best short travel mountain bike 2023

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

• Danny Milner
• April 17, 2024

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

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

Our current picks at all price points:

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

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

Jump straight to your price point:

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

Under £600 mountain bikes

Under £750 mountain bikes.

• Under £1000 mountain bikes

Under £2,000 mountain bikes

Under £3,000 mountain bikes.

• Over £3,000 mountain bikes

Best lightweight XC mountain bike

Best enduro mountain bike.

• Best electric mountain bike

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

Voodoo Braag

Best hardtail mountain bike for under £600.

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

Reasons to buy:

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

Reasons to avoid:

• The fork tops out with a clunk

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

Read our full review of the Voodoo Braag

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

Voodoo Bizango

Best hardtail mountain bike for £750.

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Voodoo Bizango

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

Polygon Xtrada 5

Best shape and handling under £700.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Polygon Xtrada 5

Under £1,000 mountain bikes

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

Calibre Line T3-27

Best hardtail mountain bike under £1,000.

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

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Calibre Line T3-27

Voodoo’s Bizango Pro is an absolute flyer

Voodoo Bizango Pro

Best budget mountain bike for racing and long rides.

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

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

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

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

Read the full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

Full-suspension

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

Cannondale Habit

Most fun trail bike for under £2k.

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

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

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

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

Read the full review of the Cannondale Habit 4

Polygon Siskiu T8 is a slick full-sus trail bike

Polygon Siskiu T8

Runs the vitus mythique a close second.

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

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

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

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

Read the full review of the Polygon Siskiu T8

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

Whyte 629 V4

Best trail hardtail under £2k.

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Whyte 629 V4

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

Merida Big Trail

Light weight with sharp handling.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Merida Big Trail 600

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

Specialized Status

Best budget mullet bike.

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Specialized Status 160

Over £3000 mountain bikes

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

Specialized Stumpjumper Evo

Best aggressive trail bike with adjustable geometry.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Elite Alloy

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

Best boutique down-country bike

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Yeti SB120

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

Santa Cruz Tallboy

Best down-country bike for sending it.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Santa Cruz Tallboy

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

Transition Spur X01

Best lightweight down-country bike.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Transition Spur

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

Mondraker Raze

Best trail bike for suspension set-up nerds.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Mondraker Raze Carbon RR

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

Scott Spark RC WC AXS

Best high end xc race bike.

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Scott Spark RC WC AXS

The Nukeproof Giga offers a right rollicking ride

Nukeproof Giga

Best enduro bike.

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Nukeproof Giga 290 Carbon Factory

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

Best direct-sales enduro race bike

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the YT Capra Core 2 GX

The Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6 loves to party.

Canyon Torque

Best direct-sales bike park shredder.

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of the Canyon Torque Mullet AL 6

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

Merida One-Sixty FR 600

Best value long-travel enduro bike.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s your budget?

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

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

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

What sort of riding are you going to do?

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

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

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

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

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

In a nutshell: the best mountain bike for most people

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

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

Choosing the best mountain bike for: Trail riding

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Choosing the best mountain bike for: Enduro riding

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

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

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

Hardtail or full-suspension?

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

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

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

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

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

What about the best electric mountain bikes ?

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

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

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

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

Carbon or aluminium?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which wheel size is best?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which suspension design is best?

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

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

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

Geometry, geometry, geometry

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a budget in mind before heading to your local dealer

How much should you spend?

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

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

Don’t end up on the wrong size bike

What size bike should you get?

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

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

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

8 great turn-shredding, climb-crunching trail mountain bikes for 2023

Mtb wheel size: which one is right for you, 1. yt industries izzo core 2.

The Izzo is made for being thrown around the trails

© YT Industries

Price: £3,199

Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

Frame material: Carbon fibre front triangle/aluminium rear triangle

Wheel size: 29”

Travel: 130mm front/130mm rear

Find out more information

2. Norco Optic C3

The Optic is aimed at fun descents and tearing it up when riding hard

Price: €4,599

Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL

Frame material: Carbon fibre front triangle, aluminium rear triangle

Travel: 140mm front/125mm rear

3. Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp Alloy

You can swap the rear wheel for a 27.5” one if mullets are your thing

© Specialized

Price: £3,900

Frame sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6

Frame material: Aluminium

Travel: 150mm (S1) or 160mm (S2-S6) front/150mm rear

4. Propain Hugene CF Performance

Propain lets you custom the look of your bike for no extra fees

Price: €5,064

Frame material: Carbon fibre

Travel: 140mm front/140mm rear

5. Pace RC295 GX Ultimate

The RC295 is causing a stir for its capability in all situations

Price: £4,799

Frame sizes: M, L, XL

Travel: 140mm front/135mm rear

6. Nukeproof Reactor 275 Carbon RS

The Reactor comes in more than 10 different variations

© Nukeproof

Price: £5,999

Wheel size: 27.5”

Travel: 160mm front/140mm rear

7. Santa Cruz 5010 X01 AXS RSV

Danny MacAskill uses the 5010 for his trail-focused projects

© Santa Cruz

Price: £8,499

Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

Travel: 140mm front/130mm rear

8. Pivot Switchblade Pro X01 Fox Live Valve and Carbon Wheels

If money is no object, then it has to be a Pivot

Price: $13,799 USD

Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L

Wheel size: 29"

Travel: 160mm front/142mm rear

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Best downcountry mountain bikes of 2024 | Top-rated downcountry MTBs and our buyer's guide

The top downcountry mountain bikes, tested and rated by our expert reviewers

Andy Lloyd / OurMedia

Stan Portus

The best downcountry bikes can tackle all-day epic rides with ease and efficiency, cover ground extremely fast and have just the right mix of componentry to fly down descents.

Here, we list the best downcountry mountain bikes in 2024, as tested and rated by our expert reviewers at BikeRadar.

We've had plenty of experience with downcountry bikes, with many of us seeing the discipline as a favourite.

Many of these bikes started life as race-ready cross-country mountain bikes, but they have been given some extra travel and a more progressive geometry, while retaining their XC speed.

Not all downcountry bikes are built the same, though. While some are more like beefed-up cross-country mountain bikes , others are closer to the best trail mountain bikes – pared-back and adrenaline-seeking.

We've put together a downcountry buyer's guide at the end of this article to help you choose the best downcountry bike for you and to help explain this new category of bike.

Best downcountry mountain bikes of 2024

Juliana wilder cc x01 axs tr reserve.

• Price: £8,299 / $9,449 as tested
• Pros: Super-light, responsive build; impressively capable on the descents
• Cons: Not complete SRAM X01 AXS build

Weighing in at 10.5kg, it’s no surprise that this range-topping new downcountry build from Juliana is a mega climber.

By dropping the VPP linkage, the rear-suspension design has helped to shave 289g off the frame weight of the Blur – the Wilder’s Santa Cruz equivalent – yielding 115mm travel using the single-pivot linkage and flex-stays.

There’s more to this new downcountry rig than pure prowess uphill though: specced with 120mm travel up-front, the Wilder is surprisingly capable when it comes to tackling rougher ground and descents.

• Read the full Juliana Wilder CC Xo1 AXS TR Reserve review

• Price: £4,800
• Pros: Good versatility with plenty of mounting points; steel frame with plenty of finishing touches
• Cons: Requires a bit of saddle shuffling on steep ascents

The Raw's steel frame lends it a comfortable quality that stands out on long rides, leaving you less beaten up than you'd expect from other hardtails.

A variety of mounting points open up bikepacking opportunities on the traditional Dedacciai and Reynolds steel frame.

Mason has brought together versatility and on-trail capability well, making this a serious do-it-all bike.

While the bike climbs well, and with a pokey nature, we found we had to move around on the saddle quite a bit on steeper ascents.

YT Izzo Uncaged 7

• Modern geometry
• Impressive climbing ability
• Good spec for the money
• £6,299 / $6,499 / €6,299 as tested

The Izzo Uncaged 7 features the same frame as the rest of YTs Izzo range, but features 120mm of travel front and rear instead of the usual 130mm.

Being direct to customer, YT has provided a high spec for the money featuring SRAM's XX1 AXS groupset and G2 Ultimate brakes. A full carbon frame and the carbon DT Swiss XCR 1200 wheels make covering ground quick and easy.

Descending is at the core of the Izzo, though meatier tyres would allow it smash gnarlier trails.

• Read our full YT Izzo Uncaged 7 review

Fairlight Holt XT

• Price: £3,709 as tested
• Pros: Amazing ride that gives all-day comfort; adventure-ready mounts
• Cons: High top tube and reserved geometry hinder the Holt on technical trails

The Holt is Fairlight's first mountain bike, and it has been adorned with similar mounts to the brand's bikepacking offerings.

Its Reynolds 853 steel frame offers a forgiving ride without feeling noodly when pushing hard on steep ascents.

The bike suffers on the descents, with its classic XC geometry leading to a twitchy and nervous feeling.

Merida Big.Nine TR 8000

• Price: £5,000
• Pros: Responsive and direct frame; snappy handling; well-priced
• Cons: Wheels are quite harsh; skinny rubber and 2-piston brakes hold it back on technical trails

The Big.Nine TR 8000 features a full carbon fibre frame that delivers impressive responsiveness down the trail.

This fast-rolling and nimble feel makes tight, twisty trails heaps of fun and spurs you on up the hills.

Narrow tyres and underpowered brakes detract a little on the descents, but the geometry is forgiving of bad line choices.

Scott Spark 910

• Price: £5,299
• Pros: Very fast; devours climbs; clean hardware
• Cons: Integration won't be for everyone

Sharing its frame with the Spark RC cross-country race-bike, the Spark 910 is a fast mile-munching monster with top-of-the-class climbing ability.

The Fox Nude rear shock provides 120mm of travel and is hidden away in the seat tube, creating a clean-looking frame and protecting the shock from the elements. A 130mm Fox 34 fork supports the front end, and the bike is specced with Shimano's XT drivetrain and features a Syncros Fraser integrated bar and stem.

Unlike some downcountry bikes, the Spark is still very much 'country' focused and is more at home at trail centres rather than gnarly backcountry descents.

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We have experts testing all types of bikes, parts, clothing and accessories, from road, mountain and gravel bikes to commuting, bikepacking and electric bikes. 

Our reviews are always editorially independent – with no exceptions. Our reviewers comprehensively test all products in the real world, always reflecting on performance, value and the wider market when delivering their verdicts and review ratings .

We have more than 15,000 product reviews available at your fingertips, as well as expert buying, maintenance, training, skills, health and fitness advice. 

Our annual Bike of the Year test is an industry benchmark and the BikeRadar team consists of some of the most experienced riders and testers in the business.

Buyer’s guide to downcountry mountain bikes

Mountain biking often feels like a broad umbrella for many different disciplines; from trail to high-flying downhill, there are myriad riding styles and, of course, the bikes to match.

Downcountry bikes sit at the intersection of cross-country, trail and all-mountain bikes.

Having existed in one form or another for a number of years, downcountry bikes have become more mainstream. As demand for this type of bike began to balloon, the bike industry responded, and downcountry is now a category that's well catered for.

Different brands approach downcountry bikes in slightly different ways, but this buyer’s guide will take you through everything you need to know.

What is a downcountry mountain bike?

In short, downcountry bikes are lightweight XC-style frames with added travel, trail-friendly geometry and wider, knobbly tyres.

The result? Bikes that will cover ground extremely fast but still enable you to charge down descents.

The term 'downcountry' was coined by Mike Levy at PinkBike three years ago, and is a mash-up of 'downhill' and 'cross-country'. So, a pretty neat encapsulation of what the bikes are for, and consequently a term that has stuck around.

The origin of downcountry bikes is a bit hazy. Some say it extends back to cross-country racing, where gnarlier courses demanded more technical, gravity-capable machines. Others say it comes from engineers making small tweaks to thoroughbred XC race bikes to make them more fun to ride.

Arguably, they could stem from manufacturers doing their market research and seeing consumers riding more extreme terrain on their cross-country bikes and making corresponding upgrades to existing bikes.

However they came to be, some of the biggest bikes brands now offer off-the-shelf downcountry bikes that deliver a refined balance of short travel, minimal mass and progressive geometry.

What to look for in a downcountry mountain bike

Alongside trail-friendly geometry, wide knobbly tyres and extended travel, downcountry bikes have a few other features that help them balance their fast and agile ride with their downhill performance and more relaxed feel.

Much of what makes a downcountry bike is what it is specced with, and here we run through the key things to look out for.

A lightweight frame with a relaxed geometry

Go back 10 years and tell a cross-country rider they’d one day be riding a bike with a 66-degree head tube angle and they’d probably look at you as if you’d had one too many caffeine gels. But now, this is exactly what is happening with downcountry bikes.

This angle is slacker than traditional cross-country bikes and helps give downcountry bikes their gravity-riding potential. This is because a slacker angle means the front fork sticks our further, creating a more stable ride at high speeds.

Reach figures have also increased as head angles have decreased. A longer reach number makes the bike feel more stable when you’re stood on the pedals descending.

Descending stability was going to be an inevitable outcome when combining the slack head angle, long reach and the consequential longer wheelbases created by those two figures.

Even though downcountry bikes have more gravity-friendly geometry, they remain relatively light so riders aren’t pushing too much mass, helping the bikes stay fast.

Short-travel

Although downcountry bikes have a short-travel design, they still offer a bit more travel than cross-country race machines to help them on more technical downhill sections.

As a general rule, downcountry bikes have between 120mm and 130mm travel in the forks and a variation of between 110mm and 125mm at the back, depending on brand and model.

Some downcountry bikes do offer more travel, but this is testament to how downcountry is a rather woolly category that is more about different factors coming together than travel defining what the bike is.

Large wheels and burly tyres

29in wheels are standard on downcountry bikes. Compared to 27.5in wheels, they require less effort to keep their momentum and are consequently more efficient, making them the right choice for the sorts of longer, more pedalling-intensive rides you’ll be doing on these bikes.

Downcountry bikes pair 29in wheels with wider and burlier tyres than you would expect to find on 29er cross-country bikes.

These mountain bike tyres sit between fast-rolling, lightweight XC tyres and chunkier downhill treads, making them fast and less of a drag when climbing, yet more durable and capable on the rough stuff.

Wide bars and short stems

Wide bars and short stems are the go-to for downcountry bikes.

The wide bars give you more leverage and help make downcountry bikes super-stable, agile and less skittish than bikes with more XC-focused components.

A shorter stem also improves handling. It gives the bike quicker handling characteristics by making steering more direct and makes the bike feel more responsive.

Dropper seatposts

Dropper posts are a common feature on downcountry bikes because they give riders a bit more space for moving around and shifting weight on technical descents.

It’s possible to raise the saddle for efficient pedalling and to make the most of downcountry bikes’ cross-country-style speed, combining the best of both worlds.

It might not be a surprise that downcountry bikes come with dropper posts considering their versatility, and dropper posts are even making their way onto gravel bikes .

Gearing on downcountry bikes is slanted towards the cross-country end of the spectrum. Front rings tend to have between 32 and 38 teeth compared to the 30- to 34-tooth rings on trail bikes.

This allows for more speed, which is always appreciated on the smoother trails and fire roads that a downcountry bike is at home bombing along, and for long days in the saddle.

When it comes to brakes on downcountry bikes there is a mix, but they tend to use two-pot rather than four-pot mountain bike disc brakes , where there are only two pistons rather than four.

This is because downcountry bikes don't need the braking power of four pistons because they aren’t descending at the fast, white-knuckle speeds of downhill mountain bikes .

Two pistons rather than four also saves weight, helping downcountry bikes achieve their svelte builds.

In keeping with this, downcountry bikes also tend to have a mix of rotor sizes; 180mm on the front for better braking and heat dispersion and 160mm on the rear, where braking isn’t so strenuous on the disc and a few grams can be saved.

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The Best Short-Travel Trail Bike – 6 Mountain Bikes in Test

Bikes are growing increasingly versatile, lines are blurring and long-travel bikes are climbing more easily and faster than ever before. But does that mean that short-travel trail bikes are growing more potent on the downhills too?

Our trail bikes are changing. We now have suspension kinematics that minimise pedal bob, while maximising big-hit fun. Seat tubes are growing steeper so we can climb better and bikes are growing increasingly lighter. The latest generation of 140–150 mm trail bikes have become the holy grail of do-it-all machines. So why do manufacturers still offer short-travel trail bikes? Is there a benefit to bikes with 130 mm or less travel? Are we missing something? So many questions. It’s time for some answers.

Does short-travel mean less fun?

Does short-travel mean less fun? No way! If your local mountains are more like molehills, and your Sunday ride involves long connections between the trails, a short-travel bike will be a quick-riding passport to adventure and endless fun. On flow trails, a short-travel bike will pump faster through compressions and stay higher in its travel, rewarding you with more smiles and heaps of excitement. On many rides, carrying extra travel only dulls the sensations and feedback from the trail, meaning less agile and engaging handling than a well designed short-travel bike can provide. While a 140–150 mm trail bike is a great choice for many riders, the best bikes in this test show it’s important to choose a bike based on where and how you want to ride, rather than just numbers on a spec sheet.

Imagine driving a Dodge V8 and a stripped out rally hatchback down a tight-twisty road. We can guarantee you’ll have more fun in the lighter, more agile rally car.

The short-travel trail bikes in this group test

For this group test, we wanted to include a diverse selection of bikes at a range of prices. On paper, all six bikes share similar geometry (with one exception) and range of application. All are 29ers, a wheel size that best suits the kilometre eating, corner railing nature of a good short-travel bike. The Specialized Epic EVO and Trek Top Fuel both mark a step up in versatility from dedicated XC race machines. They essentially take a racing platform but slack and stretch it out. The Whyte S-120C enters from the opposite end of the spectrum, packaging an enduro bike ethos in a short-travel chassis. Sitting in the middle, the Canyon Neuron, Merida ONE-TWENTY and Yeti SB100 are purpose built to be good at everything from marathon epics to fast laps of your local loop.

Suspension kinematics are important

The saying “It’s not about the size, it’s about how you use it” has never been more apt. With short-travel bikes, progressive suspension kinematics are essential. With less to play with, the suspension needs to maintain control and can’t give up all its travel too quickly. For active riders, the Merida ONE-TWENTY, Trek Top Fuel and Whyte S-120C excel with a supportive kinematics that give just enough travel to smooth out big hits and almost always retaining some reserves. The result is that these bikes provide massive support for pumping to generate free speed from the trail and also provide lots of feedback from the trail. In contrast, the Canyon Neuron and Yeti SB100 have more linear kinematics, sacrificing a little mid-stroke support in pursuit of comfort and control through rock gardens, as well as boosting comfort and reducing fatigue on longer rides.

Be suspicious of a low weight on the spec sheet

If you think that less travel equals less weight, you might have to reconsider. Given how hard we ride our bikes, both short- and long-travel bikes will actually require very similar components and in turn, it becomes hard to cut down weight without significant compromises in performance.

No matter if you have 100 or 150 mm of travel, you’ll still be riding effectively the same suspension units, need the same high-performance tires and will want to be able to brake just as quickly. Many brands make compromises to lower their bikes’ weight, saving a few grams on the scales by fitting inferior components. Brakes are often an easy and not immediately obvious downgrade. Fitting delicate 160 mm rotors on the rear and specifying smaller callipers might save 200–300 g, but the brakes still have to slow down the mass of a hard-charging 80+ kg rider. Do you ride a flow trail slower than an enduro trail? We don’t. Merida is the only brand to get this right, fitting powerful SRAM Code RSC brakes to their ONE-TWENTY. Tires are the next place to cut weight. While short-travel trail bikes do not need to come fitted with super heavy downhill casings, we still expect to see a versatile, capable and above all durable tire.

Carbon vs Aluminium Wheels

You can have a lighter bike without performance compromises but it will come at a cost. Spending more allows manufacturers to fit better components that reduce weight while maintaining or even improving performance. We are generally big fans of aluminium rims, especially on harder hitting bikes where they are more affordable if damaged and offer a smoother ride feel. However, lightweight carbon rims accelerate quicker and give the bike a more lively and agile feel, properties that in our test enhance the ride of our short-travel bikes. The Merida ONE-TWENTY 8000 scores well here, saving over 400 g on the combined wheel weight (4.38 vs 4.79 kg) when compared to the Yeti SB100 fitted with similar all-round tires. The Trek Top Fuel and Specialized Epic EVO both have very lightweight wheelsets, but also ‘cheat’ a bit by fitting lighter but less durable and versatile tires for combined wheel weights of 3.94 and 4.02 kg respectively.

These bikes are made to climb fast so why don’t they have steep seat tubes?

This is a great question and one that consumed our team during much of our testing. The bikes in this group test have an average seat-tube angle of 74.8° , making them slacker than the latest geometry trends in trail and enduro bikes. The Merida again takes the win with a 75.5° seat tube angle, but still falls short when compared to the latest enduro bikes. Take the Yeti SB100: its 74° seat tube angle is far slacker than the newer and longer travel SB130 and SB150 which both have 77° effective seat tubes. It’s true that short-travel bikes sit higher at sag than long-travel bikes, reducing the effective seat tube angle less, but could they learn a lesson in efficiency from their bigger brothers? Yes, they could. All the bikes in this test climbed better with the saddle far forwards on the rails, indicating that slightly steeper seat tubes would benefit overall pedalling efficiency. We hope that short-travel bikes follow the steep seat tube trend that is sweeping through the trail and enduro sector.

Tops & Flops

Often small details can make a huge difference: seamless integration, first-class ergonomics and carefully selected parts. Easier said than done – here are some of the tops and flops from this grouptest.

How we tested the bikes and where?

We packed the bikes into the back of a van and headed to the amazing trails of Ballater in the Scottish Highlands. Ballater is the hidden gem of Scottish riding, offering long flow trails, gruelling ascents and an iconic fast and furious ridgeline descent that is the perfect test of a short-travel ripper. We braved the Scottish midges and challenging weather conditions to push the bikes hard. Parts broke, tires were slashed but great fun was had. For a more thorough test of the bikes’ downhill performance, we also challenged them hard on shuttle assisted runs in the notorious Innerleithen bike park.

The test team

Six bikes with six very different personalities left us with many surprises. After extensive testing, the biggest surprise has been just how versatile short-travel bikes have become. Yes, many of the tires lacked grip and the brakes were weaker, but we soon found ourselves effortlessly straying onto full-bore enduro trails. The second surprise is just how much fun short-travel bikes are to ride. After-work rides become longer and big climbs are relatively speaking effortless. Staying high in their travel with supportive suspension, they turn even the most boring trails into a playground. Every compression is the opportunity to pump for more speed and every bump becomes the lip of a jump. If your trails are more flow than gnar, you’ll have more fun and smiles on a short-travel bike.

When it came to choosing our favourites, it was a tough call. With an XC oriented build kit, the Specialized Epic EVO was a beast on the climbs but it felt least at home on variable terrain. We also weren’t completely convinced by the Micro Brain shock, especially the noticeable delay before the inertia valve opens the compression damping under compression. The Canyon Neuron is the polar opposite: linear and efficient it would make a perfect bike for comfortable long tours but lacked spark when pushed to the limit. As is usual for Canyon, it does represent excellent value for money though. The Whyte S-120 C is the fastest bike on challenging terrain, where its progressive geometry and capable build kit give it an advantage that can be measured in seconds on the descents However, the uncompromising enduro specification and heavier wheelset is noticeable on the climbs when chasing the best in this test.

It was almost impossible to separate the top three bikes with all of them receiving high praise from the testers. The Trek Top Fuel is a testament to a new way of thinking. Potent, versatile and fiercely competitive, we can’t think of many situations where it would not excel. It was only the increased complexity of the TwistLoc (a grip shifter style suspension lockout) and the weak brakes that pushed it off the top spot. The Yeti SB100 was also a team favourite, blending effortless ground-covering efficiency with an easy-going playfulness that delighted all our testers. With a beautiful frame that deserves upgraded components, it’s a bike that we would be proud to own. For the first time ever, a Yeti takes our Best Value award. That leaves the Merida ONE-TWENTY : a versatile trail rocket that happily went everywhere and anywhere we took it. With a faultless build kit, great brakes, great suspension and an agile and engaging ride that will delight riders of all experience levels, there is nothing to fault, giving it the well-deserved Best In Test award.

All bikes in test: Canyon Neuron CF 8.0 | Merida ONE TWENTY 8000 | Specialized Epic Expert Evo | Trek Top Fuel 9.9 | Whyte S-120C RS | Yeti SB100 C GX

If you’re looking for a bike with more travel you should definitely check our test about the best enduro bike of 2019: The best enduro bike you can buy

This article is from ENDURO issue #040

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7 Best Trail Mountain Bikes of 2024

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

Switchback Travel ( Jason Hummel )

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

From smooth and flowy post-work rides to rough and rowdy all-day backcountry epics, the trail mountain biking category covers a wide range. And with rapidly changing technology and an ever-growing number of options, it can be hard to nail down the best ride for your needs. We’ve been testing designs from beginner-oriented hardtails to fast and fun full-suspension rigs since 2021, and below we outline our top seven picks for 2024 broken down by type and best use. Finally, we firmly believe your mountain bike should cost less than a down payment on a house, so we’ve capped the price at $6,000 on sale. For more background information, see our buying advice and comparison table below the picks.

Editor’s note:  This guide was updated on June 26, 2024, with an overhauled list of picks to reflect 2024 offerings. We also included information about our testing practices and swept the guide to ensure all information was up-to-date at the time of publishing.  

Our Team's Trail Mountain Bike Picks

• Best All-Around Trail Mountain Bike: Santa Cruz Hightower S
• A Close Second (That's More Playful & Customizable): Specialized Stumpjumper Evo
• Best Downcountry Trail Bike: Specialized Epic 8 Evo Comp
• Best Hardtail for Trail Riding and Bikepacking: Salsa Timberjack XT 29
• Best E-Mountain Trail Bike: Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy
• Best Value in a Full-Suspension Trail Bike: Ari Cascade Peak Pro
• Best Entry-Level Trail Bike for Beginners: Salsa Rangefinder Deore 11 29

Best All-Around Trail Mountain Bike

1. santa cruz hightower s ($5,899).

With high-end bikes growing increasingly expensive each year—four on this list alone are $5,000 or more—it’s no wonder that lots of folks are looking for one bike to do it all. Santa Cruz’s Hightower is exactly that: a well-rounded and highly capable rig that can handle almost any terrain you throw its way. Highlights include a reasonably light carbon build, a fantastic SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, 29-inch tires that smoothly roll over rocks and roots, and a just-right amount of suspension (150mm up front and 145mm in the back) to balance long stints of uphill pedaling and steep, technical descents. In short, the Hightower is a point-and-shoot downhill machine that doesn’t skimp on climbing performance, striking a hard-to-beat balance for many riders.

Santa Cruz does have a reputation for high prices, and the Hightower is no exception. That said, the brand’s lifetime warranty on its frames is one of the best in the business, and the bike is built to last with high-quality components throughout. It’s not the strongest climber out there—for that, we turn to lighter and more flickable designs like Yeti’s SB135 —but the Hightower puts it all together better than most at a much cheaper price point than the Yeti, earning it our top spot this year. It’s also worth noting that you can upgrade to a smoother, more consistent, and easier-to-maintain wireless drivetrain (with the GX AXS build kit) for $5,599 at the time of publishing. See the Santa Cruz Hightower S

A Close Second (That’s More Playful and Customizable)

2. specialized stumpjumper evo expert t-type ($6,300).

The Stumpjumper has a storied history in the world of cycling: It was the first mountain bike made for the masses and helped popularize the sport, and Specialized has had decades to dial in overall performance and refinement. The mid-range Evo Expert T-Type model is a real winner, particularly for those who put a premium on downhill prowess. Compared to the Hightower above, the Stumpjumper offers a bit more squish, along with a mullet setup—a 29-inch tire up front and 27.5-inch tire in the back—for added playfulness on the descent. And we’d be remiss not to mention the adjustable geometry, which offers the ability to fine-tune the head tube angle (by 2 degrees) and bottom bracket height (by 10mm) to suit your needs and riding preferences. 

What’s not to like with the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Expert T-Type? In addition to the steep $6,300 price tag, the bike is no featherweight at nearly 33 pounds and not a particularly strong climber—if gnarly downhills aren’t at the top of your priority list, there are plenty of more well-rounded options to consider, many of which are cheaper (including the Hightower above). The mullet setup is also a little polarizing and does take some getting used to, although we’ve come to love the best-of-both-worlds compromise. For a similarly burly option at a slightly cheaper price point, we also love Santa Cruz’s Bronson ($5,899), although the Stumpjumper Evo gets the slight edge in overall refinement with a higher-quality fork and shock. Again, it’s not the best all-rounder out there but is an excellent tool for soaking up bumps on technical terrain and hitting features at your local bike park. See the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Expert T-Type

Best Downcountry Trail Bike

3. specialized epic 8 evo comp ($5,000).

One of the latest buzzwords in mountain biking, “downcountry” bikes are purpose-built for efficiency, with lightweight carbon frames, trail-friendly geometry, and shorter travel than all-rounders like the top-ranked Santa Cruz Hightower (they're essentially more downhill-friendly XC rigs, hence their name). In other words, whereas the options above emphasize downhill performance, these bikes are all about the up. The Epic 8 Evo Comp from Specialized is our current favorite in this growing category. Listed at around 28 pounds (for a medium frame), it’s a competitively light and fast build that nicely blends the agility and speed of a cross-country rig with the capability of a trail bike. In sum, it’s an ideal companion for big days in the alpine, snagging local singletrack KOMs on Strava, or if your local terrain involves a lot of long, pedal-intensive climbs.

Other than sacrificing some downhill performance for climbability, the biggest downside here is cost: Specialized bikes don’t come cheap, and the Epic Evo 8 Comp is a relatively steep investment at $5,000. If you’re on a tighter budget, consumer-direct pioneers Canyon and YT Industries also make compelling—and more wallet-friendly—alternatives in their Lux Trail and Izzo , respectively. Regardless of which option you choose, we think of downcountry bikes as the MTB equivalent to skimo skis: You can put some serious uphill miles on them, and they’re decently capable descenders, too. But for those looking for best-of-both worlds performance, we’d opt for a heavier and beefier option like the Hightower or Specialized’s own Stumpjumper above. See the Specialized Epic 8 Evo Comp

Best Hardtail for Trail Riding and Bikepacking

4. salsa timberjack xt 29 ($2,499).

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

What’s not to like with the Salsa Timberjack XT 29? For starters, the burly construction and wide tires mean the bike isn’t as nimble or fast as a more cross country-focused design. Even a comparable option like  Santa Cruz’s Chameleon , which has the same amount of travel but checks in a few pounds lighter and features a mullet setup, is noticeably more playful. And it almost goes without saying that a full-suspension rig will be the more comfortable ride when the going gets rough. But again, the Timberjack is a very solid performer that’s built to last, and it will save you a good chunk of cash over an equivalent full-suspension design (rear suspension is spendy). Bonus: It's available through REI, which means there's a good chance you'll be able to try it out before you buy—not to mention, co-op members get a year of free adjustments, the option for free in-store assembly, and 20% off shop services, among myriad other benefits. See the Salsa Timberjack XT 29

Best E-Mountain Trail Bike

5. specialized turbo levo comp alloy ($7,000).

Specialized has been at the forefront of electric mountain bikes in North America, and their Turbo Levo is a leading all-mountain design. The latest bike is a real grin-maker—trust us on this one—and received a host of improvements that set it apart. Its mullet setup (a 29-in. wheel at the front and 27.5-in. wheel at the back) gives it a balanced and easy-to-control feel but still can smash through technical terrain, and its electronics have seen nice upgrades in durability and refinement over the years. Plus, like Specialized’s Stumpjumper Evo above, the Turbo Levo Comp offers the ability to tweak the head tube angle and bottom bracket height to dial in the geometry to your preferences. Overall, among a fast-growing and competitive field of e-mountain bikes, we think the latest Turbo Levo is at the top of the list.

Currently, the biggest barrier to an e-mountain bike of any kind is price. Despite packing an aluminum frame, the Turbo Levo Comp here costs a steep $7,000, and carbon models start at a whopping $9,000. Additionally, the extra drive system adds a significant amount of weight—it’s not uncommon for e-bikes to weigh upwards of 50 pounds or more (for reference, the Turbo Levo Comp is around 52.5 lb.). This added heft also has performance drawbacks, and we’ve found the Turbo Levo is quite a bit less flickable and more reluctant to get off the ground than the brand’s analog Stumpjumper Evo (or the lighter but less powerful Levo SL e-bike ). Finally, land managers and lawmakers are still trying to figure out where e-bikes fit into outdoor recreation. Regulations vary by state and riding area, but oftentimes they technically are not legal to ride on singletrack trails (although we’re seeing increased access each year). See the Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Alloy

Best Value in a Full-Suspension Trail Bike

6. ari cascade peak pro ($2,999).

There’s no way around it: Full-suspension bikes are an expensive breed. Fortunately, we’ve started to see high-end tech trickle down into the cheaper end of the market, and there are currently several competitive options for under $3,000. The Ari Cascade Peak Pro is a case in point. At $2,999 full MSRP and $2,799 on sale at the time of publishing, the Cascade is by no means cheap but offers a stellar build for the price: The rugged aluminum alloy frame, combined with a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and nice balance of suspension for both the up and down, make for a fun and sturdy ride even on rough and rowdy singletrack. In short, unless you’re looking for a lightweight racing rig, the Cascade Peak Pro will save you serious cash without sacrificing too much in terms of geometry, build quality, and components for most recreational riders.

While we consider the Ari Cascade Peak Pro to be a stellar all-around value, you can certainly go cheaper. For example, Polygon’s Siskiu T8 costs a more wallet-friendly $2,399—earning it a spot atop our list of the best trail bikes under $2,500 —although we’ve heard a few negative stories related to customer service and warranty claims (always a risk with buying from a consumer-direct brand). But with the Cascade, you get a lifetime frame warranty (Polygon covers full-suspension frames for 5 years), and you can return the bike no questions asked within 30 days of purchase. These benefits—along with Ari’s detailed fit guide —help offset the biggest pitfall of buying consumer-direct: the wholly subjective battle of dialing in the right fit sight unseen. For value-focused riders looking for a capable aluminum build, YT’s Jeffsy Core lineup is also worth considering.  See the Ari Cascade Peak Pro

Best Entry-Level Trail Bike for Beginners

7. salsa rangefinder deore 11 29 ($1,199).

Entering the world of mountain biking can be daunting: Dropping thousands of dollars on a new bike isn’t feasible for many, especially when you’re still dialing in your riding style and preferences. Not to mention, the world of budget bikes is full of true clunkers that lack the durability and rideability of more premium (read: pricier) designs. Enter the Salsa Rangefinder, a solid all-rounder that will allow you to progress without breaking the bank. The 120 millimeters of front travel offers ample squish for mellow singletrack, long gravel rides, and even easy bikepacking missions, and the 11-speed drivetrain is realistically all most beginning riders need. It even includes a dropper post, which isn’t always the case at this price point. And like Salsa’s own Timberjack above, the Rangefinder is available through REI, which comes with a host of benefits that are particularly enticing for new riders. 

What do you sacrifice by saving with the Salsa Rangefinder? As expected at this price, you’re not getting the most modern geometry or highest-quality components. Combined with the short travel on the front fork, this limits the terrain on which you can ride—those looking to push their limits and tackle steep, aggressive lines will almost certainly want to upgrade to a more capable rig (ideally one with rear suspension, but even Salsa’s Timberjack above is a better choice). And while we consider the Rangefinder to be a great value for a capable starter bike, there are plenty of cheaper options available— Co-op Cycles’ DRT lineup is a great place to start, with options from around $600. We consider these bikes a little too limited and dated to recommend for extensive trail riding, but they’re nevertheless compelling for easy-going riders on a tight budget. See the Salsa Rangefinder Deore 11-Speed 29

Trail Mountain Bike Comparison Table

About our testing process.

Finding the right mountain bike can be a tough affair. The market is loaded options, prices are sky-high, and riders need to pin down key priorities and preferences before buying—including but not limited to riding style and terrain, fit, purchasing convenience, and cost. Fortunately, the Switchback team is well versed in two-wheeled adventures. Former editor-in-chief  John Ellings put together our initial list of seven top trail mountain bikes back in 2021, drawing from his decades of experience charging down the rocky and rooty trails of the Pacific Northwest. Contributing editor Nick Mott took over in 2024. Based in southwest Montana, Nick can never pass up exploring his local trails on bikes old and new.

It wasn’t easy dialing in the streamlined list of seven top trail mountain bikes that you see above. In order to earn a spot, each bike had to stand out in some way, and many of the options above excel in several areas. Strong on-trail performance is an obvious way to win us over, and we try to get our hands on as many designs as we can to put them through their paces on techy singletrack, long slogs on forest service roads, and everything in between. Overall build quality is another important factor and includes everything from the frame to the drivetrain, fork, brakes, tires, and other key components. Finally, we’re acutely aware that mountain bikes can cost an arm and a leg, so we make sure to balance each bike’s performance with its price. (Note: If you’re on a tighter budget, we’ve also put together lists of the best trail mountain bikes under $1,500 and best trail mountain bikes under $2,500 ). As the market continues to grow and evolve, we’ll be sure to update the list above to reflect our current favorites.   

Trail Mountain Bike Buying Advice

Frame material: carbon fiber vs. aluminum, full-suspension vs. hardtail, wheel size: 27.5 vs. 29er, drivetrain and gearing, electric mountain bikes (e-mtbs).

• Unisex vs. Women's-Specific Models

Trail Bike Price Guide

Buying a mountain bike online, consumer-direct bikes.

• Should I Buy a Used Bike?  

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

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

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

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

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

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

For 2024, most quality hardtails and full-suspension rigs—including all of those on our list above—utilize a 1X setup. What you get by only having the gearing at the back is improved ergonomics and efficiency—there’s only one shifter to manage—and less weight. In addition, with budget-friendly designs like the 1 x 12 Shimano Deore, you can still get a very wide gear range without breaking the bank. For riders committing to the sport and planning to tackle steeper terrain, we consider a 1X setup to be a worthy upgrade. And a final note here: SRAM and Shimano dominate the 1X market, and in general, as price goes up, weight goes down and shifting smoothness and reliability improve.  

Unisex vs. Women’s-Specific Models

Many trail bikes are made in a unisex style and a range of sizes (typically from “S” to “XL”). This can work well for both men and women, although riders on the shorter end of the spectrum can run into some challenges getting an ideal fit. Some brands like Specialized address this by offering a wider range of sizes within the unisex line. Taking their Stumpjumper Evo as an example, the bike is made in six frame sizes with varying geometry to accommodate different heights. For many women, simply having an array of size options is all they need to get a great fit.

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

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

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

Should I Buy a Used Bike?

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

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

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Bike Finder

Results have arrived, the 12 best downcountry mountain bikes for sale right now (aug. 2023).

Part XC race bike, part do-it-all trail bike, downcountry mountain bikes are an in-between category that satisfies riders who want a bike that climbs and pedals efficiently, while still having enough downhill chops to race down steep and technical descents.

Written by: Bruce Lin

Published on: Aug 11, 2023

Posted in: MTB

Right now, downcountry bikes are the hottest and fastest-growing segment in mountain biking. These machines give riders a light and efficient platform for climbing and long-distance adventures, but they don't shy away from technical and fast downhill terrain.  

Now, many manufacturers are making purpose-built downcountry bikes. These range from souped-up XC bikes to short-travel trail bikes. If you're interested in adding a downcountry bike to your quiver or picking one up to be your quiver killer, these are the top downcountry models currently on the market. 

Read more: What is a Downcountry MTB?

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1. Specialized Epic Evo

I, and many in the industry, consider the Epic Evo the current benchmark for downcountry bikes. I even  own one myself ! It’s based off of the super-successful Epic cross-country frame, but it ditches the proprietary Brain suspension and increases the travel to 110mm in the rear with a 120mm fork to make it more trail-friendly. Losing the Brain damper reservoir also makes it lighter than the standard Epic, which is a nice bonus. 

2. Santa Cruz Blur TR

The Blur TR is similar to the Epic Evo in that it’s based off of Santa Cruz’s Blur cross-country frame. It has its travel increased to 115mm in the rear with a 120mm fork. To keep weight low, it's the only full-suspension bike in the Santa Cruz line-up to not use VPP. Instead, it uses a lighter XC-oriented single-pivot suspension design with carbon flex-stays. Like the Epic Evo, it's also capable of fitting two water bottles in the frame. 

3. Transition Spur

Transition is known in building burly trail and enduro bikes and the Spur is its unique take on a lightweight short-travel downcountry bike designed to take on the gnarly terrain of the Pacific Northwest. It has 120mm of travel front and rear, long reach, and a slack head angle that makes it one of the most downhill-capable downcountry bikes available. 

4. Trek Top Fuel

The Top Fuel evolved over the years from Trek’s dedicated full-suspension cross-country bike into a dedicated downcountry bike. The previous generation had 115mm of rear travel with a 120mm fork, but the current version has been boosted to 120mm of travel with a 130mm fork, so it now straddles more of the trail bike end of the spectrum. 

5. Yeti SB100 / SB115 / SB120

The SB100 was arguably the first purpose-built downcountry bike. Yeti designed it to test the limits of a 100mm travel bike. With newer generations, the rear travel has increased to 115mm (SB115) and now 120mm (SB120), with a 130mm fork. It uses Yeti's proven Switch Infinity suspension system which provides an efficient pedaling platform, but opens up nicely for an extremely plush feel, despite the shorter travel.  

6. Rocky Mountain Element

The Element evolved from Rocky Mountain’s dedicated full-suspension XC bike into a purpose-built downcountry bike with 120mm of travel in the rear with a 130mm fork. Like the Trek Top Fuel and Yeti SB120, it's on the beefier end of the spectrum, but like the Epic Evo and Blur TR, it retains a bit of XC flavor by fitting two water bottles in the frame. 

7. Ibis Ripley

The Ripley has long been Ibis' short-travel trail bike, and it's now in its fourth generation where it's been refined to be longer and slacker. It utilizes a DW-Link suspension system which is renowned for its pedaling efficiency. The DW-Link controls 120mm of rear travel, which is paired with a 130mm fork. 

8. Evil Following

[product-block handle="7259957330112-evil-following-gx-i9-hydra-mountain-bike-2021-large"/]

The Following is another short-travel trail bike that has been around since before the word downcountry was coined. It has always been a bit more of a gravity-oriented bike, and it uses Evil's unique D.E.L.T.A. suspension system which provides a good pedaling platform, but also plenty of progression to handle big hits on gnarly trails. 

9. Pivot Trail 429

The Pivot Trail 429 uses a DW-Link suspension design like Ibis, providing 120mm of rear travel which is paired with a 130mm fork (or a 140mm on the "enduro" version). Recent Trail 429 models also use a Super Boost 157mm rear axle, which stiffens and strengthens the rear wheel and allows for shorter chainstays which provide a more playful ride feel. 

10. Cannondale Scalpel SE 

The Scalpel SE boosts the travel of Cannondale's Scalpel XC race bike by 20mm, to 120mm front and rear with a longer stroke shock and longer travel fork. Like the standard Scalpel, it can also fit two bottles in the frame. At the front, different versions of the Scalpel SE will either come with a 120mm standard fork or Cannondale's iconic single-sided Lefty Ocho fork. 

11. Giant Trance Advanced 29

The Trance is another short-travel trail bike that found its place after downcountry came in vogue. It has 115mm of travel in the rear, which is paired with a 130mm fork. It uses Giant's Maestro suspension technology with adjustable frame geometry to fine-tune the handling for your riding style and terrain.

12. YT Izzo

The YT Izzo is a newer model from the German brand which is better known for its downhill, enduro, trail, and dirt jump bikes. The Izzo is its first attempt at making a shorter-travel bike and it has 120mm of travel front and rear. 

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New arrivals.

Certified Pre-Owned

Pivot Trail 429 XX Eagle Transmission Mountain Bike - 2023, Medium

Trek Fuel EX 8 29 Mountain Bike - 2019, 21.5"

Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 2 Mountain Bike - 2022, X-Large

Specialized Crux Pro Gravel Bike - 2022, 54cm

Trek Full Stache 8 Mountain Bike - 2019, 21.5"

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Orbea Terra Gravel Bike - 2022, Large

Cervélo P-Series Force AXS Disc Time Trial Bike - 2022, 51cm

Specialized Turbo Kenevo Expert 6fattie Mountain E-Bike - 2022, S4

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I tested 58 MTB and gravel bikes last year, here are the ones I really didn't want to give back

Over the past 27 years Guy Kesteven has tested more bikes than anyone else on the planet. So what were his top MTB and gravel picks of 2023?

Forbidden Druid V2

Mason exposure and bokeh 3, cotic flaremax and jeht, canyon neuron, cervelo zfs-5, specialized turbo levo sl ii, santa cruz stigmata, merida one-sixty 8000, whyte e-lyte 140 works.

Bike Perfect's technical editor, Guy Kesteven, tested 58 different bikes in 2023, and with 27 years of testing under his belt, is arguably the world's most experienced bike reviewer. So which models stood out for him in last year? Following his Gear of the Year 2023 article, Guy reveals the 12 best bikes from across several different off-road categories in no particular order... 

The Forbidden Druid V2 is an important part of this list. I had a Druid V1 for several months and loved its sheer ignorance of the high speed slaps that would stop most bikes with more travel dead in their tracks it was always on the weird side. The head angle was a bit steep for the speeds that it could go so easily and the back end was so hyper high pivot, that it felt like it needed a 180mm triple clamp fork – not a 150mm single crown.

The V2 adds an extra pivot in the rear end which makes the suspension a little less stretch and freaky through turns, but still allows long travel speed and insane 35 percent sag grip traction with short travel pedal punch. It’s lighter, neater, slacker and has different proportional geometry and carbon fiber lay-ups for every size to make sure everyone comes under the same ‘high pivot witchcraft’ spell. The colors are sick too, so I’m delighted that it’s the long travel bike I’ll be taking into 2024 as a long term test bike.

With XC bikes now moving up to 120mm of travel as the default setting, there’s a lot of pressure on mid-travel trail bikes to justify their extra weight with real palpable performance increases. With 130 or 140mm forks up front and similar geometry to 150mm travel bikes, that generally means it's the rear end that’s feeling the most pressure to keep up with full on attack capability.

I rode several bikes in this category in 2023, and they covered the light and plush (Pivot 429) to stiff and seriously aggressive (Santa Cruz Tallboy ), but sat right in the sweet spot is Yeti’s SB120 with its unique Switch Infinity suspension.

By flipping the direction of main pivot movement as the suspension moves through its travel, it manages to deliver sensitive traction and big hit control while still maintaining impressive pedaling efficiency. Add excellent balanced geometry and frame feel, and the result is a bike that just makes everything attached to it – including the rider – feel like they’re working better than normal. The latest Switch Infinity gets a load of updates dedicated to increasing durability, and Yeti have slapped a lifetime warranty on most elements of the bike too, which leaves only the painful pricing to cope with.

Artisan South Downs (UK) bike design fanatic, Dom Mason , and his team released two deliciously detailed, Italian built frames and expertly curated complete bike collections this year. Both are in the gravel sphere but both are significantly detailed in their intent and their delivery of the going far and fast behind a drop bar experience.

The Mason Exposure is a long distance adventure specialist with every fixture and fitting you could need to live on two wheels while keeping the visceral vibrancy and flow that can make steel frames feel so alive. The third generation of the legendary, category defining, alloy reviving Mason Bokeh has a more stripped down approach and a more sporting ride vibe while taking bigger tires and adapted geometry so it can open its envelope further into the wild. 

Both are fantastic examples are what happens when fastidious functionality meets an appreciation that a bike can be mobile art and I genuinely don’t know which I like the most. I’d be delighted to ride either on a regular basis though.

Cy Turner of Cotic Cycles is another UK frame designer with a talent for combining both the bigger holistic picture of bike character and making a positive difference with their brand. But he also has an obsession with the tiniest details of custom tube profiles and fractional shifts in geometry and suspension kinematics.

On the surface, the changes to the shorter travel Cotic FlareMax and mid travel Jeht this year are relatively trivial. Both models get stronger single gauge downtube, bottom bracket brace pipes, more consistent spacing between sizes and fractional changes in geometry. The bikes now feel faster, more focused and more capable without gaining any weight though and they’ll feel that way for more people. But most importantly, that unmistakeable muscularly sprung character that premium steel can create when properly understood still provides Cotic’s signature forgivingly grippy and flow boosting ride. The front ends of both bikes are now made in Scotland by Five Land too, guaranteeing phenomenal quality and finishing to sit alongside Cotic’s legendary customer support and vibrant rider community. 

Looking at this list, it’s clear to see I've had something of a charmed life in terms of testing some of the most expensive and exclusive bikes this year. It’s often the more affordable bikes that are the most enjoyable to test through, not least because you know that people buying them will have a brilliant time without having to rob a bank, or film their feet for Only Fans to buy them.

At $2,599 / £2,249 at time of testing, the Canyon Neuron 6 certainly isn’t cheap, but it delivers a performance that’ll shame a lot of bikes double the price and match many of treble the price.

The alloy frame is impressively light but still tight. Geometry and suspension are expertly judged for a welcoming but still confident ride that feels balanced right through the speed range.

Fox suspension, Shimano SLX gears and fast Schwalbe tires are sweet spot cost effective component choices and DT Swiss wheels are a byword for durability.

A good job too as the Neuron was a bike I repeatedly rode far longer and far more than I needed to for testing purposes, because its budget brilliance was obvious straight away. 

While the Cervelo ZFS-5 launched at the opening World Cup race of ’23, I’d been sat on this super-light XC bike (metaphorically and literally as I got a pre production sample two summers ago) since first riding it in early 2022. Cervelo's MTB plans changed after Olympic hopeful, Milan Vader , had a serious crash before the 2022 season and the official launch was put back a year. 

With Lotto Jumbo cyclo-cross crusher, Fem Van Empel, failing to dominate MTB like she does dirty grass track racing and Pinarello launching – and winning on – their bike at the same time, it’s not had much attention besides the weird use of a solid ‘fake shock’ for it’s first World Cup short course race. It’s also been wrongly tagged as a rebadged Santa Cruz Blur by anyone ignorant of the build and geometry details – beyond the suspension hardware it does share with the bike from Cervelo's Californian sibling brand.

The ZFS-5's combination of road bike inspired tube lay-ups and trail bike inspired geometry is lighter, longer and slightly slacker than the Blur though and it’s a killer in 100mm mode and a thriller in 120mm mode. 

Lightweight e-MTB is the hot category right now and I’d already ridden the TQ motor powered Rotwild R.X275, Trek Fuel EXe , and Nox Epium bikes before heading to the iconic and original UK trail centre, Coed-Y-Brenin, to meet the evolved version of Specialized’s original Turbo Levo SL. The Turbo Levo SL II is very much a rider driven development of the original bike. Power of the SL motor has been significantly increased and more anti-squat added to the suspension for a much more positive pedaling experience than the other TQ powered bikes.

Rather than going full lightweight like the Scott Lumen , Specialized saw what most OG SL owners were doing with their bikes and added serious forks, a piggy back shock and a mullet rear wheel with sticky T9 rubber . That obviously cuts into potential speed and efficiency, but leaves it totally uncompromised for attacking technical enduro trails flat out.

Discreet but very programmable data display on the bike, low noise levels and an excellent Mission Control app give the whole Levo/Kenevo family a rider connectivity edge. Specialized also have an unparalleled reputation for customer service too, which is massively important when you’re looking at e-MTBs with their extra complexities and potential for problems.

I’ve ridden several new Santa Cruz bikes this year and both the Tallboy and 5010 are ferociously high performance and viscerally rewarding machines for very specific, but quite narrow sectors of the riding population. My pick from their 2023 roster is remarkable for the breadth of its bandwidth though, as the Santa Cruz Stigmata drop bar bike is radically different from it’s previous ‘CX race weapon, with occasional recreation’ focus.

Slack as an XC bike from not long ago and with tire clearance for 50mm (therefore in reality most ‘2.2in’ MTB tires), the new Stig is an insolent invitation to do things you probably shouldn’t even think about on drop bars. It’s certainly the first gravel bike I’ve enjoyed – and become addicted to – drifting round corners at every opportunity. While it’s not covered in enough bikepacking nipples to have it drowned as a medieval witch, it’s got a huge amount of internal storage and a lifetime warranty on frame and carbon Reserve wheels. While the version I’ve got with RockShox Rudy forks and Reverb XPLR dropper on is definitely on the chunky side, Keegan Swanson has been putting carbon time trial rings on his and winning almost every big gravel race in the US. So whether you’re into dusty almost road racing or borderline MTB adventures, the new Stig is a proper all-rounder. Something being proved by the fact I’m enjoying and appreciating more every time I ride it, whether that's epic gravel events in the Yorkshire Dales, or carrying trail tools up to the woods for some trail maintenance work.

Merida are understandably sick of nearly every review of their bikes starting with something like “As one of the biggest and best bicycle manufacturers in the world they make bikes for lots of people as well as their own stuff”. It seems their most recent One-Forty trail and One-Sixty enduro bikes have been deliberately designed to prove how radical they can be. They’ve not only nailed that, but delivered an impressive dual personality platform in the process. The fact they’ve stretched the single pivot flex-stay design normally reserved for 120mm travel bikes up to 171mm on the mullet version of One-Sixty is a neat piece of engineering. The same frame can be used to build a 143/151mm travel bike if you shorten the shock stroke too, so you’ve got a really versatile chassis in either carbon or alloy formats. 

Despite the rad design and deliberate ‘being different’ spec like Marzocchi forks and custom infinite adjust dropper posts as standard, what really makes the Merida pairing stand out is how easy yet very enjoyable they are to ride. Even the triathlon style 80-degree seat angle doesn’t even feel as weird as you might expect on the flat and comes into it’s own on super steep technical climbs. 

Neat practical detailing includes Fidlock bottles , tube straps and a short rear mud fender and prices are very keen. Overall weights are high though and the external plastic dropper stroke adjuster is a reliability and aspirational aesthetic low point (though droppers are covered by a one year warranty).

I’ve not left the Whyte E-Lyte 140 Works until last for any other reason than the fact I’ve not actually finished reviewing it yet. It’s already one of those bikes that I’m deliberately dragging out the process of testing on though, because it’s an absolute blast to ride. It’s also an interesting attempt by Whyte to capture a market that a lot of brands have completely forgotten about. However, Whyte (and Marin – when they designed those bikes 25 years ago too) have always had a huge following among riders who go for proper days out. Ones with maps and massive mileages across moors where speed and efficiency win over sticky tires, snaking pirate tracks and pushing back up because you only use Boost mode and spin out on climbs.

So while most ‘trail riders’ will prefer the 150mm travel E-Lyte with it’s bigger fork and grippier tires the rapid rubber, Fox 34 fork , carbon dropper seat post and carbon railed saddle, the 140 Works is right up my street. Because not only is the new high watt, low weight Bosch SX motor powerful enough to match most full fat bikes (if you add some base fitness), the E-Lyte still climbs and grips like a proper bike. The geometry is enhanced by the super low centre of gravity, even with the ‘PowerMore’ range extender in place, and when you finally find something it can’t get up or over at sub 17kg, it’s actually only a kilo or so heavier than a lot of trail bikes are now anyway.

Guy Kesteven has been working on Bike Perfect since its launch in 2019. He started 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. He’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and he reviews MTBs over on YouTube.

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

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

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off-road.cc

Best mountain bikes 2024 - top options from cross-country to enduro.

Mountain bikes have come a long way since the early days with new discipline-specific bikes now coming in an array of shapes and forms with varying degrees of suspension travel, too. It can get very complicated for the novice rider so we've made things easy for you with this guide to the best mountain bikes.

The best cross-country mountain bikes are built to climb just as quickly as they can descend and as such, they’re usually fitted with suspension figures from 80- up to 120mm in the most extreme cases.

The next step up is trail bikes and this area is the most competitive. These bikes come with suspension travel ranging from 120 to 160mm, so their range is much broader. These bikes are designed to be capable all-rounders. Trail bike geometries range massively from those that are more cross-country to numbers that won’t look out of place on an enduro bike.

Enduro bikes come with travel ranging from 160 to 190mm. These are designed to smash the gnarliest of trails, often against the clock. While they’re still built to behave when pedalling, they take downhill performance very seriously, usually coming with very progressive geometries that offer full support and stability when descending at speed.

Of course, hardtails do things a little differently as they have no rear suspension but that doesn’t mean that they’re not designed towards certain intentions. Again, their suspension travel ranges and their geometries slacken and get more progressive as their downhill capabilities edge more to the extreme.

At off.road.cc , we try our very best to test a range of mountain bikes to help you make the most educated purchasing decisions. Here’s a list of some of the top-performing cross-country, trail, and enduro bikes we’ve tested. Keep reading to learn more about the best mountain bikes or skip to the bottom for answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Best cross-country mountain bikes

Orbea oiz m-team axs, rockrider race 900s, giant anthem advanced pro 29 1.

Orbea's Oiz is a cross-country bike that's built to cope with the ever-increasing rigours of modern cross-country courses and, with that, it extends its versatility well within the remit of trail riding. The Oiz comes with a lightweight carbon frame and this particular model holds no bars, coming with a full suite of Fox Factory suspension and SRAM's T-Type drivetrain.

As common on modern cross-country bikes, this one features a flex stay which takes the place of a Horst link, lowering weight while making maintenance simpler. There's space for two water bottles in the frame and as an Orbea bike, this one can be custom-painted to your preferences.

For more on the Orbea Oiz, check out the Orbea Oiz M-Team AXS mountain bike review .

Decathlon's mountain bike brand, Rockrider is known for offering seriously good value and with word that the brand has entered the elite cross-country circuit, we had to see how its XC platform performs. Posing stellar value for money is the RACE 900S and for £3,000, you get a full carbon frame with 120mm of travel, a RockShox Reba fork and Reynolds carbon wheels. On top of that, there's a wireless SRAM GX AXS drivetrain.

And the ride is just as good as the bang for the buck as the frame showed good stiffness while providing a solid and efficient riding position. The bike's comfortable to ride and although its geometry isn't as progressive as other XC bikes, climbing was effective and general performance was nothing to sniff at.

If an excellent-value XC package is what you're looking for, find more details in our Rockrider RACE 900S mountain bike review .

Moving towards the opposite of the value scale (in comparison to the Rockrider) is Giant's Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1. However, for your £7,500, Giant has cut no corners, giving the bike a carbon frame and Fox's Live Valve technology. This bit rocks Giant's take on a flex stay suspension platform that delivers 100mm of travel at the rear wheel. There's also 110mm of suspension at the front.

As for its ride, this is one fast machine that's stiff under cornering loads, and the Live Valve tech ups the efficiency without the rider needing to lift a finger. It's fun, manoeuvrable and lively, providing a unique ride feel from this high-end XC bike.

For a deeper look at this bike, here's the Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1 mountain bike review .

Best trail mountain bikes

Canyon spectral 125 cf8, scott genius 900 ultimate, merida one-forty 6000.

As its name suggests, the Canyon Spectral 125 CF8 comes with 125mm of rear wheel travel combined with 140mm at the front. It’s a fun and lightweight trail ripper that’ll please any rider. Thanks to its little suspension and well-considered kinematic, it’s a keen peddler uphill but because of its progressive geometry, it’s incredibly capable when pointed downhill. It presents good value for money too. This bike rolls on 29-inch wheels.

Canyon says that the Spectral 125 is designed to offer a new experience compared to the Spectral and the brand has confidently hit the nail on the head. It’s just as fast, poised, and composed as the bigger travel bike but it’s much faster on the pedals, more supportive under compression and it certainly doesn’t hold back on the agility front.

If a short travel trail ripper is right up your street, here's the full Canyon Spectral 125 CF8 review .

As far as trail bikes go, the Scott Genius is a spendy one but for the investment that's now reaching £10k, the brand is giving you an awful lot of bike. It's built around Scott's stiffest and lightest HMX carbon fibre frame that features the cool internal shock tech that the brand has been making its name for. 

For your money, the bike also provides top-end Fox suspension, carbon Syncros wheels, a one-piece carbon bar and stem, and a carbon-railed saddle. But money and build kit aside, the Genius offers a truly unique ride that doesn't detract from what makes any trail bike great fun. But it adds to the party in terms of stiffness as this is one of the stiffest full-suspension trail bikes around. Cornering feels very much like turning a hardtail while its suspension does a fantastic job of absorbing bumps. Its geometry, while standard trail bike geometry, is bang on the money too.

For a deep dive into the details of this bike, check out the Scott Genius 900 Ultimate mountain bike review .

Geometry-wise, the One-Forty has firmly moved the goalposts. That’s because it comes with a super lengthy 510mm reach on a large frame, a figure that’s not even found on most enduro bikes. Offering both mullet wheel setups and full 29-inch hoops, the One-Forty offers a cracking descending character while comfortable and efficient pedalling which makes it an ideal choice for big and long days on the bike.

One-Forty uses flex stays in the place of a horst link. This saves precious grams while making maintenance a bit simpler. Each frame size gets a kinematic designed especially to suit harder riding or heavier riders, increasing the platform’s progression as the size grows.

Check out the Merida One-Forty 6000 review to find out more.

Best enduro mountain bikes

• YT Industries Capra Core 4

Merida One-Sixty 500

Starling cycles megamurmur, yt industries capra core 4 £5,200.

The Capra Core 4 is YT Industries’ range-topping enduro bike. As such, it comes stacked with top-shelf kit, including the Fox 38 Factory fork with 170mm of travel and the Fox X2 shock that damps 165mm of squish.

As far as enduro bike geometry goes, this one is a little more conservative but it's appreciably agile. It adopts a tweaked geometry with a steeper seat tube, a slacker head angle and a stretched reach. Coming from a direct-sales brand, it doesn’t carry the price tag of similarly specced rigs from other brands.

If this sleek enduro bike ticks your boxes, here's the YT Industries Capra Core 4 review .

With its stellar ride quality, efficiency up a hill and ruthlessness down a hill, the Merida One-Sixty 500 is without a doubt the best enduro mountain bike for the cash. It's built around an alloy frame but the kit bolted onto it is all killer. 

The result is a bike that's more than happy to be ridden in anger between the tapes as it combines a unique blend of stability and manoeuvrability. Its kinematic is awesome too, providing spritely pedalling but it's keen to open up and absorb bumps. It then offers the ability to switch the rear wheel size from the 29-inch wheel as standard to a 650b hoop while retaining its forward-thinking geometry.

If you're looking to get enduro racing without busting the bank, the One-Sixty 500 is a great starting place. Take a look at our  Merida One-Sixty 500 mountain bike review  to help make up yout mind.

From £2,330

The Mega Murmur from Bristol-based brand, Starling Cycles is a hand-made steel-framed enduro bike that defies convention while offering top-level performance that'll please anyone who loves a planted and heavy-hitting ride. Other brands strive to build bikes stiffer and stiffer but the Mega Murmur takes pride in its compliant ride, which results in a bike that's easy to ride very, very quickly.

This bike gets a lot of what makes Starling's Murmur great, but it builds upon that solid foundation, adding a longer 455mm chainstay to the mix, as well as 165mm of rear suspension. Starling does things a little differently when it comes to the build kit too, providing potential customers with the opportunity to spec the bike how they like, dipping into a stock of components that meet the demands of the folk behind the brand.

For more on this bike, read the Starling Cycles Mega Murmur mountain bike review .

Best hardtail mountain bikes

Stif squatch pro, voodoo bizango, santa cruz chameleon r al 29, starling cycles roost, gt aggressor expert.

The steel-framed Stif Squatch is a bike with a progressive geometry right at its heart. Built with compliant chainstays, it’s a hardtail that can be ridden quickly while dampening the harsh sting out of small trail features.

It gets a very slack 64-degree head tube angle but as it’s paired with a 130mm suspension fork, it doesn’t steepen heavily as it moves through its travel. It then gets a very steep seat tube, making this an efficient winch-and-plummet machine.

If an aggro, steel hardtail is right up your street, here's the Stif Squatch Pro review .

The best mountain bikes don’t need to be expensive and the Voodoo Binzango is a shining example of that. While it doesn’t have the fancy bells and whistles of its pricier competition, it gets a well-sorted geometry that makes this an ideal first, or second bike for anyone who wants to hit the trails. The Bizango is a 29er with 120mm of travel, and it’s an ideal bike for anything the UK’s trail centres have to throw at it.

The seat tube angle - on a large - is rated at 74.5-degrees with a 461mm reach. The former places rider weight centrally and comfortably above the pedals while the latter offers plenty of room to shift that weight around. The reach isn’t massively long for a large frame but it keeps the front end well-behaved, planted, and easy to weight-up when getting you up a hill.

If the Voodoo Bizango tickles your fancy, this is the Voodoo Bizango review .

The Chameleon is built to be an adaptable hardtail that can accommodate both a full 29-inch or a mullet wheel size. It comes with a range of mounting points, allowing the rider to load it up with bags, or simply shred their favourite trails.

This bike is graced with a reasonably progressive geometry that doesn’t take things too far, so it’s capable on the downs while comfortable if you’re looking for big miles. As far as geometry goes, the Santa Cruz Chameleon benefits from a 465mm reach on this large frame. This isn't long but it's definitely not short. 

The 74.4-degree seat tube isn’t particularly steep but the pair results in a pretty spacious cockpit and, to a point, it can feel slightly stretched while seated when the 800mm Burgtech bar and 42.5mm stem are thrown into the mix.

If you like the sound of a shape-shifting hardtail, here's the full Santa Cruz Chameleon R AL 29 review .

From £1,220

The Roost is Starling Cycles’ hardtail mountain bike that’s been designed to offer pure, unadulterated fun and longevity, and it does so in spades. It's a modern trail hardtail that squeezes every inch of fun out of any trail with an exhilarating and rowdy but confident and refined ride feel.

What makes the Roost special is that it's built around a stainless steel frame and while that ups the price a little compared to regular steel, it also ups the durability, making for a frame that'll look great for years to come. The frame we tested was already two years old. 

The Roost achieves an excellent ride through Starling's careful geometry choices. These figures have resulted in a bike that ticks all of the boxes a trail hardtail should; it's fun, confident and super rowdy but without stretching into the realms of proper aggressive hardtails.

For more, give our  Starling Cycles Roost mountain bike review  a read.

Taking its place as the lowest-priced bike in this round-up is the GT Aggressor Elite. It may not get all of the mod-cons that you would expect from a modern mountain bike but during our test, we found it to still be plenty of fun and well-equipped enough for easier going, entry-level off-road riding.

The bike's Triple Triangle frame design adds a welcome level of compliance to the ride that'll be appreciated by those who want a more comfortable ride. It also boosts the Aggressor's capability, making it more than happy to take on the odd bit of singletrack. If you're on a budget and want to begin off-road cycling, this bike is well worth considering.

Check out the GT Aggressor Elite mountain bike review to learn more.

Mason's RAW is the brand's first ever mountain bike and after our testing, we found that it delivers. It's a bike that's aimed towards long-distance and fast off-road riding and thanks to its steel frame, it hits the mark while offering an engaging and supple feel.

Making this bike a little different from others is that it's well sorted with a tonne of mounting points, providing plenty of opportunity for heavier-going bikepacking epics. However, because of its bikepacking and distance focus, it may not be the most confident when it comes to more technical descending.

For more information, here's our super-detailed  Mason RAW mountain bike review .

How to choose the best mountain bike

What is the best type of bike for mountain biking.

A trail bike is often an excellent place to start because these bikes are good all-rounders. But the best way to figure out what bike is best for you is to get out and ride a few. Whether that’s borrowing your mate’s or heading to your local trail centre’s rental facility. This will help you form your tastes and inform you of what you like, and dislike about certain kinds of bikes before finding one that suits you the best. Lots of brands also offer demo days, where they’ll bring the whole range of bikes for you to try. The same goes for bike shops, too, and the benefit of these is that you’ll be able to test bikes from several companies. Sometimes there’s a small fee to pay, others you simply just need to sign up and head to the right trail centre.

Is a full-suspension mountain bike better than a hard tail?

Both full-suspension mountain bikes and hardtails have their pros and cons. Starting with the former, they’re much better at smoothing out bumps, which improves overall control at speed, while offering a more comfortable ride when you’re pedalling uphill. Full-suspension mountain bikes are easier to ride at higher speeds but because of the relationship between pedalling forces and how suspension works, they’re not as efficient when pedalling. Hardtails are often chosen for their efficiency, as there’s no rear suspension that’ll move as the rider pedals. This helps massively when pedalling uphill because there’s no suspension to work against you. Often, hardtails are lighter, too, so they’re regularly spotted on the cross-country circuit. They also require far less maintenance, as there are no pivot bearings that’ll wear out with time.

For the trail rider, however, hardtails provide a fun and engaging ride that will never be found on a full-suspension bike, no matter how hard designers may try. Some even say that they’re the perfect starting place for new riders to begin honing their skills as they don’t have the rear-end forgiveness of a full-suspension bike. This will force riders to consider their line choice more, and thus find the smoother and faster line more effectively.

Is it better for a mountain bike to be too big or too small?

Like choosing a mountain bike, mountain bike sizing and geometry  are big talking points and there’s no wrong answer. To merely skim the surface, a smaller mountain bike will feel more agile on the trail at the price of stability at speed, and through steeper sections. A bigger mountain bike will be more stable but not as agile. What’s most important is that you can fit on your bike while being able to achieve the full range of movement towards the front and rear of your bike. On every brand’s website, each bike comes with a recommended size range and more often than not, it’s pretty accurate.

But it’s always the best idea to get hands-on with a bike and see how it feels to you in a shop before settling on the correct size for you. The bike should feel comfortable without feeling as if you’re stretched over it, or cramped.

What is the best frame material?

Alloy (aluminium), carbon, titanium or steel. Each frame material offers its own unique properties. Alloy is often found on lower-end bikes and is favoured for its low cost and durability. It’s also rather environmentally friendly as it can be recycled, and it produces fewer emissions during manufacturing. Frames made from alloy can feel harsh, however.

Steel is known for a special blend of stiffness and compliance. As such, it’s usually used to build mid to high-end hardtails. It’s not the lightest material on the market but it offers a good deal of strength. It’s also one of the most environmentally friendly materials as it can be recycled and doesn’t produce as much CO2 throughout the whole process. A majority of higher-end bikes come built with carbon-fibre frames. Brands choose carbon to build their bikes with because more often than not, it’s lighter in weight and stiffer than its metal counterparts. It also allows the designers to create more attractive shapes.

Titanium is then reserved for the highest-end bikes, which mostly take the form of hardtails. Not only is titanium expensive, but it’s notoriously difficult to work with. It’s desired for its strength-to-weight ratio and its ease of repair when damaged or scratched.

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Liam Mercer

Tech Editor here at off.road.cc Liam can also be found photographing bikes as well as revelling in cycling's intricacies. Whether it's gravel, mountain, or e-MTB as long as it's a bike on dirt, he's happy.

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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?

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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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15 Best Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes in 2024 – Top Models in All MTB Disciplines

Image source: cannondale.com

Full-suspension mountain bikes are the go-to for mountain bikers who want the ability to handle anything the trail has to offer. 

Finding the best full-suspension mountain bike is a highly personal endeavor, as riders have individual preferences, body shapes, technical abilities, and trails they use. 

As a result, a bike perfectly suited to one individual may be inappropriate for the next. So, to help you find the right bike as a new rider, consult a more experienced rider or the buying guide at the end of this article. 

This article will review 15 of the best full-suspension mountain bikes for 2024 and finish with a brief guide on choosing the perfect dual-suspension MTB. 

Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike Selection for 2024

1. Pivot Mach 4 SL Ride 2. Ibis Ripmo XT 3. Co-op Cycles DRT 3.3 4. Devinci Django A29 SX 5. Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1 6. Diamondback Release 29 3 7. Salsa Blackthorn 8. Alchemy Bikes Arktos 140 9. Yeti SB140 10. Orbea Occam SL M30 11. Santa Cruz Tallboy 5 C R 12. Niner RIP 9 RDO 13. Marin Rift Zone Series 14. Juliana Wilder C R TR 15. Santa Cruz Bullit

1. Pivot Mach 4 SL Ride

• MSRP: $6,200
• Frame: Carbon
• Travel : 120mm (f) 100mm (r)
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.2″

Reasons to buy:

• Full carbon frame
• Fast XC tires
• DW-Link suspension platform

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly heavier than the competition

Pivot is a MTB-specific brand with a range of high-value-for-money models. The Mach 4 SL Ride is their race-ready XC model.

This 29er trail bike has 120mm of travel front and 100mm rear from a Fox Float 34 Performance Step-cast fork and a Performance Float DPS shock. These impressive suspension parts offer plenty of support for riders tackling cross-country races or fast, flowy trail rides.

The groupset comprises a set of Shimano SLX M7100 hydraulic disc brakes with tons of stopping power and an XT/SLX 12-speed drivetrain with a standard 10-51t MTB cassette for climbing steep hills more easily .

The other notable features of this bike are a Fox Transfer Elite dropper seatpost for enhanced descending capability and rapid Maxxis Ardent Race EXO 2.2″ tires that maximize rolling speed for XC riding.

Overall, this bike will suit intermediate and experienced cross-country/trail riders who want to take their rides to the next level.

Buy from Mike's Bikes

2. Ibis Ripmo XT

Best all-rounder trail bike for fast, gnarly trails

• MSRP: $7,299
• Travel: 160mm (f)147mm (r)
• Tire Size: 2.5″
• Capable of enduro riding and days with lots of elevation
• Premium DW-Link suspension platform
• Very fast 
• Tons of grip
• Playful for a 29er
• Too much bike for light trails

The Ibis Ripmo XT is one of the industry’s best high-travel trail mountain bikes. Ibis are masters in designing top-level MTBs , and the Ripmo is a perfect example of their expertise in action, starting from the original version.

The Ripmo uses a Fox Float X2 147mm rear shock paired with a 160mm 38 Factory fork. These parts link with Ibis’ DW-Link suspension platform that simultaneously enhances climbing efficiency and downhill performance. 

This bike handles like a dream at high speeds on rough terrain. However, it maintains a playful edge that helps lend to the do-it-all persona. Ibis chose a high-performance Shimano XT M8100 drivetrain for this build, paired with 10-51t cassette and XT M8120 4-Piston hydraulic discs. 

The wheelset includes underwhelming Ibis S35 aluminum alloy rims and hubs wrapped in Maxxis Assegai 29 x 2.5″ tires on the front and back. The premium carbon frame also has space to run 2.6″ tires should you want to beef up the grip and comfort. 

Other design features that make this bike stand out include the modern progressive geometry that balances stability with an efficient climbing position and the coil shock compatibility for a more supple suspension feel. 

Don’t miss out on the Rimpo XT if you have a big budget and want a fast and fun trail bike with impressive capability all over the mountain. 

Buy from Jenson USA     

3. Co-op Cycles DRT 3.3

The best affordable choice for light trails and XC riding

• MSRP: $3,399
• Frame: Aluminum
• Travel: 140 mm
• Tire Size: 27.5×2.4″ (XS, S) or 29 x 2.4″ (M-XL)
• Progressive sizing 
• Affordable price
• Powerful 4-piston brakes
• Light for the price (33.5lb – M)
• Not enough room for a bottle

REI’s Co-op Cycles is known for its affordable and reliable bicycles across all disciplines. The DRT is their range of MTBs, and the 3.3 is the highest-spec model of the bunch and the best full-suspension mountain bike for beginners. 

The DRT 3.3 has a lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy frame with 140 mm of travel on the front and rear. The suspension includes a RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock and a RockShox 35 Gold RL Debonair fork. This combination performs well for the price range.

The groupset is all Shimano SLX/Deore, consisting of powerful four-piston Deore hydraulic disc brakes and a reliable SLX 12-speed drivetrain with a 10-51t cassette. 

All models of the DRT 3.3 use Co-op’s aluminum double-wall wheels. However, the XS and S models use Maxxis Recon 2.4″ tires on the 27.5″ rims, and the three larger ones use Maxxis Recon 2.4″ tires with 29″ wheels. These are relatively fast-rolling tires with a solid cornering grip. 

The spec of this bike is suited to light to moderate trail riding, perfect for beginners and riders switching from a hardtail. Add the DRT 3.3 to your shortlist if you want a solid performer and you value reliability at a reasonable price. 

Buy from REI

4. Devinci Django A29 SX

Best low-travel trail bike for fast climbing and moderate downhills

• MSRP: $2,999
• Travel: 140mm (f) 120mm (r)
• Tire Size: 29″ x 2.5″
• Split Pivot suspension 
• Powerful brakes
• Lifetime frame warranty
• Slightly heavy

Canadian brand Devinci is an expert in mountain bike design, and the Django A 29 is the premium aluminum build on the Django lineup. 

This short-travel bike is suited to riders who want a fast machine to thunder over bumpy trails and up climbs . The frame is an Optimum G04 aluminum alloy with impressive stiffness-to-weight characteristics, 2.6″ tire clearance, lots of frame protection, and internal cable routing. 

The bike’s suspension includes a 140mm Rockshox Revelation RC fork and a 120mm Deluxe Select+ shock. The Split Pivot suspension linkage enhances these parts by isolating acceleration from braking forces to increase grip and pedaling efficiency.

The Django has modern trail bike geometry that balances stability on technical routes with a natural and balanced climbing position. Additionally, you have a geometry flip chip for on-the-trail adjustments. 

Other notable features include the SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain with a 11-50t cassette and SRAM Guide T brakes with 200 mm rotors, and Maxxis Minion DHF/Aggressor 2.5″ tires. 

Consider this premium aluminum trail bike if you want high-end performance at a reasonable price. 

Buy from evo.com

5. Cannondale Jekyll 1

Best for aggressive enduro riding

• MSRP: $6,100
• Travel: 170mm (f) 165mm (r)
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.5″ + 2.4″ 
• Stable and balanced geometry
• Fast on rough terrain
• Proportional Response design 
• Guider pulley stops pedal kickback
• Slightly pricey for the spec

The Cannondale Jekyll 1 is an impressive race-ready enduro bike designed for stability on chunky descents at high speeds.

The Jekyll 1 is one of the best mountain bikes with front and rear suspension you’ll find at this price thanks to the innovative design features.

Cannondale pulled no punches with the Jekyll, incorporating all their top-end frame technologies to deliver a luxurious ride quality. Their Proportional Response design means the suspension is tuned specifically for each size, and the geometry of the bike changes to accommodate different size riders. 

Cannondale Jekyll AL 29 4 Review

Next, the four-bar suspension linkage isolates braking forces from suspension, improving pedaling efficiency and enhancing grip when you need it most. This system means your Fox Float Factory 38 170mm fork and Float Factory X2 165mm shock can perform better than they would individually. 

Another great feature of this bike is the Ai Offset drivetrain which delivers more tire and mud clearance while allowing for a stronger rear wheel.

For the groupset, you have a SRAM NX Eagle with a wide-range 12-speed 10-52t cassette, an X1 crankset, and SRAM Code RSC hydraulic disc brakes with 220/200mm rotors. 

Overall, this is an excellent bike, but it isn’t cheap. Consider the Jekyll 1 if you want a high-performance enduro bike from a big-name brand like Cannondale. 

6. Diamondback Release 29 3

Best for trail rides with lots of climbing and flowing descents

• MSRP: $4,550
• Travel: 140mm (f) 130mm (r)
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.3″
• Fast climber
• SRAM GX Eagle groupset
• Level Link suspension platform enhances performance
• Cables not fully internally routed

The Diamondback Release 3 29er is a mid-travel trail bike with excellent all-rounder characteristics and high-level features. 

Due to the aluminum frame material, Diamondback could choose higher-end components, including a full SRAM GX Eagle groupset with a 12-speed derailleur, 10-50t cassette, and Shimano XT hydraulic discs. 

The suspension system is the most impressive part of this bike. It includes a Fox 34 Performance Float 140mm fork and a Performance Elite Float DPS 130mm shock. These components benefit from Diamondback’s Level Link, which enhances pedaling efficiency, traction, and overall ride quality, making 130mm feel like 140mm. 

The wheels are a slight disappointment for a $4,500 bike. These include proprietary Blanchard alloy 28R rims and hubs wrapped in Minion DHF and DHR 29 x 2.3″ tires. These balanced tires help keep speeds high without sacrificing too much grip. 

All things considered, this is a fast and capable trail bike that suits riders who tackle long days in the saddle with plenty of elevation gain and a variety of trails. 

Buy from Diamondback.com

7. Salsa Blackthorn

Best premium do-it-all trail/enduro bike

• MSRP: $2,200
• Travel: 160mm
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.5″ + 2.4″
• Shimano Deore 12-speed derailleur
• Bottomless feel
• Powerful Shimano MT4100 brakes 
• Super efficient climber
• Hefty trail bike

The Salsa Blackthorn is one of the most versatile longer travel trail bikes you’ll find, capable of tackling light enduro riding while maintaining smooth and efficient climbing ability. 

Salsa Cycles chose a RockShox Super Deluxe Select rear shock paired with a 160 mm RockShox 35 Gold RL fork for this build. The Split Pivot+ suspension linkage enhances these components by boosting climbing efficiency and descending performance. 

The Shimano groupset combines premium Deore and mid-tier SLX components with four-piston hydraulic disc brakes. The cassette is Shimano’s widest 10-51t 12-speed, providing a massive range for climbing the steepest grades. 

One impressive thing about this bike is the compatibility with 29″, 27.5″, and mixed-wheel setup, giving riders several possibilities based on their favored terrain or the trail conditions. The stock tires are Maxxis Assegai 2.5″ and Maxxis Dissector 2.4″ on WTB ST i30 wheels. 

If you have a limited budget and you’re looking for an exceptionally versatile trail/enduro bike to crush almost anything that comes your way, the Salsa Blackthorn could be the bike for you. 

Buy from REI.com

8. Alchemy Bikes Arktos 140

Best Top-Tier Build

• MSRP: from $7,299
• Frame: Carbon 
• Travel: 150mm
• Consistent geometry across sizing
• 27.5″ or 29″ wheel compatibility 
• Lots of frame protection
• High-quality carbon frame

The Alchemy Arktos 140 is a premium trail bike with an award-winning frame and various customization choices available. 

This bike utilizes Alchemy’s Sine Suspension design which is a dual-linkage platform designed to enhance pedaling efficiency as well as traction and control on gnarly descents. The suspension includes a Fox 36 29 Factory Kashima 150mm fork and a Fox Float Factory Kashima shock.

The frame is Alchemy’s most advanced carbon fiber layup . The incredibly stiff frame has a triangulated rear swingarm, oversized suspension linkages, and compact design to enhance durability and improve suspension kinematics.

Like most of their bikes, the Arktos has an impressive build kit for the price, including Industry Nine 29 Enduro-S Hydra rims, a Fox Factory Transfer 175mm dropper, and Maxxis Assegai 2.5″ EXO and Minion DHR 2.4″ EXO tires. Choose between SRAM GX, X01, or Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrains at checkout. 

Overall, the Alchemy Bikes Arktos is a well-balanced trail option that performs well wherever you go thanks to the impressive design and componentry.

Buy from Alchemy Bikes

9. Yeti SB140

Best value dual suspension mountain bike for racing

• Travel: 160mm (f) 140mm (r)
• Wicked fast 
• Lightweight carbon frame
• Switch Infinity improves suspension efficiency and support
• Struggles on steep descents

The Yeti SB140 is the brand’s medium-travel trail/cross-country bike designed for racing and huge days on the trails with lots of climbing. 

Yeti chose a 160mm Fox Performance 36 fork paired with a Performance Float X shock and linked by their patented Switch Infinity platform . This system allows Yeti to custom tune the suspension to match the bike’s intended characteristics; speed and agility.

The premium carbon fiber frame has an integrated hanger and axle, Boost dropouts, internal cable routing, and a press fit bottom bracket. Additionally, the geometry is stable and comfortable, thanks to a medium reach, a forward-biased posture, and a low bottom bracket.

This build kit includes an SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed rear derailleur with a 10-52t cassette, a OneUp dropper seatpost (150-210 mm), SRAM Code R four-piston brakes, Crank Brothers Synthesis Enduro 30mm rims, and Maxxis Minion 2.4″ and 2.5″ tires. 

Don’t look past Yeti’s SB140 if you have high ambitions and want a premium bike to help you fulfill them. 

Buy from Jenson USA

10. Orbea Occam SL M30

Best full suspension mountain bike 2024

• MSRP: $4,799
• Frame: OMR Carbon Fiber
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.4″
• Efficient climber
• Lightweight
• Comfortable 
• Balanced and predictable on most trails
• Top-level components
• Slow cornering 

The Orbea Occam SL M30 is the best-selling build in the series, with an eye-watering price matched by the exceptional design and specs . Agile geometry, progressive suspension, and 29er wheels mean this bike can handle all but the gnarliest downhill terrain.

The two-part linkage used on this bike enhances the performance of the individual components as Orbea tuned it to improve control under successive big impacts, making this bike capable of light enduro riding. 

The suspension is 140 mm front and rear, with a Fox Float Performance shock and a Fox 34 Float Performance fork. And you also get an OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper post.

Orbea chose a full Shimano XT groupset for buttery-smooth shifting. This setup includes a rear derailleur, 10-51t 12-speed cassette, and a Race Face Aeffect 32T crankset.

Other notable features of this trail beast include the Schwalbe Wicked Will 2.4″ tires, Fizik Terra Ridon X5 saddle, and Race Face AR 30c TLR rims. 

All things considered, this is a world-class trail bike with the price tag to match; consider it if you’ve got a high budget and want the best of the best. 

11. Santa Cruz Tallboy 5 C R

Best low-travel trail bike for downhill riding

• Travel: 130mm (f) 120mm (r)
• Suspension overperforms its rated travel
• Stable and predictable on descents
• Narrow tires

The Santa Cruz Tallboy 5 C R is a low-suspension travel trail 29er and the more expensive of the two aluminum models on the Tallboy lineup.

This bike is one of the most capable bikes in this category for downhill riding. Santa Cruz tunes the lower-link VPP suspension to deliver maximum support on chunky terrain , which is seen on its other models as well, such as the Blur. 

For a low-travel XC/trail bike, the Tallboy doesn’t ascend as well on technical terrain but can thunder up smoother climbs with relative ease. The suspension components include a 120mm Fox Float Performance DPS rear shock and a 130mm RockShox Pike Base fork. 

The groupset is SRAM NX Eagle with Guide T four-piston hydraulic disc brakes, which is typical for this price range, providing reliable performance. Additionally, Santa Cruz chose a Maxxis Dissector and Rekon 2.4″ for tires. However, the bike has clearance for 2.6″ tires. 

If you want the general characteristics of a low-travel aluminum trail bike that can ride on rougher downhill terrain from time to time, then look no further than the Santa Cruz Tallboy 5 C R. 

12. Niner RIP 9 RDO

Best for aggressive trail riding and XC racing

• MSRP: $5,099
• Travel: 150 mm
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.6″
• Carbon fiber frameset
• Highly capable descender
• Balanced geometry
• Slightly underwhelming wheelset

The Niner RIP 9 RDO is a trail 29er that handles aggressive riding and is surprisingly steady on rough downhill terrain. 

This trail bike comes at a premium price but easily justifies it with high-end components and innovative engineering.

The groupset is a full SRAM SX Eagle setup with SRAM Level Hydraulic Disc brakes, an 11-50t cassette, and a 32T crankset. In addition, the RIP 9 RDO impresses with a KS Lev Si Dropper Post that is always a welcome sight on trail bikes.

The combination of a Fox 36 Float Factory fork and Fox Float X Performance shock is enhanced by Niner’s CVA (Constant Varying Arc) linkage. This system is stable and efficient while pedaling and highly supportive when tackling chunky terrain, making long days on the trail feel well within reach. 

The wheelset chosen includes Niner Alloy 30mm wheels and Schwalbe Hans Dampf and Nobby Nic 2.6″ tires. Unfortunately, this wheelset is a little disappointing for a bike that costs more than $5,000. 

Niner chose predictable trail geometry with a longer, lower, and slacker setup that inspires confidence on descents without sacrificing comfort on climbs. 

This is a solid choice for trail riders who lean toward more aggressive riding. Add the Niner RIP 9 RDO to your shortlist if you have a big budget. 

13. Marin Rift Zone Series

Best entry-level full suspension mountain bike

• MSRP: $1,899 – $4,859
• Frame: Aluminum or Carbon/Aluminum mix
• Travel: 130mm (f) 125mm (r)
• Tire Size: 27.5 x 2.35″ or 29 x 2.5″ 
• Excellent value 
• Tubeless-ready 
• Fast going uphill
• Efficient bike for long rides
• Off-brand crankset 
• Minimal frame protection

The Marin Rift Zone is the brand’s flagship full-suspension mountain bike. It falls neatly into the low-travel trail category, optimized for speed on climbs and flowy descents . This series includes the best full suspension mountain bike under $2000.

The low rear travel means the Rift Zone is efficient going uphill, at the loss of a bit of traction when tackling rough climbs. The slightly less forgiving suspension encourages fast, standing efforts up steep sections to stay as stable as possible. 

While descending, the Rift Zone is perfectly comfortable on light to moderate trails. As a trail and cross-country mix, this bike will be twitchy and lose traction on heavy, chunky downhill sections. However, it holds speed excellently on XC trails. 

Marin offers a 27.5-inch and 29er version of the Rift Zone, meaning you can select for maneuverability and acceleration or speed and roll-over ability from your wheel choice. 

If you’re a rider who loves flowy trail days with plenty of ups and downs, this efficient XC bike pedals like a dream. In addition, the range of affordable builds means you can choose the Rift Zone as your first full-suspension mountain bike. 

14. Juliana Wilder C R TR

Best women’s XC bike with trail capability

• MSRP: $4,899
• Travel: 120mm (f) 115mm (r)
• Lifetime frame warranty 
• Space for two bottles
• Women-specific build kit
• Lightweight and stiff build (28lbs)
• Rekon tires don’t offer enough grip

The Juliana Wilder C R TR is the more capable big sister to the regular model, featuring extra travel and a more robust build. It’s our pick for the best full-suspension mountain bike for the money. 

Juliana designed the Wilder to be a featherweight ripper, balancing the capability for fast cross-country riding and mixed trail riding . The frame is Santa Cruz’s Carbon C with excellent stiffness-to-weight characteristics, complementing this bike’s character. In addition, it has slack and long geometry for an XC bike, improving stability and handling on rougher trails. 

The Wilder C R TR build suspension components include a RockShox SID RL 120mm fork and a 115mm Float Performance DPS shock. These join by a single pivot Superlight platform that enhances rear-wheel traction and sensitivity on climbs and descents while improving overall pedaling efficiency. 

Other notable features include the proportional chainstay geometry for consistent qualities across disciplines, Maxxis Rekon 2.4″ tires, and an SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain with an 11-50t cassette.

Consider Juliana’s Wilder if you’re a woman who loves fast XC riding and tackling flowy trail days with plenty of climbing. 

15. Santa Cruz Bullit

Best full suspension electric mountain bike

• MSRP: $9,049
• Travel: 170mm
• Tire Size: 29 x 2.5″ + 27.5″ x 2.4″ (mullet)
• Plush and supportive suspension in any situation
• Relatively lightweight for an enduro e-bike
• Sleek integrated cabling and electronics
• Powerful motor
• Limited range
• Battery level reads in 20% blocks

The Santa Cruz Bullit is a mixed-wheel enduro electric mountain bike with almost unlimited capability but an eye-watering price to match. 

The 170mm of front and rear travel comes from a RockShox Super Deluxe Select shock and a ZEB fork. To enhance the monstrous ability of this bike, you have DoubleDown tire reinforcement on a 2.5″ Assegai front tire and a 2.4″ Minion DHR II rear tire. The wheelset comprises WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 rims with SRAM MTH hubs to handle repeated jumps on an almost 50lb bike. 

SRAM provides an NX Eagle drivetrain with an 11-50t cassette and Guide RE brakes. These brakes come with appropriately massive 220/200mm rotors to help keep you safe on the trail, which is especially important with electric mountain bikes. 

The electronics are Shimano’s high-end STEPS EP8 mid-drive motor with 85Nm of torque and 400% assistance from four modes. The battery is a 630Wh unit that provides a modest amount of juice. 

Overall, this is the best electric mountain bike for the money that would be a joy for any enduro rider who wants the thrills of rough descents without the strain of uphills. 

All You Need to Know About the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

As we stated in the introduction, choosing the best full-suspension mountain bike isn’t as simple as picking the best components. Mountain biking trails and dual-suspension bikes vary so greatly that it’s essential to know what you’re looking for before starting to search. 

The following section will cover some of the most important things to consider when choosing. Remember, you can purchase a bike that almost fits your requirements and make changes to the build kit to enhance or modify performance. 

The Type of Riding You Do and Your Technical Abilities

The type of trails and terrain you intend on riding is the most important consideration when choosing a full-suspension mountain bike. Selecting a model that doesn’t leave you feeling under or over-biked is crucial. 

Dual-suspension bikes fall into five broad categories that match the difficulty and characteristics of the trails. Of course, your technical mountain biking skills should also influence your decision. For example, if you’re a beginner to intermediate rider, you may want a slightly higher travel bike that will be more forgiving and make challenging trails feel easier. 

Cross-country (XC): 100-120mm travel

Cross-country bikes are built for efficiency and speed on long rides. XC racing demands efficient and lightweight climbers with enough capability to handle moderately bumpy trails.

Beginners should avoid XC bikes as they aren’t very forgiving and require a high level of proficiency. Juliana’s Wilder is an example of a wicked fast and lightweight XC bike. 

Trail/Cross-country: 120-140mm travel

Low to mid-travel trail/XC bikes are more capable and stable on chunky, technical trails while maintaining excellent pedaling efficiency for long rides with lots of elevation gain.

These bikes have less of a focus on keeping the weight low, instead favoring comfort, stability, and traction . The Orbea Occam typifies an all-rounder trail mid-travel trail bike. 

High-Travel Trail/Light Enduro: 140-160mm travel

The high travel trail category is a popular bike as it hits the sweet spot of efficiency and descending capability for many riders. These bikes open up most trails without completely swallowing climbing ability.

High-travel trail bikes are capable on all but the most extreme terrain but require technical proficiency when venturing onto gravity trails. The Pivot Switchblade is an excellent example of this style. 

Enduro: 160-180mm travel

Enduro bikes are the most downhill-capable bikes that you also use for riding uphill. The category arose from enduro-style racing, which records rider times on descents and not on the uphill sections.

This means manufacturers can maximize descending capability without worrying about pedaling efficiency and weight for climbing. These bikes can handle the roughest terrain but are overkill for someone who mostly rides light trails. Cannondale’s Jekyll is a solid enduro choice. 

Downhill: 180-200mm travel

Downhill bikes are built for one purpose; descending. These heavy-duty bikes are ultra-capable on the world’s gnarliest trails and bike parks. However, you better not plan to ride uphill on a DH bike. Instead, count on taking a shuttle or a lift back to the top. This article doesn’t include any DH-specific bikes, but the Santa Cruz V10 is a prime example. 

You may also like…

• Best Short-Travel Dual-Suspension Mountain Bikes
• Best Trail & All-Mountain Bikes
• Best Downhill Mountain Bikes
• Best Dual-Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $4,000
• Best Dual-Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $3,000

Which Wheels Should I Choose?

Wheels have a massive impact on how a MTB rides. Variable like wheel size, material, and design influence the ride feel. For example, you can choose a bike with 26″, 27.5″, or 29″ wheels, each of which has different characteristics.

The bigger a wheel is, the more speed it can gain and maintain. In addition, you get more traction and stability on larger wheels. In contrast, smaller wheels accelerate faster, are more maneuverable, and are lighter.

Steel, aluminum, and carbon wheels also have different properties, carbon being the lightest and stiffest but also the most expensive. On the other hand, aluminum wheels are cheaper but aren’t as light or stiff.

Finally, rim width is another consideration. Wider rims allow you to run wider tires or get more traction from your current tires. 

Which Tires Should I Choose?

Tires are the most influential component that you can change quickly and easily. Riders can choose different widths, tread depths and patterns, material thicknesses and characteristics, and between tubeless and tubed tires (if the wheels are tubeless-ready).

Tubeless tires are more puncture-resistant, can run lower PSIs for more traction and comfort, and are self-repairing. We also have a detailed tubeless tires guide you can read.

Lightweight tires are more susceptible to punctures but provide better ride characteristics and reduce weight. In contrast, heavier tires are more durable.

You can also choose tires that roll faster but offer less grip or super grippy tires that create more rolling resistance. However, too little traction will require you to ride slower to stay upright, so finding the sweet spot is essential.

Finally, the width of a tire changes the level of traction, comfort, and rolling speed. Narrower tires are lighter and faster but offer less traction and aren’t as comfortable. 

Frame Materials Explained

Almost all full-suspension mountain bicycles are carbon fiber or aluminum. Carbon is undoubtedly the best frame material if the price isn’t an issue. Well-manufactured carbon is super light, stiff, and strong, offering unbeatable ride characteristics. On the other hand, aluminum is much cheaper and reasonably light, strong, and stiff. 

There is also a limited number of steel and titanium bikes on the market. Steel is cheap, strong, durable, and compliant but is very heavy. Titanium packs similar characteristics and is lighter, but it costs more.  

It’s worth noting that a high-end aluminum frame with excellent components (like the Diamondback Release 3) will likely be cheaper and ride better than a decent carbon frame with low to mid-level parts. 

Sizing and Geometry

When searching for a full-suspension mountain bike, we recommend trying out a range of bikes in your size at a bike shop to find one that suits your body and riding style. As with any bike, the geometry is highly individual and will impact how you feel when riding in terms of comfort and stability.

Once you become familiar with a bike you like, you can use its geometry to compare it when shopping for a new one. Additionally, you can change stem length, saddle position and height, and handlebar width and rise to personalize a bike’s geometry to your body. 

Some bikes even have flip chips and adjustable geometry that lets you change the handling and overall performance on the go.

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About the Author

Jordan Grimes

The 14 Best Electric Bikes of 2024

We’ve tested dozens of electric bikes in every category—commuter, cargo, cruiser, folding, mountain, and city. Here are the ones worth considering in a range of styles and prices.

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

The use of electric bikes continues to grow. And all types and ages of riders are getting e-bikes. Whether you need an e-bike for commuting, riding the bike path, getting around town, or mountain biking, there is an electric bike for you.

Many factors contribute to the rapid expansion of e-bike use—better batteries, more efficient motors, and lower weights—but the biggest reason is this: electric bikes are a blast to ride. The pedaling assistance provided by e-bike motors makes going up hills easier, allows riding longer distances, and enables riders to carry more cargo. With summer winding down and fall riding season coming soon, now is a great time to buy an electric bike. Plus, many brands and dealers have sales and discounts on popular e-bike models.

Shopping for an e-bike can be confusing—there are many e-bike categories, options, and prices; and sometimes it’s hard to know which e-bike is right for you. Electric bikes are priced from under $1,000 to well over $10,000, Through ride testing and research, Bicycling ’s Test Team found many great e-bikes priced between $1,500 and $3,500. For this roundup, we focused on these lower and mid-price models—most you can purchase online directly from the brands. Many excellent e-bikes are also available through bike shops.

Check out Bicycling’s 2024 Bike Awards for 13 exceptional, high-performing e-bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team.

The Best E-Bikes

• Best Overall : Aventon Level.2
• Best Commuter E-Bike: Lectric One eBike
• Best Fat Tire : Aventon Aventure.2
• Best Fat Tire Commuter : Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus
• Best All-Around: Cannondale Neo Adventure Allroad

How We Test E-Bikes

Our full electric bike reviews, things to consider when buying an e-bike, how to buy a used e-bike.

Our experienced bike test team evaluates each model included here on its overall quality, safety features, handling, motor, and battery life. We also assess whether the components and features add to the overall quality of the ride. Bicycling editors tested these bikes on local roads, commuting to and from work, using them to stock up on groceries and beer, and running their batteries down to see how long they last on one charge.

Deputy editor Tara Seplavy , the author of this article, also worked in bicycle product development for two decades and led product management for major bike brands. Plus, she commutes to Bicycling's headquarters daily on an e-bike.

While we rode most of the e-bikes in this story, sometimes we can’t get our hands on a great electric bike. In those cases, we rely on the expertise of our test team, interviews with product managers, and rigorous research to compare the bikes’ value and performance against similar models we’ve tested.

Aventon Level.2 Electric Bike

Although we loved the original Level , its update is an improvement in practically every way. A smoother riding bike than its predecessor, it sports a new torque sensor that evenly distributes power, resulting in a more natural ride feel that’s easier to control and manage. Its update also adds visibility, not just with integrated lights, but a full color, easy-to-read display. The Level.2 isn’t just one of our favorite e-bikes—at its price, comfort level, and premium features, we think it just might be the best.

Our only gripe is with its Zoom Aria suspension fork, which can’t handle bigger bumps, though the lockout feature works well. When it hits these large bumps, the fork's rebound is unpredictable and rapid, and it tends to bottom out. Still, if you need an e-bike for doing just about anything, from commuting to work to zipping around pavement on the weekend, the Aventon Level.2 is our top nomination.

Lectric One eBike

A big reason to consider Lectric’s One, according to Test Editor Dan Chabanov, is Pinion, a German brand that manufactures high-end and fully enclosed gearbox units—sort of like an internally geared hub, he notes, except mounted in the bottom bracket.

Most consumers don’t know about the brand, explains Chabanov, because Pinion products are typically found on very pricey and niche bikes. Having this system on a $2,400 commuter e-bike, he notes, is very exciting, especially since it’s a part usually reserved for bikes triple that price.

Chabanov was impressed with not only the Pinion system’s smoothness and precision, but the hub motor as well. While the improved cadence sensor was better than others he’s used, Chabanov notes it was still very much a cadence sensor. “Like most cadence sensor-equipped bikes, the One feels disconnected from the motor,” he says. “This feeling is from a combination of lag (though very slight in this case) and because the force put into the pedals does not relate to the motor’s output. Both factors result in a slightly unnatural motor response.”

Still, it didn’t take Chabanov long to get used to how the One delivers its motor assist. The One is an ideal option for riders who seek a dependable, low-maintenance, all-weather commuter bike with the bells and whistles of a bike that usually costs much more.

Aventon Aventure.2 Electric Bike

Aventon has been on a roll with its new models and continuous revisions to existing platforms. The brand’s update to its Aventure fat-tire e-bike is no exception. At first glance, there are few significant visual differences between the original Aventure and this second-generation model. However once you ride it, the small changes add up and feel huge.

Compared to the original Aventure, this second gen rides more smoothly. The new torque sensor allows more control over the acceleration of Aventure’s 750W rear hub motor; lighter-weight testers found the previous model to have too much torque, but the latest Aventure remedied this fault. Additional updates include a new head unit interface, integrated turn signals, a front light, a rear rack, and fenders for keeping clean.

The Aventure.2 is an excellent fat-tire e-bike for commutes, especially on snowy days and gravel pathways. Off-roading, it excels on doubletrack trails, but with this burly bike’s weight and components, it has limited functionality on singletrack and more aggressive mountain trails.

More of the Best Fat-Tire E-Bikes

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 6 Plus Electric Bike

Brawny, big, and bold, the RadRover 6 Plus is powerful at its best and sluggish at its worst. With its 750W rear hub, 4-inch-wide tires, and RST spring suspension fork (with 60mm of travel), it’s cushy and stable enough to tackle potholes as well as dirt, rocks, and snow.

Compared to its predecessor, an updated display and solid hydraulic disc brakes make the RadRover 6 Plus a more comfortable and relaxed ride. It also comes in at just over $1,ooo, making it reasonably priced.

With its extreme weight of 74 pounds (without a rack), we wouldn’t dare to roll this thing upstairs. If you need a do-it-all bike to help get you to and from work or the grocery store and frequently battle the elements while doing it, or if you have a lot of land you’d like to tear up, the RadRover 6 is your beast. But anyone living in a small space might have trouble handling this steed.

Read Full Review

Cannondale Neo Adventure Allroad

If you want a quality e-bike but are unsure of where you will ride, Cannondale’s Neo Adventure Allroad is a solid choice. Its 2.6-inch-wide knobby tires are suitable for dirt paths and rail trails but the bike is lightweight and nimble for commuting and riding around town.

The tires’ extra width helps smooth out the ride without needing a heavy suspension fork, although they buzz a little on the pavement. The 250W Bafang hub motor works well for flat roads and gentle hills but it lacks power for steeper terrain. (If you need extra power, check out the Allroad S with a 750W motor and 28 mph top speed.)

We tested the Allroad EQ model that sells for $1,875. It is the same as the base-level Allroad and adds fenders, a rear rack, and hydraulic disc brakes. If you’re on a tight budget, get the Allroad, but if you can spend more than $2,000 get the Allroad S.

Available in standard frame

Velotric Discover 2

For less about $1,900, the Discover 2 is better equipped and more powerful than some bikes double its price. With its low step-through frame, 440-pound maximum capacity (bike + rider + cargo), and torquey motor, this Velotric is great for around-town use, commutes, and running errands. What’s more, Velotric offers baskets and racks to expand the Discover’s cargo-hauling abilities—perfect for those weekend rides to the farmers’ market.

Velotric offers the Discover 2 in four colors and two sizes. Our 6-foot test rider found the size large fit well for her height. Additional highlights included the suspension fork with lockout, 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and an adjustable cockpit. The Discover has a bright and easy-to-read color display that allows easy customization of the bike’s assistance levels and speed limit.

We found the bike had plenty of pep on flatter roads but due to its weight, the bike can bog down on steep hills if using only throttle assist. The Discover 2’s only big issue is front wheel wobble. It is only noticeable with both hands off the bar but is something that may concern some riders

Aventon Ramblas eMTB

The Aventon Ramblas is a category-defining hardtail e-MTB that impressed us during trail testing. Its trail-forward components include a 1x12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain that can handle most climbs, powerful four-piston SRAM brakes, a solidly stiff 35mm RockShox fork, a comfy dropper seatpost, and cushy 2.4-inch wide tires. These are unmatched by any other hardtail e-MTB, especially given its price.

The Ramblas has no true competitors for comparatively priced, trail-ready e-MTBs. Every so often a bike comes along that entirely shifts the bicycle market—the Ramblas might do that for mountain biking. And once more bike brands see and ride the Ramblas, I expect several will soon follow Aventon’s lead with sharp-priced, trail-capable hardtail e-MTBs.

Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Electric Bike

Sometimes, you just want a classic cruiser to take out on the weekends. And if that casualness is your desired style, the Ride1Up’s Cafe Cruiser is your best bet. Strapped with a built-in rack, front and rear lights, a 750W motor, hydraulic disc brakes, a decent suspension fork, and 3-inch-wide tires, this upright bike is stable enough for newer e-riders, and with an added passenger kit , the little one, too.

Our testing found that the bike had plenty of oomph to climb short hills despite its weight and laidback geometry. But, like several wide-tire bikes, it has some handling issues. It’s capable of speeds up to 28 mph (and 20 mph using the throttle), which is more than enough power to get you where you need to be.

Ride1Up Portola Electric Bike

Ride1Up’s new Portola folding bike packs a lot of punch for how small it is. Folding down to a compact 19- x 29.5- x 33-inch footprint, this bike features a 750W rear hub motor with 65Nm torque, hydraulic disc brakes, a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, and an integrated rear rack with 130-pound carrying capacity.

For less than $1,000, this is a great deal for bimodal commuters, RVers, vanlifers, or folks living in a small apartment. The standard 10.4Ah battery has a claimed range of 20 to 40 miles. Or bump the range up to 45 miles with an optional 13.4Ah battery for an additional $100.

Salsa Confluence Apex 1

With its 250W Mahle X35+ rear motor, 250Wh integrated battery, and concealed controller, it is hard to tell that Salsa’s Confluence is an e-bike until you get up close. The Mahle drive system operates smoothly and is quieter than low-cost hub motors. This bike’s 40NM torque provides pedaling assistance up climbs and long gradients. However, as a class 1 e-bike, the Confluence lacks a throttle, so you must pedal to engage the motor.

Salsa’s claimed range of 45 miles is not ideal for long days in the saddle (especially when using the maximum assist level). However, Mahle offers a range extender battery (almost twice the stock battery capacity) for longer or overnight trips.

Specialized Globe Haul ST Electric Bike

If you need to haul it all, go with our 2023 Bike of the Year : Specialized’s Globe Haul ST. With a carrying capacity of a whopping 419 pounds, it’s good for a range of riding tasks, from grabbing groceries to dropping Fido off at doggy daycare.

Specialized designed this bike with the average commuter in mind, motivating riders to swap those short- and medium-distance car trips with a bicycle instead. The result is a well-designed short-tail cargo bike with wide 20- x 3.5-inch tires that can eat bumps while keeping you stable and low to the ground. It’s also a blast to ride.

Our test editor Dan Chabanov says it feels much more like a traditional bike than a souped-up e-cargo, which is to say, it’s actually fun. “If you haven’t ridden an e-cargo bike, you might take this for granted,” he says. “But the reality is that even some of the more compact e-cargo bike options out there often don’t ride like a typical bike, or worse, they simply ride poorly. As a cyclist, one of the Haul ST’s most enamoring traits is how much it rides like a ‘normal’ bike. Well, that and the ability to carry a week’s worth of groceries on it.”

Velotric T1

Hybrid bikes combine elements of road bikes (lightweight frame, 700c wheels) and mountain bikes (flat handlebar, wide-range gearing, and sometimes suspension). These bikes offer a compelling combination of traits that can make hybrids the best choice for many riders’ commuting, fitness, or leisure needs.

One of Seplavy’s top choices is Velotric’s T1. Sporty and quick, the bike handles much like some road bikes. Credit that snappy feel, she says, to the T1’s 350W rear hub motor and road bike-like geometry, but also from its weight at 36 pounds.

Velotric packs plenty of tech features into the T1, too. There’s a torque sensor for a smooth and natural pedaling feel and a light-sensing headlamp that turns on when it gets dark. For security, there is a fingerprint lock on the bike plus GPS tracking and theft alert via Velotric‘s app.

Trek Verve+ 3 Lowstep

Seniors come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s difficult to recommend just one e-bike model for every type of rider. But based on conversations with Bicycling members and our experience working in bike shops and at cycling events, many older riders seek a few common traits in an electric bike. They want something easy to get on and off, simple to use, low maintenance, and smooth riding.

Trek’s Verve+ 3 Lowstep checks off each of those boxes. The trusted and smooth-riding Bosch Active Plus motor system powers the Verve+. The 250W mid-drive motor has 50Nm of torque and powers the rider up to 20 mph. This Trek also features a wide-range Shimano 9-speed drivetrain for getting up hills. Powerful and reliable Shimano hydraulic disc brakes handle stopping duties.

The Verve+ 3 Lowstep uses a step-through style frame (it is lower than many other e-bikes) that makes getting on or off the bike easy. It also features a suspension seatpost to smooth out potholes and bumps on the road, and an adjustable height and rise step to dial in your riding position.

Since Trek has hundreds of dealers and company-owned stores throughout the country, you’re never far away from a Trek shop if you need service or repair. Plus, the Bosch and Shimano components are among the most-trusted and durable parts in the category.

Bluejay Premiere Edition

If you’re looking for a fun bike for summer rides around town or to the beach, Bluejay’s Premiere Edition should be on your list. Bluejay combines elements of classic cruisers and townie bikes into a stylish electric bike. We found the bike ideal for trips to the farmers’ market, morning coffee, or weekend brunch and rides with the kids or friends.

A 350-watt Bafang mid-drive motor (powered by a removable 550Wh battery) is at the heart of the Premiere Edition. It uses a torque sensor for smooth pedal response and has a maximum assisted speed of 20mph. Shifting duties are handled by Shimano’s low-maintenance 8-speed Alfine internal hub.

Bluejay sells this model in two sizes (small for riders 5-feet-5-inches and under, and large for riders 5-feet-6-inches and taller) and 15 fun and poppy colors (including Luxe Camel, Hot Pink, and Citrus Orange).

While the Bluejay is a little pricier than some other e-bike options, it comes fully loaded with front and rear racks, lights, fenders, a bell, and an adjustable stem. The rear rack can accommodate up to 55 pounds of cargo and is compatible with a Thule Yepp Maxi child seat (sold separately).

A Few E-Bike Terms to Know

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Measured in Newton meters (or Nm), torque is a rotational measurement of force—and the number to pay attention to when you want an idea of an e-bike motor’s output. More torque means more power off the line and more boost to your pedaling. 

The heavier the bike, the more torque it needs. Lighter road bikes typically have 30 to 40 Nm of torque, and trail and cargo models (generally) have at least 80 Nm. Most commuter bikes fall somewhere in between.

The size of an e-bike’s battery is measured in watt-hours (or Wh). This measurement represents the energy stored in the battery and how many watts it can deliver each hour. The higher the number, the longer the range, but the faster you go, the faster you drain the battery.

So, if a 504Wh battery paired with a 500W motor gives you one hour of ride time at the highest assist, riding at about half that power will double your range.

Locking Battery

Many e-bike brands seamlessly integrate batteries to make the bike look sleeker (and more like a traditional non-assist bike). Most batteries lock to the bike and come with a key that lets you unlock and remove it, which serves multiple purposes: You can remove the battery and charge it off the bike, plus a locked battery deters (and hopefully prevents) a thief from stealing it. And an e-bike with the battery removed is safer for hauling on a bike rack and lighter for carrying up steps.

Stability and Control

Since e-bikes can maintain higher speeds for longer than standard bikes, you want extra control when riding. Wider tires provide better traction and the freedom to leave the pavement with little penalty, and a suspension fork will help tame some of the rougher roads you might explore. Good disc brakes are a must, too, for slowing a heavy bike at high speed. This is not a place to skimp.

Integrated Lights

Some e-bikes have an integrated lighting system that turns on when you power up the bike. While this is a great feature, it’s not a deal-breaker if your bike doesn’t come equipped this way. It’s just as easy to attach your own since so many great bike lights are available.

Warranty and Service

E-bikes need regular maintenance and repair to stay in good working condition. Because they’re heavier and go faster than non-assist bicycles, e-bikes often require more regular service on parts like brakes, tires, and drivetrain components. We recommend having a good relationship with a local bike shop experienced in e-bike repair to keep your equipment running smoothly.

E-bikes use electronics for their motors, batteries, and displays. These parts are often proprietary to bike brands or even specific e-bike models, making replacement more difficult than parts on non-electric bicycles. Make sure to use the correct electronic replacement parts to avoid damaging your e-bike (or it catching fire).

Established brands usually (but not always) have a good supply of these parts for replacement, even for years after a bike goes out of production. Bosch and Shimano are two e-bike motor manufacturers with some of the most compatibility between bikes and stock parts for previous generations of systems.

Look for e-bikes from brands that offer at least a one-year warranty on electronic components (many brands’ warranties are longer) and make items like replacement batteries for your bike. These parts are usually not cheap (sometimes up to half the cost of a new bike), but it’s the difference between having an e-bike that can be repaired or becomes a bicycle-shaped paperweight if something goes wrong.

Certification

Following a dramatic increase in fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes, there is a push from local officials, regulatory agencies , and advocacy groups across the U.S. for improved safety certification of e-bikes, batteries, and motor units. On September 16, 2023, a New York City law went into effect requiring that any e-bike sold in the city “has been certified by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 2849”. And in November 2023, Amazon announced it ceased sales of illegal batteries to New Yorkers.

However, just because something is marketed as UL 2849 compliant, tested to UL 2849, or even “certified to UL 2849” does not mean it is UL Safety Certified. Ibrahim Jilani, UL’s Global Director of Consumer Technology, notes: “Certification is always earned by a manufacturer and not a given when they undergo a product submittal. The UL Mark, or any authorized certification mark, can only be issued upon successful demonstration of meeting the requirements of the safety standard.” You can find UL’s updated list of products Certified to UL 2849 here .

We contacted many e-bike brands on this topic. Most companies informed us they are working toward the certification process. So, expect the list of certified e-bikes to grow in the coming months. If owning a UL 2849-certified bike is important to you, ask the brand from which you plan to purchase it for proof of certification. You can cross-reference OSHA ’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories if you want to dive deeper into the topic.

Conversion Kits

Several manufacturers offer kits to add pedal assistance to a non-electric bike. We purchased a few popular conversion kits, fitted them to bikes, and rode them. We do not currently recommend these kits for use. While converting an old bike to an electric assist sounds good in theory, it rarely makes practical sense. Plus, it can lead to rider injury or failure of the bike.

Manufacturers do not design non-electric bikes to accommodate the extra weight and forces incurred when adding an e-bike motor, battery, and control equipment. This puts more stress on the bicycle frame and other components and can lead to breakage or failure of the bike.

Selecting most conversion kits requires knowing fitment details about your bike and might require specialized tools for installation. Many do not have a straightforward installation process, and it can be a challenging project for novice mechanics. If you want a shop to install a conversion kit, check with the shop before purchasing it. Since most non-electric bikes are not engineered to accommodate electric conversions, many shops will not install these kits.

Many economical e-bikes do not cost much more than the total price of a conversion kit plus the installation cost. We recommend buying a purpose-built e-bike for the best and safest experience.

The Three Classes of E-Bikes

After determining which style of bike is right for you, the next consideration is which class of e-bike best fits your needs. In the U.S., there are three e-bike classifications. These are defined by the type of assist and how fast the motor will propel you. Most electric bikes are defined as class 1 or 3. Class 1 bikes have a motor (max 750W) that assists while pedaling up to 20 mph. Class 3 (sometimes known as “speed pedelec”) can have up to a 750W (aka 1-horsepower) motor but can assist you up to 28 mph. Both are allowed in most states and cities without needing a license.

Class 2 models have become more popular with riders, especially at lower prices. These models have a throttle that can propel a bike up to 20 mph without needing continuous pedaling.

Some bikes blur the lines. Aventon’s popular Pace 500 , for example, is technically a Class 3 e-bike in that it reaches speeds up to 28 mph, but it also has a throttle that tops out at 20 mph (the maximum legal speed for a throttle).

Good quality e-bikes can cost a lot of money; purchasing a pre-owned bike is one way to save some cash and get a better model. If you want to shop for a used e-bike in person, some bicycle stores offer refurbished units. Shopping in person allows you to check the integrity and condition of the bike before you buy it. When purchasing from a shop, make sure that the retailer is experienced with e-bike service and that the bike includes the proper charger and battery.

If purchasing a used e-bike directly from another owner on a third-party site, it’s wise to have the bike inspected by an experienced e-bike shop or mechanic before handing over your money. E-bikes experience higher wear-and-tear than non-assist bicycles, and many e-bikes use proprietary parts or require special tools to service or update software.

With the boom in e-bike sales, a few websites have recently sprung up selling reconditioned and certified e-bikes. Often, these e-bikes have low mileage or were sales floor samples at shops—some are even brand new or are new old stock of a previous model year. While it costs more than purchasing from an individual seller, buying a used bike from these sites usually means you have some sort of warranty on your e-bike and ensures that it was inspected properly.

Two sites offering high-quality, certified pre-owned e-bikes include Upway and TPC.

Upway The Pro’s Closet

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

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

Bill Strickland is the Rider-in-Chief of Bicycling . His equal passions for cycling and writing have led to the books Ten Points: A Memoir ; Tour de Lance: The Extraordinary Story of Cycling’s Most Controversial Champion ; Mountain Biking: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Ride ; and The Quotable Cyclist . His Bicycling story, “100 Pedal Strokes” won a National Magazine Award for Interactive Feature in 2008. In 2009, he assigned and edited the story “Broken,” which won the National Magazine Award for Public Interest. “The Escape,” the December, 2011, edition of his Bicycling magazine column The Pursuit, was named a Notable story by  The Best American Sports Writing . Various editions of his books have been translated into Dutch, German, Hebrew, and Japanese. He uses commas by rhythm and sound, which is a terrible way to do it but makes him happy.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bike Reviews

This Bike Made Me Laugh, Cry, and Puke—Buy It!

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Best Hybrid Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

The 10 Best Mountain Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

Giant TCR Advanced Improves on Its Legacy

Speed, Balance, Refinement: Trek's Gen 4 Top Fuel

Tested: Trek’s Eighth-Generation Madone

Specialized’s Stumpjumper 15 Changes Trail Bikes

The 10 Best Cheap E-Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

Reviewed: BMC's Fourstroke LT

New Specialized Chisel Full Suspension Reviewed

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Rigs of the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

By Miles Arbour

Associate Editor & Events Manager

1,860 Posts

The sixth edition of the Silk Road Mountain Race follows a 1,938-kilometer off-road route through the rugged mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Just in time for the 2024 grand depart, we rounded up details on nearly 100 rigs that will be on the course for this year’s event. Dig into our mega gallery here, complete with bag and gear highlights for each…

PUBLISHED Aug 16, 2024

Since the inaugural event in 2018, the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the world of ultra-distance bikepacking. Each year, riders from across the globe flock to Kyrgyzstan to tackle the 1,938-kilometer route, following gravel, doubletrack, and old Soviet roads. For the first time since the second grand depart in 2019, the SRMR returns to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, for the start of the race. The first big challenge will be Kegeti Pass at 3,805 meters in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountain range, just over 100 kilometers into the race.

The 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with 188 riders lining up at the grand depart. There are 35 nationalities represented, with 148 riders racing solo and another 40 riders in the pairs category. There are 164 men and 24 women racing, with strong fields in both categories. The race takes off tomorrow evening at 10 p.m. local time.

With the help of this year’s participants, we gathered details on nearly 100 rigs that will be taking on the race’s 2024 edition. We included details on each rider’s bike, bags, and other highlights, as well as their age and hometown. Check them out below, and then head to the 2024 Silk Road Mountain Race Tracker to follow along live.

Brian Alder

Age 59 / takaka (new zealand).

BIKE : Once again, I’ll be riding my Santa Cruz Chameleon C, with Fox SC 34 fork, Shimano XT brakes, and drivetrain, Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Son dynamo with kLite lights. New for this setup is a Cane Creek eeSilk+ seatpost to try to smooth out the Kyrgyz washboard. BAGS : A suite of trusted Apidura bags that have been with me for nearly a decade, plus a custom frame bag from a mate back home. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m taking a Terra Nova tent, a Cumulus sleeping bag, a foam pad for sleeping, and a 7Mesh Sky Pilot jacket that is just the bomb. My view of the world will be enhanced by eyewear from Julbo.

Age 32 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE : Specialized Epic Comp. BAGS : A real mixed bag of Tailfin, Revelate, Ortlieb, and Bike Bag Dude (BBD) from Australia. Surprisingly they all match reasonably well! I’m pretty chuffed that my Tailfin frame bag fits perfectly, albeit upside down. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This is my first full sus MTB and I’m hoping it will pay off for this notorious route. Also I’ll be bringing my mascot Cam the Chameleon, who has travelled over 15,000km with me from Townsville, Australia.

Lars Tefre Baade

Age 47 / oslo (norway).

BIKE : Belle GRAR, Handmade custom steel made by Enrico Bellé (Barcelona), it’s the perfect setup for Norwegian woods and mountains summer and winter. G23 ENVE wheels, Easton crank and Shimano GRX (12s), Wahoo ELMNT Computer, Enve parts. BAGS : Full Tailfin set up.

Angel Ballesteros

Age 39 / madrid (spain).

BIKE : I will be riding SRMR 2024 on a Marin Headlands 2 with many upgrades from factory. A single 30T XTR crankset with XT touring pedals, 51T cassette from Garbaruk and modified GRX derailleur with Garbaruk cage and pulleys. XTR M9000 wheel set with front hub replaced for a SON Dynamo powering a Supernova m99 light set and a B+M usb outlet on custom wiring. Tyres are Rene Herse Oracle 48 front and Manastash 44 rear endurance plus casing, running tubeless for the time. The stock fork has been replaced by a FOX 32TC 50mm travel suspension with a 180mm disc. Rear disc remains 160mm, while both are Shimano ice discs with SwissStop brake shoes. BAGS : My setup is a mix of custom and off the shelf bags. The eye catching bags are from a Greek indi manufacturer ENABags. The cockpit area is composed of quick access bags, such as a modded toptube bag with magnetic lid, a feed bag and, (my personal favourite) a roll top stem bag for my camera. The custom framebag is bolted in place and it allows me to optimize the space and fit two big water bottles because I sweat a lot. Last but not least is my Saddlebag Overnight, also from ENABags, with the super stable Carradice Bagman QR support! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Camp minima superlight will be my shelter, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad, Rab ascent 700 XL sleeping bag. USWE Outlander Pro for hydration and a Garmin 1040 Solar for navigation. One 20,000 mAh powerbank, a Petzl headlamp, and my light Olympus MJU II with two B&W film cartridges to remember some epic moments.

Martino Basilisco

Age 27 / milano (italy).

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Merida BigNine900, equipped with Shimano XT with a 32T cog, 10-51 cassette, and Pirelli Scorpion XC tires. BAGS : Apidura backcountry frame bag, Apidura Expedition front bag and rear, two Decathlon Buds, Miss Grape Node 2h. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Pantani sticker on the front bars. Alé alé alé!

Cristian Batista

Age 32 / cadiz (spain).

BIKE : Canyon Lux CF7 equipped with full XT, 32T chainring, Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres, and a pair of Reynols carbon wheels. BAGS : Apidura saddle, frame and pouch bags, an un-branded front roll, and a light Silva 10L vest for the ‘food’. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Exposure light Zenith and Toro for the darkest times. Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation. A Sea to Summit sleeping bag to keep me toasty, Alpkit Bivy, and Nemo sleeping pad.

Gokay Biyik

Age 39 / giresun (turkey).

BIKE : I’ll be riding Cinelli Hobootleg Geo, steel frame with a rigid carbon fork, have no suspension to keep a fair level of underbiking. I upgraded 2×10 drivetrain to more capable mullet setup, GRX812 rear derailleur with 11-46T cassette, and a Deore front derailleur with 26-36T chainring. Bike will roll on a pair of 2.25” WTB Ranger tires with stock aluminium wheels. BAGS : All bags are from Turkish brand Pack2Ride, total capacity of almost 35L which gives me plenty of space for food. A dry handlebar bag for sleep system, a saddlebag for clothes and food, two small top tube bags for electronics and hydration, and a frame bag for more food and a power bank. With Rhinowalk saddle mount, I can carry 1L bottles on both sides of my saddlebag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Old and trusted NorthFace Assault bivy, Marmot down sleeping bag, and Forclaz air mattress will be my home for the days on the altitude again. I’ll use 24K Anker 737 power bank, which recharge itself in less than hour, so I can charge my Garmin inReach messenger, Edge 540, and Decathlon FL940 front light.

Sven Bohmert

Age 31 / frankfurt (germany).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the SRMR on a self-made steel frame. The bike features a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tires on custom wheels from Aumer.92 with a SON Dynamo and a modified Shimano GRX 2×11 with GoatLink to run a 11-46T cassette. The resulting gear range is 648% (ratio 0.67-4.36). Handlebar, stem, and seatpost are carbon manufactured by Beast Components in Dresden, Germany. BAGS : It’s a combination of Ortlieb for seat pack, frame bag and handlebar, and Apidura for top tube and food bags. A Seat to Summit dry bag is mounted left and right on the fork for sleeping bag and cooking equipment. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Lupine Blika headlamp to turn night into day. A classic MSR Hubba Hubbs will provide shelter in combination of a Nordisk Balance 600 sleeping bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mat.

Abhirup Bose

Age 34 / kolkata (india).

BIKE : I will be using a Giant XTC SLR with Hunt Race XC wheelset, Maxxis Rekon Race 2.25″ tires. It runs on a standard Shimano 12-speed drivetrain with 30T chainring up front. I have a Prime Primevera clip on aerobar and a self-made aerobar bridge made out of CPVC pipe. BAGS : I will run a locally-made frame bag. It’s made by Our Slug Life. The rest of the bags are of the Apidura expedition series. Water bottles will be in the handlebar and downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I will use a Gipfel bivy tent along with an old down sleeping bag. I will use a Garmin EDGE 540 primarily for navigation.

Benjamin Carrell

Age 61 / christchurch (new zealand).

BIKE : Trek Supercaliber on 2.35″ Maxxis Ardent Race tyres, 1×11, 51-10T, 30T, running a SON dynamo with kLite lighting system. BAGS : Mostly Revelate Designs bags with a custom-made Stealth frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Garmin 1040 Solar, back up with Android phone, Durston tent, Spark 2 sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Matthieu Caulier

Age 35 / nantes (france).

BIKE : I will ride a Surly Karate Monkey with a RockShox SID Ultimate fork. It has a 1×11 Shimano XT drivetrain with a 32T chaining, Hope Tech 3 brakes, and a Shutter Precision dynamo hub wired to a Plug 6 Plus charger. I’m rolling on Spank rims with Minion SS tires. My lights will be Busch + Müller IQ-100l. This setup was put together will help from a little shop in Nantes, “La Poule Noire”. BAGS : I have custom bags made by Compackt bags, made specifically for this race. The bag under the saddle will rest on a Tumbleweed T-Rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My bags, a custom saddle made by “My Saddle,” and my sleeping gear; Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1, Valandre duvet, and Sea to Summit air mat.

Mathew Cerutty

Age 37 / tasmania (australia).

BIKE : I will be on my ever trusty 2017 Trek Superfly, which has been somewhat completely overhauled for the SRMR by my team mate Adrian. It has a SRAM drivetrain with 10-50/32T, SRAM Stealth brakes, Dt Swiss wheels with dynamo and kLite setup, the ever bombproof Maxxis Icons. BAGS : Tailfin rack and pannier, Revelate Designs framebag, Revelate Designs harness and front pocket. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Tailfin is a standout addition, such a high quality product and the dynamo headlight/charging situation is a game changer for me. I have opted for a Sea to Summit single person tent setup with my Mont -6 sleeping bag to combat the high altitude cold nights. For tools and repairs, I have a team mate who is a bike mechanic by trade.

Almond Edgar David Chismorie

Age 26 / alba iulia (romania).

BIKE : I’ll ride the new released Specialized Chisel full suspension bike that arrived 8 days before the race start. Other components include 2.25″ Maxxis Ikons, Selle Italia Superflow saddle, 32T chainring, and aerobars with a 3D printed mount for front light. BAGS : Apidura 17L saddle bag and top tube bag, too late for a custom frame bag, and an Acepac handlebar bag. Trying to fit everything is a bit hard, I would probably take more bags next time. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Mountain Hardware 0-degree sleeping bag and a small Ferrino tent for sleeping out more often, two power banks, a Salomon Hydration Vest, food for three days, and the support of my local community.

Age 22 / Chesterfield, New Jersey (USA)

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Marin Bobcat Trail 4. The bike has an aluminum frame, SR/Suntour XCM HLO-DS Front fork, and a 32T crankset with a 11-46T cassette. BAGS : All my bags are Amazon finds and been adjusted to fit the bike. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Kitchen wash gloves acting as my waterproof gloves and neoprene socks.

Age 39 / Sydney (Australia)

BIKE : For my first race ever, I will be riding a 2023 Canyon Grizl. I have added a Rockshox Rudy 40mm suspension fork, which isn’t much travel but hopefully will help a little. I’ve also got a Redshift ShockStop suspension seatpost. I am running a 1×12 Mechanical Shimano GRX groupset with a 10-51T cassette on the back, but I have changed the crankset to a SRAM to make it easier to get a 30T chainring on the front. A SON 28 Dynamo will power my light and keep my things charged. I have upgraded the stock wheels to a Hunt 35 carbon gravel wheel set and running 2.0″ Maxxis Ikons on both the front and back. This is the max clearance that the bike can take, I would have loved to have a slightly wider tyre but such is life. I have also got some Profile Design aero bars attached for extra comfort. BAGS : Predominantly running Apidura bags with the exception of the Tailfin rear rack and a Revelate Designs Jerry can bag under the saddle. I have also strapped some Sea to Summit bags to the sides of the rear rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Hyperlite Mid 1 tent along with a Sea to Summit mat and Mont Sleeping bag should keep me pretty comfy if the weather turns. A Garmin Edge 1040 should hopefully keep me riding in the right direction.

Charlie Coquillard

Age 32 / sydney, nsw (australia).

BIKE : Polygon Tambora G7 with Fox Float AX 32 & GX Mountain bike 12-speed groupset. I much prefer riding drop bars with aerobars on long distances, so I’ve made this gravel bike as “Hadrtaily” as I could. 580mm Spank bars, full SRAM Eagle groupset with a 38T cog, a 50mm travel Fox 32 at the front as well as Maxxis Rambler 45mm/50mm tires to smooth out some of the Kyrgyz roads and add some grip. I’ve also added a Crank Tank to carry water, which is much more practical than a bunch of water bottles, in my experience. BAGS : It’s kitted out with a mixed bag of bags from Restrap, Sea to Summit, and Amazon. The rear bag contains my clothes, the left fork bag has all the camping essentials, the right fork bag has all of my wet weather gear, and the front loader has my sleeping bag, all the meds and misc, as well as dried food and big carbs gel. The frame bag is reserved for daily snacks, tools, and spare parts. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Crank Tank is a game changer from a hydration and space-saving perspective. The 600g, 1 pole tent from Six Moon Design has to be a highlight as it’s an amazing shelter that takes a very limited amount of space.

Jake Cullen

Vancouver, british columbia (canada).

BIKE : After finishing SRMR two years ago on a gravel bike and feeling very beat up, I bought this 2022 BMC Twostroke knowing I wanted to go back and be less beat up. I’ve got it built with a Sid SL Ultimate fork, GX Eagle AXS, and XT Brakes. I’ll be rolling on some We Are One Convergence rims laced to a SP dynamo up front and an I9 hub in the rear, and wrapped in Reneherse Fleecer Ridge Tires with Tannus inserts. To keep comfortable up front I’ve got some Salsa Rustler carbon bars cut down to 620mm, SQlabs Inner barends, and aerobars with Leap Components blip shifters at the ends. BAGS : Mostly Apidura with a well loved Expedition 9L saddle bag, a backcountry long top tube bag, a backcountry rear top tube bag, a backcountry 1L frame bag, and an Expedition Downtube bag for all my spares. Up front I have a Salsa Anything Cradle with a Salsa EXP dry bag and accessory bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m bringing the same two Bivo Duo bottles I raced with in 2022, they’re still going strong and ready for another lap of Kyrgyzstan. I’ll also be using the same Albion Zoa Rain and Insulated jackets I brought last time as they performed flawlessly. I’ll be sleeping in an OR Helium Bivvy with a Sea To Summit Spark II sleeping bag, and a Rab Ultrasphere 4.5 mat. My current favorite piece of gear is my Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack that has enough room for many day’s worth of instant noodles and Snickers, 2L of water in the bladder, and two big bottles of Sultan Chai on the sides.

Annie Dunlap

Age 25 / aldie, virginia (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Canyon Grand Canyon 7. The bike has most of its original components including the SRAM SX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain and 11-50T cassette. Some modifications include the Redshift quick release aero bars (with risers) and Ergon GP3 touring grips. BAGS : The bike’s bag highlight is a custom frame bag from Straight Cut Designs (thanks, Ross!) along with two feed bags up front. I am running a Cyclelite handlebar roll bag and Old Man Mountain’s Divide rack. Rockgeist’s Microwave Panniers and top tube bags round out my setup. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be using a Garmin 1030 plus for navigation. My sleep setup includes the Eureka one man bivvy/tent, Kelty Cosmic 20 down sleeping bag, and Kymit Static V sleeping pad. My light setup is the Bookman 1500 lumen light, with four rechargeable back up batteries. I’ll be relying on 2x 20mAh power banks supported by a solar panel charger in the back. Nathan 2L hydration, one electrolyte bottle in a feedbag, and a downtube 1.5L Nalgene will keep me moving through heat.

Jade Saskia Simpson-Field

Age 32 / leeds (united kingdom).

BIKE : I’m riding a Cube AMS ONE11 TM full sus. It’s quite a boring grey and green. Set up with a 10-51T cassette and 30T ring, SON dynamo with a KLite ultra V2 light and Alpkit Confucius bars. I’ve gone with Rekon Race tires for better rolling on the gravel, and of course flat pedals for my sandals. BAGS : Restrap custom full frame bag and race top tube bag, plus a hike-a-bike harness (probably to be unused but we shall see!). Wizard Works stem pouches. Revelate Designs Salty Roll and front pouch bags on a Salsa Anything Cradle. Ortleib QR seatpost bag. Tailfin 3L downtube bag. Then I’ve got Salsa Anything Cages on my forks for extra water carrying capacity, and a backpack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be snug in my pyjamas and Sea to Summit Flame 4 sleeping bag, inside my Nemo Hornet Elite tent every night. Taking a small stove, pillow, and tiny electric pump for my sleeping mat as luxury items. Sawyer mini filter, merino hat, and an extensive first aid kit are essentials.

Jono Freeman

Age 31 / bushwick, new york (usa).

BIKE : If it ain’t broke, fix it ’til it is! A ’23 Santa Cruz Highball running a very similar setup to last year with a couple important changes. 20mm more disc in the front, two more pistons on the calipers, and a sick recycled fender by Trash Gear Co to keep the fork serviceable. BAGS : A full set of Revelate Designs bags and a custom Rogue Panda framebag that will be stuffed to the brim with Tandyr nan and coffee cookies. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This year, unlike the last, I’ve brought some actual bikepacking experience for more tangible stressors and I’ve traded a sticker of Erin for the real thing! Instead of bothering her over satellite message, I can yell behind me and get my reply that much faster. Oh, and a Nemo Hornet Osmo 2P tent to fit us both.

Michael Gaffey

Age 49 / boston, massachusetts (usa).

BIKE : Seven Sola S hardtail mostly XTR with Fox 32 step-cast suspension fork, Envy flat bar, Whisky No.9 36w Rims with Mezcal XC trail tires 29 x 2.35″ (2.25″ rear), SON Dynamo hub, rear DT Swiss hub 180, 1×12, 30T chainring, 11-51T cassette, Redshift suspension seat post, Selle Italia SLR Superflow saddle and Exposure Revo light. BAGS : CamelBak Chase 8 Vest (2L bladder), Topeak frontloader handlebar bag, Bontrager top tube bag (Sinewave Revolution charger), Moosetreks stem feed bags, Ortlieb frame 6L (3L bladder, pump) and 16.5L seat bag (sleeping kit). GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Ti frame.

Raphael Gassmann

Age 34 / lucerne (switzerland).

BIKE : Specialized Epic World Cup, 30T chainring paired with SRAM Eagle 10-52T cassette, carbon crankset, SQlab inner barends, Ergon grips, Zipp Vuka aerobars with Satellite shifters, Supernova front and rear lights, Klite switch paired with Sinewave Cycles USB charger, SON dynamo hub, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless 2.35″. BAGS : Dispersed handlebar roll, Choike Jumbo stem bags, Restrap top tube (long 2L), Bicicaja custom frame bag ‘The Hermit’, Apidura saddle bag 9L and down tube bag 1.2L. Dynafit trail running vest with 2L bladder. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A larger titanium spoon to get the last bit of peanut butter out of the bottom of every jar. Pen and paper so I can sketch on every pass, I’ve promised to soak up the pure nature around me.

Gala Giannini

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Lee Cougan Rampage 428 equipped with Shimano XT 32T x 10-51T, Hunt wheels with Pirelli tires. BAGS : All from Miss Grape: il coso + trunk 8L, internode custom frame bag, cluster 7L saddle bag, big node, two buds. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A very lightweight tent and a very heavy honey jar.

Stanislav Gorbachevskii

Age 40 / sochi (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding a bike made by the new Russian bicycle brand DAUTOV Bros, the model MS-1 29″. The frame is made of TORAYCA HM T800 carbon. The bike features RockShox Reba RL Solo Air OneLoc Suspension Fork, Shimano Deore M6100 Groupset 1×12 speed, Shimano Deore brakes and Specialized Renegade 29 x 2.3″ tires. BAGS : Two types of bags: feed, tank and handlebar bags by VELOHOROSHO, and a custom full frame bag and a saddle bag by Alexander AS_CLOTHES. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : 3F UL GEAR LanShan 1 pro tent, Kailas Trek 300 down sleeping bag, and Ferrino Air Light mat. Cooking kit consists of Toaks titanium 750ml cup and BRS-3000T titanium gas stove. For navigation, I’ll be using Coros Vertix watches and iPhone 13 pro.

Donato Gugliotta

Age 45 / bologna (italy).

BIKE : I’ll ride the SRMR with the beautiful Surly Karate Monkey hardtail with a suspension fork, steel frame, and 29″ wheels. The bike features 1×12 SRAM Eagle AXS with 30T chainring on the front and 10-52T cassette at the rear, Hunt wheels with a SON Dynamo where Supernova M99 Dy Pro Light and the Sinawave Revolution are connected in parallel, and Pirelli Gravel Mixed terrain tyres. BAGS : Top tube, frame bag, handlebar bag, saddle and fork bags, mixed brands. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo tent, Sea To Summit Spark Sp III sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite pad, Garmin Edge 1040 solar.

Ivan Gumbin

Age 27 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : Cannondale Scalpel HT Carbon 3, tested at several events in the UK, Rock Shox SID SL Ultimate 100mm fork, Shimano XT/SLX/Cannondale Hollowgram transmission, 30T х 10-51T, Shimano Deore/XT brakes, custom wheels by Keep Pedaling Manchester with Hope Pro 5/SON28 hubs, Sapim Spokes and DT Swiss XM421 rims. Continental Race King Protection 2.2″ tires with Vittoria XC Light inserts. Sine Wave Beacon light. A special detail of the build is my “Palka” handmade carbon handlebar from Bjorn Cycles. Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and Deda Elementi aerobars for extra comfort. BAGS : Bespoke frame bag from Restrap, saddle and handlebar bags from Apidura, top tube bag from Tailfin and two food pouches from Apidura. Handlebar bag: Zpacks Hexamid tent, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir NXT Lite sleeping mat, Therm-a-Rest Corus quilt, pillow, liner and SOL emergency bivy. Saddle bag: mainly for closing that mostly consists of Rapha MTB collection items. Frame bag: mainly for food, but also for repair, first aid and hygiene kits. Fuel tank: snacks and electronics. Food pouches: snacks and quick items. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Down socks and my Katadyn filter.

Bahadır Gungor

Age 36 / goteborg (sweden).

BIKE : Brother Cycles Big Bro frame, Nordest Kutxo fork, Curve Walmer bars, SRAM AXS Force/X01, E13 Helix 9-50T cassette, Absolute black 28T chainring, Hope RX4+ calipers and rotors, wheels are WTB CZR i30’s (28h) laced with Sapim CX ray’s to a DT350 in the back and a SP Dynamo in the front. Tires are 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcal. kLite kit for lighting and charging. BAGS : Custom THLP framebag, Revelate Designs Spinelock seatbag, Mountain Feedbags, handlebar harness and Mag-Tank top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This time around, I’m bringing a warm and cozy sleep system consisting of an Enlightened Equipment Apex Revelation quilt, Outdoor Research Alpine bivy, and Rab booties.

Lena Halvari

Age 49 / kalmar (sweden).

BIKE : I ‘ll be riding SRMR on a 2016 S-Works Era, full suspension with SRAM XX1, 30T/10-40T. Roval Control SL back wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front, I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and flat handlebars together with Grip Shift and PRO Anatomic Ergo Bar Ends. BAGS : In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I use a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike is a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For a tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I’m riding in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a Silva Trail Speed 5 headlamp. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA25 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Kodi Hodgen

Age 34 / exshaw, alberta (canada).

BIKE : I’ll be racing the SRMR on my Salsa Cutthroat. It’s been set up as a hardtail with 100mm of suspension up front, 1×12 with 30T chainring and a 52T granny gear. Running Maxxis Ikon tires, 2.35” and 2.2”, front and rear. Redshift Endurance seatpost for keeping the bumps at bay, and some aerobars for harpooning my fellow bikepackers. BAGS : Custom Rockgeist frame bag, Tailfin Aeropack and toptube bag, Relevate Designs Pitchfork harness and tool bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : OR Helium Bivy, kLite lighting system, Son 28 dynamo hub.

Age 37 / Leeds (United Kingdom)

BIKE : Fairlight Holt 29er, Rockshox SID 110mm fork, Shimano XT groupset, changed to a 30t chainring for this event Hope Fortus 26 with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Brook Cambium C15, Sonder Confucius handlebars, Ergon GS3 grips, Exposure lights and Restrap bags. BAGS : Restrap Race Range 7L saddle bag, Full custom frame bag, X2 Race stem bags. 14L bar bag/food pouch, Reverse top tube, and Race top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This is the most gear I’ve taken on a race so it required moving the bottles to the forks using some Tailfin Sus fork mounts. I’ll be taking a tent which I don’t usually do, a Naturehike 1-person. I’m wearing quite a few Albion bits and probably my Decathlon vented shirt for those hotter days.

Charlotte Inman

Age 39 / united kingdom.

BIKE : I’ll be riding a very fun Ghost Lector Hardtail for my first bikepacking race, with SID Ultimate front suspension for the descents and a spinny SRAM Eagle XX drivetrain AXS shifting to help with the climbs. BAGS : A mix of my old faithful Revelate Designs frame bag and front harness, trusty waterproof Ortlieb saddle bag and fork bags to keep the important stuff dry, and lovely custom What Happened Outdoors stem bags and front roll. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A cosy Rab Mythic 600 sleeping bag for cold nights, solid 7Mesh waterproofs for wet weather, and an Anker solar charger to keep my Hammerhead Karoo and Exposure lights charged in the sunshine.

Mikolaj Jakubowski

Age 33 / krakow (poland).

BIKE : I’ll be riding an almost stock Canyon Exceed SLX. I mounted a smaller chainring to have 30×10-52T gearing. Cockpit has Ergon GS1 grips and Profile design aerobar. Tires are a must-have Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″. BAGS : I have a mix of what I had lying around. On the front I have Revelate Designs Saltyroll and Polecat with sleeping kit and rain gear. The frame bag was custom made by Capricorn Bags for my gravel bike, but fits this one just fine. Top tube and saddle bag, which I borrowed from my wife, are from Apidura. I have a total capacity of about 45L, so that I can carry plenty of food in between resupplies. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I have a combination of what everybody has. Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit Spark III sleeping bag and Therm-a-Rest mattress. Inflatable pillow for comfort. I opted for batteries instead of a dynamo hub, I’ll carry 2 powerbanks. BBB Strike Duo 2000 will light my way during the dark.

Marcin Kepka

Age 43 / gdansk (poland).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on an Ibis DV9 with Continental Race King Protection tires and a 1×12 SRAM GX drivetrain. A SON dynamo hub will power my kLite light in front and charge my electronics. BAGS : It’s a mix of everything really. Tailfin Aeropack in the back, Revelate Designs Ranger frame bag, and a Restrap top tube bag. This time I removed everything from the cockpit so we’ll see how aero it will make me. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For a shelter I’ll use OR Helium bivy, a Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping pad. For navigation I’ll have a Garmin 1040.

Lukas Klement

Age 29 / kourim (czech republic).

BIKE : I’m riding a custom-made bike with drop bars and Equator wheels. Fenix lights. BAGS : Apidura bags, saddle bag for sleeping set. Custom frame bag by AZ. Top tube bag for electronics. Apidura backpack for water and food. Bottle on handlebar. Down tube bag for repair and first aid. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Edgar Power for energy supplement.

Moritz Kneuer

Age 24 / germany.

BIKE : I’ll be riding a Canyon Exceed CF 6. I’m using a SON Dynamo to power my light and navigation devices. I’ve also attached Profile Design Aero Bars for extra comfort. BAGS : In terms of bags I’ve got a bit of everything. I’m using an Ortlieb seat post bag, Apidura frame and handle bar bag, and a Tailfin top tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I can’t wait for the extra comfort I’ll get while sleeping from my travel pillow.

Maxim Lapchuk

Age 42 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : My second SRMR will be ridden on a Trek Procaliber 9.6. A lightweight carbon hardtail with the unique advantage of a trail-smoothing IsoSpeed decoupler. The bike features Mavic Crossmax Elite wheels and Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tires, an 11-46T cassette with 26/36T chainrings. My modified cockpit has three hand positions and a Profile Design Airstrike II aerobar. BAGS : My Zefal aerobar bag holds my tent and a mat. The top and down tube bags from Apidura for electronics and cables, my food supplements, and spare parts. A Rapha 2.5L frame bag for everyday items and an Apidura saddle bag for my sleeping bag and dry clothes. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : This time, I was mainly thinking about how to reduce the weight of the equipment. I’m using a new Six Moon Designs Lunar solo tent (700g) and waterproof Giro gloves, shoe covers, and socks with a membrane.

Marika Latsone

Age 38 / liepaja (latvia).

BIKE : This is my trusty blue Canyon Grand Canyon 7 with a pretty basic setup, mostly stock components, Maxxis Rekon Race 29 x 2.25” tires, a Shutter Precision dynamo up front. My hands very likely wouldn’t survive those rocky roads without Ergon grips. BAGS : Most of my bags are from the excellent Revelate Designs. I also have a couple of Restrap bags and two Alpkit drybags. Since I don’t quite like saddle bags, I got an Ortlieb Quick rack to carry a dry bag with my sleep kit and some extra packs of noodles. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A seagull t-shirt, cinnamon toothpaste, my favourite Finnish jelly candies and a little, green extraterrestrial specimen I found on the road in Morocco that (hopefully) won’t let me sleep too much. Oh, and a small notebook with a master plan and for writing down some notes on the way.

Age 44 / Edinburgh (Scotland)

BIKE : I’m riding my titanium Titus El Viajero, which has taken me to every ultra I’ve participated in so far. I upgraded my wheels this year, and the bling bronze Hope Pro 5 hubs make me happy just to look at them! BAGS : Big thanks to my coach for loaning me some swish Tailfin goods to complement my Aeropack. I’ve also got Restrap stem and top-tube bags and an Ortlieb frame bag, front roll and accessory pack to stuff with food. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : 7mesh Horizon Jersey for the boiling hot afternoons; Pedaled Alpha jacket for the frosty mountain passes; and 7Mesh Skypilot waterproof jacket for the thunderstorms. Snuggling up at night in my cozy Rab Neutrino 400 sleeping bag and hoping it doesn’t drop to -10C or I might have to sleep in my waterproofs (a tried and tested way to stay warm…).

Patrick Majerle

Age 37 / ravensburg (germany).

BIKE : For the Silk Road Mountain Race, I will ride a SCOTT Scale RC Team Issue with a SRAM X01 AXS EAGLE 1×12 Drivetrain (32T chainring and a 10-52T cassette). The front tire is a Maxxis Rekon Race and back tire is a Maxxis Rekon with a bit more grip for the loose terrain as a tubeless set-up on DT Swiss wheels. The SON Dynamo Hub supplies me with electricity for my front light Edelux II and the Busch + Müller e-werk helps me charge my electronic devices while pedalling. ZIPP Vuka Aerobars will get me through tough headwinds. BAGS : I use a AGU Seat-Pack for my OR bivy, the Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag and the Therm-a-Rest air mattress. The other bags are from Apidura. In the bar roll I carry my clothes and all the rest is stored in the frame bags. I also wear a Apidura Hydration Vest with a 2L capacity for water as well as two bottles for extra water and a water filter. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My highlight is the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 which will guide me through the route and give me (hopefully) good data about my riding.

Dmitriy Makarov

Age 33 / stepnogorsk (kazakhstan).

BIKE : Canyon Exceed CFR LTD. Unlike SRMR 2023, the handlebar has been replaced with a Ritchey drop bar and the brakes/shifters have been changed to SRAM Rival AXS. The stock MAXXIS tires already finished SRMR 2023 I believe they can cross the finish line one more time. BAGS : Old and jammed bags from Apidura. Everything is good, except for the zippers, which require regular maintenance and lubrication. Otherwise everything will jam at the most inopportune moment. Nevertheless, they are lightweight and waterproof, as well as resistance to damage. This year, I gave up the downtube bag for a more comfortable grip during hike a bike moments. This will be the fourth SRMR for these five year old bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : If my frame breaks in half, I have a Tailfin strap.

Kevin Massicotte

Age 33 / toronto, ontario (canada).

BIKE : Revel Ranger with a Shimano XT/XTR 12-speed build. 34T front chainring with a 10-51T cassette. I built the wheels myself with a SON 28 dynamo hub and DT Swiss 240 rear hub, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, and Revel RW27 carbon rims. Both wheels have Hope 6-bolt rotors (180/160mm) which can be easily removed to replace a broken spoke. Fresh Vittoria Mezcal 2.4″ tires with Tubolight inserts and lots of Stan’s race sealant. Supernova DY Pro front light and E3 tail light. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt for navigation mounted to Vision Trimax carbon clip-on aerobars. BAGS : Miss Grape custom frame bag, Big Node top tube bag and a pair of Bud stem bags. Apidura backcountry rear top tube bag and backcountry backpack with a 2L bladder. Ortlieb seat bag and handlebar-mounted accessory pack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Custom Cululus X Lite 300 sleeping bag, Big Agnes Zoom UL mat. Taking a bivy instead of a tent to not miss out on the beautiful stars at night. Kodak Ektar H35 film camera with a roll of Portra 400 and Superia X-Tra 400 for the memories.

Sergei Mazurin

Age 47 / ridder (kazakhstan).

BIKE : Giant XTC Advanced 29, DT Swiss XM 481, SQlab 610 Ergolux active 2.0 saddle, DT Swiss 350 Classic MTB Boost wheels, Shutter Precision Dynamo, modified 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T Shimano SLX crank. BAGS : ACEPAC frame bag, ACEPAC seat bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : The Naturehike tent serves as my shelter along with a Naturehike sleeping bag and air mat. I will also carry a Garmin eTrex 22 for navigation.

Daniel Meyes

Age 46 / zurich (switzerland).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on a Salsa El Mariachi TI equipped with a Shimano XT 2×12 drivetrain (36/26T with an 11-45T cassette) and XTR disc brakes. The bike features Roval Control SL carbon rims paired with Specialized Ground Control 29 x 2.35″ tires. It also includes a Thomson seat post, stem, and handlebar, a Chris King bottom bracket and headset, and XTR pedals with cleats. For additional comfort and control, I’ve added an aerobar from Syntace and some bar ends, as well as a Chromag saddle. BAGS : Primarily from Revelate Designs. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m particularly fond of my Cumulus X-Lite 300 sleeping bag. My lighting system is from Lupine, which turns night into day. I’ll also be carrying a SOL emergency bivy and a Nordisk Ven 2.5 sleeping pad. As I am riding with a partner, we will also bring a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Adrian Mcculloch

Age 48 / forth, tasmania (australia).

BIKE : What remains of a Bombtrack Cale. It has a Shimano 1×12 drivetrain and brakes in a mix of SLX and XT. The wheelset I built, (luckily I work in a bike shop!) is a custom 27.5″ DT Swiss with 2.6″ Maxxis Rekon tyres on 40mm wide rims. A son dynamo hub charges everything and powers my Klite. Up front is a set of Pro missile bars and those beautiful blue SID ultimate with 120mm of travel. BAGS : The frame bag and front roll are Revelate Designs, top tube and down tube bags are Apidura, and a couple of Sea to Summit dry bags to keep everything together. There is a carryall cage mounted both sides of the rear rack so I can carry an extra 4 liters of water if needed. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be sleeping under the fly of a Nemo Hornet tent and using a lightweight bivvy bag in combination for more warmth. A -5° One Planet sleeping bag and a down jacket and vest will keep me warm on the cold nights. I’m taking a Jetboil stove on this trip so I can hopefully cook some decent food. Wet weather gear will be a Patagonia GoreTex coat and lightweight waterproof trousers, which I hope not to use.

Age 35 / Bavaria (Germany)

BIKE : Pivot Mach 4 SL with Fox 34 Fork/Float DPS Damper, DT Swiss XRC 1200 wheelset, Vitorria Mezcal 2.35″ tires, Shimano XT M8100 groupset. BAGS : A mix of bags from Revelate Designs, Rogue Panda, and Tailfin. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Wahoo Roam for navigation, Bolt as backup.

Matt Mihelcic

Age 22 / gold coast, queensland (australia).

BIKE : The gravel bike that could. A yellow wrapped Lauf Seigla rolling on 29 x 2.2″ Race Kings with plenty of clearance. It’s nicknamed ‘Banana Peel’ because the wrap is coming off, but thankfully that’s hidden by the accessories. Up front, the cockpit consists of Lauf’s carbon Smoothie bars with Zipp Vuka armchairs. A Profile Design TT bottle cage and an AliExpress head unit mount integrate a bottle, Quad Lock, Wahoo, and KLite right where you need them. The KLite runs off a SON dynamo hub, with custom wiring to incorporate a SON rear light. I found a fastener called Well Nuts, which allowed me to mount the tail light into the end of the Tailfin rack. I swapped the cranks for shorter 165mm MTB cranks, which widened the Q-factor but provided an easy way to mount a 32T chainring. The rest of the groupset is Apex AXS with a 10-44T cassette. BAGS : The bags are centred around my favourite piece, the custom frame bag. Built in my home country by the Bike Bag Dude, it continues to impress me with its durability and waterproofing. Even after a pressure wash. I also love the Restrap Race collection, supporting their top tube and TT-bar bags. I’m also experimenting with a unique mounting position of the Tailfin rack under my top tube. This is intended to bring the weight forward and help eliminate any wobbles in the frame. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : There are two Dawn to Dusk Bear Hug cage mounts strapped to the down tube with Looney Bins from Arundel screwed in. In combination with the spare bottle cages mounted to the forks, they work great for holding storage bottles or bulky food such as cans or even oranges. Although my custom 3D-printed fork mounts have held up to the test, I try to keep these empty when I can, as they noticeably affect the handling. Hidden in the bags is my Big Sky Revolution bikepacking-specific 1.5P tent and a Sea to Summit Ascent 1 sleeping bag.

Tim Millikin

Age 39 / reading (united kingdom).

BIKE : I’m riding my first ever ultra aboard my trusty 2020 Salsa Fargo. I have swapped the traditional drop bars for a Richey Kyote flat bar to give me better stability on the long descents. The shifting is done by Shimano XT 2×11 with a 24/34T crank set and an 11-42T cassette. Hunt wheels and 29 x 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tyres keep the bike moving. BAGS : Apidura front roll, saddle pack, frame bag, and tool roll hold everything to the bike along with two Blackburn Outpost feed bags for snacks. My sleeping bag and tent are mounted to the forks using Salsa Anything Cages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My left hand 2x shifter is a Shimano Deore Thumb shifter which has accompanied me on a three year around the world bike tour, the Kenya Bike Odyssey route and has survived being hit by a car in El Salvador. It’s a lucky omen and indestructible. Sleeping kit is made up of Therm-a-Rest Parsec -6 bag and Nano air mat all inside a lightweight and comfortable Big Agnes Copper Spur Tent.

Krzysztof Milosz

Age 34 / gdansk (poland).

BIKE : 2023 Giant Anthem Adv 2. BAGS : Tailfin Aerobag, Topeak Frontloader, JackPack top tube bag and frame bag, Pedaled hydration vest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : SLX 32/10-51T, Evanlite Carbon wheels with SON28 hub, Pirelli Scorpion 2.2″ TLR, SUPERNOVA M99 DY Pro, B&M e-werk charger.

Emma Missale

Age 27 / copenhagen (denmark).

BIKE : My baby digital Lavander Orbea Alma H30 with FOX 32 suspension fork. Self-laced Wizard Wheels carbon rims with Hope Pro5 rear hub and Son Dynamo front hub connected to Son front light, Supernova rear light and Sinewave junction box. Tire choice is Maxxis Rekon Race 2.4″. Brakes are Hope Tech4x2 and Transmission a mix of SRAM AXS XO 12-speed 11-52T and SRAM XX1 crankset. This time running Aarn 32T black chainring. Other small bits are Thomson seat post and stem, Brooks C13 (158mm) carved saddle, and SQLab grips and bar ends. BAGS : Bags are mainly Brooks scape; saddle bag, handlebar bag, top tube and two feed pouches. The frame bag is a custom handmade one from THLP, so that it fits my tiny frame. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Pretty stoked about the Aeon Li Tarptent, Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag and half size mat. Accessories wise my Radar EV with photochromic lenses and Looseendapparel fingerless gloves.

Graham Muir

Age 53 / steamboat springs, colorado (usa).

BIKE : Titus TI Silk road frame, Hope V4 brakes, Enve 730 rims with Hope rear hub SON 28 dynamo front. Vittoria Mezcals 2.35″ tires, Fox 34 front fork 100mm with bar remote, Redshift seat post, Selle SMP saddle, Race face 165mm cranks, XT spd/flat pedals, kLite adventure front light and charging system. BAGS : Frame bag and top tube from JPAKS, rear Tailfin rack with 1 litre bottles and loaded with Jay Petervary-designed top bag. Front Revelate Designs harness and Salty roll with two feed bags. Tailfin down tube bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Sleep system includes a MSR advance pro tent and Big Agnes Sleeping bag.

Age 34 / Christchurch (New Zealand)

BIKE : This is a test frame for Fara, DT Swiss wheels, Son Dynamo, KLite front and rear, Redshift Suspension Seatpost, Ritchey Dropbars, 100mm RockShox SID, SRAM XX derailleur, 165mm Raceface Cranks, Sigeyi powermeter, 32T Chainring, Maxxis Ikon 2.35″ tyres, Profile design aero bars and Prologo saddle. BAGS : Carbon Tailfin aeropack, Restrap toptube bag, frame bag, aerobar mount with Sea To Summit dry bag, also carrying an ultra vest. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Wide high volume tyres and Redshift seatpost for removing that washboard vibration.

David Nicholls

Age 37 / london (united kingdom).

BIKE : A 2021 Trek Supercaliber with 100mm of travel on the front and 60mm on the back. Shifting is Eagle AXS, with 30T on the front and 10-50T on the back to deal with all the climbs. A SON dynamo hub will power my Sinewave Beacon light and plethora of electronics. I’ll be rolling on stock Bontrager rims and the ubiquitous Mezcals 29 x 2.25″, though the Trail version with super strong sidewalls after issues in previous races. BAGS : Apidura saddle pack and excellent long top tube bag. Revelate feed bags and Alpkit dry bag outfront strapped to the immense Mission Control deck from Drj0n, which also mounts my Garmin and light. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Tried and tested RAB 200 Neutrino bag with a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite in a RAB storm bivi bag hopefully keeping out the rain. Navigation will come from the Garmin Edge 1030+ and I will carry 1.5L bladder, waterproofs and more snacks in my trusty Pedaled Odyssey Hydration Vest. Waxed chain (using Silca Secret Chain Blend) topped up with Silca Super Secret Wax. Exposure Diablo headlight for the helmet.

Filip Ondrich

Age 23 / borek, jihocesky kraj (czech republic).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my Canyon Exceed CF 7 with a Jones H Bar handlebars and SON dynamo hub. BAGS : I am going with full Tailfin bags, except for my custom frame bag which is from Witslingers. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My sleeping system includes a Durston lightweight tent, Alpkit sleeping bag and Big Agnes sleeping pad. I love this setup because it all fits into my front loader and is really easy to set up and pack up.

Maria Orlova

Age 30 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : Superior XP929, carbon frame hardtail. Slightly modified for the race with a Neutrino 30T chainring, Shimano Deore XT brakes and rear derailleur, Pirelli Scorpion Trail M 2.4″ tires, Van Rysel aerobar. I bought the bike specifically for this race, but while I was riding it, I fell in love with mountain biking. BAGS : I love my Sarmatian frame bag, made of Dyneema Ultra with taped seams. Columbus saddle bag, Acepac handlebar, Sacra feed bags, Velohorosho top tube, won at my last gravel race. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m bringing a lot of warm clothes, a waterproof jacket and pants, three pairs of gloves. I’m sharing a sleep kit with my racing partner. Naturehike VIK 2, Naturehike Ultralight 5.8 R mat, Naturehike CW400 sleeping bag. I’m taking a tent because we are traveling in pairs, and its weight and volume are not so significant when split between two people. I’m also bringing a Fire Maple FMS X1 cook system.

Kasimir Orlowski

Age 33 / laveno, varese (italy).

BIKE : I will ride my Mosaic MT-2 with SRAM XX T-Type (30/52T) and Beast XC dynamo wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires. To brighten up the dark hours I will run a klite Bikepacker 2. BAGS : To carry all the gear and food I will use bags from Tailfin. My sleeping system is in the handlebar bag from Miss Grape. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Redshift suspension seatpost and a Reform custom molded saddle to smooth the ride and save my butt (hopefully!).

Yuji Otsuka

Kanagawa (japan).

BIKE : Monoral Bikes GR, DEORE XT M8050 Di2 3x drivetrain. BAGS : Ortlieb fork pack and back roller, Ride On bar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Redshift ShockStop Stem and Seatpost, SON dynamo hub and Busch + Muller light.

Age 43 / Seoul (South Korea)

BIKE : Alpha bike RAPTOR SL 29, Hutchinson Taipan 29 × 2.25” tires, Shimano XT 1×12 (10-51T), 32T chainring, XT hydraulic disc brake 4P, front SON Dynamo H28 Spoke 32H hub, DT SWISS XR 391 29″ front, Mavic Crossmax 29″ rear, Sinewave Cycles Beacon 2 light. BAGS : ORTLIEB Frame-Pack RC 4L, Ortlieb Seat-Pack QR 13L, Ortlieb Toptube-bag 1.5L, Salsa EXP Series Anything Cradle system, Starus Optima Dome Single Tent 1.5. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Therm-a-Rest NeoAir xLite, Montane Alps 300 (800fp) sleeping bag, Wahoo Elemnt Roam 2 for navigation.

Lars Pedersen

Age 54 / kalmar (sweden).

BIKE : I’ll be riding SRMR on a 2015 S-Works Epic, full suspension with Shimano XTR 36/26T/11-40T. Roval Control SL rear wheel and DT Swiss M462 front wheel with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ Tubeless. In the front I have a SP PD-8x dynamo hub connected to Sinewave Revolution USB outlet for loading my Linocell Solar Powerbank 20,000 mAh. I have also an aerobar PRO Missile S-Bend and Contec Grip Tour Deluxe handlebars together with CloseTheGap Ergo my Ride. BAGS : In the front I have a Blackburn Outpost 14L. On the forks I have two Newboler 7L. In the back I’m using a Topeak Tetrarack M2 HD together with a Ortlieb Drybag 22L. Other small bags on the bike include a Colombus Dry Bag 1L, Restrap Top Tube 1L, Topeck Aero Wedge, and two Fjällräven/Specialized Snack Bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For my tent I’m using a MSR Freelite 1 V3 as I ride in a pair. I sleep on a Sea To Summit Ultralight sleeping pad and Sea To Summit Aeros Ultralight L pillow together with Marmot Trestles Elite sleeping bag. To light up the nights I use a Magicshine MJ902ES together with a headlamp Silva Trail Speed 5. To navigate I’ll use a Garmin Epic 1040 Solar. For water purification I use a Katadyn Vario. I’m bringing a Primus Lite XL stove and a Salomon XA35 backpack with Camelback water bladder and soft flasks.

Neza Peterca

Age 36 / slovenia.

BIKE : Ghost Lector World Cup 30. Together with the guys from Loose Cycles, we made some changes to the factory build. The main thing was tuning up the “dashboard” with aero bars and SQLab innerbarends and saddle, with some custom carbo bridge to hold my light and Garmin. We also opted to go old school with mechanical shifting since you never know what happens in the high plateaus of Kyrgyzstan. I named the bike Saiga – the weird-looking high steppe antelope that is known for traveling large distances during their migrations. BAGS : What Happened GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I never found aerobars on MTB handlebars aesthetically appealing, but I think in combination with What Happened top tube bag, everything is at hand and in the right place.

Erin Poland

Age 33 / bushwick, new york (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my trusted Dr Pepper, a 2023 Cannondale Scalpel! She’s got a women’s specific power saddle and a shiny new pair of Mezcal shoes! BAGS : The centerpiece of my bike is a Revelate Designs framebag that I’ve used on every tour and that my husband Jono took last year on SRMR. I got a Tailfin downtube pack to add some much needed storage for the long stretches with little re-supply. I also have my Rogue Panda top tube and saddle bags, and two snack bags from Blue Lug and Roadrunner to keep the snacking going all ride long! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My pink and blue dynamo light!

Jan Pollers

Age 56 / leuven (belgium).

BIKE : Niner Air 9 RDO, a Jones H bar, and Mezcal 2.25″ tires. Duke wheels with a SON dynamo hub and Klite light. BAGS : Mix of Ortlieb and Apidura.

Bart Pombreu

Age 44 / antwerp (belgium).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on a 2024 Orbea Oiz M-Pro, nicknamed ‘El burro morado con un poco de oro’ or ‘buro’ in short. Featuring Vittoria Mezcals, 2.25″ rear, 2.35″ front tyre. I will be relying on a 20k powerbank and charging when opportunity arises, as I decided not to install a dynamo. BAGS : Tailfin Aeropack and top tube bag, custom made framebag from Miss Grape, four cages for Salsa drybags plus extra water bottles, 15L backpack with 2L Camelbak. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nemo Hornet Osmo 1-person tent and a bunch of the usual stuff that will hopefully get me to the finish beers!

Andrew Poynter

Age 35 / launceston, tasmania (australia).

BIKE : Curve Kevin of Steel with Ritchey Beacon bars and Fox 32 Factory 50mm forks for some softness up front. Rolling on Curve carbon rims with 47mm Pirelli Cinturato tires. Combining this beautiful bike with a mongrel mix of Shimano GRX, SRAM Eagle and Campagnolo Ekar. A Cane Creek Thudbuster seat post is supporting a well travelled Brooks B17. BAGS : Revelate Terrapin down back and Revelate Harness/Saltyroll up front, a Rockgeist 52Hz frame bag to be filled with snacks, a Bike Bag Dude top tube bag, and Sea to Summit dry bags on Salsa Carry Anything cages. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : kLite with Son dynamo to keep the path ahead well lit. However, hoping to avoid too much darkness; I’m going to Kyrgyzstan to see the mountains! Will be sleeping comfortably on a Nemo Tensor mat, beneath a Neve Gear Warratah quilt, inside an MSR Hubba Hubba 1.

Alexander Price

Age 43 / mons (belgium).

BIKE : Cube C62 Reaction Race, bought specifically for the SRMR. Components are mostly stock, including the Shimano XT Deore 1×12 drivetrain, 32T chainring and 11-52T cassette. I changed to a Brooks C17 saddle and went with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tyres for durability and smooth rolling. Ergon GS3 grips and Selco clip on aero bars also added. BAGS : My focus has been on having the capacity to carry the bulky items required for SRMR, such as sleeping bag, but keeping weight off the handlebars. Aeroe Spider rear rack with two Decathlon Riverside bags, bespoke frame bag made in the UK by Alpkit, Ortlieb top tube bag with magnetic closure, a couple of stem bags to carry food through the remote sections, and Restrap Aero Race handlebar bag also made in the UK. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’m using plenty of my ski mountaineering kit, including a MSR Access 2 tent, Snugpak Softie 6 sleeping bag, Alpkit Hukka bivvy bag, Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping mat. Norrona Goretex jacket and trousers to cover any conditions. Garmin Edge 1040 solar for navigation, Fenix front light, MSR Pocket Rocket for hot drinks and freeze dried meals, Apidura frame pack hydration bladder for extra water capacity, Nitecore and Anker power banks.

Olmighti Quillao

Age 43 / squamish, british columbia (canada).

BIKE : I’ll be going old school riding a 2004 Cannondale F700 CAAD4 with Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette, handbuilt (by me) Stans Crest MK3 wheels on a DT Swiss 240 rear hub and a SON28 Dynamo front with Sapim CX-Ray spokes, Maxxis 26 x 2.25″ Ardent tires and a Thomson Titanium 12° handlebar. The setup weighs 55.6lbs fully loaded. BAGS : Revelate 16L Spinelock saddle bag, Apidura Racing 1L Top Tube Bag, Backcountry 1L Rear Top Tube and 6L Full Frame Bag and a Salsa Anything Cradle with a 12L Top Loading Bag + 2.5 Accessory Pouch. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Western Mountaineering Ultralite -7°C sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite sleeping pad, Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 tent, Sinewave Beacon 2 for light and charging duties, 10,000mAh Iniu battery pack, Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V1 and Gamin Fenix 5X for navigation and pacing, MSR Trailshot Filter and Pristine Water Treatment to quench thirst anytime, anywhere!

Eloi Renaudin

Age 32 / le pré-saint-gervais, paris (france).

BIKE : Breezer Lightning, SID fork, Hunt wheels, Maxxis Ardent tires. BAGS : Ortlieb, Riverside, Apidura, Tailfin suspension fork mounts. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nothing special, maybe that front bag net, to put food or stuff away very fast.

Pierre Lorin de Reure

Age 31 / paris (france).

BIKE : Canyon Neuron CF 9, full carbon with DT Swiss carbon wheels and full XT group set. Equipped with a Fox 34 Performance Elite fork offering 140mm travel. Tires are Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Racing Ray, both 29 x 2.25″, mounted tubeless. I chose this full-suspension setup to tackle the tough terrain with maximum comfort and safety. I’m using Crankbrothers Mallet E pedals paired with Specialized Rime 2.0 shoes, and my saddle is a Brooks c17 carved. BAGS : Decathlon saddle and handlebar bags, with an extra pocket added to the handlebar bag for additional storage, and finally two small Decathlon frame bags. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : As you can see, as a proud Frenchman, I’m sticking with Decathlon gear, hence a Decathlon sleeping bag rated for 0°C and Decathlon sleeping mat with an R-value of 5.4 for warmth and comfort. The only exception is the Naturehike Cloud Wing 2 tent, because I think this brand is the best value for money you can find.

Age 60 / South Wales

BIKE : I’ll be riding the #SRMR2024 on my titanium Sonder Broken Road. The bike has a pair of tubeless Maxxis Ikon 2.35” tyres and a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed (10-50T) groupset fitted with a 30T chainring. There’s a SON Dynamo up front and a Hope hub on the rear. I also have Jones H-Bars fitted for comfort as well as to give me more cockpit space. BAGS : I have a Tailfin AeroPack to the rear and have an Alpkit Bar Bag out front as well as a mixture of Top Tube bags that I’ve picked up over time. Additionally, I’ve a pair of Tailfin cargo cages fitted to the forks and a tool bottle fitted under the downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My Brooks C17 saddle along with my kLite powered by the dynamo that’s complimented by a helmet mounted Fenix HM61R. I’ll also have my eTrex 32x as backup for my Garmin Edge 1040.

Peter Rosewall

Age 36 / dubai, uae (uk).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the SRMR 2024 on my Canyon Lux Trail CF9, The bike features Hunt wheels shod with Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres and a SON dynamo hub up front. To light my way, I have fitted K-lite front and rear. Other than that, it’s pretty standard. BAGS : All off the shelf and nothing fancy, Zefal all over with a Zefal Z Adenture R saddle bag, Zefal Z Adventure F10 handle bar bag and Zefal top tube bag. I bought them just for training as they were cheap but they have turned out to be very good quality and reliable so stuck with them. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Outdoor Research Helium bivy, Sea to Summit Spark SPIII sleeping bag. Specialized Rime 2.0 MTB shoes which have proven themselves very reliable in the Dubai Sand but how well they will cope in the cooler climates of Kyrgyzstan we shall see. For Navigation I’ll be using my Garmin Edge 1040 Solar.

Age 30 / Charles Town, West Virginia (USA)

BIKE : I’m riding a 2022 Specialized Fuse 27.5″ Hardtail. I upgraded the tires to 2.2″ Umtanum Ridge Endurance Pluses from René Herse, swapped the stock flat bar for the Surly Corner Bar and added aero bars, and switched to mechanical disc brakes after the stock hydraulic brakes started to fail. I upgraded the stock 1×9 drivetrain with the Box Two Prime 11-50T cassette and upgraded the dropper post with an E13 Vario Infinite 180mm. I also added a Velogical Rim Dynamo generator to power my electronics. BAGS : My favorite part of my bag setup is the Spider Rear Rack from Aeroe, where I have two 8L bags and one 11L bag. I’m used to having big panniers at the back of the bike, so I much prefer this set up from Aeroe than having a big saddle bag. I have an Apidura full frame bag, large top tube bag and two fork packs, Bedrock Bags water bottle storage on the downtube, and the Revelate aero bar bag. I have two feed bags from Fish-Ski Designs, as well as their 6-pack Bevvy Carrier. I’m really concerned about carrying enough liquids during the long stretches without resupply, and I think the Bevvy Carrier is gonna be perfect to avoid dehydration. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : From my short lived triathlon career, I have more bottle cages mounted to my seat to top off my liquid storage. I’ve got an Insta 360 mounted to my aerobars for easy filming and a Quadlock wireless charger to keep my phone topped off. I have a Lunar Solo tent from Six Moon Designs and a Nemo inflatable sleeping pad.

Age 50 / North Vancouver, BC (Canada)

BIKE : I will be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a 2019 Salsa Timberjack with a pair of Vittoria Mezacal 2.25″ tires and a 1×12 drivetrain with a 34T chainring. I attached a Fred Bar to help fit my Redshift aero bars. BAGS : Pretty much all of my bags are Revelate Designs. Over the years, their stuff has just been so reliable and I keep going back to them time and time again. No gimmicks, it just works. Only additions were the Tailfin downtube pack for all the miscellaneous I hope I don’t need. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My most important kit was supplied by my 6 year old Oliver, which includes a “fixer” hot wheels car with miniature wrench tool, a ghost white, iron-on decorative beads spare tire (not to scale), friendship bracelet and the request for “stunts” along the course. As for clothing, Ollie’s wouldn’t fit me so I opted for the next best thing… 7Mesh! Love their kit. For navigation I’m stick with the old faithful, the Garmin eTrex along with the back up of two iPhones not to mention the route etched in my brain (less reliable).

Marie-Pierre Savard

Age 39 / montréal, québec (canada).

BIKE : I’m racing the SRMR on a Panorama Cycle Taïga hardtail, a steel bike that offers the fun and performance of a hardtail with long-distance off-road adventure capabilities. The drivetrain is Shimano 1×12, with a 32T chainring (10-51T) and SRAM LEVEL hydraulic brakes. I also opted for comfort with a Fox 34 SC front suspension, Jones H-Loop handlebars and Ergon grips. To get me rolling I worked closely with Station 210 – Atelier de Roues in Quebec, who hand-built me a set of wheels tailored for the SRMR with Astral rims, a SON dynamo hub at the front and a HOPE hub in back. They also fitted us with a Klite lighting and charging system and a set of Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge endurance tires. BAGS : It’s impossible not to love the custom frame bag made by Atwater Atelier. For me, it was non-negotiable to have a custom bag that maximizes all available space in the frame for my electronics, first aid, toiletry and sundry items. My mechanical kit is housed in the Atwater top tube bag. My tent and rain clothes tuck into the 15L Arkel Rollerpack handlebar bag, doted with the Memento Cycles decaleur instead of the original Arkel aluminum hanger. And hanging from my saddle, a 15L Arkel Seatpacker will hold my sleeping bag and mat. On the fork, because of the Old Mountain Axle Pack, I can fit two Dom 5L dry bags for cookware, food and clothes. On my back, I’ll have a Decathlon 10 L running bag with a 2L water capacity. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I am proud to say that most of the elements on my bike come from Canadian companies: the Panorama Cycle bike, the Arkel and Atwater bags and technical clothing from Brava Endurance and 7mesh. For my sleep kit, I use a MEC Delphinus 0C sleeping bag with liner and a head-to-toe merino outfit to keep me warm and dry at night. The tent is a Naturehike Cloud Up 1 and the sleeping pad, a Klymit Static V Lite. And so as not to get lost, I’ll have my Garmin 530, which is old but reliable, just like me!

Andreas Tvedt Segrov

Age 43 / oslo (norway).

BIKE : Scott Scale 920, SRAM GX Eagle 12s-peed drivetrain, FOX 32 100mm fork, Ergon SM Pro seat on a Cane Creek eeSilk suspension post. Ergon GP2 handlebars and Profile Design aerobars on risers. BAGS : Mostly Tailfin apart from an Ortlib frame bag and a Topeak handlebar bag. Drinking water in my Arcteryx Norvan 14 drinking vest containing a 3L bladder. I added an extra 1.5L bladder in there for longer stretches. Swapped one of the chest bottles with a Karadyn Befree 0.6L water purifying filter. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A lightweight Lifesystems wind shelter to protect me from really bad weather and the elements during breaks. Heat patches for hands and feet.

Benedikt Stratmann

Age 33 / dortmund, nrw (germany).

BIKE : I will be riding the SRMR on my Trek Procaliber 9.8. I modified it some places to be more suitable for the event. Among the changes I made are: a 1×12 drivetrain with 30T in the front and 10-51T in the back, a SON dynamo hub with a kLite lighting/charging system and a SQlab saddle as well as a riser bar with aero bars and Ergon grips for comfort. The tires are 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. BAGS : The two main bags are an Ortlieb seat pack and an Ortlieb handlebar pack. Additionally I have a Blackburn frame bag and an Apidura top tube bag. I will also carry a small running vest for additional water and snacks. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : For my sleeping kit I will use a light MSR tent, an Exped mat, and a Robens sleeping bag with a -9 degree comfort temperature. In case of bad weather I will use a full rain kit including a Mammut rain jacket and waterproof socks as well as warm clothes mostly by Adidas Terrex. In general I packed a little extra. Better be safe than sorry.

Claire Stevens

Age 49 / wadawurrung country, geelong (australia).

BIKE : Curve Cycling GMX+ with 29″ Curve Dirt Hoops and 2.35″ Mezcals. Curve Walmer drop bars. SRAM Mullet set-up: Eagle AXS with 2024 Red levers and brakes. SP dynamo and kLite system. BAGS : My frame bag was custom made by Terra Rosa Designs in Naarm/Melbourne. I have Ortlieb fork packs fitted to the latest edition of the Curve Seek 430 fork. The Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L saddle bag was chosen because a detachable dry bag is easier to throw my sleep kit into. No bar bag because I need all that wide Walmer bar room for activities! GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Outdoor Research Helium bivy, sleeping bag rated to -10C, and Therm-a-Rest NXT mat.

Age 22 / London (United Kingdom)

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Specialized Epic Comp Hardtail with Specialized Renegade and Fast Trak 29 x 2.35″ tyres, 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette. Lastly, I’ll be using Ergon GP3 grips with TT bars. BAGS : For bags, I’ll be using an awesome Tailfin setup, starting with the Aeropack combined with carbon arches, as well as their 1.9L wedge frame bag and 1.7L downtube bag for spares and repairs, 1.1L top tube bag for essentials, 10L fork bags for tent and cook kit / food and the Apidura Handlebar bag for sleep system and food pouches for all my snacks! As you can see, I’m taking enough to be comfortable and more focused riding the route, instead of racing it. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll be using the Big Agnes Copper Spur bikepacking tent for my shelter, along with a -6 degree Enlightened Equipment quilt, and Therm-a-Rest Neoair Mat. The main highlight is a lot of chocolate!

Evgeny Shekhirev

Age 41 / moscow (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my GT Zaskar Pro bike. My bike is equipped with new Schwalbe NOBBY NIC 26 x 2.25″ tires, a Suntuor fork, and a new SRAM 3×9 drivetrain (44/22T in front and 12/36T cassette). BAGS : A Topeak fame bag, a seat bag and handlebar bag, a smartphone bag on the frame, two 750ml bottles. An inflatable mat and part of the tent will be attached to the fork. I also plan to take a 2L hydration bladder in a backpack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A single-person Freetime RAID LITE 1 DLS tent, a Freetime sleeping bag, and an inflatable Sea To Summit mat. I’ll navigate with a Garmin 840.

Hannah Simon

Age 26 / austin, texas (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be ripping my fabulous custom Ti Chumba Sendero for the Silk Road Mountain Race. It’s decked out with a Cane Creek HELM fork (set up at 120mm, adjustable to 160mm) and suspension seat post for all them bumpy roads. Wheels equipped with a SON28 front hub, Industry Nine SOLiX rear hub, Industry Nine carbon rims and 2.2″ Durable Teravail Rutland tires. I added an Old Man Mountain rack to get the weight off the front end for this race. Rear Racks are IN. 1×12 GX AXS with a 32T chainring and 50T cassette. She Stout. BAGS : All over, all-time South City Stitchworks handmade, super tough, absolutely gorgeous bags. I am a full-length-top-tube-bag believer. There’s nothing handy-er. These bags were flawless throughout the Atlas Mountain Race, with a couple tweaks we are DIALED for this one. Re: tweaks: one-hand closure on the feed bags and internal routing for the kLite dynamo wiring. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I am totally jazzed about my kLite Adventure dynamo light and charging set up. I’ve got the front and rear light rigged as well as a USB charging port. The kit comes with a switch to prioritize either a brighter light or a faster charge. It all fits nicely together on my super light out-front mount from Jefe.bike.

Sorachi Sakai

Age 22 / hokkaido (japan).

BIKE : My bike is a Singular Peregrine. I like the 29 x 2.3″ tires, the SON hub dynamo, and the Sinewave Beacon. This is my first real gravel bike and touring machine. I use Microshift and Shimano XT for the derailleurs. BAGS : My setup is Fairweather from Blue Lug bike shop in Tokyo. Four stem bags on the DH bars, a full frame bag in a custom color and size, a 6L seat bag, and a Mont-Bell top tube bag. The cargo cages on the front forks hold water while riding. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My home is a Naturehike freestanding tent, a closed cell mat, and a down sleeping bag from the Japanese brand “Takemo”. My goal is to be the first Japanese person to complete the course (probably) while enjoying the mountains and scenery of Kyrgyzstan.

Max-Robert Salzer

Age 31 / stuttgart, baden-wuerttemberg (germany).

BIKE : Cube Reaction GTC Eagle 2017, Shimano-Sram-Budget-Performance-Mix, 1×12 with 30T steel chainring. Newmen/Acros Backwheel, Carbon Frontwheel with Shutter Precision dynamo, SON front light, Busch & Müller rear light, Continental Race King 2.2″ tires, SQLab 612 saddle. BAGS : Tailfin AeroRack Alu, Ortlieb fork bags, Caspsuled Framebag, tent and sleeping bag under the barsso I can use the standard bottle cages in the frame and one on the Tailfin system. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I like the cockpit with the ability to mount a tent and sleeping bag under the bars. One fork bag at the front, the other on the Tailfin system for weight compensation. The lighting system is also a mix of SON, Shutter precision and Busch & Müller parts. Sea to Summit Spark Sleeping Bag, Nemo Bikepacking Tent, and Exped Hyper 1R sleeping mat for the night. The bike is normally used for marathon races without bags, so everything is designed with racing in mind.

Patrick Staubach

Age 30 / weimar (germany).

BIKE : A Canyon Exceed CF SLX with SRAM GX Eagle AXS, Maxxis Ikon Exo 2.35″ in the back and 2.2″ Continental Race King in the front. Together with the flexible seat post and a Brooks Cambium C15, I hope it provides a reasonably comfortable ride. BAGS : Ortlieb, from back to front. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A power meter, which I hope will allow me to maintain a more consistent and efficient pace.

Mona Stockhecke

Age 40 / zurich (switzerland).

BIKE : I’ll be racing the Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) on a 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Pro with Syntace handlebars. BAGS : I use several Revelate Design bags and three water bottles will be mounted in the frame and downtube. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Cumulus X-Lite 400 is my absolute favorite piece on this trip—a sleeping bag that never leaves you cold. Additionally, I’ll take a Sol emergency bivy and a Sea to Summit Uberlite air mattress. As I am riding as pair, we also take a Zpacks Triplex Classic tent.

Claude Stutz

Age 60 / cernay, alsace (france).

BIKE : Will be riding SRMR on a 2022 Cube C:620 hardtail with 2.2″ Continental Race King, 1×11 drivetrain with 30T chainring, classic SON dynamo. BAGS : Bags are all Ortlieb, an Apidura 3L bladder fits in the frame bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : A Nordisk Lofoten tent, Sea to Summit air mat and sleeping bag, and MSR UL stove.

Jan Erik Svendsen

BIKE : I’ll be riding SRMR on a F/Gravel, Fara is a Norwegian brand who makes beautiful and great adventure bikes. It has a carbon frame and wheels, with a 50mm Maxxis Rambler TL tire in the front and 45mm out back. Pro Discover handlebar with a 30° flare, Redshift drop bar grips and suspension stem for more comfortable riding, and aerobars which includes extra mounts for my GoPro and a 1500 Bookman front light. BAGS : Tailfin AeroPack and two 10l pannier bags, also down tube and top tube bags from Tailfin. Apidura frame bag, and Restrap aerobag for sleeping bag. Will use a hydration vest for the drinking system and to carry extra food when resupplying. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Overall, I’m very happy with my Fara gravel bike, Tailfin system and handlebar set up, to make my ride as comfortable as it`s possible in Kyrgyzstan mountains. I’m riding in a pair, and we will bring a Jetboil and some Drytech food to be sure we have a hot meal when needed. Maybe we have brought some extra unnecessary kilos, but better safe than sorry.

John Paul Lopez Taberdo

Age 41 / geelong, victoria (australia).

BIKE : I’m going for the award for the ‘ultimate party pace rig’ at the SRMR! To keep up my record for the last rider to finish, I’m riding an old-school Merida Big Nine alloy hardtail 29er with e-Thirteen trail wheels, Maxxis Recon Race 2.35″ tyres, 120mm Manitou forks, a Shimano drivetrain, and Pro aero bars and bar ends. It’s nothing special, but the bike has ridden enough ultra-endurance bikepacking events in Australia to be reliable enough for the Silk Road…I hope! BAGS : A mixed-bag-of-bags… Ortlieb frame bag, Apidura top tube bag, Restrap feed bags, Topeak front roll bag, Old Man Mountain Elkhorn rack, Apidura Expedition fork bags, Restrap dry bag, Pro tool canister, and Lezyne Powercages and a Minoura Jetboil carrier mounted on Zefal Gizmo cage adaptors. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : With up to 7 litres of water storage, I should be the least dehydrated rider in the race! Also, with at 30T chainring and a 50T lowest sprocket, it’s going to be party pace up all the big mountains!

Nick Tapsell

Age 53 / brighton (united kingdom).

BIKE : No-name hardtail, SID 120mm fork, USE suspension post. Son Hub and Sinewave Beacon 2. BAGS : Tailfinn Aeropack, Restrap frame bag, Revalate Designs handlebar roll, Miss Grape Ilcoso front bar rack. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks Plex solo tent, Rab sleeping bag, Rab Down jacket and waterproof gear.

Jeff Taylor

Age 60 / haute cabin, vermont (usa).

BIKE : Blacksheep Hightlight, Mountain Tourer. BAGS : Mix of Dispersed, JPaks, Porcelain Rocket, and Tailfin. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Sleep system consists of an MSR Pro Bivy and Western Mountaineering Flylite bag. Shimano XT PD T-8000 touring pedals, Berthoud, saddle, Sinewave Beacon light with Fenix LD 30 helmet lamp. Saloman Vest for hydration and extra storage.

Temir Tenizbaev

Age 39 / bishkek (kyrgyzstan).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Specialized Chisel with mostly stock components. Upgrades include a new pair of Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, a Truvativ carbon handlebar and aluminum aerobars, a Fi’zik Terra Aidon X5 saddle and Ergon grips. BAGS : I will mostly use custom-made bags sewn by a friend Alex Mata with the handlebar bag harness attached to the aerobars. The only mass-produced bag is Revelate Designs Spinelock Saddle Bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : All my electronics including the lights will be charged from a 30k power bank. I will carry a Naturehike tent, sleeping bag, and a sleeping mat.

Andrei Tereskin

Age 35 / novocherkassk (russia).

BIKE : I’ll be riding my Sonder Broken Road. It has a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-52T cassette. SQLab 612 saddle, Ergon GS3 grips, Spirgrips, and RideFarr aero bolt-on. I’ll be running same Rene Herse Fleeceer Ridge Endurance tires as I used last year. BAGS : I have a mix of bags from different manufacturers: Tailfin in the back, Apidura and Tailfin on the top tube, custom ultra800 framebag made by Sarmatian Bags and Nerpa harness with a Revelate ultra200 dry bag in the front + feedbag from Revelate. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks Plex Solo dyneema tent together with a Featherstone quilt and Therm-a-Rest xlite pad will be my sleep system and shelter. For lighting and charging I’ll be using kLite combined with SON 28 dynamo hub.

Galym Torgautov

Age 50 / shymkent (kazakhstan).

BIKE : My bike for SRMR 2024 is a 2015 Canyon Lux. It’s running a SRAM Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, Fox suspension, Chinese carbon wheels laced with Mezcals. I have Shigura brakes, Ergon grips, and a WTB Volt saddle. BAGS : My bags are a combo of Tailfin, Sarmatian, and Nerpa and I was glad to get Andy’s harness from Wayward Riders just in time for the event. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : My sleep setup is a classic for SRMR, consisting of an OR Helium bivy and Therm-a-Rest Neo xLite pad. I’ve been testing the Keg spirit burner system with success and I’ll be taking it with me for the race.

Nursultan Turarbekov

Age 30 / bishkek (kyrgyzstan).

BIKE : I’ll be riding the Silk Road Mountain Race on a Surly Karate Monkey with rigid fork, Shimano Deore 1х11, 30T chainring, and Vittoria Mezcal 29 х 2.35″ tires. BAGS : My bag setup is mostly custom MASEY BIKEPACK waterproof bags handmade in Belarus except the handlebar bag is Vaude. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : MSR FreeLite 1-person UL Tent, Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag, and an Apidura hydration pack.

Maarten Vanhaverbeke

Age 39 / brakel, flemish ardennes (belgium).

BIKE : Can’t believe I am in Kyrgyzstan for my third Mountain Race this year after Atlas and Hellenic. Anyways, the bicycle? As always, I’m riding my Mason InSearchOf. Ritchey Beacon drop bars, a SWS Wheels hand-built wheelset (SON/DT240), René Herse Fleecer Ridge tires, those new new SRAM Red shifters, XX1 derailleur, Shimano XT crankset, XTR 10-51 cassette, Wolf Tooth 32T chainring, RockShox SID fork, Syntace XXS aerobars, and Leap Components blip holders. I’m a bicycle mechanic, I could go on forever. BAGS : Revelate Designs feedbags, Spinelock seat bag and Rifter framebag. Tailfin top tube pack. Miss Grape ILCOSO handlebar bag mount with a 7L Revelate Pronghorn drybag. Apidura downtube pack supported by a King Cage Many Thing Cage. Camelbak Chase 4 hydration vest with a 2L Hydrapak bladder and inline filter. Second 1.5L bladder in the framebag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Nordisk Lofoten tent, Cumulus X-Lite 400 sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite mattress, KLite lights and charger, Lucifer Z2Mini helmet light. Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for navigation, Edge 530 as backup. Inreach tracker.

Ruben Verhelst

Age 31 / gent (belgium).

BIKE : Jaegher Typhoon custom handmade stainless steel adventure bike with custom paint job (handmade drawings with pencil directly on the frame). BAGS : Mostly Tailfin bags with a VAP handlebar bag. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Zpacks tent for more comfort compared to a bivvy. My Garmin 1040 will be powered by the sun (hopefully) and a SON dynamo hub.

Dennis Vink

Age 22 / fair lawn, new jersey (usa).

BIKE : I’ll be riding on my Panorama Taiga bike with a Marzochi Bomber Z2 front fork. It’s an all steel frame and has a PG-1230 11-50T cassette. Shout out to Panorama as I partnered with them for this adventure and will be putting their great bike to work. BAGS : To be honest, I found most of my bags on Amazon and I’m glad to say so. Was on a tight budget as I’m a student. My saddle bag is the Topeak BackLoader 15L which I love so far. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Acquired some neoprene socks after watching them used in past SRMR events. My Big Agnes Shield 2 Tent is great. And can’t forget large rubber yellow kitchen gloves to protect my hands from the adverse conditions.

Age 28 / Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

BIKE : I’ll be racing on my trusty 2023 Cannondale Scalpel HT, size small. Components include SRAM AXS, 10-52T cassette, 28T purple Raceface chainring and Raceface carbon Era cranks. Wheels are Raceface Arc rims, laced with an SP dynamo hub at the front, and purple Raceface Vault hub in the rear, wrapped in 2.25” Maxxis Rekkon Race EXO tires and filled with Orange Seal. Fork is a Fox 32 stepcast. I’m running Deore brakes with Galfer pads. Cockpit is built around some Salsa bend bars, with Profile Designs aero bars on 70mm risers, SQ labs inner bar ends and Ergon grips. Saddle is a Fizik Vento Argo R3 Adaptive paired with a Redshift Shocktop PRO Endurance Suspension seat post for extra comfort. BAGS : I’m running nearly all Tailfin bags which have been a game changer on my small bike. The carbon Aero Pack has my spare clothing and food, while the 5L panniers have items I’ll need to access during the day like warm layers and electronics and plenty of extra space for food. My repair kit is in a Tailfin down tube bag. Tailfin top tube bag for more snacks and camera. Salsa anything cradle holds a salsa dry bag with my sleep kit — RAB Ultrasphere 4.5 sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest Vesper -6°C quilt and Outdoor Research Helium bivvy — as well as my Albion rain jacket and insulated jacket. I’m also wearing a Salomon ADV Skin 12L vest for water, snacks and miscellaneous items. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Kit from Albion keeps me stylish, comfy, and protected from the elements. The Coros DURA has the best battery life I’ve experienced with a navigation device. My husband Jake surprised me with a Supernova rear dynamo light before we left and I’m so excited to have one less thing to charge.

Rufus Wenlock

Age 36 / christchurch (new zealand).

BIKE : The frame is self-built and designed, the second version of a bikepacking prototype. It’s running on 29 x 2.35″ Vittoria Mezcals, a 120mm Sid Ultimate fork, Shimano 1×12 drivetrain with an oval 32T, Hayes Dominion brakes with 180mm rotors and a Redshift Pro suspension post. BAGS : I’m running a pair of Tailfin top tube bags and a home made dry bag harness for under the saddle. Main framebag is also a home made job. The last piece of the kit is an Ultraspire Zygos 5.0 hydration vest with alllll the pockets. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : I’ll have a total water capacity of 4.5 litres. My sleep system is a Sea to Summit -1 sleeping bag, SOL Escape bivy and a Sea to Summit Eitherlight XT sleeping mat.

Angus Young

Age 28 / blandford forum, dorset (england).

BIKE : I’ll be racing on my gorgeous Mason Cycles Macro prototype which has been anodized in a stunning bronze. Wheels are the Hunt Beyond Carbon Dynamo shod with Vittoria Mezcal trail tyres. Finishing kit from Ultimate Components. BAGS : The bags are a full Restrap Race Range and I’ll also be using the hydration pack. I’ve got plenty of space in the all so I can load up on snacks for the long sections. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Clothing is all from Gore, vital kit for Kyrgyzstan is a full set of waterproofs and you can’t beat GORE-TEX sleep system is the tried and tested OR bivvy, Therm-a-Rest Uberlite, and a Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.

Age 42 / Riga (Latvia)

BIKE : I’ll be riding The Silk Road Mountain Race on an old Scott coffee bike. Nothing serious, just a daily ride for fans. Custom wheels with an Extralite hub, Son dynamo hub, Berdspokes, Rideporte rims, Cushcore XC, Rene Herse 55mm endurance +. Magicshine 8000 front light, Nitecore nu50, nu05. BAGS : Modified Apidura bags. I’m creative and patient. I knew my needs for equipment, had my vision how it should look like and made it happen. Handmade. GEAR HIGHLIGHTS : Free mind, happiness and empty legs.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

Rigs of the 2022 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

Sofiane Sehili’s SRMR Gear List: 2022 Winning Set-up (video)

Rigs of the 2023 Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR)

A Post-Race Interview with Jakub Sliacan, Winner of the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race

Alone in Kyrgyzstan

An Interview with Lael Wilcox after the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race

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26 top places to see fall foliage in the u.s. in 2024.

Hit the road or the trail to view vibrant fall leaves across America.

The Top Places to See Fall Foliage

Getty Images

There's no other time of year quite like fall. Brisk, cool mornings give way to sun-warmed afternoons, and the dropping temperatures create a kaleidoscope of colors as the leaves change before winter sets in. The displays of color are different across the U.S., but they're all brilliant when leaf-peeping season is at its peak.

Peak leaf season varies by region and by year, depending on the weather, so it's best to check with local sources before you go. Many top destinations to view fall's splendor have leaf and foliage maps and trackers so you can follow the local predictions and current conditions – and arrive just in time for the best of the season. Some of these destinations will be familiar, while others are lesser-known locales where you can capture and embrace fall's beauty.

So, pack your jacket and jeans, then grab your camera to capture one of nature's best spectacle.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Acadia National Park covers nearly 50,000 acres along the rocky coast of Maine. Located about 160 miles northeast of Portland, the park boasts the diverse natural beauty of the Atlantic shoreline, including majestic mountains. Peak leaf season in Acadia traditionally falls in the middle of October. This is when you'll see the vibrant displays of oranges, reds and yellows, especially along the Acadia All-American Road, one of the best scenic drives to view the fall colors.

While visiting Acadia , plan to stay at the nearby coastal town of Bar Harbor , considered to be the gateway to the park. Bar Harbor Inn & Spa , situated along picturesque Frenchman Bay, is an outstanding choice for an overnight stay: The historic property offers impressive views of the water as well as Maine's Porcupine Islands. While in town, you can take a whale watching tour and treat yourself to a traditional lobster dinner at Beal's Lobster Pier.

McKenzie River Scenic Byway, Oregon

Melanie Griffin | Courtesy of Eugene, Cascades & Coast

The 34-mile McKenzie River Scenic Byway extends from the vineyards of the Willamette Valley to the forests of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon , treating travelers and road-trippers to views of some of the Pacific Northwest's most beautiful landscapes. Plan your visit for peak season when the golds and reds are most vibrant, usually in mid-to-late October.

The McKenzie River boasts some of the best fly-fishing in Oregon, so anglers will want to cast off for native redside rainbow and cutthroat trout along the way. Other highlights include stops at local farm stands and at Goodpasture Bridge in Vida, which is the state's second-longest covered bridge. For an extended romantic getaway that includes days spent fly-fishing, whitewater rafting and hiking to waterfalls, make reservations at the Eagle Rock Lodge, a bed-and-breakfast for couples in Vida.

The Berkshires, Massachusetts

Situated about 130 miles west of Boston and surrounded by mountains, the Berkshires are one of the most scenic places to view fall foliage in New England . The leaves begin changing at the end of September, but peak season starts around mid-October. You can expect to see colors ranging from golden yellows to vivid oranges to deep reds. If you're up for a hike, take the Stony Ledge trail from the Williamstown side of Mount Greylock, the highest peak in Massachusetts at nearly 3,500 feet. This route offers one of the best viewing points of the foliage from midway up the mountain.

Back on the ground, the Berkshires feature world-class arts and entertainment offerings along with a deep-rooted food culture with many locally focused dining options. You can also explore the apple orchards and hops farms along the Berkshire Farm & Table Beer & Cider Trail. For accommodations in the Berkshires , splurge on a stay at The Williams Inn, an upscale hotel with a contemporary design that emulates local farmhouse architecture.

Charlottesville, Virginia

Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia, Charlottesville offers spectacular scenery accentuated by fall's vivid hues. Mid-to-late October is when you'll usually see the most dazzling red, orange and yellow leaves, but the colors can linger into early November, depending on the weather. Some of the best viewing spots with scenic overlooks are along the neighboring Blue Ridge Parkway and the connecting Skyline Drive in nearby Shenandoah National Park .

When you're not leaf peeping, plan to visit Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: the former home, gardens and grounds of the third U.S. president. Travel along the Monticello Wine Trail to sample some of Virginia's award-winning vintages at wineries such as Michael Shaps Wineworks, Barboursville Vineyards and Jefferson Vineyards. In the evenings, travelers can unwind over a seasonally inspired dinner at Marigold by Jean-Georges before settling in at the beautiful luxury property Keswick Hall.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Courtesy of Visit Bucks County

Bucks County's picturesque country roads and covered bridges create an idyllic setting for viewing fall's colorful palette. Located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania and bordered by New Jersey and the Delaware River to the east, Bucks County has a rich Revolutionary War history and is known for its thriving cultural and arts community. Peak leaf season typically occurs in mid-October, bringing vibrant hues of yellows, oranges and reds to the area.

For a scenic escape to the Pennsylvania countryside, make reservations at The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, a luxury B&B in Holicong. You can spend your brisk fall days exploring the shops and restaurants in New Hope or checking out the annual Scarecrows in the Village display at Peddler's Village in Lahaska. Visitors may also want to take a self-guided driving tour of Bucks County's 12 covered bridges or sip and savor local wines along the Bucks County Wine Trail.

French Lick West Baden, Indiana

Courtesy of French Lick Resort

Located in southern Indiana, French Lick West Baden is a resort community nestled in the hills of Hoosier National Forest that features some of Indiana's best leaf-peeping locales. The yellows, oranges and reds are usually the most vivid from mid-October and later, with peak colors appearing at the end of the month. For active adventures in the colorful scenery, go hiking, biking or horseback riding. You can also hop on board a train ride into the forest on the French Lick Scenic Railway. When you want to kick back and relax, spend an afternoon sipping wine with a view on a Fall Foliage Wine Cruise on Patoka Lake.

There are three hotels to choose from at the historic French Lick Resort, including the newest property, the 71-room Valley Tower Hotel. A must-see no matter which property you choose is the stunning atrium at the West Baden Springs Hotel . Spanning 200 feet wide and constructed more than a century ago, this engineering feat was once known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." While at the resort, you can enjoy all of the amenities, including three golf courses, two spas and a Vegas-style casino.

The Mississippi River Valley, Minnesota

Colorful wooded bluffs, steep hillsides and quaint river towns are all highlights of the Mississippi River Valley region in southern Minnesota – best enjoyed on a leisurely drive. The nearly 90-mile route from the town of Red Wing to La Crescent on U.S. Route 61 also features scenic overlooks, including two must-see locations at Great River Bluffs and Frontenac state parks. This drive along the Mississippi River – part of the 3,000-mile Great River Road, which begins in Minnesota and runs south through 10 states to conclude in Louisiana – celebrates peak fall colors from late September to mid-October.

As you take in the brilliant hues of russet, red and gold along the ride, be sure to stop for an afternoon snack at a roadside apple stand. Bird lovers may be eager to see the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. While in this town, grab dinner and a beer before spending the night at Turning Waters Bed, Breakfast and Brewery. Further down the road, don't miss the town of Winona, home to the small but impressive collection of works that explore the human relationship with water at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Situated at 9,600 feet above sea level in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge is one of the first places in Colorado to witness fall's brilliant changing of the leaves. While the aspen trees' golds, reds and oranges usually peak by late September, the season can linger into early October. For optimal leaf viewing, plan to drive the 22-mile Boreas Pass: This route begins in Como and heads north to Breckenridge.

While visiting, enjoy brisk fall days hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding or fly-fishing surrounded by the beauty of the Rockies. If you're in town in mid-September, don your best alpine gear and attend the festivities at Breckenridge Oktoberfest. For an extended stay with a view, reserve accommodations at The Lodge at Breckenridge . This property nestled atop a forested cliff is regarded as one of the world's highest-altitude hotels at 10,200 feet.

Hudson, New York

Nestled in the Hudson River Valley in Columbia County, around 120 miles north of New York City , Hudson is a small town that offers a distinct food, arts and farming culture. There's also a unique history to explore, especially when it comes to architecture: Known as a "dictionary of architectural history," Hudson boasts many well-preserved buildings from almost every major period in America. The area's bounty of trees produce brilliant red, orange and gold hues beginning at the end of September, with peak viewing time around mid-to-late October.

For a unique way to see the foliage, get a designated driver and plan a road trip around the Hudson Valley Wine and Craft Beverage Map, which features more than 100 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. After the drive, browse the town's boutiques and antique shops before checking into The Hudson Whaler Hotel, a beautifully restored property in the heart of downtown.

If you'd prefer to cruise the Hudson River Valley to see the fall foliage, American Cruise Lines offers summer and fall Hudson River cruise itineraries. The round-trip sailings from New York City include five stops in New York state: Catskill, Albany, Hyde Park, West Point and the town of Sleepy Hollow, which is the home of Ichabod Crane and the legendary tale of his flight from the headless horseman.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Fall is harvest season in the Willamette Valley and one of the best times to visit the renowned wine region. The days are sunny and cool during peak foliage, which typically falls around mid-October. Leaf peepers can expect to see brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red against the deep green shade of the evergreen Douglas fir – the state tree of Oregon. Willamette Valley is home to more than 700 wineries, with many producing internationally acclaimed vintages, so you may want to hire a private guide to craft your itinerary around the best wines and the best views.

McMinnville is situated in the heart of wine country and is a perfect base for exploring the region. The historic downtown offers plenty of non-wine fun with quirky shops and art galleries and restaurants featuring locally sourced and award-winning cuisine – including ōkta, which is helmed by Michelin-starred chef Matthew Lightner. For an overnight stay, reserve accommodations at the luxury boutique Atticus Hotel. The 36-room hotel features seven distinct room categories, including the Luxury Bunkhouse that's perfect for a getaway with friends in Oregon's wine country.

Stowe, Vermont

Nestled at the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, Stowe is one of the most picturesque villages in New England. It's also one of the best places to view the annual fall spectacle, with colors changing from early September through the end of October. Vermont is around 80% forested and boasts plenty of sugar maples, so autumn visitors can admire vibrant displays of red, gold and yellow leaves across the state. One of the prettiest drives to see the foliage is along the Smugglers' Notch Pass through the Green Mountains in Smugglers' Notch State Park.

If you're planning for several days of leaf-peeping activities, a room at the Austrian-inspired Trapp Family Lodge can be your home base while you go horseback riding, rent a canoe or hop on the seasonal Stowe Gondola SkyRide to the summit of Mount Mansfield for unparalleled views. Back in town, check out local breweries like The Alchemist or von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall.

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Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Set in the White Mountains of New Hampshire , Bretton Woods is one of the top destinations in the state to view fall foliage. Leaf-peeping season begins in mid-September and continues through late October – this is when the most vibrant yellows, oranges, reds and even purples will paint the surrounding mountains. Due to the many tree species, it can be hard to predict peak foliage in this area, but you'll likely have the most luck around the second week of October.

To enjoy the spectacle for several days, make reservations at the Omni Mount Washington Resort . This historic property sits at the base of the highest peak in the Northeast, giving guests a front-row seat to the show. During your stay, dash through the treetops on a zip line canopy tour, enjoy a scenic horse-drawn carriage ride or take a thrilling trip on the Mount Washington Cog Railway. You may also opt to take in the sights on a gondola ride and have lunch atop the mountain. Back on the ground, book a signature spa treatment and relax with expansive views of the Presidential Range, Crawford Notch and Mount Washington from the therapy rooms.

Northwoods, Wisconsin

The Northwoods of Wisconsin comprises five counties boasting thousands of lakes and vast forests perfect for fall leaf-peeping adventures. The northern part of the state offers some of the best foliage viewing in Wisconsin, typically between mid-September and early October, when you can see vibrant shades of orange, red, yellow and purple. If you want to experience the local art scene – and take in the autumn views – the Northwoods Art Tour takes place every fall in October. Visitors can stop at dozens of unique sites featuring artisan jewelry, pottery, woodwork, glass pieces, sculpting, painting and more throughout the Northwoods.

Stop for a few days in Boulder Junction to see more of the area and take in some of the outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, kayaking and more. Located in Vilas County, the charming town is home to hundreds of biking and hiking trails and nearly as many lakes. You'll also find cute local shops to peruse and casual restaurants downtown and on Main Street. Take your pick of rustic cabin-style accommodations and private rentals or reserve a room at one of the motor lodges in town: Boulder Bear or Boulder Junction.

Highlands, North Carolina

This picturesque mountain town sits at more than 4,100 feet in elevation on the Highlands Plateau in the Nantahala National Forest. Highlands is also located in a temperate rainforest, so the vegetation is lush and there are many waterfalls, rivers and lakes to explore in and around the area. Leaf-peeping season typically begins in mid-October, when you'll see leaves starting to turn bright yellow and orange, as well as deeper hues of red, rust and even purple.

There are many active outdoor activities to enjoy in this region, such as hiking, fly-fishing and golfing, but the community also has a vibrant cultural arts scene. During your visit, check out the exhibits at The Bascom (a visual arts center), as well as events at the Highlands Performing Arts Center and the new Mountain Theater Company. While in town, reserve accommodations at Old Edwards Inn and Spa . This beautiful Relais & Châteaux property, located in the heart of Highlands, puts visitors within walking distance of the many restaurants and boutiques located on Main Street.

Whidbey Island, Washington

The 55-mile Whidbey Isle Scenic Way is one of the driving routes along Puget Sound in what's known as "Washington's ultimate road trip": the Cascade Loop. Peak color along the loop typically occurs between late September to mid-October with brilliant shades of gold, orange, and red – and you'll have plenty of opportunities for leaf peeping with all the farms, parks, mountains and wineries along the way. The scenic drive on Whidbey Island begins as you cross over historic Deception Pass Bridge and head south toward the largest town on the island, Oak Harbor. This coastal city is home to Deception Pass State Park and many Garry white oak trees that are native to the Pacific Coast.

In Coupeville, the second-oldest town in the state, more than 100 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop for photos at Fort Casey State Park and the Admiralty Head Lighthouse before feasting on local Penn Cove mussels at one of the waterfront restaurants. Other highlights on the drive include Greenbank Farm, where you can sample local wines and cheeses surrounded by the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range, as well as the town of Langley, known as the "Village by the Sea." This charming artsy community sits atop a bluff overlooking the Saratoga Passage and the Cascade Mountains.

Letchworth State Park, New York

Letchworth State Park, fondly known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is home to some of the most striking fall foliage views in the U.S. The park's 14,300-plus acres of lush forest usually hit their peak in early-to-mid-October, when leaf peepers will be treated to yellow, orange and red foliage framing the magnificent Genesee Gorge and Genesee River. Explore this unique setting on miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, including the park's new Autism Nature Trail, a milelong hiking loop with marked sensory stations. You can also take to the skies in a hot air balloon with Balloons Over Letchworth, the only company that launches from inside the gorge.

While you're visiting Letchworth State Park, be sure to check out the surrounding Wyoming and Livingston counties for fun fall activities. You can soak in the views in Wyoming County with a Fall Foliage Train Ride on the Arcade & Attica Railroad, or head to Livingston for a free ranger-led walking tour of the Mount Morris Dam. When you're ready to relax, explore local craft beer, wine, cider and spirits along the LivCo Libation Loop. Stay the night in the heart of Letchworth State Park at the Glen Iris Inn, which offers convenient access to both counties and overlooks Middle Falls on the Genesee River.

Tunnel of Trees, Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Known as the Tunnel of Trees, this 20-mile scenic route follows the historic Michigan 119 highway between Harbor Springs and Cross Village. The area's canopies of golds, oranges, yellows and crimsons are on display typically from late September to mid-October. A few highlights for travelers include visiting the picturesque waterfront resort town of Harbor Springs and sampling authentic Polish cuisine at the iconic Legs Inn restaurant in Cross Village.

For overnight lodging, plan to stay at The Highlands, a Boyne Resort in Harbor Springs. This property offers many outdoor activities, including zip lining, horseback riding, biking and swimming. While here, reserve a seat on the Heather Express chairlift: This excursion to the top of the mountain affords incredible views of Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs and the area's beautiful fall foliage.

North Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada

North Lake Tahoe, which unfurls across both California and Nevada, is surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America, so there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure, from kayaking and paddleboarding to boating and relaxing on the area's many beaches. When it comes to viewing fall's splendor, hundreds of biking and hiking trails with 10-plus different species of native trees show off the red, orange and yellow foliage.

The best time to see the colorful leaves is from about mid-September to late October, especially at the top leaf-peeping locales: Tahoe Meadows, Ellis Peak, Mount Rose Summit and Sugar Pine Point State Park. For a memorable getaway, book accommodations at the Everline Resort & Spa at the base of Olympic Valley. Amenities at this luxury resort include a golf course with a view, a luxurious spa and various outdoor experiences, such as guided fly-fishing trips, hiking and backpacking.

The Ozarks, Arkansas

Situated in the northern part of Arkansas , the Ozark Mountains are the perfect destination to explore the outdoors and marvel at autumn's palette of bright golds, reds and oranges. The transformation typically begins around the second week of October, and peak colors appear by late October. One of the top spots to view the foliage is in the Buffalo National River area around the small town of Ponca. This beautiful wilderness destination in the mountains offers the opportunity to disconnect and get away from it all.

While here, take time to hike or float down the river – all the while keeping an eye out for wild elk. Fall is when the bulls are battling to become king of the herd, so they're especially active during this time of year. Plan to reserve one of the cabins in the mountains above Ponca. Vantage points from these properties yield incredible stargazing opportunities, as well as memorable sunrise and sunset views.

Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway, Maryland

The roughly 40-mile scenic drive from Emmitsburg to Point of Rocks runs along U.S. Route 15 in Maryland . Known as "hallowed ground" and considered sacred by some, this long stretch of road highlights significant Civil War sites and pristine natural areas, including Catoctin Mountain Park, home to the presidential residence Camp David. The best time to make the journey to view the foliage on the Maryland route is between late September and early November, with peak season around mid-October.

One not-to-be-missed detour is a stop to see the 78-foot waterfall and gorge in Cunningham Falls State Park. If you're after a challenging hike with great views, travelers say Sugarloaf Mountain in Dickerson can't be missed. Afterward, spend time exploring the shops, art galleries, distilleries, breweries and restaurants in the historic city of Frederick. You can book an overnight stay at one of the charming local B&Bs, such as 10 Clarke. If you're up for more fall festivities, visit nearby Gaver Farm in Mount Airy, whose Fall Fun Fest has a corn maze and more than 65 attractions, including a zip line, a chicken show, jumping pillows and giant slides.

Adirondacks, New York

The Adirondacks offer leaf peepers 10 distinct regional destinations covering more than 6 million acres in the northeast corner of New York state. Adventurers can head to the Lake Placid region in late September and early October to hike the Adirondack High Peaks, which offer the best mountain vistas during peak fall foliage. While you're in the region, be sure to visit the Olympic Jumping Complex. Visitors can take an elevator to the top of the ski jumps for a bird's-eye view of the Adirondacks before heading back down on a zip line.

In the first two weeks of October, you'll find peak leaf peeping around Lake George, a popular vacation spot with 109 miles of shoreline and 300-plus islands. Hike nearby Prospect Mountain for a breathtaking view overlooking the lake's beautiful blue waters and the vibrant yellows, oranges and reds of the surrounding forest. For an authentic Adirondack stay without sacrificing resort luxuries, book a vacation rental at The Lodges at Cresthaven. Located on the shores of Lake George, this resort property offers a host of amenities along with Adirondack decor and panoramic views of the lake.

Anchorage to Kenai, Alaska

The epic landscapes of Alaska are awash with vibrant reds, purples, yellows and oranges – and even snow-capped mountaintops – from late August through September as fall arrives in The Great Land. The autumn colors across the state's vast wilderness, forests and tundra change quickly as winter approaches, beginning in mid-to-late August in the Arctic regions and lasting as late as October in southern areas like Tongass National Forest.

This roughly 160-mile drive on the Seward and Sterling highways from Anchorage to Kenai travels along two National Scenic Byways. You'll find many vantage points along the way to take in the jaw-dropping views and capture photos. The first 50 miles of Seward Highway follow the Chugach Mountains and the shoreline of Turnagain Arm, where you may catch a glimpse of Dall sheep, beluga whales and eagles. From Tern Lake to Skilak Lake on Sterling Highway, you won't want to miss the sight of the Kenai River's teal glacial waters set against the orange and yellow leaves.

For a side trip en route, visitors can plan to stay in one of the recently refreshed Signature Rooms at the beautiful Alyeska Resort, about 40 miles southeast of Anchorage. Indulge in a day at the Alyeska Nordic Spa and, if you visit by mid-September, take a ride on the aerial tramway to the top of Mount Alyeska for panoramic views from above. Be sure to save up enough energy to chase the aurora borealis in the wee morning hours, as the northern lights dance across the night sky from mid-August to mid-April in Alaska .

The Poconos, Pennsylvania

One of the best ways to view the Pocono Mountains' vibrant fall hues of reds, yellows, oranges and purples is with a scenic drive along U.S. Route 6 in Pennsylvania. This road meanders through charming towns like Milford, Hawley and Honesdale, where you can take in autumn festivities that include the Hawley Harvest Hoedown and Honesdale's Harvest and Heritage Days. Another optimal viewing spot for the foliage is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with its 70,000 acres of forests and wetlands, the two tallest waterfalls in the state, and more than 150 miles of hiking trails.

The peak season for vibrant leaves in the Poconos depends on the region (north or south) and the progression of temperatures in the fall, but you can typically expect the best viewing from mid-September through the peak season in early-to-mid-October. For up-to-the-minute information, check the fall foliage forecast on the Poconos Mountain website . After a busy day of exploring, The French Manor Inn and Spa is the perfect place to kick back, relax and admire even more of autumn's beauty. This luxury property is perched atop Huckleberry Mountain in Newfoundland, offering spectacular views of the kaleidoscope of leaf colors.

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

The majesty of Mount Rainier, with its summit reaching 14,410 feet above sea level, is even more breathtaking surrounded by fall's vibrant colors. While you can see the peak from miles around, a drive through Mount Rainier National Park can bring you up-close viewing of the spectacle. Top leaf-peeping areas include the White Pass Scenic Byway to Chinook Pass via Bethel Ridge – if you have a high-clearance vehicle. Visitors may consider making a side trip to Cash Prairie before venturing on to Timberwolf Mountain. Peak season to capture the brilliant crimsons, ambers and golds can vary, but it typically occurs between mid-October through early November.

While in the park, enjoy other favorite fall activities such as foraging for local mushrooms – chanterelles, hen-of-the-woods and matsutake, for example. You can also book an early-morning Elk Bugling Tour at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park to see the Roosevelt elk sparring during their "rut," or breeding season. For rustic accommodations to enjoy the great outdoors while visiting the park, reserve a cabin or campsite at Mounthaven Resort.

North Conway, New Hampshire

For prime autumn foliage in one of the best small towns for an adventure, head up to North Conway in New Hampshire . Located roughly 85 miles north of Portsmouth, this small town is encompassed by the White Mountain National Forest and home to Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeast. With dozens of foot hike options through the surrounding 700,000 acres of protected forest, there's no shortage of leaf-peeping opportunities. Peak colors typically paint the landscape with vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow from the end of September into the first two weeks of October.

A ride along the Kancamagus Highway – affectionately called "The Kanc" by locals – is a must-do. The 34-mile scenic drive will immerse you in a fall wonderland as it winds through the New Hampshire countryside, but make sure to fill your tank before you set off, as there are no gas stations or stores along the highway.

While you're in the area, don't forget to indulge in North Conway's other unique activities. Enjoy the perks of tax-free shopping at Settlers Green Outlet Village or grab a chairlift ride at Cranmore Mountain Resort. If you decide to hop aboard the historic Conway Scenic Railroad, experience 360-degree views of the fall foliage in a deluxe dome car on the 1950s-era transcontinental streamlined train. When you're ready to settle in for the night, the Cranmore Inn, a boutique inn located in the center of town, blends modern amenities with historical charm.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses more than 522,400 acres across the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. The Smokies are known for their incredible display of autumn hues with about 100 species of native trees. At 4,000 feet in elevation and above, leaf peepers can expect to see intense shades of red, orange and brown during peak season, which is typically around early-to-mid-October. Lower-elevation towns like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will experience peak color around mid-October to early November.

The highest summit in Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Clingmans Dome, sits at 6,643 feet and offers one of the best views of the foliage, with panoramic vistas from a 54-foot observation tower. The 11-mile one-way loop at Cades Cove (accessible from the nearby town of Townsend, Tennessee) is another top spot for seeing the colorful display in the park. This scenic valley features hiking trails, historic homesites, a visitor center, a campground, a riding stable and a picnic area.

Clingmans Dome and Cades Cove can be very busy with tourists in the fall, so another option is to take a drive on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, which is a round-trip scenic route from downtown Gatlinburg. You can also head out on one of the many hiking trails in the park to see Mother Nature's spectacle. If you're planning to stay a few days to explore the park and the nearby towns, make reservations at the Historic Rocky Waters Inn, A Small Luxury Hotel in Gatlinburg. The property also offers curated guided experiences inside and outside the park for its guests.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi was born in Pennsylvania, one of the top places in the country (and the world) to view fall foliage, with the longest and most varied autumn season. She's also lived in other states known for their beautiful leaf-peeping seasons: Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee. Pratesi has been known to take road trips wherever she travels to view fall's kaleidoscope of colors, especially in the Pacific Northwest; in Western states like Colorado, Montana and Wyoming; and all along the East Coast. She also enjoys seeing autumn's colorful display from the deck of a cruise or river ship in the U.S. and along the coast of Canada.

Erin Vasta grew up in the Shenandoah Valley surrounded by prime leaf-peeping destinations. Through her travels around the East Coast, she has enjoyed taking hikes, scenic drives or historic train rides to see the fall foliage. Whether by planning the perfect leaf-peeping excursion or hopping in the car for an impromptu drive, Vasta believes there's no bad way to take in autumn's hues, but she hopes this guide will help you take full advantage of this incredible season.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Places to Visit in the Fall
• The Top Fall Family Vacation Ideas
• The Best Fall Festivals in the U.S.
• The Best Places to Visit in October

Fun Fall Weekend Getaways

Tags: Travel , Fall Vacations , Vacation Ideas , US Vacations

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