Author: Conor Barry
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Mondraker Crafty Review: A Bosch-Powered Mountain goat
The Mondraker Crafty RR is a big-power eMTB built for riders who want serious range, serious traction, and a versatile bike that fits in almost anywhere. Out of the box, the bike does feel a bit tall, no question. But — and this is an important but — with a few smart setup tweaks, the…
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Transition Regulator SX & CX Review: What’s the Difference?
Here we go on the all-new Transition Regulator. With two versions and two different motors—CX for full power and SX for a lightweight, more pedal-bike-like feel—the Regulator has something for everyone. Transition designed this bike to be more responsive and lively with a more natural ride experience than their other eMTBs. After riding both models,…
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2025 Orbea Wild Review: The Gold Standard
Here we go on the new 2025 Orbea Wild. This might look just like the old one, but I promise the frame is different. I’d consider this update a small refinement rather than an overhaul. It does have a little more travel, a slacker head tube angle, and the ability to run various wheel setups.…
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Santa Cruz Vala Review: Middleweight Champ
Let’s get right into it – today, we have the Santa Cruz Vala. This is Santa Cruz’s new mid-travel, full-power eMTB. You could think of it as the new version of the Heckler, although, at least for now, the Heckler is still available while supplies last. Let’s dive in and see if the Vala is…
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2024 All-Mountain MTB Showdown
Alright, team, today we’re looking for the best all-mountain MTB so we’re talking Transition Sentinel, Santa Cruz Hightower, and the Ibis Ripmo. Welcome to the 2024 All-Mountain Showdown. We’re diving into the ins and outs of some of this year’s top all-mountain bikes. We spent a week in Moab riding these three back-to-back on some…
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Santa Cruz Hightower 4 Review: The Descender’s MTB
Alright, here we go with the tried and true Santa Cruz Hightower 4. This time, it’s back for the 4th edition. It sees basically the same updates that the new Bronson got, except this one is designed around 29” wheels only. Do these updates help it stack up against all the great new options we’ve…
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Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL Review: Rocky Goes Lightweight.
Here we go. Today, we have the Rocky Mountain Instinct Powerplay SL, which is Rocky’s first foray into the lightweight, mid-power eMTB segment. They slimmed down their proprietary drive unit for the first-ever Dyname S4 Lite, with bikes coming in around the low to mid 40-pound mark. It’s not the lightest eMTB, but its weight…
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Transition Sentinel V3 Review: It Got Steeper?
Alright, we’re back, and today we’re talking about the Transition Sentinel V3. Changes in bike geo have been less and less radical in the past year or two. Still, it’s not often these days that you see bikes get steeper than their previous versions — But that’s exactly what we have with the V3 Sentinel.…
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2025 Rocky Mountain Element: Primer
A Lightweight XC Machine with a Trail Focus The 2025 Rocky Mountain Element takes a fresh approach to cross-country riding, combining lightweight efficiency with trail-ready geometry. Built around the new Smoothlink SL Flex Pivot, this flex stay design not only reduces weight but also increases rear-end stiffness, giving you more control and responsiveness in a…
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2025 Orbea Wild Primer: A New Generation of eMTB Performance
The 2025 Orbea Wild improves on the previous version with a redesigned frame and improved suspension performance. Featuring 170mm of travel front and rear, the Wild is made for aggressive riding. The new Bosch Performance CX motor is quieter, lighter, and offers less pedal resistance, while the battery options—600Wh for a lighter build or 750Wh…