2015 Dartmoor Hornet Review

This is an update to the older review of this frame by Tom Parker for the 2013 Dartmoor Hornet. - https://www.pinkbike.com/u/parker455/blog/Dartmoor-Hornet-2013-Review.html

Dartmoor Hornet

Price €219 (26bikes.com)
-£155 (As of 10/3/15)

Material: Aluminium

Sizes: 16/18

Size tested: 16

Wheelsize: 26"/27.5"

Headtube: Tapered

The Dartmoor Hornet is the latest revamp to the Dartmoor lineup for 2015 having changed its design from the previous years with a new BB shell and better paintwork and the addition of 650b wheels. Dartmoor proclaims this frame to slot into the Freeride/All mountain category, which follows suit of their other frames as each fits into a different section of bike disciplines. The hornet comes in at a phenomenal £155 (as of 10/3/15) which compared to it’s competitors is a no brainer, seriously good price frontier that caps the competition completely. If you’re looking to build a pro spec bike at a budget price, look no further than the Dartmoor Hornet.



I tested the 16” version of the frame, which has a much lower standover height than the 18", making my model more suited to freeride/downhill use. I used a 160mm Marzocchi 350cr fork on mine along with 780mm Easton Havoc Bars and a 50 mm, 0 rise stem, with zero stack Dartmoor Blink Headset. I also used a 650b wheelset (however, it works well with 26" wheels also) the addition of the bigger wheelsize makes the Hornet a very very fast bike, up and down and is very nimble and playful.


The build quality of the frame is unreal for the price you pay. Dartmoor has focused upon minor details such as the rear wishbones and the rear dropouts, making them differentiate from the other frames found on the market whilst remaining at a high quality level, especially within the welds on the tubing’s joints. The hydroformed downtube and shapes of the tubing in the rear end also define what Dartmoor are about, innovation and new designs. Paint wise the Hornet comes in three colours; Black, Petrol (mine) and Red, each with a solid layer of paint, I have had no issues with paint chips or wear.

As an aluminium frame, we expected this to be stiff and rigid, which it is. There’s no noticeable flex within the frame and holds well when climbing hills. Alongside the insane build quality, as a hardtail its hassle-free maintenance following our favorite motto of ‘Fit it, forget it’. As a ride it’s extremely fast making it perfect for all types of riding and competitions.



If you’re a hardcore hardtail fan this is the frame for you. Out in the street/trails it turns eyes and stands out within a crowd of cyclists. I have seen an increase in popularity of these frames this year, and urge you to purchase one from you’re local dealer (Voidbikeshop/Slam69 in the UK or 26bikes which ship worldwide, for a cheap cost. The price point, build quality and geometry make this frame a must have.

http://26bikes.com/shop/parts/frames/enduro-all-mountain/prod/dartmoor-hornet-15

http://dartmoor-bikes.com/hardware/frames/hornet