Best known for championing and modernising the high-pivot suspension layout, Deviate has established itself with a neat range of mountain bikes, having introduced its first e-MTB, the Kugan, earlier in the year. Before now, the brand specialised in customisable builds that centred around frame-only sales, but the next evolution of Deviate introduces a range of full builds.
- Deviate Highlander II Pro Build 0 – High pivot goodness meets all-round radness
- Built for enduro with a powerful Bosch motor, Deviate brings high-pivot prowess to the Kurgan, its first ever electric mountain bike
- Additive manufacturing spells new grounds for Deviate Cycles
Deviate’s lineup is now built up of three bikes, the Claymore, Highlander II, and Kurgan, built for enduro, trail, and e-MTB, respectively. All use Deviate’s characteristic high-pivot suspension layout that’s credited to the bikes’ lack of pedal kickback and known smoothness when descending. There are also grease injection ports, the under-top tube Cable Gutter system, and UDH hangers across the board.
Each of the bikes is offered in two builds and a frame only, so the option to build up a Deviate from scratch is still possible. Making things simple is that each bike follows a similar model formula, in that there’s a ‘Factory’ build and an ‘Elite’ build – fans of Fox suspension will have already caught onto what’s going on here.
Factory model bikes boast Fox Factory suspension with the Kurgan rocking a 38 GRIP X2 fork and DHX2 Factory coil shock. There’s then a Shimano XTR/XT Di2 drivetrain, OneUp Components hubs on Reserve rims, Shimano XTR brakes, and Continental Kryptotal DH Supersoft tyres.
As you might expect, the Elite model downgrades its suspension to Performance Elite models, uses a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain, XT brakes, and DT Swiss hoops wrapped with the very same tyres as the Factory bike.
The Kurgan Factory will set you back £10,000, while the Kurgan Elite is £8,000.
It’s then a near-identical story with the Claymore and Highlander, spec-wise. The Claymore Factory gets Fox Factory suspension with a 38 up front and X2 at the rear, Shimano XT/XTR Di2 shifting, XTR brakes, and OneUp hubs on Reserve rims. The Highlander II gets a Fox 36 Factory.
The Elite builds, again, downgrade to Performance Elite Fox suspension, Shimano Deore 12-speed shifting, XT brakes, and DT Swiss wheels.
Factory builds of the Claymore and Highlander are set at £7,000, while Elite builds are £5,000. Of course, these bikes are available as frame onlys with prices at £3,300.
