Check out our full review of the 2012 Eastern Nightrain complete below...

The Nightrain is the top of the list for completes from Eastern for 2012. For a suggested retail of around $1399 you get pretty well appointed bike. For starters the frame is 100% chromoly with double butted top and downtubes to save some weight. The frame also features a hydro-formed monocoque chainstay. Eastern has replaced the seatclamp below the top tube/chain stay with the more traditional low boy clamp. This is a great improvement that should make the frame last even longer. And with Eastern's Lifetime Waranty and upgrade policy that's something you won't have to worry about. The frame angles are: 70dg head angle, 72.5 dg seat tube angle, 22.5" top tube and a 15.2" chainstay. Just like most complete bikes that offer a lot for a decent price the Nightrain comes with a bunch of OEM branded parts. But they are all good quality parts for the most part. You get Eastern Crown Pedals, Tribe cranks, Venus hubs and Fuquay Flyers grips. The only part we had issue was with the stem. We ended up having to roughen up the inside of the stems clamp area with some strong sand paper. After this quick adjustment the bars held firm. Suspension duties are handled by a Rock Shox Argyle 318. Which offers 80mm travel as well as adjustable rebound and damping. When you want to stop your Nightrain a pull of the Avid Juicy 3 will do the job. It also comes with the popular tire combo of a Kenda Small Block on the front and a Kenda Kranium on the back. Which all in all makes the Eastern Nightrain a great option for anyone looking for good quality complete at a good price. But how does it ride???

Any stack of components can be put together to make a bike. But what truly matters is how it rides. The Eastern Nightrain feels equally good in the park as it does at the dirt jumps.  The geometry on the bike makes it very predictable and easy to throw around. Brian Banghart was able to jump off of his 20" bike and land the tricks you see in the edit in one or two tries. This shows how easy the Nightrain is to ride. As well as how easy it is to get used to. Many 26" bikes do not have the clearance to allow for tricks like Barspins and whips. With the 22.5" top tube on the Nightrain this is not a problem you will have. Although the Nightrain is heavier then some bikes (28.7 pounds) you don't really feel it at the dirt jumps. The bike flys straight and does whatever you ask it to. And the top tube is low enough to allow for easy clearance on tricks like no can's. Everyone that got on the Nightrain was pretty stoked on how it rode and handled for a 100% stock complete. 

Everyone on the test crew said that they would recommend the Eastern Nightrain to anyone looking for a good quality all around 26" bike. Most anyone shopping for a complete hardtail is probably gonna want to ride a little bit of everything from the local jumps, to the neighborhood park and maybe just around the neighborhood. For all of these areas the 2012 Eastern Nightrain is an awesome option. For around $1300 you get a bike that will take whatever you want to throw at it. It would even be a good option for more advanced riders as well. The new tweaks to the frame should make it stronger then ever. If you are in the market for a really solid complete 26" ride go hit up your local Eastern dealer and check out the 2012 Nightrain. If you don't know where your local dealer is click on the Eastern logo below to find them...