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Best trail mountain bikes 2023 | 30 of the best trail MTBs and buyer’s guide

The top trail bikes as rated by our expert reviewers, plus our buyer's guide for everything you need to know

The best trail bikes hit the sweet spot between rowdy enduro bikes and svelte cross-country bikes, delivering performance that’s equal parts fun and super-capable.

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This has made trail bikes an incredibly popular category among the best mountain bikes in recent years. They give you a bit of everything, and probably open up the widest range of trails and riding when compared to other types of mountain bike.

The flipside is that choosing the best trail bike for you can be quite a bewildering prospect – there are simply so many options on the market.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place because our expert mountain bike testers have spent years riding and reviewing dozens of trail bikes, and this list of the best trail bikes in 2023 will help you find the perfect machine for you.

We’ve also put together a buyer’s guide to trail bikes at the end of this list that explains everything you need to know about this type of mountain bike, from what sort of terrain they are good for to the size of disc brake rotors – we’ve covered it all!

Best trail mountain bikes in 2023, as rated by our expert testers

Bird Aether 9

4.5 out of 5 star rating
The Bird Aether 9 is pleasingly simple with its silver aluminium frame and external cable routing.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • BikeRadar’s trail bike of the year 2021
  • Excellent geometry and exceptional value for money
  • £3,850 as tested

The Bird Aether 9 won our 2021 Trail Bike of the Year award, thanks to its ability to deliver in virtually all situations from long days in the saddle to short, sharp bursts in the woods.

Bird is known for long and slack geometry and the Aether 9 follows suit, with a 65-degree head-tube angle and 77-degree seat tube. Paired with the RockShox 140mm Pike Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe rear shock, this translates to a bike that is unflappable and right at home on twisty, steep descents.

When it comes to climbing, ample space between the saddle and bar lets you put your body weight in the right place and the suspension robs very few watts.

Elsewhere, the bike has a full Shimano XT M8100 groupset and DT Swiss EXC 1501 wheels, making this bike not just a great performer but excellent value for money too.

Boardman MTR 8.9

4.5 out of 5 star rating
The Boardman MTR 8.9 has the same geometry as the MTR 9.0.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Fantastic all-rounder
  • Limits become clear on extreme terrain
  • £1,750 as tested

The Boardman MTR 8.9 has the same geometry and suspension as the pricier MTR 9.0.

It has a well-chosen spec that balances cost, performance and strength, with a RockShox front fork, aSRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and Maxxis tyres.

The triple-butted alloy frame looks purposeful and has externally routed cables, making for easy maintenance. There is a bottle mount too, but we found there to be minimal clearance.

The geometry is modern but not extreme with a generous reach, leading to a comfortable ride.

You do have to shift your weight forward to keep front-wheel traction over tricky ascents, and downhill the bike is fairly noisy. So really this is a bike for speedy trail centre rides, rather than super-challenging terrain.

The bike is also ripe for upgrades and, with a few parts swapped out, we think it would be great as a lightweight, mile-munching machine.

Canyon Spectral 29 CF 7

4.5 out of 5 star rating
Quiet confidence, great suspension and impressive capability define the Canyon Spectral 29 CF 7.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Ideal handling for a trail bike
  • Excellent frame finish and performance
  • £3,599 / $3,999 / AU$5,299 / €3,399 as tested

The Canyon Spectral 29 CF 7 delivers an effortless ride, and we reckon most riders could jump on it and start setting personal bests straight away.

The Spectral sees Canyon return to 29in wheels and a geometry that throws out no surprises, creating a bike with plenty of control that handles just as a trail bike should.

The suspension also helps the Spectral achieve its excellent ride quality, with Canyon’s take on traditional four-bar linkage rivalling the very best rear suspension.

The RockShox rear shock provides 150mm of supple travel that soaks up trail chatter. It has plenty of pop in the mid-stroke but remains rock solid when you stamp on the pedals.

When it comes to componentry, the SRAM GX Eagle groupset makes sense for the price tag, but the G2 R brakes might lack the power you want and the Pike fork doesn’t have RockShox’s latest damper. But these are small things on one of the most quietly confident trail bikes on the market.

If you’re after a higher, burlier spec of the Spectral, we’ve also reviewed the Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8.0 and we’ve also covered the Spectral 125 CF 7 below.

Devinci Troy Carbon XT 12S LTD

4.5 out of 5 star rating
This build costs $6,199 / €6,499.
Ian Linton / Immediate Media
  • Composed on descents and efficient on the climbs
  • Ideal for anyone wanting a one-bike quiver
  • $6,199 / €6,499 as tested

The Devinci Troy Carbon XT 12S LTD is a downhiller’s trail bike. The handling is composed and the progressive 160/140mm travel is incredibly calm across rough terrain.

Now in its fourth generation, the Troy has wider tyre clearance and an updated geometry that’s longer and slacker, helping deliver downhill stability.

Devinci claims the Troy to be a one-bike quiver, and it’s probably as close as you’ll get. Despite the downhill performance, when you point the bike uphill it is efficient, though it would benefit from a steeper seat-tube angle to help move body weight over the bottom bracket.

The Troy we tested was the top-of-the-range carbon model with parts to match, but Devinci also offers the Troy in an aluminium frame with a varying range of specs, so there’s likely to be a Troy for most budgets and riders. It is definitely worth considering if you are after a do-it-all trail bike.

Ibis Ripley AF NGX

4.5 out of 5 star rating
The Ibis Ripley AF NGX will turn even the dullest downhill sections into a blast.
Ian Linton / Immediate Media
  • Fun ride and good value
  • Could do with grippier tyres
  • £3,699 / $3,299 as tested

The Ibis Ripley AF NGX may only have a 120mm-travel shock, but this doesn’t stop it from being a capable trail-slaying companion.

The suspension works particularly well in the mid-stroke. This leads to a playful feel and makes it easy to push hard through turns and generate speed, turning even mundane downhills into loads of fun.

The frame geometry makes for a snappy climber and the reach figure provides plenty of room to move your weight around when pedalling out of the saddle.

The bike has SRAM NX Eagle and the choice of a 30t front chainring makes the most of the 42t and 52t sprockets on the cassette.

It might not be perfect for cruising, but if you’re looking for a hard-charging, fun ride, you can’t go too far wrong with the Ripley AF.

Propain Hugene Custom

4.5 out of 5 star rating
Propain updated the Hugene’s geometry in 2021.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Incredibly composed rear suspension
  • Beautifully built, sleek carbon frameset
  • £4,695 as tested

The Propain Hugene was our Trail Bike of the Year in 2020, but 2021 saw Propain refresh the bike, updating the geometry and increasing travel.

The Propain now has 140mm of rear travel to better balance the 140mm or 150mm front fork options.

The geometry is also longer, lower and slacker with a steeper 76.5-degree seat angle and 65.5-degree head angle.

The new shape works really well. It provides plenty of stability and the back wheel hugs the ground. It is agile and playful in the corners encouraging you to throw the bike around.

The bike is composed when you start pedalling and the seated position is comfortable. There’s a touch of pedal bob when you’re stamping on the pedals but we only really noticed this on flat, trail-centre straights.

This bike is a custom build with a Fox 34 Performance Elite fork and DPX2 shock, SRAM X01 drivetrain and Newmen wheels with Schwable tyres. While this build costs £4,695, pricing starts at €3,300 for the German brand’s bike.

Vitus Escarpe 29 CRS

4.5 out of 5 star rating
The Vitus Escarpe 29 CRS is a smile-making machine that proves itself capable in a broad range of riding scenarios.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Geometry and suspension make it a fun all-rounder
  • Great spec for the price
  • £2,700 / $3,200 / AU$4,800 as tested

The Vitus Escarpe 29 CRS pairs a carbon front triangle with an alloy rear triangle and is decked out with some brilliant kit for its price, including a RockShox fork and rear shock, as well as DT Swiss E 1900 wheels.

Vitus has updated the Escarpe’s geometry, making it more versatile than the previous model. A steeper seat tube and updated four-bar linkage suspension mean you can clock up plenty of miles in comfort with little pedal bob.

It isn’t the fastest climber, but it more than makes up for this when you point it downhill. The Escarpe is loads of fun, enabling you to shred trails and tackle technical sections with confidence.

The updated suspension, with its 140mm of travel, provides a decent amount of support and is never harsh on big hits.

If you’re looking for a bike to play in the woods, take to the bike park and try out jumps, this would be a great choice.

Vitus Mythique 29 VRS

4.5 out of 5 star rating
A Horst-link pivot on the chainstay allows better tuning of how the rear brake influences the suspension action.
Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media
  • Great kit for the price
  • Possible saddle-height issues for some
  • £1,450 / $1,800 / AU$2,500 / €1,700 as tested

The Vitus Mythique 29 VRS comes with progressive, modern geometry and reliable parts for a great price. The aluminium frame has a four-bar suspension system that allows for precise adjustment. The frame is also 1x specific and comes with SRAM’s 12-speed SX Eagle drivetrain.

Uphill, the bike pedals efficiently without too much suspension bob. Point the bike downhill and it doesn’t feel quite as playful as others, but it does feel stable at speed and the suspension dulls out big hits.

The Mythique comes with a dropper post, but the frame design means you can’t get the saddle that low, which is a shame because getting it lower would give you more room to shift your weight around, consequently improving descending.

But really this is nit-picking. The Mythique is a solid performer and a great package that rides like many more expensive bikes.

Boardman MTR 9.0

4.0 out of 5 star rating
Boardman’s MTR 9.0 is great on the downs.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Rides with confidence and has excellent brakes
  • RockShox fork and rear shock
  • £2,000 as tested

The MTR 9.0 is Boardman’s flagship mountain bike, with an upgraded alloy frame, 150mm RockShox fork, a Deluxe Select+ rear shock and a groupset that is, by and large, comprised of Shimano SLX-level parts.

The bike is happiest heading downhill, where it feels planted, and the Shimano SLX four-piston brakes provide a whole load of stopping power.

The MTR climbs reasonably well. The relatively steep seat-tube angle helps you get your weight over the bottom bracket, and the wide-ranging 10-51 tooth cassettes help winch you up the toughest climbs.

The bike has a dropper post, which is great for such a gravity-focused bike, but the dropper lever is a bit small and not the easiest to use.

The bike rides with more confidence than you might expect and, apart from the dropper lever, there really isn’t much to fault.

Boardman MTR 8.8

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Boardman MTR 8.8 offers great value, opening the door to serious riding for those looking to spend a little less.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media
  • Impressive spec for the price
  • Good suspension feel
  • £1,350 as tested

Boardman’s MTR 8.8 is built to be the ideal all-round UK trail bike. It’s very capable when pointed down a trail, thanks in part to the 145mm of rear suspension controlled by a RockShox Deluxe Select+, and 150mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork.

Considering its suspension travel, it climbs very well, but it’s the descents where the Boardman shines.

In its price range, there aren’t many bikes that can provide the same levels of performance. However, a couple of spec changes, such as a longer dropper post and more powerful brakes, would make the riding experience even better.

Canyon Spectral 125 CF 7

4.0 out of 5 star rating
Canyon’s Spectral 125 handles steeps really well.
Steve Behr / Our Media
  • Aggressive geometry and stiff, low-slung frame
  • Great handling on really steep terrain
  • £3,349 / $4,199 / €3,499 / AU$5,349 as tested

A shorter-travel trail bike, the Spectral 125 mixes that with a 140mm-travel fork and a long reach geometry that’s built for more aggressive riding. It’s a different, all-carbon frame from the longer-travel Spectral bikes and saves 100g in weight.

The stiff, aggressive, low-slung frame is great for bikepark laps and climbs, but you need to increase the sag from the recommended values for the bike to handle rock gardens comfortably.

The bike navigates super-steep terrain admirably though, with the long frame helping to maintain stability. It pays to tinker with the Spectral 125’s suspension settings and to ride hard to get the best out of the bike.

Want a spec upgrade? We’ve also tested the Canyon Spectral 125 CF8.

Carrera Titan X

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Titan X has great suspension and parts for the price, but dated geometry holds it back.
Steve Behr / Immediate Media
  • Excellent spec for the price
  • Real advantage over hardtails at this price
  • £850 as tested

Full-suspension bikes for under £1,000 are a rarity, and ones that are as well-specced as the Carrera Titan X are rarer still.

The kit on this bike is really impressive. It has SRAM SX 12-speed gearing with a 1x setup, a Trans-X dropper post and Shimano hydraulic brakes. In short, what you’d expect from a pricier bike.

When it comes to ride performance, the Titan X’s suspension works surprisingly well, making this bike a good shout over a hardtail – which is normally the go-to option at this price point.

When climbing, the Titan X’s frame is a little cramped due to its relatively old-school geometry, but it winches up hills better than you might expect.

The only real drawback to the Titan X is the limited sizing, and taller riders should stay clear. This is a real try-before-you-buy bike, but if it fits and you’re on a budget, it’s a compelling option.

Deviate Highlander

4.0 out of 5 star rating
As the name suggests, Deviate has taken a different path to create what it claims to be the world’s most capable trail bike.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Comfortable enough for all-day riding
  • Active and supportive rear suspension
  • £2,999 / $3,500 (frame and fork) as tested

The Deviate Highlander has a high-pivot suspension design. This is common in the world of downhill bikes, but less so on trail bikes.

In part thanks to the pivot design, the Highlander’s rear suspension is active and supportive, providing plenty of grip and making it a mean descender. The only thing that really holds the suspension back is a stiff idler wheel, which added drag to the drivetrain.

The Highlander climbs well, if not as fast as others, and while there is some suspension bob, you can still comfortably tick off the miles.

Currently, Deviate only offers the Highlander as a frame and fork package. This might be a disadvantage for some, but if you’re looking to build up a unique gravity-seeking machine this might be a good place to start.

Focus JAM 8.9

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Focus JAM 8.9 has a playful, planted ride.
Andy Lloyd
  • Impressive suspension maintains ground contact well
  • Clever internal frame storage
  • £4,799 / €4,699 / AU$6,999 as tested

With 150mm of travel, the JAM 8 series bikes get a carbon front triangle with neat internal storage and share geometry with the alloy JAM 6 series. There’s also tidy internal routing through the stem for the cables.

The new suspension design, with its flip chip, leads to a better supported mid-stroke than Focus’s older system, leading to a more playful ride and less chance of bottoming out. It also helps keep contact with the ground well at the rear on descents.

The mix of agile handling and stable suspension leads to an exciting ride, and it’s easy to pick and change your line, although the Fox 36 Performance fork feels more limiting than the rear travel.

Giant Trance X 1

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Giant Trance X 1 is part trail bike, part enduro bike.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Good spec for the price and easy setup
  • Confident handling on jumps and tight turns
  • £3,999 / $4,500 / €3,999 / AU$6,499 as tested

The Trance X 1 spans the gap between a trail bike and an enduro bike, with aggressive, flip-chip adjustable geometry, 145mm travel through the double-link Maestro suspension system and 27.5in wheels. The alloy frame comes with a carbon upper rocker link for extra strength and stiffness.

Setup is easy and the bike feels agile and responsive on singletrack, but head to jump-offs and you can flow and pump to maintain speed, with a reactive ride that lets you chuck it around with ease.

Giant adds plenty of frame protection as well as an accessory mount on the underside of the top tube, although there’s no internal storage.

Kona Honzo ESD

4.0 out of 5 star rating
Kona’s Honzo ESD can handle anything you throw at it.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Very smooth ride over the rough stuff
  • Descends better than a hardtail should
  • £2,899 / $3,099 / €3,299 / AU$4,399 as tested

It may be a hardtail, but the Kona Honzo is long and slack enough to handle the steepest descents, with a braced steel frame, 150mm-travel fork and plenty of room for aggressive rubber. Adjustable rear dropouts enable you to fine-tune your ride or go singlespeed.

There’s bags of stability on steep descents and the bike is great at carving wide corners, but shorten the rear end and direction changes come really easily. You’ve got a 203mm rotor at the front and 180mm out back to help control your speed.

The Honzo’s steep 77.5-degree seat tube helps with climbing and it’s got plenty of room for the long-travel TransX dropper post.

We were impressed by the climbing performance, aided by a 30t chainring and a wide-range 10-51t cassette, while the bike’s length means you can shift your weight around both up and downhill. It’s a hardcore hardtail that shows you don’t need suspension out back to have fun.

Kona Process 134 CR/DL 29

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Process 134’s smooth lines and subtle yet striking paintjob turned heads on the trail.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Nimble and lively but balanced feel
  • Will eat up miles and hammer downhill
  • £6,399 / $6,199 / AU$8,999 as tested

The Kona Process 134 gets its name from its 134mm of rear travel, and it’s aimed at hitting the short-travel sweet spot of being easy-going on the climbs but still ripping on descents.

The Process is a rapid enough climber, and its 13.9kg weight doesn’t hold you back. Sometimes it’s necessary to flick the low-speed compression lever for greater efficiency, but this is a bike that will lap up the miles.

Point the Process downhill and its lithe but balanced feel makes it a joy to ride fast. Despite the short rear travel, it has just the right amount of progression for bigger hits and will smooth out the chunder too, muting small bumps. The RockShox 140mm fork matches the rear shock well.

This full carbon-frame bike is a blast to ride and eye-catching too, but its compact frame might not suit tall riders and it is expensive compared to the competition.

Marin Hawk Hill 1

4.0 out of 5 star rating
Marin touts the Hawk Hill as its most playful trail bike and it’s easy to see why.
Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media
  • A real blast of a bike
  • Suspension and balance are well worked out
  • £1,445 / $1,600 / AU$2,399 / €1,599 as tested

The Marin Hawk Hill 1 has 130mm/120mm of travel, making it one of the shortest-travel trail bikes on this list.

This might put bigger jumps out of reach, but it leads to a bike that is super-feisty, letting you jump, flick and mess around with reckless abandon.

Point the Hawk Hill downhill and up the pace and the suspension is smooth and balanced, but the tyres don’t provide a huge amount of grip. The aluminium frame has some flex to it, but this only adds to the bike’s springy feeling, flinging you out of corners.

The bike’s zippy feel is great for climbing and sprinting, with little of the energy-sapping you might associate with budget bikes. Having said this, the drivetrain does feel a little clunky.

The spec of the bike could be better; the Shimano Deore groupset is only 10-speed and the lack of a dropper post is a glaring omission. But with some upgrades, this bike could be even more fun to ride.

Marin Rift Zone Carbon 2

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The water bottle is a tight fit in the frame.
Alex Evans / Immediate Media
  • Fantastic frame
  • Great performance across riding disciplines
  • £3,995 / $4,399 / AU$5,999 / €4,399 as tested

Marin recently updated its Rift Zone, making it less of a cross-country orientated bike and shifting it towards the rowdier end of the riding spectrum.

The new longer, slacker geometry is on the extreme side for a trail bike and the Rift Zone now veers closer to an enduro bike than other trail bikes.

When you point the Rift Zone 2 downhill you can feel this new geometry come into its own. The short rear end loves to be flicked around, while the long front brings some welcome stability and control.

The rear shock also helps with downhill performance, but the lightweight front fork holds it back. The little extra stiffness of a more enduro-focused fork would unleash a load of potential.

Despite its downhill potential, the Rift Zone 2 is also a swift climber, with the geometry freeing up enough room to get your body weight over the bottom bracket.

You could switch out the big tyres and rims to make it a lighter, more efficient climber, but that would be missing the point of this bike.

Marin Rift Zone 29 1

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Marin Rift Zone 1 has up-to-date geometry.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Highly capable descender with great suspension
  • Could do with a dropper post
  • £1,655 / $1,899 / AU$2,499 / €1,899 as tested

The Marin Rift Zone 29 1 sits at the trail end of the brand’s full-suss range, but its geometry suggests faster, more gravity-orientated riding.

The bike is very comfortable thanks to the supple front fork that absorbs small bumps with ease. The rear suspension isn’t as supple, but the upside is it provides plenty of support and ramps up nicely.

The alloy frame has a relatively slack head tube and a steep seat tube, which creates a stable riding position.

When climbing, the geometry makes for comfortable pedalling and reduces front-wheel lift.

The bike is more than capable of attacking gnarly descents, but it does reveal the shortcomings of the spec. The 32mm fork stanchions can lead to a noodly feel and the lack of a dropper post interrupts flow.

There’s no denying how capable this bike is, but just keep some money aside because switching out the tyres and adding a dropper post is a priority.

Nukeproof Reactor 290 Alloy Pro

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Reactor 290 Alloy Pro is Nukeproof’s take on the shorter-travel trail bike, but instead of going lightweight and svelte, Nukeproof ensures you’re backed up with plenty of burly kit.
Steve Behr / Our Media
  • Great spec and good geometry
  • Confident downhill, but not as fast as some uphill
  • £3,700 / $4,800 / €4,700 as tested

The Reactor 290 Alloy Pro pairs a downhill-friendly geometry with 130mm of travel front and rear, creating a ride that is energetic uphill and seriously fun down.

Nukeproof has matched the alloy frame with its own sensible alloy finishing kit, and the rest of the spec is top-notch too, with SRAM’s GX Eagle drivetrain, Guide RE brakes, matching Nukeproof wheels and Maxxis tyres.

The bike presents fairly good value for the money, is super-capable and really fun to ride.

If you want a marginally lighter bike, we’ve also reviewed the carbon Nukeproof Reactor 290 Carbon ST.

Polygon Siskiu T7 29

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Polygon Siskiu T7 29 is a high-end entry-level bike engineered to balance high-speed control with playful handling.
Andy Lloyd / Our Media
  • Great trail geometry
  • Impressive value for money
  • £1,800 as tested

The Polygon features modern trail geometry and decent components that make it very capable on the descents, with the 65.5-degree head angle giving confidence on even the steepest terrain.

A RockShox Deluxe Select+ controls 135mm of rear-suspension travel, while a 140mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork supports the front. The bike comes with Shimano’s Deore 1×12 drivetrain with Tektro’s HD-M735 brakes.

Polygon’s Siskiu will take all you can throw it, but is maybe not as responsive as bikes twice its price. If you are a GoOutdoors member, however, you can get the bike at the reduced price of £1,600.

Privateer 141 SLX XT

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Privateer 141 SLX XT is a great package.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Great value for money
  • Excellent suspension and geometry
  • £3,149 as tested

The Privateer 141 is built around an aluminium frame with a remarkably long and slack geometry. This will grab some riders’ attention because, when paired with the 150mm/141mm of travel available, this bike accelerates at any whiff of a descent. And with powerful four-piston brakes, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to let it go.

The long geometry does impact agility, though, and getting the front end up and over obstacles takes a bit of work.

Common wisdom might suggest that such a long bike wouldn’t make a great climber, but the steep head tube helps counter the long wheelbase and makes this bike great on ascents. The rear suspension, which is incredibly stable, helps too.

Combine all this with a great spec, and on the face of it the Privateer 141 is an excellent trail bike. But the handling can be slightly unruly which, given how far trail bikes have come in recent years, stops it from getting a higher score.

Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 RSV

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The CC X01 RSV is Santa Cruz’s range-topping 5010.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Composed and fun
  • Only 130mm of travel, but still capable
  • £7,599 as tested

The new Santa Cruz 5010 CC X01 RSV is the brand’s top-flight version of its 5010. The bike has an updated geometry that sees it getting lower and longer, and it now has Santa Cruz’s low-slung VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) design. It sticks to 650b wheels though and retains the fun factor of previous models.

The suspension comes in the form of RockShox’ top-spec kit on the front and rear, providing 140mm/130mm of travel. Paired with the new geometry, this creates a ride that is capable and fast on descents, remaining composed but spurring you on, and is incredibly energetic on climbs when pushing power through the pedals. The handling is also razor-sharp.

Fittingly for this carbon fibre bike, and its significant price tag, the finishing kit is top-tier too, with SRAM drivetrain and brakes and Santa Cruz’s own carbon Reserve rims built around DT Swiss hubs.

This all comes together to create a bike that is seriously fun to ride. It’s not quite as playful as previous versions, but it is more capable and faster. And if the price is too steep, Santa Cruz offers the 5010 in less expensive builds.

Saracen Ariel 30 Pro

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Saracen Ariel 30 Pro has a stretched-out geometry.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media
  • Stretched-out geometry
  • Efficient pedalling and snappy ride feel
  • £3,000 / €3,499 as tested

Saracen’s Ariel 30 Pro sits at the trail bike sweet spot, with 130mm of travel at the front and rear courtesy of Fox.

The aluminium bike has a long reach and slack head angle. Its stretched-out geometry gives the bike straight-line speed on rough descents, especially when the trail is super fast. It also shows that long bikes can have finesse on tighter trails and when weaving through obstacles.

Having said that, it does require more effort to move around than bikes with shorter wheelbases and the rear end doesn’t smooth out the roughest trails.

When it comes to climbing, the Ariel 30 sits high in its travel, and it feels nice and efficient on longer climbs. The roomy front end lets you move your body weight around and, combined with the grippy tyres, this provides plenty of confidence on steeper, more technical climbs.

In terms of spec, Saracen has kitted the bike out with Shimano components from the Deore, XT and SLX families. Four-pot Deore brakes provide plenty of stopping power, too.

Specialized Stumpjumper Comp

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Specialized Stumpjumper Comp is the cheapest carbon Stumpy in the range, though there are two alloy versions available for a chunk less cash.
Steve Behr / Our Media
  • Smooth suspension and great chassis
  • Excellent rear-end grip
  • £3,950 / $5,000 /  €5,000 / AU$7,200 as tested

It may be the cheapest carbon Stumpjumper, but the Comp spec still delivers impressive performance from its 130mm-travel and flip-chip tunable geometry – the EVO version gets a little more travel and more aggressive geometry.

Rear suspension is smooth and leads to great grip for the Specialized Purgatory tyre. The Stumpy handles well on slow, technical descents, aided by the Fox 34 fork, but there’s some chassis squirm and an unsettled feel on more aggressively ridden terrain. We reckon it works best on day rides on singletrack or trail centre loops.

Spec-wise, the Comp has a Shimano SLX groupset, X-Fusion Manic dropper and Specialized wheels and tyres. SWAT Door storage lets you stash your tools under the bottle cage.

We’ve also ridden the 2021 spec Stumpjumper Expert.

Vitus Escarpe 29 CRX

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The 140mm-travel Vitus Escarpe 29 CRX has had a revamp for 2022.
Steve Behr / Our Media
  • Balanced uphill and downhill performance
  • Great-value component spec
  • £4,000 / $5,500 /  €4,850 / AU$7,100 as tested

The all-carbon Escarpe’s 2022 revamp includes a new 140mm-travel frame with improved suspension kinematics, more modern, longer geometry, wider, stiffer tubes and a flip chip.

As you’d expect with Vitus’s direct sales model, spec levels are excellent for the price with a top-spec Fox 36 Factory fork with Kashima coating and a Factory Float DPS shock. That’s paired with a Shimano XT groupset.

There’s not too much suspension bob on climbs, even with the shock open, while there’s plenty of stability and control on descents, with a progressive suspension action that handles steep, stepped berms without bottoming out.

Vitus Mythique 29 VRX

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Vitus Mythique 29 VRX is a blast in the bends.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media
  • Excellent balance and near-faultless spec
  • Geometry compromises the ride
  • £1,800 as tested

The Mythique 29 VRX is Vitus’s top-of-the-range trail bike. It’s an impressive package that will suit riders looking to tear up trail parks and dabble in more technical riding.

The spec of this bike is as close to perfect as we’ve seen for the price. It has a RockShox Monarch R rear shock, Marzocchi Bomber Z2 front fork, Shimano Deore and SLX drivetrain, and WTB wheels.

The suspension creates a smooth ride over trail chatter and makes the bike great to ride around bumpy singletracks and worn trails.

With a supple mid-stroke, it’s easy to generate speed downhill and there’s plenty of pop for jumps.

The geometry does hold the Mythique back. The alloy frame has a short reach and steep head angle, which led to us wanting to shift our weight too far back on descents.

One thing to bear in mind is the dropper post doesn’t lower enough for tall riders.

Whyte T-160 RS V1

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Whyte T-160 bridges the gap between trail and enduro.
Mick Kirkman / Immediate Media
  • Composed and excels on rough terrain
  • Limited range
  • £3,600 as tested

Whyte’s T-160 RS V1 is a competitively priced, longer-travel trail bike, that is super smooth to ride and has a good smattering of kit,  including SRAM GX Eagle and SRAM Code R brakes.

Whyte is known for long, low and slack geometries that bridge the gap between trail and enduro bikes. The T-160 continues this trend with long seat stays and a geometry-adjusting feature that drops the bottom bracket by 11mm.

The geometry paired with the fluid suspension creates a bike that will hammer through anything while maintaining its stable and assured ride. It still has pop, too, enabling you to surge out of berms without any wallowing.

Weighing close to16kg makes the T-160 more suited to climbing on fire roads or tarmac than steep, technical ascents. The pedalling feels smooth with not too much suspension bob. When climbing at lower speeds, we found the shock’s compression lever helped improve the ride.

Overall, this bike feels well sorted but it’s probably one for play-in-the-woods types rather than mile eaters, due to its weight.

YT Jeffsy 29 Core 3

4.0 out of 5 star rating
The Jeffsy is YT’s do-it-all bike.
Steve Behr / Immediate Media
  • Great performance on almost all terrain
  • Quality component choice
  • £3,749 /  €4,200 as tested

Sold as a lighter, shorter-travel YT Capra, the carbon Jeffsy includes an easy-to-use flip chip to alter the geometry of its 150mm-travel frame, changing the bottom bracket drop from 32mm to 24mm.

There’s little need for upgrades to the comprehensive spec, which includes SRAM GX Eagle, DT Swiss M1900 Spline wheels and an own-brand Postman dropper.

Climbing is effective, although we needed to use the firm setting for maximum efficiency. Although descending was nimble, we’d have liked a slightly slacker head angle for a little more stability on the steeps. It’s not quite got the enduro edge, but is well designed and specced for trail riding.


Also consider…

In a mountain bike category as large as trail bikes, there are almost countless bikes to choose from, with pretty stiff competition.

The following trail bikes didn’t score enough stars to be included in our main best list, or haven’t been subject to a full review just yet, but are still worth considering.

They might just offer you what you’re after and those first rides might make their way onto the main list once our testers have put them thoroughly through their paces.


Trail bike buyer’s guide | Everything you need to know when choosing a trail bike

What is a trail bike?

Trail bikes might not have as much travel as enduro bikes, but that doesn’t stop them from flying down descents.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

The trail mountain bike category occupies the space between lightweight, speed-focused cross-country bikes and enduro and all-mountain mountain bikes designed to fly downhill and slowly winch back to the top.

Balancing pedalling efficiency and gravity potential, trail bikes are intended to hit a sweet spot; they aren’t quite as rowdy as enduro bikes but are tougher than cross-country bikes.

They make light work of riding down flow trails with big sweeping berms and can cut it on more demanding terrain too – and you might be surprised at just how capable they truly are.

Really, trail bikes are best for mountain biking in the most general sense and are designed to give you just about enough of everything.

Trail bikes also tend to be relatively affordable when compared to other types of mountain bike. The components don’t have to be super-lightweight as on XC bikes, or heavy-duty enough to survive the rigours of downhill, which helps to keep costs down.

Although enduro and downhill bikes are considered to be the Formula 1 of mountain biking, we think trail bikes are the most important and widest-spanning category, and benefit from economies of scale where bigger production runs also play a factor in keeping prices down.

The affordability of trail bikes combined with their versatility, helps to make them an ideal choice if you’re new to the world of mountain biking or are looking for a one-bike solution to all your mountain biking needs.

What to look for in a trail bike

There are no set rules when it comes to defining what a trail bike is and, like all mountain biking sub-disciplines, they exist on a sliding scale in terms of capability, geometry, suspension travel and price.

However, there are various factors that when put together constitute a trail bike and are worth bearing in mind when looking for one of these versatile machines.

Frame material

Aluminium is a good choice if you’re on a budget, but carbon bikes are extremely desirable.
Andy Lloyd / Immediate Media

Many brands stick to aluminium alloy or carbon fibre for trail bike frames, while some more boutique builders opt for alternative frame materials, such as steel or titanium.

Carbon has the advantage of being lighter and stronger, and can be made to be stiffer than an equivalent aluminium frame, so it’s a good choice if zipping uphill and weight are priorities. It does, however, cost more than aluminium.

While it might not have the exotic feel of carbon, or be as lightweight, an aluminium frame is a good call if you’re new to the sport or on a budget, but it’s hard to argue with the desirability and performance of carbon.

Geometry

Longer and slacker, many modern trail bikes are built for descending.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Frame geometry probably has the biggest impact on how a mountain bike handles, with even slight adjustments to the wheelbase, head tube angle and reach determining how a bike feels.

In keeping with their Goldilocks position between XC and enduro bikes, trail bikes have a relatively slack geometry that makes them capable enough to handle most rough descents, while being suitable for all-day epics and plenty of comfortable and efficient climbing.

As a general rule, trail bikes have a head tube angle of between 64 and 66.5 degrees and seat tube angle of between 73 and 78 degrees.

Look for slacker head tube angles if you want a bike that will descend better, because a slacker angle helps give the bike a calmer ride by slowing down the steering. It also makes its wheelbase longer, which helps improve stability at high riding speeds.

Travel

Trail bikes come with a variety of different suspension systems.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Most commonly, trail bikes have front and rear suspension with between 120mm and 150mm of travel.

As travel increases, a bike will be better suited to riding downhill and less suitable for climbing, so when considering how much travel to go for on a trail bike think about the type of terrain you’ll spend most of your time riding and your riding style.

If you ride on rougher, more technical trails, or like to barrel down descents, choosing a trail bike with 140mm or 150mm is advisable.

Shorter-travel bikes won’t descend quite as well, but they are light and efficient so are a good choice if endurance riding and climbing is more your thing.

Wheel size and tyres

Maxxis tyres and DT Swiss wheels are common choices for off-the-shelf trail bikes.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

There used to be a time when mountain bikes simply had 26in wheels. But those days are long gone, and now mountain bikes come with either 27.5in or 29in wheels.

Both wheel sizes have their advantages and disadvantages. 29in wheels roll over obstacles and hold their momentum more, making them the preference for cross-country and the best downcountry mountain bikes. Compared to 29in wheels, 27.5in wheels are faster accelerating, stronger and more agile, with handling and placement feeling more natural too.

Trail bikes come with either of the two sizes and there isn’t really a right or wrong answer to which size wheels you should go for – you might prefer the snappier feel of 27.5in wheels or value the efficiency of 29in wheels.

One thing to bear in mind when selecting what wheel size to go for is your height. A taller rider will probably benefit from a larger wheel, whereas a shorter rider will benefit from a smaller wheel. Some manufacturers do consider this and provide models with different-size wheels depending on frame size.

Trail bike tyres tend to be chunkier with a decent amount of tread and are around 2.3 to 2.5in wide. These provide a decent amount of grip and help make trail bikes the versatile machines they are.

The best mountain bike tyres can really change how your bike feels, so it’s worth paying attention to what tyres a trail bike is specced with, but also remember that it’s not too hard to swap tyres out for something more suitable for your riding.

Drivetrain

You might find that trail bikes have a mix of different groupsets, such as Shimano XT and SLX.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Trail bikes tend to have drivetrains with one front chainring. Thanks to wide-ranging 12-speed cassettes (normally between 10 to 52t), only having one front chainring doesn’t limit climbing potential.

Groupsets such as Shimano Deore XT M8100 are a popular choice on trail bikes. Trail bikes also tend to have easier gearing than speed-focused XC bikes. Front rings are usually between 30- and 34-tooth, while rear cassettes can go up to 52-tooth.

This gives trail bikes a wide range of gears for enough speed on the flat and to help you get up tough climbs.

Brakes

Some trail bikes come with four-piston brakes to provide a load of stopping power.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Like most aspects of trail bikes, the brakes strike a balance between stopping power and weight saving.

Trail bikes will generally come with disc brakes that have two- or four-piston calipers. Four-piston brakes are more powerful and are aimed at downhill riding, where more braking power is needed, but this will of course add weight.

Rotors on trail bikes are often a mix, with up to 200mm both front and back. The larger the disc rotor, the more powerful the brakes will be, but this also comes with a weight penalty.

Hydraulic brakes are standard on all full-suspension trail bikes costing £1,000 or above, and often the best mountain bikes under £1,000 come with these brakes too.

Handlebar

A wide bar gives extra control and stability, making for easier descending.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Wide mountain bike handlebars are becoming the norm, and provide extra stability, comfort and control.

Trail bikes follow this trend, many coming with a 760mm or 780mm bar, while some go up to 800mm. Just as smaller-sized trail bikes tend to have smaller 27.5in wheels, they also come with a narrower bar, going down 740mm, to help make the bike a better fit for smaller riders

Dropper posts

Versatility at the flick of a switch.
Russell Burton / Immediate Media

Dropper posts are almost standard on trail bikes.

They allow you to lower and raise your saddle with the flick of a handlebar-mounted button, giving you extra room to move your weight around on descents and the correct saddle height for efficient pedalling.

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A dropper post is one of the first upgrades you should consider if your trail bike doesn’t have one, because it will open the bike up to a wider range of riding.

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