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The Voodoo Bizango is the totally sorted hardtail that’s ruled the roost for a few seasons at this price point. Over the years, Voodoo has added a smaller 16” size to fit shorter riders, lowered the top tube for more room to move and changed the aluminium frame’s blend for a smoother ride. One thing they’ve never done though is mess with the excellent value and impressive ride quality.

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Voodoo is exclusively distributed by Halfords who can maximise bang-for-buck by buying bigger volumes of bike kit. The 29in wheeled Bizango currently has a further hundred quid off and is selling for £525, making what was already a bargain into an absolute steal. For this cash you’re still getting the fundamentals nailed down with a nicely shaped frame and supple, 120mm travel Suntour Raidon fork with a proper bolt-thru axle (more usually found on bikes costing over a grand).

The Voodoo Bizango

This air-sprung unit is easy to set up and really calms proceedings hammering through holes or over rocks and bumps on bridleways or trail centres. With the flick of a lever, the damping inside the fork firms up for climbing too. The bigger diameter, Voodoo-branded wheels really help smooth out the terrain too, and come with popular Maxxis Ardent tyres that roll fast and offer good grip and control in a variety of conditions – very useful once you start to get a shift on.

The Suntour fork has 120mm of travel and a through axle for extra stiffness

The double-butted T6 aluminium Voodoo frame isn’t quite as low slung, slack-angled and modern as some new-school hardtails jumpy or BMX types go for, and it’s also a little bit stiff and rigid compared to pricier frames. One thing you can’t argue with though is the way it rides. The geometry, combined with a nicely shaped bar and decent stem length, means it steers confidently and intuitively on most trails without ever serving up any bad surprises.

It’s not only fun, it rides and steers like a proper trail bike on flatter trails

This neutrality, and the composure of the stiff fork when things get hectic, basically lets you get away with chucking the bike like a proper trail bike and come out smiling, rather than ending up in A&E. If things do need slowing down, the Shimano Acera brakes might look a bit old-fashioned with motocross-style long lever blades, but once ‘scrubbed-in’ get you out of trouble fast and are rock-solid reliable.

Shimano non-series brakes deliver decent stopping power

A Suntour XCM crank with Octalink bottom bracket is one of the places cash has been saved, but it’s still reasonably stiff and solid under power. The 2x10-speed transmission uses top-quality Shimano Deore kit with a gearing wide range for climbing and fast downhills, and has the major bonus of Shadow Plus clutch on the rear mech that keeps the chain firmly in place over lumpy ground and ensures the Bizango rides nice and quietly.

There's a double chainset up front

A couple of minor grumbles are how the wider diameter seatpost feels a little bit harsh on your tender bits sat down over rough ground, and, while the 2.25in wide Maxxis Ardents roll really well once up to speed, either the back end of the frame doesn’t deliver power that ruthlessly or the bigger 29er wheels are a little hesitant winching you up steep climbs or from standing starts. We also lost cable clips during testing and ended up with brake hose flapping around, but it’s a quick and easy fix to slap a cable tie on instead.

Maxxis Ardent rubber is reasonably fast rolling and good in all but the wettest conditions

Even neglecting the fact you’d struggle to find a better frame or nicer kit elsewhere for this money, the Bizango is a nimble, well-balanced package that’s not only fun, it rides and steers like a proper trail bike on flatter trails. The controlled air-sprung Suntour fork is easy to set up for all weights and the sorted rider position is combined with well-thought-out kit for a great overall package. And with the basics nailed down, for a tad over £500 this Voodoo is simply a killer deal anyone can enjoy riding.