BICYCLE MTB: Look 986 MTB

Look 986 MTB

Besides the fact that it’s a hardtail in an era of full-suspension, the most obvious departure of the 986 is its integrated seatpost. The seattube extents upward beyond the toptube/seatstay juncture, and is then cut to fit. The E-Post (the E stands for elastomer) then attaches to the frame and offers 3 centimeters of vertical adjustment with spacers. In addition to added stiffness, the elastomer bumpers are said to offer a bit of compliance and vibration dampening. The elastomer blocks come in three different durometers for varying levels of dampening. Once you measure and cut the seat mast, there’s no slamming the saddle all the way down to navigate steep, fearsome drops. But if you’re looking for a no-holds-barred XC speed machine to add to your stable of bikes, keep your eyes peeled for the new 986.

“One could argue that the carbon hardtail segment of the market is pretty small,” said Ming Tan, vice president of marketing at Look. “But we think the people who have ridden our road bikes will be interested in them.”