Dialled for adventure
The Highlander II is our all-carbon trail bike, finished in colours inspired by our Scottish heritage and fully UDH compatible. It is built for everything from bike park laps and all-day epics to weekend enduros. A 65° head angle and 160mm fork give agility and stability on steep, technical trails, while a reach balanced for climbing comfort and controlled descending makes it as happy going up as coming down. Huge standover clearance takes the longest dropper posts available.
Every frame is backed by our Lifetime Frame Warranty and Crash Replacement Programme. Any trail, any time.
Key features
- Material: full carbon construction
- Wheel size: 29″
- Travel: 145mm rear, 160mm front
- Suspension: high pivot with idler
- Frame weight: 3.2kg
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Colours: Iona Green, Storr Grey, Atlantic Blue, Islay Sand
- UDH compatible
Tech overview
- Fully sealed bearings with grease ports
- 18T chain idler
- Downtube protector
- Threaded BB
- Cable gutter system
UK riders can save with a Cycle to Work scheme: Cyclescheme, Green Commute Initiative, Bike2Work and Halfords Cycle2Work.
Tech details
Reduced maintenance, simplified serviceability
Grease port system
Grease all major pivot and linkage bearings without any disassembly. Wiper seals and o-rings seal the bearings, keeping water and dirt out and grease in, and regular greasing through the ports gives extremely long bearing life. There are 7 ports across the bike: 1 on the idler cover, 1 on the main pivot axle and 5 on the linkage.
Cable gutter system
A cable gutter runs along the underside of the top tube, keeping cables tucked away yet easy to reach when changing parts. It adds strength to the frame and extra accessory mounts.
UDH compatible
Universal Derailleur Hanger compatible for easy, accessible hanger replacements.
Easy bolt checks
Bolt check the entire frame with just 3 Allen keys, on or off the trail.
Durable design
Bearing load management
Twin idler bearings give a stiff, responsive drivetrain and reduce wear by lowering the load on each bearing.
Improved chain retention
An idler cover and narrow-wide tooth profile significantly reduce the chance of dropping a chain.
3-point idler cover
The idler side cover connects at three points with 5mm cap head screws (4mm hex). Supporting the bearings with the three-legged cage puts the idler in double shear: stiffer, lower drag, a sharper pedalling response and better chain retention.
Greater control
Connecting riding side-loads through the BB and rear wheel keeps the bike feeling planted. A rising spring rate tells you where you are in the stroke without a harsh bottom-out, and gives plenty of pop.
Proven high-pivot platform
High pivot precision
A high, single pivot gives a rearward axle path, so the rear wheel moves back on impact and keeps your momentum. The result is speed and confidence over rough ground that bikes with more travel struggle to match. Pivot and idler positions were set through numeric modelling and iterative testing to balance anti-rise against the benefits of the rearward axle path.
Linkage design
A progressive leverage curve suits aggressive riders and works with both high-volume air shocks and coil shocks.
No pedal kickback
Careful idler placement gives a balanced +100% anti-squat curve, virtually eliminating pedal kickback and bob so the bike pedals smoothly through rough terrain with the suspension still active.
Geometry conservation
High anti-rise keeps the chassis stable and the geometry intact under heavy braking, giving you the confidence to take lines usually reserved for bigger bikes.
What the reviewers say
“The high pivot causes the wheelbase to grow when you push into a corner and the bike stays low and level when hard on the brakes.”
Pinkbike · Read review
“A trail bike for those who like to push the limits on rougher terrain… it should be faff-free maintenance.”
GMBN, Top 5 trail bikes · Watch
“An impressive jack-of-all-trades that smoothes out even the roughest trails with confidence.”
BikeRadar · Read review
Specifications
- Rear wheel: 29″, Boost 148 x 12mm
- Fork: 29″ 160mm, 44/42mm offset
- Bottom bracket: 73mm BSA threaded
- Headset: ZS44/28.6 upper, ZS56/40 lower
- Cranks: minimum Q-factor 168mm
- Chainline: 52mm or 55mm
- Chain: 126 links (32T ring, 52T cassette)
- Max chainring: 36T
- Shock: metric 210 x 55mm; hardware front 40 x 8mm, rear eyelet bushing
- Brake mount: post mount 180mm
- Seatpost: 34.9mm, internal dropper routing
- Seat collar: 38.5mm
- Mech hanger: UDH or Deviate hanger
- Rear axle: M12 x P1.75, 192mm (non-UDH); M12 x P1, 185mm (UDH)
Some shocks may not be compatible; check with us or the shock manufacturer.
FAQ
How much sag should I run?
Around 30% for most riders, depending on terrain and preference.
Do I need to join chains?
No. A standard 126-link chain works, even with 12-speed Shimano or SRAM.
Can I mount a chain guide?
Yes. Two lower ISCG-05 tabs take a lower guide or bash guard.
Can I fit 27.5″ wheels?
No. The Highlander II is designed for 29″ wheels only.
What fork do you recommend?
A 160mm fork with 44mm offset. 51mm offset is compatible and gives slightly livelier steering.
What shock can I use?
Most air shocks work; we recommend a mid-mid initial tune. We can't guarantee clearance for every shock, but all shocks in our store are compatible. Shocks with rear rebound adjustment can be awkward to adjust.
What chainring size should I use?
Anything from 28T to 36T, depending on how steep your hills are. Oval rings work if clocked at around 89°; check your crank allows this.
What's in the box?
The frameset with rear axle, mech hanger, idler wheel and seat collar fitted, plus the shock if you bought one from us.
