Saracen Launches the Ariel LT – Video

Jan 30, 2018 at 2:16
by Saracen Bikes  
PRESS RELEASE: Saracen Bikes


The name's Walker. Matt Walker...

And he's made a special visit to Saracen HQ to pick up his new weapon — the 2018 Ariel LT

Ariel LT - £4999.99
Saracen 2018 Carbon Ariel Latest Myst and Revamped Kili Flyer

Whether riding big mountain epics or turning laps at your local, the Ariel takes it all in its stride and still asks for more.

Using a 24T/40T/3K Toray UD Carbon blend on the front triangle and a Toray UD Carbon swingarm keeps weight low whilst not compromising on durability. As seen on the Myst, the custom headtube allows you to adjust the front centre +/-5mm in order to perfect your ride position.

Internal cable routing and a specific Di2 battery holder in the downtube keep the bike looking as fresh as possible whilst still being practical. Full Shimano 1X11-speed groupset with M8000 XT brakes taking care of stopping duties. DT Swiss M1900 wheelset wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHF II tyres and finished off with carbon Enve bars really help this big hitter stand out from the crowd.

In stores now, click here to find your local Saracen dealer.

Author Info:
SaracenBikes avatar

Member since Sep 19, 2011
100 articles
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
64705 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
46973 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
44880 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
44631 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
39819 views
Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
38276 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38178 views
Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
37335 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

76 Comments
  • 47 3
 I remember when they made affordable bikes.
  • 36 0
 I remember watching Ariel.
  • 10 0
 Then you'll also remember when they made shite bikes! The name's the same, but everything else has changed. Great looking bike IMHO.Solid spec.
  • 10 3
 Was it Gary Fisher who said "Lightweight, cheap or strong; pick two."? #devilsadvocate
  • 13 0
 @Slimeo: No, it was Keith Bontrager. Close though!
  • 3 0
 @Slimeo: Yawn
  • 7 13
flag burnadette (Jan 30, 2018 at 6:38) (Below Threshold)
 Presenting the saracen nomad.
  • 10 0
 @Slimeo @randyridesbikes That is a manufacturing saying that has been around for decades... no one in the bike industry came up with it.
  • 2 0
 That was before they had this nice pen.
  • 7 0
 @burnadette: Couldnt be further from a Nomad if it tried.
  • 1 1
 @millsr4: No one in the bike industry has come up with shit really, which is why so much of whats going on is just really hard to fathom.
  • 1 1
 @SlodownU: I agree that most tech is borrowed(or stolen if you prefer) from other industries, but I don't get why that makes things hard to fathom? If anything it lends weight to the argument of implementing new technology if it has been successful elsewhere. Don't reinvent the wheel if you don't have to...
  • 2 1
 @djm35 But they were usually a Halfords special in the same bracket as Barracuda.

They did make some interesting bikes though. Remember the X-tort? Here's two blinged up from my local trial's scene (not mine)

www.davedennis.freeservers.com/page5s.htm
  • 3 0
 @barzaka: I remember washing with Persil????
  • 1 0
 big facts
  • 25 4
 Stop whining about prices, you have 4 billion options of bikes to pick from. If Pinkbike starts doing constant reviews of $1800 bikes I'm going to spend more time on p0rn sites instead.
  • 2 2
 Preach it sir! Ha!
  • 1 5
flag h-beck83 (Jan 31, 2018 at 12:48) (Below Threshold)
 The only thing worse than someone whining about prices is those who whine about people who whine about prices.
  • 16 1
 Get rid of the enve carbon bars and put on a better set of wheels!
  • 6 0
 Agreed.
And there's more, the wheels are DT swiss' entry model but it's also the M series, not designed for enduro and even less for DH. Yet there's downhill worthy suspension... why ??
  • 6 0
 @Uuno: fox is the new xt rear deraileur
  • 2 0
 I agree. Seems a weird choice to spec expensive handlebars and cheap wheels... not to mention the dt m-series doesn't seem to be the sturdiest of wheels on such a bike...
  • 8 1
 Mean looking bike. Cool video.
  • 2 0
 Anyone looking to buy this bike read this. Mine cracked after 7 rides and Saracen have completely f*cked me over. Crack at the base of the downtube which Saracen claim was caused by an impact. I know for certain nothing hard has hit it but cannot prove it. They are the only company (currently making a carbon enduro bike) not to spec a downtube protector on their bike. And by refusing to warranty my frame they are saying that it's acceptable for a £2.5k frame to last a week because a small pebble was thrown up by my wheel.
Extra annoyed they held onto it for two weeks without even looking at it and only got round to that after I rang them up constantly. I then didn't find out they had refused it for another week.
Spend your money on literally anything else
  • 7 2
 I really don't like those tires....
  • 2 0
 Good thing it comes with a spare set of black ones in the box! Wink
  • 3 0
 It looks nice, but for £500 more you can now pick up the HB160.

To my mind it's like comparing, say, an Audi R8 to a Koenigsegg. Or something.
  • 7 3
 Looks like a modern Nomad 3, which is good!
  • 1 0
 Yes. It appears to be a more pedal friendly LT bike, bucking the trend and filling the void some of us feel a part of. However, does anybody know about this suspension design? Leverage curve? Anti-squat? Has the esthetic of a DW link but where are the numbers?
  • 3 0
 Love that retro look, just not the price.
  • 4 1
 Why only 2 years Warranty tho??? do they not trust there Carbon??
  • 1 0
 M1900's on a £4999 bike? Really Saracen?
With a bike that's intended to do, what the Ariel is, you'd at least go for the E-series DT wheels.
  • 4 1
 Beauty.
  • 2 0
 Some specs would be nice.
  • 2 0
 Is a Minion DHF a good rear tire?
  • 7 4
 No! If its muddy which it always is in the UK then they lack rear braking grip. If its dry the centre knobs fall apart real quick due to the siping. So no all round really..in my opinion (before anybody tries to shoot me down)
  • 1 2
 @StraightLineJoe: I’d say the same thing in northeastern US. Not to mention slow rolling....
  • 2 0
 Text says DHF II, either it is a typo meaning DHR II (a very good rear tire) or it is a new tire (nobody has ridden yet) ...
  • 5 1
 The dhf is my favorite rear tire.
  • 1 0
 @toubr: This from their web site ... delivered with extra DHRs:

Tyres / Maxxis Minion DHF II 3C/EXO/TR / 27.5 x 2.3&qout; front / rear with custom tan walls + extra set Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C/EXO/TR / 27.5 x 2.3&qout;

Why don't they just deliver the bike normally with 2 tires only: DHF front - DHR rear ?
  • 1 0
 Where was the rocky scenic trail he was riding? Looked sweet! Kinda reminded me of Glendo here in Wyoming!
  • 2 0
 Skinwalls are back 3
  • 1 0
 Nice trail... Where is it filmed?
  • 2 0
 My guess is Stanage Edge in the Peak District
  • 7 0
 @IllestT: ( in order of appearance) Stanage edge, sheepskulls dh, lady cannings plantation, Beast of Hope cross. all on trailforks
  • 3 2
 love those skinwall tires and kashima suspension!
  • 1 0
 Very nice looking machines tup
  • 3 1
 water bottle holder???
  • 1 0
 Mi piace, that means I like it in my beloved mother tongue.
  • 1 1
 That is a sweeet looking bike...And I'm sure that was a Dentist - not a Scientist who presented it.
  • 1 0
 Awesome video! That was some great acting
  • 1 0
 dig the bike,, the skinwall look tyres not so much
  • 1 0
 Surprised there wasn’t a female baddie in this called Pushie Galore.
  • 1 0
 Omg thats a very beutiful bike !!!
  • 2 1
 Is that the BC edition
  • 2 2
 You can get a Nomad for less and a better bike!
  • 5 1
 And a YT, I hear.
  • 2 3
 @TheR: Yt sure, but four bar linkage is garbage..
  • 5 0
 @inter71: yes, I remember all the crap reviews they received when they came out. Oh, that’s right, they didn’t. Just because you don’t own one doesn’t mean it’s tripe.
  • 2 3
 @cunning-linguist: let's just agree to call a spade a spade, alright. The Capra is sick, but it's four bar. Fact.
  • 3 1
 @inter71: it was hailed a revelation in trail bikes by dirt mag, it’s quite obviously decent.
  • 2 3
 @cunning-linguist: yeah, I just said it was sick. That's better than decent. Stop being a twat. It's a f*cking cheap four bar bike.
  • 4 0
 @inter71: I don’t understand how you can make that connection? It’s both amazing and cheap crap? Guessing you just poorly articulated that it’s an archaic design, well executed? No need for aggression. I don’t own one and am not a brand ambassador, but credit where credit’s due, which today, isn’t you.
  • 1 0
 good lookin bike
  • 1 0
 Travel?
  • 1 0
 160 I believe
  • 1 1
 Looks like a Canyon Torque
  • 1 0
 Threaded bb ?
  • 1 2
 looks fantastic but costs way too much!
  • 2 0
 The alloy version looks much better in my opinion.
  • 2 0
 It's a lot. For 500 quid more, you could now get the Hope bike, and that's a whole different kettle of spanners.

I'm assuming you are Andy with the Liteville? ;-)
  • 1 0
 @alexhyland: yup i am

do i know you Smile
  • 1 0
 @AndyBradUK: yeh I was with Chris Kilburn at Ard Rock 2016. I crashed hard on the first stage ????
  • 1 0
 @AndyBradUK: those ???? was supposed to be an emoji. I forget PB doesn't like them all
  • 5 7
 Looks like a nomad
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.030875
Mobile Version of Website