Saracen's Myst has been on the racing circuit for years, and it returns for 2019 with a 29" version added into the mix, and a few changes that were based on input from none other than Danny Hart, and 2018 British National Champ, Matt Walker.
The Myst is now available with 27.5" or 29" wheels, various build kits, framesets, and even a budget alloy version. We opted for the top of the line, full carbon, 29" wheeled Myst Team. The Myst Team is a replica of the bike that the Madison Saracen Factory Team have been racing this year, built to the racer's spec with Fox Factory Suspension, Shimano Saint stopping and starting gear, a DT Swiss FR560 wheelset wrapped in Maxxis rubber. All of the above is available through your Saracen dealer or their online shop freewheel.co.uk for £5799 GBP (approx. $7445 USD).
The Myst is now available with 27.5" or 29" wheels, various build kits, framesets, and even a budget alloy version. We opted for the top of the line, full carbon, 29" wheeled Myst Team. The Myst Team is a replica of the bike that the Madison Saracen Factory Team have been racing this year, built to the racer's spec with Fox Factory Suspension, Shimano Saint stopping and starting gear, a DT Swiss FR560 wheelset wrapped in Maxxis rubber. All of the above is available through your Saracen dealer or their online shop freewheel.co.uk for £5799 GBP (approx. $7445 USD).
Myst 29" Details
Intended use: downhill
Travel: 200mm rear / 203mm front
Wheel size: 29"
Frame construction: 24T/40T/3K Toray UD Carbon
Suspension Design: Linkage driven single pivot
Suspension: Fox Factory 49 + DHX2
Sizes: M and L
Weight: 16.2kg
Price: £5799 GBP / $7445 USD (approx.)
saracen.co.uk
Intended use: downhill
Travel: 200mm rear / 203mm front
Wheel size: 29"
Frame construction: 24T/40T/3K Toray UD Carbon
Suspension Design: Linkage driven single pivot
Suspension: Fox Factory 49 + DHX2
Sizes: M and L
Weight: 16.2kg
Price: £5799 GBP / $7445 USD (approx.)
saracen.co.uk
 | The Myst heads out of the start gate well under power and seems lively from the off. It feels like the carbon layup has had plenty of attention to tuning and the entire bike seemed smooth with no vibration or harshness heading into fast rough sections. |
Contents
Construction and Features
The Myst has kept a similar silhouette since its inception, but has continually evolved from alloy to carbon, and through all wheel sizes to arrive at this 29" thoroughbred. The frame is carbon throughout, with a short head tube that houses a reach adjust headset, affording +/-5mm of adjustment. This feature, along with the newly adjustable dropouts at the rear axle, was requested by the race team to allow them to better set the bike up for different tracks. The new dropouts have also been updated to fit 12 x 157mm hubs, so all the latest standards have been ticked off.
The cables and housing have been internally routed to preserve the clean lines, entering at the fork bump stops and exiting further along the down tube in order to bypass the seat tube and then internally again through the seat stays. Large 38mm bearings at the main pivot and 27mm elsewhere have been used for stiffness and durability, which I approve of, as tiny bearings that need to be replaced every few months are a waste of everyone's time.
The Myst has kept a similar silhouette since its inception, but has continually evolved from alloy to carbon, and through all wheel sizes to arrive at this 29" thoroughbred. The frame is carbon throughout, with a short head tube that houses a reach adjust headset, affording +/-5mm of adjustment. This feature, along with the newly adjustable dropouts at the rear axle, was requested by the race team to allow them to better set the bike up for different tracks. The new dropouts have also been updated to fit 12 x 157mm hubs, so all the latest standards have been ticked off.
The cables and housing have been internally routed to preserve the clean lines, entering at the fork bump stops and exiting further along the down tube in order to bypass the seat tube and then internally again through the seat stays. Large 38mm bearings at the main pivot and 27mm elsewhere have been used for stiffness and durability, which I approve of, as tiny bearings that need to be replaced every few months are a waste of everyone's time.
A zero-stack reach adjust headset to give some adjustment.
Adjustable length chainstays and the rear IS brake mount.
Geometry & Sizing
The Myst 29 is only available in sizes medium and large, with reaches of 440 or 460mm respectively. Saracen decided against making the 29er in a small size because of the 'big-wheel-to-bum-scuff-factor' coming into play, which is a sensible decision. However, for those vertically challenged souls, there is still the 27.5" wheeled Myst in smaller sizes. The largest size having a reach of 460mm will be a disappointment for riders towards and over 6ft (1.83m), as unless you like a shorter bike you might be forced to look elsewhere. An XL should be coming in the future with a 480mm reach.
The other numbers are fairly typical of a modern downhill bike, with a 63° head angle, low -23mm BB drop and 445 or 460mm chainstays depending on the dropout setting. The head tube is quite short at 90mm for the medium and 95mm for the large, but this offsets the additional stack height from the large wheels.
The Myst 29 is only available in sizes medium and large, with reaches of 440 or 460mm respectively. Saracen decided against making the 29er in a small size because of the 'big-wheel-to-bum-scuff-factor' coming into play, which is a sensible decision. However, for those vertically challenged souls, there is still the 27.5" wheeled Myst in smaller sizes. The largest size having a reach of 460mm will be a disappointment for riders towards and over 6ft (1.83m), as unless you like a shorter bike you might be forced to look elsewhere. An XL should be coming in the future with a 480mm reach.
The other numbers are fairly typical of a modern downhill bike, with a 63° head angle, low -23mm BB drop and 445 or 460mm chainstays depending on the dropout setting. The head tube is quite short at 90mm for the medium and 95mm for the large, but this offsets the additional stack height from the large wheels.
Suspension Design
Keep it simple Saracen, which is what has been done by continuing to use the tried and tested single pivot solution. The main pivot is located just above the chainring, and a two-piece link is used to drive the shock.
Keep it simple Saracen, which is what has been done by continuing to use the tried and tested single pivot solution. The main pivot is located just above the chainring, and a two-piece link is used to drive the shock.
Build
The only complete bike available is the £5799 (approx $7455) Myst Team, which is a replica of the bike the Madison Saracen Factory Team race. It comes kitted out with Fox Factory suspension – a 49 GRIP2 fork and DHX2 shock, which are regulars on higher spec bikes and for a good reason. In addition, there is a full Saint drivetrain and brake set for reliable stopping and starting, along with a DT-Swiss FR560 wheelset shod with Maxxis Minion DHR II tires. To finish it off, there is a smattering of Shimano Pro kit, which saves money over top-tier options and certainly won't hold you back. It's a spec with no weak points.
If you prefer to custom build your own bike there is also the option of buying the Myst X 29 frameset with Fox DHX2 shock for £2799 (approx $3659) and taking it from there.
The only complete bike available is the £5799 (approx $7455) Myst Team, which is a replica of the bike the Madison Saracen Factory Team race. It comes kitted out with Fox Factory suspension – a 49 GRIP2 fork and DHX2 shock, which are regulars on higher spec bikes and for a good reason. In addition, there is a full Saint drivetrain and brake set for reliable stopping and starting, along with a DT-Swiss FR560 wheelset shod with Maxxis Minion DHR II tires. To finish it off, there is a smattering of Shimano Pro kit, which saves money over top-tier options and certainly won't hold you back. It's a spec with no weak points.
If you prefer to custom build your own bike there is also the option of buying the Myst X 29 frameset with Fox DHX2 shock for £2799 (approx $3659) and taking it from there.
The full Saint drivetrain is a dependable choice.
Saint cranks and a full Gamut chainguide should let you charge into the rough carefree.
Pro direct mount stem and 31.8mm aluminum handlebar.
Sturdy DT Swiss FR560 rims shod with Maxxis Minion DHR2 tires front and rear make a lot of sense.
Specifications
| Specifications | ||
| Price | $7450 | |
| Travel | 200mm | |
| Rear Shock | Fox DHX2 | |
| Fork | Fox 49 GRIP2 | |
| Headset | Saracen 5mm reach adjust | |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore | |
| Crankarms | Shimano Saint | |
| Chainguide | MRP G3 | |
| Bottom Bracket | Shimano | |
| Chain | Shimano HG45 | |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Saint | |
| Shifter Pods | Shimano Saint | |
| Handlebar | Pro Tharsis 9.8 800mm width, 20mm width, 31.8mm | |
| Stem | Pro direct mount | |
| Grips | Saracen Lock On | |
| Brakes | Shimano Saint 203mm rotors | |
| Spokes | Double butted stainless steel | |
| Rim | DT Swiss FR 560 | |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHR2 | |
| Seat | Pro Tharsis 9.8 | |
Test Bike Setup
After spending a ton of time on the fantastic Fox products this year getting a solid setup has become an easy process, and I ran 67psi in the fork with a 450lb spring. I have found on all the latest iterations of Grip2 and DHX2 dampers that the factory recommended settings are spot on, except a couple of clicks less compression works well for me.
With the 200mm travel fork and a direct mount stem with rise the front end was easily set the same height as other test bikes, with a 1090mm handlebar height from the floor. Tire pressure were 24/26psi and the bike was ready to shred. Testing took place on a variety of tracks, from Finale Ligure, Pila, Les Gets, and some of Piemonte's best kept secret bike parks.
Paul Aston
Location: Finale Ligure, Italy
Age: 32
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 75kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @astonator
KM's ridden: n/a. used in Finale Ligure, Portes du Soleil, Pila, and Piemonte bike parks.
Location: Finale Ligure, Italy
Age: 32
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 75kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @astonator
KM's ridden: n/a. used in Finale Ligure, Portes du Soleil, Pila, and Piemonte bike parks.
Riding
The Myst heads out of the start gate well under power and seems lively from the off. It feels like the carbon layup has had plenty of attention to tuning and the entire bike seemed smooth with no vibration or harshness heading into fast rough sections. The suspension is superbly supple off the top, and has really good mid-stroke support and bottom out resistance. Fox's 2019 Factory suspension is unbelievably good from the outset following the recommended settings, and I'm sure more performance could be gained if I spent more time on one bike, but for me and the majority of riders it will be more than enough for a range of conditions from stock. Only serious racers and tinkerers will need to look into any further tuning for race day performance.
Matching the 460mm of reach to an equal chainstay struck a really good balance front to rear, giving the bike a more neutral a comfortable shape compared to a similar bike with an equal reach and much shorter chainstay. Thanks to the adjustable 445mm/460mm chainstay that is shared between the M and L sizes, riders should find an equal balance on both sizes of frames. The neutral and equal shape gave great control when adjusting grip forwards or backward when things started to slide, and believe it or not, you can still manual a bike with 460mm chainstays without any problem.
Many riders are convinced that a single pivot bike cannot perform as well as a multi-pivot machine, but the Myst proves that the sum of the entire bike is greater than the number of pivots. Good geometry, build and tune is the most important thing, and I really like the way many single pivot bikes ride – generating speed well when pumping, and the geometry is preserved more under braking, which I still consider more valuable than not having 'brake jack' in the bumps; it makes you consider line choice more, and braking hard and late and then getting off the brakes as soon as possible.
Overall I would describe the Myst as responsive and lively, but it still gives confidence and holds a line well when things get rowdy.
The Myst heads out of the start gate well under power and seems lively from the off. It feels like the carbon layup has had plenty of attention to tuning and the entire bike seemed smooth with no vibration or harshness heading into fast rough sections. The suspension is superbly supple off the top, and has really good mid-stroke support and bottom out resistance. Fox's 2019 Factory suspension is unbelievably good from the outset following the recommended settings, and I'm sure more performance could be gained if I spent more time on one bike, but for me and the majority of riders it will be more than enough for a range of conditions from stock. Only serious racers and tinkerers will need to look into any further tuning for race day performance.
Matching the 460mm of reach to an equal chainstay struck a really good balance front to rear, giving the bike a more neutral a comfortable shape compared to a similar bike with an equal reach and much shorter chainstay. Thanks to the adjustable 445mm/460mm chainstay that is shared between the M and L sizes, riders should find an equal balance on both sizes of frames. The neutral and equal shape gave great control when adjusting grip forwards or backward when things started to slide, and believe it or not, you can still manual a bike with 460mm chainstays without any problem.
Many riders are convinced that a single pivot bike cannot perform as well as a multi-pivot machine, but the Myst proves that the sum of the entire bike is greater than the number of pivots. Good geometry, build and tune is the most important thing, and I really like the way many single pivot bikes ride – generating speed well when pumping, and the geometry is preserved more under braking, which I still consider more valuable than not having 'brake jack' in the bumps; it makes you consider line choice more, and braking hard and late and then getting off the brakes as soon as possible.
Overall I would describe the Myst as responsive and lively, but it still gives confidence and holds a line well when things get rowdy.
How does it compare?
The closest rival in terms of shape would be the Devinci Wilson with its similar main pivot location. The Myst offers a more compliant ride than the Devinci, which will work better for lighter riders, it also seemed to slow down faster. In terms of feel, the Myst had a similarly smooth and forgiving chassis to the fantastic Intense M29.
Technical Report
Saint and Pro Components: Without an update, redesign, or refreshed pretty colors for over six years, the Saint products are still awesome, along with the Pro finishing kit. Nearly everything seems indestructible, and the IceTec brake system never fades. The only possible criticism is the IceTec pads can rattle slightly, and the sharp power can be too much for some; riders need to be in tune and gentle to not lock the wheels on slippery surfaces.
DT-Swiss FR560 Wheelset: Multiple DT-Swiss wheelsets have been abused on 29" downhill bikes without a single problem - the rims hardly ding and the spokes always hold their tension.
Saint and Pro Components: Without an update, redesign, or refreshed pretty colors for over six years, the Saint products are still awesome, along with the Pro finishing kit. Nearly everything seems indestructible, and the IceTec brake system never fades. The only possible criticism is the IceTec pads can rattle slightly, and the sharp power can be too much for some; riders need to be in tune and gentle to not lock the wheels on slippery surfaces.
DT-Swiss FR560 Wheelset: Multiple DT-Swiss wheelsets have been abused on 29" downhill bikes without a single problem - the rims hardly ding and the spokes always hold their tension.
Pros
+ Great suspension and solid build
+ Balanced and adjustable geometry
Cons
- Lacking XL size
- Limited availability worldwide
Is this the bike for you?
Are you looking for an agile and responsive and forgiving downhill racer? You won't go wrong with the Myst. A lack of a bigger size will put off taller riders, but for people after something smaller than the medium 29er, Saracen have you covered with the 27.5" machines and also aluminum frame for smaller budgets.
Are you looking for an agile and responsive and forgiving downhill racer? You won't go wrong with the Myst. A lack of a bigger size will put off taller riders, but for people after something smaller than the medium 29er, Saracen have you covered with the 27.5" machines and also aluminum frame for smaller budgets.
Pinkbike's Take
| Saracen have brought a well-refined and clean-looking racing weapon to the table. Don't let the 'old-fashioned' single pivot design put you off, it's a bike that can take on the best. |
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103 Comments
I actually think that review did more to establish PB's credibility than anything they've done recently (maybe jointly with the shootout reviews with actual comparisons). Envelope and some companies might not be thrilled, but in the end it should make Pinkbike more valuable to them as an advertising platform...except Paul is gone.
The link on the article is out of date I think, try
www.instagram.com/astonmtb
As for reviews of main brands getting trashed, where’s the evidence of this?? Could it be that certain products suited him more??
We wish Paul the best in whatever comes next, and he'll stay part of the PB extended family—I'm sure we'll cross paths lots in the future!
Ooooooh my opinions were didfferent to his so he is biased.......Great argument.
Looking forwards to what you have in stock for us and keep up the good work!
I wonder if they simply weigh more than most people will suffer. Approaching 1500g per tyre?
Well, it is.
Nope, he really can't.
I can't remember the exact science but have read up on it in the past, something to do with separating shock inertia direction from the direction of the kinetic energy its combatting gives better control and response.
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