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The best enduro mountain bikes of 2024 | 25 top-rated enduro MTBs

The big-hitting rigs you need to look out for in 2024

Ian Linton / Immediate Media

Looking for the best enduro bike? You’re in the right place; here we list the best enduro bikes on the market in 2024, as tested by our experienced, independent test team.

Enduro racing is currently at the forefront of mountain biking, with the demands of epic days on the pedals competing with long, technical descents that challenge downhill courses for their difficulty.

As such, the latest breed of enduro bikes have to be able to spin up hills as well as throw themselves down steep chutes, through rock gardens and over huge gaps.

Not all enduro bikes are born the same, though, and some will be better suited to long days in the mountains, with pedalling characteristics to boot, while others are basically downhill bikes in disguise – flat-out down the gnarliest of tracks, but possibly more of a slog back up the other side.

We’ve put together a buyer's guide at the bottom of this article to help you choose the best enduro bike for you.

The best enduro mountain bikes of 2024, as rated by our expert testers

Norco shore 2.

• Price: £3,399/$5,199 as tested
• Pros: Dialled geometry; fast handling
• Cons: Weight might be a problem for some

Although its weight may be an issue for some, the Shore is one of the best-riding, confidence-inspiring, long-travel mountain bikes on the market and all for a reasonable asking price. Offering 180mm of rear-wheel travel, the Shore is a high-pivot enduro mountain bike with a Horst-link suspension design.

Built around an aluminium frame, the Shore features an excellent and progressive geometry with a generous 480mm reach, 63-degree head tube angle and 445mm chainstays on our size large.

Norco is one of the only brands to vary chainstay lengths across its range. Considering its weight, the Shore climbs well despite the MaxxGrip compound on the Maxxis DoubleDown casing tyres, which we swapped to a MaxxTerra.

The Shore is a very comfortable bike to ride over rough terrain and is also incredibly predictable. Thanks to the ideal geometry, you can weight the front wheel confidently and it feels super-composed, both at speed and in technical sections.

• Read our full Norco Shore 2 review

Canyon Strive CFR

• Price: £5,999/$7,299/€6,299 as tested
• Pros: Chassis provides stability at high speeds; race bike feel with high-performance potential
• Cons: Suspension can feel harsh at low speeds

The Strive CFR is Canyon's race bike offering 170mm of travel and 29in wheels.

The Strive is well-specced compared to its contemporaries, with a Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes paired with a Race Face Next RS crankset.

The Shapeshifter system allows for better on-the-fly adjustment to the bike's geometry and presents a marked improvement on the previous model.

• Read our full Canyon Strive CFR review

Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 Mullet Silver

• Price: £4,949 as tested
• Pros: Stable and confident through turns; carries speed well
• Cons: Not as forgiving as other bikes

Cotic's RocketMAX shines when pointed downhill, carrying speed well, and is able to rail corners with ease. The bike can be run as a 29in or in as a mullet, which we tested.

The bike's composure is hard to fault, although we did find it to be a little noisy and less smooth than others, with chain slap being a distraction on bumpy trails.

Cotic offers a host of customisable spec, with our test bike featuring a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork and a Cane Creek Double Barrel Kitsuma coil shock.

• Read our full Cotic RocketMAX Gen4 Mullet Silver review

Devinci Spartan HP GX

• Price: $6,149/€6,249 as tested
• Pros: Impressive suspension; really well-specced for the asking price
• Cons: Steeper head tube angle would aid in climbing

The Spartan HP is a bump-munching, race-ready, high-pivot enduro machine and the entry model we tested has a solid spec for the price. The suspension platform is impressively supple, with a 170mm fork at the front and 160mm at the back.

The frame is fully carbon fibre (including rocker link) and our test bike was specced with a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and Code R brakes. The Spartan is sure-footed on tight and twisty trails, and it’s at home when ridden aggressively with intent. When pushed very hard, the Spartan can punish its rear wheel, though. We'd prefer a steeper seat tube angle for climbing.

• Read our full Devinici Spartan HP GX 12s review

Merida One-Sixty 6000

• Price: £4,600 as tested
• Pros: Impressive geometry; well-considered parts
• Cons: Seatpost scores easily

Merida's One-Sixty 6000 is our 2023 Enduro Mountain Bike of the Year , pipping the competition with its exciting and capable ride feel.

The bike offers well-balanced suspension that enables you to smash through technical sections, with the RockShox ZEB Select fork and Super Deluxe Select+ working well to iron out the trail.

A well thought-out spec, featuring a Shimano XT shifter connected to an SLX derailleur, makes for crisp shifting, while keeping the price point to a minimum.

The bike is seriously capable, lapping up gnarly trails while maintaining a fun, flickable character.

• Read our full Merida One-Sixty 6000 review

Norco Range C1

• Price: £8,999/$8,249/€9,999 as tested
• Pros: Excellent suspension with impressive descending performance
• Cons: Pedal bob when climbing

The Range C1 is a hard-charging gravity monster, with smooth suspension that's helped by a well-considered geometry.

While the Range C1 is designed for hard-hitting gravity-fed descents, it also performs well on mellower trails considering its bulk.

The geometry isn't the most aggressive out there, which makes for a comfortable climbing position for long days in the saddle, although the suspension provides some pedal bob.

Norco has given the Range C1 a spec list that is all but impossible to upgrade, which is quite the task considering its asking price.

• Read our full Norco Range C1 review

Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite

• Price: £4,900 as tested
• Pros: Good comfort and confidence-inspiring
• Cons: Brakes aren't the punchiest

Nukeproof's Mega 297 Carbon Elite keeps things exciting when you want them to be, with the geometry striking the right balance between speed and nimbleness.

The suspension is well balanced, with the Mega 297 Carbon Elite using a Fox 38 Performance Elite and an X2 Performance rear shock , which swallow up bumps with relative ease.

The bike feels well within its comfort zone on most trails and passes this reassurance on to the rider, boosting confidence.

• Read our full Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite review

Propain Spindrift Al MX Performance

• Price: £5,013/$5,253/€5,013 as tested
• Pros: Pedals well for its long travel; alloy frame just as capable as carbon rivals
• Cons: Upgraded shock may need a retune

Propain's Spindrift Al MX Performance is a freeride-focused long-travel bike aimed at bike parks and gnarly downhill trails.

On the hills, we found ourselves reconsidering the stereotypes of long-travel bikes, with the Spindrift proving to be an efficient climber despite its 180mm of front and rear travel.

While it wasn't XC quick, a good seating position and supportive platform made it rival most enduro bikes up the hills.

When pointed down the trail, the bike felt happy to charge through the roughest stuff and gobble up hard hits with ease. However, we found the shock struggled with high-frequency pumps due to a medium compression and rebound tune.

This didn't reduce confidence in the bike, but would be something we'd change if we were riding more natural trails.

• Read our full Propain Spindrift Al MX Performance review

YT Capra 29 Core 4

• Price: £5,199/$5,299/€5,299/AU$9,999 as tested
• Pros: Fast from the get-go; lively and comfortable character
• Cons: Bottom bracket feels too high

YT's Capra 29 Core 4 offers great value for money, with a Fox Factory 38 fork and an X2 Factory shock used to absorb rough trails.

The frame has been around since 2021 and offers a playful ride on various types of trail, though we found the bottom bracket a little high.

The Capra 29 is incredibly well rounded, and while some bikes may perform better on downhills, the versatile nature of the Capra makes for an easy-going, confidence-inspiring ride.

• Read our full YT Capra 29 Core 4 review

Bird Aeris 9 Shimano 12-speed

• Price: £4,333 as tested
• Pros: Good value for money with custom build options; well-balanced geometry
• Cons: Not the most responsive ride

Bird's Aeris 9 Shimano 12-speed offers a competitive build for the money, with a RockShox ZEB Ultimate RC2 fork and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock used to gobble up the bumps.

The Aeris 9 offers masses of stability and security through technical sections, providing plenty of rider confidence when you need it most.

We found the bike lacked a little when it came to playfulness, being focused more on heavy hits and carrying speed through rough terrain.

• Read our full Bird Aeris 9 Shimano 12-speed review

Bold Unplugged Ultimate

• Price: £10,999/$10,999/€10,999 as tested
• Pros: Balanced geometry; stellar climbing performance
• Cons: Limited customisation

Bold's Unplugged Ultimate offers high levels of innovation with its neatly integrated rear suspension, one-piece Syncros cockpit and comprehensive in-built toolkit.

The bike features 160mm of rear travel controlled by a Fox Float X Nude Factory hidden in the frame , while the front of the bike is supported by a 170mm Öhlins RFX38 M.2 fork.

We found the ride to be superbly balanced, with precise and playful handling complemented by a calm and capable ability through the gnarliest terrain.

This continues when faced with a hill, because the modern geometry and TracLoc suspension system makes spinning up easier than on its contemporaries.

While its design causes restrictions in spec choice, the Unplugged is without doubt a superbike – and is priced accordingly.

• Read our full Bold Unplugged Ultimate review

Cannondale Jekyll 2

• Price: £4,800/$4,550/€4,999/AU$6,899 as tested
• Pros: Striking looks; composed when it matters
• Cons: Not the best value for money

The Jekyll 2 uses the same carbon frame as the top-end Jekyll 1, just with a lower component spec. It's a striking-looking enduro bike, with its hidden shock designed to lower the centre of gravity and a great paintjob. It's available as a 29er only.

The high-pivot suspension design incorporates Cannondale's Ai asymmetric rear triangle to increase frame clearance. There's an idler wheel in the chainline to help prevent the kickback that can come with high-pivot kinematics.

Spec-wise, there's Shimano Deore, which despite being low-spec for the Jekyll 2's price, worked just fine. Cannondale specs 165mm cranks to reduce pedal strikes. Suspension is provided by a 170mm RockShox Zeb Select fork and a Fox Float DPX2 Performance shock with 165mm of travel. We had issues with wheel build quality though.

We really liked the forward seated position and absence of bob when climbing. Head back down and the Jekyll's balanced handling and geometry make it predictable and easy to guide through turns.

We also rated the Cannondale Jekyll 1 at 4 stars if you fancy a more decked-out spec.

• Read our full Cannondale Jekyll 2 review

Canyon Strive CFR Underdog

• Price: £4,799/$4,999/€4,999/AU$7,399 as tested
• Pros: Shapeshifter helps on the hills; ground-hugging suspension
• Cons: Not the liveliest ride

Canyon's Strive CFR Underdog is the German brand's lowest-tier enduro race bike. It features meaningful geometry adjustment and Shapeshifter technology that can steepen the seat tube angle for climbing.

The Strive CFR Underdog has a calm demeanour on steep terrain and goes a long way to boost rider confidence, though the bike requires more effort than its competition on more sedate trails.

Gearing and brakes come in the form of Shimano XT, while a Fox 38 Performance Elite fork and X2 Performance rear shock are used to eat up the trail.

• Read our full Canyon Strive CFR Underdog review

Canyon Torque Mullet

• Price: £4,499/$5,399/AU$7,299/€4,799 as tested
• Pros : Balanced ride feel from sorted geometry and good spec for its price
• Cons: Not quite as grippy and ride-smoothing as others

The Torque is now available as a 29er, 27.5in bike or this mullet option with a carbon frame and in all sizes except small. It comes with 175mm of travel out back from its Fox DHX2 Factory shock and a Fox 38 Performance Elite GRIP2 fork with 170mm travel.

There's a flip chip built in that changes geometry by 0.5 degrees and bottom bracket height by 8mm.

The Torque isn't quite a full-on enduro bike; we didn't feel it had quite the grip or bump-swallowing ability of the best. The updated Canyon Strive is designed more specifically to fit that mandate.

As usual with Canyon, you get a great spec for the price, with Shimano XT and DT Swiss wheels with Maxxis tyres.

Downhill performance delivered fun by the bucketful, with well-balanced, predictable handling. There's a bit more feedback over bumpy terrain than some of its rivals though.

• Read our full Canyon Torque Mullet review

Deviate Highlander II

• Price: £7,050
• Pros: Impressive suspension with excellent pedal efficiency
• Cons: Head angles could be slacker to meet performance potential

While it only has 145mm of rear-suspension travel, the Highlander II is designed for everything from epic days in the saddle to bike park laps.

The high-pivot suspension soaks up bumps, providing for smooth and calm descending, while remaining composed uphill, resisting pedal bob.

While the geometry is relatively balanced, the relatively steep 65-degree head angle makes it twitchier and harder to manage on steep turns.

• Read our full Deviate Highlander II review

Devinci Chainsaw GX 12S

• Price: £4,999 as tested
• Pros: Impressive downhill performance; robust design
• Cons: Chain guide adds drag

The Chainsaw is designed for bike park laps and steep downhill terrain, featuring a high-pivot suspension design that delivers 170mm of rear travel.

While it's not destined for climbing prowess, the bike will get you up a hill comfortably, though the chain guide at the bottom adds drag. We found removing it made a significant difference.

The Chainsaw proves seriously fast downhill, with the rear end soaking up bumps of all sizes and frequencies, while still remaining engaging on smoother tracks, unless the gradient is too mellow.

The bike suits aggressive riders smashing out big features, and would make a good seasonaire bike.

• Read our full Devinci Chainsaw GX 12S review

Giant Reign 1

• Price: £3,999/€4,499/AU$5,699 as tested
• Pros: Well-considered spec for price; incredibly capable
• Cons: Not the fastest through the rough

Giant's latest Reign now has 160mm of rear travel, bringing it up to date with a lot of the other bikes on this list.

The Reign 1 offers good spec, with quality components such as a Fox 38 Performance Elite fork and a Float X Performance Elite rear shock bolted to a well-refined frame.

The bike comes with meaningful geometry adjust that allows for slack, medium and steep ride settings to cater for the type of riding you do.

Giant's Reign 1 descends quickly, offering racers and riders high levels of confidence in technical sections, though we found the cockpit a little stiff on rough terrain.

• Read our full Giant Reign 1 review

Hope HB.916

• Price: £6,995 as tested
• Pros: Impressive geometry with dependable spec; calm and controlled through the rough stuff
• Cons: Suspension is hard to set up for lighter riders

Hope's new HB.916 enduro bike features a high-pivot linkage delivering 160mm of rear travel. The bike feels well-balanced and happy to plunge into the most technical terrain without dulling any of the fun.

The HB.916 is specced with the British brand's own wheels, brakes and crankset. Our tester didn't take to Hope's carbon bar though, feeling that it was too stiff.

An Öhlins RXF38 M2 fork supports the front of the bike with 170mm of travel, while a TTX2 Air shock controls the rear. We found it took a while to find the right setup for the bike.

• Read our full Hope HB.916 review

Intense Tracer 279 Expert

• Price: £4,999/$5,499/€5,499 as tested
• Pros: Impressive frame details; useful toolkit and internal storage
• Cons: Heavy SRAM NX Eagle cassette

The Tracer 279 Expert is the American brand's mixed wheel-size enduro bike with 170mm of suspension travel front and rear.

Intense has paid attention with the frame, with the fancy carbon adorned with titanium hardware and featuring functional fenders to keep mud away from the rear shock.

The bike uses a full SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, and a Fox DHX2 Performance Elite coil shock translates into a relatively hefty bike. However, efficient suspension anti-squat and a comfortable pedalling position make winching to the top of a trail bearable.

Downhill, the bike provides plenty of support and impresses with its bump swallowing on square-edge hits, while the mullet wheel size and modern geometry keep the Tracer manoeuvrable through tight and technical trails.

The Tracer doesn't provide the best value for money, but the frame has plenty of performance potential with some upgrades.

• Read our full Intense Tracer 279 Expert review

Propain Tyee AL 29 Performance

• Price: £5,250 (with upgraded brakes and wheels)
• Pros: Fast and agile ride; good climber
• Cons: No size small on the 29in version

Direct-to-consumer brand Propain is renowned for offering great value for money and its enduro Tyee offering is no exception. Available in either 27.5 or 29-inch wheels, as reviewed here, the bike climbs efficiently and the brand's PR010 suspension system, consisting of two counter-rotating links, resisted any bob during testing.

On the descents, it has plenty of pop and playfulness, and its agility means you can switch between lines without a lot of effort.

Our test bike came with a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, upgraded Formula Cura brakes and RockShox suspension, the rear a coil shock that Propain says is a no up-charge extra if you don't want to use an air shock.

Although the aluminium frame transmits more feedback than other best enduro bikes, the Tyee is a serious amount of fun to ride and it's a great jack-of-all-trades.

• Read our full Propain Tyee AL 29 Performance review

Orange Alpine Evo LE

• Price: £5,900 as tested
• Pros: Inspired geometry; spot-on spec for the asking price
• Cons: Narrower margin for error than other suspension designs

Orange's single-pivot Alpine Evo LE comes shod with 155mm of rear-wheel travel and a 6061-T6 aluminium frame. Our test bike was equipped with a Shimano XT 12-speed groupset and suspension courtesy of RockShox.

It feels best when worked hard, offering a sharp yet efficient ride. There's a narrower margin for error with the single-pivot design, but once you've mastered a particular jump or trail feature, the Alpine excels, landing with a notable surge in speed.

• Read our full Orange Alpine Evo LE review

Pole Stamina 160 Remastered

• Price: €5,684 as tested
• Pros: Fantastic appearance; exceptionally progressive geometry; incredibly fast
• Cons: The suspension requires careful setting up

The Finnish brand's mid-travel trail-cum-enduro bike features adjustable travel (by swapping out the shock yoke) and is compatible with both 29in wheels and a mullet setup. It's an outrageously fast bike to ride on all terrain types and despite its stand-out geometry, it pedals well on both uphill and flatter terrain.

Its descending performance is remarkably stable and calm, and it can be ridden incredibly quickly over any terrain with composure and calmness. You'll want to pay careful attention to the suspension setup, which can feel quite aggressive, and will require some fettling for it to be optimal.

• Read our full Pole Stamina 160 Remastered review

Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS RSV Coil

• Price: £8,999 as tested
• Pros: Confident handling on all terrain; well-designed glovebox
• Cons: Flip chip does little to change the bike's geometry

Santa Cruz's Nomad proves years of small refinements are just as important as unique design features. The mullet set-up makes the Nomad more capable than the previous model when pointed downhill, with the bike making a happy companion through the gnarliest of terrain.

The coil shock gives a supportive platform to push against when pumping down the trail, with the 170mm of rear travel happy to eat up even the biggest impacts.

While the price is steep, the Nomad is ready for whatever you throw at it.

• Read our full Santa Cruz Nomad C GX AXS RSV Coil review

SCOR 4060 LT GX

• Price: €6,899/$7,199 as tested
• Pros: Very efficient to pedal
• Cons: High bottom bracket

SCOR is Swiss brand BMC's enduro division, with this 4060 LT GX featuring 29in wheels and 160mm of rear-wheel travel. The bike is nearer to an aggressive trail bike than it is to a downhill bike, and its low weight and snappy geometry give a feeling of eagerness even at moderate speeds.

The 348mm bottom bracket height doesn't give the most planted feel through turns, though this doesn't take away from the bike's sense of fun. While not suited to the steepest, roughest trails, the 4060 LT GX provides a great all-round ride.

• Read our full SCOR 4060 LT GX review

Vitus Sommet 297 AMP

• Price: £5,500/$5,999/€6,300/AU$8,800 as tested
• Pros: Good spec for the money; fun and playful on every trail
• Cons: Not as confident as other bikes on this list

Vitus' Sommet 297 AMP is seriously fun to ride, with the bike feeling poppy and behaving predictably in the air.

As the brand has become synonymous for, the Sommet 297 features a drool-worthy spec for the price, with a RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork and SRAM GX Eagle AXS electronic groupset.

The bike doesn't offer the same ground-hugging and confident feel as other bikes on this list, though it's likely to put an equally big smile on your face.

• Read our full Vitus Sommet 297 AMP review

What is an enduro bike?

Which came first, enduro racing, or the enduro bike? It's a bit chicken and egg, but the race genre and the bike genre have pushed each other's limits, and driven development of bike tech far beyond the confines of the course tapes.

Enduro bikes sit in the middle ground between downhill bikes and trail bikes . Like a DH bike, they're designed to get down hills as fast as possible, tackling chunky rock gardens, matted root beds, big drops and canyon-like gaps, doing it all with a little less suspension travel .

However, like the best trail mountain bikes , they're also designed to be pedalled back up; so rather than pushing to the top of the track, they can be ridden up thanks to more suitable geometry, wider gear ranges and lighter builds than a DH bike.

As such, they're slightly less capable downhill than a DH bike, but far more capable up, and more capable down but less capable up than a trail bike… got it?!

How much travel does an enduro bike have?

While there's no set definition of travel that defines an enduro bike, the majority have between 150 and 170mm of suspension front and rear. Some 27.5in-wheel enduro bikes may push travel a touch higher and there are a few with a little less at the rear – usually 29in bikes.

Expect to see the burliest single-crown suspension forks a brand has to offer with stanchion diameters varying from 35mm to 38mm. They're built to be stiff, smooth and supportive, with higher-end models sporting plenty of adjustability.

Rear shocks, especially when you're buying bikes from the mid-range up, will have a 'piggyback' design.

This is an additional chamber connected to one end of the shock that allows for additional oil flow through the shock. This, then, allows for better temperature management and more consistency on long descents (you'll be surprised by how warm a shock can get in use).

How the bikes use that suspension travel will vary too. Some bikes have incredibly plush suspension that totally insulates you from the trail, leading to an incredibly planted feel that's fast on steep and rough terrain.

But with all that smoothness comes more pedal-induced movement, so these bikes can often feel sluggish on climbs and flatter tracks – you'll be reaching for a lockout lever much sooner.

However, some bikes will have a more pedal-friendly suspension, which will make the uphills much easier and the flatter tracks more fun. You may lose some of that buttery feeling when you're going flat-out over rocks and roots, though.

Enduro bike geometry – what's that about?

The latest enduro bikes have long, low and slack geometry . This means long front centres (and reach measurements), slack head angles and low bottom brackets. This makes them feel super-confident on steep hillsides because there's less chance of you flipping over the handlebars, and it helps you better manage weight and grip between the tyres.

Longer geometry can make the bikes a little slower to react to inputs, and sometimes you may find you need to re-address your riding technique to get the most agility out of them, but these bikes have descending speed at the forefront of their design.

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Top 8 Best Enduro Bikes | The best enduro mountain bikes ridden & reviewed

There is no doubt about it. We have entered an exciting age in the world of enduro bikes. The sport is growing exponentially with self-perpetuating momentum. Technology available on bikes is more refined and capable than ever, which is leading to a boom in the expanse and quality of trails exploding all over the world, which fuels riders to go out and push these bikes to new limits, and opening the gates to new shredders entering the sport for the first time. Enduro racing has also become gnarlier and more competitive than ever, driving bike brands to go back to the drawing boards, constantly chasing better. And this, you guessed it, feeds back into greater bikes and accessibility to the sport. And so the cycle continues.

We here at Flow are, let’s be honest, giant nerds when it comes to this stuff. We live and breathe these machines and the places they can take us, and are absolutely buzzing to be a part of the industry at a time such as this. And with the demands required of modern-day enduro bikes and their riders, we find this is a particularly concentrated segment of innovation, with exciting new tech pouring in at an astonishing rate that we believe is truly making improvements in leaps and bounds to the bikes we ride, and the fun we can have on them.

We’ve tested a boatload of these ultra-capable machines, and as an outlet for all of this excitement, we have compiled the following list of enduro bikes available now that we think are pushing the sport in the right direction. While every bike in this list can descend with the best of them while still climbing to the beginning of the next trail or stage, each of them possesses unique design features and ride characteristics that set them apart from the competition, and one another.

It’s also worth noting that you don’t necessarily need an ‘enduro bike’ to race enduros. Even some of the world’s best are choosing slightly shorter options —  Canyon CLLCTV’s Dimitri Torodo has been racing a Spectral at World Cups while Charlie Murry from the Specialized Enduro Team has been riding a Stumpjumper EVO .

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, and there are some popular bikes — like the Specialized Enduro — that aren’t here. The reason for that is that we haven’t tested one, and therefore can’t comment on its performance and how it compares to others in this category. Sure, we could make some assumptions based on what other folks have said, but that’s not how we run this show.

So without further ado, here are eight of the best enduro bikes we’ve ridden and reviewed.

• Looking for something a bit more svelte? Check out our pick of the top XC bikes
• Keen for some help on the climbs to maximise your adventures? Check out our pick of the top e-MTBs

The best enduro bikes ridden & reviewed

Giant Reign

Highs: Race-ready geometry and spec, fantastic composure in the rough stuff, mullet compatibility via a 3-position flip-chip, well-placed frame armour. Lows: Frame storage hatch impractically small, the stiff 35mm bars transfer a bit of chatter up front.

Overhauled, stretched out and beefed up in all the right places, the all-new Giant Reign has entered 2023 with its best tyre forward — proving its race-winning potential already at the opening round of the Enduro World Cup in some seriously rowdy Aussie conditions.

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Compared to its previous iteration, the Reign’s travel has been stretched out to 170mm up front and 160mm on the rear, activated via the fabled Maestro platform to deliver an awesomely plush, confidence-inspiring ride. The head angle has been slackened, chainstays stretched and reach increased, boosting the Reign’s enduro capabilities through the roof. Although this bike was never made for XC courses, power transfer is surprisingly efficient when stomping on the pedals, and its 15.04kg weight isn’t too hefty when compared to similar bikes in the category. Even with a climb switch on the rear shock, we predominantly left the bike in the fully open mode, serving up plenty of traction on loose and techy climbs. This bike really comes into its own however the moment you bring gravity into the equation.

With flip chips allowing for high, mid and low positions, the Reign allows riders to dial in the bike’s geometry for riding style, trail type or wheel configuration. With the flip-chip set to the low position, the 63.5° head angle rewards those that like to attack the descents. On the flip side, the high setting raises the BB to provide greater clearance for technical climbs, which are aided by the nice and steep seat tube angle of nearly 78°. We did however find that in this high-BB setting, the bike felt quite tall and awkward to handle. This setting does also allow the party animals out there to drop in a 27.5in rear wheel to go full-mullet if desired. All models also come with an adjustable long-stroke dropper post, which is a great feature by our books. The burly frame protection is well placed and provides not only great protection, but a nice and quiet ride regardless of how teeth-chattering the trail is.

The all-new Reign is as attractive as enduro bikes come these days, both in its curvy, understated aesthetic (we think), and its four competitively priced, well spec’d models. The Reign SX model has also made a comeback, with this model sitting even further in the gnar-zone, and features a dual crown fork and coil shock for those that have no interest in pedalling up, and full interest in sending big. You can see all of the specs, prices and details of the full lineup in our first-look article.

To dive deeper into just why we think this bike deserves its place on the list of the latest and greatest, check out our full 2023 Giant Reign review .

Merida One-Sixty

Highs: Modern enduro geometry, super playful suspension characteristics, mullet compatibility, 230mm dropper post, wide offering of models to suit most riders. Lows: Cramped in-frame storage, issues with dropper post on test bike, headset cable routing

Gracing our eyeballs since its launch in late-2022 is the completely redesigned Merida One-Sixty. The aim of the game was to deliver one of the most playful, capable and versatile enduro bikes on the market. And gee-whiz, has Merida delivered.

From the very moment it was released, the One-Sixty struck us as an entirely different bike when placed next to its predecessor. And upon our first five minutes on the trail, we were able to confidently confirm that it too feels like an entirely new bike. The One-Sixty is right on the money with modern enduro bike geometry, employing a playful mix of longer, lower and slacker to result in a rig that is just as comfortable on backcountry epics as it is the enduro race stages — a statement few current bikes out there can boast.

The One-Sixty offers a few interesting changes between sizes. Firstly, sizes up to the medium come stocked with a 27.5in rear wheel and the large and XL options as full 29ers. The suspension receives a size-specific tune and making the leverage ratio more progressive the further up the sizing chart you move, providing greater support for heavier riders. When rocking the mullet configuration, the frame offers 171mm of rear travel, while opting for the 29er will reduce it to 160mm. This ample rear squish paired with a 170mm fork —or 180mm if you want to go big — makes this bike feel just at home on full-blown downhill laps as it does on undulating adventure rides. The head angle sits at a relaxed 64° whereas the very steep 79° seat angle still provides a comfortable climbing position.

Merida has now done away with the rearmost pivot on the bike, instead opting for a Flexstay rear triangle that the brand claims to boost stiffness, drops weight and creates a unique, lively ride characteristic. We can confirm that this bike is particularly playful, popping off jumps and blasting through chunky terrain with an energetic feel. The excellent seat angle on the One-Sixty places you in a comfortable position to tackle the climbs, however the lively suspension kinematic does feel a little over-zealous when you’re cranking hard out of the saddle.

The bike feels incredibly agile on those particularly curvy trails when the smaller rear wheel is dropped in — a fact that is far less apparent when running the 29er option. The tradeoff here is the increase in high-speed stability and composure on technical climbs. The great thing is, any new One-Sixty model in any size will be able to take either setup with the flip of a 2-position chip in the rear linkage.

The One-Sixty is available in 5 different models spanning both alloy and carbon chassis, each boasting a solid assortment of tiered spec options. Ranging from value-focused fit-outs to the stuff our wallets have nightmares about, we are genuinely impressed at Merida’s offering of a race-ready enduro bike the entire way through the lineup. Every model benefits from the same geometry, mullet options, primo Maxxis rubber and 230mm adjustable dropper post. Nice one, Merida!

Whether you’re looking to enter the gnarly end of the sport or you’re up for a blingy new upgrade to your fleet, check out the Merida One-Sixty review  to fill yourself in on the rest of the tech, the niggling issues we encountered, alongside a side-by-side comparison to one of the most popular enduro rigs on the market.

Canyon Strive

Highs: One of the most race-aligned production bikes available, versatile personality thanks to the Shapeshifter, incredibly stable at speed through any kind of terrain. Lows: Race-focused geo makes it less appropriate for everyday riders, and length makes the bike tougher to handle on tighter trails.

The Canyon Strive. Perhaps one of the most aggressive and well-known enduro sleds received a remake for 2022, incorporating feedback from racers like 2021 EWS Champion Jack Moir — before he changed teams of course. The result is something wildly aggressive, a veritable weapon beneath the right rider.

But what has changed from the previous model? To cope with the increasingly bonkers nature of modern enduro stages and the breakneck speeds they are raced at, the latest Strive CFR has been given a drastic update, taking it from one of the most conservative to one of the most aggressive, race-focused bikes out there. Travel has been bumped up from 150 to 160mm, which is paired to a 170mm fork. As previously, the bike still features Canyon’s trademark Shapeshifter system in order to radicalise the geometry to the extent it has.

For those unfamiliar, the Shapeshifter is a handlebar remote-activated system with two options – Pedal or Shred. This lever activates a gas spring in the rear shock, altering the bike’s geometry, travel and suspension kinematics on the fly. This allows the rider to shorten travel to a much rampier 140mm, raise BB height by 15mm and steepen the head angle by 1.5°.

Whether you’re stomping on the pedals in flat sections or conserving energy on the climbs, the Shapeshifter can lead to significant benefits in a race setting. With such powers being brought to your fingertips, this granted the Canyon team the freedom to make this bike seriously aggressive when in Shred mode. Sporting a mega-slack 63° head angle (the same as Canyon’s DH bike, the Sender), this bike feels right at home on the enduro circuit’s steepest trails. To further add to the Strive’s race alignment, reach has been stretched out to a very long 480mm on a medium — a figure that would not be uncommon on many competing brands’ large frames. So you’re able to actually reach the bars at all, a nice’n’steep 76.5° seat angle puts riders in a reasonably comfortable pedalling position, while a nifty reach adjust headset allows further dial-ability of your cockpit.

There are currently just three models available in the Strive, including an extra-pimped out special edition Troy Lee Designs model for those chasing the same look and spec list as the Canyon team riders.

There is so much more to this weapon than we were able to cover here, so make sure you take a look over the 2022 Canyon Strive Review to fill in on the specifics.

Cannondale Jekyll

Highs: Unique design delivers excellent stability and handling, scaled rear centre between sizes, double-take factor. Lows: Could use a longer dropper post, shock cavity captures trail crud.

While we’ve now had a bit of time to process the new Jekyll since its greatly hyped release in mid-2021, we still can’t help but let out a little sheeesh every time we see one. Cannondale caused quite a stir with their addition to the growing family of high-pivot enduro sleds , taking a truly innovative approach to their offering geared towards the rowdy end of the sport.

Just one look at this bike tells you that it is something different. The unique frame delivers 165mm of well-balanced, progressive squish via a redesigned four-bar linkage, driving a rear shock that sits tucked exceptionally low in its downtube hollow. A 170mm fork up front completes the equation, making this a ride created to deal with some seriously gnarly terrain. The real eye-catching feature of this bike is its mid-high pivot design, implemented to provide a more rearward axle path that makes it feel as though the suspension doesn’t just soak up those square edge hits, but instead moves with the terrain.

An idler pulley then helps to minimise chain growth and pedal-kick as the suspension moves through its travel. You’ll find a similarly situated pivot placement on the GT Force, and a much higher pivot design on the Norco Range, among a few other long-travel bikes on the market. The Jekyll is 29in specific, with no adjustable geometry or flip chips to be found. This renders the bike incapable of rocking the mullet hairstyle, just in case you were wondering.

But when the going gets tough, how do these space-age aesthetics and fancy features translate into on-trail performance? The Jekyll’s well-balanced geometry, supple suspension and thoughtfully selected components make for an incredibly stable bike at high speed, while also not feeling as long and cumbersome as some of the other enduro-specific rides out there today.

The bike is reasonably hefty, with our large-size test bike weighing in at 16.14kg, however much of this weight sits low in the frame, adding to its feeling of unmovable stability and rail-like cornering. The highly active suspension can be felt on steep climbs, and the climb switch on the shock is made difficult to reach due to the shock’s tucked-away placement. A 77.5° seat angle does however position the rider comfortably for stints in the saddle. When it comes down to it though, it is the descending prowess of the Jekyll that really shines. A 64° head angle and tall riser bar give this bike a fun yet sure-footed feeling at any speed. We do however wish that Cannondale stocked this bike with a longer dropper, with the 150mm dropper post limiting manoeuvrability.

There are two Jekyll models available, both with the same carbon frame and high-pivot design, offering a mid-level and a high-end fit-out. Both models are great value, however we imagine that many folks wanting to race this bike may have a few initial upgrades that they might make before it reaches that A-list spec that we all dream of. Another cool thing? Each size of the Jekyll comes with slightly altered pivot placements, scaling the rear centre, retaining a balanced position and optimising suspension kinematics for different sized riders.

Overall, we’re mighty impressed with this striking enduro whip, performing exceptionally well throughout our testing period regardless of what we threw at it. To dive further into the Jekyll’s nooks, crannies and hollows, take a read of our full review here .

Highs: Incredibly capable descender, adjustable dropouts, immediately comfortable geometry. Lows: Hefty, sluggish on the climbs, fairly noisy.

Having played things rather conservatively in years gone by, GT has made a statement with the release of the Force for 2022. An undeniable shred-sled, the Force is a high-pivot monster with an insatiable appetite for sketchy terrain. But is it perfect? Read on to find out.

The GT Force is an exclusively 29in enduro beast with a set of credentials that immediately tell you exactly what this bike is about. At 16.24kg for a size medium with a carbon mainframe and alloy rear triangle, the bike is no featherweight fighter. It rocks 170mm up front paired with 160mm at the rear, with the mid-high pivot, four bar suspension layout tracing a slightly rearward axle path over the traditional up-and-down movement, albeit moving only about 10mm backwards as it plunges through its travel. This does however help the bike to not only deal with chunky terrain, but also accelerate through it as you hurtle your way down just about anything in front of you. The idler pulley then helps to deal with chain growth and pedal kickback, a similar design to what you’ll find on the Cannondale Jekyll and the Norco Range.

The 63.5° head angle, towering stack height and out-of-the-box riser bars means this bike will excel on anything pointing downwards, be it enduro stages or downhill bike park laps. A very steep seat angle of 78° balances such aggressive numbers nicely, making it quite a comfortable bike to climb on, too. However, the aforementioned weight of the bike will still have you working hard for those trailheads. The rear dropouts on the Force feature a flip chip that allows riders to extend or shorten the length of the bike, dialling in its character to suit the rider style or terrain, be it tight and jibby, or freight-train-without-brakes kinda riding.

The suspension on the Force does take a bit of noodle-scratching to figure out, with us having to remove fork tokens and stray from recommended suspension pressures before we landed on a set-up that felt balanced. Once we did though, this bike felt phenomenal, tracking the terrain beautifully and making us want to push harder through the sketchy stuff than we usually feel comfortable doing.

With all of these praises, it must also be mentioned that this bike is by no means quiet. Chain angle in the lower gears causes noisy rubbing on the idler pulley chain guide, and cable routing is noisy and causes rubbing at points.

When we reviewed the Force there were three models available, however for 2023 it appears PSI is only bringing the top-end Force Carbon Pro LE into Australia. This build comes in at $7,999 AUD, and features a slick set of running gear from Rockshox and SRAM.

We had a lot to say about this bike, and not all could be said here. Head over to the full review of the GT Force to get the rest of the good stuff!

Norco Range

Highs: Incredibly capable and confidence-inspiring descending, great tyre combo Lows: Lifting the bike above ankle-height, manoeuvrability on tighter trails

After a four-year run with the previous layout, 2022 brought us the hotly anticipated redesigned Norco Range. A high pivot, low-slung monster truck of a bike that doesn’t just excel on rough trails, but devours them.

We’ll start this off by addressing the elephant in the room. This is one big-boned beast. Our Large size Norco Range C2 test bike, with its carbon chassis, 29in hoops, tubeless-setup DoubleDown tyres, coil shock, GX drivetrain with idler pulley and a chainring bash guard for good measure, all came in at a hefty 17.15kg. This figure puts it well beyond most of the enduro field we have ever tested, and even places it amongst some of the lighter e-MTBs out there.

When the terrain points down however, this weight all but goes out the window, making this bike one seriously aggressive high-speed descender. 170mm of super supple travel front and rear, the frame employs a funky Virtual High Pivot design that allows this bike to swallow entire trails whole. The linkage allows the rear wheel to move significantly backwards as the suspension compresses, meaning it can avoid becoming hung up on large square-edge hits, allowing you to track perfectly — and rapidly — across the gnarliest terrain imaginable.

The idler pulley, much like the GT Force and the Cannondale Jekyll, prevents chain growth and reduces pedal kickback while the linkage does its thing. A mega-slack head angle of 63.25° makes the handling feel like a DH bike on the descents, while a conversely steep 77° seat angle means this bike is actually quite comfortable to climb —providing you’re not in a rush to get where you’re going. With the distant reach and the bike growing in length as the suspension compresses, it can be a tough rig to wrangle on tight trails, preferring to hold the wide line around most corners as opposed to cutting in tight. In fact, it’s actually quite difficult to break traction on this beast, meaning you’ll want to pick your line from the start, hold on tight and let this beast of a bike do its thing.

The Range features size-specific geometry with a scaled rear centre length to ensure weight distribution remains optimal regardless of frame or rider size, retaining the same confidence-inspiring handling characteristics across the size curve.

The Range is made up of three models, spanning from mid-level to high-end componentry, all coming ready to race right out of the box.

If you want to find out more about the bike that could double as the boulder that chased Indiana Jones in the first movie, then check out our full 2022 Norco Range review here.

Pivot Firebird

Highs: Super stable yet responsive feeling on rough terrain, still a fun bike on more chilled and longer rides, bling bling Lows: Eye-watering price tag, rattle from gear and dropper cables, under-gunned tyres

After 13 years and four highly successful preceding models, the Pivot Firebird has entered its 5th evolution for the 2022 season. And damn, is this thing a stunner. We assure you that these clean, refined looks are only surface level however, with the Firebird 29 being one seriously mean bike the moment you throw the leg over it.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to label the Firebird 29 as the fighter jet of enduro bikes, being an ultra-premium, high-performance ride worthy of the World’s fastest pilots. Its sleek carbon frame delivers 165mm of travel, which is paired with a 170mm fork and rolling on fancy 29in wheels out of the box. This can be set up to suit just about any rider however, with a 2-position flip-chip enabling a 0.6° head angle alteration and 6mm BB height adjustment, or a mullet conversion if desired. The frame will also handle swapping out to a 180mm fork if you’re that way declined. Head angle in the low position sits at a relaxed 64°, with the seat angle spanning between 76°-77° – a figure that fluctuates based on the frame size. Yep, the rear centre of each frame is scaled to suit the size, ensuring a balanced weight distribution of the rider regardless of the selected frame size.

These geometric figures place the Firebird right within the range of modern enduro bikes, positioning the rider from the get-go to conquer any descent or climb before them. It is the incredibly balanced, super progressive suspension characteristics of this bike that really make it shine through. The DW-link design delivers insane traction and a rearward axle path, meaning obstacles become less of a concern as you charge through them faster than you previously thought possible. The nuance of this bike that helps it stand apart from others in the category however is its lively feeling. Where some other bikes truck through chunky rock sections in a straight line as you barely register their existence, the Firebird retains a delicate feedback beneath you that allows you to manipulate the bike as you please without it ever feeling uncomfortable — a trait being the result of a light, stiff frame, balanced geometry, well-tuned suspension and superb componentry.

The overall weight of our Large test bike came to 14.66kg, an impressive figure for a long-travel enduro bike. This number does factor in the lightweight EXO+ tyre casings however, which we found to be insufficient for the kind of riding this bike is otherwise capable of.

The Pivot Firebird comes in a mind-boggling 15 spec combinations, the “most affordable” of them still a staggering $10999. With this kind of price tag though, you can be sure that you’re not just getting a pretty showbike, but a mean, performance-oriented machine that lives for the top step of the podium. But yes, it does look pretty damn sweet too.

If you need any more convincing on the prowess of this bike, jump over to our full review of the 2022 Pivot Firebird 29 her e.

Highs: Supple yet very lively suspension performance, quiet ride, well armoured Lows: Comparatively slack seat angle, tight access to in-frame storage

The Slash. The very silhouette of this bike is instantly recognisable, there’s a good chance you’ll spot one model or another out on the trails on any given day. The 2021 season saw Trek’s flagship enduro rig undergo a major overhaul, making one of the world’s most popular enduro bikes better than ever before. So, what’s new?

To cope with the rigorous demands and silly speeds of modern enduro racing, the Slash has added 10mm of travel to both ends of the bike, with 170mm up front and 160mm at the rear. Trek, alongside RockShox, have co-designed a proprietary rear shock, especially for the Slash that delivers a supremely responsive and buttery feeling to the suspension regardless of the trail type or conditions. This is largely due to the ultra-tuneable proprietary rear shock found throughout most of the range. The overall package delivers quite a progressive spring rate, meaning we were able to go big on this bike without ever feeling like we were blowing through the travel. Trek’s initial suspension setup guide also proved to be a great baseline that we didn’t need to stray far from at all.

However following RockShox’s major revamp of its boingers and the launch of Flight Attendant , Trek has shifted back into off-the-rack rear shocks.

From the moment we jumped on the Slash, we noticed the welcome changes over the geo of the previous model of Slash. Trek’s Mino Link flip-chip features a low and a high position, with the low position rocking a head angle of 64.1° and a seat tube angle of 75.7°. The high position will lift the BB height by 7mm and steepen the head and seat angles by 0.5°. This seat angle may just be one of the only slight niggles we have with the Slash’s geometry, sitting a little slacker than many other bikes within the category. Once we slid the seat forward on the rails however, this brought things to a much more comfortable climbing position, closer to 78°.

In fact, bike does climb surprisingly well, provided you remain seated. As soon as you stand up to put the power down, that super-active suspension will join the party and gobble up some of that precious energy you’re expending. The total package of our Slash 9.9 X01 came in at a very respectable 14.56kg, making it much more pleasant a bike for those longer days than much of the competition.

Although it can definitely be a plough-machine if that’s how you want to ride, the Slash is surprisingly playful despite having such supple and active suspension. If you want to switch line mid-send through a rock garden, the Slash will happily oblige. Much of this feeling comes down to the short chainstays, making it all too easy to shift weight over the back of the bike to maneuver how you see fit, aided further by the ample mid-stroke support that can give you that needed pop in the rough stuff if you want to get airborne. It possesses traction in spades, yet the playful nature and short stays of the bike allow you to break the rules and square corners off if you feel like it.

The closer you look, the more detail you’ll find on this bike. Trek have revised their Knock Block headset allowing greater range of motion before abruptly stopping, and beneath the bottle cage mounts you’ll find a handy, albeit rather tight downtube storage window. The frame protection is all exceptionally well placed and gave us peace of mind even on those particularly loose, rocky trails.

There are currently 10 models of the Slash available, ranging from entry-level alloy models through to robo-suspension space-bikes from the future.

All in all, we believe that the Slash is one enduro bike that isn’t just defined by its geo chart, instead excelling in areas that pleasantly surprised us once out on the trail, culminating in an exhilarating and incredibly fun ride. And for most of us, isn’t that why we ride in the first place?

There is plenty more to learn about this mega-fun enduro bike, so make sure you take a read over our full review of the 2021 Trek Slash to fill in on the rest. But, Trek has also just revamped its big travel bruiser, and changed the suspension layout to a high-pivot design. We have one coming to Flow HQ, but in the meantime, here’s what you need to know. 

Honourable mentions

While our list here is of the creme de la creme of the category, there are a pair of bikes that we felt also garnered a mention on this list.

Polygon Collosus N9

First up is the Polygon Collosus. This alloy bruiser has a solid build kit and spot-on geometry, and with a competitive price tag, we expect you’ll see a lot of these ripping around your local trails.

With chunky tyres and supple suspension, it hugs the ground like it’s made from velcro and laughs in the face of rough and technical terrain. The IFS suspension platform also gives it fantastic pedal efficiency, but it has 16 pivot bearings that will need to be looked after over the lifespan of the bike.

With that, it’s chonky at 17.88kg, it lacks mullet compatibility and tool storage or accessory mounts.

But priced at $4,999 AUD, it’s half the cost of some of the other bikes on this list and the value-to-capability proposition is through the roof. Read more about the Polygon Gollsus N9 here .

Marin Alpine Trail 7

Coming in below the $4,000 price barrier, the Marin Alpin Trail 7 is a stupendously capable bike for the money. Built around 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork, it’s one of those slightly shorter travel, but ready for shreddy steep and technical riding, bikes we mentioned at the top.

With a robust chassis and contemporary geometry paired with smooth and sorted suspension, it’s ready for hard-hitting descending and corner-ripping shenanigans. There’s is plenty of progression built into the rear suspension, so you can access all the travel, but it’s never obvious when you’ve run out.

The Alpine Trail 7 is for riders who prioritise getting down the mountain as fast as possible while being able to jump, jib and manual along the way. This is a bike that rewards and aggressive pilot on more demanding trails.

When things go back up, it’s not the sprightliest climber, and the rear end is active, which is a boon on crumbly surfaces and techy ascents. Thankfully there’s also a climb switch for when it’s time to put the watts down.

It’s not an all-day pedaller, but that’s not what it’s supposed to be, and there are other bikes in Marin’s range designed for that purpose. It’s gimmick-free, simple, well spec’d and a ball of fun to ride.

For more, read our full review of the Marin Alpine Trail 7 .

Wrapping up

Enduro has absolutely exploded, and the bikes are becoming ever more capable and reliable — as is a requisite of the racing format. There was a time not all that long ago, there would be an audible groan at the proposition of going uphill aboard a slacked-out gravity rig, with 160mm+ of rear travel. Now these bikes can tackle terrifyingly steep, nasty and rough gravity trails, and then pedal back up to the top no problem.

Better still, brands are taking these big travel bruisers in a tonne of different directions — high pivot vs non-high pivot, mullet vs no-mullet, etc. — and rethinking every aspect of these bikes all in the pursuit of creating the best enduro platform. With that, this is not an exhaustive list, and there are plenty of bikes we’d love to test, like the Forbidden Dreadnought, Nukeproof Mega and the new Santa Cruz Nomad — we have that last one coming, so stay tuned.

And with that, we’re constantly reviewing bikes, and we’ll be updating this feature as we come across more bikes worthy of this list.

If there’s something you’d like to see, sing out in the comments and let us know.

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Best enduro mountain bike 2024 – we test the top options for racing or just burly trail blasting

The best enduro MTBs are fast, light and comfortable enough to ride all-day, here are our expert picks

1. Best overall

2. best long travel, 3. best shorter travel, 4. best confidence-inspiring, 5. best steel-framed, 6. best suspension, 7. best for downhill, 8. best race pedigree, 9. best value, 10. best versatility.

• How to choose
• How we test

1. Best overall 2. Best long travel 3. Best shorter travel 4. Best confidence-inspiring 5. Best steel-framed 6. Best suspension 7. Best for downhill 8. Best race pedigree 9. Best value 10. Best versatility How to choose How we test

Enduro is a popular mountain bike discipline as it combines all the best elements of cross-country racing and downhill mountain biking . The best enduro mountain bikes blend an efficient pedaling stroke with boundary-pushing geometry and suspension performance. Enduro races consist of a number of timed (mostly downhill) sections combined with transition sections in between, so bikes need to able to be ridden up hills as well as down. As such, mountain bike engineers and component designers have supplied an entirely new class of bikes and gear to cater to enduro racing's unique demands and produced some of the best mountain bikes in terms of versatility and capability.

Enduro mountain biking has its origins in the French Alps, it was here that riders formulated an all-day racing format that prioritized descending. When the Enduro World Series (EWS) started in 2013, racing was dominated by 27.5-wheeled bikes with 150mm of travel. There's now a selection of wheel sizes – 29-inch or mixed wheel 'mullet' bikes with a 29-inch wheel up front and 27.5 to the rear. While suspension travel is usually 160 to 170mm. It almost goes without saying, but enduro bikes can have electric motors. For more on them, see our best e-MTB guide .

As bikes need to be efficient on the ups and as fast as possible on the downhills, this means there is a lot to consider when picking the best enduro mountain bike, but our experts have rated and reviewed the best options around. Our best pick overall is the "ragingly fast and precise" Trek Slash 9.9 X01, and best long travel bike is the Santa Cruz Nomad C XT RSV, which our tester found "a total riot on the rowdiest trails". 

If you are unsure what to look for when shopping for a new enduro bike, jump to the bottom of this article to find out how to choose the best bike for you.

Best enduro mountain 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.

Trek Slash 9.9 X01

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

As with a lot of Trek bikes, the Slash 9.9 has been designed with racing in mind. With Trek's RE:aktiv with Thru Shaft technology for better suspension control and well-balanced ride characteristics, the Slash is a platform that can be worked hard to gain every little advantage on the trail. 

Trek has brought the updated Slash back in line with the current crop of enduro bikes. Depending on where you have the Mino Link chipset, the head angle is now 64.1 degrees or 64.6 degrees and the effective seat angle is 75.6 degrees or 76.1 degrees. Reach has been extended significantly on all sizes with the large size now stretching to 486 or 491mm with a 450mm seat tube. Travel also goes up by 10mm to 160mm at the rear with a 170mm fork. 

Trek has finished the Slash with some nice details, the Trek OCLV Mountain Carbon frame features clean Control Freak internal routing and Knock Block which stops the bars from spinning all the way around and causing extra damage in a crash.

In our tests, we found it one of the most speed-hungry, high-velocity bikes we’ve ever ridden. It’s tough and seismically assured enough to hit up the bike park but loaded with the practical details and pedaling efficiency to make it a big day happy, no limits trail bike too. Our reviewer, Guy found it to be a "ragingly fast and precise enduro race bike with all-day efficiency and a ton of practical details for those who can afford and appreciate it". Check our full Trek Slash 9.9 X01 review for more. 

Santa Cruz Nomad C XT RSV

Santa Cruz has an impeccable pedigree in gravity racing and popularized the long-travel 29er with its original Tallboy LTC back in 2012. A radical reconfiguration of Santa Cruz’s VPP suspension system appears on most of the Californian brand's latest trail bike models, including the 170mm Nomad.

Rolling on 27.5-inch wheels, the Nomad isn't necessarily a pure enduro race bike as long-travel 29ers have dominated that space. However, the bike is essentially a single-crown downhill bike that can make easy work of any rough and steep trail. That's combined with an ability to pedal back up the mountain without hiking or shuttling. 

The bike we tested used Shimano XT gearing and braking along with Santa Cruz's Reserve 30mm rims. All of that suspension travel was taken care of with a Fox 38 fork and a RockShox rear shock. 

Guy Kesteven, our test pilot did wonder if this 170mm monstrosity would be too much bike for his local trails, but it turned out that the Nomad has an incredible ride quality that doesn't get bogged down despite the big travel nature of this bike. 

He summed up this agile yet rapid bike as, "undeniably pricey but an outstanding mix of long travel suspension, surprisingly playful pop, practical detailing and lifetime-warrantied frame and wheels, making the latest Nomad a total riot on the rowdiest trails". Read his full Santa Cruz Nomad review to find out more. 

Pivot Switchblade XTR

There’s no escaping the top-end price of the Switchblade. Hit the trail though and that immediately all seems forgivable. Its ability to turn every section of trail into an ultra high definition pop, rip and power through playground is as good – if not better – than any other bike we’ve ridden. 

While it doesn’t feel like it has more rear travel than 142mm, the quality of flat-out flow and tight power response is exceptional. The seemingly unbalanced front (160mm) and rear (142mm) travel actually syncs superbly and while they aren’t the most radical numbers, the geometry is perfectly poised for the vast majority of real-world riding. It’s also one of the few bikes where you can still swap to plus-sized wheels if that’s your thing, but for most, it’ll be the delicious detailing and visceral, dynamic speed of the Switchblade that makes it something very special.  

Pivot offers the Switchblade in a number of build options to cater to Shimano or SRAM preferences and budget limitations although even the 'budget' XT build requires some significant finances.

In summing up the Switchblade in his full review, our tech ed Guy Kesteven said: "A brilliantly vivid yet smoothly controlled, high-velocity technical trail bike for the few who can afford it, but not without some potentially irritating aspects."

Read his full review for an in-depth opinion on why we think the shorter-travel Pivot Switchblade Team XTR makes a great enduro bike.

Merida One-Sixty 8000

Merida’s radically redesigned One-Sixty offering takes a blend of downhill MTB, XC and triathlon, and delivers a balanced, easily rideable and flat-out fast, fun enduro steed.

Merida twists the norm right from the start. Rather than the usual XSmall to XLarge sizing, the One-Sixty rephrases that to XShort to XLong. That covers a massive reach range from 415mm to 525mm, but also includes deliberately short seat tubes and head tubes, so shorter riders who want a long bike won’t get jacked up too high.

To stop the monster reach feeling too barge-like, the chainstay length on the Long and Extra Long bikes is 438mm. Extra Small, Small and Mid-bikes come with a 27.5-inch rear wheel as standard and a seatstay flip-chip that brings the back end to 434mm. While the 64-degree head angle is par for the enduro course these days, the steep 79-degree effective seat angle is the kind of radical move you generally only find from small ‘edgy’ brands, not one of the world’s largest bike manufacturers.

The bike also comes with a five-year warranty that even covers 'Cat 5' Bike Park, DH and Enduro Racing use.

In his review, our technical editor, Guy Kesteven, said, "Merida’s latest One-Sixty consistently put me in the right position on the bike and the trail. Perhaps most importantly, it put me in the right frame of mind to enjoy its easy speed without feeling robbed of the fun or interaction of quick sprints or playful pops at every opportunity. While some riders might miss extensive geometry adjust options, the bike felt great as it came, and the ability to add a coil shock, turn it into a mullet wheeled setup or even a mid-travel trail bike adds bigger picture versatility."

Check out our full Merida One-Sixty 8000 review for more info. Merida has used much of the same thinking in these bikes in its latest generation of e-enduro bikes. For more on them, see our eOne-Sixty 675 first ride review .

Cotic RocketMax

If you want total hard-edged precision, or lightweight, long-travel trail agility then the RocketMax isn't for you. The radical geometry with its need to take the longer way round tighter sections won't suit everyone either and it's the first bike too long to pass the 'fits straight in the back of Guy's van test'. The steel tube aesthetics with their transverse pipe section terminals won't float the boat of fat carbon fans either.

However, as Guy Kesteven says in his full review: "If you want a bike that delivers all the damping and shock shrugging advantages of steel, while retaining a warm sense of spring but never twanging too far offline then it's fantastic." The geometry and key componentry have been carefully curated to take the unshakeably grounded and gripped feel from tire knob to bar tip.

The result is an enduro tank that stays utterly calm and confident well beyond our test team's normal panic points and takes up a position as one of the fastest gravity bikes we've ridden – regardless of material or origin. Additionally, it pedals well enough to hide a lot of its weight and stays enjoyably engaging on less taxing trails.

Read our full review of the Cotic RocketMax for more details on this steel shred sled.

Yeti SB160 T1

Yeti’s first long travel 29er enduro mountain bike – the SB150 – established itself as the bike to beat both on and off the track as soon as it was launched. That was over four years ago though, so while it’s still competitive, we’re not surprised to see a new SB160 heading up a triad of new turquoise chargers.

Yeti is clearly following an ‘if it ain’t broke, just tweak it a bit rather than changing it completely' policy with the SB160. Front travel stays at 170mm thanks to a Fox 38 fork with an extra 10mm travel at the rear. Reach lengths creep out slightly and the head angle slackens by half a degree to 64 degrees. Seat angles steepen slightly (the SB150 was already a forward seat pioneer). Bigger sizes get a more vertical seat angle and longer back ends (by 2mm a size) to keep things proportionate and Yeti has added an XXL option to the range.

There are a lot of subtle but significant frame changes though. The downtube is reshaped for extra fork clearance, the seat tube has been reprofiled to take long stroke droppers (up to 200mm on L-XXL). It uses a threaded BB, SRAM’s UDH gear hanger and you get a dual density rubber belly protector, wave form upper and under chainstay protection as well as fully plumbed and secured internal cable routing. Thankfully the cabling hasn't been fed through the headset either. There’s still room for a full size bottle under the big Fox Float X2 rear shock and tire clearance is increased as well.

Yeti’s signature ‘Switch Infinity’ inflection suspension engine has been re-engineered. The lower pivot still floats on two short vertical (extra slippery) Kashima coated shafts in the belly of the bike. The collet axle Enduro Max bearings now ‘float’ for perfect alignment and are linked for increased stiffness, while black oxide coated bearings with new alloy dust caps apparently add durability too.

Specialized S-Works Enduro

Modeled from Specialized's Demo downhill bike series, the Enduro sees many of the lessons learned in suspension performance get passed across and shaped into an enduro format. Sporting 170mm of terrain-consuming suspension, the S-Works Enduro is designed to handle the roughest tracks and, for most riders, the Enduro will happily turn its hand to some downhill racing as well. A flip-chip in the shock mount changes the characteristics from a chirpy enduro bike into a gravity-hungry machine if you intend on riding laps of a bike park or an uplift day. All these descending capabilities don't mean it's a poor climber though; as the Enduro might not be a whippet back up the hill, the suspension is well controlled to eliminate pedal-induced bob and keep the rear wheel planted for traction.

Geometry is unsurprisingly at the extreme end of long, slack and low to keep everything tracking true when you're off the brakes and using the full 170mm of suspension. Specialized has done away with the traditional small, medium and large sizing, instead opting for a sizing scheme based on reach. This gives more flexibility on sizing, so if you normally ride a medium you can opt for the S3 for a more nimble ride or an S4 for increased stability.

Componentry on the S-Works model is unsurprisingly top end with SRAM AXS shifting and braking being combined with Fox suspension. For those not wanting to outlay a five-figure sum, Specialized offers Comp, Elite and Expert builds too.

Nukeproof Mega 290 RS

If a frame’s racing lineage is your unit of analysis, this is the world’s best enduro bike. Ridden by enduro world champion and former downhill phenomenon, Australian Sam Hill, the Mega has seen a significant overhaul for its current fourth generation.

The sizing and geometry has been tweaked to keep up with modern enduro design philosophies. Slackening the head angle, steepening the seat tube and speccing a short offset fork has improved the handling. Geometry numbers find a sweet spot at 64-degree head angle and 78-degree seat angle with a 475mm reach on a large frame.

The Mega 290 has 160mm of rear suspension travel that has also been updated for better small bump performance and a reputation for bombproof reliability. The old suspension design prioritized big-hit absorption capability at the cost of isolating pedal input, however, the new kinematics have been designed to address this.

Further updates include a new carbon rear triangle, refined cable routing, shorter seat tubes and the ability to fit a 750ml bottle in the main triangle to not only make the bike lighter but also easier to live with.

Giant Reign 29

The Taiwanese brand has produced a potential giant-killing bike with its 29-wheeled Reign. An evolution of the existing Reign platform, the latest model combines a hugely competent 146mm of rear suspension travel with a 170mm fork. 

Other significant upgrades that the progression to bigger wheels have brought to Giant’s Reign include a trunnion mount rear shock and the choice between 42- or 44mm fork offsets, offering riders with appropriate skills a much quicker steering option. 

Geometry numbers feature a meaningfully longer frame than Giant’s 27.5-inch Reign, with the new 29er stretched to 494mm of reach on a large frame. This will help with the high speeds and rough nature of modern enduro tracks. It will also improve ride quality for zipping around your local trails and making it Reign. 

Canyon Strive CF 7

Looking at Strive CFR's geometry chart alone would probably have most enduro riders writing Canyon's enduro race bike off as too conservative. The 65.2-degree head angle, 74.4-degree seat angle and a shortish reach of 434mm for a medium look dated when compared to some of the super long and slack rigs that are available.

The Strive shines on technical tight terrain where agility from the direct handling and low bottom bracket allows the bike to be slammed through corners. Pedaling sections are a breeze too with responsive acceleration and handlebar-mounted Shapeshifter tech which allows the rider to not only change the travel on the fly but also the geometry and kinematics for ultimate pedaling performance.

That said, the Strive is an all-out race bike, designed to be fast and efficient over a full day racing, so some riders may be better served with the shorter travel but more progressive Canyon Spectral or the hard-hitting longer travel Torque . In the right hands though, the Strive is a dominating enduro race bike.

How to choose the best enduro mountain bikes

How much should i spend on an enduro mountain bike.

The sky is really the limit when it comes to the very best enduro bikes. Some of them are very similar to the models raced by the pros and come with a very hefty price tag as you'd expect. Fortunately, there are cheaper options around though, Giant's Reign being just one great value bike.

For a proper enduro capable-bike, you'll need to spend three to four thousand US dollars or UK pounds. The more cash you throw at the bike, the better the spec, more sophisticated the frame construction and, typically, the lower the weight.

What's the best frame material for enduro mountain biking?

While frame material is important, it doesn't necessarily make as much of a difference with enduro bikes as in other cycling disciplines. Carbon allows frames to be built lighter and stiffer, however there has been a noticeable resurgence of aluminum frames which are just as capable. The advantage of aluminum is that it's a lot cheaper to produce which leaves more money for better components such as suspension, wheels, brakes or tires where performance enhancements will be more pronounced.

What is the best enduro suspension?

Rear suspension design and geometry are the most important features worth considering when evaluating an enduro bike. With special stages that can run for far longer than expected (up to three miles), the issue of shock fade, due to overheating, is a real concern for enduro riders. Therefore, a frame that offers sufficient shock clearance to run a high-volume air shock (with a piggyback reservoir) or coil shock, is vital. While air and coil shocks have their own characteristics, top-end frames are generally built with suspension systems that are designed to work with a specific style of shock. Some frames can be enhanced by retrofitting a different shock but the possible effects should be researched first in case your upgrades don't complement the suspension kinematics.

What geometry is best for enduro?

The enduro category, with its requirements for all-day riding endurance and extreme terrain taming ability on descents, has revolutionized mountain bike geometry. Longer bikes with increasingly extreme angles are the defining trend, optimizing the theory that an elongated wheelbase is inherently more stable. 

As geometry is based on many other factors such as reach, bottom bracket drop and fork offset, what might be right for you and your trails will likely be different for others. Generally, a head angle slacker than 66-degrees and a seat tube steeper than 74-degrees shows a bike's intent for descending, although most enduro bikes will push well beyond these figures.

Many bikes also feature flip-chips for their suspension rocker arms or mounting hardware, which allow for small geometry adjustments – and those might make all the difference for your riding. 

What is the best wheel size for an enduro mountain bike?

Originally, 27.5-inch (or 650b) wheels were the default option, striking a balance between the old standard 26-inch and the fast but more cumbersome 29er cross country bikes. Much has changed and as geometry has continued to evolve 29er wheels have become equally popular and have proved very successful on the enduro racing circuit.

While some will argue that the performance benefits of each are significant, unless you are racing, the difference is likely to be much less noticeable thanks to advances in geometry and better components. Due to a 29er's larger diameter, they roll better over rougher terrain as well as generally maintaining better momentum. A 27.5-inch wheel on the other hand allows a shorter chainstay length for improved cornering on tight terrain. It can also be argued that 27.5-inch wheels are lighter and stronger due to their smaller size.

27.5-inch enduro bikes are rare now, but lots of brands now offer bikes in a 'best of both' mullet wheeled option with a 29in wheel up front and 27.5in at the rear.

How we test enduro mountain bikes

All the enduro bikes tested here have been ridden in a wide range of conditions, from bone dry dusty tracks to hammering down rain-soaked trails where grip is at a premium. We also test the bikes over a range of trail conditions, from uplift DH and enduro venues to pedaling steep natural runs. We ensure to test the bikes over a number of months to see how they fare over time and you'll often find us switching bikes mid-ride to make comparisons between different models.

Meet the tester

Guy's been testing and writing about mountain bikes since the early nineties and we're betting than he's tested more MTBs than anyone else in the UK. He's no stranger to enduro racing either and has raced in a multitude of different events.

Guy has been working on Bike Perfect since we launched in 2019. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, he’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

• Richard Owen Editor, Bike Perfect

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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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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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Best enduro mountain bikes: Big travel rigs for big mountain terrain

• Alan Muldoon
• April 19, 2024

We cut through they hype and recommend the very best enduro mountain bikes on the market; bikes that blend the downhill capability of a DH bike with the uphill prowess of a trail bike.

The best competitive enduro mountain bikes need to strike the perfect balance between speed and efficiency on flatter trails, yet still be able to blast descents that wouldn’t look out of place on the World Cup DH circuit.

Even if you’re not competing, because mechanical support at races is minimised, the best mountain bike rigs destined for enduro racing need to be ultra-reliable too. Look for travel between 160mm and 180mm combined with either 29in wheels front and rear, or mullet set-ups (29in front, 27.5in rear). Big rotors are a must (200mm) and reinforced tyres with a soft compound up front. Chain guides get fitted for extra security and you may even find a few coil shocks on some models.

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

1. YT Capra

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

Reasons to buy:

• Calm and quiet
• Rocketship fast
• Five frame sizes

Reasons to avoid:

• Needs sturdier casing tyres

The Capra is the bike that really made YT a household name in mountain bike circles over a decade ago, and the latest bike just builds on that success. Given how inflation has eroded spending power, it’s remarkable how much you get for your money now compared to a decade ago. Travel has gone up, geometry has improved, suspension is better, the bikes are stronger and yet the value is still impressive. Particularly as you can choose from carbon or alloy frame options depending on your budget.

We reckon the Capra has a slight bias towards going fast. Yes, it still loves to show its wild side, but it’s happier getting down to business punching the clock with PBs and PRs down your favourite descents. As such, it’s a great privateer enduro race bike.

Read our full review of the YT Capra Core 2 GX

The Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6 loves to party.

2. Canyon Torque

So wild it needs an asbo.

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

For anyone who lives within manualling distance of a bike park, the Canyon Torque comes highly recommended. The bike made famous by Fabio Wibmer just loves stunting, whether its motocross-size jump lines or surfing steep, loamy chutes. To take the hits, Canyon has built it solid, and then implanted the mind of a hooligan. Yes, it loves to get wild and out-of-shape in every turn, somehow remaining pliable on the edge of control.

At least that’s case with the mullet version – you can also get the Torque with 29in wheels, a carbon frame, and even a coil shock. The choices are endless. What ties all the options together is terrific value and generous sizing, where short seat tubes and low standover let you choose a longer bike without getting penalised by clearance.

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.

3. Merida One-Sixty FR 600

Best 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

Merida might not be the first brand that comes to mind when considering a bike for shredding jump trails or tearing up enduro tracks, but the competitively-priced One-Sixty FR 600 deserves to be on your radar. With a 180mm fork, and 171mm of coil-sprung travel out back, the One-Sixty packs enough heat 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.

Modern geometry ensures plenty of standover height on all frames, so you can choose your size according to length, and handling characteristics. Built to category 5 strength, and with a burly aluminium frame, 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 Scott Ransom 900 RC is one fast bike, both up and down

4. Scott Ransom

Fastest enduro race bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 15.75kg | Suspension travel: 170mm f/170mm r | Rating: N/A

• Accomplished enduro bike, both up and down
• TracLoc lets you optimise the suspension and geometry for ascents on-the-fly
• Adjustable geometry
• Remarkably clean frame
• Longer shock service intervals
• No proportional chainstays
• Headset-routed cables and one-piece bar and stem

Scott’s latest Ransom cuts quite a dash with its seamless frame design, where the shock is hidden inside the down tube. Aside from looking distinctive, tucking the shock out of sight keeps it protected from dirt and grit, so it should last longer between services. The shock is also hooked up to Scott’s clever on-the-fly travel and geometry adjust system. Called TracLoc, it lets you firm up the suspension for efficient, energy-saving climbing, then unleash the full 170mm of travel on the descents. And the less calories you burn on the climbs means the more you can push it on the downhills.

There’s also loads of geometry adjustment built-in to the frame, and a remarkably composed suspension that hoovers up the harshest of bumps, but provides loads of support to push against when hitting jumps. An awesome package then, even if the traditional bricks and mortar sales model means that you’ll pay a premium versus a direct-sales brand like YT or Canyon.

Read our full review of the Scott Ransom 900 RC

The Nukeproof Giga is a surprisingly versatile enduro bike that’s fun and engaging to ride

5. Nukeproof Giga

Best value shop-bought enduro/bike park stormer.

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
• Adjustable suspension feel
• Low standover
• Remarkably agile considering the amount of travel
• Michelin tyres are temperature sensitive
• Cable guides pop out

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

The Forbidden Dreadnought is a high-pivot idler bike with 170mm/154mm travel and 29in wheels.

6. Forbidden Dreadnought

Best high-pivot enduro bike.

Wheel size: 29in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 15.99kg | Suspension travel: 170mm f/154mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Unique ride quality
• Great sizing with balanced weight distribution across all sizes
• Buttery-smooth suspension
• Steep seat angle
• Needs a high-rise bar
• End-stroke progression makes it harder to get full travel
• Idler is noisy when it’s muddy
• Longer chainstay and rearward axle path means you have to put more effort into lifting the front end

With so many bikes using a similar cookie-cutter design, Forbidden’s trailblazing high-pivot design stands out. And the brand has plenty of pedigree, too, since founder and designer Owen Pemberton spent many years designing high-pivot bikes at Norco before going solo.

He also pioneered size-specific chainstays to maintain better weight distribution across sizes, a feature that also makes it onto the Dreadnought. 154mm might seem outgunned by today’s enduro bikes, but the Dreadnought rides bigger and more capable than the numbers suggest. As we concluded in our review, “if you like going fast in rough terrain, there’s probably no better 150mm travel bike”. Hey, if Connor Fearon can qualify at a World Cup DH on one, what’s stopping you ?

Read our full review of the Forbidden Dreadnought

The Hope HB916 is thoroughly modern and brilliantly engineered

7. Hope HB916

British engineering brilliance.

Wheel size: 29in or mullet | Frame sizes: H1, H2, H3, H4 | Weight: 15.28kg | Suspension travel: 170mm f/160mm r | Rating: 9/10

• Fast, smooth ride
• Made in the UK
• Beautiful detailing
• Playful for a high-pivot bike
• Limited seat stay clearance at bottom out

Hope started building its own bikes back in 2017 with the HB160. Billed as an enduro bike, it looked stunning, but felt more like a long-legged trail bike than an alpine hauler. With the latest HB916 Hope has kept the artisan carbon aesthetics but refined the geometry and moved to a high-pivot idler suspension design. The result is an enduro bike that now rides as good as it looks.

For an idler design it’s quiet and smooth, with less drag nibbling away at your pedalling efforts. And that rearward axle path gives a silky smooth ride, that lets you go faster with less energy than its rivals. With the HB916 you get beauty and the beast.

Read our full review of the Hope HB916

The Atherton AM. 170 is a truly unique enduro bike using a left-field construction method.

8. Atherton AM. 170

Best for custom sizing and unique frame construction.

Wheel size: 29/27.5in | Frame sizes: 22 options! | Weight: 16.4kg | Suspension travel: F 180mm/R 170mm | Rating: N/A

• Extensive sizing options
• High-end build with unique ride quality
• Competitively priced given what’s involved in the manufacturing process
• The rubberized protection started to peel away under the down tube

We rode several different iterations of Atherton prototype before slinging a leg over this latest AM. 170, and while the early predecessors showed glimmers of promise, we weren’t expecting to be so completely smitten by the ride of the production model. It’s fair to say Atherton Bikes has learned a lot and evolved considerably since its inception, and the new bikes are as stunning to ride as they are unique in the market.

With 22 frame size options to choose from, and a sorted size calculator, anyone can get the perfect fit. While the frame construction gives a totally distinct aesthetic that is about as far from mainstream rivals as you can get. But it’s the ride that really shines – when we rode it at Dyfi Bike Park we said it ‘seemed to glide almost effortlessly across rough ground’, and that it ‘never bites back, does anything weird or unsettling and holds its shape so well you can hammer without feeling like you’re the one getting hammered’.

Read our full test review of the Atherton AM. 170

The Santa Cruz Nomad is an obvious choice, but it hits all the right notes.

9. Santa Cruz Nomad

Best enduro bike for mixing business and pleasure.

Wheel size: 29/27.5in | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Weight: 16.01kg | Suspension travel: F 170mm/R 170mm | Rating: N/A

• Supple, poppy suspension and playful handling
• Wide size range
• Well balanced
• Useful frame storage
• No surprise – it’s expensive
• Shock tunnel makes setting sag difficult
• On the heavy side
• Needs bigger rotors for sustained steeps

No list of the best enduro bikes would be complete without the classic Santa Cruz Nomad. Now on version 6, the latest Nomad is a significant improvement on the disappointing V5, thanks to a move to MX wheels (29in front/27.5in rear), improved geometry, and better suspension.

There are loads of frame sizes to choose from, internal frame storage adds a practical note, and the ride quality is all-out gravity focussed, with every run turning into the rowdiest party of our lives thanks to the supple, poppy suspension and agile rear wheel. It’s a bit of a fish out of water on the climbs, but we prefer the fact that the new Nomad isn’t trying to be something it’s not. An expensive option, and not the most imaginary choice, but there’s a reason why the Nomad is so popular.

Read our full test review of the Santa Cruz Nomad

The Commencal Meta V5 Race ploughs its own furrow.

10. Commencal Meta V5

Unique frame feel makes for a comfortable but fast ride.

Wheel size: 29/29in or MX (Meta SX) | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL | Weight: 16.25kg | Suspension travel: F 160mm/R 150mm | Rating: 8/10

• Suspension has excellent grip and support
• No frame harshness
• Agile and playful
• Character all of its own
• Good climbing performance
• Can be a handful on really long, rough tracks
• Some riders might find it too flexy
• Lack of suspension set-up advice
• Imbalance of tyre grip
• Standard bottle and cage doesn’t fit

Commencal’s Meta stands out from the enduro crowd by having less travel and an alloy frame, but not following the herd has created a bike that also stands out for its ride qualities. Allied to a RockShox Lyrik fork, with smaller diameter upper tubes, the alloy frame has a soft, compliant ride that never spikes or deflects when hitting jumbled rock gardens at Mach 2. So while it doesn’t have the depths of travel that some enduro bikes boast, it can still keep pace against the clock.

If you do want more travel, Commencal also offers the Meta SX, which has a mullet wheel configuration and adds 10mm travel front and rear. Whichever you choose, the Meta has a unique ride that is as refreshing as an alpine spring.

Read our full test review of the Commencal Meta V5

Sam Hill turned his hand to enduro, and his immense skill brought him numerous victories

What should I look for in the best enduro mountain bikes?

An enduro bike is basically a mountain bike with at least 150mm of suspension travel, but more commonly 160-180mm. They’re built for the rigours of racing full-bore downhill whilst being sufficiently efficient on climbs and contouring trails too. As racing is hard, days are long, trails are punishing and outside mechanical assistance is minimal, the bikes must be extremely durable and reliable too. First an enduro bike needs to be lightning fast downhill. That’s because downhill sections make up the bulk of the timed runs in an enduro race. With some stages lasting upwards of ten minutes, and with limited practice time to learn the courses, the bike needs to be easy to ride and forgiving of bad line choices and cock-ups that are inevitable in the heat of the moment when fatigue sets in.

Is 150mm enough travel for enduro?

Yes, absolutely. However, don’t expect to be able to carry as much speed, in as much comfort or control, as you would on a bike with longer travel. For a long while, 150mm was standard travel for a downhill bike, but now it’s more common on a trail bike. But with the right build and geometry, you can absolutely smash an enduro trail with only 150mm of travel. So if you’re wondering whether you can race an enduro on your trail bike, the answer is absolutely yes.

The Bold Unplugged Pro has a remote switch that reduces the travel and increases the compression damping to improve climbing performance

How important is climbing performance on an enduro bike?

Enduro isn’t simply about high-alpine marathon DH runs. The bikes also need to climb and pedal efficiently. With long liaison stages linking up the timed sections, the weight of the bike is also a factor as you don’t want to be carrying excess baggage on the climbs. Lighter bikes also needs less manhandling to guide them when you get tired, which becomes a massive bonus for those long days in the saddle. In a nutshell, a good enduro bike needs to be every bit as capable as a downhill bike, but as agile and efficient as a typical trail bike. That’s a pretty tall order, but the best modern enduro bikes fulfil that brief.

Canyon’s latest Strive enduro bike has multiple geometry adjustments

What sort of geometry does an enduro bike have?

The bottom bracket heights of a lot of our bikes hover at around the 350mm mark. But this measurement can’t be taken at full value, as all of the bikes have different amounts of suspension travel. If the bikes are all set with the same amount of suspension sag, then the bike with the shorter travel will have a higher bottom bracket. Another point to note about the BB height is that the axles of the 29 in wheels are higher than for the 27.5in wheels, so there is a greater BB drop, giving added stability. Head angles can be as slack as 62º, but most are in the 63-64º range. Manufacturers often add some kind of geometry adjustment, too, so riders can choose to prioritise certain handling characteristics. For more on this topic, read our deep dive into mountain bike geometry .

Bikes like the Santa Cruz Megatower are as fun to ride as they are fast to race

Does an enduro race bike make a good enduro bike for non-racers?

It’s amazing how enduro bikes have evolved in such a short space of time; the best new designs are now essentially lightweight mini-downhill bikes and, it seems, every man and his dog is now an enduro racer (mbr staff included). Cut through the marketing spiel, however, and one thing is crystal clear: longer-travel bikes are better than ever before, and we have enduro to thank for it.

The reason is simple; racing breeds development. The latest enduro bike may not look dissimilar to the all-mountain bikes of yesteryear, but in fact they are very different animals. Due to the nature of the racing, this new breed is more DH-focused, with slacker angles and better high-speed handling. In fact, the geometry isn’t too far off what you’d see if you strolled the pits at a World Cup DH race. But improvements to climbing performance and adjustable geometry means they make great bikes for riders who are not interested in racing – just hitting their local descents or riding a bike park. These are versatile rigs, begged to be ridden hard.

Awesome MTB

Best long travel enduro 29er bikes in 2024 (160-170mm of travel).

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, 2024 is the year of bikes! So many awesome bike releases this year that with summer right around the corner I figured I would put together a list of 5 long travel enduro bikes that would be perfect for this season! This list might change soon though with Sea Otter right around the corner and more launches coming! Also this is just a list, stay tuned for more in depth content on these bikes coming soon: 

1.Rocky Mountain Altitude: This bike has to come first simply because it seems like Rocky Mountain is actually trying to shake the bike industry up this year with 2 solid launches in a row! First they gave us the updated Instinct, and now we have the new Altitude, a 160mm travel bike with a 63 degree-ish head angle. The reason for the “ish” is  because the bike also comes with loads of geometry adjustments making sure you can dial this long travel rig in for whatever you are going to throw at it! 

2. Knolly Chilcotin: With a 170mm of travel and bike wizard Noel Buckley driving the designs, this bike first came on my radar recently because of Nic from VanCan. I used to have a Knolly and the bikes ride amazingly. However this year they went to a straight top tube design on this 170mm downhill ripper and I have to say, it looks clean! If you are looking for optimal traction, this one has to be on the list as Knolly’s are known to have some of the most supple initial strokes out there! 

3. Deviate Cycles Claymore: I don’t even know where you would buy this bike. All I know is that I have been seeing these high pivot bikes pop up more and more at our local trail systems and the Deviate just has a look about it that pops out! From what I have heard, high pivots provide a significant amount of added traction with the cost of some slight friction while pedaling. 2024 is the year I will be getting a high pivot bike in for testing, so stay tuned! 

4. Ari Bikes La Sal Peak: Fun doesn't have to break the bank and the ARI La Sal Peak is a 170mm enduro bike that will make sure you still have money for season passes to your local bike park! I spent a lot of time on the La Sal Peak last year, including a huge 16k feet of climbing day in Whistler, and all I can say is that it is probably one of the most versatile 170mm bikes in this category. And with a sale price of $2899 for a complete bike? Insane. 

5. Pivot Cycles Firebird 29: I loved my Switchblade I had in earlier for testing and also loved the vibes coming from Pivot Cycles. You can tell they really care about bikes. But the real reason this bike made it into this list is the limited edition 2 tone paint job this 165mm enduro ripper has. This might just be the best looking bike currently on the market paint wise. Oh and I guess if you are into performance, my old Firebird was one of the best long travel 29er’s I have owned and from what I have gathered, this one only got better.

Happy Trails! 

-Mo Awesome

• Mountain Bike Reviews

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What is Ibis Cycles Doing? (New Bikes for 2024)?

San Diego Has a New Bike Park? (Luiseno Bike Park)

Part 3: My Honest Thoughts On 11 Bike Brands! (Might Delete Later)

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• Buyers Guide

The Best Enduro MTBs 2023

You want to buy an enduro bike these are the best enduro mtbs 2023.

Do YOU really need an Enduro MTB?

180 millimeters of suspension travel can sometimes also be too much.

What to pay attention to when buying Enduro MTB

How much does a good enduro mtb cost.

The best Enduro MTBs for under 3000 € – balling on a Budget

The best Enduro MTBs for under 4500 € – mid-range models

The best Enduro MTBs for under 6000 € – entry level luxury models

The best Enduro MTBs for under 8000 € – cool, but no longer cheap

The best Enduro MTBs for 8000 € and more – pure luxury

CONCLUSION on the subject of ENDURO MOUNTAINBIKE TEST 2023

About the author.

... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The essence of many hours on the trail: Mountain bikes are awesome when they match your personal preferences! With this realization, he founded bike-test.com to assist cyclists in finding their very own dream bike.

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The backcountry battle axe You’ll need this where you’re going Slash is a no-holds barred enduro sled built to rip, rally, and rail through the gnarliest trails on the planet. With 170mm of front and rear travel, mixed wheel size, and new high-pivot design, Slash not only descends like a beast, but it’s also ready to billy-goat up punchy climbs with square-edge slabs that send your friends on hike-a-bike missions. Crush laps that enduro bikes of yesteryear only dreamed of. Charge through the chunder, hurtle over wheel-roasting roots, and blast through boulder fields with drops so deep you’ll question your sanity – but never your bike’s capability.

• Watch the walkthrough

2023 Pinkbike Bike of the Year 

“Slash put down an impressive performance during the Enduro Field Test, with a blend of speed and stability that put it on every editor's list of favorites. It also happens to be very adaptable, and while steep, chunky terrain is certainly its forte, it's no one-trick pony.” – Mike Kazimer, Pinkbike 

"One of our favorite bikes of the year." 

"slaps a huge smile on your face", "one of the most impressive enduro bikes we've tested".

High pivot, high aspirations 

Slash pedals better than other high-pivot bikes thanks to an idler pulley layout that's optimized for efficiency. Plus, that rearward axle path gives Slash mind-blowing traction for scrambling up tricky climbs without getting caught on roots and rough edges. You get less wasted energy and more gas left in the tank for the descents.

Upper idler

The 19-tooth upper idler pulley is bigger than most so the chain doesn't have to bend as sharply, adding efficiency and strength.

Lower idler

The lower idler pulley prevents chain growth below the chainstay and keeps that tension off the derailleur cage so you get better shifting and suspension performance.

The main ingredient in Slash's pedaling alchemy is its anti-squat curve. Anti-squat is affected by a few variables, but one of the biggest factors is main pivot position. The size and placement of the upper idler gives us another way to tune the anti-squat curve. Between the upper and lower idler layout and size, Slash delivers a super-efficient and super-consistent feeling anti-squat curve that makes this bike pedal more like the short-travel Top Fuel than the previous generation Slash.

Built burly

1. Super slack head tube

Sitting at a relaxed 63.5-degrees, Slash’s head tube keeps your front wheel far ahead for serious stability on the steepest, gnarliest trails. 

2. Steep seat tube angle 

Perched at 77-degrees, Slash keeps you in the perfect position for putting down power on long slogs up fire roads and punchy, slabby climbs. 

3. That just-right reach 

460mm of reach keeps the cockpit long and stable for control and stability through everything.

4. Size-specific chainstays

Get the same trail-taming feel no matter your height thanks to size-specific chainstays that keep handling consistent. 

Adjustable leverage rate

Easily adjust suspension progression with just a flip of a chip. Ride it in the less progressive setting for a plusher feel perfect for rugged trails loaded with square-edge bumps. Flip it to more progressive when you’re riding fast, hitting big features and don’t want to bottom out — or if you want to roll with a coil shock.

Stow it, don’t show it 

Stash your ride essentials with in-tube storage on all models — both carbon and alloy. Included Bontrager BITS bag keeps your odds and ends organized. 

Created for customization

Want to run a longer dropper? Swap air for a coil shock? No problem. Slash has plenty of room for beefy tires, big coil shocks, and running up to a 190mm fork. Plus, it’s even equipped with accessory mounts under the top tube when your storage door is loaded and you need to haul a little more.

We spent hours analyzing high-speed camera footage to figure out just how to shape a guard to minimize chain movement, so you get a quieter, more protected ride. 

Slash Gen 5 

Slash Gen 5 is a long-travel 29er built for wild terrain. It packs in 160mm of rear and 170mm of front suspension, a lighter build, and traditional suspension design. 1. 160mm/170mm travel 2. 29˝ front and rear wheels 3. Traditional suspension design 4. Lighter build

Slash Gen 6 

Slash Gen 6 goes even burlier with mixed wheel sizes for ultra-steep descents, longer 170mm front/rear suspension, extra adjustability features, and a high pivot suspension design. 1. 170mm/170mm travel 2. 29˝ front and 27.5˝ rear wheel 3. High pivot suspension design 4. Extra adjustability features

Chase dirt, catch air

Slash SE is a limited-run ride that’s ready to rip with a proven Slash Gen 5 frame and one-of-a-kind Earth and Air paint that gives a nod to the loam we grip and jumps we boost. Its decked out with SRAM’s GX AXS wireless transmission and RockShox Flight Attendant – the automatic suspension system that listens to your riding and responds in real-time.

The best trail bike of 2024 – 15 of the most exciting trail bikes in our 2024 comparison test

In our big 2024 trail bike group test, we crowned an unexpected winner, had a few pleasant surprises and also spotted a few lemons, which we would never recommend you buy! Our test field includes 15 of the most exciting trail bikes of the season – but what does it take to be the best and worst trail bike of the year?

Table of content: What is in this test

• Our test field

What is a trail bike and what should it be capable of ?

• How and where did we test the Light-eMTBs?

The ENDURO test crew

• Our test criteria

The tops and flops in our 2024 trail bike group test

• Which is the best trail bike of 2024?

Let’s be honest, most of us are totally over-biked! We spend most of our time tackling tame home trails with big-hitting bruisers, just to be able to enjoy the extra travel on the occasional bike park trip or rowdy enduro holiday in summer. But is it really necessary with all the fantastic technology available these days?

Back in our 2022 trail bike group test, we recognised a clear pattern that has also repeated itself in this year’s test: modern trail bikes are becoming increasingly capable, allowing you to tackle faster, rougher trails and bigger jumps without smashing your bike (and yourself) into a million pieces. And no, modern trail bikes don’t pedal like shit. Quite the opposite: they don’t call for compromises uphill, and aren’t necessarily stupidly expensive either. Sounds too good to be true?

Trail Bike ≠ Trail Bike

First off, the days when we were buying bikes based on a predefined category are long gone. In other words, instead of fixating on a certain bike category, you should look for a specific bike model, regardless of whether it’s classified as an all-mountain, super enduro or full-suspension touring bike. There’s no such thing as “one bike for all”. Every manufacturer interprets the existing categories in a different way, relying on different specs, features and key data and keeping the focus on different things, blurring the boundaries between categories. What really counts is the overall concept and, of course, how well each concept suits your individual needs, riding style and intended use.

What became quickly evident again in this year’s test with 15 trail bikes, is that each model has its very own character, with huge differences distinguishing the bikes from one another. In other words, depending on the bike, you could either carve through a berm with extreme precision or slide through it hoping for the best – and that’s despite the fact many bikes share near-identical key data like the suspension travel, geometry and wheel size.

Have you ever seen Chat GPT flying down the trails?

However, there’s one thing all trail bikes have in common: they’re all designed to deliver top riding fun on the trail – or at least, they should! That’s mainly down to the fact that trail bikes are not developed for racing, which is the case with most enduro and XC rigs. Instead, they’re designed to be versatile, strong all-rounders that allow you to have fun on any sort of trail, whether you’re heading to your local forest for a chilled post-work ride without knee pads, shredding gnarly bike park lines at the weekend, or embarking on an epic singletrack expedition in the Alps. The best trail bikes in this group test can do all of this, and they do it extremely well! To achieve this, they must be able to combine different riding characteristics, and sometimes even to unite supposed opposites. For example, a trail bike has to perform equally well on climbs and descents, which can be achieved through a sensible geometry, finely tuned rear suspension kinematics and the right choice of components. It’s a fine balance, a harmonious interaction of different criteria that can’t be deduced from a spec list, geometry chart or random lab results – let alone predicted by AI. Or have you ever seen Chat GPT rocketing down the trail?

Our test field: 15 of the most exciting bikes of 2024 at a glance

Our test field consists of 15 modern trail bikes and includes all kinds of different concepts, from lively, lightweight speedsters to rowdy shredding machines and even several light eMTBs, which pushed their analogue competitors to the limits. It was a colourful bunch of contestants, with newcomers, underdogs, innovative high-tech trail bikes and bikes that have already set a benchmark in the past seeking to prove themselves against the new competition.

Our latest readers’ survey with 23,000 participants revealed which brands are most popular amongst our readers and which technologies arouse their interest. This gave us a good starting point to work from. On top of that, our editorial team racked their brains to understand which bikes simply couldn’t be overlooked, along with a few more niche options that our readers might not be aware of.

On this basis, we’ve put together an exciting test field with 15 hot, new bikes, which provided some exciting insights and plenty of interesting facts. For example, there’s a difference of over € 8,000 between the cheapest and most expensive competitors. Is this bonkers? Or is it unfair? Not at all, in fact, our test shows that the opposite is true! Curiously, there are bikes with nearly identical specs that have a price difference of over € 4,000, which caused quite a stir – wtf!

While most of the test field consists of analogue bikes, we also included four of the most important light eMTBs of the season, which rely on the four most exciting motor systems and battery concepts currently available on the market, thus appealing to a very wide range of rider types. This also explains the huge 7.5 kg weight difference between the lightest and heaviest competitors – that’s a whole road bike worth of difference! Are the heaviest bikes necessarily the slowest or most boring? Let us surprise you! There are also huge differences in terms of suspension travel, with the most conservative rear suspension generating 120 mm of travel at the rear, the most capable bike delivering a whopping 155 mm. Maybe that doesn’t sound like a fair comparison, but which one was more fun downhill?

For a better overview, here’s a list of all 15 bikes in our 2024 trail bike comparison test, with some of the most important data.

The Cannondale Habit LT 1 1 takes on the competition with a humble spec, renouncing any kind of fancy, shiny components. Together with the YT, it wants to prove that even the cheapest bike in this test can put a big grin on your face on the trail. The CUBE Stereo ONE55 C:62 SLT 29 , on the other hand, comes with a top-tier spec at an affordable price. At first glance, it stands out from the crowd with some radical details: at 13.4 kg, for example, it’s the lightest bike in this test (alongside the SCOR), and at the same time, it’s the bike with the most travel, which is controlled by a very capable FOX X2 shock. Does this make it the most potent contestant downhill?

Just with its name, the GHOST RIOT Trail Full Party shows its intentions. With a fully integrated EightPins dropper and tire inserts fitted as standard, the GHOST has a few party tricks up its sleeve. But is it enough to claim victory in our 2024 trail bike group test? Other bikes, like the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 10K , have plenty of tricks up their sleeves too. With the ONE-FORTY, the Taiwanese manufacturer introduces a versatile frame platform with flex-stays that relies on a brand new design language and innovative geometry concept.

As already mentioned, we didn’t miss the opportunity to include a few light eMTBs in our 2024 trail bike group test, deliberately ignoring all the hate they attract. And once again, they proved that they have a right to be in this test field. Let’s start with the sleek Mondraker Neat RR SL and its TQ_HPR50 motor system, which delivers a very natural ride feeling but also feels weak compared to the competition. In purely visual terms, its electric nature only becomes evident upon closer inspection. It’s a whole different story with the NICOLAI SATURN 14 Swift HRZ , which is distinctly recognisable as an ebike, integrating a brand-new Bosch SX motor into a machined alloy frame. At 600 watts peak power, the motor packs a real punch when you pedal hard.

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL is the “ultimate trail bike” in the portfolio of the Californian manufacturer. After robbing its analogue counterpart of the title, there was no way that we wouldn’t include it in this test. Specialized spared no expense or effort, delivering tremendous development work with the sophisticated motor system of the Levo SL. What’s even more impressive is that the Levo SL is already in its second iteration, while most light eMTBs in this group test are still in their infancy. Does this give the Specialized an advantage?

The Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV , too, is based on its analogue sibling, the Bronson. The FAZUA Ride 60 motor system is neatly integrated into the down tube, preserving the distinctive look of Santa Cruz’s VPP rear suspension. Like the Levo SL, it rolls on a mixed wheel setup with a small 27.5″ wheel at the rear, promising to be tons of fun on the trail, while packing a punch uphill. The Heckler can count on some family support, because the Californian brand also entered the race with one of their analogue trail bruisers, the Santa Cruz Hightower X0 AXS RSV , which looks a lot like the Heckler despite rolling on two big 29″ wheels.

Introduced only recently, the Orbea Occam LT M10 employs a versatile frame platform and allows you to customise both the spec and look of your bike down to the smallest detail using Orbea’s extensive online configurator. Does this make it the perfect trail bike for everyone? Well, there’s another bike in this test that lets you do pretty much the same, at least in terms of aesthetics. With the brand-new SCOR 2030 X01 , you can design your very own frame protectors for the top and down tube using the Swiss brand’s online design tool. With only 120 mm of rear travel, it doesn’t have lots of reserves on paper, but the progressive suspension allows you to get rowdy downhill while maintaining a lively, nimble character on the climbs.

With the SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned , the Swiss manufacturer shows once again what seamless integration looks like, concealing the shock inside the frame and routing all cables internally. To round off the clean look, SCOTT also throw in a fancy one-piece handlebar/stem unit.While the high level of integration ensures a super tidy look, it also has its drawbacks, making it harder for home mechanics to work on their bike. Is the Genius ST 900 Tuned just as discreet on the trail as it looks? The Trek Fuel EX 9.9 X0 AXS T-Type is the latest evolutionary development of a true trail classic, the latest version of a bike which has been a regular in our group tests over the years. Particularly striking are the top-tier spec and countless customisation options, which allow you to alter both the geometry and kinematics of the bike. Can our trail veteran use its lengthy experience to secure Best in Test in our 2024 trail bike group test?

With its big brother securing victory in last year’s enduro group test, the YETI SB140 LR T3 X0 has big shoes to fill. It shares the same frame features and Switch Infinity suspension design as the enduro model, and (of course) comes in the same iconic turquoise finish. The spec is almost identical to the last contestant in this test, the new YT JEFFSY CORE 5 CF , which is packed with practical features. However, the German direct-to-consumer brand charges significantly less than its competitors for the fancy components – but is YT skimping elsewhere?

Of course, there are some bikes missing this year, and as much as we’d love to squeeze all of the trail bikes currently available on the market into one massive group test, this would simply be impossible. Many bikes, like the Propain Hugene , Specialized Stumpjumper , Canyon Spectral and Santa Cruz Bronson haven’t been updated since our last group test, and weren’t able to secure victory back then anyway. That’s why they didn’t even enter the competition this year, but you can still draw some interesting conclusions by reading last year’s reviews and comparing the bikes.

On the other hand, we would have loved to include some other bikes in this test, like the Canyon Neuron, Forbidden Druid and COMMENCAL TEMPO, but the manufacturers were either unable to deliver a bike in time, or simply too afraid to hear our opinion, so they decided not to send a bike for this test. Once again this year, there are bikes that didn’t live up to expectations, but more on this later.

A good trail bike not only allows you to climb to the top of the mountain comfortably and without suffering too much, but also delivers tons of fun when shredding your way back down into the valley. Good composure and plenty of reserves are no longer exclusive to potent enduro bikes, with increasingly more trail bikes packing a punch on the trail.

Trail bikes are designed to be the perfect all-rounder and to deliver an unparalleled riding experience. Climbing performance isn’t compromised in any way – quite the opposite! Despite their impressive downhill potential, the trail bikes in this group test are surprisingly nimble, pedal-neutral and at the same time offer a high level of touring comfort. Furthermore, trail bikes aren’t subject to the limitations of racing, which is the case with many enduro and XC bikes. Instead, they’re designed to crank the fun factor up to eleven while inspiring huge amounts of confidence in the process, whatever trail you’re deciding to tackle. One of the most frequently asked questions amongst modern mountain bikers is whether your next rig should be an eMTB, which is partly due to the advent of the latest generation of light eMTBs. The advantages of light e-mountainbikes are obvious: ride more trails in less time, overcome laziness, and enjoy a wider range of applications, from rowdy trail expeditions to family weekends with a trailer and fun uphill sessions with your mates. Depending on which motor system you’re using, you’ll be able to engage in some wild climbing antics. The disadvantages? Higher prices, more wear and tear… but is the handling really worse?

Do I even need a new trail bike?

If you’re asking yourself this question, you probably forgot about the N+1 rule, which states clearly that you can never own enough bikes. However, if for some inexplicable reason, you want to stick to just one bike, modern trail rigs are the optimal addition to your bike cave, because they’re extremely capable and at the same time have great touring potential, thus covering an incredibly wide range of applications and delivering an insane amount of fun, even on more moderate trails. Furthermore, now is a great time to get a new bike, because many manufacturers and bike shops are currently offering huge discounts to empty their warehouses. If you want to know why, you should read our “Price war” article , which gives you an insight into the current state of the bike industry. But one thing’s for sure: at some point, the price-drop battle will come to an end and bikes will get more expensive again.

Our insider tip: The Amiata bike park in Tuscany, Italy

Have you ever heard of Monte Amiata, a 1,738 m inactive volcano in Tuscany? Neither had we until recently. While searching for a great mountain biking destination with lift support in late autumn, we came across Amiata Bike Park , which is relatively unknown in the international circuit. When we got there at the end of October, it had already shut for the season, but the guys from Tasso Trail Solution swept the leaves off the trails and fired up the old chairlift, cranking it up to full speed for the occasion. We had the bike park all to ourselves for over a week – how cool is that? Once again, a big thank you to everyone involved, especially to those who spent hours clearing the trails with leaf blowers, lifting our bikes out of the chairlift for days on end and popping beers open with us in the pizzeria in the evening.

Luckily for us, all the trails were still in excellent shape, and – even better – incredibly good to ride in the wet. Yes, our idea to escape the cold, wet German autumn didn’t quite work out… We highly recommend that you add the Amiata Bike Park to your bucket list. There’s also a bike shop next to the lift, where you can hire a bike and get spares and equipment. During this test, it served as our base, allowing us to set up the bikes and fix mechanicals. At the back of the store, there’s a big workshop that has everything you need to get your bike back on the trails if something goes wrong.

Incidentally, the lift’s valley station is a little further up the mountain, but right in front of the Hotel Le Macinaie we stayed at, which made logistics much easier for us, and it also has a restaurant with a full-size Italian espresso machine – which can’t be missing on a long day at the office! There are more bars scattered around the bike park, where you can enjoy a cosy lunch or a drink. We highly recommend the Bar Jolly , which serves really tasty food and is also super bike-friendly.

Our big trail bike comparison test in numbers

Raise the curtain for our numbers!

is the total price of the bikes in this group test. € 33,799 more than last year’s group test

• Which featured one less bike.
• But didn’t include any ebikes.

is the average bike price. € 8,329 is the average price excluding ebikes.

• € 985 more than in the last test.

is the price of the three cheapest bikes in this test, the YT Jeffsy CORE 5 CF , GHOST Riot Trail Full Party and Cannondale Habit LT 1 .

is the price of the most expensive bike, the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL , making it more than twice as expensive as the cheapest bikes.

160/155 mm (F/R)

combines the bike with the most travel.

140/120 mm (F/R)

offers the bike with the least travel.

Average front travel: 154 mm Average rear travel: 143 mm

The lightest bike on test weighs 13.4 kg The heaviest analogue competitor tips the scales at 15.4 kg

17.5 kg is the weight of the lightest light eMTB in test. 20.9 kg for the heaviest light eMTB.

The bikes weigh on average.

Average weight in our latest enduro bike group test: 16.6 kg Average weight in our latest downcountry bike group test: 11.4 kg

13 bikes are full 29ers.

0 bikes roll on two small 27.5″ wheels., 2 bikes have a mixed wheel setup, aka mullet.

(both of which are ebikes).

bikes have an integrated storage compartment or mini tool.

2 bikes come equipped with RockShox suspension. Both of which combine a Lyrik fork and Super Deluxe shock.

None of the bikes rely on mixed suspension, with components from different brands.

13 bikes have FOX suspension. 12 of which come with a 36 fork. Only one bike relies on a 34 fork. 10 bikes have a Float X shock. 2 bikes have a Float DPS. 1 bike comes with a Float X2 shock.

9 bikes rely on SRAM CODE four-piston brakes. 2 bikes feature Shimano XTR four-piston brakes. 1 bike has Shimano XT four-piston brakes. 1 bike comes equipped with Formula Cura 4 four-piston brakes. 1 bike specs Hope Tech 4 four-piston brakes. 1 bike has SRAM Level four-piston brakes , which unfortunately don’t provide enough braking power for a trail bike.

7 bikes rely on 200 mm brake rotors

front and rear.

None of them use big 220 mm discs.

8 bikes rely on a 180 mm brake rotor.

at the rear, which overheats quickly, resulting in an inconsistent bite point and potentially leading to painful arm pump.

1 bike relies on 180 mm brake rotors

front and rear, which don’t do justice to the bike’s character and intended use.

Average brake rotor size in our 2024 trail bike group test: 194 mm Average brake rotor size in our 2022 trail bike group test: 194 mm Average brake disc size in our 2022 enduro bike test: 202 mm

14 bikes have a carbon main frame .

1 bike employs an alloy frame ..

4 punctures and 0 crashes during our test runs. 1 wheel didn’t survive the testing session.

Our test criteria: What defines a good trail bike?

The perfect trail bike shines with strong all-round characteristics, uniting supposed opposites without compromising on the virtues of either. In other words, it’s a harmonious balance between the spec and character of the bike. To define the latter and thus provide you with the best possible advice for your purchasing decisions, we don’t use a rigid scoring system and prefer to provide you with a holistic evaluation of the bike. When it comes to the components, it’s not the price tag or bling factor that matters, but rather how the individual parts harmonise with each other and how they perform together as a whole on the trail.

To help you understand our testing procedures, we’ve summarised the most important criteria for our 2024 trail bike group test.

What makes a trail bike the best climber?

Without climbing there’s no descending! And since with trail bikes we tend to make our way to the trailhead solely with the power of our legs, climbing performance is paramount. Therefore, the perfect trail bike must offer a comfortable pedalling position without putting too much pressure on your hands, thus enabling long days in the saddle. At the same time, it’s crucial to have enough weight on the front end, as this allows you to comfortably negotiate steep climbs without having to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking.

Needless to say, the rear suspension also has a major effect on the bike’s climbing qualities and should therefore be as efficient and pedal-neutral as possible, even without activating the climb switch. This will ensure sufficient traction even on technical climbs, allowing you to negotiate nasty root carpets and smaller obstacles while at the same time providing a higher level of comfort than a locked-out platform. Just one of our competitors relies on a bar-mounted lockout lever, allowing you to quickly adjust the suspension to the riding situation, but also creating a little confusion on the trail with countless levers in the cockpit. Weight and rolling resistance also play a decisive role when riding uphill, especially when accelerating from a standstill. Once the mass is in motion, however, weight only plays a secondary role, while shallow-profiled tires with hard rubber compounds tend to spin out of control all too easily in loose terrain.

Which handling characteristics are typical of trail bikes?

Trying to determine the handling of a bike based on isolated geometry values isn’t just wrong but also risky. Despite some near-identical geometry on paper, handling differs enormously, with the suspension, the relationship between measurements (i.e. reach to stack ratio) and the setup playing a major role. A good trail bike positions its rider centrally, is intuitive and easy to ride, and also forgives the odd riding mistake. Regardless of whether you’re an inexperienced rider or just exhausted after an epic day in the mountains, intuitive and predictable handling is a godsend. However, some bikes are the exact opposite, requiring a great deal of concentration and excellent riding skills, forcing you to actively shift your weight around the bike to generate traction. If you’re not 100% in control, even small distractions can quickly lead to a crash. In a nutshell, the more intuitive the handling, the faster and safer you can ride a trail bike.

Composure vs agility

Although no two riding qualities are quite as antithetical, the best trail bikes manage to combine them. Composure isn’t just about bombing through a rock garden at full pelt but also about having sufficient reserves to swallow big hits and make you feel safe in the process – which is what encourages us to ride fast in the first place! Agility is the word we use to describe a bike’s ability to move and change direction quickly and efficiently, and thus how easy it makes it to snake through a narrow trail.

What should the perfect trail bike suspension be capable of?

The performance of a trail bike’s suspension isn’t determined solely by the quality or characteristics of its components, though it is heavily influenced by the shock tune and setup. Simply put, there’s only one way to find out how your suspension performs: taking your bike to a trail! The perfect suspension is a fine compromise that combines a high level of traction and responsiveness with sufficient mid-stroke support, lots of pop for playful riding manoeuvres and good reserves for botched landings. Bikes like the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL and the YETI SB140 LR gobble up nasty impacts with ease, and still generate lots of traction, allowing you to focus on the trail ahead. Nonetheless, they don’t swallow up the rider’s input like a sandbag, allowing you to play with the terrain and pop off features on the trail as well.

What does the perfect trail bike spec look like?

We all just want to ride our bikes and hate wasting time fixing this or that on the trailside. That’s why it’s crucial to choose your spec according to the intended use. However, many bike manufacturers are still cheating to keep the weight down and make their bikes look better on paper and shop floors!

Without a doubt, the brakes are the most important component on a trail bike. Not only are they your guardian angel in hairy situations, but they also have a huge influence on arm pump and fatigue, which in turn can be seriously detrimental to your safety. As a logical conclusion, saving weight on the brakes isn’t just thoughtless, but also incredibly dangerous! However, our 2024 trail bike group test proves that many manufacturers agree with us and features more powerful brakes and bigger rotors than any of our previous group tests – keep it up guys! Only Mondraker’s light eMTB, the Neat RR SL, comes with undersized brakes, which are actually designed for XC riding. We recommend upgrading the brakes, as this limits the bike’s potential and safety enormously.

Manufacturers also like to skimp on drivetrains, combining high-end rear derailleurs with cheaper shifters. While this might look great on the shop floor, it doesn’t bring any advantages to the trail because the quality of the shifter is key to smooth shifting performance, and basic models lack some of the practical features of their high-end counterparts, thus making a bling rear derailleur totally pointless. The same goes for the cassettes, but this is only a concern in terms of weight and durability, and doesn’t particularly compromise the performance on the trail. The GHOST RIOT Trail Full Party is a good example of this tendency, pairing a high-quality XT rear derailleur with a cheaper SLX shifter, which doesn’t support the derailleur’s full range of functions, meaning that you’re riding around with expensive technology you can’t even use. Furthermore, the GHOST also features a bling FOX 36 fork with fancy Kashima coating, which bears the distinctive look of the Factory flagship model. Upon closer inspection, however, the fork employs the cheaper FIT4 damper, which doesn’t even get close to its top-tier GRIP2 counterpart in terms of trail performance.

For some brands, unfortunately, speccing lighter, less robust tires is still a great way to make their bikes look better on paper. As far as rubber compounds go, it makes sense to combine a softer, grippier compound at the front for traction and control, with a harder compound at the rear to ensure lower rolling resistance and a longer service life. The tire casing, on the other hand, should be chosen according to the character and intended use of the bike, as well as the type of wheelset used. Unlike alloy wheels, carbon rims only know two scenarios with nasty impacts, either getting away entirely unscathed, or landing straight in the bin. That’s why carbon rims should always be paired with a robust tire casing, not least because they’re significantly more expensive. On the other hand, a dented alloy rim isn’t that big of a deal and won’t necessarily ruin your day. Moreover, a robust casing allows you to run lower tire pressures, ensuring more traction and additional damping, both with smaller vibrations and bigger impacts. In addition, some trail bikes in this group test come standard with shallow-profiled tires, which might roll extremely well in dry conditions, but quickly get you in pickle on wet, muddy terrain. In a nutshell, a more aggressively-profiled tire at the front generates plenty more traction and has a very small effect on rolling resistance, because there’s far less pressure on the front when climbing.

Unfortunately – and this is a big one – very few bikes in this test have a spec which does full justice to the potential of the bike and its intended use. This is why we’ve added a “Tuning Tips” section at the bottom of each review, suggesting the most beneficial and cost-effective upgrades to get the most out of the bike.

Which clever features and detail solutions should be standard on a modern trail bike?

Clever and useful frame features can, albeit indirectly, boost the fun factor of a trail bike enormously. For example, additional storage options such as an integrated storage compartment or tool mount allow you to leave your backpack or hip pack at home, making your rides more comfortable. On the other hand, threaded bottom brackets make it easy to replace worn bearings, saving you precious time and embarrassing swearfests. All bikes in this group test have at least one bottle cage mount, while integrated storage compartments and tool mounts seem to be rather the norm than the exception. However, the systems differed greatly in quality and ease of use, and no one really likes to fiddle around with a finicky storage compartment when a pinch flat has already put you in a foul mood. In this respect, more is always better, and every additional storage option is one less object (or several) you have to carry on your body. This also helps reduce the risk of injuries, because falling on a mini tool or CO2 cartridge ain’t fun! Internal cable routing, frame protection, universal spares and additional plastic covers like mudguards help to reduce wear while increasing the fun factor and improving the look of the bike. Generously-sized protectors on chainstays, seat stays and the down tube ensure a quiet ride and protect the frame from stray rocks. All of the bikes in this test feature SRAM’s UDH universal mech hanger, which can be found in most bike shops around the world, and is easy to replace. By contrast, conventional derailleur hangers are specific to the frame, and can be difficult to get hold of in a pinch.

Does the spec list of a trail bike speak for its performance?

In this group test, price only plays a subordinate role. It’s not that we don’t care about money, but we’re deeply convinced that the price of a bike should always be commensurate with its performance. That’s why we don’t calculate value for money based on the spec list of a bike or the amount of bling you get for your dosh. We’re more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail, and how it benefits the rider. What’s the point in rocking the hottest components available on the market if the bike rides like a milk carton? Even pricey bikes with lower-end specs can offer good value for money, provided they deliver where it really matters, in the same way that supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail. What really counts is the interaction of all elements, from the suspension through the geometry all the way to the spec. And that’s exactly why the huge price gap of over € 8,000 in this group test is actually irrelevant. On the contrary, it will help you understand what’s important to you, and what you actually need!

Analogue trail bike or Light eMTB?

Sometimes, the differences between analogue trail bikes and light e-mountainbikes only become evident upon closer inspection. This is mainly down to the fact that compact motor systems, like the Mondraker’s TQ-HPR50 and the Specialized SL 1.2 drive of the Levo SL, allow for a discreet, seamless integration into the bike’s bottom bracket area. The Bosch SX motor of the NICOLAI and the FAZUA Ride 60 in the Santa Cruz, on the other hand, are slightly bulkier, but also deliver more oomph, ensuring a more distinctive shuttle feeling. In other words, they support you more eagerly than their two compact opponents on your way back to the trailhead. Given that the motor system has a massive influence on the bike’s character and handling, you should get familiar with the different concepts before committing to one system in particular, and know exactly what you want from your new light e-mountainbike. Long shuttle laps or a natural ride feeling? A removable battery you can complement with a range extenders, or software that tells you how much time you spent in the air? Anything is possible, you just have to pick your weapon of choice. You might find it helpful to read this in-depth motor comparison test on our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE, where we pitted the four motor systems against each other.

Overall, our latest 2024 trail bike group test has clearly shown that light e-mountainbikes can deliver just as impressive a trail performance as their analogue counterparts, offering similar handling characteristics and a comparable level of agility – and in some cases have even more pop and agility than their non-electric rivals! It’s not the weight, but rather the geometry and rear suspension kinematics of a bike that define its liveliness and manoeuvrability, allowing you to transfer your energy into the trail without the suspension absorbing it like a sandbag. And you know what is the best thing about a light eMTB? Less power uses less energy, so you don’t have to worry about the range when using a smaller battery!

Which is the best trail bike of 2024? Winners, losers and other recommendations.

Not only did our 2024 trail bike group test expose many weaknesses and some half-baked solutions, but also demonstrated that trail bikes are indeed undergoing a process of permanent evolution, with features once highly polarising becoming standard over the years. Furthermore, lots has changed as regards to safety and trail performance, both up- and downhill. It’s also incredibly cool that one of the cheapest bikes in the test secured not only the coveted Best Buy tip but also the test victory, proving that there are still top bikes for less money out there! By the time we packed up our shit and left Tuscany, we also had some other exciting recommendations, because the test field was packed with awesome bikes! Here’s a clear overview of the test field and the individual characters of the bikes.

The remaining test field in our 2024 trail bike group test

Although only a few bikes rolled out of our big 2024 trail group test with a champagne bottle and a medal on their stem, most participants passed the tests with flying colours, impressing our test crew with countless cool features and unique characters.

The CUBE ONE55 C:62 SLT 29 might look promising at first, but turns out to be a bit of a sheep in wolf’s clothing. On paper, you get a top-tier spec and some interesting frame features at a very attractive price. Upon closer inspection, however, it has some major flaws in the spec and fails to impress on the trail. The high front end conveys huge amounts of confidence, but the handling is somehow simultaneously sluggish yet nervous, which has a real impact on the bike’s trail performance.

As the most expensive analogue bike in this test, the MERIDA ONE-FORTY 10K convinces with a good frame platform and several clever features, like the tool strap and long-travel dropper post, which can be inserted all the way into the frame across all sizes. On the trail, the MERIDA delivers a smooth performance, but feels a little sluggish, which spoils the fun factor quite significantly. The suspension lacks a little sensitivity, but shines with tons of support, allowing it to pick up speed on flowing trails.

The Mondraker Neat RR SL is a potent ebike for the everyday gnar. If you pick your lines carefully, you’re guaranteed to be the fastest rider on your local mountain. One thing’s for sure: with its agile character, the Mondraker fits perfectly into our trail bike group test, despite having a motor, rewarding experienced riders with tons of feedback and fun.

With the Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV , the Californian manufacturer has made a successful debut in the light eMTB segment, delivering a mean fun machine that can easily keep up with its analogue competitors. The intuitive handling makes it suitable for both beginners and experienced riders alike. The motor doesn’t affect the bike’s riding performance with its additional weight, but encourages you to squeeze in one more lap. Although it wasn’t able to secure victory in this comparison test, it’s right up there with the most fun bikes on test.

Despite generating the least rear travel on test, the SCOR 2030 X01 really drops the hammer downhill, leaving some of its long-travel competitors behind in a cloud of dust. A few spec upgrades would improve its performance even more! However, the SCOR shows its strengths above all on easy flow trails, where it transforms the mountain into a playground, as well as uphill, where you’ll fly to the trailhead with great agility and efficiency.

With its seamless integration and enclosed shock design, the SCOTT Genius ST 900 Tuned is by far the tidiest looking competitor in our 2024 trail bike comparison test. The TracLoc system and low system weight also makes it the best climber amongst the analogue competitors. Downhill, however, it requires an experienced rider who can handle the direct feedback and firm suspension, as well as the additional fatigue resulting from the unfiltered vibrations.

By contrast, the Trek Fuel EX 9.9 X0 AXS T-Type is discreetly understated, both visually and on the trail. However, behind the inconspicuous look hide countless geometry and kinematics adjustments, as well as smart features like the integrated multi-tool and storage compartment – all wrapped up in a high-quality finish. On the trail, the Trek’s intuitive handling and excellent feel-good factor straight out of the box make it suitable for all types of riders. The Trek handles anything you can throw at, without excelling particularly at one thing.

The best trail bike of 2024: YT JEFFSY CORE 5 CF

At the time of this comparison test, the YT JEFFSY CORE 5 CF hadn’t been officially released yet. As the further development of a well-proven platform, the latest descendant of the JEFFSY dynasty comes with plenty of useful features, like the integrated storage compartment. Retailing at € 5,999, it’s the most affordable bike in the group test and yet features a top-tier spec that perfectly matches the bike’s potential – we struggled to find many things we would want to improve. On the trail, the YT slaps a massive grin on your face and makes you feel at ease from the get-go, striking an excellent balance between agility and composure: whether you want to plough your way through rock gardens at Mach 10 or flick the rear end from one berm into the next with a loud braaap, the JEFFSY is up for it! No trail bike in this comparison test combines supposed opposites like agility and composure as harmoniously as the JEFFSY – and the price/spec ratio is second to none! As a result, the YT JEFFSY CORE 5 secures not only our coveted Best Buy badge but also the test victory. A double award is very rare for us – YT has succeeded with the JEFFSY. Chapeau!

The bitter lemons in our 2024 trail bike comparison test

Although we don’t particularly enjoy picking losers in a comparison test, it’s important to us to be as honest as possible when it comes to helping you out with your next purchase decision. Unfortunately, this also includes advising you against some bikes if necessary. Nothing is more frustrating than spending your hard-earned money on a bike that delivers far less than it promises, especially if there are bikes that offer significantly more for the same or even a lower price.

While its name suggests an authentic party animal, the GHOST Riot Trail Full Party hides in the kitchen when the music gets loud. The spec might look promising on paper but some of the components suggest a level of performance they can’t deliver. On the trail, the plush suspension generates good traction but offers little support, absorbing the rider’s input like a sandbag. In addition, the RIOT Trail is neither agile nor composed. One positive aspect is the intuitive handling, which makes it a good choice for beginners who won’t push it too far beyond its comfort zone.

Unconventional looks meet an unconventional riding experience! The NICOLAI SATURN 14 Swift HRZ 2023 is exotic in all respects, in terms of handling, manufacturing process and aesthetics. The combination of finely machined parts, alloy tubes and coarse weld seams sets it apart from the crowd. However, the riding behaviour is rather exceptional too, requiring a great deal of effort to get used to the peculiar handling. This costs the SATURN precious points and pushes it right back to the bottom of the test field.

More exciting trail bike recommendations from our 2024 group test

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL emerges as the best light e-mountainbike in our 2024 trail bike group test, and only misses out on the Best in Test title by a hair’s breadth. The Levo SL is the perfect choice for riders who can’t do without motor assistance, but also want balanced, smooth-performing suspension – by far the most impressive in this test! Specialized rely on their extraordinary ebike know-how to deliver a belter of a bike with a top tier spec and some clever detail solutions that burst with confidence – and rightly so, because it’s amongst the best performing bikes in the entire test field.

The Cannondale Habit LT 1 takes on whatever you throw at it. The price-friendly spec is cleverly chosen and perfectly matches the bike’s potential and range of applications – save for a few minor upgrades. The Habit LT 1 delivers an excellent performance on the trail, impressing above all with its well-tuned rear suspension. The intuitive handling strikes a good balance between composure and agility, ensuring lots of fun on the trail without reaching its limits on demanding trails.

While the Santa Cruz Hightower X0 AXS RSV 2023 might not look spectacular on paper, it comes with a few clever, well-implemented features, like the Glovebox storage compartment in the down tube. On the trail, the Hightower is a strong all-rounder and a real joy to ride, and significantly more capable than many of the other trail bikes in this test. It might not be the ideal bike to get rowdy, but makes up for this with very agile, fun handling, ranking alongside the best bikes in this group test.

The YETI SB140 LR T3 X0 proved an excellent trail bike all-rounder that lives up to its “one bike for everything” claim. Despite the lack of a storage compartment and tool mount, it features many functional, well thought-out frame details. The SB140 LR delivers an impressive performance on the trail and only misses out on the test victory by a hair’s breadth. Simply put, it’s a mean cornering machine with ridiculously good suspension, regardless of the type of trail.

The Orbea Occam LT M10 is built around a clever, versatile frame platform that allows you to customise the spec and look of your bike using Orbea’s extensive MyO configurator. With its comfortable pedalling position and pedal-neutral suspension, the Occam is an excellent climber and, as soon as you point its nose into the valley, it delivers the finest downhill performance in the entire test field, impressing with predictable, confidence-inspiring handling – though this comes at the expense of agility. Overall, the Occam is an outstanding trail bike with its foot in the enduro door, and the optimal choice if you’re looking for a versatile trail rocket.

You will find the biggest surprises and most important findings from our 2022 trail bike test as well as an outlook on the future of trail bikes in this separate article.

Are trail bikes not capable enough for you, or are you looking for a more relaxed bike for moderate trails?

Then you should take a look at our other recent comparison tests:

• The best enduro bike
• The best downcountry bike
• The best light e-mountainbike
• The best bike park bike
• North America’s Finest Bikes

Some bikes and accessories are true designer pieces and too beautiful to be left in the cellar. That’s why you should take a look at the article on bikes in the home in our sister magazine DOWNTOWN. We show you how you can beautifully display your favorite bike/accessory in your home.

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 & Photos: Peter Walker

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About the author.

Peter Walker

As editor-in-chief, Peter is as much a man of action as he is of words. This expert, screw-driver-flexing two wheeled-whizz has many envy-inducing characteristics, including a background in motocross, several EWS race plates to his name, and more than 150 recorded days at Whistler Bike Park. However complex the bike and however steep the trail, he’s probably already nailed it, twice. Oh, and he can do it all on skinny tyres too. When it comes to guiding consumers, Peter cut his teeth at Vancouver’s oldest bike shop and now puts pen to paper on the daily translating this know-how into our editorial plan. When not tearing up Stuttgart’s local trails while testing bikes, he loves nothing more than loading up his self-renovated VW T5 and hitting the road. The fact that he’s a trained paramedic gives his colleagues reassurance out on the trails. So far we haven’t had to call him by his alias ‘Sani Peter’, so here’s hoping he keeps it right side up for the rest of his time here!

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Short or Long Travel: Which Is the Best All-Around Mountain Bike?

How much slower does a modern long-travel bike climb? And what are the differences downhill?

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

If you want one bike to do everything, how much travel should it have? All bikes have to find a compromise between climbing and descending performance, and suspension travel is usually seen as a good indicator of where a bike sits on that spectrum.

But recently, short-travel trail bikes are a lot more capable, while long-travel bikes are much better at climbing. So how much slower is a modern long-travel bike uphill? And what are the differences downhill?

Caught up in all this is the question of tire choice. How much of the difference in climbing speed between an enduro bike and a trail bike comes down to the tires? Can fast-rolling tires close the gap? And can sticky tires make a short-travel bike descend as well as a long-travel one? Let’s find out.

Nukeproof Reactor

• 130 / 150 mm travel • Weight as tested: 14.4 Kg / 31.7 lbs (“trail” tires, 200 mm rotors) • Size tested: XL • Price: $7,062

Nukeproof Giga

• 170 / 180 mm travel • Weight as tested: 15.2 Kg / 33.5 lbs (“trail” tires, air shock) • Size tested: XXL • Price: $7,415

To make things as comparable as possible, I got hold of a Nukeprof Reactor RS and a Nukeproof Giga RS. The Reactor has 130 millimeters of rear travel and 150 millimeters up front, while Giga serves up 170 millimeters (rear) and 180 millimeters (front). These models have identical brakes, drivetrains, and cockpits. With the same wheels and tires fitted, only the frame and fork are different. Both use full-carbon frames and RockShox Ultimate-level suspension. The Reactor has a Lyrik fork to the Giga’s Zeb, but the difference in chassis diameter is appropriate to the travel offered in each case.

Although the photos used here were taken with a coil shock fitted to the Giga, the testing was carried out with a RockShox Super Deluxe air shock to match the shock on the Reactor. I upgraded the rear rotor size on the Reactor to 200 millimeters so both bikes could accept the same wheels for comparative testing.

I set both bikes up with 30 percent shock sag and suspension settings as I would normally have them.

For the most part, I used the wheels that came stock on the Reactor for both bikes to remove the variable of tire choice. These tires were a Maxxis Dissector, EXO+ casing, MaxTerrra compound (rear) with a Maxxis Assegai, EXO casing, MaxxTerra compound (front). For brevity, I’ll call these the “trail” tires from now on. Fitting these tires and the air shock to the Giga dropped its weight to a respectable 15.2 kilograms – only 800 grams (1.8 pounds) more than the Reactor with the same wheels.

I also tested with a stickier pair of tires (fitted to another alloy wheelset for easier wheel swaps). These were a Maxxis Assegai in DoubleDown casing, MaxxGrip compound on the rear, with a Schwalbe Magic Mary, SuperGravity casing, Soft compound, on the front. We’ll call these the “enduro” tires. These wheels/tires weighed 600 grams more than the trail wheels/tires.

For the climbing test, I used a pair of SRM power meter pedals to control my effort, which I kept at a steady 250 watts. I rode both bikes up the same gentle and smooth fire road climb. I used a short climb so I could do five laps on each bike in quick succession and take an average. If I only did one or two longer climbs on each bike, there would be no way of knowing if any difference in times was down to the bike or just a fluke.

I did this first with the trail tires at my usual riding pressures (23 and 26 psi) then I re-tested the Reactor with the enduro tires. Here are the times:

As you might expect, the Giga was slower on average than the Reactor, but the average time was only 0.8 percent slower. Because the Reactor wasn’t consistently quicker, and the average difference between the bikes was so small, we can’t be sure from these numbers if the difference between the bikes is real or just a fluke. In science terms, the difference wasn’t statistically significant.

But even if we take the 0.8 percent difference at face value, that’s about what we’d expect from the weight difference between the two bikes alone, suggesting the travel per se (i.e. the pedaling efficiency) wasn’t having any effect.

In contrast, with the enduro tires fitted, the Reactor went 4.1 percent slower, or 3.4 percent slower than the Giga with the trail tires. In both cases, these are statistically significant differences, because the Reactor with Enduro tires was consistently slowest. To give that some context, over a half-hour climb, the enduro tires would add about one minute and fourteen seconds to the Reactor’s time. Or to go at the same pace, you’d need to produce about 260 watts instead of 250 watts; if you’re already working hard, that could be very noticeable.

The added weight of the heavier tires would only be expected to slow things down by at most 0.6 percent, so most of that difference is down to rolling resistance. This added drag will make covering ground slower on the flat and even downhills too (so long as traction and braking aren’t what’s limiting speed).

Subjectively, you can feel a little pedal bob from either bike, but there isn’t dramatically more with the Giga. The position is quite different due to the Reactor’s lower stack height and slacker seat tube angle (74.5 degrees vs. 78 degrees); this stretches out the spine which feels much less comfortable to me, especially on long climbs. Doing timed testing over technical climbs is virtually impossible because the time can vary so much from one run to the next depending on line choice, technique and luck, but when riding over bumpy terrain the Giga is noticeably smoother. The softer suspension obviously helps here but having your weight further in front of the rear axle also reduces how much your weight lifts when the rear wheel moves over a bump. Though I can’t put a number on it, I much preferred the Giga for technical climbs.

To see how they compare for descending, I chose a short local trail I know well with a good mix of roots, rocks, steep twisty sections and flat fast sections. It’s not the most technical trail in the world and it’s definitely not the roughest, but on the day of testing (which was a couple of days before taking these photographs), it was wet and slippery, making it a good challenge. To level the playing field and keep things simple, I stuck with the trail tires on the Giga and the enduro tires on the Reactor.

The Giga went first, and despite doing two laps to get up to speed on the course before getting the timer out, I shaved 2-3 seconds off my time from one run to the next. This is always a problem with timed testing. My first time on the Reactor (my fourth timed run of the day) matched the first run on the Giga. It improved from there but levelled out at one minute and sixteen seconds.

I did one more run on the Reactor with the trail tires and matched my fastest times, suggesting the stickier tires weren’t much of an advantage on this course anyway. I’m sure that on a more treacherous course—or in the hands of a rider who is better at finding the limit of grip—the enduro tires would become a significant advantage.

Subjectively, the enduro tires felt much more damped and surefooted and I was locking up less on the steep sections, but this didn’t seem to translate into more speed for me. Even with the sticky tires on the Reactor, the Giga felt much smoother, calmer, and more stable. The higher bar and slacker head angle combined with suspension that feels more settled “in the travel” makes going faster feel more within my comfort zone. I also felt like there was more time left on the table with the Giga, whereas the last two runs on the Reactor would be hard for me to improve on.

Because there are so many variables at play when descending, I wouldn’t read much into the times themselves. But they reveal that, although I felt closer to the edge on the Reactor, I was in fact going slower.

Closing Thoughts

The biggest takeaway for me is just how much difference tire choice makes for climbing speed. Sure, the enduro tires I tested are pretty draggy, but they’re not DH tires or mud spikes, and the trail tires (with an Assegai up front) are far from the fastest you can get. In fact, they held their own even on slippery descents.

I’m sure plenty of people don’t care about going slightly faster or feeling more comfortable on steep descents; in fact, I often hear people say they find it more fun to have a sketchier ride at slower speeds. But if that’s the case, why not fit slicker tires which will offer a real boost in climbing speed as a bonus? You could always use the lockout or run 10 percent sag if you want your enduro bike to feel sketchier! Personally, I have more fun on a long travel bike as it gives me the confidence to try new lines or ride them with more commitment.

The other surprise was that the Giga was barely slower uphill than the Reactor with the same tires, and if you want to close the efficiency gap even more you could always use the lockout.

One caveat here is that a power meter may not be the best way to measure and control effort in an efficiency test when comparing suspension efficiency. I discuss this with Mike Levy in this episode of the Pinkbike Podcast , but the bottom line is that I think the power meter method is valid for measuring efficiency when pedalling sitting down (as in this test), but it doesn’t work for out-of-the-saddle sprinting, and that’s where the extra travel is more likely to be a disadvantage.

It’s also fair to say the Reactor isn’t the fastest-climbing short-travel bike out there. But the Giga probably isn’t the most efficient among 170 millimeter+ bikes either. It’s based on a downhill bike and it’s designed to be even more gravity-focussed than Nukeproof’s Mega enduro bike. More to the point, it doesn’t have a huge amount of anti-squat , and higher anti-squat levels would probably make it climb even better. In one of Levy’s efficiency tests , the 170 millimeter-travel Santa Cruz Nomad (which has quite a lot of anti-squat) was faster than the 130 millimeter Ibis Mojo (despite having slower tires), suggesting a long-travel bike with generous anti-squat can be as just as efficient as a shorter travel one.

The bottom line is that ample suspension travel needn’t be a hindrance uphill, but grippy tires will slow you down a lot. So if you want one bike to do everything, it might make sense to pick a long-travel bike with a spare set of fast-rolling tires for mellower rides.

This article first appeared on our sister site, Pinkbike .

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The Best Mountain Bike Brands (And The Ones You Should Avoid)

Picking out the perfect mountain bike can make a big difference in your experience on the trail, whether cruising through local trails or dropping into big backcountry terrain. For dedicated mountain bikers, your bike is not just a piece of equipment. It's your ticket to adventure, exploration, and, most importantly, safety.

Mountain bikers make up a dedicated community of enthusiasts who take their rides, gear, and experiences seriously. Therefore, it's only logical that mountain bike brands should share this passion and commitment to excellence for their community. Today, we're looking at what makes a mountain bike brand truly stand out, exploring what features to look for in a great bike brand as well as the ones that typically fall short in the demanding world of mountain biking.

Whether you're a pro looking for advice or a complete newcomer thirsting for those first trails, this is a great place to start learning about the best mountain bike brands (and the ones you should avoid) to arm you with the knowledge to find the perfect bike brand for your individual needs. Get ready to gear up and confidently head out into the great outdoors.

Best: Specialized

Specialized is a major player in the high-end bicycle market and has well deserved its position as a perennial favorite among amateurs and professionals alike. Since 1974, Specialized has been forging a unique path as an innovator for cyclists, by cyclists. The sport of mountain biking as we know and love it today was still in its infancy during the 1970s, but vision and a love for cycling drove Specialized to introduce the first production mountain bike with the Stumpjumper in 1981.

The brand's passion for pushing the envelope has not abated in the intervening decades, and today, the range includes everything from cross-country (XC) hardtails to long-travel, full-suspension downhill racers and from entry-level options through to elite-level, competition-ready machines that bear the S-Works mark. Even the Stumpjumper has not escaped the Specialized stable.

The latest iteration of this time-honored machine improves upon generations of geometry-tweaking to give riders stability and control while ripping aggressive trails in any condition. New technology has not evaded the Specialized team either, with new e-bike offerings incorporating proprietary e-drive motors tuned to match the riding style of the bike they are mounted in.

It's safe to say that innovation and development will be a staple of Specialized for years to come.

Trek had remarkably humble beginnings for such a major force in the bicycle world. In the mid-1970s, the Trek bicycle company was formed over a few drinks in a quiet Wisconsin bar, and it has gone from strength to strength ever since.

As the sport of mountain biking matured following its introduction into the Olympics in 1996 at Atlanta, Trek grew and developed its off-road offerings. This culminated with the establishment of the 'C3 Project' and the 'Trek Factory Racing Team' in the 2010s. Through close access to high-end racing and a wise investment in research and development, Trek has built a comprehensive mountain bike catalog with everything to suit first-time novices up to seasoned professionals.

A notable example of this innovation and design is the Fuel EX, a dual-suspension, singletrack legend. The latest version has been updated and improved in almost every way, from longer suspension travel to extended frame geometry. The incremental evolution in frame design makes the sixth-generation Fuel EX more stable at speed without compromising agility and rider control. Trek even managed to fit a hidden storage compartment in the down tube.

Bold new bike tech has not escaped the off-roading range either. The company has incorporated the latest e-drive motors into its offerings, from speed-focused hardtails to long-travel trail bikes. Trek looks set to continue its quest to push the limits of the mountain bike world for years to come.

It sounds a bit like an April Fools' joke, but from its humble beginnings on April 1, 1981, Ibis evolved into a legitimate name in the mountain bike world.

Founder Scot Nicol initially got to work learning the frame-building craft alongside the pioneers of the mountain biking movement. This technical apprenticeship, combined with a deep passion for ripping mountain trails, has created a trusted and respected brand for mountain bikers, by mountain bikers.

As you might expect from a smaller manufacturer, the Ibis mountain bike catalog is concentrated into only a handful of models, but this modest lineup packs a mighty punch. The range covers its bases well with offerings for gravel riders through to enduro racers and down-hill e-bikes built for rough terrain .

The Ibis Rimpo V2S has garnered praise from the mountain bike community and is perhaps the best example of the company's dedication to quality and design. The V2S is the latest iteration of this famed trail bike and exemplifies Ibis' commitment to continued design development. Thanks to a steep seat-tube angle and relaxed steering geometry, the Rimpo has been made more stable while ripping and improves comfort and control when ascending.

Although a much larger operation than in its early years, Ibis today remains as committed as ever to developing the next generation of machines for serious mountain bikers.

Best: Revel

Headquartered in Carbondale, Colorado, Revel is a unique newcomer that is making waves in the mountain bike world. From its community-focused mindset to its group of hardcore riders and bike creators, Revel is an innovative company with bikes to match.

And how could they not innovate? The company's location was chosen to provide the Revel team of climbers, skiers, and mountain bikers with a convenient backyard. To make the most of this epic playground, Revel is dedicated to "engineer and build the absolute best bikes in the world."

This passion and drive are most clearly on display in the new Rascal, a do-it-all beast packing the latest tech. The proprietary CBF (which stands for Canfield Balanced Formula, we'll have you know) focuses the peddle forces around the top of the chainring. This maximizes pedaling efficiency and provides for playful suspension travel. This, combined with a shorter wheelbase for precise handling, has caused a stir in the mountain bike world.

Revel has also partnered with engineers to develop Fusion-Fiber which promises to be stronger and lighter than conventional carbon fiber as well as reduce its environmental impact. With such a drive for mountain bike innovation and so many gnarly trails to test their creations, we expect Revel to further its impact in the years to come.

Best: Santa Cruz/Juliana

Founded in 1993 in a small garage in Santa Cruz, California, the brand quickly made a name for itself in mountain biking. From the start, Santa Cruz sought to upset the norms with bikes that were stronger, more agile, more responsive, and meet the real needs of riders across different terrains.

Santa Cruz's journey of product evolution is highlighted by its diverse range of high-performance bikes, including the iconic V10 and the versatile Bronson. With the introduction of Juliana, a line dedicated solely to women cyclists, the company has shown its dedication to inclusion. These bikes are all engineered specifically for women's ergonomics but with the same high-quality materials and advanced features as the rest of the Santa Cruz lineup.

Santa Cruz is a leader in mountain bike technology, having developed the Virtual Pivot Point (VPP) suspension. This delivers new, unparalleled shock absorption and smoother handling than ever before, allowing a rider to take control of rough descents or aggressive hills easily. At the same time, carbon fiber is integrated into any of their frame designs so that every bike can achieve optimal strength, stiffness, and lightness.

The company invests heavily in research and development, with ongoing projects focusing on enhancing material science and propulsion techniques to offer even lighter, faster, and more environmentally friendly bikes. As mountain biking evolves, Santa Cruz is poised not just to react, but to lead, promising exciting advancements that will redefine the industry.

Best: Giant/Liv

Anyone in the bicycle world will be familiar with Giant. The behemoth from Taiwan has been producing these much-loved machines since 1972 and has been pushing the limits of carbon fiber bicycle production since 1987.

As a cutting-edge developer, it sponsored major road cycling teams and moved into the mountain bike sphere in 1995. In 2008, Giant formed the Liv brand, a dedicated women-focused bike label that is run by women, for women. Giant and Liv's catalogs have always been vast, covering everything from your first 12-inch peddler found under the Christmas tree to your competition-ready race bike in any category.

With such a long history of innovation and quality production, it's no wonder that Giant and Liv are such power-houses in the mountain bike game. The Liv Intrigue X puts Liv's development strength on full display. The use of lightweight construction without compromising strength or geometry is coupled with an impressive SyncDrive motor to make for a tech-filled trail rider.

The Giant label has an equally impressive offering in the Trance X. This trail bike uses a progressive suspension system paired with industry-leading RockShox units to give 135-millimeter rear travel and 150 millimeters at the front without conceding control or peddling efficiency. With such a customer-focused design ethos, the next generations of Giant and Liv bikes promise exciting innovation.

Born from a deep love of nature and mountain biking, Kona was founded in 1988 with one guiding principle: build bikes that could withstand the demanding and diverse terrains of the Pacific Northwest. From the beginning, Kona was about building a bike culture that put the rider first.

Kona's passion for mountain biking continued beyond just making innovative bikes. Its range of bikes is impressive, known particularly for its multi-award-winning hardtail bikes. From the classic Cinder Cone to the modern-day Process series, Kona's lineup has blossomed to encompass each model developed expressly with rider feedback and riding conditions in mind.

The Kona Process (in its many iterations) is possibly the best example of how innovation and understanding of riders' needs come together perfectly in Kona's lineup. The X-CR designation is noted for its high-speed-focused geometry that allows for a forgiving ride while also being lively and easy to control. Also included in this range is the Process X-DH which offers high-level downhill racing control and feel but is paired with components that allow it to sit at a more amateur price point.

Kona still focuses on the ultimate high-end bikes and maintains the Kona Factory Team, which races top-level competitions that push the company's Kona machines to the limit.

Yeti has become synonymous with mountain biking and is the brand of choice for those who want a sturdy, precise ride. It particularly appeals to serious mountain bike enthusiasts and professional racers.

Yeti hit the mountain bike scene in 1985, producing custom machines for the still-fledgling mountain bike race scene. This close relationship with mountain biking did not only consist of bike building; they also formed an impressive race team. This link between the race world and design development has culminated in the current lineup of eight performance-focused bikes to suit different riding styles and terrain demands. 

The SB120 is Yeti's answer for people who want a bike that can do it all. This new model was released in 2022 and shows off the brand's innovative features and attention to detail. The travel numbers are combined with a diverse parts offering from component partner SRAM. Adding to the SB120's high-quality build is Yeti's proprietary suspension system.

Yeti developed the innovative Switch Infinity suspension system designed to optimize riding stability and shock absorption over diverse terrains. This system is an example of Yeti's technical excellence and rider-centric design. Yeti also continues to refine its bikes' frame geometry while integrating high-quality materials to achieve an optimal balance of lightweight strength and performance.

Bike Brands to Avoid

When it comes to mountain biking, there's an entire world out there that's all its own, where performance and durability are the name of the game. However, a few brands focus on the mass market, which is more suited for the casual biker. Here's a rundown of several brands that might not meet the expectations of more serious riders.

Originally big in the BMX scene, Mongoose has expanded into mountain biking. While they maintain a nostalgic appeal, many of their models now populate department store aisles, designed with cost rather than performance in mind.

A historically solid brand, Schwinn now makes bicycles with highly variable quality. The company sells some high-quality models good for serious mountain biking, but also sells through department stores, which tend to feature their budget lines — no-frills machines lacking durability or performance features for serious mountain biking.

Next bikes are among the cheapest, mostly found in department stores. These bikes are meant for occasional leisure riding and likely can't withstand the tough conditions imposed on mountain bikes. The costs are cheap at the expense of quality and poor performance, which are most important in extreme mountain biking.

For serious mountain bikers, choosing the right bike is everything. You need a brand that can withstand the sport's challenges and keep you safe while you tackle the trails. It's one of the most important decisions you'll make.

How did we choose these brands?

With so many bike brands on offer and so many individual bicycle options to choose from, it's important to consider a few key points when deciding which ones stand out and which are less than inspiring.

When formulating our list, we considered many important factors to reach a consensus. We looked for brands with a passion for innovation that push the boundaries of what's possible in mountain biking because they drive our sport forward.

Likewise, we looked for brands with a versatile catalog that showed an understanding of the market and the demands of riders. Importantly we took into account the feedback of customers as well as brand reputation, after all, who knows the bikes better than those who go out and ride them every day?

A brand's history and legacy can influence its expertise in making the best mountain bikes on the market. Each brand's journey and involvement in the community were also taken into account in our selection. While not the primary focus, we also considered the price range and accessibility of these bikes.

When choosing a mountain bike, it's essential to consider your specific needs, budget, and the type of riding you plan to do. Visiting local bike shops, testing different models, and doing thorough research will help you find the best mountain bike for your adventures.

MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 700 REVIEW

Words by Robert Johnston   |  Photos by Adam Lievesley

Merida have been manufacturing bikes in their Taiwanese factory since 1972. While making bikes for many other companies, they’ve also been making bikes under their own name since 1988. These days, they’ve got an extensive range of bikes from commuter and road machines through to mountain bikes and eMTBs. We were very excited to finally welcome one of their full suspension mountain bikes in for testing, in the form of their ONE-SIXTY Enduro mtb. It was worth the wait to get on board Merida’s Enduro mountain bike, let me tell you why.

QUICK SPECS

• 162mm Linkage Driven Single Pivot Suspension With Flex Stay • Dual 29” or Mixed 29”F/27.5”R • HTA 64 • STA 79 (effective) • REACH 498 (Long)

COMPLETE BUILD SPEC

CHASSIS Frame: PROLITE 66 Triple Butted w/P-Flex | 162mm/171mm Fork: Marzocchi Z1 Grip | 170mm Shock: Fox Float X Performance | 230x65mm

COCKPIT Brakes: Shimano SLX M7120, 200F/R RT64 rotors Handlebar: Merida Team TR 35mm | 780mm| 18mm Rise Stem: Merida Expert eTRII 35mm | 40mm Length Headset: Merida 8158 w/Cable Routing Seatpost: Merida Team TR 30mm-230mm travel Saddle: Merida Expert SL

WHEELS Hubs: Shimano SLX Rims: Merida Expert TR 29mm Front Tire: Maxxis Assegai Maxx Grip DD | 29″ x 2.5″ Rear Tire: Maxxis DHR II Maxx Terra DD | 27.5” / 29” x 2.4”

DRIVETRAIN Bottom Bracket: Race Face BSA Cassette: Shimano Deore M6100 | 12spd | 10-51T Cranks: Race Face Aeffect 170mm | 32T Shifter: Shimano XT | 12spd Derailleur: Shimano SLX M7100 | 12spd

Excellent Attention To Detail

Solid All Round Enduro Performance

Killer Value

WE DON’T

Heavy, but not excessively

There are more capable bikes

ABOUT THE MERIDA ONE-SIXTY 700

The ONE-SIXTY is Merida’s enduro machine, designed to attack the hardest hitting enduro descents while still providing a comfortable machine to climb back up on. It has a 29” front wheel and 170mm fork as standard on all sizes. The rear can be fitted with either a 27.5” wheel with 171mm rear travel, or a 29” wheel and 162mm travel, thanks to the geometry-preserving flip chip.

FRAME AND FEATURES | Merida has put a huge amount of well-considered details into their ONE-SIXTY. The frame is available in either carbon fiber or alloy (as tested) depending on the spec level selected. The aluminum frame is manufactured from Merida’s PROLITE 66, Triple-Butted alloy tubing. The welds are passed over twice to produce smooth junctions, improving looks and fatigue life. Both frame materials use a flexstay suspension design, with a section of the Seat Stays designed to flex in a controlled manner to eliminate a set of frame bearings. This shaves weight, reduces maintenance, and adds stiffness to the frame.

The feature-packed frame includes the Wire Port headset cable routing, designed to produce a cleaner looking and quieter cockpit. Gear, brake and dropper post cables pass through the frame almost entirely out of sight. There’s a bottle cage and a tool mount inside the front triangle; mechanic-friendly threaded Bottom Bracket; and integrated fender to protect the main pivot from being attacked by crud off the rear tire. There’s generous rubber downtube and chainstay protection to keep the ONE-SIXTY quiet and fend off damage. Under the saddle, Merida includes a multi tool for on-the-fly repairs.

SUSPENSION | The Merida ONE-SIXTY is given their “Fast Kinematic”, with size-specific progression rates to offer heavier riders more end-stroke support. In the 27.5” rear wheel setting, progression sits at roughly 17%, whereas the 29” setting boosts this to 21%. Anti Squat sits at around 110% at sag in the climbing gears and increases progressively to 125% in the hardest gears to offset the increased rider weight transfer. Anti Rise is around 95% at sag and falls slightly throughout the travel down to 80% at bottom out, giving good geometry preservation.

GEOMETRY | Merida offers the ONE-SIXTY in sizes extra-short to extra-long, with low standovers and long 230mm travel-adjustable dropper posts with full insertion allowing riders to choose frame size based on the reach alone. Sizes “Xshort” to “Mid” come with the mixed-wheel setup as standard with the increased travel and slightly shorter 434mm rear end, whereas “Long” and “Xlong” frames come as dual 29ers with a 437.5mm chainstay.

Standout figures are the slightly steeper than average 79° Effective Seat Tube Angle, and fairly long 498mm Reach for what is effectively Merida’s size Large. Of course, with their sizing system, you could opt to size down to the “Mid”, with a 470mm reach. Stack heights are low across the range, offering versatility but forcing riders looking for the best handling machine in steep and gnarly terrain to run a higher rise bar.

BUILD SPECS | Merida offers the ONE-SIXTY in a range of builds, from the entry level alloy-framed offering starting at £2,750, to high-spec carbon framed offerings up to £9,000. We tested the ONE-SIXTY 700 spec, with an alloy frame and very solid build kit that retails for £3,300.

The Merida ONE-SIXTY 700 spec is equipped with a Marzocchi Z1 fork and Fox Float X Performance shock combo, which isn’t ultra-tuneable but proved to work well. The drivetrain is a 12-speed mashup from Shimano; with XT, SLX and Deore components in there. The brakes are the SLX four-pots, with a pair of 203mm rotors to offer plentiful stopping power. The wheelset features Shimano hubs with Merida’s own alloy rims. These are wrapped in a Maxxis Assegai Double Down (EXO+ as tested) Maxx Grip and Minion DHR2 Double Down Maxx Terra tire combo that makes the bike ready to race out of the box. This build tipped in at 17.1kg/37.7lbs including the spare inner tube, set up tubeless.

SETUP | Getting the ONE-SIXTY set up proved to be relatively trouble-free, aside from the low rise stock handlebar and low Stack height leaving the front end too low for my preferences. A relatively inexpensive and easy switch of the bar for a higher rise unit left me feeling much more comfortable. Otherwise, it was a case of setting fork air pressure to the recommended psi and the rear shock to deliver 30% sag, and I was immediately feeling comfortable.

The sizing on the ONE-SIXTY leaves me in a tricky spot in terms of preferred reach. I was concerned about losing too much stability if I went for the “mid” with its mixed wheel setup and fairly short rear end. To avoid this, I opted to go for the long, with a longer reach than I’d typically choose. This turned out to be quite manageable since the head tube angle is not extremely slack and the rear end is still fairly short, but the more stretched out body position on the descents was notable.

CLIMBING | With a nicely upright seating position and plenty of pedaling support even when open, the ONE-SIXTY climbs very competently given its 17.1kg/37.7lbs weight. The easily reachable lockouts on both ends come in handy to add further efficiency on long and smooth climbs, but I didn’t typically reach for them as I was very comfortable spinning away with them open. The slightly longer reach than I’d typically go for was offset by the steeper than average Seat Tube Angle to leave me in a comfortable body position, with enough weight on the front wheel for all but the steepest climbs. Ground clearance was adequate too, so more tech portions of climb were no trickier than necessary. Overall, Merida has done a great job at making this burly enduro bike pedal acceptably well.

DESCENDING | On the way down the hill, the ONE-SIXTY is a very balanced machine in terms of its traits. The suspension is fairly plush and comfortable, yet offers plentiful support to work the terrain. Bottom out resistance is ample to support some fairly hard charging with the stock Float X spec, but some of the more aggressive riders or those looking for a pedal-friendly bikepark machine will be well served by adding further volume reducers.

The geometry is fairly stretched in terms of cockpit feel compared to what I’d usually run, but the moderate head tube angle and fairly compact rear end avoid it being overly sluggish. The stiffness of the overall package is middle-of-the-road too, and it makes for a very versatile bike. It’s not the most settled and stable bike when things get super rowdy, and there were a few instances where I overwhelmed the fork a touch. Overall though it hides its fairly high weight well, and offers reassuring confidence to push hard.

FINISH AND VALUE | The Merida ONE-SIXTY ran quietly for the majority of testing until a creak developed in the headset, but a quick pull apart to re-grease the contact surfaces fixed it without too much of a headache. The amount of attention to detail and features that Merida has managed to cram into this £3,300 bike is quite astonishing. The overall build spec and feeling of quality as a result make the value feel very reasonable, especially given it’s a bike with full dealer support and a five year warranty.

COMPONENT REPORT | Overall the part spec Merida selected was very solid, and left little to be desired at this price point. My build was supplied set up tubeless, whereas customers would receive their bike with tubes, so you should factor in the price of a tubeless conversion when buying to obtain the best performance.

Marzocchi Z1 Fork | This Marzocchi fork is a very solid performer, though suffered from a relatively noisy damper. It’s plush and well controlled for the most part, only becoming overwhelmed on some very gnarly sections of trail with repeated hits. The damper adjustments are effective and easy to tune on-the-go. The 36mm chassis is well proven, and although it doesn’t quite deliver the same precision as the stouter 38mm Fox/Marzocchi when pushing the limits, only a select few riders are likely to complain about the reduction in stiffness.

Merida Team TR Seatpost | With 30mm-230mm of adjustable travel, the Merida dropper post is a very interesting offering. We tested the older version with the rather bulky side-mounted adjuster unit, whereas bikes purchased will ship with an updated design featuring a sleeker collar. This dropper post performed flawlessly for us when tested at the full 230mm drop offering. We’ve heard reports of issues with the post sticking occasionally when adjusted to shorter drop lengths, but can’t comment on this.

Maxxis EXO+/Double Down Tires | Though they add reasonable weight to the bike, it’s great to see proper tire casings spec’d that are fit for abuse. Kudos to Merida on this one, it’s how it should be on an enduro bike.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Price: £3,300 (700) Website: Merida-bikes.com

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ACE OF ALL SURFACES

2024 KTM 690 ENDURO R

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Base Price: 12,999.00 USD*

• Engine & Exhaust
• Ergonomics & Comfort
• Software & Electronics

01. Engine & Exhaust

The engine combines powerful acceleration from the very lowest revs with an outstanding free-revving nature and refined engine running. Another big plus: It's extremely economical with fuel.

Cylinder Head

A lightweight, compact cylinder head contains four valves and a single camshaft placed over the intake valves, with a secondary balancer shaft driven by the timing chain. The intake valves are actuated by finger followers and the exhaust valves by a rocker arm.

Resonator Chamber

A resonator chamber balances out pulses in the intake tract and makes the throttle response smoother with reduced vibrations.

Balancer shaft

Twin balancer shafts, one in front of the crankshaft and the other in the cylinder head, reduce vibration for a smoother ride.

The lightweight and durable forged piston is designed to reduce reciprocating mass which improves engine response.

Plain bearings are used in the conrod to ensure a reduced reciprocating mass, which helps the engine run smoother and therefore enhances its lively character. 

PASC Clutch

The PASC (Power Assist Clutch) ensures the rider needs minimal input to operate it, due to reduced engine torque transferring to the clutch plates. The slipper clutch prevents rear wheel lock-up under aggressive downshifting, which reduces destabilizing rear wheel chatter on the tarmac when braking sharply or decelerating into turns.

The smooth 6-speed gearbox with Quickshifter+ allows quicker clutchless up and downshifts when you're in the thick of the action. This not only enables the rider to be in more control of the motorcycle by keeping a full grip of the handlebars, but also improves rear wheel traction.

Ride-by-wire

The KTM 690 ENDURO R is equipped with ride-by-wire system, which processes throttle twist grip movements with the help of electronic sensors and activates the throttle valves to control throttle action. This significantly improves the response, giving the rider better throttle control of the potent single-cylinder and a smoother ride.

Injection / Engine Management

Electronic fuel injection and engine management allow performance perfectly suited to the riding conditions. The result: even more and even better controlled power, lower fuel consumption, and less emissions, plus the benefit of features like MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control), MSR (Motor slip regulation), and Quickshifter+. The rider has the choice between two different mappings to influence the engine characteristics. A twin-plug ignition system controls two differently sized spark plugs in the cylinder head independently from each other, for more efficient combustion and a smoother, precisely controlled combustion sequence at all times.

Long service intervals

Besides its fuel efficiency the KTM 690 ENDURO R saves its owner even more money, thanks to long service intervals of 10,000 km.

Slipper clutch

Annoying rear wheel chatter? This is prevented by the slipper clutch that's fitted as standard.

The KTM 690 ENDURO R features a specifically developed exhaust system made from the highest-quality stainless steel, which is not only compact and optimized for offroad use, it is emissions compliant too.

Accessing the airfilter during a ride is easy thanks to the airbox being located under the seat. This makes servicing the bike simple, and stress free, when you're off the beaten track. 

02. Chassis

The trellis frame is manufactured from lightweight sections of top-quality chrome-molybdenum steel tubing of varying thicknesses. This type of balanced frame design provides high torsional rigidity for best handling and rideability, while a more specifically-tuned longitudinal flexibility can absorb the wheel impact energy, supporting the suspension for reduced rider fatigue.

The innovative use of the rear fuel tank as the main structural element of the subframe, keeps weight low and eliminates design complexity.

The swingarm design allows for an optimal mounting position of the rear shock ensuring a high progression rate. The single-component casting process eliminates any inconsistencies and weak points that would be inherent in a welded swingarm.

Frame and swingarm

Despite its thoroughbred offroad chassis, the KTM 690 ENDURO R also numbers among the curve-bandits on the road. Two major contributors to its excellent tracking stability are the lightweight tubular trellis frame made from chrome-molybdenum steel and the high-quality die-cast swingarm - both of them extremely torsion-resistant.

Triple clamp

Highly rigid forged triple clamps with an offset of 24 mm (adjustable to 22 mm), provide a solid grip on the forks for precise handling. They allow forwards and backwards adjustment of the handlebars in four different positions for optimum rider ergonomics.

Riding over rough terrain is made easier with the WP XPLOR 48 upside-down fork. The KTM 690 ENDURO R's split fork design was originally developed by WP and KTM for the EXC models. It is fitted with springs on both sides with separate damping functions - compression on the left and rebound on the right-hand side. They have no negative influence on each other. Therefore, damping can easily be adjusted via the dials on top of both fork tubes, with 30 clicks of adjustment each.

The WP XPLOR shock absorber is connected to the swingarm by a linkage. This ensures a progressive suspension character and a high resistance to bottoming out. Fully adjustable, including high and low-speed compression, you can set up the shock absorber to any circumstances and rider preference.

Wheels & tires

The KTM wheels use lightweight, CNC-machined hubs and high-end 21" and 18" rims to combine maximum strength with minimum weight. The rims are wrapped with Continental TKC 80 tires - offering excellent grip and great lifespan.

Sublime class-leading BREMBO brakes combined with lightweight wave discs -  300 mm diameter front and 240 mm on the rear wheel - to provide a crucial combination of stopping power and a consistent brake feel.

The large fuel tank has a capacity of 3.6 gal / 13.5 liters. It is also a load bearing part of the chassis, making it stiffer for optimal feeling and control.

Suspension components

By professionals for everyone: The KTM 690 ENDURO R's WP upside-down fork, with a whole 250 mm of suspension travel and 48 mm outer tubes, is adjustable in many ways and masters the balancing act between every day, road and offroad use with the greatest of ease. It is designed as a split fork with separate damping circuits (compression damping on the left fork tube, rebound damping on the right) that can be adjusted independently from each other. This means that they cannot interact as they do in conventional open bleed systems - thus guaranteeing even sportier, more purposeful and rider-optimized ride characteristics. The pivot-arm articulated WP pressurized-gas monoshock with 250 mm of travel even features high-speed and low-speed compression adjustment.

03. Ergonomics & Comfort

The lightweight tapered 808 mm wide handlebars are rubber mounted to reduce vibrations. Their width and shape are aimed at providing maximum control in all situations.

Sophisticated "No Dirt" foot pegs prevent jamming up of the pegs, even when digging your way through deep ruts or navigating wet terrain. Rubber inserts can be mounted for street use to help reduce any vibration that might be felt through the pegs on smooth roads.

The KTM 690 ENDURO R seat does three things. Firstly, it allows fluid rider motion when shredding offroad, thanks to its ergonomic shape and 910 mm seat height. Secondly, it provides good comfort when you need to cover the ground between trails. And lastly, it looks the part, thanks to an all-new durable and grippy orange seat cover.

04. Software & Electronics

Keeping true to its enduro roots, the KTM 690 ENDURO R sports a simple, but effective dashboard. Providing riders with essential information its slimline design keeps the view forward clear of any obstructions. After all, when you're blasting across challenging terrain, you don't want any distractions.

Electronic fuel injection, ride-by-wire and the engine management system (EMS) make it possible to offer innovative yet easy-to-use electronic rider aids. These features can be selected, deselected and utilized to put the potent new-generation LC4 motor to effective use in a much wider range of terrain types and conditions.

Two ride modes (1) Street mode (2) Offroad mode: "Street mode" for sporty throttle response where wheel slip and wheelies are kept to a minimum for optimal street performance. "Offroad mode", by contrast, produces smooth throttle response with Offroad Traction Control, which allows wheel slip and front wheel lifting without hindering performance. The modes are easily switched over from the handlebar, making adjustment to the character of the engine possible on the fly. Traction control can be disabled if needed.

Lean Angle Sensor

A lean-angle sensor keeps track of the angle of the bike and send information to the ECU and relevant control units, which use this data to adjust traction control and ABS actuation.

MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control)

The MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) lean-angle sensitive traction control system reacts immediately the instant the rear wheel rotation speed becomes disproportionate to the riding situation. In mere milliseconds MTC reduces engine output with an extremely smooth, barely perceptible intervention at the throttle valves, until slippage is reduced to optimum proportions for the selected ride mode and current angle of lean. For particularly ambitious riders, the traction control can also be switched off.

Quickshifter+

Quickshifter+ uses two sensors, where one sensor on the shift arm detects the movement on the shift lever rod when the rider upshifts and the system cuts the injection instantaneously. As soon as the second sensor detects the gear engagement it reapplies the injection and opens the butterfly valve, ensuring fast and smooth action at all throttle openings and engine speeds. When downshifting, the system matches the engine speed to the speed of the lower gear.

Cornering ABS

Keeping you cranked over in full confidence, Cornering ABS allows riders to use full braking power in all conditions, even at big lean angles. This is particularly useful when you have twisty tarmac between you and your offroad destination of choice. If you choose the optional Offroad ABS mode (dongle required), ABS is deactivated on the rear wheel, while only working on the front wheel, with cornering sensitivity disabled. Should you decide to go at it alone, ABS can be completely disabled for extreme scenarios without using an ABS dongle.

Offroad ABS

Optional Offroad ABS quite literally pulls out all the stops when riding in the dirt. When activated, ABS is reduced on the front wheel effective deceleration on loose surfaces, but completely disabled on the rear. This allows you to lock up the rear when navigating tight turns and gives you full control in tough terrain.

Quickshifter+

Technical Details

• Transmission 6-speed
• Cooling Liquid cooled
• Power in KW 55 kW
• Starter Electric starter
• Stroke 80 mm
• Bore 105 mm
• Clutch PASC (TM) slipper clutch, hydraulically actuated
• Compression ratio 12.7
• Displacement 692.7 cm³
• EMS Keihin EMS with RBW, twin ignition
• Design 1-cylinder, 4-stroke engine
• Fuel-mixture generation Keihin EFI (throttle body 50 mm)
• Lubrication Forced oil lubrication with 2 oil pumps
• Weight (without fuel) 148 kg
• Wheelbase 1506 mm
• ABS Bosch 9.1 MP (incl. Cornering-ABS and offroad mode, disengageable)
• Front brake disc diameter 300 mm
• Rear brake disc diameter 240 mm
• Chain 520 X-Ring
• Frame design Chrome-moly tubular space frame, powder-coated
• Front suspension WP XPLOR-USD, Ø 48 mm
• Handlebar Aluminium, tapered Ø 28/22 mm
• Rear suspension WP XPLOR with Pro-Lever linkage
• Silencer Stainless steel primary and secondary silencer
• Steering head angle 62.3 °
• Rear subframe design Self-supporting plastic tank
• Wheels Spoked wheels with aluminium rims

trek roscoe mountain bike for sale

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Trek Roscoe 6 - 2024

Roscoe 6 is the ideal gateway to mountain biking for new riders looking to have a fun time on the trail. It boosts confidence with a 140mm travel air-spring fork that soaks up bumps and roots, an easy-to-use 1x Shimano CUES drivetrain, and playful frame geometry that makes it easier to control your bike on technical trails and winding singletrack. It's right for you if... You know there are good times to be had on the trail, and you want to be part of them! You're looking for an easy entry to the sport of mountain biking on a bike that will keep you excited and motivated to get out there day after day. The tech you get A strong aluminum frame, fast-rolling 29er wheels with wide, grippy 2.6" tires, and an SR Suntour fork with 140mm of travel. It has a trail-tough Shimano CUES drivetrain with 9 speeds and a wide range of gears for climbing, hydraulic disc brakes, and a dropper post for extra room on rough trails. The final word Roscoe 6 is your new best friend on the trail. It's patient, playful, and confidence-inspiring. It's all about getting out there, having fun, and enjoying the great sport of trail riding! Why you'll love it - It's more fun to be a better rider: Roscoe is so stable and forgiving, it's like an instant ability upgrade - 29er wheels and wide 2.6" tires make for a grippy, confident, and fast-rolling ride - The dropper post lets you lower your saddle on the fly so it's out of the way on descents - Its 140mm suspension fork has plenty of travel to soak up big roots and rocks Features: Ready to get rowdy With 140mm front travel, trail-smashing 29-inch wheels, and dialed-for-dirt frame features, Roscoe is ready to get rowdy on your favorite rides. Progressive trail geometry A long reach, slack head angle, steep seat angle, and short chain stays combine for a ride that's confidence-inspiring, yet still nimble and fun. The strong quiet type Roscoe stays well protected with a double-sided chainstay guard, tough downtube guard, and internal cable guides that help your ride stay quiet, even over rough trails. Shimano CUES Inspired by rider demand for trouble-free drivetrain longevity and performance, Shimano CUES offers a new foundation for versatility and durability across a range of both electric and standard bikes. CUES features Shimano’s new LINKGLIDE drivetrain technology for significantly increased life on wear items like chains, cassettes, and chainrings. Shimano LINKGLIDE LINKGLIDE technology has been specifically engineered for incredible durability while still delivering smooth and decisive shifting – along with a great pedaling experience. Available exclusively on Shimano CUES drivetrains. Upgrade your pedals and love your bike more Pedals are two of the five touchpoints that connect you with your bike, and even though this bike comes with a pair, upgrading to pedals that boost control and grip will greatly improve your ride. See the pedal guide and find the best pedals for your riding style. We recommend flat pedals for simple versatility.

* Subject to change without notice.

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Trek roscoe 7 review.

• Fun Factor - 30% 7.0
• Downhill - 30% 6.0
• Climbing - 25% 8.0
• Build - 15% 8.0

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Trek Roscoe 24

Roscoe 24 is a mid-fat kids' mountain bike designed to build confidence on the trail. It takes cues from the adult Roscoe, but this ride was built from the ground up for kids. 2.8" mid-fat tires, a 1x drivetrain, and a wide-range cassette make Roscoe the ideal bike for little rippers who want to build skills and have a ridiculous amount of fun keeping up with Mom, Dad, or an older sibling. Fit for riders 51-59" tall. It's right for you if... Your little shredder is ready to hop off the neighborhood streets and onto the trail, and you want to get them started the right way with a real-deal mountain bike that builds skills and confidence from the outset. If you're looking to teach your little one the wisdom of the trail, there's no better teaching tool than Roscoe. The tech you get A durable Alpha Gold Aluminum frame with a sloping top tube for added clearance, 24" wheels with mid-fat 2.8" tires for added traction and stability, a 1x8 Shimano drivetrain with a wide-range cassette for hills and technical sections, mechanical disc brakes, and loads of thoughtful details borrowed from adult MTB tech, like a closed front dropout and a tucked-in rear brake caliper so when kids drop their Roscoe it doesn't mean an automatic trip to the shop for a replacement part. The final word Give a kid a Roscoe and you'll make a mountain biker for life. Mid-fat tires and a wealth of kid-specific design details make this bike the perfect introduction to the trail. If your little one is ready to tag along when you hit the singletrack, this is the kid-friendly set-up that's made to build confidence, skills, and a healthy obsession with the world's greatest activity. Why you'll love it - There's no family outing as fun as a trail session, and Roscoe is the ideal kids' bike for building great memories - This isn't a small adult bike—it's built from the ground up for kids, by people who know exactly what works for them and what doesn't - When you're learning to ride, simplicity is best: a 1x8 drivetrain lets kids focus on keeping the rubber side down - The kid-specific frame geometry has a sloping top tube that makes it easier to hop on and off - The rear brake caliper is tucked into the frame to help prevent damage from laying the bike down

Due to supply-chain issues, Specs are subject to change without notice.

Trek has slashed up to 30% off bikes and gear in its sale. I've picked out the best MTB bargains on offer

TrekFest is on now and there are huge discounts on MTBs, e-MTBs and top Trek and Bontrager gear

1. US Bike Deals

2. uk bike deals, 3. us and uk gear deals.

Trek has launched its 'TrekFest' sale, and not to be outdone by its North-American rivals Specialized, who also have a Spring Sale on, TrekFest has some mega-discounts. There are site-wide price-cuts on a wide selection of mountain bikes like its best budget hardtail – the Trek Marlin and some of its highly rated e-MTB models like the Trek Fuel EXe. There are also deals from Trek's in-house brand Bontrager, which manufactures MTB helmets , shoes, and lots more...

I've had a hunt around both the Trek US and Trek UK sites and picked out the best deals on offer and added what I think are some of highlights below. The discounts are currently live but end soon. So I'd suggest if something catches your eye, don't hang around, because they are bound to be snapped up quickly.

Marlin 8 Gen 2: Was $1,329.99, now $999 Trek says the Marlin is its most popular budget hardtail mountain bike. This aluminum framed Gen 2 version has a $330 discount with a build that features a RockShox Judy Silver fork, a SRAM SX Eagle 12-spd drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. The Bontrager Kovee wheels are tubeless ready and they roll on Maxxis Ardent Race rubber.

Available in two color choices, sized from XXS-XL.

Fuel EXe 9.9 XTR: Was $12,999 , now $11,999 The Fuel EXe 9.9 XTR is one of Trek's best electric mountain bikes . Built around its OCLV Mountain Carbon frame, the Fuel has a 360Wh battery that powers a TQ motor which puts out 50Nm of torque and 250 watts of maximum continuous power.

You also get 150mm of RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork travel paired with 140mm of RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate rear suspension. A Shimano XTR drivetrain, Bontrager carbon wheels and a Bontrager dropper post make up a very nicely specced e-MTB that currently has a $1,000 discount.

Four colors and all sizes are available S-XL.

Rail 9.8 XT Gen 4: Was $8,999, now $7,999 Another discounted electric mountain bike from the Trek line-up is the Trek Rail 9.8 . The brand's long-travel carbon framed enduro e-MTB comes with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor , a long-range 750Wh battery and 85Nm of trail-shredding power.

Adding to the Rail's spec highlights is a 170mm RockShox ZEB Select+ fork , and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock with a Shimano XT 1x12 drivetrain. Four colors and all the sizing are available plus a tasty $1,000 discount.

Top Fuel 9.8 XT: Was $7,049, now $5,899 Trek's Top Fuel is one of the best cross-country mountain bikes on the market. Lightweight, carbon-framed and has another brilliant line-up of components that make it a bit of a bargain with its current $1,150 discount.

The Top Fuel has a 120mm RockShox SID Select+ fork , 120mm of rear travel with a RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate shock , and a Shimano XT drivetrain. Bontrager Line Elite 30 carbon wheels and a Bontrager Line Elite Dropper complete the spec.

Roscoe 8: Was $2,399, now $1,999 The Trek Roscoe 8 is another entry-level hardtail with a specification ready for some serious cross-country riding. This Roscoe build features a lightweight aluminum frame, a 140mm RockShox 35 Gold fork , a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, 4-piston brakes, and a dropper post. 

A $400 discount and sizes XS-XL are available in two size color options.

Slash 9.9 XX1 Gen 5: Was $12,549, now $9,999 Trek say the Slash 9.9 is its best enduro mountain bike in the range. It's also the go-to bike for the Trek Factory Racing Enduro team. This model has a $2,500 discount and you get a bike ready for anything. 

A full carbon frame, hard-hitting suspension with RockShox Flight Attendant , Bontrager carbon wheels, and a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain make this top-of-the-line ride a very attractive buy with the current discount. Available in all sizes and the very stealthy-looking Lithium Gray colorway.

Marlin 8 Gen 3: Was £1,025, now £825 The Trek Marlin Gen 3 is the latest model of its popular budget hardtail mountain bike. The Gen 3 has an updated geometry, and the alloy frame features a RockShox Judy Silver fork, a SRAM SX Eagle 12-spd drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. This latest model also gets a TranzX dropper post too.

Available in two color choices, but with limited sizing, grab it while you can.

Top Fuel 9.8 XT: Was £6,100, now £4,270 Trek's Top Fuel is one of the best cross-country mountain bikes on the market. Lightweight, carbon-framed and has another brilliant line-up of components.

Top Fuel has a 120mm RockShox SID Select+ fork , 120mm of rear travel with a RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate shock , and a Shimano XT drivetrain. Bontrager Line Elite 30 carbon wheels and a Bontrager Line Elite Dropper complete the spec.

Roscoe 8: Was £1,675, now £1,394 The Trek Roscoe 8 is another entry-level hardtail with a specification ready for XC riding. This Roscoe build features an aluminum frame, a 140mm RockShox 35 Gold fork , a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, 4-piston brakes, and a dropper post. 

A £280 discount and sizes XS-XL are available in two size color options.

Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5: Was £6,000, now £4,500 Trek say the Slash 9.8 is one of its best enduro bike models coming with the brand's OCLV Mountain Carbon frame. It features a massive 160mm of travel from the highly-rated RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock , paired with a RockShox ZEB Select+ fork and 170mm of travel. 

Only available Lithium Gray colorway and sizes M-XL.

Bontrager Foray MTB Shoes: US: Were $159, now $111 UK: Were £159, now £111 Trek says the Foray shoe is a versatile MTB shoe ready for trail riding and even cyclocross. Its versatility makes it one of the best gravel shoes too.

Foray has a Boa L6 dial for a customizable fit, a stiff sole and a durable upper featuring the added protection of GnarGuard – a rubberised coating that protects against abrasions and other damage. Four color choices and a ton of sizing are available.

Trek Line Elite Pedals: US: Were $119, now $94 UK: Were £109, now £76 The Trek Line Elite are SPD-compatible clipless MTB pedals . Dual-sided and made from forged aluminum, which they say makes them durable and lightweight. They have an easy clipping-in platform and a stylish aesthetic look to back up the performance features.

Bontrager Line 31.6 Dropper Post: Was £199, now £139 The Bontrager Line 31.6 dropper post has everything needed to contend as one of the best dropper posts around. It has internal cable routing and should provide reliable and infinite adjustability. This discounted version comes with 170mm of travel and allows fine-tuning with easy-fit 10mm or 30mm travel-reducer spacers.

Bontrager Flatline Shoes: Were $139, now $99 Were £139, now £97 The best flat mountain bike shoes should deliver plenty of grip to keep you connected to the pedals. The Bontrager Flatline tick the boxes here and comes with a grippy Vibram outsole, that partners up with a reinforced toe box for protection and durability.

They come in three stylish colorways – Black, Olive and Charcoal (the Gum sole on the Charcoal is very cool) and loads of sizes are available.

Trek Rally WaveCel Helmet: US: Was $159, now $119 UK: Was £149, £104 The Trek Rally has the Virginia Tech 5 Star safety rating which makes it a great choice as one of the best MTB helmets available. Featuring WaveCel, which is a collapsible cellular safety structure that protects the head during a crash. It also has a Boa fit system and an adjustable visor.

Loads of colors and sizing are available.

Bontrager Rally MTB Shoe: US: Were $149, now $119 UK: Were £149, now £104 The Rally is a clipless mountain shoe and is made from a super durable design with an abrasion-resistant coating and a reinforced, durable toe box for protection.

They also offer a more relaxed fit for comfort on the bike but plenty of support making them a highly practical trail MTB shoe. Five color and plenty of sizes are available.

Based in Edinburgh, Paul Brett is a staff writer for  BikePerfect.com . He has been an avid cyclist for as long as he can remember, initially catching the mountain biking bug in the 1990s, and raced mountain bikes for over a decade before injury cut short a glittering career. He’s since developed an obsession for gravel riding and recently has dabbled in the dark art of cyclocross. A fan of the idea of bikepacking he has occasionally got involved and has ridden routes like the North Coast 500, Scotland and the Via Francigena (Pilgrim Route), Italy.

Current rides: Marin Alpine Trail 2, Ribble 725, Cube Stereo 160

Height: 175cm

Specialized has a massive sale on – with up to 50% off bikes and gear. Here's my pick of the biggest MTB and off-road bargains

Forget Amazon, Muc-Off has a massive 30% sale right now. Get huge deals on cleaning products, lubes, tubeless kits and more...

Could this be the most expensive camper van ever created? It's well-prepped for wild mountain bike adventures but the price is just insane

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off-road.cc

Trek offering up to 30% off bikes and parts in crazy april mtb sale.

Specialized is offering up to 50% off some of its most popular premium mountain bike, and Trek isn’t trailing far behind. The brand’s 140mm trail bike range offers some stellar deals. You can get a Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 AXS for only £9,499.95, a tidy discount from this e-bike’s usual retail price of £13,500.  

• Cycling motivation: 8 tips to get you back on the bike
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Fancy the advanced Fuel EX frame and geometry, but don’t require a mid-drive motor to assist with pedalling? The Fuel EX 9.9 XX1 AXS Gen 6 is selling for only £7,994.50, as opposed to its usual list price of £11,800. 

Trek has slashed prices on its long-travel 29er enduro bike, too. The Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5 is selling at 25% off, for only £4,500, which gets you a RockShox ZEB fork, Shimano XT 1x12 drivetrain, four-piston brakes and Line Elite 30 carbon wheels, with a 108T internals gearing the rear hub. 

Dedicated trail and enduro riders value dropper posts but if your dropper needs replacement or upgrading, Bontrager Line Elite droppers are only £251.99 discounted from £359.99. These dropper post deals apply to both 34.9- and 31.6mm diameter Line Elites. 

Beyond bikes and components, the Trek sale includes apparel and accessories. Keen on some lightweight, ultra-efficient carbon-sole kicks? Bontrager XXX shoes are marked down by 30% from £349.99 to £244.99. 

Helmets? The best deal is Bontrager’s Rally WaveCel lid. With extended coverage for skull base protection and an interweaved structure featuring the WaveCel energy absorbing and dispersing material, these helmets are great for trail and enduro riders who desire enhanced safety. Bontrager’s premium Rally mountain bike helmets are now only £89.99, instead of £149.99. 

What’s the cheapest deal with Trek’s big sale? That will be the Bontrager left-side load water bottle cage. A handy upgrade (literally), especially for endurance mountain bikers and riders on XS frames, at only £6.99. 

Trek’s sale runs until the end of April.

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You might also like:

• 9 tips to keep your suspension running sweeter for longer
• Opinion: You don't need a dropper post on your gravel bike
• Best way to transport mountain bikes

Author block

Lance Branquinho

Lance Branquinho is a Namibian-born media professional who graduated to mountain biking after injuries curtailed his fascination with trail running. He has a weakness for British steel hardtails, especially those which only run a single gear. Lance is an award-winning writer who has contributed to myriad piblications all over the world including Cyclingnews, Bike Perfect, MBR, Topgear, TopCar and  Car magazine.

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"I'm stoked"

"I think it's the best looking bike in it's price range, the fit works great for me, and the drivetrain is excellent."

"Ready to rumble"

"Has the chops to squeeze every last drop of fun from local park trails, plus the talent to conquer black diamond terrain on the weekends."

"Much more capable downhill than I would have ever imagined; then, when I finished a lap and turned around to pedal back up, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and efficiency of the Roscoe’s climbing position."

"5 out of 5"

"One of the best we've ever tried at this price. So fun and capable it makes boring trails interesting and difficult trails manageable. "

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Trek Roscoe 6, comes with zefel frame pouch, bontrager under seat pouch with tube repair kit, bontrager air pump .installed taffy tire liners. Have paperwork

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Elektrostal

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Find the right bike route for you through Elektrostal, where we've got 330 cycle routes to explore. The routes you most commonly find here are of the hilly type. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of June and August.

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Analysis of real estate market in Moscow Oblast, Russia:

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

City coordinates

Coordinates of Elektrostal in decimal degrees

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia

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Find the right bike route for you through Elektrostal, where we've got 327 cycle routes to explore. The routes you most commonly find here are of the hilly type. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of June and August.

* calculated weighted mean of apartment cost per 1 square foot/meter in Elektrostal secondary housing market. Among prices in range from 30 to 200 thousand Rub/m² for Elektrostal.Among apartments with area in range: from 20 to 350 m², from 215 to 3767 ft².

40 Facts About Elektrostal. Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to ...

Geographic coordinates of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia in WGS 84 coordinate system which is a standard in cartography, geodesy, and navigation, including Global Positioning System (GPS). Latitude of Elektrostal, longitude of Elektrostal, elevation above sea level of Elektrostal.