20 Short Travel Bikes of the British National 4x Series Round 1

Jun 3, 2021
by Nick Bentley  


UK National Series racing returns with 2 rounds of 4x at Harthill Adventure Park in Chester. We grabbed 20 bikes from the event to show you the wide range of bikes used in this highly accessible race format.

Dave Richardson s Specialised Enduro SX
Dave Richardson's Specialised Enduro SX

Josie McFall s Kona Process 134
Josie McFall's Kona Process 134

Hannah Escott s Yeti 4x
Hannah Escott's Yeti 4x

Max Corrigan s Kona Process 24 junior
Max Corrigan's Kona Process 24 junior

Nigel Page s Nukeproof Reactor
Nigel Page's Nukeproof Reactor

Isabella Leyshon s Trek Slash
Isabella Leyshon's Trek Slash

Olly Kirby s DMR Sect
Olly Kirby's DMR Sect

James Sankey s Yeti DJ
James Sankey's Yeti DJ

David Roberts Boardman Pro
David Roberts' Boardman Pro

Thomas Peel s YT Jeffsy Junior
Thomas Peel's YT Jeffsy Junior

Sophie Cade s NS
Sophie Cade's NS

Megan Kirby s GT
Megan Kirby's GT

Tyler Anderson s Nukeproof Snap
Tyler Anderson's Nukeproof Snap

Charles Currie s Trek Remedy
Charles Currie's Trek Remedy

Coby Wrayford s Nukeproof Cubscout 26
Coby Wrayford's Nukeproof Cubscout 26

Poppy-May Kirby s Rokkusuta Spawn
Poppy-May Kirby's Rokkusuta Spawn

Gabriel Martinez s Intense Tazer
Gabriel Martinez's Intense Tazer

Malvern Classics Si Paton s Atherton Commencal Titanium
Malvern Classics' Si Paton's Atherton Commencal Titanium

Dan Wagstaff s Trek Ticket
Dan Wagstaff's Trek Ticket

Rich Williams Yeti SB150
Rich Williams' Yeti SB150


Author Info:
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Member since Nov 28, 2019
245 articles

94 Comments
  • 105 1
 Make 4X great again! That was always so good to watch
  • 37 5
 Dual Slalom 4 life
  • 2 0
 Was just going to say that!
  • 7 0
 4X is probably fun to watch, but DS is way more fun to race! I really miss DS... 4X killed DS because it was easier for organizers to not need timing systems.
  • 54 7
 Hang on what? I thought 26" wheels and steeper head angles were illegal now and impossible to ride? Are these guys saying that you can ride a bike more than a few years old and it's still fun?
  • 41 4
 If what works in 4X is a good indicator, we should probably all go with hardtails, choose steel as a frame material and go singlespeed?
  • 14 1
 @FuzzyL: I'm down with that
  • 21 3
 @FuzzyL: who is downvoting this?

Must be e-bikers
  • 10 0
 Who told you you can't have fun? Where did the bad people touch you?
  • 7 0
 i own a 26er hardtail, built it myself with scraps from other bikes, just upgraded its fork to a 2009 totally rebuilt fox talas, it kills at my local 4x and pump tracks, one of the best investments i've done in MTB.
  • 2 0
 @FuzzyL: I'v been thinking the same thing lately. Sounds like a fun setup for my local trails.
  • 3 0
 you may be on to something. Don't let the pinkbike advertising team know about this general consensus though lol
  • 1 0
 @FuzzyL: you just described my main bike.
  • 2 0
 @spaced: A 29” poke right in my e-motor
  • 2 0
 @Narro2: Building wheels for my 26er with new-to-me Fox Talas...because A$$holes on PB buy/sell believe their dented, beat up Mavic Crossmax's from '06 are worth $350 and it should be a privilege for someone else to ride (rebuild) them
  • 4 0
 Shhh, the industry is listening. Talk like that will get you sent to the re-education camps.
  • 3 0
 @Narro2: I have a 2011 Supercross Shine. Put a smaller 9 speed cassette and a Bomber fork on it. Very light and nimble. Lots of fun at the pump track and out on the trails.
  • 30 1
 4X bikes are the sexiest bikes. Damn shame the Yeti 4X doesn't have the reach of the DJ. Would have been nice to see a Transition Double
  • 21 1
 That 12 speed cassette on the 24 inch bike. Lol
  • 6 1
 More cogs, more faster!
  • 23 6
 Further proof the industry NOT listening to what customers actually WANT. Not everyone wants or needs giant wagon wheels and ridiculous geometry.
  • 16 11
 Amen brother...! So nice to see REAL BIKES....that require REAL RIDERS to handle them. The gear is YOU, the bike is secondary. Work hard to get the skills and ride a truly capable bike. Not the other way around like the industry is trying to force feed us. Run with the big dogs...or stay on the porch!
  • 13 0
 4X is just a bit different than a trail ride. My dirt jumper dirt jumps, my trail bike trail rides. The only time paths crossed is when my DJ was down for the count and my trail bike had to be my pump track bike for a bit. If 4X was still as popular as it was 15-20 years ago, and I really wish it was, we would see more production bikes like these. The industry is making bikes for what 99% of the current cohort of riders are riding. The geo debate for bikes of a similar intended use are valid, but comparing this list to the current "industry" offerings is a bit of an apple to grapefruit scenario.
  • 10 0
 You do realize those are 4x bikes and no one wants big wheels and super slack geometry for 4x while probably most racers want wagon wheels and crazy geo because that's what works in a race environment.
  • 6 2
 @NikolaiB: using your logic the real bikers only ride unicycles and everyone else is a poser.
  • 8 1
 @fly4130: but...you see that’s the problem. You think everyone’s idea of a trail ride is the same. Not everyone wants /needs the same thing. That Specialized Enduro SX was the last best play bike they made. That’s what some of us want. No hate on other designs....but the industry completely ignores some of its core customers and aggressive riders.
  • 1 0
 @bikebike69: I don't think everyone's trail ride is the same, and stated as such. I agree that the geo debate over what a trail bike should be is a valid one. My ideal trail bike is closer to a 5010 than a long reach/long travel bike. Hell, its more hardtail than fully to boot. What I should have more directly said is a bike that is good at 4X racing will be a shitty trail bike. If you disagree, cool, but you are far from the norm and what the industry at large would and should cater from a business perspective. The Enduro is definitely an outlier here, and very cool for what it can do.. I would LOVE one of those Yeti 4x bikes, but taking for a trail ride would be for novelty purposes only.
  • 14 1
 Hell yeah, 4x bikes are still the sexiest ones! Always dreamed with Christiaan's bikes! take a look, this man has good taste! www.pinkbike.com/u/christiaan/album
  • 2 0
 Great dude too. Bought a boxxer off him ~11-12 years ago.
  • 13 0
 This may be the coolest bike check of 2021
  • 12 0
 Love it. Just proves 26 ain't dead!!
  • 3 0
 Yeah, its a good thing 4x is so popular these days.
  • 11 0
 More 4X!!
  • 5 0
 As any industry, the bike industry makes what sells. If 4X bikes were popular they wouldn't wanna miss out, they'd grab the chance and give those customers something to buy. Yes, they are constantly searching for the next big thing, but they're note shoving bikes down people's throats. What I see at my local (a city of 5.000.000 people, surrounded by 5 mountains with plenty of trails) is that people are buying XC bikes or the biggest, baddest enduro 29ers and almost nothing in between. The dirt jump crowd is thin and not spending as much money.
  • 2 1
 Do you ever need multiple DJ bikes though? I have multiple trail bikes, and want more. I cant imagine anyone buying more than one jumper or 4x bike even if they were the hardest of hardcore. They are cheaper, more durable and there are less changes year to year.
  • 4 0
 @RonSauce: There's a dude in the forums who has like 10 DJ bikes, he is my hero
  • 2 0
 @T4THH: sure, there are plenty of madmen loose on the planet, im speaking more from a marketing perspective.
  • 1 0
 @RonSauce: Ye, oh my I am also a madman hahaha. 2 DJ bikes to my name but I completely agree with you
  • 9 1
 YES PB! morer of this sort of thing! so Gutted i'm too old for 4X
  • 9 0
 Never too old! Paul Mounsley was racing at 76 (maybe 78?) something around that age anyway!
  • 3 0
 @Joebohobo: yeah, I used to be on a gate with him a while back. My last race was Chicky 2019 when Niel Harbour an Michael Snappy got tangled an Niel got KO'd, Hard! Went home in an ambulance! I'm strictly big fun after seeing that!
  • 5 0
 Yeti DJ - Hey Yeti bring it back for 2022 P.L.E.A.S.E. & thank you
Commencal Titanium 4x Frame - Take my money right now!

So great to see the "classics". An SX never gets boring to look at!

Thanks Pinkbike!
  • 8 2
 Are they kids racing on kids bikes or just people who can't get a SS or 4x bike?
  • 5 2
 I was looking for the bit where it said "British national 4X Junior series".
  • 7 2
 The bikes belong to people from different age groups, they haven't concentrated on just adults.
  • 6 0
 #4xrocks there were so many different bikes racing. and so many different wheel sizes. Bring any bike and come race 4x.
  • 5 0
 Such a good sport - you can have 24" dirt jump bike and a 29er full sus and anything between all in the same race!
  • 2 0
 Sounds like the masters b final on the Sunday! Trail bike 29er vs a 24in singlespeed hardtail.... There was a 27.5in trail bike and a 26 hardtail in there too!
  • 4 0
 Do these racers know you are allowed to swap out the dropper post and boat anchor gears for 4X? Like Nigel's Nukeproof for example.
  • 8 0
 Yeah, but I also like the "ride what you've got" attitude with this. Of course when 4X was an UCI WC event, riders were riding more and more specialized equipment. But the beauty here is that it doesn't matter that much. 4X may have lost the mainstream attention, but what it has regained is the fun/casual/wild vibe of the days when the DH riders would dabble in 4X racing too.
  • 6 0
 26 FTW
  • 4 0
 I love that the pinnacle of 4X technology/coolness is stuff made 10+ years ago. 4X still living in the golden age
  • 3 0
 "*Malvern Classics'* Si Paton"
A unique title for a legend of the UK scene, giving life to a bike that would otherwise be collecting dust in a museum or on a shop wall.
  • 1 0
 Museum??? I would LOVE that frame!! I would love it HARD.....
  • 2 0
 @nojzilla: I would probably maim myself on it and still be grinning from ear to ear, but it's the kind of bike "collectors" would hoard away like Gollum with the one ring.
  • 1 0
 @ROOTminus1: shouldn't be allowed! I bet that bike is a absolute rocket!
  • 2 0
 Yeah, I always loved that bike! I don't think after they left Commencal, Dan ever got a frame that special from a sponsor. Obviously now with Robotbike/Atherton they can do what they want, but I've yet to see their hardtail. I recall Dan mentioned that they were working on a titanium BMX though so I'm still excited about that one. But until then, I think this is the coolest frame they ever (publicly) got to ride.
  • 1 0
 delete
  • 1 0
 @JamesOliver: good point! This Argyle damper is sick. You can actually fit it in a Revelation 2015 to lighten the front of a bike
  • 3 0
 Cool to see an old Tazer. I sometimes miss the one I had, but I rarely rode it. Not much use for a DS/4X bike where I live.
  • 2 0
 Really need some 4x specific frames
Early 2000’s U could pick from many
These Frankenstein rides are neat But
Not 4x bikes. Come on bike companies
Develop some 4x specific frames
  • 5 0
 Not a very inclusive line up of bikes tbh, where are all the 4x e-bikes?
  • 8 1
 In the bin...where they belong.
  • 1 1
 @losidan: hahah what a banger!!
  • 2 0
 Gotta love the all the jankyness that goes on with 4X bikes. The types of bikes that you'd assemble in your garage with a box of spares and a dusty frame that has been dangling from the ceiling for a while.
  • 1 0
 oh so nice to see all these beautiful bikes! never was too much of a yeti fan, but just seeing these bikes with all the graves memories flying in is awesome. the snap was one of my favourite frames back then. 4X is love!
  • 4 0
 Those yetis are great....love the older models and colours
  • 4 0
 Funny with the odd SB150 in the mix...
  • 3 0
 Must be the dad’s bike
  • 4 0
 *GT La Bomba
  • 2 0
 SOOOOOO.....SICK!
  • 3 0
 TIL Nobby Nics are the Minions of 4X
  • 1 0
 Indeed, so many Nobby Nics!
What's going on there?

(especially as UK riders usually don't like Schwalbe tyres)
  • 3 0
 The yellow Nukeproof is sexy AF
  • 1 0
 4x is such great entertainment for spectators. I don't understand why it kinda died off here in NA. 1 of my favorite disciplines.
  • 2 0
 Kona process 134 top of the tree for me!! Switch the green to red and it’s a winner!!
  • 3 0
 Enduro SX last of the greats.
  • 2 0
 You missed Skinny Mick Easton`s (not so short travel bike) the SC Nomad.......I think he placed DID HE NOT??
  • 3 0
 This is better than enduro.
  • 1 0
 Interesting to see a YT Jeffsey on this list. I have a Jeffsey, and a frame that was intended for 4x racing. They are such wildly different rides.
  • 1 0
 Such rad bikes! Just got started this week on the replacement for my '12 Nukeproof Snap I sold a few years ago after an injury-layoff double whammy. Celebrating
  • 1 0
 I miss racing my 2009 Spesh SX supercross on a dual course every Wednesday ......so much fun. Still got the bike - it's ready anytime!
  • 2 0
 yeti sb150 short travel?
  • 1 0
 Just to see so many different bikes shows it’s not the bike the riders skill that’s important.
  • 2 0
 Si Paton you win the best bike feature.
  • 3 1
 Can't ride downhill? Not good enough to race BMX? 4X to the rescue!!!!
  • 1 0
 That dentist bike was a real combo breaker
  • 1 0
 it´s been a lot of years and Yetis still look good
  • 2 0
 Pure gold!!
  • 1 0
 I seriously thought this was a throwback post.
  • 1 0
 Mismatched chainstays are a badge of honor
  • 1 0
 Megan Kirby's GT with QR skewered wheels FTW
  • 1 0
 That Intense Tazer! Wow!







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