CARRERA TITAN X
£800* Is this super-cheap full-sus too good to be true?
When Halfords told us they were developing a full-suspension trail bike with 12-speed gearing and a dropper post for under a grand, we were intrigued. Since release, they’ve dropped the price even lower, to £800, and they say it’ll remain at that price for the foreseeable future. The budget full-sus bike to beat has long been the Calibre Bossnut, but that now costs £1,105 and lacks a dropper. On paper then, the Titan X looks astonishing value. But mountain bikes are more than the sum of their parts, so can this new entrant be the new one-grand grand master?
The frame
The Titan X has 130mm of suspension travel at both ends, controlled by a RockShox Recon RL fork and Monarch R shock, which serve up fantastic suppleness for the money. They’re both air-sprung, so can be easily adjusted to suit di erent rider weights. You can also tweak the rebound damping. The fork has a lockout dial so you can firm it up for more e cient climbing, while the rear shock remains active.
It’s not the most refined-looking frame, in terms of welds and cablerouting, and the rear hub is secured with a 10x135mm quick-release skewer rather than a sti er throughaxle. This isn’t a deal-breaker on the trail, but will limit your wheel upgrade options down the line, as will the non-Boost fork.
The Titan X is available in only three sizes. All sport a 67-degree head angle and 73.5-degree e ective seat angle, and come with a 45mm stem. According to Halfords, the large frame we tested should fit riders from 180cm to 190cm (5ft 11in to 6ft 3in) tall. It has a fairly short 442mm reach and 603mm top tube, combined with a long-ish 480mm seat tube. For comparison, the 2020 Bossnut has the same seat tube length (so should fit riders of a similar height), but the reach and top tube are around 20mm longer, and the head angle is a degree slacker. Calibre recommend that riders over 183cm size up to their XL frame, which has a reach of 476mm.
The kit
For the price, the parts list is stellar. You get SRAM’s SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, complete with an 11-50t cassette that has plenty of range for steep climbs and fast descents, plus their proven X-SYNC 2 chainring design, to keep the chain on track. The TranzX dropper post provides 125mm of drop and has a neat and ergonomic under-bar remote. Shimano’s MT200 hydraulic disc brakes o er enough power for onefinger braking and are consistent (if slightly abrupt) in terms of lever feel. The 740mm handlebar could be wider and the WTB Trail Boss tyres aren’t very grippy, but otherwise there’s little to complain about.
The ride
At 190cm tall, Halfords assured us that the large size would fit. But with an inseam of 93cm, we could barely get the saddle high enough, even with the post at the minimum insertion mark. This didn’t make the bike unridable, but suggests that, despite what the size guide says, it isn’t a good fit for taller riders.
Although a little cramped, the Titan X goes uphill better than you might think. It has high enough gears to let you sit and spin up all but the steepest climbs, and the rear suspension is surprisingly active under power, making it comfortable and e cient to pedal over rough terrain. Compared to the hardtails we usually review at this price, this reduces the need to get up out of the saddle for every bump; the suspension deals with small hits without bouncing the rider around and maintains momentum far better. On weathered trail-centre climbs and traverses, this greatly
reduces the rider e ort required. The WTB tyres roll fast too, so despite its 650b wheels and 15.8kg weight, the bike covers ground well. However, suspension bob under pedalling, especially when out of the saddle, makes it less e cient on smooth terrain and unresponsive to sprinting e orts.
On the descents, the fork and shock deal with small bumps well for a bike of this price, o ering a considerable advantage in terms of comfort and grip over a similarly-priced hardtail. The suspension isn’t too mushy either, so there’s plenty of support when pushing into a berm or jump. That dropper post is another trump card, improving flow on rolling terrain and letting you ride sketchy sections without a high saddle attempting to nudge you over the bars. Even on sustained steep sections, the brakes o er reassuring power and consistency.
The WTB Trail Boss tyres aren’t well-suited to typical UK conditions, with little cornering bite, especially in soft or muddy terrain, which makes it di cult to lean the bike into corners with authority. However, our main issue with the Titan X is that it’s simply too short. This is partly because Carrera have tried to make three sizes fit riders from 165cm to 190cm, so those at the extremes are poorly served, and partly because the geometry is behind the curve.
Our large size had a wheelbase of 1,180mm, which is a similar length to many brands’ small frames. That makes it feel cramped and twitchy, especially for taller riders. At 190cm, we found this was the primary limiter of the bike’s capabilities. It forced us to ride o the back when descending, pick lines carefully and corner conservatively to avoid wild and unpredictable moments. Shorter riders could mitigate this by ignoring the sizing guidelines and finding the biggest frame they can fit on, but the seat tube lengths will limit how far you can go with this.
The Titan X boasts stunning parts and impressive suspension for the price, but whether it’s right for you depends largely on how it fits. Its main rival, the Calibre Bossnut, is usefully longer per size, and has an XL option. For this reason, we’d still recommend it for riders over 185cm. The Bossnut’s extra reach and slacker head angle ultimately make it better for shorter riders too, but with the Titan X currently selling for £300 less, it’s a compelling option if it fits you and you’re on a tight budget.
If the limited sizing works for you, the Titan X is an absolute bargain (if not, it’s a false economy)