$1599
34.7 pounds
5 inches of rear wheel travel
Brodie, (604) 325-2033
Full test: December 2007(Click here to order this issue)

Highlights: Brodie is a bicycle company based in Vancouver, Canada. Since their beginning 20 years ago, they have remained true to their local roots, catering to the North Shore with good pricing and awesome, one-on-one customer service. Lucky for them, North-Shore-style riding has spread around the globe. Brodie's focus on the local scene has now in turn earned them worldwide respect.

Best quote: "We immediately noticed that our test Brodie Rite did not have a "licensed from Specialized" sticker on the chainstay. That's because bikes that are sold in Canada do not have to license the Four Bar technology from Specialized. Unfortunately, if you buy the Brodie Rite from a U.S.-based dealer, it will have faux-bar linkage (the dropout pivot at the top instead of the bottom of the dropout.) This setup can cause the suspension to lock up over braking bumps and not to hook up as well under full climbing power."

Bottom line: Brodie's Rite isn't about being the first one up the hill. It's about enjoying the mountain. The amount of thought that Brodie put into the Rite's design belies it's entry-level price. Other than the stock tires, there is not one other cost-cutting measure that will affect the Rite's ability to conquer the outback. It's a bike that's efficient enough to use for exploring local trails and tough enough to occasionally attack the ski slopes. If that's you, the Brodie Rite is a value that's hard to pass up. Just be sure to get the Canadian version.