Reactor 290 Carbon ST

On smoother singletrack, faster-rolling tires and lighter builds show up clearly, and that's what this score reflects. Against more utility-focused bikes, this build is shaped by 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.

Overall on climbs: 7.9/10. Within Mountain bikes, this comes out above average. On climbs, the lowest gear feels very easy. That lowest gear comes out around 17.4 gear inches. On the ‘easier low gear’ scale, it sits around ~58% versus similar bikes. 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. Different builds can shift the feel a bit, and some manufacturer specs aren’t always publicly listed, so consider this a helpful direction.

Suspension: 7/10, classed as “High-impact ready”. That usually means it’s built for harder hits and rougher trails with steadier wheel tracking. With suspension in the front and rear, the bike can stay more settled through repeated bumps. It prioritizes stability at speed on rough ground. This level is meant to keep the bike composed when hits are bigger and frequent. Travel is how far the suspension can move when it hits a bump — here it’s about 140 mm up front. As a rule of thumb, more travel gives more headroom for bigger impacts.

Sporty fit - a performance-leaning position that encourages speed. You get this posture because the bar sits about 88 mm below the saddle (a large drop), and you'll be stretched forward about 652 mm in total (extreme). You'll likely be near 35 degrees of lean.

In Mountain, Overall, it is Moderately Adjustable. A modular front-end gives more freedom to change stem length or bar width, and Internal cable routing can slow down fit-related part changes.

Ride comfort is 7.9/10 — on a real ride it feels very smooth. It’s tagged Balanced for Trail — it feels very smooth overall, but it’s on the firmer end compared with the plushest Trail builds. The posture is forward, attacking (posture 8/10, torso ~35°), which puts you in an attack stance, which can feel more intense on long, rough descents.

You’re paying a big premium here versus similar builds. 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 46% above what similar builds typically cost. In its peer group, it’s one of the pricier listings, beating only about 24% of them. To anchor it: price €6.615 versus an estimated €4.538 for a similar build. Put simply: it’s priced more like a premium pick than a value buy.

This bike is built for everyday trails with a mix of roots, rocks, and turns. It has about 125 mm of suspension travel (how much it absorbs bumps), which works well for everyday trails. The Full setup supports this riding style.