The Loam Wolf MTB Reviews & Features

#yttues #loamwolf #mtb Robert recently travelled to Dyfi Bike Park to meet with the YT Industries UK PR Specialist, James Dart, collect his new YT Tues Core 4 29 test bike and get it set up. Dyfi provided the ideal testing ground to get YT's downhill bike set up, and it was an incredible amount of fun lapping with James! Stay tuned for a long term review coming for the YT Tues Core 4 29 in the coming months. What do you want to know about this beast for its long term review? Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #downhillmtb #dyfibikepark #bikepark #mountainbike #ytindustries 00:00 Introduction 00:23 Spec and Setup 03:24 Dyfi Bikepark laps

#mtb #loamwolf Have you wondered what exactly the differences in mountain bike tire sidewall and casing construction really means? Do you want to know just how it will affect your ride and how you should pick the best tire casing for you? Check out this video where we explain each casing's construction, layers and test them as we bash into a curb in slow motion to show you how they conform and respond to hard impacts. In this video we run through the entire range of @SchwalbeBikeTires mountain bike tires, however all mountain bike tire manufacturers like Maxxis, Continental and Kenda will offer similar ranges of casings to accommodate different disciplines of mountain bike riding. Check our site for more information; theloamwolf.com Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #mountainbike #mountainbiking #emtb #ebike #enduromtb #dhmtb 00:00 Introduction 04:54 Tire Smashing Time! 11:02 Final Thoughts

#loamwolf #mtb Welcome to our first ever Lightweight, SL, eBike Light Group Review. Pardon the long title but we don’t exactly know if the mountain bike world has adopted an official name for this category of eBike. We’re trying to get eBike Light to stick, but ‘SL’ seems to be rising to prominence. No matter what you call it, there is no denying the category is booming. It seems new models are dropping almost every other month as brands seek to offer lightweight, mid-power eMTBs for riders seeking a different experience compared to the full power, full weight eMTBs that have risen dramatically in popularity. Are you looking for more info or reviews on mid-power, light weight eBikes? Head to our website and check out the individual reviews on all eight of the bikes shown here in our shootout. Check out the full write-up here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/18/2023-ebike-light-roundup-testing-the-best-sl-emtbs/ ----------------------------------------- Lightweight eMTB Roundup Sponsors Schwalbe Tires has been an amazing partner and once again returns as our official test tire. The new Tacky Chan served us incredibly well over the course of our testing and quickly became one of our favorite tires on the market! Get your tires here Ninja MTB dialed us in with some really comfortable and breathable knee pads and elbow pads that also cost quite a bit less than many other offerings on the market. We’d suggest checking them out here. Glade Optics hopped on board as our official eyewear sponsor and we were stoked to have some quality lenses to keep the bright sun and dust out of our eyes. Give them a peep here. LOCATION We traveled back down to Klamath Falls, Oregon a spot we recently visited for the first time in our eMTB Destination Tour a few months ago. We fell in love with the trail offerings and the Running Y Resort’s amenities. Thanks to the Running Y and Discover Klamath we had a great time staying in a beautiful spot with epic views and just a short drive away from two very fun trailheads. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #emtb #mountainbike #mountainbiking #trekbikes #specializedbikes #enduromtb #ebike 00:00 Introduction 01:13 The Crew, Location and Sponsors 02:14 Forestal Siryon 08:47 Giant Trance 15:35 Orbea Rise 20:40 Pivot Shuttle SL 26:39 Scott Lumen 32:23 Timed Hill Climb Test 33:27 Specialized Levo SL 40:11 Transition Relay 45:09 Trek Fuel EXe 51:28 Final Thoughts and Awards

#emtb #loamwolf Following our Dissected feature on the Transition Relay vs Repeater, we managed to keep hold of Transition’s offering to the aggressive SL eMTB rider. Featuring capable geometry combined with a 160mm travel (or the 170mm PNW version) rear suspension and Fazua’s Ride 60 drive system, the Transition Relay promised to be a killer ride, and ranked well in terms of shred-friendliness in this year’s lightweight, SL eBike Group Review. Read the Written Review here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/16/2023-sl-emtb-roundup-transition-relay-review/ This group review was made possible thanks to the amazing support of Schwalbe Tires and their brilliant new Tacky Chan tires, which we outfitted each and every bike with for a consistent test platform. We’d also like to thank Ninja MTB and Glade Optics. Our crew did plenty of testing around Central Oregon before heading down to one of our favorite places to ride, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks for the hospitality Discover Klamath and the beautiful Running Y Resort. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #mtb #mountainbike #mountainbiking #transitionbikes #ebike 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Tech, Specs, Geo 02:06 Ride Impressions

#loamwolf #mtb As one of the first players in the SL, lightweight eMTB category with their original Turbo Levo SL, Specialized is well versed in the lightweight electric bike game. However, the previous generation Specialized Levo SL quickly began to lose favor to similarly light systems that were able to produce more power and torque while also offering more capable geometry and spec. Earlier this year Specialized came back swinging with their new Levo SL equipped with the SL 1.2 motor, which we Dissected here. As one of the hottest bikes in the SL eBike world, we had to have the new 2024 Specialized Levo SL in the mix for our inaugural SL eMTB Shootout, and it turned out to be a pretty mixed bag of impressions for our crew. Head to the Site for the Written Review: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/15/2023-sl-emtb-roundup-specialized-turbo-levo-sl-s-works-review/ This group review was made possible thanks to the amazing support of Schwalbe Tires and their brilliant new Tacky Chan tires, which we outfitted each and every bike with for a consistent test platform. We’d also like to thank Ninja MTB and Glade Optics. Our crew did plenty of testing around Central Oregon before heading down to one of our favorite places to ride, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks for the hospitality Discover Klamath and the beautiful Running Y Resort. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf 00:00 Introduction 00:44 Tech and Specs 02:06 Climbing Performance 04:44 Descending Performance 07:18 End Thoughts #mountainbike #mountainbiking #enduromtb #ebike #specializedlevo

#mtb #loamwolf Marking their first foray into the budding SL eMTB - or eBike Light - category, the new Santa Cruz Heckler SL rounds out Santa Cruz Bicycles eMTB lineup, which now offers two full power models and this new SL. Built around the Fazua Ride 60 drive unit and with an integrated 430Wh battery, this mixed wheel 160/150mm trail ripper should be a welcome addition to the line. Santa Cruz’s Garen Becker and industrial designer turned product manager, Jack Russell, drove up a fresh bike for us to hit the trails and learn a bit more about this bike before we conduct our long-term review. So, let’s get into the details and share our first impressions (at the bottom of this article, after the press release. Check out the full release and write-up at: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/12/first-ride-the-new-santa-cruz-heckler-sl/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf 00:00 Introduction 00:54 Garen and Jack Talk Tech 04:35 Geo and Models 06:09 Who's It For? 08:13 Ride Impressions #mountainbike #mountainbiking #ebike #santacruzbicycles

#mtb #loamwolf Giant’s Trance X Advanced E+ Elite is a lighter weight and more versatile addition to their heavier, large-battery-equipped Trance X Advanced E+ that we tested as part of our 2023 eMTB Shootout. The Trance X Advanced E+ Elite, reviewed here uses the same 85Nm Syncdrive Pro motor found on the “full-fat” version, as well as a 140mm travel Maestro suspension platform, but drops battery capacity and the size of the rear wheel to offer a lighter weight and more maneuverable package for the eBike Light, or SL market. There’s plenty to talk about on the Trance X E+ Elite, but what makes it stand head and shoulders above the other bikes in our eBike Light / SL Shootout is the powerful drive unit. With other bikes offering 50Nm or 60Nm of torque, this 85Nm beast had us questioning if it really belonged in this group test or not. Thanks to some unique battery cell technology and other design features however, this incredibly capable mid-weight eMTB was only slightly heavier than other contenders, like the Trek Fuel Exe, so in contention it remained. Check out the Full Write-Up here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/11/2023-sl-emtb-roundup-giant-trance-x-advanced-e-elite-0-review/ 2023 SL EMTB SHOOTOUT SERIES – The Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 was one of the eight eMTBs we tested in our inaugural lightweight eBike group test. We’ve seen a rapid and impressive growth in this category and after fielding so many requests and comments in our well established, annual full-power EMTB SHOOTOUT series, it only seemed natural to give this category the attention it deserves. This group review was made possible thanks to the amazing support of Schwalbe Tires and their brilliant new Tacky Chan tires, which we outfitted each and every bike with for a consistent test platform. We’d also like to thank Ninja MTB and Glade Optics. Our crew did plenty of testing around Central Oregon before heading down to one of our favorite places to ride, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks for the hospitality Discover Klamath and the beautiful Running Y Resort. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #emtb #mountainbike #mountainbiking #enduromtb Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Geo, Tech, Spec 04:53 Ride Impressions 08:17 Final Impressions

#loamwolf #emtb We’ve been dreaming of reviewing a Forestal eBike for years now. In fact, up until just a few months back when Robert got to visit their HQ and ride the Siryon for the first time, we hadn’t even seen one in person. When we were putting together plans for our first SL, lightweight eMTB Group Review this year, Robert was adamant that the Forestal Siryon had to be in the mix. He was very impressed after his time riding the Siryon over in the UK and looked forward to our feedback on the trails here in the West. Unfortunately, we had a few issues with the Forestal Siryon during our review and didn’t quite feel the same way as Robert, but we’ll get into that more below. For the Full Write-Up, visit the site: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/10/2023-sl-emtb-roundup-forestal-siryon-diode-review/ 2023 SL EMTB SHOOTOUT SERIES – The Forestal Siryon Diode was one of the eight eMTBs we tested in our inaugural lightweight eBike group test. We’ve seen a rapid and impressive growth in this category and after fielding so many requests and comments in our well established, annual full-power EMTB SHOOTOUT series, it only seemed natural to give this category the attention it deserves. This group review was made possible thanks to the amazing support of Schwalbe Tires and their brilliant new Tacky Chan tires, which we outfitted each and every bike with for a consistent test platform. We’d also like to thank Ninja MTB and Glade Optics. Our crew did plenty of testing around Central Oregon before heading down to one of our favorite places to ride, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Thanks for the hospitality Discover Klamath and the beautiful Running Y Resort. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #mountainbiking #mountainbike #mtb #enduromtb 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Geo, Spec, Tech 03:25 Drive Unit And Issues 05:08 On Trail Performance 10:27 Update From Fazua

#loamwolf #mtb mtb SCOR is launching their brand new 2030 trail machine, providing a fun platform for riders who seek out a little more pedaling efficiency for longer days in the saddle. However, their existing 4060 isn’t going anywhere, so we figured some people might be left with a dilemma when it came to choosing between the existing mainstay in the SCOR lineup or the new kid on the block. To help illustrate the different strengths of each of the choices, we made some head-to-head challenges to face the bikes against each other - some with a clock involved, and others based more on sensory elements - to hopefully aid in your decision for whether you are a 2030 or 4060 rider. Learn all about both machines and find out which one is for you in the latest episode of the Dissected series. As with all of our Dissected Features, this is not intended to be a long term review or endorsement of a product but is instead a chance for our viewers and readers to get a deep dive look into some of the newest tech and products in the mountain bike space. We thank SCOR for the opportunity to create this feature and getting you some valuable beta on these two mountain bikes. Check out the full, written story here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/05/dissected-scor-2030-vs-scor-4060/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:39 - SCOR Brand Intro 01:21 - 2030 Details 04:45 - 2030 New Features 06:56 - 2030 Origins 08:29 - Can you Mullet it? 9:04 - 2030 Build Specs 10:07 - 4060 Details 12:01 - 4060 Build Specs 12:36 - Head To Head 19:46 - Impressions 24:24 - Which SCOR For You? 25:47 - Closing Thoughts #mountainbike #mountainbiking #mountainbiking #bikepark

Since RAAW hit the market back in 2018, they’ve been firmly on our radar, thanks to their no-nonsense approach to engineering their aluminum frames and some solid looks and geometry. We were stoked to finally get the latest iteration of their enduro bike – the Madonna V2.2 – to test in the UK, and set about getting the miles in to get to the bottom of its performance. It’s true that good things come to those who wait. Let’s get into it Check out the full written review on the site here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/09/03/review-raaw-madonna-v2-2/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - Specifications 9:04 - Geometry 11:40 - Ride Impressions

#loamwolf #mountainbike When I first had the conversation about testing the new 2023 Cannondale Habit LT, I was immediately brought back to my neighborhood cul de sac circa 2004. That was the last time I rode a Cannondale, and the first MTB I swung a leg over. Thankfully bikes have come a long way since the Head Shok days, and I was stoked to spend the summer on a bike I deemed a perfect fit for my riding zones. The updates to the 2023 Habit LT put in the mix of some pretty rowdy bikes, at a respectable price tag of $3,625 for the LT 2 model on test. Read on or watch the video to find out how it stacked up. Check out the full written review here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/08/31/review-cannondale-habit-lt-2/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #cannondale #mountainbiking #enduromtb

Coal Bicycles is a relatively new player to the mountain bike world, manufacturing a selection of steel mountain bikes in their Nottinghamshire, England workshop. With a background in BMX racing, founder Gavin White wanted to create bikes with his own vision, and having made 500+ steel mountain bike frames and counting, it’s safe to say he knows how to manufacture them. We managed to pay Gav a visit at the Coal Bikes HQ and take their first full suspension enduro mountain bike - the Coal 84 - out for a ride at one of their local spots. Let’s dig into the details and talk about the first impressions of how it performed. Check out the full written review here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/08/29/first-ride-coal-bicycles-84/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf

#emtb #ebike Come along for an exciting ride on the new Bosch SX motor and Bosch’s ABS braking system for a first ride review! The Bosch SX motor is their first entry to the lightweight eBike motor world, packing 55Nm of torque and 600W power for its 2kg (4.4lbs) weight. The Bosch ABS system works by preventing your front wheel from locking up or your rear wheel from lifting off the ground when you're braking, helping to keep you safe. Both of these new eBike tech items were very interesting to test - watch the video to find out how we got on testing them, and stay tuned for reviews in the future after we have spent more time on the systems. Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #mountainbike #mountainbiking #boschebike

#mtb #loamwolf Want a full power drive unit without all the weight? Check out the @RideGiantBicycles Trance X Elite line as they’ve got plenty of tech and features to offer the best of both worlds. ---- Could the Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite line be the best of both worlds? Giant Bicycles’ line of EneryPak-equipped eBikes look to be the future of where high power, lightweight eMTBs could be going. In what they’re calling a world first, Giant have partnered with Panasonic to use the new, larger 22700 cell type, which claims to have a higher discharge capacity. Their unique chemistry and size mean a smaller, lighter battery can still power an 85Nm SyncDrive Pro motor to some impressive heights. Let’s Dissect and review the new line of Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite eMTBs, a full-power eBike that’s ready to battle the SL and lightweight electric mountain bikes. Visit our site for more info: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/08/23/dissected-giant-trance-x-advanced-elite-e0/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #emtb #ebike #mountainbike #mountainbiking #enduromtb

Here at the Wolf Den, we get quite a few purchasing and technical assistance requests through our inbox, and one that we see regularly is buying advice on air shocks vs. coil shocks. Usually, the responses we give aren’t as easy as this or that, best or worst. Mountain biking is a highly personal sport. Everything from fashion to ideal performance traits is up to each rider, and that’s one of our favorite things about this amazing sport. When it comes to friends or fans reaching out before buying a new bike that can be spec’d with either an air or coil rear shock or if they’re toying with switching a bike, they already own, there are plenty of pros and cons to consider when putting air shocks and coil shocks to task. For this video and test we chose to work with Pivot Cycles and used their Mach 6 as our official test mule since it’s got a nice rising-rate suspension design that compliments a coil shock and will also work well with an air shock. It’s also a bike we’re big fans of and beyond that, it’s one that we’ve gotten several questions about from friends and readers who want to buy one and can’t decide which shock to get. If you’d like to learn more about the Pivot Mach 6, we Dissected it earlier this year and you can check it out here. https://theloamwolf.com/2023/08/20/the-great-debate-air-shock-vs-coil-shock/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf

#mtbtech #loamwolf During our time at the Ard Rock mountain bike festival, we toured the pits to check out the latest and greatest gear that was on show. There were some crazy bikes and some very cool new products! What's your favorite product from the show? Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #pitwalk #mtb #mountainbike #mountainbiking

We recently paid Starling Cycles a visit in their new Bristol, UK headquarters. While we were there, we thought we would take the opportunity to experience first-hand how a frame goes from the raw materials through to the finished product, and figured we would share that with you as we don’t imagine that many people are aware of all the little intricate steps involved in the process, and we think it’s pretty damn interesting. So, without further ado, let’s learn how to build a Starling front triangle. Check out the full write-up, with photos, here: https://theloamwolf.com/2023/08/16/how-its-made-steel-frames-by-starling-cycles/ Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf

#loamwolf #specializedlevo Are you looking to get a new eMTB but don't want to spend $8, 9, or $13,000? In this series we are starting out with the base level @specializedbicycles Turbo Levo Alloy and will be embarking on a long term upgrade and performance quest to see how light, capable and shreddy we can make this "entry level" Turbo Levo perform. We'll be hitting our normal test tracks to time the Levo alloy in its stock equipment package before sharing with you what parts and bits we'd choose to upgrade and in what order. Our focus will be on performance and increasing rider safety by selecting performance oriented products over cool-looking upgrades or customization. This will be a fun and interactive project, so please leave us a comment down below letting us know what parts you'd upgrade first, what you'd choose for those parts and see if we agree. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:14 - The Bike 01:34 - The Build 02:28 - Weight 03:55 - Help Us Decide Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf #emtblife #ebike #ebikes #mountainbiking #mountainbike #bike

Would you ride this vertical wall? It's only about 6 feet of actual vertical face with a short roll-in and very quick transition at the bottom. It's over quickly, but it gets the blood pumping. #mountainbike #mountainbiking #loamwolf #mtb Get your Loam Wolf gear here: https://store.theloamwolf.com ------------------------------------ FOLLOW US Website: https://www.theloamwolf.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theloamwolf/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theloamwolf