The Most Award-Winning Hardtail of the Decade
First, the Voodoo Bizango Mountain Bike stands as the most successful bike of the decade in terms of test wins, earning MBR’s Hardtail of the Year Award on numerous occasions . Moreover, Voodoo built this bike at Halfords, making it perhaps the most significant model in terms of how many new riders it has nurtured into the sport .
Lightweight Triple-Butted Aluminium Frame
The frame uses triple-butted aluminium tubing, which saves weight where possible while retaining strength . The top tube features a slightly larger cross-section with subtle profiling, welded to a tapered head tube to increase torsional stiffness . At the rear, Voodoo dropped the seat stay bridge and redesigned the chainstay assembly to be more compliant, adding 13mm of mud clearance for fatter tyres .
External cable routing runs beneath the down tube, simplifying maintenance and replacement . The frame includes a port on the back of the seat tube for internal dropper post routing, allowing a future upgrade when your skills progress .
Modern, Slacker Geometry – 66.5° Head Angle
The 2022 update brought a 2° slacker head angle, now sitting at 66.5° . The reach on a size large measures 465mm, giving a balanced, central riding position . Chainstays measure 435mm across all sizes, helping the rear wheel tuck in for agile handling . The effective seat tube angle of 74.5° offers a comfortable, efficient pedalling position .
| Geometry (Size L) | Value |
|---|---|
| Head Angle | 66.5° |
| Effective Seat Angle | 74.5° |
| Reach | 465mm |
| Chainstays | 435mm |
| Bottom Bracket Drop | 65mm |
Suntour Raidon Air Fork with 120mm Travel
Up front, a Suntour Raidon Boost Air fork provides 120mm of travel . The air spring allows you to adjust the fork to your weight and riding style – a significant upgrade over coil forks found on entry-level bikes. A lockout switch lets you firm up the suspension for efficient climbing on smooth sections .
The fork features a 15mm bolt-through front axle (15x110mm boost), increasing steering precision and wheel stiffness compared to quick-release designs .
Shimano Deore 1×11 Drivetrain
The drivetrain uses a full Shimano Deore M5100 11-speed groupset . The shifter, rear derailleur, cassette, and crankset all come from Shimano, with only the KMC X11 chain as the non-Shimano component .
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Shifters | Shimano Deore SL-M5100-R, 1×11 |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Deore RD-M5100, 11-speed |
| Cassette | Shimano Deore, 10-51T, 11-speed |
| Crankset | Shimano Deore, 30T narrow-wide, 170mm |
| Chain | KMC X11 |
The 10-51T cassette provides an immense gear range, giving you a low climbing gear for steep ascents and a high gear for fast descents . The clutch mechanism in the rear derailleur reduces chain slap and prevents dropped chains on rough terrain.
Shimano MT200 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
For stopping power, the Bizango uses Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes . The front rotor measures 180mm, while the rear uses a 160mm rotor – providing powerful, fade-free stopping in all conditions .
Maxxis Ardent 29″ Tyres on Tubeless-Ready Rims
The Bizango rolls on Maxxis Ardent 29″ x 2.25″ tyres featuring a ramped centre tread that lowers rolling resistance at speed . The wire bead construction provides durability for trail riding. The Voodoo-branded rims come tubeless-ready, so you only need valves and sealant to convert – a popular upgrade that increases comfort and reduces punctures .
Wide Bars and Short Stem
The cockpit features a 780mm wide handlebar (size large) paired with a 45mm short stem . This combination creates the confident, stable handling that modern trail bikes are known for, giving you maximum control on technical descents.
Bar width varies by frame size: 760mm on size small, 780mm on medium, large, and extra-large .
WTB Volt Saddle
The WTB Volt saddle features medium-thickness padding, ensuring great comfort and performance on longer rides . Its shaping supports efficient pedalling while reducing pressure points.
Dropper Post and Upgrade Ready
The Bizango frame includes a cutout for internal dropper post cable routing, so you can easily add a dropper post later without external cables . Tubeless-ready rims come standard, and the tapered headtube accepts any high-end fork upgrade .
Rack Mounts for Dual Duty
Unlike many pure trail bikes, the Bizango includes rack-mounting points above the dropouts . This means you can transform it from a trail-ready mountain bike into a pannier-equipped commuter by adding a replacement seat clamp with rack mounts – genuine dual-duty capability .
Sizing and Fit
The Voodoo Bizango Mountain Bike comes in four sizes to fit riders from approximately 5’2″ to 6’7″ :
| Size | Rider Height (Approx.) | Top Tube Length | Handlebar Width | Seatpost Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 5’2″ – 5’6″ | 600mm | 760mm | 350mm |
| M | 5’6″ – 5’10” | 620mm | 780mm | 400mm |
| L | 5’10” – 6’2″ | 640mm | 780mm | 400mm |
| XL | 6’2″ – 6’7″ | 660mm | 780mm | 400mm |
Crank length measures 170mm on sizes S, M, and L, extending to 175mm on the XL .
Weight
The Bizango weighs approximately 13.19 kg (29.1 lbs) for a size large without pedals . This weight makes it competitive for an aluminium hardtail with a 120mm air fork and dropper routing.
Bizango Pro and Carbon Models
For riders seeking more performance, Voodoo offers two upgraded versions:
Bizango Pro (£925):
- RockShox 35 Gold Air fork, 130mm travel
- Shimano Deore 1×12 drivetrain (10-51T cassette)
- Shimano MT400 hydraulic disc brakes, 180/160mm rotors
- Front: Maxxis High Roller EXO TR / Rear: Maxxis Rekon EXO TR
- Thru-axles front (15x100mm) and rear (12x148mm boost)
- Tubeless-ready rims, dropper post routing included
Bizango Carbon (£1,200-£1,650):
- Hi-Mod Carbon fibre frame
- RockShox Judy Silver TK or SID Select fork, 120mm travel
- Shimano Deore 1×11 or 1×12 drivetrain
- Claimed weight from 12.4kg
Who Is the Bizango For?
The Voodoo Bizango Mountain Bike suits:
- Intermediate to advanced trail riders wanting a proven, award-winning hardtail
- Budget-conscious mountain bikers seeking modern geometry and air suspension
- Riders who value upgradeability – dropper ready, tubeless ready, rack mounts
- Those wanting dual-purpose capability – trail bike by weekend, commuter by weekday
- UK riders able to access Voodoo through Halfords stores nationwide
Why Choose the Voodoo Bizango?
In conclusion, the Voodoo Bizango Mountain Bike represents arguably the best-value trail hardtail on the market. As a multiple Hardtail of the Year winner, this bike has a proven pedigree that few competitors at this price can match .
The combination of a modern 66.5° head angle, air-sprung Suntour Raidon fork, full Shimano Deore 1×11 drivetrain, and hydraulic disc brakes creates a bike that punches well above its £750 price point .
The long, slack geometry gives you the confidence to tackle technical descents that would rattle lesser hardtails. Yet the bike remains playful and poppy, encouraging you to manual over obstacles and drift through corners.
Customer reviews consistently praise the Bizango for its “confident and playful character” that “won’t let you down” on the trail . Moreover, the frame’s upgradeability – dropper post routing, tubeless-ready rims, rack mounts – means this bike can grow with you as your skills progress .
If you seek an award-winning trail hardtail with modern geometry, quality components, and genuine versatility, the Voodoo Bizango Mountain Bike makes an outstanding choice.
For more options, browse our Collection of Hardtail Mountain Bikes or read our Mountain Bike Buying Guide to find your perfect match.
