Ducati Scrambler 140 Mountain Bike:

Ducati are famous for their bikes of the two wheel engined variety, both on and off road, and now they have licensed another legendary Italian company Bianchi to produce a range of non-motorized Ducati mountain bikes for 2007/08

This was also why at at the recent 2008 Bianchi launch there were a select range of Ducati Mountain Bikes on display.

The main Ducati bike is the Scrambler 140 named after Ducati's famous classic off road motorbike. The frame it features the patented System FFS all mountain rear suspension mated to a Marzocchi Roco 3 positon air shock with lock out. Upfront a 140mm travel Marzocchi Bomber XC700 fork takes the hits. Shifting is taken care of by a mix of Sram X9 and X0 with a top quality FSA Afterburner chainset to boot. The wheels are Mavic Crosstrail discs paired together with Hutchinson Bulldog tyres, while 'the bars, stem and post are all top notch kit from Easton. Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic discs finish off the build take care of most important braking.

Anyone buying one of the new Ducati Mountain Bikes is guaranteed a fair amount of exclusivity - the range is very small and so are the production runs, in the UK there is only one dealer (53-12 of Colchester). The retail price of the Ducati Scrambler 140 is £2500. Sizes S,M and L available. Track one down now they wont be around for long...

Pace Bikes RC405 Free Floater:

It's taken Yorkshire suspension and frame fanatics Pace bikes nearly two decades of development to finally get their XC full suspension bike honed to their satisfaction. Yet it seems the best things are worth waiting for...the RC405 is here...

The new frame looks very similar to the superb RC303 hardtail, but every tube is altered in thickness or dimension to handle the bigger hits and higher speed of flat-out full suspension riding. It's slightly longer and higher than the hardtail and the head angle is also a degree slacker than the prototype bike on show at the National Bike Show earlier this year. Plus the BB has been raised up by 10mm for pedal clearance.

The top linkage has been deepened for maximum stiffness at the shock top, while the lower link is reinforced with a plate web-welded vertically inside the down tube. All cables and hoses route under the BB for easy access. The 303's top practical touches like 2.5in tyre clearance, Crud Catcher bosses and light cable guide are all retained, while the sealed SKF bearings are further protected by preloaded, O-ring sealed caps to keep Brit grit out. At 6.2lb for the frame it'll build up light enough to race or tough enough to steam downhill depending on your priorities.

The new frame is Long enough for in control climbs but short enough to throw your weight around and pump, jump and manual it all over the trail. The steering is rumoured to be spot on for aggressive riding.

There are a whole load of fantastic do-it-all 5in trail bikes around right now, but there's no doubt that the new Pace comes in right at the top of the heap. The new Pace frame has everything going for it, and its a perfect base to build a race bike or trail eating monster, depending on your preference. Price is a reasonable £1295 when you compare it to what else is on the market.

Keep a look out for the 6in and 4in travel versions.

If your after a new high end full sus frame, stick British and buy the best. Pace is the way forward...