Taniwha

On smoother singletrack, faster-rolling tires and lighter builds show up clearly, and that's what this score reflects. Against lighter, narrower-tire builds, this build is shaped by a fairly average weight, wheel momentum that helps it carry speed between pedal strokes, relatively narrow MTB tires that roll quickly, and mid-size wheels that balance agility and momentum.

If your rides include hills, it rates 8.3/10 for climbing. Within Mountain bikes, it sits above average. It has an easy low gear for steady climbing. Your easiest gear lands around 18.9 gear inches. In its peer group, it lands around the easier ~21% for low-gear climbing. We use “gear inches” as a shortcut for climbing gearing. Lower numbers mean you can spin more easily when it gets steep. With about 14.4 kg to haul uphill, pacing matters more on longer grades. It’s set up so climbs feel controlled rather than a grind. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Suspension capability comes out at 5/10. Bucket: “Confident trail control”. It’s built for clear bump absorption and more reliable wheel control on mixed surfaces. The fork does the smoothing; the rear stays straightforward and efficient. This level helps keep traction when the surface is uneven and choppy. On choppy terrain, it can help the wheels track more consistently. This level usually brings more reliable wheel tracking on rough patches and repeated hits.

Balanced fit - a versatile position for long rides and faster efforts. This is mainly because there's about 90 mm of drop to the bars (large), with roughly 593 mm of forward stretch to the bar (very long). Estimated lean is about 36 degrees.

Overall, it falls into Adjustable. Fit adjustability is shaped by a few key choices: A modular front-end gives more freedom to change stem length or bar width, Cable routing is on the simpler side, which helps adjustability. Also, Standard sizing usually means more aftermarket options for dialing in fit.

This scores 6.2/10 for comfort, so it feels comfortable out on the road. That’s why it’s labeled Race-Stiff. It’s running about 57 mm tires on 27.5" wheels, and the big tires calm small hits and take the edge off trail chatter on roots, rocks, braking bumps, and repeated hits. The posture is forward, attacking (posture 7/10, torso ~36°), which puts you in an attack stance, which can feel more intense on long, rough descents.

This is the kind of deal people usually notice quickly. Value is scored 1–10: higher is better value, lower means you’re paying more than similar bikes. Uses MSRP as a baseline; real-world prices can be lower (discounts can change the value). Based on the parts list, it’s roughly 49% cheaper than what similar builds typically cost. In its peer group, it tends to be better-priced than many, beating about 82% of listings. To anchor it: price €899 versus an estimated €1.778 for a similar build. Bottom line: you’re getting a lot of bike for the money compared with typical options.

This setup is aimed at fast trail riding on less extreme terrain. It has about 100 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which suits smoother trails. Overall, the setup matches this surface range well.