $5,099 | 125 | 140 | 27.5 | 28.8 | 13.1 | Carbon | Small |
| Yeti SB5 Carbon | $4,699 | 127 | 150 | 27.5 | 27.6 | 12.5 | Carbon | Medium |
| Yeti Beti SB5 Carbon | $4,699 | 127 | 150 | 27.5 | 28.2 | 12.8 | Carbon | Medium |
| Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol | $5,160 | 130 | 140 | 29 | 30.8 | 14.0 | Aluminum | Medium |
| Evil The Calling | $6,899 | 131 | 140 | 27.5 | 29.7 | 13.5 | Carbon | Medium |
| Santa Cruz Hightower C | $4,599 | 135 | 140 | 29 | 29.9 | 13.6 | Carbon | Medium |
| YT Jeffsy CF | $3,999 | 140 | 140 | 29 | 28.4 | 12.9 | Carbon | Large |
| Giant Trance Advanced | $8,050 | 140 | 150 | 27.5 | 26.5 | 12.0 | Carbon | Medium |
| Intense Recluse | $7,899 | 140 | 150 | 27.5 | 28.4 | 12.9 | Carbon | Large |
| Trek Remedy 9.9 | $7,999 | 150 | 160 | 27.5 | 28.3 | 12.8 | Carbon | 18.5 |
| Ellsworth Rogue 60 | $6,495 | 160 | 160 | 27.5 | 29.7 | 13.5 | Carbon | XL |
| Liv Hail Advanced | $5,350 | 160 | 160 | 27.5 | 29.9 | 13.6 | Carbon | Small |
| Commencal Meta AM V4.2 | $4,449 | 160 | 170 | 27.5 | 32.0 | 14.5 | Aluminum | XL |
| Rocky Mountain Slayer | $5,799 | 165 | 170 | 27.5 | 29.4 | 13.3 | Carbon | Medium |
| Specialized Enduro 650b | $3,200 | 170 | 170 | 27.5 | 32.3 | 14.7 | Aluminum | XL |
| Pivot Firebird Carbon | $6,099 | 170 | 170 | 27.5 | 30.0 | 13.6 | Carbon | XL |
On the component side, wider tires and rim widths continue to become commonplace with Maxxis tires leading the charge. We've been barking up the proper cockpit tree since forever, and companies finally have it down with an average bar width of 770mm and 50mm stem length. Every bike came spec'd with a dropper seatpost - many with RockShox Reverbs - with more than half making the step up to 150mm travel versions. SRAM also laid claim to the majority of the drivetrains, with many bikes making use of the new 1x12 Eagle system. Only one bike showed up with a front derailleur.
We thought it would be neat to see all the suspension designs cycled back-to-back for a fun comparison. Watching link rotation, chain growth, brake movement and the like is very interesting:
Ready to see the bikes? Here's the full breakdown from shortest to longest travel. Reviews start dropping February 23 and can be accessed in our Product Guide.
Norco Optic Carbon 9.2
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Read the review
- Travel: 110mm (4.3-inches) rear // 120mm (4.7-inches) front
- Wheels : 29-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 29.1-pounds (13.22kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,199 USD
- More Info: www.norco.com // Complete Specs // First Ride
Devinci Django Carbon SLX / XT 29
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Read the review
- Travel: 120mm (4.7-inches) rear // 130mm (5.1-inches) front
- Wheels: 29-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 28.5-pounds (12.94kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,129 USD
- More Info: www.devinci.com // Complete Specs // First Ride
Transition Scout Carbon 3
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Read the review
- Travel: 125mm (4.9-inches) rear // 140mm (5.5-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Small
- Measured Weight: 28.8-pounds (13.05, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,099 USD
- More Info: www.transitionbikes.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Yeti SB5 Carbon XT/SLX
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Read the review
- Travel: 127mm (5.0-inches) rear // 150mm (5.9-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 27.6-pounds (12.52kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $4,699 USD
- More Info: www.yeticycles.com // Complete Specs // Eurobike Coverage
Yeti Beti SB5 Carbon XT/SLX
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Read the review
- Travel: 127mm (5.0-inches) rear // 150mm (5.9-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 28.2-pounds (12.81kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $4,699 USD
- More Info: www.yeticycles.com // Complete Specs // Eurobike Coverage
Guerrilla Gravity Trail Pistol Race Build with Pistola Setup
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Read the review
- Travel: 130mm (5.1-inches) rear // 140mm (5.5-inches) front
- Wheels: 29-inches
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 30.8-pounds (13.98kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,160 USD as shown
- More Info: www.ridegg.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Evil The Calling Eagle X0
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Read the review
- Travel: 131mm (5.1-inches) rear // 140mm (5.5-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 29.7-pounds (13.45kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $6,899 USD
- More Info: www.evil-bikes.com // Complete Specs // Intro Video
Santa Cruz Hightower C S
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Read the review
- Travel: 135mm (5.3-inches) rear // 140mm (5.5-inches) front
- Wheels: 29-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 29.9-pounds (13.57kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $4,599 USD
- More Info: www.santacruzbicycles.com // Complete Specs // First Ride
YT Jeffsy CF Comp 29 (2016)
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Read the review
- Travel: 140mm (5.5-inches) rear // 140mm (5.5-inches) front
- Wheels: 29-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Large
- Measured Weight: 28.4-pounds (12.87kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $4,499 USD ($3,999 for 2017 model)
- More Info: www.yt-industries.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Giant Trance Advanced 0
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Read the review
- Travel: 140mm (5.5-inches) rear // 150mm (5.9-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 26.5-pounds (12.01kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $8,050 USD
- More Info: www.giant-bicycles.com // Complete Specs // Eurobike Coverage
Intense Recluse Elite
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Read the review
- Travel: 140mm (5.5-inches) rear // 150mm (5.9-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Large
- Measured Weight: 28.4-pounds (12.87kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $7,899 USD
- More Info: www.intensecycles.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Trek Remedy 9.9 Race Shop Limited
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Read the review
- Travel: 150mm (5.9-inches) rear // 160mm (6.3-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: 18.5
- Measured Weight: 28.3-pounds (12.85kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $7,999 USD
- More Info: www.trekbikes.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Ellsworth Rogue 60 XT 1X
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Read the review
- Travel: 160mm (6.3-inches) rear // 160mm (6.3-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 29.7-pounds (13.48kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $6,495 USD
- More Info: www.ellsworthbikes.com // Complete Specs
Liv Hail Advanced 1
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Read the review
- Travel: 160mm (6.3-inches) rear // 160mm (6.3-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Small
- Measured Weight: 29.9-pounds (13.54, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,350 USD
- More Info: www.liv-cycling.com // Complete Specs // Eurobike Coverage // Press Release
Commencal Meta AM V4.2 Race Eagle 650B
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Read the review
- Travel: 160mm (6.3-inches) rear // 170mm (6.7-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 32.0-pounds (14.53kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $4,449 USD
- More Info: www.commencal.com // Complete Specs // First Ride
Rocky Mountain Slayer 770 MSL
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Read the review
- Travel: 165mm (6.5-inches) rear // 170mm (6.7-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: Medium
- Measured Weight: 29.4-pounds (13.33kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $5,799 USD
- More Info: www.bikes.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Specialized Enduro Comp 650b
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Read the review
- Travel: 170mm (6.7-inches) rear // 170mm (6.7-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 32.3-pounds (14.67kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $3,200 USD
- More Info: www.specialized.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Pivot Firebird Pro Carbon XT/XTR
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Read the review
- Travel: 170mm (6.7-inches) rear // 170mm (6.7-inches) front
- Wheels: 27.5-inches
- Frame Material: Carbon
- Size Tested: XL
- Measured Weight: 30.0-pounds (13.62kg, without pedals)
- MSRP: $6,099 USD
- More Info: www.pivotcycles.com // Complete Specs // First Look
Don't miss the intro feature for complete details. Test Sessions was made possible with the help of Arizona Cyclist. All photos by Lear Miller.
2/13/2017 11:59am
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