Juliana

Joplin Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike - 2015

Going fast and saving money don't need to be mutually exclusive. Take the 2015 Juliana Joplin Carbon R Complete Mountain Bike. Its trail-smoothing 29-inch wheels, smart parts kit, lightweight carbon frame, and four inches of rear suspension travel all conspire into one of the fastest all-around bikes in Juliana's rapid lineup, yet it won't break the bank.

First thing's first: why step up to 29-inch wheels? They may be a bit heavier than traditional 26-inch wheels, which can make the bikes slightly less agile and slightly slower to accelerate, but once you've adjusted to them, they offer tremendous advantages, like lower approach and departure angles to roll over obstacles more easily, and increased contact patch length for greater traction in cornering and climbing. The greater inertia of the larger wheels maintains your momentum better, as well. To be fair, it took a few generations before most manufacturers could dial in the proper geometry to 29ers so that they didn't feel awkward on the trails, but the Joplin is an excellent example of it done right.

The Joplin's also a well-balanced bike, with agile handling and geometry that's slightly aggressive, but not so much so as to compromise its comfort in non-aggressive situations. It's as capable on the climbs or descents as you want it to be. A size Small is available, too, with a very low standover height, making the Joplin an exceptionally friendly 29er to shorter riders out there. Santa Cruz, Juliana's parent company, has long been established as masters in alloy formation, and the Joplin showcases this, as well. Hydroformed and butted tubes create a laterally stiff and responsive chassis, with a tapered head tube for accurate steering and threaded bottom bracket to keep maintenance down. The bottom line is a fast, stable machine that's as happy to race as it is to quietly cruise your favorite trails for an afternoon.

Santa Cruz and Juliana's revered VPP suspension platform can be blamed for much of the Joplin's overachieving performance, as well. Granting the Joplin 100mm of rear-wheel travel, the wheel doesn't simply bounce up and down — it's precisely guided by a dual linkage system that keeps the bike sharp and responsive under smaller bumps and trail chatter, so you don't have to endure dreaded pedal bobbing or suspension squat under power. When taking bigger hits, however, the rear wheel's travel path moves the wheel rearward, lengthening the bike's wheelbase for greater stability and harnessing your momentum in an arc that avoids square-edged bumps that would otherwise be jarring. All told, the Joplin is smooth and supple, yet taut enough to feel like the race machine it is.