Saracen has released its new Myst downhill bike with a redesigned frame that places the rear shock lower in the frame.
Two bikes are available at launch, with the range-topping Myst Team priced at £5,499.99 and featuring full Fox Factory suspension, while the Myst Pro has a more wallet-friendly spec list and comes priced at £3,599.99.
As with the previous Myst, there's also a frameset option priced at £2,199.99, which comes with a Fox DHX2 Factory shock.
Saracen offers the bike in three reach measurements instead of sizes, with the largest being 505mm and the smallest 455mm.
Lower centre of gravity
The new Myst is made from Saracen’s Series 3 custom-butted and hydroformed 6013 alloy, with both bikes using the same frame.
A complete linkage overhaul sees the Myst using a shock tunnel through the seat tube to enable the rear shock to be placed closer to the bottom bracket.
Saracen says this has moved the bike's centre of gravity more than 100mm lower and further back than the previous generation.
The rear end now provides 211mm of suspension, up from 203mm on the previous design, while the front continues to be supported by a 200mm fork.
The British brand says it has also integrated a floating brake tune into the seatstay and rocker linkage, increasing braking performance on rough terrain.
Oversized and fully sealed bearings are used in all pivot locations. These are said to support the forces required for racing and ensure a long lifespan.
The redesign sees a third triangle added on top of the Myst frame, with a strengthening tube helping to support a seriously slack seat tube.
Saracen says all these refinements make the new Myst the fastest downhill bike the brand has ever made – although it doesn't quantify this claim.
Frame protection
At the top of the of the down tube, there are integrated fork bump-stops to protect the stanchions from making contact with your frame.
Internal cable routing enters the frame through the front of the head tube, making for a clean cockpit without the consequences of internal headset cable routing.
There's a full-length chain protector on the driveside chainstay, which should not only keep the paint chip-free but also quieten the drivetrain on rough terrain.
As with the previous generation, the downhill bike runs on a mullet setup, with the front using a 29in wheel and the rear 27.5in.
It also looks as if Saracen has killed off its Myst Al, signaling that the days of 27.5in park bikes might be behind us.
Gravity-focused geometry
Saracen offers the bike in three sizes, with the smallest having a reach measurement of 455mm, the medium 485mm and the large 505mm.
These reach measurements measure up similar to the previous model, with only the middle-sized bike 5mm longer.
Specialized uses a similar sizing philosophy for its gravity-inspired bikes, deciding reach is a more important figure when choosing a bike for this discipline.
The new Myst has a 63-degree head angle and an effective seat tube angle of 76.5 degrees.
Chainstay lengths remain the same through all sizes at 450mm.
Saracen Myst specification and price details
Saracen Myst Pro
- Price: £3,599.99
- Fork: RockShox Boxxer Select RC, 200mm
- Shock: Marzocchi Bomber CR
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX DH 7-speed
- Brakes: Shimano M520
- Wheels: Race Face Arc (rims), Formula (hubs)
- Tyres: Maxxis DHR II Maxxgrip DH 2.4
Saracen Myst Team
- Price: £5,499.99
- Fork: Fox Factory 40, 200mm
- Shock: Fox DHX2 Factory
- Drivetrain: Shimano Saint 10-speed
- Brakes: Shimano Saint M820
- Wheels: DT Swiss FR541 (rims), KT (hubs)
- Tyres: Maxxis DHR II Maxxgrip DH 2.4
