Saracen Ariel 60 Pro long-term review – initial report

Saracen’s Ariel 60 Pro is a big-travel 160mm enduro bike that descends like its hair is on fire and helps you climb back to the trailhead with ease.

I jumped on my friend’s Ariel 60 with a similar size, spec and setup a few years back. It felt explosive, fast, nimble and playful, and I didn’t want to put it down.

When it came to choosing my first long-term bike, my train of thought was that the latest Ariel 60 would be similar – and for the most part it is.

Its geometry and travel make it well suited to long days in the saddle, while its steep seat tube angle boosts comfort and uphill climbing prowess.

I’m looking forward to sending this thing as high and far as possible, and it could be the most fun way to lose weight.

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro frame, suspension and specifications

Its front triangle and swingarm are made from custom-butted and hydroformed 6013 alloy to create a robust but frill-free enduro-ready frame.

It has bottle-boss mounts inside the frame, and cables are routed internally via ports in the down tube.

This particular model runs a mixed-wheel setup, with 27.5in rear and 29in front hoops.

The linkage-driven single-pivot suspension system has 160mm of travel, damped by Fox’s Float X2 air shock.

Spec-wise, you get a lot of bike for your money.

Up-front, there’s a Fox 38 Performance Elite fork with 160mm of travel. This uses the top-spec and ultra-adjustable GRIP2 damper.

The Atlas bar and Chester stem are supplied by Canadian brand Race Face.

Keeping branded products at the forefront of this bargain build are ODI grips and DT Swiss rims, wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHR II tyres.

There’s also a KS Rage 1 dropper post that has 170mm drop on my size-medium bike – giving the spec a premium feel.

Shimano’s renowned four-piston SLX brakes clamp 203mm rotors and there’s a Shimano 1x12 drivetrain. This uses an SLX/XT mix.

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro specifications

• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Frame: Series 3 custom-butted and hydroformed 6013 alloy
• Fork: Fox 38 Performance Elite
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Performance
• Crankset: Shimano SLX
• Cassette: Shimano SLX
• Chain: KMC X12
• Derailleurs: Shimano XT
• Shifters: Shimano SLX
• Brakes: Shimano
• Stem: Race Face Chester
• Bar: Race Face Atlas 35
• Grips: ODI Elite
• Headset: Prestine
• Saddle: Saracen Custom
• Seatpost: KS Rage
• Wheelset: DT Swiss
• Tyres: Maxxis Minion (29" / 27.5")

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro geometry

The Saracen Ariel in a size medium has a head tube angle of 64.6 degrees and a seat tube angle of 76.5 degrees. The relatively steep seat angle should help it climb well while seated.

The head angle is very similar to other enduro bikes with the same amount of travel; it should be steep enough to be manoeuvrable, but laid back enough to give you confidence in the corners and faster sections.

Compared to my previous bike, a 2017 Trek Remedy, the Saracen is longer, lower and slacker, which I'm certainly a fan of. I’m expecting the bike to be fast, fun and responsive while descending, but cool, calm and collected on the climbs.

Why did I choose this bike?

When I rode my friend’s Ariel 60 from 2018, it rode explosively and I found myself hoping and popping around the car park while waiting for the uplift.

I wanted to replicate those feelings with my long-term bike, so going for the same model seemed like a no-brainer. Despite some spec changes – a move to mixed wheels from 29in front and rear – it feels just as good.

My hope is that the more I ride the Ariel 60, the more it will reveal its fun-loving, speed-chasing ‘jib-whippet’ side.

Saracen also seems to have its sizing dialled. I'm riding a medium (the size recommended for me) and I'm not struggling to reach the bar. The dropper post is the perfect size to boost comfort and pedalling efficiency.

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro initial setup

I've had the bike less than a month and it's still completely stock – the base spec is a great starting point.

Because it’s running mixed wheels, the flip chip in the seatstay has been set to preserve the poppy geometry.

I’m running 40mm of spacers under the stem to lift the bar up.

When it comes to suspension, I’m running a relatively stiff setup, primarily because I have a larger body, but also because I come from a dirt jump rather than racing background.

I like a stiff-feeling bike, so I have 90psi in the fork. The rear shock is set up with 195psi and no volume spacers.

My rebound has been set to roughly the midway point, which feels like the best of both worlds, and I don’t have to worry about getting bucked over the front of the bike.

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro ride impressions

Straight off the bat, riding the Ariel feels like seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time – as if nothing has changed.

I didn't have to re-learn how to ride it – it was just as much fun and all the characteristics were the same. It’s the kind of bike you can just jump on and ride.

My first runs on the Ariel affirmed my expectations; it’s an absolute blast, flowing over rollers and clearing jumps with ease, maintaining speed while still feeling supportive and giving tons of feedback.

You know when you can push and when you should let off a bit. It's easy to manoeuvre, enabling you to throw some shapes.

It’s a thrill-seeking missile; it picks up speed quickly and maintains that speed with minimal effort.

Make a mistake and it’s painless to recover your speed thanks to a generous amount of suspension that brushes off big hits and flat landings comfortably.

Climbing is one of my least favourite things about riding bikes. I begrudge riding up a small, mellow hill on an electric mountain bike, let alone riding a pedal bike with 160mm of travel up the sort of climb an XC enthusiast would wince at.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. The suspension platform allows for minimal bobbing, which made slogging my carcass to the top of the hill much easier.

The ‘firm’ switch on the shock boosts this further, turning ascending into an almost joyous experience. Paired with the wide-ranging 12-speed Shimano cassette, riding uphill has become something I don’t utterly dread.

I’m still buzzing from my initial rides, so I don’t have many negative things to say about this bike, but the dropper post has proven to be unreliable.

Numerous times, I’ve had to manually extend it while pushing the lever, after it got stuck in the compressed position.

I’m going to speak to Saracen to work out a fix and will report back.

Saracen Ariel 60 Pro upgrades

I don’t have any specific components in my upgrade sights just yet, but I don’t want anything carbon.

I have an irrational fear of carbon components snapping and splintering. Although this has never happened to me directly, I feel as though I can’t ride as hard out of fear of snapping an expensive component.

Misplaced fears aside, I’d like to look at getting a higher-rise bar – something around 50mm – to get rid of some of the steerer spacers while preserving the same height.

I’m also looking to get some brakes with more bite. While the Deores are fine, I’d like a bit more power straightaway and less modulation. It might sound strange that I want less rather than more modulation, but the way the brakes feel doesn't fill me with much confidence.

The final thing I would look to change or upgrade on the bike would be the tyres, for a stiffer casing.

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