You probably know Mythic better as Banshee, the bonkers Canadian freeride brand. Someone else has the rights to the Banshee name for bikes over here though, so Banshee has become Mythic in the UK.
Frame
This is a much lighter bike than you might expect
There is a payback to the sharp accuracy and direct drive sensation, and that comes with the first step down. We've no doubt that the frame could handle a serious drop (the Freeride version comes with Fox 36 forks) but even a fall of a couple of feet produces a proper wallop unless you land very smoothly.
The same rather savage back end trait shows up on every rock garden, crag section or root infestation too, as the back end kicks about. The low bottom bracket also causes regular toe stubbing on rough terrain. So, while it dances through smooth or well known singletrack beautifully, it's not a very forgiving partner when the trail tempo picks up.
You don't have to look far to find why. The head tube is 8mm thick, and while the square headed Easton tubing keeps weight low, it's not exactly flexy. External detailing includes full length outer gear cabling and a forward facing seat tube slot that work to beat filth from tyres as they do in Canada. There's loads of room for much bigger 2.5in tyres too, which would definitely help cushion the rear end.
Ride
Up the first greasy climb and the short back end shows its brawn, chewing traction out of the trail. The ample top tube length gives easy breathing space, while blipping the 130mm Manitou IT (Infinite Travel) adjustment lever drops the fork to keep the nose down for steering grip
Push the pedals and there's a direct and decisive connection pushing you forward, thanks to the thick set chainstays and hewn from solid billet dropouts. Even if you haven't picked it up beforehand, you'll suddenly realise this is a much lighter bike than you might expect.
Equipment
The kit featured here is the 'Trail' full build option and we've no complaints about the majority of it. We'd definitely sacrifice some speed for fatter, more comfortable tyres, though. Such an accurate frame is gagging for 20mm thru axle forks as well, and it'll handle up to 7in of travel up front if you feel the need. But we're liking the oversized axle and fat locking faces of the front hub, and the £399 price is good for such a tough, well sorted Easton-based frame. You even get free touch-up paint and spare parts.
The bottom line is we really, really like this bike in a totally sorted, 'jump on and go nuts' sort of way. The Mythic's also massively strong if you're a big rider, or a rider who likes to go big at every opportunity. It's light and well shaped enough for day rides too, but even with bigger tyres, the whole frame is no comfort zone, so you'll need to watch your back on bigger rides or rougher trails.
A light yet still anvil tough hardtail straight from the insane Canadian trails. Easton pipes mix with bespoke thick wall head tube and reinforced stays for proper stiffness.
