Amazing?
In a word - yes. Allow me to expand.
I was able to demo the Mayhem 140 while in Golden just before the holidays. I was fortunate to be able to ride the new Virginia Canyon Mountain Bike Park. This is an amazing new trail system near Idaho Springs, CO. For now, at least, you have to earn your turns. Meaning that while there is amazing array of downhill features, you’ve got to climb from the base nearly 1,500’ to the top. Once there a rider has a series of progressive features as you weave your way back down.
The reason I point this out is that the ideal bike needs to be an efficient climber that can also rally when the pucker factor is dialed up. Candidly, most bikes are either good at climbing or good at descending - just not equally adept at both. The Mayhem 140 is a “unicorn”. This bike is astounding at both. According to Strava I earned PR’s both up and down - on my first ride on this bike!
The fact that this probably the most stunning bike I’ve seen in many years doesn’t hurt either.
Finally, allow me to address an issue that has been bandied about - tire clearance. This is a NON ISSUE. Based upon a rather dubious review I had read in the days leading up to this demo, I was concerned that the clearance between the rear tire and the chain stay would be too tight. The “problem” was the result of a rubber guide that extended around the chainstay/tire interface that competed for the space. A great idea considering the potential for tires to pick up…