Recent Reviews

Pin-sharp handling

Stiff and reactive ride

Lightweight, especially considering deep gravel rims and 50mm tyres

Generous tyre clearance

Not very good value

Stiff frame and stock tyres can feel unsettled on rougher gravel

No internal storage

Racers will want a bigger chainring

Colnago's lightest ever frame

Ample 34mm clearance

Lively ride quality

Specced handlebar widths are excessive

Not power-equipped

Middling wheelset

Excellent CBF suspension: efficient climbing, active braking, great traction

More capable geometry without losing the Ranger’s quick feel

Handles bikepacking loads well, and still has good frame storage

Still 2.6″ clearance with ample mud clearance

Big dropper compatibility

Love the Dissector tire spec

Premium pricing with no real budget option

Tricky sizing for tweeners

170mm cranks on all sizes

Transmission complicates rack use

Lots of bearings that will eventually need to be replaced

Affordable gravity-oriented bruiser

Excellent value for money (€2,499 - €3,999)

Category 5 rated aluminum frame for strength and durability

180mm travel front and rear

Mullet wheel configuration (mixed wheels)

Compatible with dual-crown forks up to 190mm

Clearance for air and coil shocks

Standard thru-frame internal cable routing

Rubberized shuttle guard, downtube protector, chainslap protection

Bottle cage bosses in front triangle

Geometry-adjustable flip chip for head angle (63.5-64°) and seat angle (78.5-79°)

Adjustable chainstay length (430 or 440mm)

Increased stack height for confidence on steep terrain

Modern reach measurements (470mm on size M)

Five frame sizes (XS through XL)

Revised four-bar/Horst Link kinematics for better climbing without sacrificing downhill

Mullet wheel only (except XS gets 27.5" both)

Aluminum frame not carbon

Lighter, stiffer, faster, and quieter than predecessor

Updated CBF suspension with refined short-travel kinematics

Improved geometry: slacker head angle (65.7°), steeper seat tube (77°), longer reach, lower BB

Massive dropper post insertion and two bottle mounts

Tire clearance up to 29x2.6

Clean hidden cable routing and noise-eating chainstay rubber

Riders can select between torque and cadence-sensing modes, either for a natural and rewarding active experience or a more relaxed, low-effort leisurely feel.

As the lightest-weight Vorsa model to date, the Lite is highly nimble and lively-feeling. It’s also on the more portable side for a commuter.

It’s a strong across-the-board performer, with standout results in our Range and Hill tests. It can go further and climb faster than many similar models we’ve tested.

The bike is an affordable all-rounder, providing solid value for its $1,500 price point. It can serve as a commuter, exercise bike, light adventure bike, and more!

Ride1Up designed the Vorsa Lite to accommodate riders from 5’1” to 6’4” with two frame sizes, step-thru and step-over styles, a long seatpost, and an adjustable stem.

Users can customize the power and feel of each pedal assist level by tuning its torque output and and amperage through the display.

This is an excellent bike for those who don’t need loads of features, apps, etc. It focuses on being a good, simple, approachable bike—and pulls that off well.

While we appreciate the Lite’s stripped-down nature, we hoped it would still include an integrated tail light/brake light.

Two batteries, no upcharge. The Monarc Marker ships with two full-power 720Wh batteries at $1,999. I expected Monarc to offer a lot of value for the price with components but did not expect to see a free second battery come standard. The battery is the most expensive part to an e-bike, so Monarc is coming out swinging with this one.

Components that belong on a more expensive bike. From the Shimano Cues 9-speed drivetrain to the Talon P4 four-piston hydraulic brakes to the reverse-arch suspension fork with lockout, Monarc has clearly leveraged the buying power of its parent company and is trying to outspec the competition while being in the same price-range.

Really cool accessories are being offered as part of the initial bike launch, including a free smart helmet that will let you connect to your phone and make phone calls, listen to music, etc. There are also additional features and accessories that we can't wait to try, such as the rear radar monitor to improve safety while riding on the road.

At ~85 lbs, the Marker is on the heavier side. You'll feel it when you're loading it onto a rack or into a truck bed. However, on the trail and on the road the bike does not feel sluggish. Instead it feels stable, and balanced, with really good handling. I'm also not sure how they could drop weight without sacrificing the rigidity of the frame.

Outstanding value proposition

Lifetime warranty on frame and bearings

Sorted modern geometry

Meaningful difference in chainstay length across sizes

4-piston brakes from TRP

12s drivetrains

Schwalbe Radial tires

Geometry adjust flip-chip

Proportional chainstay length (10mm increments)

Internal cable routing (not through headset)

UDH dropout for T-Type compatibility

Water bottle mount inside front triangle

Extra bosses for pump/spares

ISCG tabs

Not featherweights (heavy)

Components not top-flight

Cannot run the absolute longest dropper

Nicest frame they've ever made with nice lines and well-considered finishing details

Guided cable routing keeps cables out of danger zone

Two water bottle mounts on downtube and accessory mount on top tube for long days

More progressive suspension with higher starting leverage ratio for easy initial travel

Anti-rise below 100% keeps bike active and composed during braking

Chassis doesn't squat or pitch much

Handling is sharp, cuts nice corners

Frame feels high quality, quiet, and easy to live with

Two-bottle capacity and top tube mount make bike long-day ready

Large gaps between sizes

Sluggish climbing feel compared to some competitors

Shock sag makes bigger difference to pedaling performance than typical short-travel trail bike

Intermittent knock from RockShox Deluxe rear shock (issue noted on two examples)

Not as nimble as true XC bike

Not as much traction as longer-travel trail bike

Integrated front end but with reach adjustment

Comfortable bar shape

Two fork options

Now 700c only

Rudimentary-looking headset cap

Narrowish 46mm clearance

Great pedaling performance, ideal for riders who want a snappy, efficient feeling bike

Wide range of parts spec options

Not the plushest mid-travel bike out there; may not suit riders looking for maximum traction and comfort

Longer and tapered seat tube limits maximum dropper post lengths

Race level spec right out of the box

Extremely composed under heavy braking

Tons of adjustability to suit most riders

Taller riders or racers may want a longer chainstay

Headset creak developed during dusty bike park laps

Carbon cranks can be a durability concern.

Mid-pivot design increases rear-center length by 12mm at 100mm travel, enhancing stability

Adjustable idler positions (5 options) for tuning pedal kickback

OChain provides up to 12° crank-chainring dissociation, reducing kickback and chain flailing

E*thirteen Sidekick hub further mitigates pedal kickback

Anti-rise around 100% provides active braking squat that rider prefers

Removable braces on swingarm allow stiffness adjustment

Idler pulleys can cause pedal kickback if not tuned properly

Free stroke out of start gate may be large due to dissociation

Very light frame (789g S-Works FACT 12r)

Aero improvements: 15.2 watts faster at 45kph than Crux 4

Up to 55mm/2.2in tire clearance

Updated geometry: slacker head angle, lower bottom bracket, steeper seat angle

Size-specific layup for consistent ride feel across sizes

Efficient aero without weight penalty (complete builds starting at 6.9kg)

No internal frame storage or bag mounting points (except toptube bento mount)

High price: S-Works model at $14,000

Cyclocross riders lose a raceable option

More aero

Nearly as light

Wider tyre clearance

More suitable gravel geometry

Expensive

Lively ride and handling

Category 5 durability rating

Adjustable geometry via flip chip (0.5° head/seat tube angle change, adjustable BB drop)

Adjustable chainstay length (430-440mm)

Improved pedaling performance with higher anti-squat at sag

180mm travel front and rear (except XS with 170mm)

Dual-crown fork compatible up to 190mm

Affordable pricing starting at $3,999

Durable, no-nonsense component spec

No carbon frame option, weight likely higher

Only available in European market at launch

The Pace 5’s programming and power delivery are a perfect pairing; the bike has ample power but dishes it out effectively and responsively, making pedaling easy without feeling scary.

Its theft prevention features are top-notch, offering riders peace of mind through integrated wheel and battery locks, a motion detection and alarm system, GPS location tracking, and more.

Aventon built in loads of customization options available through the Aventon app, including motor tuning, torque and cadence sensing modes, granular speed adjustment, and more.

Handling feels well-balanced between relaxed and sharp; the city cruiser design and handlebars pair well with the lively motor and rigid fork.

Its performance was great, with above-average results in nearly all areas of our testing.

The bike is generally well-equipped for its price, with integrated lights and turn signals, a color display, and even an optional regenerative braking feature with two modes.

It’s tough to deny the bike’s sharp looks and big personality. Aventon’s choice of five color options ensures a bike for just about everyone.

While it was designed with a focus on comfort and largely pulls that off, an included suspension seatpost would complete its vision.

The frame design can result in a loose chain getting jammed. The throttle can get you home, but having a spare chain might be a good idea.