Arktos | 120 – Shimano XT

For MTB speed, tire choice and rolling resistance matter a lot, and that's baked into the score. It ends up here thanks to typical trail-width tires, wheel momentum that helps it carry speed between pedal strokes, and a solid drivetrain that supports efficient riding. When you're pedaling, the tire setup is biased toward rolling speed on firm ground.

If your rides include hills, it rates 7.0/10 for climbing. Within Mountain bikes, this comes out above average. On climbs, the lowest gear feels easy. The easiest gear works out to about 18.2 gear inches. Compared with similar bikes, this low gear is easier than about ~36% of them. Gear inches is basically “how easy is the easiest gear”. Lower numbers help you keep your legs spinning on steep bits. It’s set up so climbs feel controlled rather than a grind. Build kits can differ by size and spec level, and not every detail is published by every brand, so use this as a practical guideline.

Suspension setup comes out at 8/10 — “High-impact ready”. It’s designed to stay composed through rough sections and repeated hits. With suspension in the front and rear, the bike can stay more settled through repeated bumps. Suspension measurements aren’t always listed consistently, so this description uses the suspension layout and common setups for this type of bike. This is meant for rougher terrain where repeated impacts demand stable wheel tracking.

Comfort fit - less tuck and easier on neck and shoulders. This is an estimate; exact fit varies by spacers and rider setup.

What affects adjustability on this bike: Standard cockpit parts make it simpler to fine-tune your position over time, Routing is relatively straightforward, which helps when you change cockpit parts - Having a dropper increases how adaptable the bike feels in different situations. Overall, it falls into Adjustable.

Comfort comes out to 8.1/10, which usually translates to a highly forgiving ride. That’s why it’s labeled Race-Stiff. The posture is neutral (posture 5/10), which keeps it balanced — not overly aggressive, not overly relaxed.

Against comparable bikes, this comes out looking overpriced. 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). On the spec comparison, it sits roughly 32% above what similar builds typically cost. Compared with similar bikes, it trends a little expensive (cheaper than about 33% of listings). To anchor it: price €6.499 versus an estimated €4.927 for a similar build. Overall, you can likely find better value elsewhere.

This bike is built for rougher, more technical trails where control matters. It has about 152 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which helps on rough, technical trails. Suspension type (Full) fits this kind of terrain.