Alpine 160 26 RS - 2015

Our big mountain 160 mm travel chassis gets an overhaul. With 'best-in-class' plaudits from all directions for the last version of the Alpine 160, we had to be sure not to take anything away from that magic formula. After a long development period and lots of careful design tweaks, the feedback from our test riders says we've got it right.

The redesigned frame set sheds two thirds of a pound (or 0.3 of a kilo if you're that way inclined). The pivot point has been tweaked to make the rear suspension more active with newer platform shocks, plus we've added touches like the 142 x 12 rear axle drop-outs, and we've brought back the shock-slider for the geometry adjustment boffins. All in all it adds up to the best handling, best climbing Alpine 160 to date.

As far as that old wheel size debate goes, when it come to tight, steep, gnarly and rough; 26 inch wheels with a burly tyre have never let us down, and that's not about to happen. While it's fashionable to assert all the pros and cons of various wheel sizes, sometimes you just need to get on and ride, and that's exactly what this bike is about, no-nonsense ride-ability in the most challenging of situations. Whatever the size of your round things.

Still no slouch on the climbs. Still the bike that will find traction where others fail and spin you to the top of technical climbs with ease. In the most literal sense of the term, the Alpine 160 is a mountain bike, built for anything.