best long travel 27.5 mtb

Best trail mountain bikes 2024 – we test 11 excellent ride anywhere MTBs

Trail MTBs have become the ultimate do-everything mountain bikes, efficient on the climbs and confident on the descents. Here's our expert pick of the best around

The best trail mountain bikes are designed to be all-around MTBs that can take on any trail, all day long. As trail mountain biking fills the middle ground between enduro and XC, it's the most popular riding style and virtually every brand has at least one trail bike in its range.

Trail bikes are designed to combine uphill and downhill performance. For this reason, they often have a relatively efficient pedaling platform, yet the best trail bikes will shine on the downhills too. Usually sitting somewhere between 130 and 150mm of front and rear travel, these machines can tackle everything from trail center loops to gnarly off-piste steeps.

With so many quality trail bikes here, it's very tough to pick any overall winner and the one that's best for you will depend on where and how you want to ride.

Our five star rated trail MTBs are the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp and Forbidden Druid V2. The Canyon Spectral 29 CF8 and YT Jeffsy Uncaged 6 are also excellent bikes that give maximum bangs per buck, so are our best value choices.

If you're unsure if trail MTBs are you right for you, our guides to the best mountain bikes and best mountain bike brands which should help you make your decision. And if you're looking to upgrade an existing bike, you may want to have a look at our top trail tire guide and our our article on the best dropper posts . We've also got a buying advice section on what to look for in a trail bike at the bottom of this article.

The best trail bikes

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Specialized offers the Stumpjumper in a huge range of spec, travel options, and in two wheel sizes, however, the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp version is a happy medium between cost and components and is the Goldilocks model for us.

The Evo Comp model is made from the brand's Fact 11 carbon and features 160mm up front and 150mm at the back. The geometry is great, with a really well-centered feel descending and easy poise when climbing. Don't get us wrong, there are bikes out there that climb or descend better, but there aren't many that do both quite so well and it's finding the balance that makes the Stumpjumper such a great bike.

Not only does the Stumpjumper have impeccable ride manners, but Specialized has also packed the Stumpjumper Evo with practical features including a SWAT storage (with hydration reservoir included) and tuneable geometry. It also comes with a full SRAM GX drivetrain, complementary tire combo, and high-control brakes

Reviewer Guy Kesteven said. "It’s light and agile enough to be a joy on less techy, pedaling trails or just big days out in the hills but controlled and calm enough to really push the potential of its radical geometry options. The fact you can play around with big changes to those settings in just a few minutes between runs is a unique and invaluable gift for riders who really like to dig into their dynamics too." Read more in-depth thoughts in our review of the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp .

Forbidden Druid V2

While high-pivot bikes using idlers are becoming increasingly popular on downhill bikes and enduro bikes, they haven't really filtered down to the best trail bike market that much yet. Idler-equipped bikes have the advantage that the suspension and drivetrain are more disconnected giving better suspension performance, however, this can come at the cost of pedaling efficiency. 

The Forbidden Druid V2's drivetrain creates less drag than it's predecessor and gives better chain security. Forbidden have also enhanced the Druid's riding character and the new incarnation combines short travel, agility and responsiveness with long travel control and confidence for a best of both worlds feel.

In testing, our tech editor, Guy, reported that the Druid V2 "charges, pops and hustles like a hard pedaling short travel bike but carries speed through jank and jolt sections like some kind of catapult. When that generates more speed than you’re expecting (which will happen a lot at first) it’ll save your stupid ass/arse and throw you straight back into the ring on your toes and ready to go. It does it without any of the old stretchy weirdness either, so not only is the overall performance better it’s easier to go harder on sooner.

Reviewer Guy Kesteven summed up the Druid V2. "With up to date, suspension flattering geometry, less drag, internal storage, smarter servicing touches and a killer spec right down to the correct tire carcasses at each end mean the Druid is truly something special. In fact, when I’m increasingly saying test bikes are sorted, capable and forgiving but in many ways increasingly similar, the Forbidden has got just enough freak to make it one of the bikes I’ve enjoyed riding most and been gutted to hand back in years."

For more, see our full Forbidden Druid V2 XO review .

Specialized Status 140

The Specialized Status 140 proves you don’t need to spend a fortune and have more than six inches of travel to have an absolute blast.

The attack-focused geometry is designed to come in super hard. With the front wheel way out front and the back end tucked as far underneath you as possible, the basic handling dynamic is as close to one of those kids' skid steer chopper trikes as you’ll get. While there’s no shortage of stability or ‘stick it into turns way harder than seems sane’ confidence at the front, the super-short back end also helps you get the nose off the deck surprisingly easily. 

The squat back end, with chunky double-sided pivots is properly stiff too, so it’s really easy to exaggerate the natural difference in turning circles and scrub rates of the front and rear wheels and kick or hip it off line like a hero. Even the RX Trail Tune on the shock is pretty tight, so you’re getting more mid-travel support to shove through berms on than typically comfort-focused Specialized FSR bikes. The short stroke fork does really well most of the time too, although more aggressive riders or slam landers will probably want to clip a couple more volume spacers under the air spring top cap to create a more progressive stroke. 

It certainly doesn’t smooth out or roll through jank as well as a twin 29er like the Stumpjumper Evo. And, while the steep 76-degree seat angle helps get weight forward over the bars on climbs, the front still wanders all over the place on steep sections and the short back end doesn’t grip as well either. But overall our tester, Guy Kesteven, reported that it is, "one of the most naturally playful, anarchically agile and responsive trail/park bikes I’ve ridden at any price point. If the trails are tight and/or steep with gaps and pops rather than relentless root and rock mess, it’s seriously fast too. Everything from parts pick to stealth aesthetics feels spot on for purpose."

Find out more in our full Specialized Status 140 review . 

Norco Optic C2

The Norco Optic C2 is well established as a great setup for good time riding so it’s no surprise that this bike feels sorted as soon as you grab hold of the grips. What stood out when we test-rode it is the way the Optic feels absolutely spot-on from geometry to shock tune.

As soon as we started riding, the Optic began offering rich communication between bike and rider. Norco has bumped up the high-speed compression and given the bike plenty of low-speed compression progression which gobbles up stutter bumps, roots rocks, and debris whilst race inspired shock tune will reward warp speed.

Beyond the excellent geometry and chassis dynamics, the component spec is superbly pitched to flatter the feel and capability. It’s practical, well priced and even the cheaper bike still packs all the play essentials into the package if your working with a tighter budget.   

Mick Kirkman summed up the latest Optic C2 in his review. "With sublime rear suspension, the Optic is still one of the best downcountry bikes around. Less carbon parts for more dosh and a swap from sorted Schwalbe to vague Vittoria tires mean 2023’s kit list isn’t as good value as previously, but the Optic C2’s spirit still shines through."

Get full details of the Norco Optic C2 in our review.

Canyon Spectral 29 CF8

Canyon's Spectral is a trail bike doing its best enduro impersonation and can continually step up to the job in hand the harder you push. This is down to the properly radical geometry which can teach any trail that normally terrified us a lesson in Canyon domination. 

The offset of the bulky trail build means climbing isn't as easily earned as other trail bikes. That said if you're faced with a steep and technical crux section, the Spectral has superb traction and control that will leave sharper-feeling bikes struggling. 

Once pointed down the Spectral can transition from a smooth, calm, and collected cruiser to a controlled and precise technical downhill weapon. With a characteristic that becomes more alive the harder you ride, it encourages you to seek out as much fun on the trail as possible.

Guy noted in his review that "the core of the bike is an impeccably balanced, firmly supportive, and accurate tracking technical trail and DH weapon. One that increasingly comes to life, popping, drifting, sending, and playing the harder you push it" and was so impressed he awarded the Canyon Spectral 29 CF8.0 a five-star review. 

YT Jeffsy Uncaged 6

Direct sales brand, YT Industries, is much better known for its gravity bikes, specifically the YT Capra which is a common sight at enduro trail spots. The Jeffsy is one step below the Capra in the lineup with 10mm less suspension. 

With 150mm of travel, the Jeffsy still ripped on the downhills during our testing and is more than capable of dabbling with everything from flowing singletracks to enduro trails. The geometry isn't as radical as you would expect from a brand like YT but we found that further helped with the Jeffsy's versatility. 

Unsurprisingly, bikes this good are hard to get a hold of and with YT's stock getting snapped up quickly, bikes are frequently changing spec and out of stock. 

When Rich Owen reviewed the Jeffsy he found "the ultra-responsive nature of the Uncaged 6 is hard to ignore. Everywhere I rode, the bike felt as if it was champing at the bit to go faster and hit the trails harder." For more info, check out our full review of the YT Jeffsy Uncaged 6 model.

Merida One-Forty 6000

Our techical editor, Guy, seriously rates this shorter travel 140mm travel trail bike that's already picked up a bunch of awards from other testers in the industry too. He's also rave reviewed Merida’s longer travel, higher cost One-Sixty 8000 and reckons it's one of the best enduro mountain bikes available.

Whatever size you opt for (XShort, Short, Mid, Long or XLong), they're all extremely roomy for their size with our Mid test bike measuring 480mm. That gives you plenty of room to maneuver and helps give a planted feel on the trail. 

The 150mm Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork gives a supple up front end, but in its default trim, it ramps up at the end of the stroke in a very similar way to the 143mm travel RockShox Deluxe Select+ at the rear, so any ugly landings are tidied up neatly once the shock's damper is dialed in. Flex seat stays, rather than pivots, add rear end extra flex too.

A super steep 80 degree seat angle and high level of traction from a naturally ground tracking rear end combines with a mid length stem and 65 degree head angle combo stops the bike from feeling too floppy when you’re winching the bike upwards. Add an efficient, seated pedaling feel, and you can climb up ridiculously steep, technical upslopes when you’d be walking or wanting an uplift on a lot of bikes. The only big drawback is the One-Forty's weight, which comes in at around 500g more than comparative rivals.

In his full Merida One-Forty 6000 review , Guy summed up the bike as one that "packages radical, hard riding geometry, smooth suspension plus wheel and travel change potential and a lot of neat features with super solid, good value kit. It’s on the hefty side though and the seat angle might not agree with everyone".

Mondraker Raze Carbon RR

Mondraker’s Raze is a lightweight mid-travel trail steed with a 150mm travel fork, 130mm shock, and Mondraker’s sleek aesthetic. The RR version gets full Fox Factory suspension monitored by its unique MIND telemetry system .

With a lightweight frame, a slightly compliant, conforming – rather than rigidly harsh – feel and the Raze Carbon RR feels inspiringly alive and responsive on the trail, never rabid or rowdy.

The MIND system gathers suspension and ride data and sends it to a smartphone app. This allows you to study how your suspension performed over a ride and tune it accordingly. You also get detailed telemetry on your performance which you can properly geek out on – if that's your thing.

In his review, Guy remarked, "Despite so many bikes following much of Mondraker's pioneering geometry lead, it has managed to keep its signature ride character deliciously distinctive. The light, lithe, perfectly imbalanced suspension of the Raze RR makes it a proper ‘chef’s special’ in terms of accentuating that agility and inherent ‘skill gifting’ to the maximum." For more info on this tech-packed bike, check out our full Mondraker Raze Carbon RR review .

Santa Cruz Chameleon

A hardtail in best trail bike? Surely some mistake, but no. The Santa Cruz Chameleon is here very much on merit, as this eighth edition of Santa Cruz's trail-friendly hardtail is the most versatile, confident and flat-out-fun incarnation yet. It's also the most engaging and easiest-on-the-wallet entry into owning one of this premium brand's bikes.

Despite the finishing kit being a tad below par to that found on comparably priced bikes, the forgiving yet massively capable ride is so much fun that it won't ever cross your mind. 

It can run both MX (mullet) or full 29er configurations which we found gave it a delightful double personality. "In MX format it’s got proper pop, precision, and powerful responsiveness for attacking the most fun trails flat out or you can choose the 29er option for the smoothest ride and tap out the tempo as far into the hills as your curiosity takes you." For our full verdict, check out our Santa Cruz Chameleon review .

Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 RSV

If you are looking for the ultimate fun-loving trail bike, it's hard to look past the Santa Cruz 5010. It's now running a mixed wheel combo (29 up front and 27.5 rear), rather than a straight 29er, which gives it a more playful and agile ride quality. If Strava segments are the goal of a trail ride then this is probably not the bike for you, however, if slashing corners and throwing shapes over jumps for insta-bangers is your thing then no other bike is going to come close.

However, it would be a disservice to say that the 5010 is slow. The Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) is dialed to efficiently deal with chaotic trails and on twisty tight tracks, the 5010 carries excellent speed due to its explosive cornering speed. You might need to work it a little harder on the way up, however, it's all worth it when gravity is on your side.

Mixed wheels might not suit everyone but as Guy points out, "if you’re the kind of rider who hunts for every turn to hook, loamy corner to explode sideways out of or slight lip to hip then the 5010 is an absolute riot. The fact it’s more stable and sucks up way more trouble fires you along the trail with more flow than before. It hasn't lost its killer kick and precision agility meaning you’ve got even more speed to play with, too." Check out our full review of the Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 RSV to find out more about this mixed-wheeled shredder.

Atherton Bikes Trail AM.130

The Atherton's have evolved from a successful trio of siblings dominating World Cup downhill racing to a factory race team and innovative frame manufacturer. Atherton Bikes started with AM.200 downhill bike before extending the range with the AM.150 enduro bike and AM.130 trail bike.

All the bikes share the same carbon tubing and titanium lug manufacturing process and Dave Weagal designed DW6 suspension system that's used on the downhill bikes. Not only does that mean supple suspension performance but also a chassis strong enough to tackle Bike Park use and downhill riding, plus the AM.130 is sold with a lifetime warranty.

One of the big advantages of Atherton Bikes' manufacturing is that they are able to offer the AM.130 in 22 different sizes – which is far more than we see from any other brand. These sizes feature reach numbers between 410mm and 530mm in increments of 10mm. On top of that, all but the four smallest frame sizes are available with two different stack heights.

The unique construction method is sure to turn heads as well so if you're looking for a boutique trail bike that will stand out on the trails, then the Atherton Bikes AM.130 is an excellent choice.

For riders needing a little more capability, Atherton Bikes also offers an AM.130.X which gets a 150mm fork and a 0.5 degree slacker head angle. For more details, see our news article on the Atherton AM.130 .

How to choose the best trail bike for you

What's the best trail bike geometry.

Mountain bikes have been getting longer and lower as time has progressed. With wheel and suspension technology continually improving and brands embracing new fork offsets, trail bikes are becoming ever more capable. 

Expect to see head angles between 64- and 66-degrees and seat angles between 74- and 75-degrees. With such a range of geometry figures, one trail bike could ride very differently from another, so if you are unsure what would suit you, many shops or retailers offer test rides or demo days so that you can try before you buy.

How much suspension travel should a trail bike have?

Only a few years ago, travel was a bike-defining characteristic, but that's no longer the case. We're seeing cross-country bikes with over 100mm of travel, trail bikes pushing up against 160mm of squish, and enduro bikes that bottom out at 150mm. 

Trail bikes can range from 130mm of travel all the way up to about 160mm, and quite often we see forks that are about 10mm longer than rear shocks. Added travel at the front gives a bike a bit more composure on the downhills, while a shorter stroke at the rear makes it easier for designers to keep the chainstays compact leading to a lively feel on the trail. 

While hardtail trail bikes are becoming less common, there are still a few around. The simplicity of the frame keeps the price down, and expect to find a 130-150mm fork and 29-inch or 27.5+ wheels and tires. If you are interested in that option, check out our best hardtail mountain bike guide.

Should I got for 29 or 27.5-inch wheels?

Over the years, the wheel size debate has been hotly contested. Trail bikes take advantage of both wheel sizes, and historically if you wanted an agile and maneuverable ride, 27.5 was your ticket, while if you were looking for rollover and speed, you'd want a 29er. However, as things have progressed, brands seem to be embracing the larger wheel size.

Because a 27.5-inch wheel with a 2.8-inch tire is roughly the same diameter as a 29er with 2.3-inch rubber, quite a lot of frames designed for bigger wheels will be compatible with both.

And if you want the best of both worlds, lots of bikes are available as a mixed-wheel mullet option, with a 29in upfront and a 27.5in wheel on the rear.

Should a trail mountain bike have an alloy or carbon frame?

Alloy frames are cheaper to produce, so it's no surprise to find them at the lower end of the pricing spectrum, while carbon dominates the upper end. There are great bikes in both materials, and ultimately your budget will determine what your new bike is made from. Some brands offer an alloy version of a frame specced with top-end components for a fraction of the cost of the carbon frame with the same build. If you are planning on upgrading parts over time go for the carbon version, if you are looking for the best performance-to-cost ratio then an alloy frame is probably the way to go.

What components should I look for?

For the most part, if you are choosing an XC bike, you will choose lightweight XC parts, and if you are going enduro, you will go full enduro. Trail bikes are a little different and really blur the lines between disciplines. Much of the component choice will be dependent on your local trails and riding style. 

If you're looking to try out the odd bit of enduro riding, there is no harm in beefing up components like wheels, tires, or brakes to handle the extra stresses. However, if your trails are tamer or if cruising and flow are more your style, choosing lighter-weight parts would be a good way to go.

How we test trail bikes

Given that most trail bikes are designed for a fairly wide range of conditions that is exactly what we test them in – everything from fun trail center loops to gnarly, natural off-piste descents and everything in between. We also like to push the bikes beyond their designed use to see how they perform – as that is what you may end up doing out in the real world. While this is somewhat dependant on the season, we also aim to ride the bikes as many different riding conditions as possible to see how they perform in sucky mud and over slippery roots as well as on dusty, fast running hardpack. This also helps to give us an understanding of how the bikes will stand up to hard use and if it will still function if parts of it are clogged up with mud or affected by other trail debris.

Meet the testers

Guy's been testing and writing about mountain bikes since the 90s, he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. We are willing to bet that there aren't many trail bikes Guy hasn't ridden over the last couple of decades.

Rich has been riding mountain bikes since the early nineties and professionally testing bikes and kit for over a decade. While he has ridden mountain bikes of every kind, Rich is definitely a trail bike rider at heart and loves finding flow on more technical lines. 

An ex-elite downhill racer, Mick's been mucking about and occasionally racing mountain bikes for over twenty years. Nowadays, he's mostly riding enduro-style terrain on conventional and electric bikes. 

Rich has been riding mountain bikes for over 30 years and mostly likes hitting flowy yet technical trails that point downhill. A jack of many trades, he has competed in cross-country, enduro and long distance MTB races. A resident of North Devon, Rich can mostly be found pedaling furiously around his local trails, or slightly further afield in the Quantocks, the Mendips or Exmoor. 

Current rides: Merida One-Forty 6000, Banshee Paradox

Height : 175cm

Weight : 68kg

• Guy Kesteven Technical-Editor-at-Large
• Mick Kirkman Freelance writer
• Colin Levitch Freelance writer

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Top 6 long travel trail and enduro bikes for 2022

Brawlers, race bikes and a few ready-for-anything options to take on the trails next year.

2021 was the year that long-travel trail bikes and enduro rigs became really interesting. The promise of good adjustable geometry met with the rise of high pivot suspension designs and the broader availability of purpose-designed mixed-wheel bikes. More material options, and a made-in-Canada carbon fibre debut, and creative designs make these the best bikes to eye up if you’re looking at going big in 2022.

After covering the quick and nimble options in our XC and short travel trail bikes list , we’re moving on to the bruisers and brawlers. These bikes like to take on any trail at any speed and make sure you come out the other side unscathed and smiling.

Norco Range

High concept, high pivot, high speed. The three come together brilliantly in Norco’s new Range. Three years in development, the Canadian brand’s High Virtual Pivot design performs like a bike with much longer travel, letting you take on the toughest trails with a smile, while still pedalling efficiently enough to call itself an enduro bike.

Rocky Mountain Instinct

The Instinct is a core bike for Rocky Mountain and, for 2022, it gets a host of updates to make it even more capable on a wider range of terrain. The classic bike is better, a bit badder but still balanced enough to cover everything from light trail riding to big backcountry epics. The Altitude still reigns supreme in proper enduro territory but, with new frame adjustments and more capable geometry, there isn’t much that’ll hold the Instinct back, either.

Canyon Spectral CF8 CLLCTV

Canyon initially unleashed the Spectral as a limited, 29″ carbon fibre-only release. This year, the German brand followed up with all the options. You can get the 150mm trail bike with aluminum frames or carbon fibre, 27.5″ or 29″ wheels and even a dedicated mixed-wheel set up. The latter, Canyon’s Spectral CF8 CLLCTV edition, caught our attention. With a coil shock and mullet wheel set-up, this bike holds much of the Spectral 29’s speed while highlighting that frame’s more playful attributes.

WeAreOne Arrival

WeAreOne has teased the possibility of a full frame for a couple of years now but, until 2021, stuck with its made-in-Kamloops, B.C. carbon fibre wheels. The Arrival changes that. The frame is still constructed in house in WAO’s Kamloops facility, proving that high-end carbon fibre bikes don’t have to be made overseas to make sense. And the Arrival looks like it makes all kinds of sense.With 150-mm of travel, it’s enduro-ready or happy crushing local trails for fun. Futuristic looks developed with the WAO crew’s decades of riding experience pay off in one incredible looking frame.

Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Alloy

The Stumpjumper EVO was a blast to ride in carbon fibre , bringing the iconic Stumpjumper name into the 2020s with style. Specialized brought that performance to alloy, so more people could enjoy the latest version of this classic bike.

Knolly Fugitive 138

The first version of Knolly’s debut 29-er hinted that it could perform far beyond its travel numbers. In updating the alloy frame, the boutique Canadian brand delivers on that potential. The Fugitive 138 doesn’t add gobs of travel, but just enough to expand this trail bike’s potential. The Chilcotin is still Knolly’s wild child, but the new-look Fugitive is ready to go fast and take chances, too.

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27.5” Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons

So you’re thinking it’s time for a new bike. Sweet! But then you start to dig around and do your research, and things can get very complicated very quickly. This one guy you know swears that Bike X is perfect for you. But your local shop is telling you that you’d be crazy not to go with Bike Y. And the internet is telling you that every single new bike is the GREATEST BIKE EVER.

Fact is, there are a number of good bikes on the market these days, but figuring out which one will suit you best can feel practically impossible. (And bikes aren’t cheap, so you definitely don’t want to waste thousands of dollars on the wrong ride.)

So we’ve assembled a comprehensive comparison of 27.5” wheeled trail bikes to make it a bit easier to narrow down your list, and maybe introduce you to some bikes that weren’t on your list, but should be.

And if you’re not sure whether a 27.5″ wheeled bike is your thing, you should also definitely check out our  Guide + Comparisons of 29er Trail Bikes .

What’s in this Guide

This 27.5 Roundup covers a huge spectrum of bikes that ranges from relatively short-travel trail bikes up to a few options that blur the line with dedicated DH rigs. (We didn’t, however, include full-blown DH bikes in here.)

So why the huge spread? Because there’s a huge middle ground, and it’s often worth comparing a bike that has 140 mm of travel to both a shorter travel bike and a longer travel bike.

We should also note that we’re not including 27.5+ bikes in this list. While they are running on 27.5” wheels, the Plus tires ride a bit differently, and it’s not necessarily an apples to apples comparison.

We will continue to add more bikes to this guide, but there are still a lot of great bikes that aren’t included in here. So this list isn’t exhaustive, but it contains legit information about the bikes we’ve spent time on, and we’ll stand by the info and comparisons.

How We’ve Ordered the Guide

The bikes here are listed in order from most XC / climbing-oriented, to most downhill-oriented. This isn’t to say that some of the bikes higher on the list don’t descend pretty well, or that some of the bikes lower on the list aren’t decent climbers.

Reminder: Setup Matters

And as with anything bike related, this guide comes with a significant caveat: setup matters.

With suspension tweaks and some componentry swaps, almost any bike can be made to climb a bit better or handle rowdy descents more competently. So the rankings we’re presenting here are based on a mid-level, stock build kit, and we’re basing it off of what we think the bike is best at, not necessarily what it could do with a bunch of changes.

Other Info We’ve Included

We’ve also included the model year of the bike we rode, as well as some measurements. Some bikes have seen changes to the build kits and paint since we rode them, but they’re still essentially the same bike.

Other bikes have seen more substantial changes – we’ve included some bikes that are a couple years old, because people buy used bikes too. But some of those models have been replaced with something newer, different, and (maybe) better. To help clarify things, we’ve put an asterix (*) next to models on this list that have been replaced by something substantially different.

We’ve also included a few basic stats on the bikes we rode, which are abbreviated as follows:

• RT = Rear Travel
• FT = Front Travel)
• R = Reach – for a size Medium
• HA = Head Angle
• CS = Chainstay Length

For a more in-depth discussion of these bikes (including more thoughts on geometry, fit, and how they ride), check out our full reviews.

THE BIKES (Most Climbing-Oriented to Most Downhill-Oriented)

2016 Cannondale Habit Carbon

RT: 120 mm | FT: 120 mm | R: 427 mm | HA: 68° | CS: 429 mm

Cannondale is known for making some of the best XC race rigs in the business, and that shows with the Habit, which feels like an XC bike with trail bike geometry. The Habit isn’t particularly supple, and the flexy frame gets overwhelmed in rougher terrain. But it’s quite light, and it’s a rocket on climbs, which makes it the most uphill-worthy bike on this list. It doesn’t have nearly the downhill chops of something like a Santa Cruz 5010 or Transition Scout, but its low weight and efficiency help it edge out other good climbers like the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt

* 2016 Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt BC Edition

RT: 120 mm | FT: 130 mm | R: 420 mm (mid setting) | HA: 67.3° (mid setting) | CS: 422 mm

Like many of Rocky Mountain’s trail-oriented bikes (including the Altitude, which appears a little further down this list), the Thunderbolt’s suspension isn’t particularly supple. This is largely a result of Rocky Mountain’s use of bushings in some of their pivots. The bushings do come with a significant upside though: the Thunderbolt is quite stiff, especially considering its relatively light weight. The Thunderbolt also has Rocky’s Ride-9 adjustment, which is arguably the best system on the market for adjusting the bike’s geometry and leverage ratios. That great geometry makes for an efficient climber, only losing out to significantly lighter and shorter travel bikes like the Cannondale Habit and Giant Anthem. But the less than active suspension means the Thunderbolt gets bounced around on descents a bit more than something like the Devinci Django or Santa Cruz 5010.

2017 Devinci Django

RT: 120 mm | FT: 130 mm | R: 440 mm (low setting) | HA: 67.5° (low setting) | CS: 427 mm

The Django is one of a few bikes on this list that are available with both 27.5 and 29” wheels . It’s an active bike that’s more playful than any of the more climbing-oriented bikes further up this list, but despite the supple suspension, it still pedals quite well. The suspension does a great job of smoothing out the trail, but it still doesn’t get completely overwhelmed on bigger hits. It’s not quite as stable at speed as the Santa Cruz 5010, the Transition Scout, or the 29er version of the Django, but its lengthy front end keeps it from feeling too twitchy. The Django would be a great option for those looking for a 27.5” wheeled bike for long backcountry rides where pedaling efficiency matters and supple suspension is nice to have for some added comfort, but you still want a bike that’s fun to ride on the descents.

2016 Santa Cruz 5010

RT: 130 mm | FT: 130 mm | R: 425 mm | HA: 67° | CS: 426 mm

The 5010 saw some revisions for 2016 when it got longer and slacker, which makes it one of the best shorter travel bikes when it comes to descents. It’s closest rival is the Transition Scout — the 5010 has a smidge more travel, but the Scout is a little bit more stable mostly because it’s a little longer. And while the 5010 is a great descender and is really good at carving through corners, it’s also fairly efficient, so it climbs respectably well. While it doesn’t have quite the downhill stability and smash-ability of longer travel bikes like the Specialized Stumpjumper or the 5010’s bigger brother, the Santa Cruz Bronson, the 5010 is still competent in a wide variety of situations. The 5010 is noticeably more stable than the Devinci Django, and it retains much of the same suppleness over smaller bumps, and thus is another great option for those big backcountry adventures. The 5010, along with the Scout, is one of those do-everything-well type bikes that I end up recommending to a lot of people.

* 2017 Transition Scout Carbon

RT: 125 mm | FT: 140 mm | R: 432 mm | HA: 67° | CS: 425 mm

The Transition Scout is a really hard bike to not like. It’s stable at speed, yet poppy and playful. It smooths out the trail nicely, but it doesn’t feel inefficient. The geometry is neutral, and it’s as comfortable grinding up a climb as it is sending some jumps. For all those reasons, just like the Santa Cruz 5010, the Scout is a bike I’d recommend to a wide variety of people. The Scout gets the slight nod over the 5010 for descending prowess, but the 5010 is more efficient on the climbs. Like the 5010, the Scout is quite a bit more stable at speed than the Django, but the Django definitely pedals better. It’s noteworthy that this is the most descent-oriented short travel bike — everything further down this list has significantly more travel than the Scout. And those longer travel bikes aren’t necessarily clear winners; the Scout’s descending abilities aren’t far behind the bikes like the Rocky Mountain Altitude, despite the fact that the Scout has way less travel.

2017 Canyon Spectral

RT: 140 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 430 mm | HA: 67° | CS: 430 mm

The Canyon Spectral’s neutral geometry and short chainstays really characterize how it rides. The bike favors an active, playful riding style, loves to wheelie and manual, and does well scrambling up rock ledges. However, the suspension feels less supportive than on the Santa Cruz 5010, and it can easily be overwhelmed on big hits and flat landings. This, in combination with geometry that favors cornering rather than holding a line at speed, makes it a less capable descender than most bikes spec’d with a 150 mm fork. Nonetheless, this a pretty fantastic bike for popping off natural lips, changing direction quickly, and riding lower speed, tighter trails.

2017 Yeti SB5

RT: 127 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 424 mm | HA: 66.5° | CS: 437 mm

The SB5 is a pretty versatile platform that’s proof that good progressive geometry is as important, if not more important than having a bunch of travel. The SB5’s suspension isn’t quite as supple and plush as some bikes higher up on this list (like the Transition Scout and the Santa Cruz 5010), but the longer travel fork and slacker, longer geometry mean that the SB5 is still more than willing to rally down rough trails at speed. But the SB5 still feels pretty snappy on the pedals, so despite the longer fork and slacker angles, there’s still a fair amount of pep in the SB5’s step when it comes time to lay down some power. Comparing the SB5 to some longer travel rigs like the Giant Trance and Specialized Stumpjumper, the limitations of the SB5’s rear travel are a bit more apparent, but that’s not too surprising.

2018 Patrol 672

RT: 160 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 412 mm | HA: 67.5° | CS: 430 mm

The Patrol 672 brings dated geometry and unrefined suspension kinematics to the table, which makes this a tricky one to place on this list. On one hand, it has a fair amount of travel, on the other hand, it doesn’t use that travel effectively. There are bikes higher on this list that descend rough, fast trails more competently, but placing the 672 further up the list would imply that it climbs well, which it doesn’t. Perhaps, with significant modifications to the rear shock and the addition of a dropper post, this bike could be serviceable on descents. Or you could just buy something that works well in the first place.

2015 Giant Trance SX

RT: 140 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 425 mm | HA: 66° | CS: 439 mm

Like the rest of the Giant SX series bikes, the low rear travel relative to the fork makes this a relatively efficient pedaling bike. It also makes it more playful and poppy. It doesn’t pedal as efficiently or react to pedal input as snappily as a Santa Cruz 5010 — or the Santa Cruz Nomad for that matter, but it isn’t badm and the rear suspension is a bit better through the rough. The Trance SX is most notable for how good a value it is and only slightly less notable for how versatile it is. It would feel out of place on a rough trail in a bike park, but on anything less demanding it will be confident and playful.

* 2014 Rocky Mountain Altitude BC Edition

RT: 150 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 415 mm (mid setting) | HA: 67° (mid setting) | CS: 428 mm

The Altitude saw some significant revisions this year, but this comparison is for the older version. Once we’ve gotten some time on the new Altitude, we’ll update accordingly. The Altitude comes in a few different flavors, and the BC edition of the bike gets burlier parts and a longer travel fork. Like the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt, the Altitude gets Rocky Mountain’s excellent Ride 9 adjustment, which allows for changes to the bike’s geometry and leverage ratio. A neutral geometry makes it an easy bike to hop on and get comfortable with quickly, but it has a less-than-active suspension that’s common on many of Rocky Mountain’s bikes that use bushings instead of bearings in the pivots. The Altitude’s suspension was tough to get dialed, and no matter what I tried, the bike never felt as planted as a bike like the Specialized Stumpjumper, or for that matter, some of the shorter travel bikes like the Transition Scout. The rear end of the Altitude tended to skip around quite a bit, and it’d get overwhelmed on harder hits, which is why some short travel bikes like the Devinci Troy actually descend a bit better.

* 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper

RT: 150 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 414 mm | HA: 67° | CS: 420 mm

The Stumpjumper is one of the lighter options in this travel class, and it’s a bit lighter than quite a few bikes with less travel that are higher up on this list. The lack of heft makes the Stumpjumper a bit more maneuverable, and more pleasant on the climbs, but it also means that the frame is noticeably flexier than something like the Devinci Troy or Santa Cruz Bronson. The Stumpjumper has a very active suspension, and does a better job of smoothing out little stuff in the trail than the Rocky Mountain Altitude, the Devinci Troy, or the Santa Cruz Bronson. That said, the active suspension means it’s also not the most efficient pedaler — it’s a bit worse in that regard than the Altitude, Troy, Bronson, or Tracer. The Stumpjumper’s geometry is shorter and steeper than most of the bikes further down this list, which means it’s not quite as stable, although the suspension does handle big, high speed hits competently. But due to its steeper, shorter geometry, the Stumpjumper feels like a trail bike that can handle rowdiness, rather than a burly bike that’s acceptable at trail pace.

2016 Devinci Troy

RT: 140 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 440 mm (low setting) | HA: 67° (low setting) | CS: 426 mm

The Devinci Troy gets high marks for being one of the more versatile bikes on this list. It’s slack enough and burly enough to tackle high speed, rough trails comfortably, but it’s also a reasonably efficient bike that’s well suited to big alpine adventures. In terms of that versatility, it’s very similar to the Santa Cruz Bronson — I’d give the Bronson a slight nod for pedaling efficiency and stability at max speed, and the Bronson’s lighter. The Troy is a little more playful, it’s bit stiffer, and the frame comes with a lifetime warranty (which are some of the reasons I give the nod to the Troy for bigger guys). The Troy is less slack and has less travel than the Intense Tracer, but the suspension has a wider range of “good” setups. The supple suspension and heavier weight make the Troy a little slower on the climbs than something like the Rocky Mountain Altitude, Specialized Stumpjumper, or Giant Trance, but it’s a more capable descender. For a bike with broad appeal that has less travel, look at the Santa Cruz 5010 or Transition Scout. But if you’re looking for a versatile bike with a bit more travel that’s a little more descent oriented, the Troy and the Santa Cruz Bronson top the list.

2017 Spot Rollik 557

RT: 140 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 435 mm | HA: 67° | CS: 433 mm

The Spot Rollik 557 is a hard bike to rank on this list. Its pedaling characteristics make it feel like a much shorter travel bike, but it is surprisingly capable when things get fast and chunky. It feels about as stable as a Bronson on technical trails, but its steeper angles and snappy handling make it fun on technical climbs and in basically all the situations where 6 inch bikes are overkill. This is a bike that rewards popping and skipping over rocks rather than plowing, and with the right riding style it should be able to keep up with a bigger bike. That said, the bikes that are farther down the list will get you down the hill without requiring as much finesse.

2018 Cannondale Trigger

RT: 145 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 439 mm | HA: 66° | CS: 420 mm

The Trigger’s Gemini rear shock allows the 145 mm travel to be reduced to 115 mm with the flip of a handlebar mounted remote. Which means that the Trigger, in short travel mode, climbs a bit better than the bikes immediately above it on the list. But it’s reasonably slack geometry and supple suspension make it a solid descender when it’s in the longer travel mode. It falls more on the playful end of the spectrum, and bikes like the Mach 5.5 and Bronson are better at speed. But the Trigger is more fun to jump, and it works better in twisty, rolling terrain.

2018 Pivot Mach 5.5

RT: 140 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 439.9 mm | HA: 66.5° | CS: 430 mm

The Mach 5.5 is the sort of bike that does everything pretty well; it’s a reasonably efficient pedaler and it’s not overly heavy, so it does ok on longer rides with plenty of climbing. But it’s supple suspension and long-ish geometry keep it stable and composed on rough descents. The Mach 5.5 is a bit more stable at speed than either the Devinci Troy or the Specialized Stumpjumper 650b. The Santa Cruz Bronson, on the other hand, is a bit more stable than the Mach 5.5, and is a bit more comfortable when it comes time to point it straight through a rock garden.

2016 Santa Cruz Bronson

RT: 150 mm | FT: 150 mm | R: 425 mm | HA: 66° (low setting) | CS: 432 mm

The Bronson, like the 5010, was revised in 2016 and got longer and slacker. The new version is stable at speed, and the suspension feels pretty supportive — it pumps through rolls and pops off of jumps nicely. It’s pretty similar to the Devinci Troy, and they could almost be swapped in their ranking. The Bronson is a tiny bit more efficient, it’s lighter, and it smooths out small trail detritus a little better. The slacker angles on the Bronson also make it a hair more stable. But the Troy pops better and handles big hits better, and generally feels a little more playful. The Bronson is definitely capable of mixing it up on descents with some of the longer travel enduro bikes, and if someone were to argue that the Bronson should be a couple spots further down on this list, I don’t think they’d be entirely wrong, it sits a bit higher up because it’s also a respectable climber.

* 2015 Intense Tracer

RT: 140-160 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 416 mm | HA: 66.5° | CS: 432 mm

The Tracer, like many Intenses, gains some points for being adjustable — travel can easily be adjusted from 140 mm to 160 mm. The Tracer isn’t quite as slacked out as many of the other bikes in the 160 mm travel segment — it’s not as stable as bikes like the Transition Patrol or Devinci Spartan, and it feels like a lot less bike than something like the Giant Reign or Pivot Firebird. In that regard, the Tracer feel more like a long travel trail bike, but like the Pivot Mach 6, the suspension can be a bit fussy to set up so to get the most out of it, plan on some time dialing things in.

* 2017 Marin Attack Trail

RT: 150 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 412.5 mm | HA: 66.5° | CS: 435 mm

Like the Intense Tracer, the Attack Trail has slightly steeper angles and a significantly shorter front than many of the bikes further down this list, which makes it a bit easier to ride at “normal” speeds on “normal” trails, but it’s less stable when the pace picks up. The biggest downside of the Attack Trail for all around riding is that the seat angle is quite slack — a rearward bias while seated makes steeper climbs a chore. The suspension is a bit more supple than the Intense Tracer or Pivot Mach 6, which makes the Attack Trail feel like it has a bit more travel than it does. For true descending prowess, the Attack Trail can’t quite hang with the Transition Patrol or Devinci Spartan, but it also feels a bit less doggish on flatter terrain.

* 2014 Pivot Mach 6

RT: 155 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 401.6 mm | HA: 66° | CS: 430.5 mm

The Mach 6 loses out a little bit on the stability front due to its short geometry and somewhat dated sizing — many newer bikes are effectively a full size larger (or more) than the Mach 6, and for that reason it’d be worth considering getting on a larger size than you might normally ride. But the Mach 6’s geometry and stout build also make it an easy bike to flick around and throw into corners. Suspension setup can be a bit finicky, and it’ll likely take more time to get the bike dialed in and feeling balanced. The suspension on the Mach 6 isn’t quite as active as the Transition Patrol or Devinci Spartan, but it retains decent pedaling efficiency for getting you to the top of the hill. The Mach 6 is more comfortable at speed than the Intense Tracer, and it handles big hits better than the Marin Attack Trail.

2016 Turner RFX V4.0

RT: 165 mm | FT 160 mm | R: 412 mm | HA: 66° | CS: 438 mm

The Turner RFX is the latest revision of a long-standing bike model, and that shows. It is a bit more traditional in its geometry and that keeps it a playful bike. The RFX is very subject to how it is built. With a light fork and kit and lightweight tires it feels like a long travel trail bike that is less substantial than the Mach 6. But, throw on a bigger fork and some meaty tires and it can bowl its way through rock gardens effectively. This is largely because of the rear suspension. It is more active than the Mach 6 — or just about any other bike. It is really outstandingly smooth over rough terrain, but at the same time it pedals quite well. The longer chainstays make keeping weight on the front wheel easy through corners. The shorter, traditional reach numbers and wheelbase keep this bike from swinging in the same class as the bikes listed below at high speed, whether in rough terrain or on jump trails. But, it will disappear from most of them in tight, twisty terrain.

* 2015 Transition Patrol

RT: 155 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 432 mm | HA: 65° | CS: 430 mm

The Patrol has a smidge less travel than some of the other bikes that would fall into the “enduro” category, but it’s decidedly slack and there’s no doubt it can handle high speeds and rough trails. The Patrol is a reasonably efficient pedaler – maybe just a hair worse than the Pivot Mach 6, and partly for that reason, it’s better as an all-around trail bike than something like the Giant Reign or Pivot Firebird. That said, the Patrol is more stable at speed and more comfortable going really fast than the Intense Tracer, Marin Attack Trail, or Pivot Mach 6. The Patrol, like the Devinci Spartan, works well when ridden actively, and falls a little bit more on the “playful” end of the spectrum, as opposed to the “ignore everything and smash through it” side of things.

2018 Zerode Taniwha

RT: 160 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 420 mm | HA: 65° | CS: 431 mm

The Zerode is a bit different than any other bike on this list; it uses a gearbox instead of a traditional derailleur and cassette. The reduced unsprung mass makes the suspension track rough ground better than any other bike on this list, and the gearbox is relatively maintenance free. Shifting takes some getting used to though, and the bike isn’t the lightest. The Taniwha’s suspension is equally at home sticking to the ground and plowing as it is popping off of every little feature on the trail, meaning it can easily hang with bikes like the Trek Remedy and Devinci Spartan, but it also retains some of the playfulness of bikes further up this list. Sizing is a bit odd on this bike, but ultimately, the gearbox is the primary selling point of the Taniwha.

2017 Trek Remedy RSL

RT: 150 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 428 mm | HA: 65° (low setting) | CS: 435 mm

Like the Transition Patrol, the Remedy has a bit less travel than some of the bikes further down this list (and some of the bike further up on this list), but it uses that travel extremely effectively, which means it can easily hang on the roughest, steepest trails around. A more active rear suspension means it’s not the most efficient pedaler, but great small bump sensitivity combined with one of the lowest front ends on the market make the Remedy an extraordinarily strong technical climber. Suspension setup is semi-critical on Trek’s proprietary RE:aktiv rear shock, but it allows for dramatically different ride characteristics with relatively small changes in air pressure. The Remedy feels most at home flying low and plowing, but it’ll pop and pump when needed. The Remedy is a little less playful than the Transition Patrol, Devinci Spartan, or Evil Insurgent, but it does a bit better at leveling the trail and staying composed in rough chunder. It’s worth noting that this comparison is of the “Race Shop Limited” (RSL) version of the Remedy, that has a longer travel 160 mm fork, whereas the “regular” Remedy has a 150 mm fork, and slightly steeper geometry because of it.

2017 Banshee Rune

RT: 160 mm | FT: 160mm | R: 427 mm | HA: 65° (high setting) | CS: 434 mm (high)

The Banshee Rune is best described as a tank of a trail bike. The suspension stiffens under pedaling forces making the bike slightly more efficient, yet it still does not pedal uphill with ease. The long, slack and low geometry (the “neutral” setting has a head angle of 65, the “low” drops it down to 64.5) doesn’t lend to quick handling or a highly responsive ride, but the Rune comes alive at speed. It feels supportive in corners and handles larger trail features well. The Rune stiffens a bit under braking and gets caught up on square-edged rocks more than other bikes with similar amounts of travel, such as the YT Capra, or Pivot Mach 6, which at times leads to a harsh feeling. The Rune favors high-speed trails, and the burly frame would likely hold up well to bike park use.  One great feature is that the Rune is compatible with different wheel sizes and spacing options with the use of different dropouts. The Rune can run 27.5 or 26 inch wheels with 142×12 or 148×12 spacing, allowing riders to use wheelsets that may otherwise be deemed obsolete.

* 2015 Devinci Spartan

RT: 165 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 413 mm (low setting) | HA: 65.8° (low setting) | CS: 432 mm

Of the longer travel, slacked out enduro bikes, the Spartan falls a bit more on the playful, poppy end of the spectrum, whereas some of the bikes further down the list like the Giant Reign and the Pivot Firebird fall more into the category of “point it in a straight line and crush through everything.” This isn’t to suggest that the Spartan isn’t a capable bike in rough terrain and at higher speeds, but its shorter front end and slightly steeper headtube angle make it feel a bit less boat-ish. It has a bit more travel than the Transition Patrol, so it gets the slight edge there for descending prowess, but both bikes do relatively well as all-arounders. By enduro bike standards, the Spartan is a reasonably efficient pedaler, so while it’s not the lightest bike in its class, it’s not an insufferable chore to get it to the top of the mountain.

2018 Ibis Mojo HD4

RT: 153 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 435 mm | HA: 64.9° | CS: 430 mm

The Mojo HD4 is one of a couple bikes that could be categorized as “useful” enduro bikes. It has the descending chops to be entirely competent on the Enduro World Series circuit, but it’s not such a singularly focused beast that it’s not fun for day to day trail rides, so long as your day to day rides emphasize having a ton of fun on the descents. And for that reason, it doesn’t feel like quite as big a bike as the Giant Reign or the Pivot Firebird further down this list. Between the 2015 Devinci Spartan, the Evil Insurgent, and the Trek Remedy, and the Mojo HD4, the ordering gets tricky. Relatively minor tweaks to the suspension setup could probably result in those bikes swapping places. They don’t all ride the same (at all), but in terms of this ranking, they’re all pretty close.

2016 Evil Insurgent

RT: 150 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 433 mm (steep setting) | HA: 65.6° (steep setting) | CS: 430 mm

Wow. Corners! And Jumps! That pretty well sums up this bike on descents. The single pivot suspension lets this bike curl up into corners or jump lips and then explode out of them. It doesn’t hurt that the rear suspension is taut and the frame is very laterally stiff. The rear travel is on the shorter side for a slacked out enduro weapon, but it bottoms very, very softly so you don’t notice the shortage on drops. Instead, it is just a little less smooth in seriously rough terrain. The reach is moderately long, but the short rear end and nimble nature of the bike help to counter that, making this a playful ride. The biggest surprise is how well it climbs — the rear end hardly bobs. The steeper setting (which Evil calls “low” mode) is preferable for most riding, but setting the bike in “extra low” mode would make the bike comfortable ripping fast laps in pretty much any bike park. Compared to the Santa Cruz Nomad, it’s almost as capable, but decidedly more playful.

*2015 Santa Cruz Nomad

RT: 165 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 415 mm | HA: 65° | CS: 433.1 mm

The Nomad is a long-standing stalwart in the all mountain/enduro category that received a significant re-design in 2017. We haven’t had a chance to swing a leg over the new version yet, so this comparison is still referencing the older (3rd generation) version. The Nomad pedals remarkably well and is easy to build up as a lightweight ride due to a low frame weight. The relatively short chainstays make it pretty nimble, but the slack head angle and ground hugging suspension don’t make it a particularly playful ride. You can flick it around well, but it doesn’t beg you to do so. Like the Devinci Spartan and Turner RFX, the front end is relatively short, so many people might consider sizing up. The Nomad is ubiquitous because it is good – it can be efficient for long rides and handle rough descents without flinching. The frame is stiff, light, well built and has room for a bottle cage. If you are looking for a confidence boost and want to cover significant miles it is a great ride, but if you want to play, the Devinci Spartan or Evil Insurgent might be a better bet.

2015 GT Sanction

RT: 160 mm | FT: 170 mm | R: 435 mm | HA: 66° | CS: 439 mm

The Sanction is a step away from the bikes further up on this list. Bikes like the Transition Patrol, the Devinci Spartan, and the Santa Cruz Nomad are built as all around bikes with a focus on descending. The Sanction takes that up a notch – it’s built for descending. End of sentence. Yes, it still has to pedal to the top of the climb, and both the build and the geometry recognize that fact, but anything other than descending is a sideshow. With that in mind, the Sanction’s “Independent Drivetrain” linkage makes for a reasonably efficient pedaler, so while it’s not a particularly light bike, it’s still a better climber than the Giant Reign. The downside there is that the linkage tends to wear out quickly, and needs frequent maintenance. The Sanction’s steeper headtube and shorter front end (which still isn’t that short) means it’s not quite as stable as the Giant Reign or Pivot Firebird, and it also doesn’t swallow rocky terrain quite as well as either of those bikes. The Sanction does, however, pump and pop off of terrain features a bit better.

2015 Giant Reign

RT: 160 mm | FT: 160 mm | R: 444 mm (approx) | HA: 65° | CS: 434 mm

The Reign definitely falls into the category of “mini DH bike” — it’s one of the longest, slackest “enduro “ bikes on the market. And like the other bikes that occupy the lower, DH oriented rungs of this list, it feels fairly stupid on any trail that isn’t pointed downhill. The Reign is a bit more stable and planted than the GT Sanction, but it’s less inclined to pop off of jumps and work the terrain – it’s more of a plow bike. Compared to bikes like the Devinci Spartan and Santa Cruz Nomad, the Reign feels like more bike; those bikes are passable as all arounders (albeit all arounders heavily inclined towards descents). The Reign is really built to go downhill, and it only goes uphill by virtue of having some climbing gears bolted to it. But for that reason, the Reign is one of those bikes that could handle multiple duties as a park bike, shuttle rig, and enduro rig.

2017 Pivot Firebird

RT: 170 mm | FT: 170 mm | R: 445 mm | HA: 65° | CS: 430 mm

Pivot’s newly revised Firebird falls at the bottom of this list, meaning it’s the most DH-worthy bike in this comparison. Purely by the numbers, the Firebird’s intentions are reasonably apparent: it has the most travel of any bike on this list, it’s the longest bike on this list, and it’s one of the slackest bikes on this list. While the GT Sanction and Giant Reign aren’t too far behind it, the Firebird takes the cake when it comes to utterly destroying fast, rough descents. It’s one of a very few “enduro” bikes that I think could legitimately replace a DH bike for a lot of people. The new Firebird doesn’t pedal particularly efficiently, and relies heavily on the climb switch to get to the top of a climb. But on the way down, it’s a low, slack monster that handles big hits easily and levels out everything in its path.

21 comments on “27.5” Trail Bikes — A Guide + Comparisons”

It’s to bad you guys didn’t get on a Kona process 153, I would have been curious as to where that stacked up, but still, it’s a good article.

Been on the Ibis Mojo 3 or Salsa Redpoint? Curious as I was able to ride those recently, and would like to know where they fit. As an aside, the Redpoint climbed awfully well for a 150 bike.

Most playful, poppy bike on the list that corners well? Surprised you didn’t put the Yetis in here.

I’d love to put the Yetis on there, but I haven’t ridden any of the newer 27.5″ options yet. Hopefully I’ll get on one next spring.

For a bike that corners well and is playful and poppy, I’d go with the Santa Cruz 5010 for a shorter travel bike. For something with more travel, the Evil Insurgent seems like it might top the list. I haven’t actually ridden that one (Tom Collier has been spending time on it, and he wrote the blurb in this comparison), but by his description, it seems like it fits those criteria to a T.

Would have been nice to see Banshee on the list – the Spitfire is an amazing bike.

Thoughts on the YT capra? 165/165 or 170/165 travel. 27.5 affordable, Pedals well

Noah, have you spent any time on a Trek Remedy? I demo’d a 2017 and loved it, but I was thinking about purchasing a Devinci Troy due to price and thinking that suspension characteristics would be similar. However, I don’t have a way to demo a Troy so I would greatly appreciate your take on the two bikes. Thanks!

Unfortunately I haven’t been on a Remedy for long enough to come to any real conclusions. But yeah, by all accounts it’s an awesome bike, and it certainly bears some similarities to the Troy’s design. I’m just not sure how that actually translates on the trail.

If I get a chance to spend some time on one, I’ll update this piece with a comparison.

sure would like to see a Warden in this comparison.

always checking your reviews out, thanks!

We reviewed the Warden a few years ago – you can check it out here: http://blistergearreview.com/gear-reviews/mountain-bike-reviews/2014-knolly-warden

Knolly has tweaked the Warden a bit since then, so we didn’t include it in this lineup because we haven’t yet had a chance to get on the current version. Based on the Warden I rode previously, I’d tentatively place it on this list somewhere in the neighborhood of the Turner RFX or the Transition Patrol. This is a bit speculative since I haven’t ridden the newest version, but I’d guess that it (still) has a really active suspension that does extremely well on super technical trails, although I’d bet that it gives up a little ground in terms of pedaling efficiency.

It would be cool to see Blister Reviewers bikes of choice. Having a huge list is cool, but what you guys grab when you are riding for fun would speak volumes.

I’m surprised the Pivot Mach 5.5 didn’t make the list. I don’t own one, I own a 5010, but the latest reviews call it the “Quiver Killer.”

Agreed on the Yeti comment. I have ridden a few of the bikes on this list, and ended up getting a Yeti SB6. Nothing else seemed to be in it’s league on sustained, and technical downhills, yet felt as good as the SB6 on 2K – 3K ascents. Going with a PIKE / DebonAir seems to have put some spring in it’s step and made it a little more plush than with FOX hardware. It’s a big bike that needs some big / open lines to do it’s job – but once it settles into the type of terrain that it was built to ride, I can’t imagine another bike being more predictable, stable, fast, and ultimately fun to ride….

Hey Noah, Totally awesome roundup! And love the way to stacked the list. Looking to upgrade to carbon. Really interested in the Turner RFX – coming from a Burner – because I want a bike that can pedal well and be “snappy” at times. Could care less about uphill “efficiency”, just use the pedals to get me up to speed for the next fun feature on the trail! Very intrigued by the Insurgent as a “playful” bike. That’s what it’s all about for me. Does it “pedal” as well as the RFX? Thanks!

Pedro, I’ve got a bunch of time on both the RFX and the Insurgent so Noah directed your question my way. The Insurgent corners really well and likes to pop off any and every feature in the trail. I’ve been able to boost over some gaps that I’ve struggled with on other bikes. It definitely does need to get up to speed before I start playing on trail features though.

The Turner RFX is a really easy bike to toss around. It doesn’t have a super boost button like the Evil on jumps, but it is very quick and fun. On slower, more technical trails I appreciate how nimble it is. At higher speeds it definitely gives up something to a bike like the Evil or the unflappable Nomad.

Out here in Park City I’m finding more occasion to use the Insurgent. If I still lived in NH and was riding tighter, slower trails I’d probably be having more fun on the Turner. Hope this helps!

Thanks Tom! That was really helpful. Appreciate the straight-up, no-nonsense input from guys like you. Happy riding. If I didn’t have family tying me to NJ, I’d prob be living out in PC!

I would love to see a review on the German Propain Spindrift…

No Geometron? Bit rare Stateside I guess Very slack (62) and long reach with longish chainstays too. But the steep seat angle and anti squat characteristics make it a great uphill pedaller that can also, of course, then really pay back by pinning the DH. It’s also surprisingly agile in the woods. Geometron just got even better with the ExStoria shock. Chris Porter’s passion is really paying off on this project. The culmination of years of experimentation and custom builds to get to the ideal.

Please review and insert the all new 2018 Santa Cruz Nomad C in a mid buildout S or XE with suspension climb mode enabled for the climb list and disabled for decent. Decending has been covered all over and SC Pro Sedric rips on it but it’s not heavy and the more effeciant rear link + climb switch on XE should make it more versatile than the dated version covered in your most excellent 27.5 overview. Thank you

This is by far the best comparison on 27,5 Bikes around AM, Trial, Enduro I‘ve ever seen. Interresting brands, a good choice of travel amounts and really significant reviews. I ended up with the Pivot Mach 5.5 because it‘s completely between all chairs but capable to do everything very well. It‘s a dream of a bike and it looks stunning. Thanks Noah for all your fantastic reviews, I really appreciate!

Is it time to redo this comparison seeing as so many bikes have gotten slacker head tube angles with steeper seat tube angles? Would the 2020 bikes from the top of the list now be more like these 2016 bikes from the bottom of the list? Would you say of a 2020 bike ‘this not your father’s yeti’?

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Best All-Mountain & Enduro Bikes with 150-180 mm Travel

Enduro-style mountain bikes are relatively new to the MTB scene, with the discipline only gaining widespread popularity over the past five to six years. The earliest recorded enduro-style race was in France in 2003 but MTB bikes with enduro-specific geometry and suspension were only developed later.

An enduro MTB race usually consists of all competitors riding up a mountain and then racing down the other side in a timed event. The concept was apparently influenced by rally car and motorbike racing and often includes up to 6 timed downhill stages plus several uphill ‘transfer’ stages.

Best Enduro and All-Mountain Bikes in 2024

1. Yeti Cycles SB160 C1 SLX 2. Santa Cruz Hightower AL R 3. Norco Range C3 2022 4. Revel Rail XT 5. GT Force Sport 6. Pivot Firebird 7. Devinci Spartan 8. Orbea Rallon M20 9. Alchemy Arktos 10. Yeti Cycles SB150 T1 11. Niner WFO RDO 2-Star 12. Norco Shore A2 13. Ibis Ripmo AF Deore 14. Santa Cruz Bicycles Bronson 4 C R 15. Pivot Switchblade 16. Juliana Roubion CC X01 AXS 17. Evil Insurgent 18. Santa Cruz Bicycles Nomad C S 19. Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 50 20. Orbea Occam M30 LT 21. Marin Alpine Trail XR 22. Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1

1 . Yeti Cycles SB160 C1 SLX

MSRP: $6,700 Jenson USA

Best for enduro and all-mountain riding, this 29er from Yeti cycles is designed to crush downhills and provide a comfortable platform for spinning to the top again.

It features a high-end carbon frame and a Fox 38 Performance fork with 170mm travel, running on DT Swiss EX1900 rims and Maxxis  Assegai 2.5″ and Minion DHR II 2.4″ tires.

The frame incorporates Switch Infinity rear suspension with 160mm of travel and a Fox Performance Float X shock with a refined leverage ratio for better heat management and small-bump compliance. If you’re a true MTB fan, you’ll find the Yeti SB160 an excellent descender with the added advantage of some decent climbing skills, making it a solid enduro bike.

• Fork – 170mm, Fox Performance 38
• Shock – 160mm Fox Performance Float X
• C-Series Carbon
• Shimano SLX 12-speed
• 29×2.5″ & 2.4″

Buy from Jenson USA

2 . Santa Cruz Hightower AL R

MSRP: $4,299 Mike’s Bikes

With 150mm of travel on the front and 140mm on the rear, the Santa Cruz Hightower AL R is a full-suspension mountain bike that means business. The aluminum frame keeps it as affordable as possible without sacrificing durability.

Santa Cruz Hightower Review: A Lively All-Rounder Trail Mountain Bike

The SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and 11-50t cassette will get you up any mountain required, with solid SRAM G2 R brakes to keep you safe on the way down.

The wheelset includes RaceFace AR Offset 30 rims wrapped in Maxxis Minion DHR and DHRII EXO tires. This bike also has a high-travel SDG Tellis dropper post to help you descend like a beast. 

• Fork – RockShox Yari RC 150mm
• Shock – Fox Float DPS Performance 140mm
• Aluminum 
• SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed
• Maxxis Minion DHF and DHRII 2.4″ 

Buy from Mike's Bikes

4 . Revel Rail XT

MSRP: $7,099 Evo.com

Revel Rail is a high-quality, competitive-level enduro bike kitted out with only the best components and technology, which explains the high price tag.

Not only does it benefit from Shimano’s killer XT drivetrain and four-piston brakes, but it’s also decked out with a top-shelf RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock and RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, providing 165mm of the rear and 170mm of front travel.

The frame is carbon fiber and features complete internal cable routing and Canfield Balance Formula suspension technology. The 27.5″ wheels are combined with 2.5″/2.4″ wide Maxxis DHF/DHRII EXO+ tires that ensure both speed and control.

• Fork – 170mm, RockShox Lyrik Ultimate 
• Shock – 165mm, RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
• Carbon frame
• Shimano XT Eagle groupset
• 27.5 x 2.5″/2.4″ tires

Buy on Evo.com

5 . GT Force Sport

MSRP: $3,025 Jenson USA

The GT Force Sport is an entry-level all-mountain bike with an X-Fusion 02 Pro RL 150mm shock with a RockShox 35 Silver TK 160mm fork, using a Shimano Deore 11-speed drivetrain and 2-piston Tektro hydraulic brakes.

The Force Sport is clearly intended for some extreme riding,  but it also doubles as a versatile trail machine. You get top-quality Maxxis Minion DHF/DHR II tires, burly 29″ WTB STX i29 rims, and GT’s LockR pivots.

• Fork – RockShox 35 Silver TK 160mm
• Shock – X-Fusion 02 Pro RL 150mm
• Aluminum frame
• Shimano Deore drivetrain
• 29×2.5/2.4″

6 . Pivot Firebird

MSRP: $6,599

With a massive 165mm of rear travel and 170mm of fork travel, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Firebird is a downhill MTB. However, with the supportive DW-Link suspension, 29″ wheels, and super-short chainstays, this beast can climb hills just as well as it can charge down them.

Despite a slack 65-degree head tube, the front wheel maintains solid traction when climbing, thanks to a 44mm offset that keeps it closer to the steering axis. With a carbon frame, Fox Float Performance suspension, and a Shimano Deore XT drivetrain, it’s clear to see that Pivot hasn’t cut any corners on the Firebird.

• Fork – 170mm, FOX Float 38 Performance
• Shock – 165 mm, FOX Float X Performance
• Shimano Deore XT components
• 29×2.6″

7 . Devinci Spartan

Carbon fiber

MSRP: $6,149 evo.com

Devinci incorporates a range of modern technologies into this carbon 29er, including Split Pivot suspension and geo-adjust flip-chip technology, and modern geometry with rider-optimized chainstays. This, combined with a Fox 38 Performance fork and Fox Float X2 Performance Elite shock, means the Spartan delivers firm suspension with 170/160mm of travel and just enough bottom-out support to maintain stability and pedaling efficiency.

Additionally, you get a high ratio SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, making this enduro riding MTB a solid climber and a drop-swallowing beast. Not only that, the SRAM Code R disc brakes and Maxxis Assegai/Minion tires ensure you descend with confidence and agility.

• Fork – 170mm, Fox 38 Performance
• Shock – 160mm, Fox Float X2 Performance Elite
• SRAM GX Eagle

Buy on evo.com

8 . Orbea Rallon M20

MSRP: $5,499

Fortunately, the only bad thing we can say about this 160mm travel mountain bike is the price. The Orba Rallon M20 is a collection of top-quality parts that make up one of the best mid-range enduro bikes available. With Orbea’s Pure Enduro geometry, this bike is tuned to allow you to tear down the mountain with ease and charge to the top again after. 

Race Face AR 30 29″ wheels combined with high-level Shimano SLX M7100  12-speed gearing make hill climbs a breeze – not to mention the OC2 dropper post. 

• Fork – Fox 38 Float Performance 17 0mm
• Shock – Fox Float X Performance 160mm
• Frame – Carbon Fiber OMR
• Drivetrain – Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed
• Tires – Maxxis Assegai 2.5″ / Minion DHR II 2.4″

Buy from Evo.com

9 . Alchemy Arktos 

MSRP: from $6,499 Alchemy Bikes 

Alchemy’s Arktos is an enduro bike with a hand-made carbon frame and a stronger focus on downhill charging than other bikes in this category. The long, slack geometry makes it great at handling sharp corners on steep declines, while a high ratio 12-speed drivetrain allows for easier hill climbing.

Pedaling and braking are carefully separated from the suspension by a patented Sine Suspension System, allowing the powerful hydraulic brakes to lock in traction without compromising stability. The high-end Industry Nine 29 Enduro-S carbon wheels are a notable addition, giving the Arktos a highly professional feel.

• Fork – 170mm, Fox 38 29 Factory Kashima
• Shock – 165mm, Fox X2 Factory Kashima EVOL LV 
• Shimano XT, SRAM GX, or SRAM X01
• Maxxis Assegai 29×2.5″ DC EXO TR / Dissector 27.5×2.4″ 3T EXO TR (MX)

Buy from Alchemy Bikes

10 . Yeti Cycles SB150 T1

High-performance, professional enduro race bike

MSRP: $8,600 Evo.com

The Yeti SB150 is a popular, podium-winning enduro MTB racing bike with a super-long wheelbase and massive amounts of travel. You get a full 170mm upfront and 150mm rear, which when combined with the 29″ wheels and extended reach makes this the 4×4 of MTBs. It’s a very big, very fast bike that amateur riders might find difficult to control.

Yeti’s industry-leading Switch Infinity precision dampening system is paired with Fox Factory suspension to make a bike that sails past the competition. Steep, rocky mountain passes fade away below you as the 1×12 Shimano XT drivetrain carries you upwards with ease.

Yeti has always managed to put out one of the best enduro mountain bikes for the market, hence the reason why many riders say that Yeti is the brand they’d get once they’d hit the jackpot and could afford one!

• Fork – 170mm, Fox Factory 38 GRIP 2
• Shock – 150mm, Fox Factory X2

11 . Niner WFO RDO 2-Star

MSRP: $5,449 Jenson USA

The WFO RDO 2-Star is an enduro-specific MTB racing bike fitted with an ultra-wide ratio SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and SRAM G2 R hydraulic disc brakes. The lightweight carbon monocoque frame and Niner Alloy wheels make for easy hill climbing, while the Fox 38 Float Performance GRIP 180mm fork and 170mm Float X2 Performance shock swallow up any nasty bumps and vibrations, allowing for smooth, agile descents.

One cool thing about this Niner bike is that its suspension is tuned specifically for better stroke efficiency with even more bottom-out support than usual. In addition to that, the steep frame geometry takes on enduro terrain with an aggressive style, supported by a geometry flip-chip and a KS Lev Si dropper post.

• Fork – 180mm, Fox 38 Float Performance
• Shock – 170mm, Fox X2 Performance
• SRAM SX 12-speed

12 . Norco Shore A2

MSRP: $4,599 evo.com

Norco Shore A2 is a high-end 27.5″ enduro MTB that is built for fast descents and doubles as a DH machine. This Norco bike uses a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain for high-end performance and a wide 10-51t gear ratio for easier climbing.

The Shore A2 uses Norco’s highly-customizable Ride Aligned geometry and a Horst-link suspension system technology with a RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH rear shock and RockShox Zeb R fork. This four-bar linkage which helps improve braking, maintain high traction, and smooth pedaling efficiency.

• Fork : RockShox Zeb R 180mm
• Shock : RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate DH 180mm

Buy from evo.com

13 . Ibis Ripmo AF Deore Air

MSRP: $3,599

The Ripmo is an affordable enduro-focused Ibis MTB, keeping costs down with an aluminum frame and mid-range Shimano Deore groupset. It doesn’t cut back on aggressive, mountain-taming suspension, though, with a 160mm Marzocchi Bomber Z1 Coil fork up front and a 147mm Marzocchi Bomber air shock on the rear.

The wheels have fairly standard Blackbird Send rims but are fitted with top quality, time-tested Maxxis Assegai EXO+ tires, ready to tear up the countryside with tight traction and smooth rolling. At only $3,599, the Ibis Ripmo is a great enduro MTB option for those who want a high-quality bike with a moderate budget. 

• Fork – 160mm, Marzocchi Bomber Z1 coil
• Shock – 147mm, Marzocchi Bomber air
• Shimano Deore 12-speed
• 29 x 2.5″

14 . Santa Cruz Bicycles Bronson C R

MSRP: $5,499 Evo.com

Santa Cruz Bronson C R is a mixed-wheel (mullet) enduro bike and the ultimate jack-of-all-trades for charging downhill and uphill. Santa Cruz’s VPP suspension platform uses a lower-link shock for better traction and smoother compliance over obstacles, making it ideal for floating along rocky trails at speed.

The RockShox Lyrik Select suspension provides 160mm of upfront travel and 150mm of  Fox Float X Performance in the rear. The Carbon C frame includes a FlipChip for slackening the head tube angle even more. The only slight disappointment is the use of an SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain; we would have expected better on a bike in this price range.

• Fork – 160mm, RockShox Lyrik Select
• Shock – 150mm Fox Float X Performance
• SRAM NX Eagle
• 29×2.5″ & 27.5″x2.4″

15 . Pivot Switchblade

MSRP: $7,699

The Switchblade from Pivot is a long travel mountain bike with 29″ wheels and progressive, enduro-focused geometry. The carbon frame uses hollow-core molding for lightweight stiffness and DW-Link suspension to ensure no power transfer is lost when pedaling.

The Fox Factory suspension system provides 160mm of front travel with 142mm on the rear, just enough to absorb big drops while also staying tight on hill climbs. When combined with a potent mix of Shimano XT and XTR gearing and braking components, you get a bike that thrashes down mountain trails at speed without losing traction and control.

• Fork – 160mm, Fox Factory 36
• Shock – 142mm, Fox Factory Float X
• Shimano XT & XTR components
• 29 x 2.5″ & 2.4″

16 . Juliana Roubion CC X01 AXS

MSRP: $10,549 Evo.com

Juliana is famous for its excellent female-specific bike designs, and this women’s enduro bike is no exception. With the lightweight Carbon C frame with lower-link mounted VPP suspension and an adjustable Fox 36 Float Factory fork, you get a smooth ride every time, no matter your style.

The wide-ratio 1×12 SRAM X01 Eagle groupset with Code RSC brakes needs no introduction, known for its reliable shifting on ascents and superior braking on descents.

For solid grip and traction, Santa Cruz Reserve 30 V2 Carbon rims are paired with ever-popular Maxxis Minion MaxxGrip tires. It may not be the cheapest women’s enduro bike out there but Juliana certainly made sure it’s one of the best!

• Fork – 160mm, Fox 36 Float Factory
• Shock – 150mm, RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate
• SRAM X01 Eagle AXS
• 29 x 2.5″ (f) & 27.5″ x 2.4″ (r)

17 . Evil Insurgent

MSRP: $9,050 Evo.com

Evil may be a less-known bike brand but that hasn’t stopped them from producing a top-quality carbon enduro ready for racing. The Insurgent uses Evil’s own DELTA system for suspension which you can tune for varying track conditions and spring and damper parameters.

The 180mm of fork travel and 168mm of rear travel combined with 27.5″ wheels result in a fun, agile riding experience and the lightweight integrated carbon frame looks awesome! Buyers get a pro-level SRAM X01 Eagle groupset, SRAM Code RSC brakes, and a Bike Yoke Revive dropper. 

• Fork – 180mm, RockShox ZEB Ultimate
• Shock – 168mm RockShox Super Deluxe Coil Ultimate
• SRAM X01 12-speed
• 27.5 x 2.5″ & 2.3″

18 . Santa Cruz Bicycles Nomad C S

MSRP: $6,799

The Nomad is a carbon-framed Santa Cruz mixed-wheel enduro MTB designed specifically around improved hill-climbing abilities. With a convenient FlipChip adaptor, you can easily adjust it to your preferred cycling style wherever you are on the mountain. The excellent lower-link VPP suspension benefits from a RockShox Super Deluxe Select + shock and is complemented by a Fox 38 Float Performance fork, both with 170mm of travel.

We think that the SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain offers great value for a bike in this price range, especially with a wide-ratio 10-50T cassette, helping to scramble up those steep ascents. 

• Fork – 170mm, Fox 38 Float Performance
• Shock – 170mm, RockShox Super Deluxe Select+
• 29 x 2.5″ + 27.5 x 2.4″

Buy on Mike's Bikes

19 . Rocky Mountain Altitude Carbon 50

MSRP: $6,199 Jenson USA

This Rocky Mountain all-mountain bike balances lightweight material with an innovative Ride-9 adjustable geometry frame. It utilizes the high gear range of a 10-51T cassette in the 12-speed Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain to provide excellent hill-climbing abilities and solid Shimano XT four-piston brakes for confident descending.

The suspension combines a Fox 38 Float EVOL GRIP Performance 170mm fork with a Fox Float X Performance shock, resulting in a smooth, trail-blazing ride over any terrain. Finish that off with a WTB ST Light i30 TCS 2.0 wheelset and Maxxis Assegai 2.5″ and Minion DHR II 2.4″ EXO+ tires, and you have a bike that offers incredible value for money!

• Fork – 170mm Fox 38 Float EVOL GRIP Performance
• Shock – 160mm Fox Float X Performance
• Shimano XT/SLX
• 27.5″ or 29″ x 2.5/2.4″

Buy on JensonUSA.com

20 . Orbea Occam M30 LT

MSRP: $4,999 Evo.com

Orbea has recently emerged as a leading MTB manufacturer, producing several elite-level bikes. The Occam is a carbon mountain bike with high-end components at a justified price.

You get a solid Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain and Shimano Deore M6100 hydraulic brakes, paired with Race Face AR 30 Rims and the ever-popular Maxxis Minon DHF 2.5″/Dissector 2.4″ tires.

The suspension includes a Fox 36 Float Performance fork and Float X Factory shock, each with 150mm travel. A solid piece of machinery for long weekends in the mountains.

Affordable enduro mountain bikes aren’t such a common sight just yet, but you can’t really go wrong with Orbea when it comes to mountain bikes.

• Fork – 150mm, Fox 36 Float Performance
• Shock – 150mm, Fox Float X Factory
• Shimano SLX/XT 12-speed

21 . Marin Alpine Trail 7

MSRP: $2,999 Jenson USA

If you’re looking for an affordable full-suspension trail/enduro mountain bike, the Marin Alpine Trail is worth considering.

This 29er from Marin features a high-performance aluminum frame that isolates pedaling and braking forces to improve traction and control with MultiTrac suspension. The extra-long wheelbase and slack headtube angle inspire confidence when landing a jump or descending at speed.

The Shimano Deore gears and MT420 4-piston brakes make up the groupset, providing hassle-free hill climbs and solid, confident descents. With a 150mm RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock and a Yari RC   fork with 160mm of travel, you can’t go wrong with Marin Alpine Trail 7.

• Fork – 160mm RockShox Yari RC  fork, 160mm
• Shock – RockShox Deluxe Select+ 150mm 
• Shimano XT groupset 
• Vee Tire Flow Snap 29 x 2.6″  Tubeless-Ready

Buy on Jenson USA

22 . Cannondale Jekyll 1

MSRP: $6,150 Mike’s Bikes

The Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1 is a 165mm travel 29er, a solid enduro-style bike with a carbon frame, SRAM Code RSC 220/200mm rotor hydraulic disc brakes, and a SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain.

Naturally, it benefits from Cannondale’s famous Proportional Response design, complete customization by size, such suspension layout, geometry, and chainstay length.

And that’s not all – it comes equipped with Fox Float Factory 38 170mm fork and a Fox Float Factory X2 shock. Throw in a killer Cannondale DownLow dropper post, WTB KOM Trail i30 TCS rims, and Maxxis Assegai 2.5″ EXO+ Minion DHR II 2.4″, EXO+ tires.

• Fork – 170mm, Fox Float Factory 38
• Shock – 165mm, Fox Float Factory X2
• Carbon 
• 29 x 2.5/2.4″

Top Picks in Different Categories

What are the best 29er enduro bikes of 2024.

• Ibis Ripmo – Best all-around mountain bike, a playbike
• Yeti – SB165/150 – Best performance bike
• Santa Cruz Bicycles – Most enduro bike models on their range

What are the best 27.5″(650b) enduro bikes of 2024?

• Intense Tracer

Best Enduro mullet mountain bike:

Alchemy- Nine7Five is the number one mullet bike in the enduro scene.

What are the best tires for enduro mountain biking?

• Maxxis Assegai EXO
• Maxxis Minion DHRII
• Maxxis Dissector

What is the best drivetrain set-up?

1×12-speed is the most commonly used drivetrain among enduro bikes. 10-50T, 10-51T, 10-52T.

Best brakes for enduro riding?

Most enduro mountain bikes use 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 200mm(f) or 180mm(r) rotors. Shimano brakes are known for their progressive on/off feel, while SRAM has quite a progressive engagement.

Best saddle for enduro riding?

Most bikes have been using the WTB Silverado on enduro bikes.

Is the enduro bike a good all-rounder?

Enduro cycling is more specific than trail or cross country but since they’re built to handle both steep descents and hill climbs, they do make great all-rounders. However, unless you plan to do a lot of technical descents at speed, you don’t really need to spend the extra for enduro-specific MTB.

What is an enduro mountain bike best for?

Enduro MTB, other times also categorized as the All-Mountain bike is ultimately built to descend. Technically, you can use any MTB to ride an enduro-style course but you’ll find it easier on a purpose-built enduro MTB. These bikes typically have longer travel than standard MTBs, slacker geometry, and higher bottom brackets to allow riding over larger obstacles.

What are the top 3 ’boutique-type’ enduro mountain bike brands?

Ibis, Yeti, and Santa Cruz Bicycles. These three MTB brands have put out the most specific set of enduro, all-mountain, trail, and XC bikes.

What brands belong to the top 10 of full-suspension enduro bikes?

On the top 10 list of enduro bikes, after Ibis, Yeti, and Santa Cruz, we would go for:

>>> Related: Best Mountain Bike Brands

27.5″ or 29″ for enduro?

27.5″ bikes are better for either shorter riders or technical sections, while 29″ allows for a better speed and roll-over.

Trail/All-Mountain vs. Enduro

The mixture of the Enduro MTB and trail bikes are better known as the all-mountain bikes. Enduro mountain biking usually tackles more extreme terrain than typical trail or all-mountain riding. To handle this, enduro mountain bikes have more travel on the suspension and a longer wheelbase, making it more stable over obstacles and more agile on steep, technical descents.

Gravity/Downhill vs. Enduro

Downhill, or ‘gravity’ bikes, are designed specifically for racing down steep descents as fast as possible and have no uphill climbing abilities. Enduro bikes have similar downhill capabilities but with some sacrifices so that hill climbing is possible, like shorter travel and a dropper seat post.

Is 140mm enough for enduro?

140mm on the front might be fine for light enduro racing, while it’s recommended to have slightly more.

Is 130mm enough for enduro MTB?

Yes, when it is 130mm on the rear end for a lighter rider, anyone under 160lbs.

What are the best places to find enduro mountain bikes for sale online?

Besides the Facebook marketplace, craigslist, and local bike stores, more and more people are looking for bike stores online to find the most suitable model to fit their needs. Down here you’ll find a list of the best places to buy enduro mountain bikes online:

• JensonUSA – Top brands represented
• REI – Cannondale, Salsa
• Backcountry – Top brands represented
• Competitive Cyclist – Top brands represented
• Planet Cyclery – Cannondale, Intense

How much does an average enduro mountain bike cost?

Since they usually benefit from advanced suspension technology, and enduro bike price is usually high compared to standard trail MTBs. For a decent enduro MTB, you’ll want to spend at least $4,000, although some are available for $3,500. Considering how high some prices are, the average is around $5,000.

Enduro MTB frame materials

Right now there are only two main materials available to get an enduro mountain bike.

Aluminum – A cheaper and more affordable option that’s great for intermediate or beginner cyclists. Ibis Ripmo is an ideal example that high-end brands use aluminum frames compared to most other boutique brands that have gone for the carbon only. Alloy enduro bikes are not as common but offer super value for the money!

Carbon – A material that dominates the whole cycling industry for a good reason – it’s lightweight and has superb vibration-reducing qualities. Why carbon might not be suitable for beginner cyclists? Although the overall quality of carbon has significantly increased over the years – beginner cyclists must know how to properly handle the bike to and from the trails, and obviously when riding one as well!

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7 Best Trail Mountain Bikes of 2022

For versatile bikes that can tackle long climbs and moderately technical descents, we break down the year’s top trail models.

Switchback Travel ( Jason Hummel )

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

From smooth and flowy post-work rides to rough and rowdy all-day backcountry epics, the trail mountain biking category covers a wide range. And with rapidly changing technology and an ever-growing number of options, it can be hard to nail down the best ride for your needs. Below we detail our top seven picks for 2022, which are broken down by type and best use and include everything from a beginner-oriented hardtail to fast and fun full-suspension rigs. For more, see our buying advice and comparison table below the picks.  

Our Team's Trail Mountain Bike Picks

• Best Overall Trail Mountain Bike: Yeti Cycles SB130
• A Close Second (For Rougher Terrain): Ibis Ripmo V2
• Best E-Mountain Trail Bike: Specialized Turbo Levo Comp
• Best Hardtail for Trail Riding: Salsa Timberjack XT 29
• Best Budget Full-Suspension Trail Bike: YT Jeffsy Core 2
• Best Short-Travel Trail Bike: Evil The Following
• Top Entry-Level Trail Bike for Beginners: REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1

Best Overall Trail Mountain Bike

1. yeti cycles sb130 c2 gx eagle ($6,500).

While we readily admit that the term “quiver killer” is overused, we can’t help but think Yeti made just that with the extremely versatile SB130. Sporting 150-millimeters front and 130-millimeters rear travel, it falls nicely in the heart of the trail category, and its progressive geometry and plush suspension mean it’s planted and composed when tackling technical trails. Just as importantly, it’s an efficient climber and has a very light and playful personality that’s a ton of fun on flowy and smooth sections (unlike some burly bikes, it’s not overkill on easier terrain). Finally, the SB130 is impeccably built and easily one of the best-looking bikes around, sporting Yeti’s famous, turquoise-colored frame (the “Brick” color option isn’t too shabby either). 

The main knock against Yeti bikes is that they’re not great values, and this mostly holds true for the SB130. Their “entry-level” model rings in at $6,200, and the lightly upgraded GX Eagle variation here comes in at a steep $6,500. That said, Yeti sticks to high-end parts, and when spec’d the same, its pricing actually is quite close to competitors like the Ibis Ripmo and Santa Cruz Hightower. And with the premium price, you’re getting some nice extras, including a lifetime guarantee against defects on the frame and a crash replacement warranty where they’ll offer you discounted replacement parts. All told, the Yeti’s do-it-all nature earns it our top spot for 2022. See the Yeti SB130 C2 GX Eagle

A Close Second (For Rougher Terrain)

2. ibis ripmo v2 slx ($6,099).

If you live in an area like the Pacific Northwest and your local trails are filled with rough and steep terrain, or you simply want a cushier ride for absorbing big hits, it’s hard to beat Ibis’s latest Ripmo. Stepping up in aggressiveness from the Yeti above, you get an extra 10 millimeters of travel at the front and 17 millimeters at the rear, along with a slacker head angle and burly Maxxis Assegai tires. There’s even an option to select a coil shock if you plan to dabble in the enduro world. What makes the Ripmo a favorite among trail riders, however, is its do-everything performance. The steep seat tube and DW-Link suspension make it out-climb expectations, and the carbon frame and quality Shimano SLX groupset help keep weight in check.

Combining 29-inch wheels and a lot of travel does mean the Ripmo is overkill for flatter, flowy, and less technical trails. And while it’s energetic and happy to pop off features along the way, it’s realistically more bike than a good number of trail riders actually need. As such, it comes up a little short of the slightly more versatile and better-climbing SB130 above. Plus, we think the Yeti is a bit more refined—the Ibis’s internal routing needed a little work to keep from rattling, as one example—and the styling of the Ripmo does leave a little to be desired (although that’s subjective). Of note, Ibis covers both ends of the trail category really well, and their lighter and snappier Ripley is a top choice among short-travel options. See the Ibis Ripmo V2 SLX

Best E-Mountain Trail Bike

3. specialized turbo levo comp alloy ($7,500).

Specialized has been at the forefront of electric mountain bikes in North America, and their Turbo Levo is a leading all-mountain design. The latest bike is a real grin-maker—trust us on this one—and received a host of improvements that set it apart. Its new mullet setup (29 in. wheels at the front, 27.5 in. at the back) gives it a balanced and easy-to-control feel but still can smash through technical terrain, and its electronics have seen a nice upgrade in durability and refinement. Further, their Mission Control App provides quick access to the battery’s status and allows for easy customization of performance. Overall, among a fast-growing and competitive field of e-mountain bikes, we think the latest Turbo Levo is at the top of the list.

Currently, the biggest barrier to an e-mountain bike of any kind is price. Despite packing an aluminum frame, the Turbo Levo Comp here is $7,500, and carbon models start at a whopping $9,000. Additionally, the extra drive system adds a significant amount of weight–it’s not uncommon for e-bikes to weigh upwards of 50 pounds or more. This added heft also has performance drawbacks, and we found the Turbo Levo is quite a bit less flickable and more reluctant to get off the ground than the brand’s analog Stumpjumper Evo (or the less-powerful Levo SL e-bike). Finally, land managers and lawmakers still are trying to figure out where e-bikes fit into outdoor recreation. Regulations vary by state and riding area, but oftentimes they technically are not legal to ride on singletrack trails. See the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp

Best Hardtail for Trail Riding

4. salsa timberjack xt 29 ($2,099).

Minnesota-based Salsa Cycles is best known for their bikepacking, touring, and gravel-oriented designs, but they’ve been making some serious headway in mountain biking of late. Their Timberjack XT 29 hardtail is case in point with its well-thought-out spec package and adaptable design. The bike’s burly 2.6-inch tires and highly adjustable 130-millimeter RockShox 35 Gold RL fork provide more than enough cushion for rocky and rooty descents (by hardtail standards). And the relatively slack geometry and fast-rolling tires encourage shenanigans like popping off trailside lips and manualing down the trail. What we really like about the Salsa, however, is its nod to bikepacking. You simply won’t find too many other hardtails that offer as many mounting locations for gear as the Timberjack. 

Salsa updated the Timberjack last year, and key changes include a slacker head tube (66.4° on all sizes) and an impressively expansive number of build kits (including 27.5+ wheel sizes). The 29er XT model here features premium components like Shimano’s XT drivetrain at a reasonable price point. The design offers fast and reliable shifting—it even smooths out shifts that would otherwise clunk into place while on an incline—and its 12 speeds have a very wide range. This gives the Timberjack excellent versatility for hauling you up extended climbs and over variable terrain. That said, the burly construction and wide tires mean the bike isn’t as nimble and fast as a more cross country-focused design. But for a capable and well-rounded hardtail that’s built to last, the Timberjack is an excellent choice. See the Salsa Timberjack XT 29

Best Budget Full-Suspension Trail Bike

5. yt jeffsy core 2 ($2,999).

In contrast to premium brands like Santa Cruz or Yeti, YT Industries has built its popularity around offering big-time value. The German-based manufacturer is the best-known direct-to-consumer company that forgoes the middleman (bike shops) and allows shoppers to purchase directly from their website. The Jeffsy is their popular trail/all-mountain offering, and the Core 2 29 base model is a screaming deal: You get quality Fox suspension components front and rear, a DT Swiss wheelset, dropper post, and top-performing Maxxis Minion tires for hundreds less than its competitors. And jumping up to their top-flight Core 4 model ($5,199) will get you components typically found on bikes that cost thousands of dollars more.

What are you giving up by shopping from a consumer-direct company? For one, inventory is hit-or-miss, and at the time of publishing, many sizes and colors are multiple months out (or unavailable altogether). In addition, it can be difficult to get replacement frame parts as bike shops generally don’t stock them. Moreover, buying online means you don’t get a chance to test ride the bike before throwing down some serious cash. But for those who prioritize saving money and are willing to take on a little extra risk, the YT is an enticing option and a solid value. For another direct-to-consumer option, check out Commencal’s Meta TR (starting at $2,500), which also outperforms its modest price tag. See the YT Jeffsy Core 2

Best Short-Travel Trail Bike

6. evil the following ($6,599).

Short-travel full-suspension bikes hit a sweet spot for many riders, and the light and fast Evil The Following currently is our favorite of the bunch. Updated a couple years ago, the bike’s well-balanced riding position hits that desirable combo of near-XC-level climbing that doesn’t terrify you on the descent, 29-inch wheels, and enough suspension travel (130mm front and 120mm rear) for smaller drops and moderately techy terrain. Plus, it’s an extremely refined build with a high-end carbon frame, well-thought-out dimensions, and a creative rear linkage that’s both durable and great to look at. The Evil is not a value leader by any stretch—the $6,599 MSRP for the GX model is Yeti territory—but the bike’s snappy and extremely energetic personality will quickly win you over. 

Where does the Following fall short? To start, like the SB130 above, we’d love to see a true entry-level (or even mid-range) version offered with an aluminum frame for those just starting out or wanting to stick to a lower price point. If you fall into that camp, we recommend looking at YT’s Jeffsy Core 2 ($2,999) above. Additionally, riders who prioritize rough and rowdy descents likely will find the Following a little under-gunned—both the Yeti SB130 and Ibis’s Ripmo get the advantage for this type of terrain. That said, the Evil is a faster, nimbler, and more efficient climber than those alternatives, which makes it a better choice for big days. See the Evil The Following

Top Entry-Level Trail Bike for Beginners

7. rei co-op cycles drt 1.1 ($599).

Sub-$600 mountain bikes may conjure up images of cut-rate big-box-store specials, but REI’s Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 packs a surprisingly good punch. To start, it checks the right boxes for a budget build with a lightweight aluminum frame, 100 millimeters of front suspension travel, and proven Shimano drivetrain. Arguably its biggest selling point is the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which have superior stopping power compared with the cable-actuated brakes that you typically find at this price point. And it’s all backed up by REI’s excellent warranty—something you definitely don’t get from the Targets and Walmarts of the world.

What do you give up with the entry-level Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1? For starters, this bike is aimed more at gravel bike paths and mellow singletrack than anything technical. Additionally, the budget-oriented SR Suntour fork will certainly be out of its element during rough and bumpy descents (the quick-release axles don’t help either). If you’re looking for something much more trail-worthy, check out the brand’s DRT 1.2 (our top pick in our article on mountain bikes under $1,000 ). The upgraded model is more aggressive in just about all ways, including more suspension travel, wider tires, and a better overall spec package. However, at nearly half the price, the DRT 1.1 is a great option for most recreational or first-time riders. See the REI Co-op DRT 1.1

Trail Mountain Bike Comparison Table

Trail mountain bike buying advice, frame material: carbon fiber vs. aluminum, full-suspension vs. hardtail, wheel size: 27.5 vs. 29er, drivetrain and gearing, electric mountain bikes (e-mtb).

• Unisex vs. Women's-Specific Models

Trail Bike Price Guide

Buying a mountain bike online, consumer-direct bikes.

• Should I Buy a Used Bike?  

As a whole, aluminum-framed bikes still dominate the trail category, but carbon fiber is becoming increasingly common. What’s driving its growing popularity? The main advantages are less weight—approximately 1 pound depending on the frame—and increased stiffness. The additional rigidity of the material compared with aluminum leads to better power transfer and higher efficiency. For committed cyclists, those are pretty convincing performance advantages.

Carbon does come with its fair share of downsides, however. Right off the bat, you can expect to pay about a $1,000 premium for upgrading from an aluminum to carbon frame. Additionally, aluminum does a better job absorbing impacts from trail debris and surviving a high-speed crash (carbon can crack from hard hits). Finally, aluminum is easier to be recycled once a bike has reached the end of its life, although that’s still a hotly debated topic. In the end, it often comes down to budget: carbon has plenty of advantages, but it’s a hard sell if you’re only dabbling in the sport. And we can’t help but think that the extra cash may be better spent on a visit to Whistler instead.

When buying a new trail bike, one of the most commonly asked questions is: should I buy a hardtail (suspension fork only at the front) or full-suspension (includes both a front suspension fork and rear shock) model? There are a number of factors to consider when making this choice. Are you on a tight budget? Are you just starting out? Are your local trails smooth and with few obstacles? If so, a hardtail is probably the best choice for you. However, should your local terrain be rooty and rocky, or maybe you just like going downhill fast, then a full-suspension rig probably is the better option. This is just the tip of the iceberg, however, and we break down the additional considerations below.

Performance In terms of overall riding performance, hardtail and full-suspension mountain bikes each come with their fair share of pros and cons. Starting with hardtails, their lower weight and lack of suspension travel makes them fast and easy to pedal quickly. As a result, they excel on long rides and climbs. But should the going get rough—especially on the downhill—a full-suspension bike quickly takes the lead. The added rear suspension helps soak up bumps and offers a much more comfortable ride in general. FS bikes are the weapon of choice for most intermediate to advanced riders. Having said that, full-suspension designs like our top-rated Yeti SB130  typically weigh more, are significantly more expensive, and will not be as efficient at climbing or on non-technical trails.

Maintenance If you’re looking for a simple and low-maintenance bike, then hardtails take the cake. Their lack of rear suspension means they forgo any bushing, bearing, or pivots that generally require extra care and attention. This becomes especially true should you live in a wet and muddy climate, which can wreak havoc on full-suspension bikes if they go unmaintained. Because of these characteristics, it’s not uncommon for dedicated mountain bikers to own a full-suspension bike for summer use and a hardtail for when the trails turn to slop. Bikes like the Salsa Timberjack are able to hold their own against short-travel full-suspension rigs yet are much simpler to keep fresh should you often ride in the rain.

Price Once again, if a low price is your top priority, then hardtails are the clear choice. Quality full-suspension trail bikes, with their added rear shock and linkage, are simply too complex to design and build on the cheap. From the list above, the $2,999 YT Jeffsy Core 2 is about as low as we’d advise going with a full-suspension design (there are a few just below $2,000 that are suitable as well). Sure, you could certainly spend less than that on a bike from a big-box store, but in reality, it’s going to ride terribly. The parts won’t last, the suspension will be overwhelmed, and you’ll be quickly wishing you bought a lighter and more comfortable hardtail instead.

Unisex vs. Women’s-Specific Models

Many trail bikes are made in a unisex style and a range of sizes (typically from “S” to “XL”). This can work well for both men and women, although riders on the shorter end of the spectrum can run into some challenges getting an ideal fit. Some brands like Trek address this by offering a wider range of sizes within the unisex line. Taking Trek’s Fuel EX as an example, the bike is made in “XS and “S” frame sizes with top tubes that dip down more aggressively right in front of the seat and smaller wheels (27.5 rather than 29). This makes it easier for shorter riders to comfortably stand over and control the bike. For many women, simply having an array of size options is all they need to get a great fit.

In addition, a number of brands make dedicated women’s mountain bikes. In the past, these mostly have been shrunken-down versions of the unisex models in different colorways. And while that’s still true in some cases—especially on the budget end of the spectrum—many quality brands make women’s-specific trail designs with retuned suspensions, handlebars that are narrower with smaller-diameter grips, and reshaped frames. There also are women’s-only bike brands, including Juliana (Santa Cruz’s sister brand) and Liv (Giant). Liv Cycling in particular really stands out as a leader with a growing collection of XC, trail, and e-mountain bikes for women. In the end, a unisex design like the aforementioned Fuel EX can be a great pairing for many lady riders, but there are a number of potential benefits in opting for a women’s-specific model.

The majority of us do a significant amount of shopping online, so why not do the same when purchasing a mountain bike? They’re certainly more complicated to figure out than a set of dish towels, but there’s a lot of recent movement towards online sales from consumer-direct brands (more on this below), major retailers like REI Co-op and Competitive Cyclist , and even manufacturers themselves like Diamondback. If you’re considering going this route, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions before clicking that buy button. Are you comfortable doing basic assembly and mechanical projects? Will someone be at home to take delivery and sign for your new ride? And, perhaps most importantly, are you comfortable choosing the right size and style of bike without taking a test spin?

One of the most important pieces of the new bike puzzle is getting the correct size, which can be the difference between riding your bike down the hill or wanting to throw it down the hill. Luckily for us, most reputable online retailers and brands provide a significant amount of fit-related information. Size charts are often tailored to specific models, and you’ll then get size recommendation based on your height or inseam length. Taking this a step further, Competitive Cyclist offers one of the most comprehensive fit guides we’ve seen, compiling measurements for your inseam, forearm, lower leg, and more. Taking this detailed approach is one way of ensuring you wind up on a bike that fits you properly.

Should I Buy a Used Bike?

The trail bikes listed above are the latest and greatest in their respective categories, but purchasing a used model is a great way to save and cut down on waste. To start, keep in mind that mountain bike technology has been rapidly evolving even in the past few years, so we recommend picking up a pretty new design. Further, it’s a good idea to closely inspect the bike in person to make sure you’re not buying an unmaintained money pit. With the drivetrain, verify that the chainring teeth are shaped like triangles and less like shark fins. If they look like the latter, it’ll likely need to be replaced. The frame, brake pads, and chain should also be inspected for undue or heavy wear. Finally, see if the rubber seals around the suspension components are cracking or if oil is running on the outside of the fork—both are signs that service is required.

If you’re not comfortable with checking a bike’s mechanical soundness, it’s often worth having a local shop take a look (or you could purchase a former demo bike from a shop, so you can ensure it was properly maintained). Even a modest hardtail can set you back a few hundred dollars, and higher-end models hold their value well enough to justify getting a professional opinion. We recommend calling ahead to make sure they offer the service and that they can fit you in. In the end, used bikes have their place—especially for those just getting into the sport—but it’s a good idea to make an informed, smart decision. Back to Our Top Mountain Bike Picks   Back to Our Mountain Bike Comparison Table

Read More From Switchback Travel

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Best Mountain Bike Brands of 2023

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The best hardcore hardtail you can buy – 7 bikes in review

As Autumn hits and Winter looms, many riders yearn for a simpler bike; no shocks to service, no pivot bearings to replace and a more direct relationship between rider and terrain. Sometimes life is too easy, too candy-coated: your riding becomes muted, you feel detached from the challenge that used to be mountain biking – you need a hardcore hardtail to breath life into you riding.

The mighty hardtail has a special place in riders hearts; whether it’s respect for the special skill-set required to ride one well, the appreciation for a master frame builder’s creation or, as many of us paid our mountain biking dues on a hardtail, misty-eyed nostalgia for a simpler time.

What makes a hardtail hardcore?

So what does a hardtail require to be awarded, ‘hardcore’, status? Firstly, hardcore means that the bike can be thrown off, down or over anything. So, it needs to be tough and take some knocks; it’s got to be able to take a beating, dust itself off and get back up and carry on. Beautifully welded steel, aluminium or titanium tubing is the expectation and if it can be built by hand and in a shed, then so much the better. Cool frame details, masses of mud clearance and plenty of character.

Development of hardcore hardtails is the generally the domain of small rider owned brands, able to tweak designs at will, who specialises in innovation and quality, so we expect to see progressive and conflicting geometry as designers carve their ideas out of metal. A slacked out head angle is the minimum requirement and long travel forks feature widely to soak up the hits at the front in the hope that the back follows behind. Wheel sizes vary: 27.5 is popular, making the bike nimble and quick but 27.5+ offers greater comfort and traction. 29ers are beginning to take over this last bastion of smaller wheels as hardcore hardtails become more enduro focused and the bigger wheel’s ability to smooth out the trail and steam roller over terrain becomes more important.

Putting the fun in function

However, riding a hardcore hardtail isn’t about points or podiums, the riding emphasis should be on fun and versatility: hit a trail centre, session some dirt jumps, roost some loamy turns or smash the urban freeride. We want it all but being the ‘jack of all trades’ may result in being master of none so some brands will focus on a more specific riding style. In these days of super-efficient rear suspension, the hardcore hardtail retains its cult status which has nothing to do with it being the most practical choice of bike, it’s less comfortable, they have less traction, line choice is critical and mistakes will not be rewarded but somehow they embody everything that’s good about riding a bike.

The test fleet: seven hardcore hardtails

Each of the hardtails we reviewed is available in a frame only option. Many riders will either be looking to build their hardcore core hack on a budget from donor parts and spares or want to build it up to their own preferences, so we wanted to review the qualities of each frame rather than the full build.

Compared to the expense of constructing a full suspension frame, hardtails are cheap to build which means that they are a great entry into the bike building business. Consequently, there are hundreds of hardtail manufacturers and models out there. We could never have tested every bike in this category, no matter how much we’d like to, so we sourced bikes that we thought could bring something different to the test and reveal the key aspects of a frame that make a hardtail, hardcore.

The contenders

The Airdrop and Stif bikes have more ‘trail’ inspired geometry albeit with the prerequisite slacked out head angle, the shortest reach, stays, stack and wheelbases make for a great all-around traditional. ‘mountain bike’, smaller and more nimble than the enduro inspired behemoths of the Pole, Pipedreams and the Sick offerings. The longer bikes should offer increased confidence and stability when the going gets steep and technical but can quickly get you into trouble as the front end’s write cheques that the un-suspended rears cannot hope to cash. This leaves the Orange and the Stanton representing the middle ground’; two very different yet very capable all-rounders that epitomize the fun, ‘jack of all trades’ that is the characteristic of the hardcore breed.

How large is large?

Despite all our bikes being a size ‘Large’, there is a huge difference between each bike that reflects the diverse interpretation of their intended use and rider’s needs. With up to 12.5 cm difference in wheelbase, 41 mm variation in stack height and 70 mm difference in reach and 60 mm in seat tube there was a sizing chasm which means that the prospective buyer must know their numbers before parting with their cash, especially as most of these brands can’t be bought ‘off the shelf’ at your LBS.

The test conditions

We took our 7 bikes and five riders to ruggedly beautiful forests of Dunkeld in Perthshire, Scotland’s heartland. Featuring big climbs, undulating traverses and steep, enduro style trails with lots of loam, slick roots, greasy rocks, hucks and senders; the all-around ability of our hardtails would be stretched to their limits and beyond.

All the bikes we tested had their own distinct identity, strengths and weaknesses. The Stif Morf showed us how much things have progressed as a bike we considered ‘hardcore’ only a few years ago, now felt more like an all-rounder trail bike. The two aluminium bikes, the Airdrop BITMAP and the Orange Crush are both excellent trail bikes despite having different geometry ideas but once off the trail centre groomers, the stiffness of the frame material made the bike less comfortable to ride. We found that a super long front end and short stays of the Pipedream Moxie meant that the Moxie needed aggressive rider input to get the best out of the extreme geometry, so it isn’t a bike every rider will be able to ride well. For everyone involved in this group test, the two bikes battling for top slot was the Pole Taival and the Stanton Switch9er . Two quite different bikes in terms of feel and geometry that share some winning characteristics: a balanced riding position, chromoly tubing and 29er wheels. Both bikes were super fun to ride and went down faster than a hooker at a bachelor party: the Pole Taival , with its fantastic ride and ‘rider focused’ build is highly recommended and great value for money, taking our BEST VALUE award, thanks to its stunning frame, awesome all-around ability and grin-inducing handling, the BEST IN TEST laurels go to the sublime Stanton Switch9er .

All bikes in test

Airdrop BITMAP | Pipedream Moxie | Pole Taival | Orange Crush 29 | Sick Headbanger | Stanton Switch9er | Stif Morf

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words: Thomas Corfield Photos: Trevor Worsey

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About the author.

Thomas Corfield

After nearly 30 years of riding and coming from a career in cycle sales, UK Editor Tom is still passionate about everything mountain biking. Based in the Scottish Borders, he enjoys riding everything from solo adventures in the mountains to big social night rides.

Best mountain bike: the ultimate trail, XC and enduro bikes at all budgets

• Danny Milner
• April 17, 2024

Choosing the best mountain bike is hard. There's loads of them. They all look similar yet different. Our expert panel of reviewers narrow things down.

Mountain bikes come in different designs depending on their intended use. A mountain bike for racing cross-country is not the same as a mountain bike designed for weekend trail riding. As such, our round-up of the best mountain bikes available right now features winning bikes from different disciplines within the broad church that is mountain biking. We’ll go through the differences in disciplines further down this guide.

Our current picks at all price points:

We have tested all of the following bikes. Tested them properly against their peers, backed up with years of experience reviewing thousands of mountain bikes since MBR was launched back in 1997. This isn’t some shortlist pulled together from browsing brochures and brand websites – these bikes are ridden and rated by some of the most experienced testers in the business, all with a shared passion for mountain biking and giving you the best buying advice possible.

Note: this guide only covers non-assisted mountain bikes. If you’re looking for the best electric mountain bikes , we’ve got a special guide for that.

Jump straight to your price point:

Skip ahead to the section that’s right for you, or feel free to browse your way down our selection of top-rated bikes.

Under £600 mountain bikes

Under £750 mountain bikes.

• Under £1000 mountain bikes

Under £2,000 mountain bikes

Under £3,000 mountain bikes.

• Over £3,000 mountain bikes

Best lightweight XC mountain bike

Best enduro mountain bike.

• Best electric mountain bike

Voodoo’s Braag is a cracking entry-level mountain bike

Voodoo Braag

Best hardtail mountain bike for under £600.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.6kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: N/A

Reasons to buy:

• Amazing price
• Great geometry and range of sizes
• Spot-on cockpit and component choices

Reasons to avoid:

• The fork tops out with a clunk

Using the same frame as the multi award-winning Voodoo Bizango (featured below) the Braag saves money in a few areas to bring the price point under £600. So you get the same confident, fun handling and excellent spread of sizes, along with a wide-range yet simple 9-speed drivetrain and a plush coil-sprung suspension fork. The only fly in the ointment is that the fork can get a bit clunky, but overall this is a killer bike for the money and one you can upgrade as your skills progress.

Read our full review of the Voodoo Braag

The Voodoo Bizango is a classic hardtail that still delivers the goods

Voodoo Bizango

Best hardtail mountain bike for £750.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.1kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: 10/10

• Light weight
• Wide gear range
• Stable handling
• Not always in stock

The alloy Bizango simple has no competition. It is simply unbeatable for the money. In fact, given the choice we’d probably opt for this bike over many decent £1,000 mountain bikes (saving a couple of components upgrades for the ensuing seasons). Good brakes, good gearing, plenty of standover, decent fork. Shames many bikes at twice the price.

Read our full review of the Voodoo Bizango

With a single-ring drivetrain, the Polygon Xtrada 5 would be a 10/10 bike

Polygon Xtrada 5

Best shape and handling under £700.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.31kg | Suspension travel: 120mm front | Rating: 9/10

• A top quality frame with up-to-date geometry
• Loads of standover clearance
• Dated 2×10 drivetrain
• Fork tops out

The Polygon Xtrada 5 may well sport a dated 2×10 drivetrain, but this 29er has the slackest steering geometry for stability at speed, along with the lowest top tube and shortest seat tube to give you maximum range of motion on black-level trails.

While the drivetrain is frustrating, the handling is first class. It carries speed easily, and we could really throw it around on fun, technical trails and jumps.

Read our full review of the Polygon Xtrada 5

Under £1,000 mountain bikes

Calibre’s Line T3-27 is our latest Hardtail of the Year winner

Calibre Line T3-27

Best hardtail mountain bike under £1,000.

Wheel size: 27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 14.52kg | Suspension travel: 140mm front | Rating: 10/10

• Modern geometry
• Dropper seatpost
• Large-volume tyres are comfortable and confidence-inspiring
• Needs a wider gear range
• tall bottom bracket height

Calibre is back in the game after a two-year hiatus, and it’s newest Line T3-27 is straight into the top of our hardtail charts with a perfect 10/10 rating. Built around progressive trail geometry and oversize tyres on 27.5in wheels, the Line T3-27 comes with a clear advantage on rough trails, with more grip and improved comfort.

Getting a dropper post as standard is another impressive feat on this budget bike, and helps the Calibre show a clean pair of heels to the competition on the descents. It’s also more comfortable on the climbs, as you don’t feel every bump travel through your spine. Given inflation over the last few years, the fast that you can get this level of performance for £1k is remarkable.

Listed retail price for the T3-27 is £12,00. However, if you sign up and buy a Go Outdoors membership card for just £5, the bike’s price drops to a great value £999.

Read our full review of the Calibre Line T3-27

Voodoo’s Bizango Pro is an absolute flyer

Voodoo Bizango Pro

Best budget mountain bike for racing and long rides.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 13.2kg (29.2lb) | Suspension travel: 130mm front | Rating: 10/10

• Good geometry and superlative spec choices
• Low weight and comfy ride feel
• BB could be a finger’s width lower
• Fatter tyres and more standover clearance would be welcome

The Voodoo Bizango has smashed pretty much any test it’s ever entered, winning our Hardtail of the Year award multiple times, earning regular podium places on our list of the best hardtail mountain bikes , and impressing everyone who rode it. It must have been very tempting for Halfords to stick with the old frame, add a modern colour, fettle the spec and keep mixing up that winning mix.

We’re extremely glad they didn’t then. For Halfords’ sake, standing still in the ultra competitive hardtail market is suicide. And for our sake, the new Bizango Pro is much the superior bike to anything Voodoo has made before, and ultimately more fun to ride. Great brakes mean you can go faster in the happy knowledge you can stop when you need to, while the 12-speed shifting means you can cruise the hills faster than plenty of full-sus bikes out there. And then there’s the fork, it’s hugely superior to anything we’ve tried before on a £1k hardtail: air-sprung so you can set the sag to your weight, effective rebound dial for control, and a really smooth feel.

Read the full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

Full-suspension

The Cannondale Habit 4 boasts direct-sales value, but you can buy it from a physical store.

Cannondale Habit

Most fun trail bike for under £2k.

Wheel size: 29in (XS frame gets 27.5in wheels) | Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Weight: 15.2kg | Suspension travel: 140mm f/130mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Agile and easy to ride, the Habit 4 handles like a much more expensive machine
• Shock tune feels perfect
• Fun and flicky ride that keeps rider weight well-balanced on all trail gradients
• SRAM DB8 brakes feel solid and have a smooth action for a budget brake
• RockShox’s Recon RL fork lacks finesse and precise tuning
• Deore drivetrain shifts can be slightly clunky, especially with the KMC chain
• Maxxis Rekon tyres use harder compound with less wet weather grip

Kudos to Cannondale for nailing the fundamentals on the latest Habit trail bike. The price is right, with the cheapest model coming in at under £2k, despite being sold through physical dealers. And the quality alloy frame and solid parts specification show no obvious cost-cutting. There’s even a dropper post on the entry-level Habit 4.

Better still, it rides great. Sharp, flickable handling rewards your every input, so it dances, rather than drags, on the trail. To quote our review, “as a pure trail bike, it nails the fundamentals of geometry, suspension and efficiency and has an engaging, responsive ride quality that feels anything but budget”.

Read the full review of the Cannondale Habit 4

Polygon Siskiu T8 is a slick full-sus trail bike

Polygon Siskiu T8

Runs the vitus mythique a close second.

Wheel size: 27.5in or 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 15.6kg | Suspension travel: 150mm f/140mm r 27.5in, 140mm f/135mm r 29in | Rating: 9/10

• Progressive sizing and geometry
• Great value for money
• Needs a Shimano chain
• Tyres are hard and a bit sketchy

Calibre Bikes, sold exclusively through outdoor giant, Go Outdoors, blew the entry-level full-suspension bike market to smithereens when it launched the original Bossnut back in 2016. And it continued to be the benchmark full-suspension bike until the pandemic hit. The Bossnut has disappeared from showroom floors recently, but while we wait for Calibre to launch a new model, there is another option. Calibre’s frames were made by Polygon, and the Indonesian manufacturer has adopted the geometry and suspension tuning (that made the Bossnut head and shoulders above the competition), and applied it to the Siskiu. Also sold through Go Outdoors, the Siskiu is available with 29in or 27.5in wheels depending on the frame size, with the larger frames using 29in wheels and the smaller ones getting 27.5in hoops.

With short chainstays and a stubby stem, the Siskiu T8 29 is a really playful, engaging bike to ride. While the front ends are not that long, the short seat tubes mean you can upsize without getting tangled up in the saddle. And the suspension provides loads of support, so you can push hard on both the climbs and the descents, even if it doesn’t quite have the grip of the Vitus Mythique.

Read the full review of the Polygon Siskiu T8

The Whyte 629 V4 comes from a long lineage of award-winning hardtails

Whyte 629 V4

Best trail hardtail under £2k.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: M, L, XL | Weight: 14.41kg | Suspension travel: 120mm f | Rating: 10/10

• Amazingly composed and stable handling
• Low-profile rear tyre may not suit all conditions.
• No size small – for that you need the 27.5in wheel 901 or 905

Whyte has been on path to build the perfect trail hardtail for many years now, and the 629 V4 is really honing in on that goal. When we tested it we had this to say about it: ‘The Whyte 629 V4 really impressed us, and in many ways it mirrors its stablemate, the 905, in setting new hardtail standards, this time for 29ers. Ultimately it is balanced, composed, stable and precise, and whether you’re a relative beginner, or an experienced trail rider, you’ll instantly become addicted to its ways’.

Read our full review of the Whyte 629 V4

The Merida Big Trail 600 is a low-slung trail weapon

Merida Big Trail

Light weight with sharp handling.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 13.86kg | Suspension travel: 140mm f | Rating: 9/10

• Lighter than most rivals
• Handy tool stashed under the saddle
• Wide size range
• Poor wet weather brake performance, but you’ll need new discs and pads to improve it

Merida is a brand that’s easily overlooked, but it has made great strides in the design of its hardtails in recent years, listening to feedback from UK dealers and press to dial-in its geometry and spec. As such, the latest Big Trail is a well-honed option that impressed us when we tested it.

Indeed, our review was glowing, exclaiming that ‘with its low weight and sweet handling the Big Trail 600 ripped, especially in drier conditions’. Merida has also managed to keep the prices keen, and there’s a comprehensive size range that should suit riders of every height.

Read our full review of the Merida Big Trail 600

Specialized’s classic four-bar suspension delivers on its promise of 160mm travel

Specialized Status

Best budget mullet bike.

Wheel size: 29in f/27.5in r | Frame sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 | Weight: 15.75kg | Suspension travel: 160mm f/160mm r | Rating: 10/10

• Killer value for money
• Inspiring handling
• Sluggish NX shifting
• You’ll need to sharpen your jibbing skills to pull it off

If you’re starting to see a few grey hairs appear then you may well remember the iconic Specialized Big Hit. Although not the original mullet bike, it was perhaps the most successful mixed wheeler before the trend’s recent resurgence. Why was it such a big hit, if you’ll excuse the pun? Well, it wasn’t designed for long distances or going racing, it was built to put a smile on riders’ faces. And it succeeded in spades. The Status captures the spirit of that classic Big Hit, with a mixed wheel set-up, an affordable price and the ability to generate fun at every turn. There are two models on offer, one with 140mm travel and the original version with 160mm travel, but whichever one you pick, you’re in for a blast!

Read our full review of the Specialized Status 160

Over £3000 mountain bikes

The Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy never lets the dust settle when there’s fresh loam about

Specialized Stumpjumper Evo

Best aggressive trail bike with adjustable geometry.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 | Weight: 14.6kg | Suspension travel: 160mm f/150mm r | Rating: 10/10

• Alloy frame affords a build kit that is performance focused
• Fox Factory suspension is first rate
• Attitude and geometry adjustment make for a seriously versatile trail bike
• Shock tune offers stacks of support, so not as comfort focused as some trail bikes
• SRAM Code RS brakes feel a tad wooden

Fresh from winning our recent battle of the adjustable trail bikes, the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo comes with a rich pedigree as it was also our Trail Bike of the Year in 2022. One of its greatest selling points is the amount of adjustability on offer, with flip chips and headset cups letting you play with the geometry and the weight balance.

The Stumpy Evo is equally adept shredding rough and rowdy natural trails as it is throwing shapes on groomed bike park jump tracks, and that versatility is a huge part of what makes it such an appealing package. Internal frame storage and a comprehensive size range are the icing on the cake.

Read our full review of the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy

The Yeti SB120 is a down-country bike you can buy with your head as well as your heart

Best boutique down-country bike

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Turq carbon, 120mm | Weight: 13.3kg (29.3lb) | Rating: 9/10

• All round overachiever with superlative suspension
• Agile rather than ultra aggressive
• Not actually that light
• No internal storage

From one of the most aspirational brands in the business comes the impeccable SB120. Yeti shrinks and shoehorns its unique Switch Infinity suspension design into the SB120 chassis. Where the swingarm moves up and down on dual Fox shafts just above the bottom bracket. And the new design has improved seals, bearings, hardware, and pivots, so it should stay in tip-top condition for longer.

And this clever suspension design really works. As we explained in our review, “the supple suspension is stable under power gives a really positive pedalling feel”. Then, when you really hit a something hard and the rear wheel sticks to the ground, giving superb traction and control. It needs a lighter set of wheels to do the flickable geometry and sublime suspension justice, but even out of the box the Yeti SB120 had us smitten.

Read our full review of the Yeti SB120

Santa Cruz’s Tallboy is a terrier that thinks it’s a rottweiler

Santa Cruz Tallboy

Best down-country bike for sending it.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame: Carbon CC, 120mm | Weight: 13.08kg (28.84lb) | Rating: 9/10

• Outstandingly fast and focused full-send aggression
• Does things normally reserved for burlier bikes
• Superb size range
• Internal storage compartment
• Needs a pretty skilled rider to avoid pratfalls
• Uncomfortably uncooperative on technical off-piste trails
• Can be tiring to ride

Although often overlooked in the comprehensive, verging on confusing, Santa Cruz range, we think the Tallboy is an undiscovered gem. You’ve heard of small man syndrome, or small dog syndrome, well the Tallboy has small bike syndrome, where it steadfastly believes it’s actually an enduro bike, and deserves to be ridden as such. The stiff frame and aggressive angles beg to be wrung out on every descent, yet the efficient suspension and lightweight mean it’s always the first bike back up to the top of the hill.

For some riders, all that straining at the leash might be too much. But if you love wringing the neck of a short travel whip, and seeing your buddies slack-jawed in amazement as you undermine and overtake their big-travel enduro bikes, the Tallboy is the ultimate sleeper bike.

Read our full review of the Santa Cruz Tallboy

Transition’s Spur is still one of the finest down-country bikes we’ve ever tested

Transition Spur X01

Best lightweight down-country bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 11.25kg | Suspension travel: 120mm f/120mm r | Rating: 10/10

• Perfect blend of speed and control
• Lightweight
• Not the most robust build if you’re carrying some timber
• Narrow size range

The Transition Spur is arguably the bike that spawned the down-country category, and also the bike that perhaps best defines it. At under 11.5kg, the Spur flies out of the gate, haring up climbs and tearing along high-speed singletrack. That lack of inertia encouraged us to sprint every rise, pop every jump, and schralp every turn, helped by the stable geometry and supple suspension.

With lightweight RockShox Sid forks up front, the temptation is to add travel and girth, but to do so is to dilute the Spur’s potency and add unnecessary grams. So while there’s a bit of flex when pushed hard, we’d treat that as part of the charm, and lap up the whirlwind of action that accompanies every descent. As we said in our review, the Transition Spur is “the best-realised ‘down-country’ bike we’ve ever tested and the one we all covet if we were spending our own cash”.

Read our full review of the Transition Spur

Did the Mondraker Raze RR impress us? Yes, it did.

Mondraker Raze

Best trail bike for suspension set-up nerds.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight:  13.65kg (30.09lb) | Suspension travel: 150mm f/130mm r | Rating: 10/10

• Fast and capable
• Built-in suspension data acquisition
• Excellent on-trail performance
• You need a 4G connection to keep the MIND engaged

Mondraker has never been afraid to push ahead with innovation. It was the first brand to really give us modern sizing, with its Forward Geometry concept. And now it’s getting creative with suspension set-up, incorporating built-in data logging, to make set-up and analysis easily available to a trail bike audience.

But it hasn’t forgot about the basics, and the Raze is a right little ripper, that – as we explained in our review – has ‘nailed the balance of speed, compliance and capability to perfectly capture the essence of the short-travel trail category’.

Read our full review of the Mondraker Raze Carbon RR

Integrated suspension system conceals the RockShox NUDE 5 shock inside the full carbon frame

Scott Spark RC WC AXS

Best high end xc race bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 11.12kg | Suspension travel: 120mm f/120mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Ruthless in its efficiency
• Hidden shock should need less maintenance
• Remote suspension adjust
• Suspension could be more supple in Descend mode.

Scott’s Spark has won more trophies than any other race bike, with double Olympic gold back in 2016. This latest version gets a sleek new frame and more modern geometry, meaning that while the Scott Spark has lost none of its potency, it has now become even more versatile. It also gets a hidden shock for reduced maintenance, and remote suspension control for uphill efficiency without compromising on downhill confidence.

Read our full review of the Scott Spark RC WC AXS

The Nukeproof Giga offers a right rollicking ride

Nukeproof Giga

Best enduro bike.

Wheel size: 27.5, 29in or mullet | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 15.4kg | Suspension travel: 180mm f/170mm r | Rating: 10/10

• All of the travel, none of the drawbacks
• Michelin tyres are temperature sensitive

The Giga is testament to the adage that you can have your pudding and eat it. You can enjoy all of the all-ness, all of the time. Loads of travel. Slack AF head angle. The biggest of wheel sizes. And the most remarkable thing? It rides just like a normal mountain bike when the gradient tips up. The Giga really is a race-worthy enduro bike that doesn’t feel like a chore to pedal around on your Sunday Social rides. Poppy and playful, the Giga is no passive plough.

Read our full review of the Nukeproof Giga 290 Carbon Factory

YT Industries’ Capra Core 2 GX just had the edge on the Canyon Torque when we tested them back-to-back.

Best direct-sales enduro race bike

Wheel size: 29/27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 16.6kg | Suspension travel: 170mm f/170mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Calm and quiet
• Rocketship fast
• Five frame sizes
• Needs sturdier casing tyres

YT’s Capra narrowly clinched victory against its arch nemesis, the Canyon Torque, when we pitted them head-to-head recently. But it was a points victory, and which one is best depends largely on your priorities. The Capra feel at home going flat-out, racing for those fractions of a second that are crucial in enduro racing. Yes, it’s also tons of fun to ride, but its true calling is against the clock.

Choose from carbon or alloy frames, a multitude of sizes, and a range of superb specs, whatever your budget. A classic bike that has just got better with age.

Read our full review of the YT Capra Core 2 GX

The Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6 loves to party.

Canyon Torque

Best direct-sales bike park shredder.

Wheel size: 29/27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 16.6kg | Suspension travel: 170mm f/175mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Playful and bombproof ride
• Excellent tyre spec
• Fork needs more support or overinflating
• No proportional chainstay lengths

So if the YT Capra is the head-down racer, the Canyon Torque is the joker in the pack, goofing around on side hits and rarely seen with both wheels on the ground at one time. It’s a bike that revels in being twisted into crazy shapes at the bike park or surfing loamy turns in the hills.

Of course Canyon also offers a huge array of options, with alloy and carbon frames, coil shocks and air shocks, and mullet wheels or full 29ers. All of the Torque models come with exemplary specs, so however big your budget, you won’t be disappointed.

Read our full review of the Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6

The Merida One-Sixty FR 600 offers plenty of bang for not too many bucks.

Merida One-Sixty FR 600

Best value long-travel enduro bike.

Wheel size: Mullet | Frame sizes: XShort, Short, Mid, Long, XLong | Weight: 17.2kg |  Suspension travel: 180mm f/171mm r | Rating:  N/A

• Robust build kit
• Well matched DVO suspension
• Modern sizing system
• Keenly priced
• Bike park-ready straight from the box
• Internal headset cable routing
• Noisy in rough terrain

The competitively-priced Merida One-Sixty FR 600 really impressed us when we tested it. With a 180mm fork, and 171mm of coil-sprung travel out back, the One-Sixty packs enough travel to take on pretty much anything, and the flex-stay rear suspension design is innovative while reducing complexity, so you have fewer bearings to worry about in the long run.

Given that the One-Sixty is sold through a dealer network, the price is very reasonable, with quality suspension, wheels, and brakes. It also boasts modern geometry, so there’s loads of standover height on all frames, and you can choose your size according to length, and handling characteristics. The burly aluminium frame, is built tough, so it’s no lightweight, but it actually pedals and climbs surprisingly well. And on the descents, we found the Merida One-Sixty was easy to ride, confidence-inspiring, and impressively capable.

Read our first ride review of the Merida One-Sixty FR 600

The Vitus Mythique 29 VRX is one of the best budget full-suspension bikes on the market

How we tested the best mountain bikes, and why you can trust our opinion

Our list is drawn up by a test panel of mountain bike journalists, most of whom have over 20 years experience reviewing bikes ( read more about our bike testers and writers them here ). In recommending the best mountain bikes to you, we draw on that experience and our expansive knowledge and comprehensive overview of the market. In 2022 alone we tested over 80 different mountain bikes and we’ve been testing bikes since MBR was launched in 1997. In 25 years that’s over 2,000 bikes reviewed – that’s why you can trust our advice.

We never take a product at face value and manufacturer’s claims are always probed. That’s why we measure the weight, travel and geometry on all our test bikes (the numbers we publish are our own figures unless specified). In group tests we always try to fit control tyres to create a more level playing field and help isolate critical differences in handling and suspension performance.

A good starter mountain bike costs from £400 upwards, but an extra couple of hundred quid really counts at this level.

What’s your budget?

£400+ is a good start for a bike that will stand up to off-road abuse without falling apart in five minutes, but… hold your horses. We’re going to go into what you get (and don’t get) for your money in a moment. You can get a perfectly decent mountain bike for under £600. You can also max out your credit card and drop over £10k on a mountain bike.

Are those bikes 10x better? No, they aren’t. The law of diminishing returns definitely applies to mountain bikes, particularly as you spend over £4,000. They are better, sometimes significantly so depending on the rider and terrain, but essentially you get less drastic improvements in bike quality the higher you go up the price scale.

Most of us are trail riders, looking for a bike that’s fun and efficient on a wide variety of terrain.

What sort of riding are you going to do?

Whilst your budget is probably going to be main thing you’re thinking about at first, it shouldn’t be. First, you need to decide on the type of mountain bike is going to suit you best. Then you can look at what your budget will get you.

Mountain bikes are now very capable and versatile machines. They can turn their hand to all sorts of riding. More so than ever these days in fact. You can go for a trail ride on an enduro bike. You can ride enduro trails on a down-country/XC bike. So you aren’t closing off all avenues of riding by going for a certain sort of bike. But you’ll have a more fun and rewarding experience if you get a bike that best suits your main type of riding.

An XC bike, like the Canyon Lux, is fast and efficient, but you’ll need good skills to make the most of it

Conversely, don’t be tempted to get a bike for the extreme 1% of the riding that you’ll do on it. A burly gravity-fuelled bike is fine and dandy for an annual uplift day, but you’ll have to pedal that thing around for the other 51 weekends of the year.

For the purposes of this guide let’s ignore the extreme ends of the spectrum. Chances are you aren’t looking for an Olympic XC race bike. Nor are you looking for a World Cup level Downhill bike. This buyers guide is about ‘normal’ mountain bikes. But even within the realm of ‘normal’ mountain bikes there are various sub-genres. Some are gimmicks, some are irrelevant, some are seemingly entirely fabricated by marketing departments.

In a nutshell: the best mountain bike for most people

In our opinion, if you’re in doubt, get a Trail bike. These will be capable enough on more extreme terrain but won’t feel like a burden on calmer, flatter terrain.

Modern trail bikes are versatile beasts and come in many different flavours

Choosing the best mountain bike for: Trail riding

Trail riding is arguably best defined by what it’s not. It’s not cross-country. It’s not Enduro. It’s riding around regular tracks and trail centres with the occasional 50km epic thrown in and the odd uplift day or two. Trail bikes sport between 120mm and 150mm of travel and are designed to be strong enough to withstand all sorts of abuse without being too portly.

Recommended mountain bike : hardtail or full-suspension with 120-140mm suspension. 29in, 27.5in, or mixed (mullet) wheels (29in front and 27.5in rear).

Some of the latest XC bikes have progressive geometry that lets you blast the descents just as hard as you can scorch the climbs

Choosing the best mountain bike for: Cross-country (XC) riding

This is less about jumps and slamming berms and more about pedalling miles and crossing fells. But hold on, don’t write it off thinking it’s for doddery older riders on dull, wide fire-roads. XC riding and racers are still about off-road speed. But with cross country there’s more of an emphasis on climbing. So the bikes are as light as possible. They also don’t pack much in the way of suspension travel (sub-120mm) as more suspension travel results in heavier bikes. They are also often less overbuilt in terms of fork/frame/wheel stiffness. Again, stiffer stuff means more weight. They also aren’t able to install a dropper seatpost due to having narrow (sub-30.9mm) seat tubes. Crucially, XC bikes can also still have rather old-fashioned geometry that often ignores descending prowess and is still heavily modelled on road bikes. This is all well and good if you’re Nino Schurter, but for most people the end result is fairly terrifying on any technical terrain. As a result, even if you want to ride cross-country you’re probably better off on a (light as possible) trail bike than a sketchy XC bike.

Recommended mountain bike: light-as-you-can-afford hardtail or light full suspension with 100-120mm suspension and 29in wheels.

Enduro bikes have to survive the equivalent of racing multiple World Cup DH tracks in a single day, without breaking, and being pedalled back up to the top again

Choosing the best mountain bike for: Enduro riding

Enduro riding intentionally and unashamedly prioritises descending capability and speed. The terrain can resemble Downhill race tracks but there’s no uplift here. You have to pedal your way around. Enduro bikes are essentially longer travel (160+mm) Trail bikes with stronger parts. As a result they’re heavier than Trail bikes. Or the same weight and significantly more expensive. Enduro bikes are very much in vogue but you should be careful before you automatically head down this route. A couple of kilos may not sound much but it’s always there no matter what trail you’re on. If most of your riding is trail centres then an Enduro bike is going to be OTT and very probably slower than a Trail bike. One area where Enduro bikes are leading the way for all kinds of riding however is geometry. A cutting edge Enduro bike will have a riding position that bests both XC and Trail bikes for climbing, descending and contouring. Enduro bikes are at the forefront of mountain biking. A lightweight Enduro bike is an amazing thing. And amazingly expensive.

Recommended mountain bike : full suspension with 150-170mm suspension. 29in, 27.5in or mullet (29in front, 27.5in rear) wheels

The best hardtails under £1,000 make a great starting point

Hardtail or full-suspension?

It’s easy to assume that everyone would be riding full suspension bikes instead of hardtails if there was no price difference. This isn’t really true. Hardtails do have some advantages over full-suspension bikes regardless of price tag.

Hardtails are lighter. Hardtails have less to go wrong or require servicing. Hardtails are easier to clean. Hardtails can be faster and more fun on smoother trails. Adding to this the fact that hardtails are cheaper than their full-sus counterparts means that hardtails aren’t going to be extinct anytime soon.

What are the benefits of going full-suspension? First and foremost, control. Full suspension bikes track the ground better and as such offer greater traction. Full-suspension bikes are more composed and not as sketchy to ride as hardtails. The fatigue and comfort benefits are also important, particularly over longer distances. Being less beaten up and less tired on longer rides is an added bonus of bounce.

What are the drawbacks of full-suspension? They’re heavier than hardtails. They usually have a lower component spec (compared to hardtail of the same price). They have bearings and pivots that will eventually wear out and cost money to replace/service. They can be mud traps. They can be difficult to clean properly. And if you don’t understand the basics of how to setup suspension, then a full-suspension bike can ride really badly, inefficiently and sketchily.

Modern e-bikes, like the Whyte E-160, can open up new off-road horizons

What about the best electric mountain bikes ?

Riders have switched on to e-bikes in huge numbers over the last few years for one simple reason: they let you pack a lot more trails into your usual ride. In fact you can often enjoy double the distance and metres climbed/descended in a typical three hour Sunday ride than you can on an analogue bike, and with people’s lives busier than ever, that’s a big incentive. E-bikes have also improved massively since the early versions came out in 2013/2014, with plenty of power, impressive range and handling that can be as fun as any non-assisted model.

E-bikes are governed by a number of legal restrictions, so they can only assist while you’re pedalling and only up to 15.5mph, but that doesn’t hold them back off-road, and the best models will slap a bigger grin on your face than any other bike you’ve ridden. So what’s the catch? Well, e-bikes are generally more expensive than analogue models, there’s a lot more to go wrong, they are more expensive to maintain and they are very different to ride. Some might say they are less pure, and they are for the lazy. It’s true, you can be lazy on them, but you can also get a really good workout (including your upper body) if you put your mind to it.

If all that sounds enticing, check out our buyer’s guide to the best electric mountain bikes and the best budget electric mountain bikes .

Even straight out of the mould, the HB frames are a thing of beauty

Carbon or aluminium?

At the mid to high end level there’s something of a crossover point where you can sometimes choose between a carbon framed bike (with lower end parts) or an aluminium framed bike (with better bits) at around the same price point. We’d always recommend going for the better specced aluminium model.

Is carbon worth the extra money? For most riders, no it isn’t. Just how much extra does it cost anyway? To go carbon will cost you approximately an extra £1,000 (for the similarly equipped bike).

What does this £1,000 get you? A lighter frame for sure. But not that much lighter, maybe 700g or so at the absolute most. The more convincing argument for going carbon is not weight, it’s ride feel. Carbon bikes ride differently to aluminium bikes. Stiffer. Sometimes with a damped (dead) sort of feeling. And these days carbon bikes are often stronger than their aluminium counterparts.

The carbon feel and strength is what it’s all about. This is not to say that this racy, rally-car ‘carbon feel’ is going to suit everyone. Some riders prefer the feel of aluminium bikes over carbon.

Cotic uses steel in its full-suspension frames to great effect

Some people are even making big hype about steel again. This time steel full-suspension, with brands like Cotic and Starling leading the charge. Maybe things can get too stiff on a mountain bike? When this occurs, fatigue increases. Line choice becomes harder. Maybe some chassis flex results in a faster ride? But then, steel full-sussers are going to be even heavier than aluminium.

At the end of the day, the frame material isn’t going to affect most people’s bike riding. Tyres, wheels and suspension setup is far, far more significant. So we would actually say that frame material isn’t worth worrying about overly.

Which wheel size is best?

This old chestnut. Again, we’re going to be mildly controversial and say that the difference between 27.5in bikes and 29er bikes isn’t as pronounced as it was back in the mid ’00s.

Nowadays you can get 29ers with decent amount of suspension travel (up to 170mm – more for DH) and with decent geometry, so the wheel size debate has fizzled out. Some brands even offer two versions of each model, one with 27.5in wheels and one with 29in wheels, so you can just choose the option that suits you.

29ers are more stable and have better grip. But they have unavoidably higher front ends and the rear tyre can hit your bum on steep stuff if you’re under 6ft tall. The higher wheel axles can make the bike feel taller in tight switchbacks and thus require more leaning over. 27.5in bikes can be stiffer, can have lower front ends and the rear tyre won’t boot you up the behind on steep drops and chutes. The lower wheel axles require less body English in tight hairpins so the bikes can feel more nimble for a given rider input.

Canyon’s Torque CF8 Mullet is an example of a modern mullet bike that blurs the lines between enduro and freeride

If you’re 6ft tall or over, you’re probably going to better served by a 29er. If you’re under 5ft 6in then a 29er is likely going to feel too big. Which is where the mullet bike, or MX, fits in. These models use a 29in wheel up front (for maximum stability, speed and rollover) paired with a 27.5in wheel at the back (to improve agility and bum clearance). They’re a great option for riders who want a fun, playful bike or have shorter legs.

The Orange Switch 7 SE is a single-pivot design with a linkage to drive the shock, which lets Orange tune the leverage curve

Which suspension design is best?

A bonus debate for you. Sorry! Although there’s less hype and grand claims made about different suspension frame designs these days (compared to the slanging matches and OTT marketing of yore, anyway) there is still a valid interest in how the designs differ from each other. The mountain biking market is now mature and experienced enough to admit that there is no single Best Suspension Design . The four-bar (or Horst Link) used to be the Holy Grail. Single pivots used to get ragged on for being crude. Neither of these stances are correct.

To be frank, pretty much all suspension designs are good. But they are not all the same. They do differ in how they feel and respond (to both the trail and to the rider onboard). Some are fussy in how precisely they’re set up, some are more forgiving. Some also require more maintenance than others. The rear shock – and how you can tune it – is arguably more important than frame suspension design these days. It is now possible to do an awful to with a rear shock to alleviate any frame design niggles you may encounter. Bike too bob-prone, or wallowy, or harsh bottom out? Chances are something can be done with the rear shock to address this.

Basically, bike companies have got most of the kooky, bad designs out of their system now. The differences between them are now extremely subtle. Learning about suspension theory and setup is more important.

Geometry, geometry, geometry

The angles and lengths of the frame tubes governs almost everything in how a bike will ride. The best suspension in the world counts for nought if the geometry is poor. Similarly, a bike with great geometry can often overcome any suspension shortcomings and ride just fine.

What’s the best geometry for a mountain bike ? This is a tricky area and one which is still full of old myths and prejudices. But here’s our take on it…

Long reach (the distance between saddle and handlebars, in layman’s terms) is good. Steep seat angles are good. Slack head angles are good. And we’re not talking just ‘good for descending’. This geometry is good everywhere. Slack head angles don’t cause front end wandering on climbs (that’s caused by slack seat angles and/or short top tubes).

Low bottom bracket heights are generally good (for stability and for cornering), but riders who pedal in rutted/tufty/stumpy terrain, or like to be challenged by rocky, trials-style terrain, may get bored with frequent pedal strikes and so prefer a higher bottom bracket height and accept the compromise in handling.

Chainstay length is another area full of cliché. Short chainstays are seen as highly desirable. Long chainstays are seen as bad. Why is short good? We’re not sure it is particularly. It makes bikes easier to manual but that’s about it. They can be problematic on climbs if the seat tube is too slack, making it difficult to keep the front wheel weighted. Long chainstays offer greater stability and climbing prowess, but there is a trade-off in agility.

Another aspect these days is the return of standover as being high on the important list. The advent of dropper posts with 150mm+ of travel has meant that bike designers are factoring shorter seat tube lengths in their bikes now so that they can fit in long drop dropper posts. Truth be told though, you still can’t judge how a bike will ride by looking at its geometry chart. Geometry is a combination of multiple factors that all interact with each other. One isolated measurement doesn’t govern everything.

Have a budget in mind before heading to your local dealer

How much should you spend?

If you have less than £1,000 to spend then we still think a hardtail is the way to go. Sub-£1k full-sussers are going to be overly hefty and sport low-end kit that will impair your ride experience.

These days you can get capable and fun full-suspension bikes for between £1,000 and £2,000. They aren’t especially light but they aren’t restrictively heavy either. And the parts package on a good £1k susser will feature perfectly good stuff from recognised brands. Sure there’ll be some cost-cutting here and there, and some no-name finishing kit, but it won’t overly affect the bike’s ride.

Don’t end up on the wrong size bike

What size bike should you get?

A lot of people are riding around the wrong size bike.

The first myth to bust is that smaller bikes are more nimble/playful/manoeuvrable. Nope. Smaller bikes are less stable, more sketchy and uncomfortable. Don’t buy a bike that’s too small thinking it’ll be alright. Don’t get suckered into buying the wrong size bike because it’s at a bargain price. A cheap bike that’s big enough for you and has good geometry will be infinitely better than a half-price bling bike that’s too small for you.

The best way to do it is consult a size calculator (most bike brands have them), confer with other owners, and (if you’re in the 5ft10in-5ft11in height range) check out our reviews. We always add the rider height and size tested information in the specification table and we will usually comment on the sizing within with review. You should also check out our guide to choosing your mountain bike frame size . Remember that there is a degree of adjustability when it comes to fit with any frame size – you can slide saddles fore and aft on the rails, you can run longer or shorter stems, high-rise or low-rise bars – but you can never change the length of the seat tube.

Vital MTB Test Sessions: Five of the Best Long-Travel Enduro 29ers Raced and Reviewed 163

Multiple back-to-back tests of the evil wreckoning, orbea rallon, specialized enduro, transition sentinel, and trek slash revealed their strengths and weaknesses, and then we raced them against the clock.

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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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