FINAL VERDICT

This is proving to be a tough year for bike manufacturers, who are being cost-squeezed from tons of different directions. Big global brands, in particular, are struggling to stay competitive at lower price points. But this test proves that, if you pick right, you can still get a better bike for £1,000 than you could last year.

Unfortunately for VooDoo, we’d struggle to recommend the Canzo to anyone, unless they already have a decent 140mm fork and a spare set of tyres. Diamondback’s Heist 3.0+ is a bit confused too. The parts are excellent value, it’s great to get a dropper, and the plus tyres and 120mm fork suggest it’s going to be a real fun finder. Its short-reach frame and long stem give it more of a pedestrian persona on the trail, though. Jamis’s Dakar A2 isn’t fashionably stretchedout either, and the QR fork is a future upgrade fail, but its suspension and handling balance gives it an enjoyable, skill-flattering character on singletrack or intermediate trails. Saving up the extra £350 for the A1 would definitely be worth it, though.

Hardtails will always be harder to pilot on tough terrain than a competent full-suspension bike, and the Boardman MHT 8.9 is definitely firm rather than forgiving. But that stiffness and its almost race-ready weight deliver blistering speed that it carries through technical sections surprisingly well. Its contact point feedback, handling accuracy, brakes and gears are a class above the other bikes here too, creating a viscerally-rewarding ride at a bargain price.