Best downhill Bikes 2014

BikeRadar score/5

There’s a high probability you won’t be aware of Calibre. That’s as it's an newish brand name owned by – and offered solely from – in the open air mega-retailers GO Outdoors. We’ve currently given the range-topping Point.50 a decent thrashing and emerged away impressed. Issue is, can the distinctly more budget-minded Two.Two square to more costly competitors from founded brands? And also the response is yes: Calibre’s Two.Two is a seriously impressive bike your money can buy, outperforming numerous the more pricey competition.

Price: £399.99

13 Incline Alpha

BikeRadar score/5

although it might come right up resistant to the £500 cost restriction, it is all money well-spent aided by the 13, so much so so it’s positively an unlucky quantity for most of their rivals. The aluminum framework features smoothed welds, that assist it look actually elegant, although the Suntour Raidon fork truly provides thanks to rigid 32mm legs and an air spring that is adjustable to rider body weight. The fat WTB Trail Boss tyres give fantastic grip also, letting you drive harder. It’s an ‘all the bike you actually need’ deal that’s brilliant, no-limits-fun regarding the trail.

Price: £500

Carrera Kraken

Comfort and shock-absorption are the Kraken’s biggest qualities. it is really above average for cost, with only the clunky fork lockout detracting from that. Nonetheless it’s not really meant for steady metropolitan use, so you won’t need the lockout a lot. As a hard-hitting path machine, wen’t other sub-£500 bikes that can touch it.

Price: £449.99

Saracen Tufftrax Comp Disc

With a highly manipulated hydroformed aluminium framework with trail-friendly perspectives and fairly well-controlled SR Suntour hand, the Tufftrax motivates you to definitely press much harder with an enjoyably responsive and sensible experience. Various other large things range from the nine-speed Shimano Altus gearing with rigid, forged alloy single-piece crank and spider with replaceable rings, as the 720mm wide bar and 80mm stem assistance boost control. We in addition discovered the WTB Nano tyres worked well in every however the deepest dirt, though as the rest of the bicycle encouraged speed, the ProMax Solve hydraulic disks often struggled to eliminate it. It won’t constantly secure the deal on more challenging trails, but you’ll undoubtedly have fun whilst having a spin.

Price: £450

Specialized Pitch

Specialized did a decent work with the amount of money its needed to splash, therefore the result is a fairly responsive and managed cycle that may undoubtedly be a great deal even worse. The aluminum framework feels punishing on rough trails and we’d rather have a eight in the place of nine gears at the back, but the EZ-Fire shifters are intuitive to use and the wheels tend to be usefully light, helping provide a keen and receptive experience. We performed battle to have more than 70mm of vacation from the claimed 100mm on offer and cable disc brake system do require much more adjustment than the hydraulic devices found on various other bikes.

Cost: £425

Saracen Mantra (2014 edition)

Saracen’s spending plan Mantra hardtail is a mainstay of British brand’s range for quite a while, providing inexpensive long-travel thrills in a bundle that is sturdy adequate to take various hits with its stride. The wallet-friendly path tamer got an entire makeover in 2014, all-in the name of running larger rims. The long-travel hand, easygoing geometry and durable framework build are typical still here, nevertheless now with current 650b hoops. And now we're pleased to state that people mid-size tires have actuallyn’t taken the enjoyment from Saracen’s entry-level trip, although fork is something of a disappointment.

Cost: £499.99

Merida Big.Nine 40

Merida’s wallet-friendly line of Matts hardtails provided cyclists on a tight budget 26in-wheeled trail enjoyable for a few years. If the time found embrace 29ers, without shoehorn the larger rims into a tweaked Matts chassis, Merida’s designers began with a blank sheet of report. The result is the Big.Nine 40, which can be a great stab at a budget big-wheeler, just lacking the one thing: an actual sense of enjoyable.