Presented as a cross-country bike, the Remix has a superficially puzzling long fork and slack head angle. But it turns out to be a hard-hitting, singletrack-loving, middleweight trail bike that goes up hills better than most bikes bearing the ‘all-mountain’ label.
You might call this an all-mountain bike, but the goalposts have shifted, especially in Remix's Canadian home trails. It’s become obvious in the past few years that many Canadian cross-country riders demand nearly as much slam-dunking trail performance as do freeriders.
Ride & handling: singletrack flier that's smooth in big & small bumps
The Remix may have lots of travel for a cross-country bike but the only time it feels odd is if you lock out the fork for climbs. A lock-down (travel-reduced) fork would be better as it would steepen the head angle.
We preferred to climb standing up with the fork plush, because the resulting 30-40mm of sag steepens the head angle and adds agility.
The long fork is a blessing elsewhere, and the relaxed head angle and fairly low bottom bracket ensure that fast bumpy descents are a real joy.
The bike is at its best with the fork and shock set up soft. The Pro Pedal lever prevents the back end from wallowing on climbs. The axle path and shock’s compression curve make for a super-smooth ride on the pittery-pattery stuff, but can still absorb big hits without things getting out of shape.
The sub-28lb weight means it’s never a pig on the climbs, and handling is generally superb through demanding twisty singletrack.
Chassis: purposefully shaped tubes, efficient four-bar suspension
The Remix SL4 Optimum X2 tubes are essentially heat-treated 6061 aluminium. Every tube is purposefully shaped to score the right mix of high strength and low weight.
The top tube has lots of standover room, and is braced across to the seat tube into the shock rocker pivot. The head tube is ring reinforced, and the biaxially configured – almost box section – down tube has room for a single water bottle.
The four-bar linkage rear suspension set-up pivots just below the middle chainring. Its initially rearward-arcing axle path works with the rocker-driven Fox RP2 shock to create a suspension feel that’s very plush over even the tiniest bumps, without ever obviously becoming less than efficient when subjected to aggressive pedalling.
Mud room is good, and the 140mm Fox Float RL fork comes with the compression lockout lever and rebound damping dial on top of the right-hand leg.
Equipment: smart mix with light wheels
The Remix offers a nicely thought-out component mix including a Shimano XTR rear mech, with LX up front and LX shifters and brakes. The cranks are Race Face Evolve cross-country, there’s an FSA stem plus own-brand ‘Daredevil’ bars, seat post and saddle.
The wheels use DT Swiss hubs, spokes and X455 rims, keeping the spinning weight low, and the Maxxis Ignitor Expedition Series 2.1in treads roll fast and grip well.
Verdict: great value downhill-capable all-rounder
Because importer Freeborn sells direct, the Remix is superb value. It’s essentially a great cross-country trail bike that copes better than most when presented with high-speed downhills on raggedy terrain.
