Review
VOJO Magazine: Atherton S.150 Elegant technology for all!
8 May 2025
“Adrien Protano of Vojo magazine made the S.150 his staff pick last month after a test ride in Massa Marittima, Italy. Read what he loved about the S.150... or head to Vojo for the in-depth report “Distinctive looks, unique manufacturing process, interesting feel on the trail“ was just the beginning...
AP: I’m 1.78 meters and chose a size 5 with a reach of 455 mm to match my preference for a smaller frame.
Climbing
To access the fun singletracks that surround us here in Massa Marittima, first we have to climb up! While the Atherton S150 may seem daunting at first glance with its substantial weight (16.2 kg), it's clear that it manages to shake it off once in action. We're not talking about launching into repeated sprints or racing uphill, but that's not the plan. Once you've found your rhythm, the S150 allows you to pedal for a long time and is in an effective position for climbing. The suspension remains fairly neutral, doesn't pump excessively, even when standing on the pedals. In short, we didn't hesitate to climb back up again at the end of the day to do one last special, and we can easily imagine long days in the saddle.
Descending
- That being said, it's on the descent that the magic happens! One word: confident. The Atherton S150 is a bike that puts its rider in a perfect position to tackle challenges with serenity.
- It's difficult to identify whether this character comes from the geometry, the suspension kinematics, or both at the same time, but we have the impression of having already ridden this bike in another life, as it is so easy to handle and understand how it works.
- A few laps in, we manage to get more out of the bike, to make it our own. The progressive kinematics and good geometry allow for a nice mix of grip, agility, fun and stability. We switch from one turn to another with ease, we throw the bike and pull bunny-hops over obstacles to play with the terrain, it's a real pleasure. When things get tough, you keep the wheels on the ground more, pushing on the bike to maximise grip, and the S150 delivers admirably.
Verdict
The S150 adapts very well to its rider. For those with less technical background, looking for a comfortable and confidence-inspiring bike, the Atherton S.150 will be a true companion. But on the other end of the spectrum, the S.150 accommodates a much more aggressive riding style, with very healthy reactions even at high speed.
There's something unique about the S.150, a clever blend of traditional craftsmanship and technical modernity, between raw lines and mastered know-how. Its unique construction and atypical positioning set it apart, without falling into eccentricity. Atherton has created a surprisingly versatile bike, both accessible and efficient, which manages to combine an assertive character with ease of handling. Firmly based on its 150 mm of travel and its aluminium frame, it is aimed as much at riders looking for confidence and comfort as at those who like to increase the pace and push their limits. A balanced, straightforward and pleasant bike, which we would have gladly taken for a few more laps.
S.150
WINNER - ENDURO MAG'S BEST BUY - TRAIL BIKE 2025
A small hit on weight compared to our carbon and titanium frames is balanced by even greater impact durability and lower cost.
The new S-range will be made entirely from Aluminium 7075 with CNC-manufactured lugs. Aluminium grade 7075 has superior ultimate and fatigue strength to other grades of aluminium, but it can’t be welded, so it isn’t typically used in bike manufacture – because we bond all the frames, we can choose 7075 – a huge deal for us as we see far too many warranties over at Dyfi Bike park.
Lug and tube construction means that we can continue to offer a huge range of sizing, bringing to bear 15 years of race team experience on how to fit improves performance and rider confidence. The S range uses all our learnings to date on geometry and the DW suspension platform, combined with four years of race-proven and feedback from 100s of our customers riding in some of the world’s toughest locations.