Avanti Torrent CS 7.2 (2016)

Race-ready enduro bike with flawless kit

Pros

- Bombproof DT Swiss wheels
- Responsive frameset
- Race-ready right off the floor

Cons

- Non-Fox post doesn't use CTD remote

Review

The measure of a very good mountain bike is this: if you walked into a bike store, bought it and put your preferred set of pedals on it, could you race it the same day without any modifications? With the 2016 Avanti Torrent CS 7.2, the answer is a resounding "yes".

Despite its reasonable price point, there is nowhere on this all-mountain enduro machine that Avanti have cut corners.

From the front, the super-wide Easton 750mm bars and 35mm stem are quality components, and they sit above the Fox Racing 34 CTD fork. The rear suspension is courtesy of the Evolution CTD shock system - this front and rear combination operates in perfect harmony, providing a comfortable ride that's responsive to all types of terrain and keeps the tires glued to the trail. Speaking of tires, the 27.5-inch Kenda Honey Badger boots are gnarly enough to take you anywhere, but not so grippy that they make a habit of collecting unwanted layers of mud.

The tubeless-ready wheelset is from DT Swiss, with the crisp star ratchet rear hub mechanism: these wheels will stand up to some serious punishment and require very little maintenance.

The carbon frame is joined up with Avanti's patented independent linkage to a stiff aluminum swingarm. The die-cast top arms are bolted and seam-welded in place, which goes a long way toward eliminating any frame flex: the incredible rigidity of this frame ensures maximum handling precision and rider confidence. The solid feel of this bike makes it awesome fun to blast down steep descents, and also keeps it nimble on the climbs.

The Shimano SLX hydraulic disc brakes stop the bike in its tracks and the XT drivetrain, with a 2 x 10 setup at the back and a chain guide to keep things secure on the front, syncs nicely with the exceptionally stiff e.thirteen TRS+ crankset.

Adding to the overall stiffness and strength of the bike is the oversized Pressfit 30 bottom bracket, and the descending and climbing ability of the bike is enhanced by the inclusion of an X-Fusion HILO Strate dropper post. With a press of the bar-mounted lever the rider can raise or lower the saddle height to the perfect level for tackling tough climbs or heart-dropping downhills.

Finally, this bike has covered all the bases in terms of aesthetics - the lime green and black paintwork looks great, and the internal cable routing looks neat and streamlined.

If you're after a multi-purpose enduro bike that's ready to roll straight off the showroom floor then the Torrent CS 7.2 should be somewhere on your shopping list.