The Fantastik 4 Trail Bikes of 2014

Summer is here, and riding season is in full swing! We’ve spent the better part of the last couple months testing four extraordinary trail bikes that stand above the rest in our eyes. We’ve got full video ride reports and write-ups on each of these bikes, featuring Fanatik’s very own employees. Buying a new bike can be challenging, and we're hoping to remove guesswork from the equation by bringing you honest advice and feedback on our favorite four trail bikes of 2014. There's something here for everyone, all major wheel sizes included - 26", 27.5", and 29". We encourage you to check out our features and we hope you enjoy viewing them as much as we enjoyed producing them!

Intense Tracer T275 Carbon

MEET THE NEXT-GEN INTENSE TRAIL BIKE
Intense has experienced huge growth as a company in the last year, transforming from a small boutique frame builder to a major player in the global bike industry. Along with this paradigm shift came a highly-anticipated new bike: the Tracer T275 Carbon. Intense was an early adopter of the 27.5" wheel size, releasing three 27.5" bikes between 2012 and early 2014: the Carbine 275, Tracer 275 (alloy), and the 951 Evo. The Tracer 275 Carbon marks the company's fourth 27.5" bike, proving that they are fully devoted to making the most of the new wheel size. The 160mm-travel Tracer 275 Carbon may come as a surprise to some, considering Intense already has the 150mm-Carbine 275 in their roster - a seemingly similar bike. On paper, the two bikes appear to have some overlap, but there are several important differences setting them apart.



DEDICATED 27.5"
First up, the Tracer 275 Carbon marks Intense's first dedicated 27.5" full carbon trail bike. The Carbine 275 is essentially a 26" bike with a special dropout kit to allow the use of 27.5" wheels. This is great as a gateway bike to the 27.5" movement, as it allows us feel out the new wheel size without fully committing to it. The only issue is the bike's geometry suffers slightly by tacking on longer dropouts. Given the explosive popularity of 27.5" trail bikes, Intense knew they had to build a new full carbon bike from the ground-up - a bike built specifically for 27.5" wheels with perfectly balanced geometry. That's exactly what they have done with the Tracer 275 Carbon. Jeff Steiber has spent a tremendous number of hours developing this frame, tweaking geometry, and painstakingly working every last detail. The final product is nothing short of breathtaking. Intense never disappoints in the sex-appeal department, and the Tracer 275 Carbon is no exception. But the fun doesn't stop there - several new features include full internal cable routing, revamped rear swingarm with fixed carbon 12x142mm dropouts, and a new carbon layup process that makes this frame stronger, lighter, and even more appealing than the Carbine 275.

AGGRESSIVE GEOMETRY
The Tracer 275 Carbon design and geometry are based largely on the Tracer 275 Alloy, but adapted to suit the more aggressive trail riders out there. With 145 - 160mm adjustable travel, this bike sees a 10mm increase in travel compared to the alloy Tracer 275. Geometry has been reworked accordingly - a 66.5° head angle, 17" chainstay, and 13.5" BB height all come together to make this bike an absolute beast on the trail. Combine the 27.5" wheels with 160mm travel, along with aggressive angles, and you've got a bike that will take on anything. Period. During testing, we even managed to muster up the courage to hit a 20-foot lip-to-bridge sender that we hadn't even touched before on our downhill bikes. Our confidence was through the roof on this bike. It really is the dawn of a new era for trail bikes - it is now possible to build a 160mm-travel, 26-pound bike that is capable of tackling trails most of us mere mortals wouldn't even consider. But it's always nice to know you have a bike underneath you that can handle it, just in case the mood strikes.

REVAMPED CARBON TECHNOLOGY
New on the Tracer 275 Carbon is a revamped full carbon rear swingarm, including molded fixed 12x142mm Syntace dropouts. This is a departure from Intense's usual G1 interchangeable dropout. Although the new system does not allow you change between 10x135/12x142mm dropout standards, it is a lighter and cleaner setup. It will also be less expensive for you as the consumer when you need to replace a derailleur hanger ($20 as opposed to $70 on the G1 setup). 12x142mm Syntace has essentially become the golden standard for all trail bikes these days, so Intense didn't see the need to offer a 10x135mm option - we agree. Compatible axles include Intense's bolt-on alloy Syntace option, or the DT Swiss RWS Syntace option. Upon examining the rear swingarm, you'll notice a couple other nice enhancements. Intense has implemented internal rear derailleur cable routing through the chainstay, making things as clean as possible. Stiffness and strength have also been improved by using an oblong-boxed construction for the seatstays and chainstays. Finishing things off, the chainstay is protected with Intense's FLK:GRD carbon-leather protectors, keeping the carbon safe from chain slap.

Up front, the mainframe looks similar to the Carbine at first glance, but there are several improvements to note. As with the rear swingarm, the mainframe is setup for internal shifter, brake, and Reverb Stealth dropper post routing. That means there is very little exposed cable on this bike, something we always like to see on high-end bikes. The Tracer 275 Carbon uses a new monocoque frame construction built from high-model unidirectional carbon. These cutting-edge construction methods and materials ultimately provide an unparalleled strength-to-weight ratio. Like the Carbine and Tracer alloy, this bike is fitted with a high-direct front derailleur tab. Out of the box, it is protected by a bolt-on alloy plate for those who are not planning on using a front derailleur.

PROVEN VPP2 SUSPENSION PLATFORM
To handle the suspension duties, Intense has departed from Fox and is offering a custom-tuned Rock Shox Monarch RC3 Plus High Volume rear shock. We are happy to see this change because the Monarch is a fantastic rear shock that offers a ton of tuneability from the inside-out. After riding the Tracer 275 Carbon, we were very impressed with how supple the Monarch felt. Tt's ability to suck up small chatter while holding momentum is impressive. We noticed a marked improvement in the overall ride quality of this bike over the previously spec'd Fox Float CTD rear shock on Intense's other trail bikes. For those who want to take performance one step further, Intense is offering a Cane Creek Double Barrel Air CS rear shock option for an additional $350. This will offer the most external adjustability, and will suit the rider who wants to sacrifice nothing. Keep in mind though, the Double Barrel Air is a beefy shock, and will tack on about 100 grams over the Rock Shox Monarch RC3. Regardless of which shock you choose, suspension travel is adjustable between 145mm and 160mm by unscrewing the lower shock bolt and positioning the shock in the lower or upper mounting holes respectively. This only affects suspension travel - geometry remains unchanged.


ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
The T275 Carbon is very close to mountain bike perfection. We do have a couple of minor gripes, though none of them would be deal-breakers in our book. We'd like to see a true zero-stack head tube used on this bike. As with most of Intense's bikes produced over the past few years, the T275 Carbon requires a ZS44/EC49mm headset to accommodate a tapered fork. If you want to use an angle-adjustable headset, you need to run external upper and lower headset cups, adding significantly to the overall stack height at your front end. We would prefer to see a ZS44/ZS56mm headtube, which would reduce stack height for those using an angle-adjustable headset.

Another minor nitpick is the dropper post routing. Of course we love the Stealth routing through the seat tube, but we'd like to see it routed internally up downtube as well. It is the only cable left on the outside of the mainframe, and looks a tad out of place with the rest of the cables routed internally.

TRACER T275 CARBON DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE
• Frame Material: High modulous carbon
• Frame Travel: 160mm/145mm adjustable VPP2
• Rear Shock: Rock Shox Monarch RC3+ or Cane Creek DB Air CS
• Wheel Size: 27.5" (dedicated)
• Frame Weight: 6.0 lbs with shock (verified, medium)
• Seatpost Size: 31.6mm
• Headtube Size: 44mm upper/49mm lower
• Internal Stealth dropper post routing
• Internal brake/shifter routing
• Fixed 12x142mm molded carbon dropouts
• Intense alloy 12x142mm bolt-on Syntace axle
• BB92 bottom bracket
• High-direct front derailleur tab w/bolt-on cover
• ISCG '05 chainguide tab
• 160mm IS rear disc brake tab
• Downtube and chainstay FLK:GRD protectors

For more information on the Intense Tracer T275 Carbon, please visit fanatikbike.com


Devinci Troy Carbon

FAST UP THE HILLS - CONFIDENT ON THE DESCENTS
Devinci is one of the hardest working brands out there right now. Over the last three years they have evolved from a relatively unknown brand in the US to one of our hottest manufacturers. And that's no joke - Devinci is working day and night to produce bikes that are second-to-none. The Troy is a full carbon 27.5" single-track machine developed from the ground-up to fully maximize the benefits of 27.5" wheels. Geometry has been tweaked to keep the bottom bracket height low and chainstay as short as possible. The result is a nimble, flickable trail bike that can best described in one word: FAST. The bike's agility is really what sets it apart in my book. While there is a growing market for aggressive long travel 27.5" enduro bikes, the Troy sticks with a relatively modest 140mm of rear wheel travel. It strikes a nice balance, which makes the Troy an appealing option for a wide variety of riders. It has enough travel to soak up most hits, but not so much that bike feels mushy or unresponsive. If you're an all-day trail rider that also likes to hit jumps and drops along the way, the Troy will be a great option for you.

On the descents, the Troy is nothing short of inspring. Set up with a 160mm fork, the Troy's head angle sits at about 66° according to my questionably-accurate Android smartphone angle app. Regardless, I found myself rolling steep lines with confidence on the Troy; some of which I'd only previously rolled on my downhill bike. My point is this: the bike inspires confidence. The Troy climbs quite well too, especially with a 1x11-speed drivetrain. With the 160mm fork on my setup, I did find the front end to be slightly high on some steeper climbs. A travel-adjustable fork, or simply less travel would alleviate this. It's important to note that most stock Troy builds will be spec'd with a 150mm fork, some that are even travel-adjustable.



SPLIT-PIVOT GOLD
One of the benefits of working at a bike shop is I get to ride LOTS of bikes - 26", 27.5", 29", VPP, FSR, dw-link, Split-Pivot, whatever - and the Troy sits right up there as one of my top three favorite trail bikes. Devinci has struck gold combining the proven Split-Pivot platform with 27.5" wheels. Compared to the previous 26"-wheeled Devinci trail bikes, the Troy is noticeably quicker over small/medium bumps, allowing it to hold momentum better. Naturally, by the same logic, technical climbing is also improved. Pair this bike with a 1x11 drivetrain, and you've got an unstoppable steed that will excel in just about any riding situation.

ADJUSTABLE GEOMETRY
As with the rest of Devinci's Split-Pivot bikes, the Troy features adjustable geometry. Using flip chips located on the upper seatstay pivots, you can switch between high and low settings, adjusting head angle and BB height. The Troy is designed to be used with forks ranging from 140mm - 160mm of travel. With a 140mm fork and the low geometry position, the head angle sits at a comfortable 67° with a 13.3" BB height. Flip the chips to the high setting, and it steepens the head angle to 67.5° with a 13.5" BB height.

LIFETIME WARRANTY
Devinci understands that it's important to protect your investment when paying top dollar for a new bike, so they have backed the Troy with an unmatched LIFETIME warranty. Trust us, you'll be hard-pressed to find any other brand offering a lifetime warranty on a carbon bike - it truly is a special offering.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SPARTAN?
Okay I'll admit it. The Spartan hit the market right before I finished this feature, so I was able to compare the two. Does the Spartan over-shadow the Troy? In a word: no. The Troy and Spartan are two very different bikes. The Spartan is a truly aggressive 27.5"-wheeled bike sporting 165mm of rear-wheel travel, a 65° head angle, and a massively overbuilt frame. If you're looking for an enduro bike that is also capable of spending the day at Whistler Bike Park, the Spartan may be your ticket. Make no mistake, the Spartan will take a bit of work on the climbs. With an 8.25 pound frame, it's definitely targeted at the gravity-oriented crowd, and not so much at the pedalers. If you're looking for a great all-around trail bike that gets you up the hill quick and down the hill with confidence, the Troy will still be your best bet.


ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
This question left me scratching my head for a while trying to find a fault with the Troy. I am really grasping at straws here, but I am somewhat bewildered by the headset standard that Devinci chose for the Troy. At first glance, it appears that the Troy uses relatively standard IS 41mm upper and IS 52mm drop-in bearings at the headtube. Upon closer inspection, I found the upper bearing actually has a small lip on it, which means it's not a standard IS 41mm bearing - in fact, it's an IS 41mm ITALIAN bearing. This is not a common bearing for most shops to stock, so if you pick up a Troy with us, maybe tack on a couple upper headset bearings so you have them when the time comes to replace it.

Personally, I'd really like to see Devinci ditch the integrated IS bearings altogether, and spec a more common ZS44/ZS56mm headset. Anyhow, clearly it's a minor gripe, and certainly wouldn't make-or-break my decision to go with the Troy.

TROY CARBON DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE
• Frame Material: Monocoque Carbon
• Frame Travel: 140mm Split Pivot
• Rear Shock: Fox Float CTD-Adj Kashima
• Wheel Size: 27.5" (dedicated)
• Frame Weight: 5.75 lbs with shock (verified, medium)
• Seatpost Size: 31.6mm
• Headtube Size: IS41mm Italian upper/IS52mm lower
• Internal guided Stealth dropper post routing
• Internal guided brake/shifter routing
• 12x142mm dropouts with included Maxle axle
• BB92 bottom bracket shell
• High-direct front derailleur tab
• ISCG '05 chainguide tab
• 160mm IS rear disc brake tab
• Downtube carbon leather protector
• Chainstay protector

For more information on the Devinci Troy Carbon, please visit fanatikbike.com



Evil Uprising

THE 26" TRAIL BIKE THAT COULD
Are you surprised to see a 26" bike land in our top four trail bikes for 2014? Yep, so are we. With 27.5" bikes largely taking over the trail bike market, all has been silent on the 26" front - except for one bike: the Evil Uprising. In fact, we've NEVER seen as much demand for any trail bike in recent memory...we simply cannot keep them in stock. To see what all the fuss was about, we called up Evil and had them send us a bike to test. Sure, we can chat all day long and speculate on how a bike will ride, but at the end of the day, one must ride a bike to truly understand it. Most of us here at Fanatik have already been riding 27.5" trail bikes for some time now, some us claiming that we'd never go back to 26". If there's one bike that might change our mind, it's the Evil Uprising. Simply put, it is just a damn fun bike! As Evil states in their advertisements for the Uprising, the bike has "fun-sized" wheels. So is 27.5" hype, or is it legitimate? Perhaps its a bit of both. The fact of the matter is, Evil has built a superb bike that happens to be sporting 26" wheels and we're okay with that. Evil has packed everything TIGHT into the Uprising, with the bulk of the weight kept very low. This is one of the main reasons why the Uprising rides so well, and chances are, if they had to make room for a slightly bigger wheel, the layout of the frame would have to change slightly. Would the bike really ride better with 27.5" wheels? We can't say for certain, but we can say it would be quite difficult to make the Uprising ride better than it already does.



PLAYFUL & AGGRESSIVE
The Uprising utilizes a modified single-pivot suspension design called Delta System. The idea is to provide a smooth, supple ride right off the top of the stroke - similar to how a downhill bike would feel. Though unlike a downhill bike, the Uprising is only working with 150mm of travel, so as the bike moves through it's suspension it hits a second curve that ramps things up so you don't hit bottom prematurely. On the trail this translates to very lively ride. The Uprising loves to play - it encourages you to jump, drop, brap, and generally be rowdy. The bike's geometry reflects these general notions - a 66.5° head angle, 13" BB height, and 17" chainstay caters nicely to the aggressive trail rider who likes to let loose. Although the frame is somewhat heavy (7.8 pounds w/shock) compared to other trail bikes, we didn't feel that this weight deterred from the overall ride quality. The bulk of the weight is kept low, translating to a low center of gravity, which means this bike corners ON RAILS. It is astounding and must be ridden to believe. The Delta System design also does a surprisingly good job on the climbs too. We did utilize the "Climb" position on the Float-X rear shock that came on our test bike, and we had no complaints. Sure, there are some uber-lightweight 150mm trail bikes out there that will climb a bit better, but the Uprising is a downhiller's trail bike. It's on the descent where all your hard work pays off.

At the time of this review, the only rear shocks that fit the Uprising frame were the Fox Float and Fox Float X. We tested the bike with the Float X, and we were generally satisfied with the performance. That said, we are awfully curious how the bike would ride with something a bit more adjustable. With the Cane Creek Inline rear shock hitting the market this summer, we expect this shock will fit the frame, and may unlock more untapped potential when bolted onto the Uprising. Word is there's also a modified Rock Shox Monarch that is in development for the frame, so there will soon be two more options.

When Evil set out to build the Uprising, they wanted to insure no rider was left out. They offer it in a whopping five sizes including small, medium, medium/large, large, and extra large. This size range will suit riders 4'10" to 6'4". That's quite a range - most bikes of this caliber won't have that size range, so it's something we're glad to see. We'd like to see more bike brands follow suit.

DETAILS...
Evil did a nice job protecting your investment. Are you hesitant to ride a full carbon bike? Worry not...the Uprising is one BURLY carbon trail bike. As we mentioned earlier, it is a 7.8 pound frame including shock, which is a bit heavier than some competing bikes. That said, the frame is built from some of the toughest carbon on the planet, and it's also protected in the areas that take the most abuse. The frame comes with an integrated downtube protector, as well as an inlaid metal chain-drop protector toward the front of the chainstay. There is also a rubberized chainstay protector to fend off chain slap.


ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
Though not a deal-breaker, we do feel the climbs would be a tad easier if the frame was a bit lighter. We think it is certainly feasible for Evil to drop a pound or more off this frame while still maintaining it's strength and stiffness. We don't notice the weight on the descents, but we were working a bit more on the climbs compared to some of the other trail bikes we tested. We'd also like to see internal cable routing for at least the dropper post - currently all cables are routed on the outside of the frame. If you do opt for a dropper post on this frame, we recommend the KS Lev to avoid any cable movement.

UPRISING DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE
• Frame Material: Carbon
• Frame Travel: 150mm Delta System
• Rear Shock: Fox Float CTD-Adj Kashima or Fox Float X CTD-Adj Kashima
• Wheel Size: 26"
• Frame Weight: 7.8 lbs with shock (verified, medium)
• Seatpost Size: 30.9mm
• Headtube Size: IS41mm upper/IS52mm lower (headset included with frame)
• 12x142mm dropouts with included axle
• 73mm BSA bottom bracket shell
• High-direct front derailleur tab
• ISCG '05 chainguide tab
• 160mm post-style rear disc brake tab
• Integrated downtube/chainstay protector

For more information on the Evil Uprising, please visit fanatikbike.com



Ibis Ripley

THE 29" BIKE THAT THINKS SMALL
As trail bikes are getting increasingly aggressive with the "bigger is better" mentality, we're seeing 29'ers packing 160mm of travel with geometry approaching that of a downhill rig. While I can certainly appreciate the market for monster truck 29'ers, there's something to be said for choosing the right tool for the job. In my book, a 29"-wheeled bike should have a relatively modest amount of travel and geometry that lends itself well to climbing. If I'm heading to the bike park I'd much rather be on a nimble 26" downhill rig, not a clumsy 29" bike that thinks it's a downhill bike. Which brings me to what the Ripley is not: a clumsy, awkward 29'er. Instead of packing every last millimeter of travel they could into a 29" frame, Ibis thought about the characteristics of 29" wheels and how they could maximize the benefits of the larger wheel size. The Ripley has been designed from the ground up to maximize fun-factor, agility, and pedaling performance. With 120mm of dw-link driven travel, the Ripley does a beautiful job prioritizing these traits and, quite honestly, the final product and ride quality is fantastic. At just five pounds including shock, this is among the lightest 29'er full-suspension frames out there.



A CONFIDENT 29'ER
The Ripley I tested was spec'd with the stock Ibis XT kit, a Fox Float CTD rear shock, and Fox Float 120mm fork. With the 120mm fork, the head angle sits at 70°. Admittedly, I was slightly concerned that 70° would be a bit steep for my liking. I've ridden bikes with 70° head angles in the past, and I can't say I enjoyed them. I was pleasantly surprised with the Ripley though. The steeper head angle shines on the ascent. On technical climbs where I normally struggle keeping the front end down, the Ripley stayed firmly planted and simply motored right on up the toughest steeps I could find. The dw-link suspension platform does an excellent job isolating pedal feedback, and I honestly didn't find myself reaching for the CTD switch - I simply left in the Trail or Descend mode for most of my rides.

On the other side of the hill, the Ripley provided a surprisingly high level of downhill confidence. This is where I was expecting to find the drawbacks of that 70° head angle. Although I wasn't seeking out the steepest, nastiest trails around, I did get into some technical rooty/rocky sections and the bike never felt out of sorts. I did find I needed to pick my lines a bit more carefully, but that's to be expected. Smashing through rocky gnar as fast as possible isn't what the bike is intended for. It is important to note just how plush the bike feels for 120mm travel - maybe it's just the dw-link paired with 29" wheels, but I think Ibis threw in a bit of extra magic zest; again, thinking small and maximizing the benefits of the wheel size. This brings me to my next point: handling. Companies building 29'ers are constantly facing challenges with bike handling. How do you make a 29" bike feel agile and nimble? There is no set answer to that question - if there was, everyone would be doing it. Many 29'ers are plagued with poor handling characteristics and feel clumsy. Such is not the case with the Ripley. It cornered very well and stayed firmly planted through chattery berms. But it was also ready to play - pop the front end up and it goes. I even felt inclined to hit some occasional jumps on the Ripley, which is generally not the norm when I'm riding a 120mm XC 29'er.


ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?
Ibis has really outdone themselves with the Ripley, from the clever eccentric-style dw-link suspension design to the clean lines of the frame - this bike is impressive. I really wish Ibis had done more with the internal cable routing though. There are only two entries at the front of the headtube for the rear derailleur and shifter. That leaves the rear brake and dropper post line routed on the outside of the bike, which is less-than-optimal, especially with competing bikes routing everything internally these days. Since the cables are routed through the front of the headtube, you do need to install a steel protector sleeve on the steertube of your fork to prevent cable rub. Routing the cables internally on the left and right side of the downtube would prevent this.

IS THE RIPLEY FOR YOU?
I can confidently say that if you're in the market for a shorter travel 29'er, the Ripley will not disappoint. It is one of the few bikes that we are 100% confident selling to people who have not previously ridden the Ripley. So far, every one of those customers have come back to us raving, claiming it's the the best bike they've ridden. That said, the Ripley (and 29'ers in general) are not for everyone. Feel free to give us a call and we'll be happy to discuss your riding needs.

RIPLEY DETAILS AT-A-GLANCE
• Frame Material: Carbon
• Frame Travel: 120mm dw-link
• Rear Shock: Fox Float CTD-Adj Kashima
• Wheel Size: 29"
• Frame Weight: 5.0 lbs with shock (verified, medium)
• Seatpost Size: 31.6mm
• Headtube Size: ZS44/EC49mm
• Internal shifter routing
• 12x142mm dropouts with included Maxle axle
• BB92 bottom bracket shell
• High-direct front derailleur tab
• 160mm post-style rear disc brake tab
• Chainstay protector

For more information on the Ibis Ripley, please visit fanatikbike.com