REVIEWS 

Built with nimble handling and excellent suspension, we were pleased with the Shova LT's downhill ability

The Shova LT is an excellent overall gravity machine with a well-built, singlepivot design. Equipped with 183mm of quality travel, it comes with a 135mm thru-axle rear end, a 1.5" head tube and can take a front derailleur. Build it up with a high-end kit and you get a super light bike that is equally at home ripping a downhill trail as it is hitting a bike park.

FIRST RIDES: Morewood Shova ST

A very capable, genuine all-mountain bike that loves it whens the going gets rough.

Morewood PRIME8

Designed by three-time South African DH champion, Patrick Morewood, Morewood Bikes are new to UK shores; getting their first main airing at this year’s Fort William World Cup opener. The rider-owned company has, however, has been tinkering with frames since 1998, and has now settled on a simple and reliable single pivot frame, which resembles a cross between a Santa Cruz Super 8 and an Orange 222.

"An Affordable Gravity Racer from the Dark Continent"

South African surprise: Morewood's simple, single-pivot suspension and box-section chassis seem dated until you point the bike downhill. Izimu is Zulu for cannibal, and this one is going to eat into the sales of many existing downhill brands.

DIRT MAG Review of PRIME8

Like me, you may have first seen one of these at Fort William,a single pivot beast straight out of the orange 222, Santa Cruz Super 8 and the legendary Foes LTS camp. We all need choices and variety, look at Heinz, you get 57 there. Morewood Bikes originate from Pietermaritzburg near Durban, which is in the middle of South Africa's (SA) metal industry region. Patrick Morewood, frame designer, builder and rider, is three time Sough African DH Champion, so he knows his onions when it comes to DH bikes. Originally a jewellery designer and maker, his attention to minute detail, quality and precision is built into his mind set. Does that mean Crawford will start up his own bike company next?

The PRIME8 is a full blown downhill bike, designed to be raced at the very top of competition

Downhill riders across South Africa have watched Duane Stander tear down the National courses to claim the overall rider trophy, and in his first year of racing has piloted the Morewood Prime-8 to more Elite victories than any other bike. Designed by 3 times SA DH champion, Patrick Morewood, the Prime-8 is a full blown downhill bike designed to be raced at the very top of competition - apart from rivalling the oversea's bikes, the Prime-8 comes with an reasonable pricetag that puts it ahead of competition. There are full bikes as well as framesets, we chose a framset to test and built it up with some choice parts.