Saracen Ariel 30 Pro
With a geometry chart that could have been pulled from one of the more radical enduro bikes in this test – including a 65-degree head angle and 505mm reach (large) – it’s no surprise that if you point the 130mm-travel Ariel 30 in a straight line downhill it goes at warp speed. Likewise, we found ourselves dropping into the steepest, most technical tracks with no hesitation. With plenty of support through the rear suspension, it works surprisingly well for popping and jumping around, too. And, as long as you’ve got your weight well over the front wheel, it can twist and turn through the trees just fine. The requirement to have your weight further forward than normal can become tiring on the longest tracks and days, however, when picking up and placing the long front end becomes more of a chore.
It’s on rough tracks that the Ariel loses ground to some of its rivals. We never managed to get the rear end tracking the ground quite as smoothly as we did with other bikes, leading to a more frenetic ride over repeated rocks and matted roots. The Saracen just didn’t feel as composed as the best bikes in its class, especially when on the brakes.
We do like how the Ariel 30 climbs, though. There little in the way of pedal bob, so it feels nice and efficient on longer drags. The roomy front end gives you plenty of space to shift your bodyweight around, making it easier to negotiate technical climbs, boosted by the grippy Maxxis Minion DHR II tyres fitted front and rear on wide DT Swiss XM 421 rims.
While it’s the cheapest bike in this test, you might not guess that from the spec. Saracen have picked a great set of parts for the Ariel 30, including a mixed Shimano XT/SLX/ Deore drivetrain and four-pot brakes, plus great Performance Elite-level suspension from Fox front and rear. The fork is ‘only’ a 34, not a burlier 36, but on the trails where this bike excels, and with travel limited to 130mm, the 34mm-diameter stanchions don’t twist and twang too much. That said, if you pinball down a rocky chute, you may not find it so well-mannered. An 820mm bar and 50mm stem from Race Face give plenty of leverage and lend the steering a snappy feel
If you like the sound of the Saracen but the fairly out-there geometry scares you, consider sizing down. Tom opted for the large, because that’s what he usually rides from other brands, but would have been happy riding the medium on the vast majority of our test tracks.