Review
A.170.1 Bike Radar Review with Alex Evans
30 April 2025
“A rapid, trail-crushing machine built using Atherton's 3D-printed titanium lugs, this next-level performance is worth every penny of its £8200 price tag…"
Alex Evans is BikeRadar and MBUK’s senior mountain bike technical editor. He competed in his first downhill race aged 11 and went on to race in DH World Cups. Alex lived in Morzine for eight years, clocking up many miles and breaking a lot of bikes – a test with Alex is no easy ride!
He tested the A.170.1 in Massa Marittima in Italy’s Tuscany region, where the trails were quite mellow but extremely wet with relatively good grip and high speeds, which helped highlight just how hard the A.170 can be pushed…
AE: The A.170 comes with otherworldly descending feel; smooth, comfortable and efficient climbing; masterful suspension; geometry for every rider and balances nippy direction changes with outright stability, culminating in an extraordinary ride that makes you feel you’re riding so well it could be virtual reality…
I rode the size 11, but I think the 12’s taller stack would have been better suited to my preferences (I’m 1780mm tall). There are 22 standard sizes, so pretty much everyone will find a geometry to suit
Climbing
- Climbs are a comfortable affair; the steep seat tube angle places your hips well and truly over the bottom bracket for very efficient pedalling your body is put in an upright, relaxed riding position, which pays dividends on the trails.
- Your weight is focused through your backside rather than the palms of your hands, boosting comfort and reducing shoulder and hand fatigue on longer ascents.
- Combine this delightfully balanced sitting position with supple, smooth suspension, and comfort reigns supreme even on choppy, unsettling climbs.
- The rear wheel sticks to the ground, tracing the trail’s every contour with a free-moving and supple action. The A.70 is a true winch-and-plummet rider’s dream; smooth, calm and efficient.
Going Down
The A.170 feels like the same sort of rush you’d get after downing five cans of Red Bull and 10 family bags of Haribo in one sitting.
The thrill, the excitement and the speed are so easy to access and tap into, it’ll blow your mind time and time again.
It’s a true point-and-shoot bike, no matter the ferocity of the terrain. You can barrel blindly into gnarly rock sections and sprawling root mats, safe in the knowledge that the suspension will insulate you from the worst of it.
The front and rear wheels move up and out of the way of bumps and hits freely and willingly – but most importantly, evenly and predictably – helping generate traction in areas where there wouldn’t be any on other bikes. Smoother riders will love the progression, too. Knead rather than plough the terrain, and the A.170 responds dutifully, bounding its way from line to line.
The Verdict
Like the rest of Atherton’s A-range of bikes, the A.170.1’s exceptional performance is a culmination of all its parts; from frame construction and geometry to suspension kinematics and damper.
It’s comfortable, smooth and efficient winching to the tops of your favourite trails and an absolute monster riding down them.
Speed, control and fun are wonderfully abundant and easy to tap into, regardless of your skill level or riding style.
“If I had the cash …or a non-bike industry pay packet, the A.170 is the only bike I’d buy.”