We previewed the latest full carbon enduro bike from the UK’s Saracen last fall with the unveiling of their complete 2018 off-road line-up. Now the trail shredding Ariel LT is shipping and we have more on its half alloy sibling, plus a sweet riding video.
Ariel LT full carbon 165mm enduro mountain bike
The Ariel LT is the new trail weapon from Saracen, adapting tech developed on their Myst DH bike. That gives the all new 27.5″ enduro sled a two-piece UD carbon linkage driving the piggy-back air shock in the bike’s 165mm of single pivot travel. It also lends an oversized headtube with an adjustable headset that lets riders tune +/- 5mm of reach in the frame.
The mixed 24T/40T/3K carbon blend of the front triangle pairs with a set of UD linkages and the Boost spaced UD rear end. The frame gets full internal routing, plus an internal Di2 battery holder, and a Shimano direct mount derailleur hanger.
The full carbon frame is available from Saracen dealers now, and comes in just a single complete bike build. At £5000 it is spec’ed with a 170mm Fox Factory fork & matching Float X2 shock, an XT 1x groupset with SLX shifters & cassette, and a direct mount MRP 1x guide.
Rolling stock is a 30mm internal DT Swiss M1900 wheelset and a pair each of 2.3″ Maxxis Minion DHR & DHF tires with custom tan walls. Rounding it out, the bike gets a ENVE carbon DH bar, JD dropper post, Kore Fuze II saddle, plus Saracen branded finishing kit.
Ariel Elite carbon/alloy 165mm enduro mountain bike
The more affordable Ariel Elite gets an unusual mix of carbon and alloy. Saracen chose to trickle down the full carbon rear end by mating it to an aluminum from triangle.
That means the £3300 Ariel Elite gets its own hydroformed & butted 6013 alloy front end mated to the same UD carbon linkages and UD swingarm. The bike gets the same 165mm frame travel paired to a 170mm fork, and shares all of the same geometry. It does however drop the adjustable headtube for a standard tapered internal headset. Otherwise details like Boost spacing, internal routing, a dropper post, and 1x drivetrain with a MRP chain guide all carry over.
The complete bike build pairs a RockShox Yari RC fork to a Performance-level Fox Float shock. It gets another Shimano 1x with a 11-46 cassette, here mostly SLX except for an XT rear mech. Wheels are Kore Realm rims on Formula hubs, wrapped in 2.3″ WTB Vigilante tires. It gets the same JD dropper post and Kore saddle, with a house brand alloy stem and bar.
