trek hardtail 2022

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First Look: 2022 Trek Roscoe Hardtail

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Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The 10 Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes For Ripping Trails and High-Performance

Whether you want a lightweight cross-country rocket or a cheap trail ripper, one of these picks will work for you.

A “hardtail” is a mountain bike with front suspension but no rear suspension. This design can be lighter and less expensive than a mountain bike with rear suspension, as well as simpler to maintain. Think of a hardtail as the workhorse of the mountain bike world.

Sometimes hardtails are simply the best tool for the job, depending on the circumstances. For instance, those just learning to mountain bike may prefer the handling of a hardtail. Kids are often better off with a hardtail for several reasons, particularly the reduced weight. Sometimes the terrain where you ride simply doesn’t warrant a full suspension bike. Or, finally, it might be personal preference drives your desire to ride a hardtail.

Whatever the case, hardtails are alive and well, and we take a closer look at a wide range of bikes to suit your needs from the most basic to advanced racing machines.

Looking for more riding options? Check out our picks for the best electric bikes , folding e-bikes , and commuter bikes .

The Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes

• Best Overall: Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29
• Best Electric Hardtail Mountain Bike: Aventon Ramblas
• Best Trail Hardtail Mountain Bike: Trek Roscoe 7
• Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Deal: Salsa Rangefinder 29 Deore
• Best Cheap Hardtail Mountain Bike: Eastern Alpaka 29

What to Consider in a Hardtail Mountain Bike

Why you can trust us, how we tested hardtail mountain bikes, our full hardtail mountain bike reviews.

If you are looking for the best high-performance mountain bikes (full suspension and hardtail, electric and analog), check out our Bike Awards coverage. You’ll find 11 exceptional, award-winning bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team.

If you’re in search of an efficient race machine, a carbon fiber hardtail might be the bike for you. Hardtails also make great adventure bikes for bikepacking off-road and other long-distance riding shenanigans. Build a hardtail with a longer-travel fork and wide tires and you’ll have a fun ripper for romping around your local trails —and you’ll save money and weight compared to many full suspension options.

For decades, hardtails have appealed to riders due to the infinite ways you can build them up and for their simplicity. Here’s what you need to know about hardtail mountain bikes.

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You almost always get more bang for your buck with a hardtail. The design allows manufacturers to either reduce the bike’s overall price or include better components than you would find on comparably priced full-suspension rigs.

Hardtail frames lack rear shocks, pivots, linkages, and the associated hardware. Thus, they are generally lighter than comparable full-suspension frames. For riders who climb a lot, the weight saving can make a difference—both physically and mentally. 

Carbon fiber frames have the best strength-to-weight ratio of any material but are typically more expensive than metal-framed bikes. Despite this, there are desirable characteristics in all frame materials.

Wheel Sizes

Hardtails come with many wheel sizes and gearing options. You’ll find wheel sizes of 29- or 27.5-inches, standard tire widths (up to 2.6-inches), plus-size (2.8- to 3-inches), and fat tires (3-inches and wider). Some hardtails will accept different wheel and tire sizes, allowing you to swap out options to suit your riding needs.

Great for Kids and Tweens

The explosive growth of youth cycling programs and NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) racing got a ton of kids onto the trail and needing mountain bikes. With their combination of lightweight, lower cost, and wheel size options, hardtails make ideal bikes for young riders starting out or teens who quickly outgrow bikes.

Maintenance and Durability

Fewer moving parts mean fewer things that could potentially go wrong, and higher-quality parts mean those parts are less likely to need fixing. The simplicity of not having a rear shock and rear suspension system increases the durability of the bike as it requires less maintenance and fewer replacement parts.

Ride Quality

A hardtail can feel more responsive than a dual-suspension bike when pedaling. The lack of rear suspension creates a more efficient-feeling pedaling platform, so acceleration feels more immediate. 

Climbers especially appreciate the extra responsiveness, though you lose some traction (especially under braking) without the rear suspension. Still, for a fast, efficient ride, nothing beats a hardtail.

Find the Right Fork

After the frame, the fork is arguably the most important part of a hardtail's build kit. You’ll find suspension forks with as little as 80mm of travel on some cross-country bikes, while trail or all-mountain hardtails may have forks with 140mm of travel or more. 

Some hardtails still use forks that lack any suspension. These rigid forks are typically the lightest weight and require no maintenance.

Build One Up

Hardtails also make an excellent second, third...or 10th bike to have around—to loan to friends, for when your primary bike is in the shop, or for dabbling into other areas of riding. 

Many brands (particularly small or mid-sized) offer frame-only options that you can build up on your own or with the help of your local shop. Perhaps you have some old parts kicking around and collecting dust. Well, hardtails are a simple and cost-effective way to put those parts to use!

Bicycling has been vetting and reviewing bikes, gear, and accessories for more than 50 years. The bike recommendations here are based on the extensive work of the test team, which includes Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and insight that they bring to every recommendation they make.

For hardtail mountain bikes, Tara Seplavy oversaw these selections based on the team’s collective testing experience, as well as her own extensive knowledge of the category.

Chris Case has been riding and racing all manner of bikes for over 30 years. His first “real” bikes were mountain bikes; his racing days began on the rooted trails of southern New England. Formerly the managing editor of VeloNews magazine, he now guides gravel cycling and bikepacking tours with his company Alter Exploration . His garage is filled with his family’s precious collection of bikes, neatly organized and maintained for daily riding, racing, and adventures. Follow him on Instagram at @chrisjustincase .

Many of these bikes were tested by Bicycling 's team of gear editors, which mapped out rides featuring most of the trail elements that you’ll likely encounter. Bikes were pushed hard on flow trails, up steep climbs, down pucker-worthy rocky descents, and through rock gardens. Editors rode these bikes on the terrain best suited for each bike, as well as terrain entirely unsuitable, to see how far the limits could be pushed.

The bikes that weren’t ridden by Bicycling ’s editors were carefully chosen based on their value, quality of parts, our experience riding similar models, and how the overall package meets the needs of the intended rider.

We also consulted with hardtail devotees and coaches who work with junior riders to assess the best choices for younger and beginner cyclists.

Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29

The Rockhopper has been a mainstay of Specialized’s product line longer than most mountain bikers have been alive. The brand spent decades perfecting the Rockhopper into the well-rounded mountain bike platform it is today. And that experience—paired with learnings from its World Cup-winning high-end bikes—translates into a refined quality on the trail.

“The Rockhopper Elite climbs efficiently, is quite capable on singletrack, and isn’t too nervous when descending,” said test rider Tara Seplavy, Bicycling ’s deputy editor.

That is to say, it does everything decently—a quality many buyers in this price range want and expect from a mountain bike.

While the Rockhopper’s frame lacks a tapered headtube and thru axle rear end, the bike strikes a modern and lightweight appearance. The frame has routing for a dropper seatpost (if you wish to add one), its cables route internally on the front triangle, and it has rack mounts.

The components on the Rockhopper Elite don’t jump out, but they also don’t let you down. The air-sprung RockShox Judy TK fork does not perform to the level of the higher-end Recon fork model (more flex under braking and harsher riding). But it is easy to set up for different weight riders and has a crown-mounted lockout for pavement sections.

Specialized offers a bevy of Rockhopper models between $650 and $1,400. We consider the Comp ($950), Elite ($1,150), and Expert ($1,300) models most suitable for trail riding. Specialized also has 27.5-inch wheel Rockhopper variants in these models to fit shorter-height riders.

Aventon Ramblas

With its torquey mid-drive motor, name-brand components, and $2,700 price tag, Aventon’s Ramblas hardtail looks to flip the script and change the perception of hardtail e-bikes—and it succeeds.

At the heart of the Ramblas is Aventon’s all-new A100 motor. The mid-drive unit features 250 watts of sustained power/750 watts of peak power and 100 Newton/meters of torque. It is cleanly mounted to the Ramblas’ front triangle, low-slung on the frame but with sufficient clearance for riding over rocks and logs.

“The bike felt comfortable, proportional, and balanced from the first rip around the trailhead,” Seplavy said.

The Ramblas is well-appointed for its price. Overall, the components are well-suited for a trail-use mountain bike—1x12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain, 4-piston SRAM brakes, 35mm stanchion RockShox fork, dropper seatpost, and 2.4-inch-wide tires. They are all underpinnings of a solid mid-range trail bike—and for a $2,700 hardtail e-MTB, these features are unmatched in the market.

“After riding the Ramblas and checking out other hardtail e-MTBs over the past several years, I think Aventon just reset the entire category with this bike,” Seplavy said.

Trek Roscoe 7

There is so much to love about this bike that it’s hard to decide where to start. The 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain (with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette) provides a massive range, with gearing low enough to ease the pain of climbing steep hills. Its 29-inch wheels (27.5-inch on XS size) carry speed while maintaining maneuverability on technical trails, and the 2.6-inch tubeless-ready tires offer great traction and a plush ride.

The 140mm travel RockShox Recon SL SoloAir fork has plenty of travel for getting rowdy and can be locked out for added efficiency, such as when climbing a paved road. And speaking of rowdy, a dropper post is a very cool addition and adds to the Roscoe's versatility.

Salsa Rangefinder 29 Deore

The Salsa Rangefinder is one of the least expensive bikes in this test and one of the heaviest. Neither significantly takes away from its abilities on the trail.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the Rangefinder’s performance in most situations,” Seplavy said.

The Rangefinder’s extra heft comes from its oversized aluminum frame, heavy 120mm SR Suntour XCM fork, extra-wide range cassette, and 29x2.6-inch Maxxis tires. These parts, though, also make the Salsa more confident and capable on the trail than the bike’s weight might suggest.

On dirt, the Rangefinder lumbers along. It’s also not light or race-oriented. As Seplavy put it: “The Salsa is not a ‘go fast and take chances’ style bike.”

The Rangefinder's slightly upright positioning, steep seat angle, and low gearing allow you to sit and spin up climbs, despite the bike’s weight.

The Rangefinder is capable, though not fully confident when descending. The wide Maxxis Rekon tires and thru axle fork provide extra grip over roots and precision when picking a line through rocky sections of trail. But the Tektro Gemini brakes with 160mm rotors are insufficient at higher speeds or when the gradient pitches steeply downward. The fork’s lack of damping adjustment also made the fork ping-pong off of rocks when they came in quick succession.

Salsa provides options for riders seeking a Shimano-equipped Rangefinder or one with plus-sized wheels. It offers three other Rangefinder models between $900 and $1,500. Each model has 27.5+ or 29-inch wheel variants. There are Shimano Deore 10 -, 11 -, and 12-speed drivetrain Rangefinder models.

Eastern Bikes Alpaka 29

The Alpaka boasts features that try to emulate a high-end experience at an entry-level price. The aluminum frame is paired with a 100mm travel spring coil fork with a mechanical lockout feature. Stopping power comes from 160mm hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable reach levers.

The 9-speed X-Gear drivetrain is compatible with Shimano and SRAM aftermarket parts. But the 11-34-tooth cassette matched with a 32-tooth chainring up front will limit your ability to climb the steepest pitches.

While the bike‘s quick release hubs are not as secure or fashionable as thru axle wheels, they get the job done at the price. And though the Kenda 2.2-inch tires provide ample traction, the frame is designed to accommodate up to 2.4-inch rubber if you need more cushion and grip.

The cockpit comprises Eastern-branded contact points along with a Velo saddle and grips, completing the package with a touch of comfort not often seen at this price.

Giant Talon 29 1

The Giant Talon 1 is the biggest sleeper in our testing. The Talon’s frame doesn’t have an aggressive trail bike silhouette. It does not look oversized and burly. The plain black paint and blue logo also help to subdue the Giant. Appearances and first looks are often deceiving.

“Once on the trail, the Talon 1 surprised me with its capabilities. It rides like a bike that should cost a couple of hundred dollars more,” Seplavy said.

The Giant’s good ride feel comes down to its fork. The house-brand 100mm travel SXC-32-2 RL fork features 32mm aluminum stanchions, an alloy steerer, and an air spring. These shave weight off the bike while improving stiffness and steering precision. The fork’s rebound adjustment and air spring help you tune the fork for your weight and local trails—a big plus for a bike at this price.

The Tektro M275 brakes on the Talon 1, however, were underwhelming. They slowed the bike down but lacked modulation and a good feel at the lever. The Deore 10-speed drivetrain shifted smoothly but was over-geared for steeper hills compared to the other bikes tested.

Giant offers three models in the Talon range, with the Talon 1 as the most expensive and best equipped for trail riding. For a more premium Giant hardtail trail bike, check out the Fathom 29 models . Starting at $1,500, the Fathoms have longer travel forks, tubeless tires, and dropper posts.

Liv Lurra 2 27.5

The Lurra 2 is Liv’s latest creation for the value-minded hardtail fan.

Designed for performance-minded trail riders who want to rip singletrack, the Lurra offers dedicated frame geometry for the XS and S frame sizes which boast 27.5-inch wheels. Up front, the 130mm Giant fork and 2.6-inch Maxxis tubeless tires offer grip and comfort for roots, rocks, and ruts, and the Giant Contact 100mm dropper seatpost is a nice touch, allowing you to get low and ride with more control. Equipped with a Shimano Deore drivetrain and Tektro disc brakes, the pair offer dependability rather than flash.

The Lurra is generously adorned with multiple water bottle mounts: a set underneath the top tube allows for secure mounting of a small gear pack to fill with snacks or tools or other small items, while a trio on the downtube and another set underneath the downtube allow for multiple mounting positions of two water bottles.

Zize Yonder

While most brands make bikes rated for riders up to 200 or 250 pounds, Zize exclusively focuses on bikes for heavyweight riders. With its chromoly frame and fork, heavy-duty wheels, and Clark's hydraulic disc brakes, the Yonder accommodates riders up to 550 pounds.

The Yonder also features a 100mm wide bottom bracket shell and 3-inch wide 26-inch WTB tires for added rider stability. The bike has a dependable Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain, but the gear range is not low enough for optimal riding up steep hills. Though the Yonder is expensive, consider this bike if you're a heavier rider looking to get into off-road riding.

Specialized Riprock

The Riprock 24 is an excellent bike for kids who want to take their riding skills off-road. Designed to accommodate riders between 3-foot-11 and 4-foot-8, this bike comes with 24-inch wheels, a 1x9-speed MicroShift group, and hydraulic disc brakes.

While many mountain bikes for kids use a suspension fork, the Riprock 24 features an aluminum rigid fork. Most bikes at this price use heavy suspension forks that don't work for lightweight riders, but the Specialized’s rigid fork saves weight and looks great. This makes the Riprock 24 well-equipped for young riders' trail riding adventures. Offered in four colors, this bike is also available with 20-inch wheels for riders between 3-foot-5 and 4-foot-4.

Cervélo ZHT-5 GX

Yes, you’re reading that right: Cervélo makes mountain bikes. Though the brand may be more famous as the bike sponsor of the Tour de France-winning Visma-Lease a Bike race team, Cervélo has created this podium-worthy ride for ripping on the dirt.

Sporting a 907-gram (claimed) carbon frame, 69-degree head angle, and long reach top tubes, the ZHT-5 is made for speed. This SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed equipped model also comes standard with a 100mm travel RockShox Sid SL Select fork, e.thirteen TRS Race tubeless wheels, and a RaceFace cockpit.

Expert Chris Case On When to Go Full Suspension Versus Hardtail And Whether to Choose Aluminum Or Carbon.

Is full suspension better than a hardtail.

It depends on the application and terrain. Of course, there are certain types of riding when a full suspension bike is going to provide a faster, safer, and more enjoyable experience—for example, on rockier, more technical downhills. 

Conversely, some situations and locations are better suited to hardtails, for instance, in places where non-technical trails are abundant. If bikepacking is your thing, hardtails can be easier to load up with gear since the opening of the main triangle is easier to fill with a frame bag. But that’s not to say a full-suspension rig won’t work for bikepacking.

Much of the time it’s either personal preference or budget.

Aluminum or carbon?

There are pros and cons to every frame material. Carbon is typically lighter, can dampen more vibrations, and so forth, but if you’re hard on your equipment or crash often, the chances of causing irreparable damage to a carbon frame are higher than with metal frames.

Aluminum is often heavier, and some will say it offers a stiffer, less comfortable ride. But when you factor in saddle choice, tire size and pressure, and the comfort of other touchpoints, it’s hard to isolate the variable of the frame as the only factor on how a bike feels.

I prefer riding metal bikes (titanium) because we have enough disposable stuff in this world already. And carbon is ultimately disposable. Eventually, there will come a time when it is either outdated or broken, and you can either dispose of it or hang it on your wall. I look forward to the day when I can give my titanium bike to my daughter for her to ride.

What do the pros ride?

It used to be that XC racers wanted the lightest machine possible, which was often the hardtail model. Now, however, though many of them still care about weight, there are incredibly light full-suspension race bikes, and having suspension is helpful on the manufactured and natural courses that pros tend to race on (at World Cups, for example).

Chris Case, former managing editor of VeloNews magazine, has been riding, racing, and adventuring by bike for nearly 30 years. His cycling pursuits have taken him to destinations across the U.S. and Europe, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Israel, and beyond. He has stood on the podium at several cyclocross national championships, and is a silver medalist at master’s cyclocross worlds. Today he guides adventurous gravel cycling and bikepacking tours through his company, Alter Exploration.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.  

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TREK ROSCOE 9 REVIEW

Review by JP Purdom | Photos by Sam Noble

When it comes to mountain bikes, it’s no secret that a lot of people are on the overbiked end of the spectrum, or perhaps relying on their suspension to get them down a trail instead of their technical ability. Hardcore hardtails offer a solution to this, maintaining the stability required to go fast but giving a little less forgiveness that allows riders to separate out their skills from the ability of the bike and improve their riding. It shaves off the cost of a more complex frame plus a rear shock in the process, bringing this capability to a more budget-conscious demographic. The all-new Roscoe is Trek’s most recent answer to an affordable all-around mountain bike, specifically designed to get more people having fun on the trails. The Roscoe is simplicity driven, featuring dependable components, aggressive geo, and of course, no rear shock. Make no mistakes though; with 29” wheels, 2.6” tires, and 140mm of fork travel, the Roscoe is no slouch when it comes to rugged terrain. We were excited to find out how exactly how capable it was out on the trails around Bend, OR.

• 29 x 2.6″ Tires • HTA: 65° • STA: 73.1° • REACH: 470 (Large)

Price: $2,699/£2,200 Website:   Trekbikes.com

THE LAB Like most modern bikes, the Trek Roscoe follows the trend of long and slack with a relatively steep seat tube. This allows for better handling in the rough and better positioning on the climb. Roscoe’s sizing ranges from XS to XL to suit riders from 137cm to 196cm (4’5”-6’2”), with the XS size equipped with 27.5 wheels to better fit shorter riders. Quite a unique and very welcome addition to the size range is the “ML”, which forms a middle ground between the medium and large that should help to avoid quite so much deliberation between the two for riders who sit awkwardly in that size range. The reach on our Large was 470mm and pairs to a generous 644mm stack. The angles are shared across the size range, with a 65° head angle and a 74.7° effective seat tube angle. These numbers don’t take into account the fact that it’s a hardtail and therefore the angles steepen when on the bike, giving a slightly more upright climbing position but quicker steering than you may expect. A 6.1mm static BB drop (4.5mm on XS) and 430mm chainstays round out the numbers, giving a suitably all-rounded mentality.

Helping to keep the retail price down, the Trek Roscoe is only offered in their Alpha Gold Aluminum. The frame features a tapered head tube, internal cable routing with guides within the frame, ISCG 05 tabs, a threaded BB, and Boost 148 spacing. Trek paid attention to the frame protection, with good coverage on the chainstay and a generous downtube guard. Within the front triangle you can run two bottles thanks to the provided mounts. The Roscoe is offered in 4 different build kits ranging from $1149.99 to $2699.99. Trek says the Roscoe is the perfect choice for the rider who wants to get out and enjoy some gnarly terrain, without the maintenance and cost of a full suspension bike and backs it with their Lifetime frame warranty.

The Roscoe 9 we tested came equipped with some of the industry’s most reliable, robust, and affordable parts. The Fox Rhythm 36 comes equipped with the easy-to-tune GRIP damper, as well as the tried-and-true EVOL air spring. The XT derailleur and SLX shifter provide seamless shifting across the SLX 10-51t 12-speed cassette. E*Thirteen supplies a Helix crank with 30t steel chainring and a discrete upper chainguide to keep the chain firmly in place. The Roscoe 9 features quad piston Shimano M6120 Brakes, which should provide plenty of power, especially when matched with a 203mm rotor up front and a 180mm in the rear. Trek chose the TranzX Dropper post, which ranges from 100-150mm, depending on frame size – a 150mm length for sizes ML and above. The rest of our Roscoe 9 came outfitted with Trek’s own Bontrager components, most notably the grippy XR4 tires and Line 30 wheels.

THE DIRT As a staunch downhill and enduro rider, I was very skeptical of the way an aggressive hardtail would handle the trail. After spending a few weeks on board, the Roscoe, all I can say is, “wow”. The Roscoe’s reasonably slack head angle, healthy reach and 140mm fork make this bike extremely capable of tackling everything from flow trails to rock shoots. There were times when I completely forgot I was riding a hardtail because of how comfortable the body positioning is on this bike. The cornering ability is next level, thanks to the balanced geometry and aggressive 2.6” tires. I never found myself washing around in a turn, even in the dry, dusty conditions here in Bend. In the air, the Roscoe is balanced and predictable, even at high speeds.

It was obvious to me that the Roscoe was much more capable downhill than I would have ever imagined; then, when I finished a lap and turned around to pedal back up, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and efficiency of the Roscoe’s climbing position. The 74.7-degree effective seat tube angle makes the Roscoe a joy to pedal, and with the large size build weighing in at just under 30lbs, it gets up the hill without any issues. The XR4’s does a good job at clawing their way up terrain that seems impossibly loose, finding unexpected traction on a number of occasions.

The spec sheet on the Roscoe 9 was also impeccable. The shifting was perfect throughout, the brakes suitably powerful, the tires offered incredible traction, and the price seems pretty spot on given the quality components all round. For an experienced rider, based on Trek’s build sheet, I probably wouldn’t shoot for the Roscoe 6 (which is designed for beginner riders anyways); however, the 7 level and above offer parts more suited for an experienced rider and are available at extremely reasonable prices.

The only real qualms I had with the Roscoe were the grips and the bars – items riders will often look to swap out anyway to get that customised fit. The angles on the bars put a strain on my wrists, causing them to hurt after a good bit of saddle time. The back-sweep, combined with notoriously stiff 35mm aluminum construction, made a bit of discomfort on my first ride. The grips weren’t a significant complaint for me, but I don’t like to wear gloves when I ride, and the Roscoe grips aren’t necessarily suited for sweaty palms. That said, these are minor details on an otherwise dialled ride.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Price: – $2,699/£2,200 Weight: 29.6 lbs Website:   Trekbikes.com

SPECIFICATIONS

CHASSIS Frame: Alpha Gold Aluminum Fork: Fox Rhythm 36, Float EVOL, GRIP | 140mm

COCKPIT Brakes: Shimano M6120 4-piston Handlebar: Bontrager Line, 35mm, 27.5mm rise, 780mm Stem: Bontrager Elite, 35mm, 0 degree, 45mm length Headset: FSA IS-2 Saddle: Bontrager Arvada Seatpost: TranzX JD-YSP18 | 150mm

WHEELS Rims: Bontrager Line Comp 30 Hubs: Bontrager alloy Tires: Bontrager XR4 Team Issue | 29×2.6″

DRIVETRAIN Bottom Bracket: Shimano SM-BB52 Cassette: Shimano SLX M7100, 10-51, 12 speed Cranks: E*thirteen Helix, 30T | 170mm Shifter: Shimano SLX M7100, 12 speed Derailleur: Shimano XT M8100, long cage

Surprisingly capable Balanced geometry Comfortable climbing position Reasonable price

We don’t, minor spec niggles sore ankles, leave a comment | win free stuff.

Want to win some free schwag? Leave a comment and vote up the most thoughtful comments and each month we’ll pick a winner. The person with the smartest and most helpful replies will earn some sweet new gear. Join the Pack and get the latest news and read the latest reviews on the top  mountain  and  electric mountain bikes .

Trek X-Caliber 8 hardtail review

• February 14, 2023

There are plenty of plus-points to the Trek X-Caliber 8 hardtail mountain bike, like reliable components and a sure-footed feel

Product Overview

Overall rating:, trek x-caliber 8 2022.

• Tubeless-ready wheels and tyres
• Heaviest bike on test

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

The Trek X-Caliber 8 is a sure-footed 29er hardtail mountain bike, with plenty of reliable elements that boost its score to impressive levels, but a few missteps that hold it back from quite making it as one of the best hardtail mountain bikes we’ve tested. There’s a whole lot to like though.

Twenty nine inch wheels have long been an integral part of Trek’s mountain bikes, especially the hardtails. And where initially there was uncertainty and hesitation in the industry, Trek pushed on with this larger wheel size and the persistence paid off: with 29in wheels now accepted globally and across all mountain bike categories, not just for the cross country crowd.

Trek’s early 29in wheel bikes were XC hardtails and since then, the X-Caliber has shifted upmarket and now sit between the entry-level Marlin and the carbon Pro-Caliber. All three platforms run 100mm travel forks.

We’ve pulled in the X-Caliber 8 for this review, which is just shy of the Scott Scale 965 in price and shares many of the same components. With all four bikes on test running Shimano brakes and 1×12 transmissions, we were keen to take this consistency a step further and chose models with regular seatposts, rather than droppers. Primarily for comparing the weight of the bikes, but riding dynamics and overall value played a part too as we felt it really levelled the playing field, and maintained the XC hardtail design ethos.

With a steeply sloping top tube and a super-low standover height the X-Caliber is a very striking bike. It’s a silhouette that’s mirrored through all the brand’s hardtails – with the notable exception of the carbon Pro-Caliber – as is the wide size range that Trek is well known for offering. Seven frame sizes are available (with the XS and S rolling on 27.5in wheels to keep proportions in check) with a useful M/L option that’s a great problem solver for riders stuck between the popular M and L options. So hats off to Trek for this level of commitment to getting a good fitting bike.

When it comes to new frame standards, Trek has always been an early adopter, so it’s no surprise to see a tapered head tube and Boost hub spacing on the X-Caliber frame. But it’s Boost with a twist… here, Trek using 141mm rear dropout spacing with a traditional Q/R hub, rather than a 148mm bolt-thru design.

It’s not a deal breaker though, as the fixed rear triangle of a hardtail doesn’t need stiffening up like a full suspension design, and a quick online search reveals plenty of wheel upgrade options from the likes of Hunt, Hope and Bontrager for the 141 standard.

A modern touch that hasn’t been executed as well as on other bikes in test, is the internal frame routing for the cable and rear brake hose – they’re not clamped where they enter the down tube and rattle noisily on rough terrain, just like on the Trek Roscoe in our Hardtail of the Year test.

Trek has equipped the X-Caliber 8 with a RockShox fork and it’s listed as a Judy SL, so we expected to see an upgrade or two. However, all the tech is identical to the regular Judy forks seen on the Cube and Scott – a tapered aluminium steerer, steel upper legs, a Solo Air spring and the brand’s basic TurnKey damper.

The Trek is the only bike in test that doesn’t have a remote lockout lever though, just a simple dial on the top of the fork leg, with an on/off function and no graded adjustment between those points. At least it’s one less cable to maintain and gives more handlebar space for a dropper post remote lever.

And while the X-Caliber frame does not use a bolt-thru rear axle, the 100mm travel Judy fork does have the 15x110mm Boost hub standard – although the website lists the lighter tooled axle as standard, our test bike had the same QR lever operated version as the Scott Scale.

Shimano was slow to filter its 1×12 transmissions down to the lower price points, but it’s there now and proving to be a very popular choice, all four bikes in this test using Shimano drivetrains. The X-Caliber’s specification lists a Shimano chainset, but our bike shipped with a model from FSA, and it’s the only deviation from a complete Shimano drivetrain.

Trek has also gone with a smaller 30t chainring and combined with the Deore 10-51t cassette you get a super-low gear, which is useful on the climbs because at 13.53kg (29.82lb) the Trek is the heaviest bike in test.

Another wise move is the genuine Shimano chain which performs faultlessly in wet filthy conditions and plays well with the steel FSA chainring. The benchmark XT rear mech is good to see, as is the rubber chainstay protector, which is a detail the other three brands seemed to have overlooked.

Performance

The dropped top tube, wider 750mm bar, long wheelbase and slackish 68º head angle (the slackest of the four bikes) give the X-Caliber the look and feel of a trail bike. However, the Trek’s geometry and attitude is not in the same league as the most progressive 100mm trail hardtails such as Kona’s test-winning Mahuna .

Even on this size XL, the frame’s front triangle is very compact, especially when compared to the Giant XTC, but it still sports two sets of bottle cage mounts – essential on an XC bike. In fact, Trek has added plenty of mounts to the X-Caliber, with fittings for a rack and kickstand making it a very capable all-terrain bike.

With one of the lightest wheelsets on test, we expected some zip and liveliness from the X-Caliber but it lacked the immediate urgency of the Scott and Giant and on longer non-stop cross country blasts, its weight was noticeable, certainly towards the end of the ride.

You can’t knock the Trek’s sure-footed nature though – the lengthy wheelbase (for an XC hardtail) and wide bar aid stability, and it was only the Judy fork’s lack of refinement that held us back from diving into more challenging terrain. A slightly shorter stem would no doubt help here too.

Although the compact front end still has a tall 525mm seat tube, the seat stays are dropped, giving a tighter rear triangle. This certainly gives the X-Caliber a chuckable hardtail vibe, but the ride quality was a touch less compliant than the other bikes here.

With that in mind, there’s plenty of frame and fork clearance for higher volume tyres to help smooth the ride further, and Trek helpfully supplies the X-Caliber 8 with rim strips, valves and sealant so you can go tubeless straight from the box and reap the benefits immediately.

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With a sure-footed ride, reliable Shimano components and a sorted tubeless wheelset, it feels like there’s a trail bike hiding under the X-Caliber’s glossy frame finish just waiting to get out, but being held back by the fork and lack of a dropper post. Stepping up a model to the X-Caliber 9 would be our recommendation then, as it gets a dropper post and a more capable and refined fork. Ultimately, the Trek X-Caliber 8’s weight is noticeable and even with the same control tyres fitted to all of the test bikes, the Trek lacks the race-bike urgency of the Scott and Giant.

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Results have arrived, the best hardtail mountain bikes of 2022.

Hardtail mountain bikes are perfect for anyone looking for a simpler riding experience. Whether you ride trail, race XC, or go big on enduro and downhill tracks, there's a hardtail here for you.

Written by: Bruce Lin

Published on: Aug 26, 2022

Posted in: Guides

Photo: John Watson

Despite all of the advances in mountain bike technology over the last 40 years, the classic hardtail is still going strong. Here at TPC, we actually sell as many hardtails as we do long-travel enduro rigs. For some, the simplicity and feel of a rigid rear end has no equal.

Want to dial in your riding skills? Hardtails let you feel every bump and dip in the trail, so you have no choice but to up your riding game. On a tight budget? Without rear suspension, hardtails are cheaper to buy and less expensive to maintain. Looking for your first mountain bike, a fun trail weapon to add to your quiver, or the perfect one-bike quiver killer? A good ol’ hardtail is probably the right answer. To help you find the perfect hardtail mountain bike, I’ve picked out some of the best hardtails for sale right now at TPC. 

[button] SHOP HARDTAIL MOUNTAIN BIKES [/button]

Best Trail Hardtails

Rocky mountain fusion.

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The affordable Rocky Mountain Fusion is the perfect first bike for newer riders on a budget. 29” wheels paired with a 100mm fork and modern long/slack geometry give riders the confidence to develop some sick riding skills. The aluminum frame can take a beating, and as you improve, you can upgrade the components to keep up. 

Specialized Fuse Comp

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The Specialized Fuse is like having multiple bikes in one. Want to play with different wheel sizes? The Fuse is compatible with 29”, 27.5”, and 27.5+ wheels. Want to do a singlespeed conversion? It comes with handy sliding dropouts. Just want to shred? The slack geo, burly aluminum frame, and a 130mm fork give the Fuse a playful attitude that loves to pop off jumps and slap berms. 

Santa Cruz Chameleon 

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The Santa Cruz Chameleon blends in perfectly with your terrain and riding style. With a 65-degree head angle and 130mm fork, it will rip down fast and gnarly singletrack. But load up your bags, and you can turn it into a backcountry adventure rig. Adjustable dropouts and the ability to run multiple tire configurations let you tune it for your needs. Don’t take my word for it though, check out the in-depth review on The Radavist for more .

Bombtrack Cale AL

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Need something tough and reliable for everyday trail abuse? Bombtrack comes from the BMX world, so it knows how to build bombproof bikes. The Cale is similar to the Specialized Fuse and Santa Cruz Chameleon in terms of geometry and suspension travel, so it’s a great alternative if you’re looking for something from a smaller, more indie manufacturer. 

Yeti ARC Turq

[product-block handle="2021-yeti-arc-turq-s"/]

If you enjoy the finer things in life, then this beautiful, top-of-the-line Yeti ARC is the hardtail for you. With a lightweight Turq carbon frame, modern geometry, and a 130mm fork, it combines XC weight with an enduro attitude. It’s the ultimate do-it-all hardtail for those who love to conquer challenging climbs, let loose on descents, and look good doing it. 

[newsletter]

Best XC hardtails

Bmc twostroke 01.

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If you’re an aspiring XC racer, this BMC Twostroke is the fastest way to finish without breaking the bank. It gives you a premium carbon frame and a complete build that weighs only 22 pounds — all for less than three grand! Use the money you save on some racey upgrades and before you know it, you’ll be the next Tom Pidcock.  

Orbea Alma M

[product-block handle="2022-orbea-alma-m-pro-l-car-gol"/]

If you’re aiming for the top of the podium, the Orbea Alma is the bike you want. It’s won World Cups, world championships, and Olympic gold. The geometry has been perfected through decades of racing at the highest level, making it the ideal blend of stability and agility. Right out of the box, this Alma M Pro build is ready to race at the highest level. 

Best enduro hardtails

Marin el roy.

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Marin calls the El Roy the "Party Hardy Hardtail". The mega slack 63° head tube angle demands to be pointed straight downhill, and the bombproof steel frame gives you the confidence to huck it off anything. It’s not a one-note rig though. 29er wheels and a super steep seat tube make it competent enough to pedal back uphill for more laps.

Chromag Stylus

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The Chromag Stylus doesn’t play by the rules with its big 160mm fork and playful 27.5” wheels. You can even run old-school 26” wheels if you want! With its super-short seat tube and low standover, it’s essentially a long-travel dirt jumper. Drop the seat completely out of the way to boost the biggest jumps or jib and slash your way down super steep trails.

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Best hardtail mountain bikes in 2024 | Top-rated hardtail MTBs and our buyer's guide

Our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes over £2,000, under £2,000, under £1,500 and under £1,000

Mick Kirkman

The humble hardtail mountain bike seems to be going through a mini-revival, with a raft of cross-country, downcountry, trail and even radder rigid frames being introduced.

What are the advantages of a hardtail? Where uphill speed matters, the direct connection from crank to axle, without energy-inefficient suspension spoiling the fun, is the quickest way to get up to speed.

Riding rough-and-ready trails on a hardtail might beat you up a little more, but there’s something almost zen-like about being able to pick the smoothest line between the chunder, while pumping through rollers to generate free speed.

Hardtails are often also lighter, easier to maintain and cheaper than full-suspension mountain bikes, because there are fewer moving parts to add weight, service or build in the first place.

Here, we've put together our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes as ridden, rated and reviewed by the BikeRadar team.

Hardtail vs full-suspension mountain bike

Stuck between whether a hardtail or full-suspension mountain bike best suits your requirements?

It all depends on the type of mountain biking you would like to take part in. Hardtails are more capable than you might initially think, but full-suspension mountain bikes come into their own on more technical terrain, especially when the gradients point downwards.

Budget is the biggest factor and (with few exceptions), the entry point to a full-suspension bike is much higher than that for a hardtail. The best mountain bikes under £1,500 see full-suspension start to become available and as you start to spend more, you'll find updates in frame materials , as well as better components and suspension specced.

What's your budget?

Buying a hardtail is one of the most affordable ways into mountain biking.

As a result, it's no surprise that hardtails dominate our buyer's guides to the best mountain bikes under £500 , best mountain bikes under £750 and best mountain bikes under £1,000 .

If you're looking to buy a hardtail mountain bike, we've collated our reviews of the best bikes here, organised by price, as well as our reviews of hardtail frames.

Use the links below to skip to the relevant section:

• Best hardtails over £2,000/$2,300
• Best hardtails under £2,000/$2,300
• Best hardtails under £1,500/$1,700
• Best hardtails under £1,000/$1,200
• Best hardtail frames

If you're in the market for a full-suspension bike, make sure you check out our guides to the best trail bikes , best downcountry bikes and best enduro mountain bikes.

We've also got a list of the best cross-country bikes , covering both hardtail and full-suspension designs for XC racing . You may also be interested in our round-up of the best electric mountain bikes .

Still unsure? Head to our guide on how to choose the best mountain bike for you, with the pros and cons of each category.

Best hardtail mountain bikes in 2024, as rated by our expert testers

Right, let's get onto our pick of the best hardtail mountain bikes.

Every bike we've recommended here has been rated and reviewed by BikeRadar's expert test team.

Best hardtail mountain bikes over £2,000/$2,300

Lapierre prorace cf 9.9.

• Good value for the money
• Great all-round capability
• £5,999/€6,799 as tested

The Lapierre Prorace CF 9.9 is the French brand's top-end hardtail designed for cross-country racing.

A compliant carbon fibre frame, which uses a triple-triangle design to give lateral flex to the bike's rear end, aids vibration damping over chattery trails, while adding traction on technical climbs.

The geometry makes the bike agile and engaging on the trail, with the Prorace inspiring confidence on descents where others feel twitchy.

While it's not cheap, the addition of SRAM's X01 AXS groupset, RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork and Lapierre's own XC SL carbon wheelset make this a good value proposition.

• Read our full Lapierre Prorace CF 9.9 review

Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 4

• Good value for money
• £2,600/$2,300/€2,699 as tested

The Scalpel HT Carbon 4 takes a break from traditional XC race bike design, with the slack head angle making the bike feel incredibly capable when pointed down a trail.

Cannondale has given the bike a top spec for the money, with a RockShox SID SL fork supporting the front end and a Shimano Deore 12-speed groupset used for shifting.

The flex zone suspension in the rear triangle gives a controlled feel, with the bike remaining composed and grip plentiful on ascents and descents.

• Read our full Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 4 review

Pivot LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR

• Confidence-inspiring geometry
• Acres of grip without sacrificing speed
• £6,750/$6,199 as tested

Pivot's LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR is the brand's carbon fibre cross-country race hardtail, which is hinted at in the pun-based name of the bike.

The lateral compliance in the frame enables you to maintain a high speed over chattery terrain, while the geometry makes the bike nimble through the trees and efficient on hills.

While it's expensive, the bike comes well specced with a combination of Shimano XT and XTR parts used in the groupset, alongside a 100mm Fox 32 Factory StepCast fork, though we'd have liked to have seen carbon wheels featuring at this price point.

• Read our full Pivot LES SL 29 Pro XT/XTR review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £2,000/$2,300

Merida big.trail 600.

• Well-equipped
• A joy to ride
• £1,650/€2,040/AU$2,499 as tested

The Merida Big.Trail 600 shares the same frameset as the Big.Trail 500, but sees a few upgrades to its spec.

The Shimano 1x12 Deore drivetrain shifts sharply, while the 10-54t cassette and 32t chainring afford plenty of range.

Value could be better, however. The Shimano M410 brakes are feeble in the wet, and lead to hesitancy downhill.

• Read our full Merida Big.Trail 600 review

Sonder Signal ST NX

• Great geometry
• Short-travel dropper
• £1,599/$2,297/€1,799/AU$2,914

The Sonder Signal ST NX is a steel hardtail that's made to the British company’s principles of value for money and hard-charging, descent-focused bikes.

The Signal ticks all the modern aggressive trail bike boxes with a large reach, 66-degree head tube and 74-degree seat tube. Heading downhill, the bike pulls at the leash and rides across roots with ease.

This bike was never intended to be a fast climber, but it does spin comfortably uphill and is confident over technical inclines.

WTB tyres help the Signal find grip wherever possible and the 130mm RockShox Revelation RC fork is good in most circumstances. It would be nice to have a slightly longer dropper to create enough space to move your weight around in the sketchiest of situations.

Overall, the Signal has a great chassis that wouldn’t look out of place on a much pricier bike, and there is a good level of kit for the money without too much compromise.

• Read our full Sonder Signal ST NX review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £1,500/$1,700

Kona kahuna.

• Superb ride quality
• Well-specced Shimano groupset and brakes
• £1,199 as tested

Kona’s endearing Kahuna offers a commendable ride quality in its latest guise. With a curvy shape and low-slung top tube, the cross-country frame offers a lively ride with instantaneous acceleration when you crank up the power on the pedals .

The Kahuna features a Shimano Deore 12-speed groupset, which is the best you can get for the asking price, as well as reliable Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc brakes .

What holds the bike back from a full 5-star rating is its more traditional geometry and its quick-release rear axle, which limits wheel-upgrade potential. The Kahuna also lacks a dropper seatpost , although the frame has the possible routing for one, should you wish to upgrade.

• Read our full Kona Kahuna review

Best hardtail mountain bikes under £1,000/$1,200

Carrera fury.

• Great value for money
• Front fork holds the bike back
• £600 as tested

With a dropper post, Shimano Deore drivetrain, WTB Trail Boss tyres and £600 price tag, the Carrera Fury is probably one of the best value-for-money mountain bikes out there.

The Fury can also lay claim to having a more progressive geometry than many of its competitors at this price point. This helps make it comfortable on climbs, and when paired with its 650b wheels it has a solid, stable feel and great descending composure.

We weren’t without quibbles when testing this bike, though. The air-sprung front fork doesn’t offer great small-bump sensitivity, and a fork upgrade isn’t viable at this price. It would be nice to see Boost spacing too.

Despite these points, you do get a lot of performance for the money and the Fury trumps its competitors in multiple ways. A better fork would just elevate this steal of a bike even further.

• Read our full Carrera Fury review

Vitus Sentier 29

• Up-to-date geometry
• Decent spec
• £950/$1,200/€1,300/AU$1,800 as tested

The Vitus Sentier 29 combines quality parts with impressive value, with the bike featuring a 130mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, Clarks M2 hydraulic brakes and a Shimano Deore M5100 derailleur.

The Sentier frame, which remains the same throughout the range, provides a good foundation to the spec, with a refined geometry that feels just as fast downhill as it does on the climbs.

One negative is the exposed inner gear cable that runs down the top tube, which after a couple of muddy rides lead to stiff gear shifting.

• Read our full Vitus Sentier 29 review

Voodoo Bizango Pro

• High-quality spec for the price
• Upgrade potential
• £950/$1,258 as tested

The Voodoo Bizango Pro offers top performance at a bargain price. The quality spec includes a RockShox FS-35 Gold 130mm fork, Shimano Deore 12-speed and Maxxis tyres helping to get the most out of the frame.

The Bizango Pro inspires plenty of confidence, with the bike feeling stable downhill and especially when railing berms thanks to it's progressive geometry and decent tyres. We even felt comfortable to push the it further than trail centre blues and reds, with it continuing to shine on more technical trails.

The 35mm stanchioned fork was easy to set up and performed well, giving the bike a solid feeling at the front end and allowing for open line choice through rockier sections.

Tolerances between the seat tube and seatpost are quite large, which leads to the saddle dropping on occasion, though this was solved with application of some carbon assembly paste.

• Read our full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

Marin Bobcat Trail 5

• Well-considered spec
• Progressive geometry
• £985/$999/€1,149 as tested

The Bobcat Trail 5 is an excellent hardtail mountain bike that uses the Bobcat Trail frameset, and is built up with a 120mm Suntour XCR 32 fork and 1x11 Shimano Deore drivetrain.

The fork is coil-sprung, which made it difficult initially to set up the suspension. We found it to be less effective than air-sprung forks found on similarly priced bikes.

We were impressed by the bike's handling and the high levels of stability that the long-reach frame provided with its 67.5-degree head angle.

The aggressive geometry provides good confidence beyond the bike's intended use.

• Read our full Marin Bobcat Trail 5 review

Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29

• Fast-rolling and quick up the hills
• Lightweight and well specced
• £949/$1,150/€975/AU$1,300 as tested

The Rockhopper Elite 29 rolls fast and descends well thanks to 29in wheels and a solid spec choice.

A RockShox Judy Solo Air fork provides good support on the descents, with the short travel, which ranges from 80mm to 100mm depending on size, making for engaging an ride. However, there is more work to be done by the rider compared to other bikes with more suspension.

The 29in wheels help with line choice, and enable the bike to monster over the type technical sections that feature in trail centres.

• Read our full Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29 review

Calibre Rake 29

• Impressive value for money
• Playful handling
• £700 (£550 with GO Outdoors membership card) as tested

The Calibre Rake 29 is incredibly well specced for the money, featuring components found on bikes twice its price.

A 100mm RockShox FS-Judy TK helps isolate you from rough trails, although there's some flex in the fork on hard compressions.

The Clarks M2 hydraulic disc brakes give the bike a controlled feel that enables you to tackle trail-centre descents with confidence.

A 66-degree head angle also helps in keeping the bike under control at high speed.

While the frame was quite stiff, the WTB Trail Boss tyres provided plenty of comfort and gave enough grip to comfortably push the bike.

• Read our full Calibre Rake 29 review

Best hardtail mountain bike frames

• Contemporary geometry and excellent ride
• Value for money full builds
• £2,900 custom build in testing
• £695/$952/€962 (frame only) as tested

The Bird Forge is a steel hardtail designed around 29in wheels and 140 to 160mm travel forks, and has an excellent ride quality across terrains.

Bird is known for its modern geometry , and the Forge is no exception. The frame has a 64-degree head tube angle and 77-degree seat tube angle with a long reach and low bottom bracket. We found this slack geometry inspired confidence when the trail got rough, and the short chainstays didn’t make it hard to lift the front wheel over obstacles.

Bird offers custom builds and our setup with wireless SRAM Eagle , Formula Selva R fork , SRAM G2 RSC brakes and DT Swiss rims on Hope hubs proved to be excellent value for money.

The only niggle we had was with the Deathgrips, which made accessing the AXS upshift paddle tricky, but Bird does offer other grip options.

• Read our full Bird Forge review

Pipedream Moxie Mx3

• Versatile ride that suits long days out and blasts in the woods
• Frameset only
• £3,300 custom build in testing
• £649 (frameset) as tested

The Pipedream Moxie Mx3 is made from chromoly steel tubes and adaptability is put front and centre. The bike can take 140 to 170mm travel forks and has sliding dropouts, so it can fit 650b , 650b+ or 29in wheels .

The sliding dropouts change the geometry of the bike, but in its ‘long’ setup we found the Moxie had a lovely balance between high-speed stability and agility, carving through corners. When climbing, the 77.5-degree seat tube centres your weight nicely.

The difference between the long and short settings is subtle, but we found the short setting preferable because it gives the bike a fun-loving personality.

At the time of testing, Pipedream only offered the Moxie as a frameset with no off-the-shelf builds. This means you can customise your build however you want, but we would say be prepared to play around with stem length to get the right handling.

• Read our full Pipedream Moxie Mx3 review

Cotic BFeMax

• Steadfast over sketchy trails
• The high bottom bracket has pros and cons
• £3,538 custom build in testing
• £549 (frameset) as tested

The steel BFe has long been a feature of the hardtail scene, with 26in, 650b and 29in wheel versions offered since 2005.

The custom 29er BFeMax we rode in testing has Cotic’s aggressively shaped ‘longshot’ geometry and a spec sheet that’s built around technical capability. In short, it’s a bike with gnarly intentions.

Built with meaty WTB tyres and a top-end RockShox Pike Ultimate 150mm-travel fork, the bike flies down sketchy, loose trails at speed, with the slack geometry bringing stability and the Reynolds steel smoothing out the ride.

Despite the seat tube not being that steep, the long rear-end helps keeps your weight centred and makes climbing easier.

The high bottom bracket helps prevent the pedals from hitting obstacles, but we found this also means the bike is less willing to chop and change direction than some.

• Read our full Cotic BFeMax review

Buyer’s guide to hardtail mountain bikes

What is a hardtail mountain bike bike best for.

It is possible to ride any discipline on a hardtail, with cross-country, trail and enduro all catered for by manufacturers.

Hardtail mountain bikes have long been a favourite of cross-country riders for their direct pedalling efficiency and lighter weight when compared to full-suspension bikes.

Hardtails also cover the trail and enduro categories, with some featuring super-slack geometry to accommodate 170mm forks.

Many riders choose to ride hardtails for their mechanical simplicity, which can require a more involved and skilful riding experience

Hardtail mountain bikes usually dominate the lower end of the market and can be a great way of getting onto the trails if you don’t want to splash out for a full-suspension model.

Hardtail mountain bikes vs full-suspension mountain bikes

Hardtail mountain bikes are much simpler than full-suspension bikes, with only a suspension fork and tyres providing any damping from the trail below.

Full-suspension bikes feel more isolated from the trail, which can reduce rider fatigue and enable a more brazen riding style because the suspension will help save you from poor line choices.

While full-suspension bikes are more capable on rough technical descents, they require more moving parts, such as a linkage and rear shock. These cost more and need regular servicing.

This also makes them heavier than hardtails, which can mean they're less fun to pedal. Full-suspenion bikes will give you better traction on rough terrain though.

Some hardtail mountain bikes feature flexible zones in the frame that allow for vertical compliance to reduce vibrations and provide more grip.

What components should I look for on a hardtail mountain bike?

Tyres and wheels.

Because hardtails have less mechanical suspension, tyre and wheel choice is even more important.

Wider mountain bike tyres will enable you to run your tyre pressures lower, especially if you have your bike set up tubeless .

The best mountain bike wheels will feature wide internal rims. These provide tyres with a confidence-boosting wide stance and increased volume.

The fork is also important because it provides your only damped suspension.

Wider stanchions add weight but provide increased rigidity, improving control for trail riding. Lightweight cross-country forks will often feature narrower stanchions that feel more flexible in high-compression corners.

Check out our buyer's guide to mountain bike forks for more information.

Dropper post

A dropper post is always a good addition, especially on a hardtail because it enables you to move your weight more freely over the back wheel to find a grip.

What is the best wheel size for a hardtail mountain bike?

Because hardtail mountain bikes have less suspension than full-suspension bikes, they're affected more by rocks and bumps in the trail.

29in wheels roll over objects easier than 27.5in wheels due to their increased size. This makes them a popular choice for all hardtail riders, from cross-country to enduro.

A smaller wheel size may be desired if you are looking for a more playful bike, but there will be trade-offs in speed and damping.

Hardtail mountain bike geometry

Hardtail mountain bike geometry varies depending on discipline, with bikes designed for more gravity-fed riding featuring long, low and slack geometry just like their full-suspension counterparts.

Hardtails usually feature a sloping top tube, which keeps the weight of the bike lower which helps to keep it more stable.

It also makes it easier to move around the bike, because there’s no horizontal head tube in your way, and improves seated comfort because more seatpost is exposed, which adds compliance.

Without the room needed for a linkage, chainstay lengths can be made much smaller than full-suspension bikes, giving hardtails a more playful and responsive ride.

Cross-country hardtails will usually feature steep seat tube angles to centre your weight over the pedals for uphill efforts, and a long front centre for a more stretched-out riding style.

How much should I spend on a hardtail mountain bike?

Hardtails are known for their affordable price tags – most entry-level mountain bikes worth consideration are hardtails.

However, as our best list shows, there are hardtails in every price range – how much you spend is really determined by how much you’re willing to pay, and what you are looking for.

Hardtail mountain bikes aren’t necessarily cheaper than full-suspension bikes, with high-end cross-country hardtails being priced very similarly to their full-suspension counterparts.

At this end of the market, you can expect to see drool-worthy components on ridiculously light frames.

Decent hardtails start from £500, with bikes at this price point usually featuring trail-ready geometry and components.

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Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

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Moscow Oblast, Russia

The capital city of Moskovskaya oblast: Moscow .

Moscow Oblast - Overview

Moscow Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Central Federal District. Moscow, the capital city of the country, is the administrative center of Moscow Oblast. At the same time, Moscow is not part of this region, it is a separate federal subject of Russia, a city of federal importance.

The population of Moscow Oblast is about 7,769,000 (2022), the area - 44,379 sq. km.

Moskovskaya oblast flag

Moskovskaya oblast coat of arms.

Moskovskaya oblast map, Russia

Moskovskaya oblast latest news and posts from our blog:.

23 June, 2022 / Natural Spring Gremyachiy Klyuch in Moscow Oblast .

23 March, 2022 / Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces .

31 January, 2022 / Vasilyevsky (Shcherbatovsky) Castle in Moscow Oblast .

1 August, 2021 / Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery near Moscow .

4 August, 2020 / Sights of Moscow Oblast - the heart of Russia .

More posts..

History of Moscow Oblast

The territory of the Moscow region was inhabited more than 20 thousand years ago. In the first millennium AD, this land was inhabited mostly by the Finno-Ugric peoples (Meryane and Meshchera). In the 9th-10th centuries, the Slavs began active development of the region. The population was engaged in hunting, fisheries, agriculture, and cattle breeding.

In the middle of the 12th century, the territory of the present Moscow region became part of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, the first towns were founded (Volokolamsk in 1135, Moscow in 1147, Zvenigorod in 1152, Dmitrov in 1154). In the first half of the 13th century, the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was conquered by the Mongols.

In the 14th-16th centuries, Moscow principality became the center of unification of Russian lands. The history of the Moscow region is inextricably linked to military events of the Time of Troubles - the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery by the troops of False Dmitry II, the first and second militias.

More historical facts…

In 1708, by decree of Peter the Great, Moskovskaya gubernia (province) was established. It included most of the territory of present Moscow oblast. In 1712, St. Petersburg became the capital of the Russian Empire and the significance of the Moscow region as the country’s economic center began to decrease.

In 1812, the Battle of Borodino took place near Moscow. It was the biggest battle of the Russian-French War of 1812. In the second half of the 19th century, especially after the peasant reform of 1861, the Moscow province experienced economic growth. In 1851, the first railway connected Moscow and St. Petersburg; in 1862 - Nizhny Novgorod.

The population of the Moscow region increased significantly (in 1847 - 1.13 million people, in 1905 - 2.65 million). On the eve of the First World War, Moscow was a city with a population of more than one million people.

In November, 1917, the Soviet power was established in the region. In 1918, the country’s capital was moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow that contributed to economic recovery of the province. In the 1920s-1930s, a lot of churches located near Moscow were closed, a large number of cultural monuments were destroyed. On January 14, 1929, Moscow Oblast was formed.

In 1941-1942, one of the most important battles of the Second World War took place on the territory of the region - the Battle for Moscow. In the postwar years, the growth of economic potential of the region continued; several science cities were founded (Dubna, Troitsk, Pushchino, Chernogolovka).

In the 1990s, the economy of Moscow Oblast experienced a deep crisis. Since the 1990s, due to the motorization of the population and commuting, road traffic situation in the Moscow region significantly deteriorated. Traffic jams have become commonplace.

Pictures of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast scenery

Author: Mikhail Grizly

At the airport in the Moscow region

Author: Evgeny Davydov

Nature of Moscow Oblast

Author: Alexander Khmelkov

Moscow Oblast - Features

Moscow Oblast is located in the central part of the East European Plain, in the basin of the rivers of Volga, Oka, Klyazma, Moskva. The region stretches from north to south for 310 km, from west to east - 340 km. It was named after the city of Moscow, which however is not part of the region. Part of the administrative authorities of the region is located in Krasnogorsk.

On the territory of the Moscow region, there are 77 cities and towns, 19 of them have a population of more than 100 thousand people. The largest cities are Balashikha (518,300), Podolsk (309,600), Mytishchi (262,700), Khimky (256,300), Korolyov (225,300), Lubertsy (209,600), Krasnogorsk (174,900), Elektrostal (149,000), Odintsovo (138,900), Kolomna (136,800), Domodedovo (136,100).

The climate is temperate continental. Summers are warm, winters are moderately cold. The average temperature in January is minus 10 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

One of the most important features of the local economy is its proximity to Moscow. Some of the cities (Odintsovo, Krasnogorsk, Mytishchi) have become in fact the “sleeping districts” of Moscow. The region is in second place in terms of industrial production among the regions of Russia (after Moscow).

The leading industries are food processing, engineering, chemical, metallurgy, construction. Moscow oblast has one of the largest in Russia scientific and technological complexes. Handicrafts are well developed (Gzhel ceramics, Zhostov trays, Fedoskino lacquered miniatures, toy-making).

Moscow railway hub is the largest in Russia (11 radial directions, 2,700 km of railways, the density of railways is the highest in Russia). There are two large international airports - Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo. Vnukovo airport is used for the flights within the country.

Attractions of Moscow Oblast

Moscow Oblast has more than 6,400 objects of cultural heritage:

• famous estate complexes,
• ancient towns with architectural monuments (Vereya, Volokolamsk, Dmitrov, Zaraysk, Zvenigorod, Istra, Kolomna, Sergiev Posad, Serpukhov),
• churches and monasteries-museums (the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Joseph-Volokolamsk monastery, Pokrovsky Khotkov monastery, Savvino Storozhevsky monastery, Nikolo Ugresha monastery).

The most famous estate complexes:

• Arkhangelskoye - a large museum with a rich collection of Western European and Russian art of the 17th-19th centuries,
• Abramtsevo - a literary and artistic center,
• Melikhovo - an estate owned by A.P. Chekhov at the end of the 19th century,
• Zakharovo and Bolshiye Vyazyomy included in the History and Literature Museum-Reserve of Alexander Pushkin,
• House-Museum of the composer P.I. Tchaikovsky in Klin,
• Muranovo that belonged to the poet F.I. Tyutchev,
• Shakhmatovo - the estate of the poet Alexander Blok.

The architectural ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The largest museum of the Moscow region is located in Serpukhov - Serpukhov Historical and Art Museum.

The places of traditional arts and crafts are the basis of the souvenir industry of Russia:

• Fedoskino - lacquer miniature painting,
• Bogorodskoe - traditional manufacture of wooden toys,
• Gzhel - unique tradition of creating ceramics,
• Zhostovo - painted metal crafts,
• Pavlovsky Posad - fabrics with traditional printed pattern.

Some of these settlements have museums dedicated to traditional crafts (for example, a toy museum in Bogorodskoe), as well as centers of learning arts and crafts.

Moskovskaya oblast of Russia photos

Landscapes of moscow oblast.

Nature of the Moscow region

Country road in the Moscow region

Moscow Oblast landscape

Author: Mikhail Kurtsev

Moscow Oblast views

Author: Asedach Alexander

Country life in Moscow Oblast

Author: Andrey Zakharov

Church in Moscow Oblast

Author: Groshev Dmitrii

Churches of Moscow Oblast

Church in the Moscow region

Cathedral in Moscow Oblast

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Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

Coordinates of elektrostal in decimal degrees, coordinates of elektrostal in degrees and decimal minutes, utm coordinates of elektrostal, geographic coordinate systems.

WGS 84 coordinate reference system is the latest revision of the World Geodetic System, which is used in mapping and navigation, including GPS satellite navigation system (the Global Positioning System).

Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) define a position on the Earth’s surface. Coordinates are angular units. The canonical form of latitude and longitude representation uses degrees (°), minutes (′), and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes, or in decimal degrees.

Latitude varies from −90° to 90°. The latitude of the Equator is 0°; the latitude of the South Pole is −90°; the latitude of the North Pole is 90°. Positive latitude values correspond to the geographic locations north of the Equator (abbrev. N). Negative latitude values correspond to the geographic locations south of the Equator (abbrev. S).

Longitude is counted from the prime meridian ( IERS Reference Meridian for WGS 84) and varies from −180° to 180°. Positive longitude values correspond to the geographic locations east of the prime meridian (abbrev. E). Negative longitude values correspond to the geographic locations west of the prime meridian (abbrev. W).

UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator coordinate system divides the Earth’s surface into 60 longitudinal zones. The coordinates of a location within each zone are defined as a planar coordinate pair related to the intersection of the equator and the zone’s central meridian, and measured in meters.

Elevation above sea level is a measure of a geographic location’s height. We are using the global digital elevation model GTOPO30 .

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

• X-Caliber 8

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Trek Marlin 8 Mountain Bike 2022 Red/Nautical

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In the unlikely event that you are dissatisfied with your purchase please feel free to return your goods within 60 days of the purchase date for a full exchange or refund. Any item (excluding food and underwear) can be returned to us for any reason provided it is returned in ‘showroom condition’, with its original packaging, tags and a valid receipt/delivery note. Simply box up your items for return, include a cover note with the word REFUND or EXCHANGE inside & follow the below steps for safe return to our warehouse; where your return will be processed promptly.

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If you wish to return your bike to us please keep it in the box it arrived in and call us on 01772 644340 and we will arrange a collection.

Please note the following:

• a) If we have sent you the incorrect bicycle, we will cover the cost of collection and delivery of the correct model.
• b) If we have delivered the bicycle you ordered, but upon inspection you decide it is not the bike for you, we will charge you £50.00 for the collection.

Please do not ride the bike as a full refund cannot be given if the bike has been used or damaged.

Return Items to a store

Any item (excluding food and underwear) can be returned to any Leisure Lakes Bikes store not just the one you made your purchase at, including those made online. The item must be returned in ‘showroom condition’, with its original packaging, tags and with a valid receipt/delivery note.

Wrong size or you don't like the item?

If returning items that are not suitable for either refund or exchange you are accountable for the delivery cost in returning it to us. You should always keep proof of postage and we advise you to use a ‘signed for service’ when returning goods.

New faulty items/ Wrong Item Received

If you have received items that are faulty or not what you ordered send them back to us (using the steps above) and we will cover the delivery cost of the return if it is within 14 days of delivery. If we have supplied the correct product, it is not faulty or it is outside of the 14 days we can not be liable for your postage charges. You should always keep proof of postage and we advise you to use a ‘signed for service’ when returning goods.

In the event that you have received items that are fault or not what you ordered, please send them back to us as soon as possible. Only in these cases will we cover the cost of the return shipping charges.

Faulty Items

If you have received items that are faulty please send them back to us using the steps above. Please include a covering letter describing the fault and if you would like the item replacing or refunding. Once the item arrives back at our Mail Order Centre you will receive an email notifying you about the progress. Faulty items are then forwarded onto the suppliers to confirm the warranty issue. Please be patient with us as we need to receive this confirmation from the suppliers before we can process your request for a replacement/refund.

When returning the item please use Royal Mail1 st Class Recorded* so that you have a tracking reference just in case! If your item arrived faulty we will refund your postage cost. If the item was in full working order at the time of delivery to you, we can not refund your return postage cost.

*In the event that you return a faulty/incorrect item we will refund your postage charge as long as it is 1 st Class Recorded or a lesser value service. We do not refund premium services.

Refunds will be processed using the same method of payment used for the original purchase. Credit and debit card refunds must be made to the card used for the original transaction, cheque payments will be refunded in cash but due to banking restrictions can only be refunded at least 14 days after the original purchase date. Due to the high incidence of fraud we regret that we are unable to offer any refund without a valid receipt/delivery note.

Refunds will be made for faulty or incorrect items, including any delivery charge incurred by the buyer (excluding ‘Special Delivery’) in the return of the item. If the products you ordered are delivered to you in good condition but you wish to return them for any reason we will refund the full value of the goods excluding any carriage charge upon receipt of your returned goods.

Items won’t be considered lost until after 15 working days of items beingdispatched. Once the 15 working days are up we will issue a refund or replacement.

Not received your order?

If you have not received your order please call us on 01772 644340 and a member of staff can confirm the shipping date. Unfortunately we cannot consider an item to be lost until 15 working days has passed (according to Royal Mail procedure). Once the 15 working days have passed we will be able to issue a full refund or resend your order.

Season:2022

Code:22TK-Marlin8-RD

It's right for you if...

You want a race-ready mountain bike with upgrades on the parts that make a big difference in performance, like a lighter, higher-quality suspension fork, wide-range 1x drivetrain and tubeless-ready wheels.

The tech you get

A light frame with internal cable routing, a smoother-feeling RockShox Judy Silver fork with a Solo Air spring and TurnKey hydraulic lockout, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, tubeless-ready Bontrager Kovee wheels and a simple 1x12 drivetrain that ditches the front derailleur for less clutter and easier operation. The wide-range 11-50 cassette gives you all the gears you need for clawing up climbs and blazing down descents.

The final word

The tubeless-ready wheels, RockShox suspension, wide range of gearing and quality parts make it an outstanding choice for new mountain bikers who know they want a serious bike for their money. It’s fully capable of taking on big trail adventures and XC races.

Why you'll love it

• This is one of our most popular bikes for good reason. You get all the value, plus all the versatility – it's a totally race-worthy mountain bike, with rear rack mounts if you use it for commuting too
• The RockShox fork's Solo Air spring can easily be adjusted for a specific rider weight, and it's lighter than a coil spring
• Setting your wheels up tubeless reduces the overall weight of your bike and the chances that you’ll get a flat
• The 1x drivetrain gives you all the gears you need, and none you don’t
• The Marlin models in XXS to S frame sizes have a curved top tube and a lower standover height that makes it easier for smaller riders to mount and dismount

Trek Marlin 8 Mountain Bike Features

High tech, high value

Marlin looks and feels great. It’s packed with features usually found only on more expensive bikes, like a stylish frame with internal shift cable and brake hose routing, which can help your cables last longer by protecting them from the elements.

Fit for every rider

Marlin comes in seven frame sizes to suit riders of any height, and Smart Wheel Size ensures you’re on the fastest wheel that fits. The smallest sizes even come with short-reach brake levers and narrower handlebars that give smaller riders better comfort and control. Suspension Lockout Locked suspension means your fork remians inactive, increasing pedalling effiency. Perfect for extended road sections where efficiency is more important than bump absorption.

Rack Mounts Going for a long ride ? Rack Mounrs make carrying accessories a breeze.

Specifications

*spec applies to all sizes unless otherwise noted

All measurements provided in cm unless otherwise stated.

Sizing & fit

The charts below show our recommended sizes based on height, but there are some other factors, like arm and leg length, that determine a great fit. That’s why you’ll see some overlap in our recommendations. Not every rider who’s 5´8˝, for example, will fit on the same size bike. The best way to find your perfect fit is to consult the experts at your local Shop.

Write a review for Trek Marlin 8 Mountain Bike 2022 Red/Nautical

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Credit is provided by V12 Retail Finance Ltd, a trading name of Secure Trust Bank Plc. which is registered in England and Wales: 541132. Registered Office: Yorke House, Arleston Way, Solihull, B90 4LH. Secure Trust Bank Plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority with registration number 204550. For more information please visit www.v12retailfinance.com .

If you are intending to use finance as your payment option, please note we will only ship your order to your billing address, and not to an alternative delivery address.

This is for estimation purposes only. Actual finance application is completed during checkout.

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