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Best Short-Travel Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes – 100 to 130mm

Ibis Ripley – One of the most iconic short-travel playbikes available.

Trail and Cross-Country mountain bikes offer limitless fun on various terrains. There are quite a few different mountain bike types out there, but in this review – we’ll be focusing on the lighter end of the spectrum, bikes that are considered as short travel full-suspension mountain bikes.

• You may also like:   15 Best Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes to Consider

Best Short-Travel Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes

1 . orbea – oiz h20.

Best XC Full-Suspension Mountain Bike

Aluminum / 12-Speed Shimano Deore  / 29×2.35″

MSRP: $3,599 Jenson USA

Fork : Fox 32 Float Rhythm, 120mm travel Shock : Fox i-Line DPS Performance, 120mm travel Wheels : Orbea OC1 25c

The Orbea Oiz H20 is a sleek full-suspension XC bike built for speed and efficiency. With a premium aluminum frame, quality components, and World Cup geometry, you’ll be smashing your PRs with the Oiz in no time. 

It’s ideally suited to cross-country or long-distance trail riding, with a 12-speed Shimano Deore/XT groupset that includes a 10-51T cassette.

Fox provides both the I-Line DPS Performance shock and the 32 Float Rhythm fork. To complement the lightweight Orbea OC1 rims, you get 29×2.35″ Rekon Race EXO tires.

Head tube angle: 68º / Seat tube angle: 74º / Chainstay: 435mm

Buy on Jenson USA

2 . Santa Cruz Bicycles – Blur C S

MSRP : $5,549 Evo.com

Fork: RockShox SID SL Select 100mm travel Rear Shock: RockShox SIDLuxe Select+ 100mm travel Wheels:  RaceFace AR Offset 29″

The Santa Cruz Blur is the famous MTB brand’s race-ready XC bike, designed to be lightweight, fast, and efficient. 

The Blur C S uses Santa Cruz’s more affordable carbon grade, which has excellent stiffness and strength characteristics that help maximize power transfer.

A 100mm travel RockShox SidLuxe Select+ shock is enhanced by a patented SuperLight suspension linkage that keeps the weight low but enhances rear-end traction on trickier sections. 

This build comes with a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed, 10-50T drivetrain with Level TL hydraulic disc brakes. Other notable components include the fast-rolling Maxxis Aspen 2.4″ tires, an SDG Tellis dropper for extra descending control, and lightweight RaceFace AR Offset rims. 

Pick the Santa Cruz Blur C S if you’ve got lofty XC ambitions and the budget to match. 

Buy on evo.com

3 . Pivot – Mach 4 SL Ride

Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT/SLX / 29×2.2″

MSRP: $6,199 Competitive Cyclist

Fork : Fox Float 34 Performance Step-cast 120mm  Shock : Fox Performance Float DPS 100mm  Wheels : DT Swiss X1900 alloy

The Pivot Mach 4 SL Ride is a sleek full-suspension XC MTB by a lesser-know but high-end MTB manufacturer, perfect for racers who want top performance.

The full carbon frame is incredibly light and strong, built for 29″ wheels and DW-Link suspension that perfects anti-squat characteristics for a snappy, responsive feel and extra traction. This model comes with race-ready 2.2″  Maxxis Ardent Race EXO tires.

The Mach 4 SL Ride has 100mm rear and 120mm fork suspension. In addition, you’ll have ample gearing from the 12-speed Shimano XT/SLX drivetrain. Thankfully, Pivot includes a Fox Transfer Performance Elite  dropper post with 100 to 150mm travel depending on the size. 

Choose the Pivot Mach 4 if you want to take your XC riding to the next level with a bike that’s ready for aggressive riding. 

Buy from Competitive Cyclist

4 . Niner – Jet RDO 4-Star

Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.6″

MSRP: $6,799 Jenson USA

Fork : Fox 34 Float Factory GRIP2 EVOL 130mm travel Shock : Fox Float X Factory EVOL 120mm travel Wheels : DT Swiss XM-1700 Spline 30

One of the more expensive offerings on our list, this Niner full-suspension mountain bike is a burly trail/XC bike with modern trail geometry and top-quality parts.

The RDO Carbon frame features Niner’s CVA suspension platform, integrated protection, and 2.6″ tire clearance. The 130mm travel Fox Float Factory fork and 120mm Float X Factory shock provide a plush feel on rough trails while the CVA design improves the pedaling efficiency of the system. 

A 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain comes with RaceFace Next R carbon cranks and a 10-51T cassette. 180mm rotor XT hydraulic disc brakes round out the groupset.

An unusual inclusion is the Schwalbe Nobby Nic Addix Speedgrip 2.6″ tires which are very versatile and tough but add a little more weight. Finally, you have a KS Lev SI dropper with 100 or 150mm of travel. 

Choose the Jet RDO 4-Star if you want a highly-capable trail/XC bike with innovative design features, solid components, and long-lasting quality. 

Head tube angle: 66.5º / Seat tube angle: 76º / Chainstay: 430mm

5 . Rocky Mountain – Element Alloy 30

Aluminum / 12-Speed Shimano Deore  / 29×2.4″

MSRP: $3,089 Jenson USA

Fork : RockShox Recon Gold 130mm Shock : RockShox Deluxe Select+ 120mm travel Wheels : WTB ST Light i27 TCS 2.0 TR 29″ (27.5″ on XS frame)

The 29″ Rocky Mountain Element Alloy 30 is a cross-country/trail MTB with a do-it-all personality.

The FORM alloy frame has relatively aggressive trail geometry which pairs well with a RockShox Recon Gold 130mm fork, Deluxe Select+ 120mm shock, and Toonie Drop dropper post for confident riding on most trails. 

The groupset includes Shimano’s Deore M6100 drivetrain with a  10-51T cassette with MT4100 hydraulic disc brakes. This setup and Maxxis Rekon 2.4 makes climbing easier and descending safer. 

Head tube angle: 65º / Seat tube angle: 76º / Chainstay: 436mm

6 . Yeti – SB120 T1

Turq-Series Carbon / SRAM X01/GX Eagle / 29×2.5/2.3″

MSRP: $8,200 Jenson USA

Fork : Fox Factory 34 GRIP2 130mm  Shock : Fox Factory Float DPS 120mm Wheels : DT Swiss XM1700

The SB120 is a Yeti full-suspension MTB focused on cross-country and trail riding. This bike has an eye-watering price but has the spec and performance to match.

The Yeti SB120 T1 is built for speed and versatility with 29″ wheels and modern trail geometry. This is balanced by confidence-inspiring and premium 2.5/2.3″ Maxxis Minion DHF/Aggressor EXO tires. 

A blended SRAM groupset consists of a 12-speed, 10-52t X01/GX drivetrain that provides reliable and durable performance and G2 RSC four-piston hydraulic disc brakes. The wide gear ratio allows for easy hill climbs while powerful brakes ensure safe descents.

Consider the SB120 T1 if you want a high-end trail bike for tackling a wide variety of trails. 

Head tube angle: 66.5º / Seat tube angle: 76.5º / Chainstay: 433-443mm

7 . Co-op Cycles – DRT 3.3

A reliable, affordable XC bike

Aluminum / 12-Speed Shimano SLX / 27.5 or 29 x2.4″

MSRP:   $3,299 REI

Fork : RockShox Revelation Motion Control RC 120 or 130mm Shock : RockShox Deluxe Select+ 120 or 130mm Wheels : WTB ST Light i30 TCS

The DRT 3.3 is a cross-country bike with plenty to offer beginner or intermediate XC mountain bikers. It features progressive wheel sizing and suspension travel based on frame size, Airsprung RockShox suspension, and premium Maxxis High Roller or Dissector tires. 

This bike has a lightweight but strong aluminum frame that helps keep the price down without sacrificing too much performance. This is boosted by a Shimano SLX 12-speed with a 10-51t climbing cassette and powerful Shimano SLX disc brakes for controlled descending. 

Head tube angle: 66/67°   /   Seat tube angle: 75°   /   Chainstay length: 433/441mm

Buy on REI.com

8 . Juliana – Wilder C R TR

MSRP : $4,899 Evo.com

Fork: RockShox SID RL 120mm travel Rear Shock: Fox Float Performance DPS 115mm travel Wheels: RaceFace AR Offset 

Julianna’s Wilder is a race-ready trail bike designed to tackle the toughest trails with confidence. As Santa Cruz’s women-specific brand, Julianna takes advantage of its VPP suspension system to provide the Wilder with unbeatable suspension performance.

Large 29″ RaceFace AR rims and slack geometry allow you to roll over any obstacle on the trail. In addition, female-tailored geometry and a Carbon C frame ensure the Wilder is painless to maneuver.

Finally, this bike is built on an SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and paired with grippy Maxxis Rekon Race tires and powerful SRAM Level T hydraulic disc brakes to ensure smooth climbing ability and controlled descending. 

Buy on Evo.com

9 . Marin – Rift Zone 1

Best value full-suspension mountain bike

Series 3 Aluminum / 11-Speed Shimano Deore / 29×2.3″

MSRP: $1,899 Jenson USA

Fork : RockShox Recon Silver RL 130mm Shock : X-Fusion O2 Pro R 125mm Wheels : Marin Aluminum Double-Wall

The Rift Zone is a 29-inch trail mountain bike designed for speed over fast, flowy trails.

Multi-Trac suspension improves big hit absorption and delivers a more efficient pedaling platform for the 130mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork and a 125mm X-Fusion O2 Pro R rear shock.

Vee Tire Crown Gem 29×2.3″ tires are durable but lack some grip in the corners and are slightly slow for this type of bike.

The Rift Zone 1 runs a typical 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain with Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc brakes and is finished off with a budget alloy seatpost instead of a dropper.

This is a solid XC/trail bike that offers excellent value for money in the entry-level category of full-sus bikes. 

Head tube angle: 65.5º / Seat tube angle: 76º / Chainstay: 425mm

  Buy on JensonUSA.com

10 . Norco – Fluid FS 2

MSRP: $2,499 Jenson USA

Fork : RockShox 35 Silver R, 130mm travel Shock : RockShox Deluxe Select, 120mm travel Wheels : Stan’s NoTubes Flow D 

The Norco Fluid is a full-suspension mountain bike with an innovative progressive frame design for enhanced fit and performance. It features 130mm of front travel and 120mm in the rear, with a reliable Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain and matching Shimano MT420 hydraulic disc brakes.

Norco chose Stan’s NoTubes Flow D rims with Maxxis Dissector 2.4″ tires for their excellent grip and durability. For a seatpost, you can rely on an X-Fusion Manic dropper. Every detail is accounted for on the Fluid FS 2, making it an excellent value trail bike.

Head tube angle: 66º / Seat tube angle: 76º / Chainstay: 431mm

Buy from JensonUSA.com

11 . GT – Sensor Sport

Aluminum / MicroSHIFT Advent X, 10-Speed / 29 x 2.3″

MSRP: $2,300

Fork : RockShox Recon Silver, 140 mm Shock : X-Fusion 02 Pro RL 130mm travel Wheels : WTB Aluminum rims

The GT Sensor Sport is a full-suspension trail mountain bike designed to handle almost any trail out there .

This bike can smash climbs and thunder down descents with ease thanks to GT’s LTS rear linkage technology which soaks up trail chatter and improves traction.

The lightweight, durable aluminum frame is fitted with a RockShox Recon Silver RL 140 mm fork and an X-Fusion 02 Pro RL 130 mm shock which offer decent performance for this price range. 

This bike takes rolls along smoothly and corners confidently with 29″ wheels wrapped in WTB Breakout 2.3″ tires. Finally, you can rely on a MicroSHIFT Advent X  10-Speed drivetrain for smooth shifting and powerful but inconsistent Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic brakes. 

Head tube angle: 65.5º / Seat tube angle: 76º / Chainstay: 435mm

Buy from Jenson USA

12 . Alchemy Bikes – Arktos 120

Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.3″

MSRP: from $4,699 Alchemy Bikes

Fork : Fox 34 29 Factory Kashima 130mm travel Shock : Fox DPX2 Factory Kashima EVOL 120mm travel Wheels : Industry Nine 29 Enduro S Hydra

The Alchemy Bikes Arktos 120 is a full-suspension XC/trail mountain bike that’s perfect for riders who enjoy charging uphill and thundering down descents.

The Alchemy carbon frame is ultra-lightweight and laterally stiff, and the seat tube allows longer dropper posts like the stock Fox Factory 175mm Transfer dropper.

The Arktos runs on Alchemy’s patented Sine Suspension dual-linkage platform. This system provides next-level performance through enhanced efficiency on climbs and improved handling and traction on chunky descents. The 130mm and 120mm Fox Factory Kashima suspension soaks up all but the most aggressive hits.

The Arktos 120 comes with a choice of three 12-speed groupsets (Shimano XT or SRAM GX/X01). Each has a hill-crushing cassette and 180mm-rotor hydraulic discs. Finally,  burly Industry Nine enduro rims are fitted with Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR 29×2.3 tires, providing plenty of capability but adding some extra weight. 

Consider the Arktos if you want high-end performance and an award-winning carbon frame at a reasonable price. 

Head tube angle: 65.75-66.5-º / Seat tube angle: 77.75-78.5º / Chainstay: 437mm

13 . Pivot – Trail 429 Pro

Carbon / SRAM X0 Eagle / 29×2.4″

MSRP: $9,900

Fork : Fox Factory 36 GRIP2 140mm travel Shock : Fox Factory Float X, 130mm travel Wheels : Reynolds Blacklabel carbon

Pivot Cycles is a relatively new bicycle company that has already won awards for its innovative design.

This can be seen on its Trail 429 Pro 29er full-suspension trail/XC bike, a lightweight carbon beast with top-level parts. It’s a professional XC bike for advanced riders, with modern trail geometry in the low flip-chip setting that provides confidence on steep descents. 

The suspension is tight, with a Fox Factory 36 140mm fork up front and 130mm Factory Float X shock on the rear. The DW-Link platform and carbon fiber build kit allow you to get more power from each pedal stroke, making this a highly efficient climber. 

Using the 12-speed SRAM X0, 10-52t drivetrain you get perfect shifting every time and plenty of gears for steep grades. In addition, the Trail 429 has powerful four-piston SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic disc brakes. 

Don’t miss out on the Pivot Trail 429 Pro if you’ve got a huge budget and want unbeatable trail performance to match. 

Head tube angle: 66-66.5º / Seat tube angle: 75-75.5º / Chainstay: 430-432mm

Buy from Mike's Bikes

14 . Santa Cruz Bicycles – Tallboy R

Aluminum / 12-Speed SRAM NX Eagle / 29×2.4″

MSRP: $4,199

Fork : FOX Rhythm 34, 130mm travel Shock : Fox Float DPS Performance, 120mm travel Wheels : Race Face AR Offset 30

The Tallboy is of the most popular Santa Cruz full-suspension Mountain Bikes and this version has a tighter, more grounded feel, perfect for attacking bumpy terrain at high speed.

With the Santa Cruz Flip-Chip upper link, you can fit 29″ or 27.5″ rims and tires, although it comes standard with 29×2.4″Maxxis Dissector/Rekon EXO tires on Race Face AR Offset 30 rims.

The 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle groupset runs a wide-ratio 11-50T cassette for easy climbing and includes SRAM Guide T four-piston hydraulic disc brakes.

It’s finished off with a Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem, handlebar, SDT Tellis dropper, and Cane Creek 10 IS integrated headset.

Head tube angle: 65.7º / Seat tube angle: 76.8-76º / Chainstay: 436mm

15 . Juliana – Joplin 4 C R

Carbon C / 12-Speed SRAM NX Eagle /  29×2.4″

MSRP: $5,299 Evo.com

Fork : RockShox Pike Base 130mm Shock : Fox Float Performance DPS 120mm travel Wheels : Raceface AR Offset 30

The Juliana Joplin is a women’s full-suspension trail/XC mountain bike built for speed.

The premium Santa Cruz Carbon C frame is fitted with a RockShox Pike Base fork with 130mm of travel and a Float Performance DPS 120mm rear shock. These components are enhanced by the tailored lower-link VPP suspension that improves pedaling efficiency and traction. 

The drivetrain is a 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle with an 11-50t cassette for steep climbs and for braking you have SRAM Guide T hydraulic discs.

Finally, the Juliana Joplin 4 C R has an SDG Tellis dropper and 2.4″ Maxxis Dissector/Rekon 3C MaxxTerra EXO tires to provide confidence when descending on fast, chunky trails. 

Choose this women’s mountain bike if you love days on the trails with lots of elevation gain and a variety of trails. 

Head tube angle: 65.7º / Seat tube angle: 76-76.7º / Chainstay: 430-433mm

16 . Ibis – Ripley AF

🏆 Best all-around mountain bike for every terrain

Aluminum / 12-Speed Shimano Deore / 29×2.4″

MSRP: $3,799 Jenson USA

Fork : Fox Float 34 Performance, 130mm travel Shock : Fox Performance Float DPS, 120mm travel Wheels : Blackbird Send Alloy Max Clearance 2.6″

Coming in at just under $4,000, this is one of those bikes that outperforms its price tag. Straight off the bat, the 12-speed Shimano Deore groupset is impressive with hydraulic disc brakes. 

Naturally, it has a premium quality aluminum frame with superb DW-Link suspension technology, offering 120mm of rear travel from Fox Performance Float DPS shock. With a similar kit upfront, you get 130mm of travel on the Float 34 fork, and it’s all rounded off with Blackbird rims and 2.4″ Maxxis  DHR II and Dissector tires. 

 Head Tube Angle: 65.5º / Seat Tube Angle: 76º / Chainstay length: 432mm

17 . Yeti – SB115 C2

CARBON C1 BIKE

Available in 3 designs

Carbon / 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle / 29×2.5″, 2.3″

MSRP: $6,200 Competitive Cyclist

Another top-class mountain bike from Yeti , this combination XC and trail bike attacks both the hills and the drops with equal vigor and aggression. The lightweight carbon frame combined with the 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle 10-52T cassette makes easy work of hills, while the Switch Infinity rear suspension technology combined with 130mm travel on the Fox Performance fork makes downhills a breeze.

You get added support from a thick 2.5″ Maxxis Minion DHF front tire and 2.3″ Aggressor on the rear, wrapped around DT Swiss rims. Oh and let’s not forget the Fox Transfer dropper seat post for added ease and enjoyment!

Head tube: 67.6 / Seat Tube: 74.1 / Chainstay: 437mm

Buy on Competitive Cyclist

18 . Santa Cruz Bicycles – Blur

Carbon C / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.4″

MSRP: $6,599

Fork : RockShox Sid SL Select+ 100mm travel Shock : RockShox SidLuxe Select+ 100mm travel Wheels : Race Face ARC Offset 27

The race-ready Blur XC bike from Santa Cruz is designed for fast riding on cross-country trails.

The SuperLight suspension linkage combined with a 100mm RockShox Sid SL Select+ fork and SidLuxe Select+ shock provides plenty traction on the rougher stuff.

Fast-rolling 29er wheels, Maxxis Aspen 2.4″ XC racing tires, a stiff and lightweight carbon frame, and agile geometry give the Blur its high-performance personality. 

The groupset is a 12-speed Shimano XT with four-piston hydraulic disc brakes and plenty of gearing from the 10-51t cassette. 

Consider the Santa Cruz Blur if you’re ready to take your XC rides to the next level. 

Head Tube Angle: 65.7-65.4 / Seat Tube Angle: 77.5-76.8 / Chainstays: 423-433mm

Buy on Mike's Bikes   

19 . Cannondale – Habit Carbon 1 

MSRP: $5,500 Planet Cyclery

Every XC rider comes across an unexpectedly steep descent every now and again, leaving them in a precarious situation with an inadequate bike. The Cannondale Habit Carbon 1 rises to this challenge, offering an XC-specific bike that can tackle steep downhills with confidence.

It achieves this with the addition of a Cannondale DownLow dropper post combined with Cannondale’s Proportional Response Tuned suspension system. The RockShox Pike Select+ 140mm fork has slightly longer than usual travel for an XC bike, with the 130mm RockShox Super Deluxe Select+ rear shock to match. A wide-range SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a 10-52t cassette and SRAM G2 RSC hydraulic disc brakes make up a solid mountain-ready groupset that can tackle climbs and descents with ease.

HT: 66° / ST: 74.5° / Chainstay: 435mm

Buy on Planet Cyclery

20 . Evil – Following LS GX

MSRP: $6,450 evo.com

Evil Bikes is known for making high-quality mountain bikes that push the boundaries of design and innovation. The ‘Following’ is its versatile XC offering – a high-speed MTB with 29″ wheels, semi-compact geometry, and mid-range travel that can tackle unusually harsh conditions 

The proprietary DELTA suspension system and RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock are both highly tunable to adapt to varying conditions so if you feel like doing some downhill riding, simply adjust it to your needs and hit the trails. On this version of Evil’s Following, SRAM provides decent 12-speed gearing and instant braking with its mid-level GX Eagle groupset and G2 RS disc brakes.

Where Can You Ride a Short-Travel Mountain Bike?

Short travel mountain bikes are ideal all-rounder bicycles for fast and zippy trails, whether it is flat or hilly.

Downhill mountain bikes with lots of travel are ideal for extremely rough terrain with big drops and large obstacles but provide a disadvantage on flatter terrain. 

The less stiff your suspension is, the more speed you lose when riding fast on flat terrain. So you need to choose a bike that best suits the type of riding you intend to do. For most All-mountain, Cross-country, and Trail riding, you shouldn’t need more travel than 100-130mm. MTB bikes with travel between 140-180mm are intended for intense downhill and enduro-style riding.

Of course, many of these bikes have adjustable suspension, so in some cases, you can change it for the terrain of that day. However, if you don’t intend on ever tackling extreme downhills, big jumps, or huge drops, then there is no need to spend the extra on advanced suspension with unnecessarily long travel.

Other Factors to Keep in Mind

Carbon vs. aluminum: which is better.

Which is better: Carbon or Aluminum for a full-sus. MTB? Well, carbon has taken over the whole cycling industry for a while by now, and it is not different from the mountain bike scene. As carbon-tubing gets better each year, there is a reason why mountain bikers prefer carbon over aluminum. Carbon simply has the right ‘feel’ to the whole ride, while providing enough durability and ways to form a bike.

Tires & Tire Pressure

It is recommended to use more air in the rear tire when on trails.

• 29″ – 18-28 psi. Plus-size tires or on wider wheels (Ibis) can be run on lower,11-18 psi range
• 27.5″ (650b) – 16-30 psi.

Lowering your tire pressure means you create more contact with the ground so if you have thin tires, less pressure will provide more grip. However, while this may be a bit more comfortable offroad it comes at the sacrifice of speed on flatter ground. Depending on your weight, you should try to find a perfect balance that isn’t too low or too hard.

Tubeless tires can usually run lower pressure since there is no tube to pinch. Similarly, wider rims can also accommodate lower tire pressure. These are all factors to consider when pumping your tires.

Suspension set-up

You should always tune your suspension correctly to accommodate your weight and riding style. This can be done by rocking up and down on the bike to measure your ‘sag’ rate and then adjusting the air or spring pressure accordingly.

If you’re going to be hitting big jumps or drops, you’ll need a wider, looser suspension to take heavy impact. If you’re riding mostly flat trails, you’ll want it stiffer so you don’t over-compress and lose speed on each little bump.

Compression / Sag / Rebound

The Sag, as mentioned earlier, is important to measure and set accordingly before heading out on the trails. Once that’s done, set the rebound damping by pushing on the front suspension and seeing if you get any ‘bounce’. Tighten it until it only rebounds once, doesn’t bounce up and down.

For the compression settings, you’ll need to specify them according to your riding style. Different shocks have different settings, so it’s down to your style and preference. Basically, add more compression damping if you want tighter traction on corners, or less if you want more absorption on big drops.

Rider Weight

It’s important to get the correct weight distribution on a full-suspension bike otherwise you could injure yourself on the trails. The longer wheelbase a bike has, the more stable it will be, so heavier riders should consider this factor. 

Bottom bracket height is also important, as the higher the less stability you get but it can’t be too close to the ground either for obvious safety reasons. Generally, these measurements can all be perfected for you in-store when you buy a new bike. It’s always a good idea to have a professional fit your bike for you.

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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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Best full-suspension mountain bikes 2024 – we put the top XC, downcountry, and trail MTBs to the test

Which full-suspension mountain bikes are the pick of bunch for XC, downcountry, and trail riding? We've tested the best full-suspension machines for whatever you ride

Best full-suspension trail bikes

• 1. Best aggro trail all-rounder
• 2. Best for trail riding fun
• 3. Best for all day riding
• 4. Best for trail agility
• 5. Best steel trail bike

Best full-suspension XC bikes

• 1. Best race bike
• 2. Best for rowdy courses
• 3. Best for cutting edge tech
• 4. Best for marathon racing

Best full-suspension downcountry bikes

• 1. Best for racing
• 2. Best for aggressive riding

Also consider

• Full-suspension bikes explained

With technology and design around suspension linkages and frame design constantly being refined, the best full-suspension mountain bikes have taken over all disciplines of mountain biking.  

No longer reserved for gravity-orientated riders, we're seeing everyone from trail to XC riders adopting the best full-suspension mountain bikes as they offer a wealth of advantages including more traction, added comfort, and confidence when riding rough terrain.

Keep reading to find out our pick of the best full-suspension mountain bikes for three categories – cross-country , downcountry , and trail riding .

While these are the best full-suspension mountain bikes, you don't need to spend loads of money to get a great full-sus bike. If you are looking for great value bikes check out our best budget full-suspension bike guide.

Best full-suspension mountain bikes

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

As the way most of us ride and the places we go to get our fix have become increasingly extreme, trail bikes have been getting more confident, controlled and tougher. That inevitably means they've got heavier too, but as most of them pedal so well it doesn't matter. I've tested a ton of properly awesome all-round trail bikes in the past year too, which makes picking a top five hard. I reckon you can't go far wrong with any of these options though.

1. Best aggro trail all-rounder full-suspension mountain bike

Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If you want to read a more sensible account of why the  Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp  is brilliant you should read my full review. But while I'm chained to a desk following an injury, here are some Stumpjumper Evo vibe vectors you might not find elsewhere.

Yes, there is an alloy bike and it's really good for all the same geometry adjust, plush suspension, and 'lovable like a labrador' reasons as the carbon one is. It's a win if you don't trust carbon either. It is a lot heavier though and you get both a hop up from SRAM NX to GX  and  the carbon frame for not much extra cash on the Comp. There's no storage either.

What makes the carbon Evo stand out though? The fact you can play around with the geometry in several ways just with an Allen key and a few trailside minutes is brilliant. You can produce some properly radical results with it too, rather than just correcting the numbers from outdated to OK like some bikes. 

Specialized started the internal storage revolution and they still do it better than anyone else – I certainly haven't been able to fit three full-size sausage rolls into any other bikes. The whole bike from grips to tires is sorted as well and while they don't officially offer a lifetime warranty, Specialized customer service is ridiculously good. 

While not everyone agrees with me, I reckon the Evo pedals better than the standard shorter travel Stumpjumper too. It's still a bit soggier in feel than the stiffest bikes in the category, but then FSR suspension always has been and you never have to worry about climbing traction on it.

Most of all though it's just a really fun, forgiving, and friendly bike to ride on every ride. Maybe not the sharpest or showiest, but one that'll show you a damn good time every time. It'll generally bring you home less battered afterwards too, so you're fresh to go again the next day. The fact it's still in my workshop as a go-to benchmark months after I posted the review is a big thumbs up too.

Check out our full review of the  Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp .

2. Best full-suspension mountain bike for trail riding fun

Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8

I've gone for Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8, but to be honest, any of the massive Spectral family could have made the 'best full-suspension bike' cut. That's because the fundamentals of really well-designed and detailed frames, totally sorted progressive geometry, and impeccably neutral four-bar suspension all loaded with killer value specs are the same throughout the range.

Having ridden the standard carbon frame in two different spec formats the significantly lower weight (lower than a lot of so-called 'downcountry' bikes) makes it worth stretching your wallet for. From what I've heard, the alloy bikes are still really well sorted though and at the price they start they're pretty much unbeatable in terms of ride and features.

As well as a huge range of price points – from Shimano entry-level to SRAM Flight Attendant auto suspension – there are different wheel, frame and travel options under the broader Spectral umbrella too. The mullet wheel, coil-shock bike is perfect if you've got hero corners to slash. The shorter travel  Spectral 125  is great for those who want more pop than plush too. You're not gaining any advantages in terms of weight though so the  fancy frame CFR option  is the win if you've got the cash for a proper, premium trail racer. 

Even that's a comparative super bargain though, but don't forget a lot of that money is saved by skipping the expensive shop bit and sending you your Spectral in a box. Just like everything else Canyon, it's a nicely designed box though. 

For more, see our full  Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8 review .

3. Best full-suspension MTB for all day riding

Santa Cruz Hightower V4 XO AXS RSV

The fourth generation Santa Cruz Hightower has landed and it has more suspension travel than before with 10mm extra up front and 5mm at the rear. The geometry is a touch more progressive too with a slightly slacker headtube, longer reach, steeper seat tube and longer back end. Existing fans will be pleased to hear that while concessions have been made to increase the Hightower's tough trail capabilities, it's still a top option for all-day riding. The latest model may now have the same suspension travel as the also recently relaunched Santa Cruz Bronson , but that has a far more aggro setup.

Santa Cruz's in-house VPP (Virtual Pivot Point) suspension setup has been tweaked to give better suspension performance while pedaling and braking. As part of this process, the Santa Cruz design team scooped out the bottom of the downtube and BB area so the shock could sit as low in the frame as possible, reducing anti-squat and anti-rise.

After testing the latest XO AXS RSV version, our tech editor, Guy Kesteven said: "The new Hightower is hungry for the ever faster and rowdier direction mountain biking is increasingly heading in, but can still climb like a goat and haul ass through the pedals."

For more, see Guy's full Santa Cruz Hightower XO AXS RSV review .

Santa Cruz's latest Hightower is longer, slacker in the head, steeper in the seat and comes with internal storage where you can keep the massive sense of totally predictable progression .

Yes, as a cynical old sod, I wasn't expecting to be that blown away by the new version of Santa Cruz's 29er all-rounder. Mainly because the old one was already my benchmark of how good a mid-travel (150mm front/145mm rear) 29er could feel. And like most other evolution models from most other brands, I didn't think a door to a secret store was really worth more weight and a £1000 price hike.

"Ha," said Santa Cruz and immediately set about making me look like one of those reviewers who doesn't bother to weigh things or think of the consequences and realities of paying nearly 10k for a "push bike". The fractionally shifted, smaller pivot kinematic of the VPP suspension whispered sweet nothings in my ear. I'm not going to go into how the new RockShox Super Deluxe shock produced an ecstatic "oh yes" from me, but I can tell you every click of that spring-detented, low-speed compression dial does something really special.  

The slightly altered handling told me how incredible I was every time I held off the brakes a little bit longer or tipped the bars into corners a bit deeper. The boxier carbon frame, perfectly shaped Santa Cruz bars and bulge-reinforced Reserve carbon rims told me their no-quibble lifetime warranty didn't matter because the way they rode made me feel invincible anyway.

And when I clicked the sweetly over-engineered catch on that internal storage it wasn't just like opening the door on a top-spec German whip. It was like I was important enough for someone to be opening my car door for me.

So, whether you get it from these utterings or you still need to read the  full Santa Cruz Hightower V3 review , if you've got a pile of cash or a robust lack of financial responsibility, the Hightower is the 'super trail' all-rounder to beat right now.

4. Best full-suspension mountain bike for trail agility

Mondraker Raze Carbon RR

Mondraker brought the super short stem, long reach stability geometry revolution to the mainstream with their Forward Geometry bikes. The Raze is their latest expression of that rebellious responsiveness with a super lively lightweight carbon frame and 150mm front, 130mm suspension split.

What sounds like a wonky amount of travel works well to encourage you to attack with the front wheel as much as possible. That's because it's when the Raze geometry is at its best and Mondraker even fits a reinforced front tire but not a rear one to reinforce the point.

The stunningly looking slimline frame not only looks fast standing still. It feeds into the 'grab the trail by the throat' vibe with a sinewy, feel that snakes and swerves through trouble while laying down awesome traction. The race-honed Zero suspension gets extra setup assistance via the wireless MIND travel tracking sensors front and rear too. That makes the Raze RR a live wire both technically and in terms of ride character. And while not everyone will need that level of tech or want that much in your face, synapse reactive responsiveness deserves a shout-out as something special.

Guy had this to say about the Raze's handling when he reviewed it, "despite so many bikes following much of Mondraker's pioneering geometry lead, it has managed to keep its signature ride character deliciously distinctive. The light, lithe, perfectly imbalanced suspension of the Raze RR makes it a proper ‘chef’s special’ in terms of accentuating that agility and inherent ‘skill gifting’ to the maximum." 

For more, check out our full  Mondraker Raze Carbon RR review .

5. Best steel full-suspension trail bike

Cotic Jeht 2

You're probably not surprised to see carbon bikes from a string of mega brands filling this best-of-guide. Steel from a small outfit near Sheffield UK though? Really?

And yes, the ferrous alloy is heavier than fiber composites by an average of a kilo for same-category bikes. You won't get the same stiffness as a big box frame and it doesn't scream 'Look how much I've spent on all this tech' either. The carefully curated steel tubes of Cotic's mid-travel trail machine add a subtle spring and flow that's almost impossible to weave into a composite, shape into an alloy tube, or dial into a damper though. Ovalisation and oversizing where it matters still means the Jeht 2 can place its front wheel perfectly and drive its rear wheel powerfully too. The latest Longshot geometry is confidence-boosting without killing the visceral, responsive vibe of the frame. 

A whole range of build specs and rolling chassis options offer surprisingly good value for a small company and Cy and his team will work with you to create any custom of partial build solutions you want too.

Guy has spent a load of time on the previous Jeht and was even more impressed by the latest Jeht 2. "Its notably quiet and damped vibe underlines how hard you can push the latest Jeht on the most challenging trails and it’s certainly got the chops to go head-to-head with the most hardcore bikes in any material now."

For more, see our full  Cotic Jeht 2 review .

The top racers in the world used to all ride hardtails for minimum weight, but tougher courses mean the fastest riders are now choosing the best full-suspension bikes instead. 

The great news is that it’s creating some really versatile high-velocity, short-travel machines that are as happy raving on your favorite singletrack as they are ripping up the race track. But which are the winning machines and what do you need to know to work out which is the best bike for you?

1. Best full-suspension XC race bike

Specialized S-Works Epic 8

The latest top-of-the-line Specialized S-Works Epic 8 is the first bike to feature SRAM's XC-suspension Flight Attendant AI-controlled system (the trail version has been around for a while). The new XC system controls the RockShox SID fork and SIDLuxe shock with inputs from the trail and a Quarq XX SL power meter fitted to the cranks. The system works brilliantly and gives you the best level of suspension support for whatever the trail throws at you.

Suspension-tech aside, the real star performer is the new Epic 8 frame. It's more progressive than before and totally sorted geometry-wise, which allows for all sorts of rowdy riding, but on a bike that XC light (frame-weight is a claimed 1,795g with the shock and hardware) that's super responsive and race-ready.

As you might expect, on the S-Works build, it's a list of top spec kit. The bike runs on Roval Control Wheels weight under 1,300g, a Roval SL one-piece carbon cockpit and carbon rails on the Body Geometry S-Works Power saddle help keep minimum weights elsewhere too. Drivetrain-wise, it's SRAM's race-spec Eagle AXS XX SL T-Type Transmission and you get a 150mm drop RockShox Reverb AXS seatpost also operated by the AXS shifter Pods.

After testing the bike, our technical editor, Guy Kesteven, summed up the S-Works Epic 8. "Specialized has thrown down a very impressive, maximum velocity benchmark with the new Epic 8. And I also really like the fact that still applies whether you buy the ultra high-tech S-Works tested here as the ultimate race machine, or get the basic Comp model as an excellent way to just go further and faster with or without a number on."

For more info, see his full Specialized S-Works Epic 8 review .

2. Best full-suspension XC bike for rowdy courses

Scott Spark Team Issue AXS

The Scott Spark is by far the most successful cross-country race bike of the last decade, and the latest model is faster, more controlled, and uniquely sleek looking too. 

The most obvious change is that Scott has hidden the rear shock inside the frame so that it's not exposed to the elements. The brand has also bumped up the rear suspension travel to 120mm on all Spark models, not just the downcountry/trail ones. The already progressive, control-boosting geometry can also be made a degree slacker in just a couple of minutes on the trailside which boosted my confidence when I was testing it.

The Team Issue AXS is a real sweet spot in terms of value for racers too. The excellent RockShox SID fork and Deluxe rear shock suspension feature bar lever controlled open, traction, and lock settings for maximum efficiency. The SRAM GX Eagle AXS electronic drivetrain is flawlessly fast and you get the superlight Syncros Hixon all in one carbon cockpit. The Syncros Silverton wheels are light too and Maxxis Rekon 2.4in tires roll super fast while staying rocky section safe. 

Guy spent most of his testing time on the Scott Spark hustling trails at e-MTB speeds and had this to say about Scott's XC bike. "A narrow flat bar, downturned stem, and fixed seat post confirm that the RC is a racer at heart, but it’s a brilliant example of just how far race bikes have come in terms of capability, confidence, and big-grin speed. 

Read more about the Spark in our full  Scott Spark Team Issue AXS  review. 

3. Best full-suspension XC bike for cutting edge tech

BMC Fourstroke 01Two

If you're looking for a cutting-edge XC bike then few come close to the BMC Fourstroke 01. BMC's latest race bike features aggressive and progressive geometry, triple mode shock control, and most significantly BMC's Airdrop seatpost. 

The geometry is pretty radical and wouldn't look all that out of place amongst the best trail bikes. The slack 66.5-degree head angle, short 432mm, and low 53mm bottom bracket mean the Fourstroke feels simultaneously planted and maneuverable. When it got updated, BMC completely changed the Fourstroke's frame layout too, squeezing in two inline water bottles alongside a new horizontal-orientated APS suspension system.

The big talking point around the Fourstroke 01 frame is BMC's Airdrop technology. Previously BMC used a RAD-integrated dropper post, they have now gone one step further by integrating an air chamber in the downtube which compresses the dropper post without the rider sitting down. It seems like a small detail however it potentially saves a lot of rider energy throughout a race and makes it easier to get the saddle out of the way on technical undulating segments.

Graham was lucky enough to test the BMC Fourstroke 01 on the challenging French Tokyo Olympic test track and was impressed by the Fourstroke 01's performance. In his first look, he says "Riders who want a super capable, confidence-inspiring XC bike are going to love the Fourstroke. It's agile and punchy with no loss of composure when the trails get rough assuming you stay within the remit of the fork. 

You can read more about the unique Airdrop technology in Graham's  BMC Fourstroke 01 TWO first ride review .

4. Best full-suspension XC bike for marathon racing

Cervelo ZFS-5

In the past road brands that have made the jump to off-road haven't always been all that successful. However, Cervelo has done an excellent job with their ZFS-5, producing a lightweight, fast, and capable XC bike.

The ZFS-5 packages a lot of our favorite features from the other XC bikes on this list. It features suspension characteristics from the Santa Cruz Blur (which is under the same Pon group corporate umbrella), similar geo and low weight as the Specialized Epic Evo, and the same 120mm travel and triple mode shock control as the  Scott Spark .

Whether that was a culmination of extensive testing or a paint-by-numbers exercise doesn't matter, the Cervelo is a hyper-competitive XC bike. 

Guy Kesteven spent a few months testing the bikes and had this to say about it. "The ZFS-5 is superlight with a beautifully balanced frameset feel and pedaling/control suspension character for effortless climbing and race reaper/distance shrinker speed. Slack head angles are combined with compact reach to create an aggressive but agile ride that rewards dynamic riders brilliantly and can be pushed surprisingly hard in savage situations too. It won’t autopilot you out of every mistake though so it’s still XC rather than DC at heart, even in the longer travel format."

It was good enough for him to award it full marks too, to find out more check out the full  Cervelo ZFS-5 frame review . 

With trail bikes getting heavier and longer travel all the time, a new breed of agile, responsive but still impressively controlled and fun to rally 'downcountry' bikes have appeared. There are lots of bikes that claim to be in this category but are too heavy or slow though, so we've picked our favorites carefully.

1. Best full-suspension downcountry bike for racing

Specialized Epic 8 Evo Pro

The Epic 8 Evo runs the same frame as the top-of-the-line S-Works Epic 8 XC version, but it's equipped with more suspension travel for tougher downcountry trails. 

The suspension is bumped up to 130mm fork and 120mm of rear travel. That comes in the form of a Fox pairing of 34 Factory Grip2 fork and a Float Factory EVOL shock. Wheels are Roval Control rims on Industry Nine 1/1 hubs, shod with Specialized Purgatory Grid T9/T7 tires. The gears and drivetrain are SRAM's Eagle XO AXS, T-Type Transmission, everything is brought to a halt with four-pot SRAM Code Stealth Silver brakes with 200mm and 180mm rotors for controllable stopping power.

The Epic Evo 8 proved itself to be more capable than ever in our testing. The longer and lower frame geometry can seriously challenge beefier bikes on tougher trails. Generally, it's around a kilo lighter than those bikes too, so feels much livelier and leaves them eating dust when sprinting or climbing.

The only serious downside is that the Epic 8 Evo's extra capability means it's also about a kilo heavier than the last incarnation, so if you're after a lighter bike, the non-Evo Epic 8 is likely to be the one for you. Rear tire clearance maxes out around 2.35 inches too.

Guy Kesteven tested the bike for us and was seriously impressed: "The new Epic Evo is perfect for the increasing category of riders who want full trail attack capability, but with the agility, punch and efficiency that gives the kind of climbing and acceleration gains you’d otherwise have to get an e-bike to unleash."

For more, see his full Specialized Epic 8 Evo Pro review .

2. Best full-suspension bike for aggressive downcountry riding

Norco Optic C2 SRAM

There is still some debate about whether a downcountry bike should be a slackened and sturdy cross-country bike or a short-travel lightweight trail bike. Norco's C2 falls into the latter with its 65-degree head angle and downhill spec suspension making it feel like the proper downhillers’ trail bike.  

The combination of 140mm RockShox Pike and 125mm SuperDeluxe Ultimate, backed up with burly spec items like Stan’s enduro-level Flow S1 wheels means you can confidently attack technical trails with precision and feedback that can be lost with the  best enduro bikes .

Mick Kirkman didn't feel like the Norco's short travel held it back at all, stating in his review that the "bike straddles the tightrope of travel and technical capability just about right. For sure, the absolute limit of hard-charging and still expecting to grip/get away with it is slightly lower than with a 170mm bike’s worth of get-out clauses, but that adds extra excitement, pump, and pop, and while the Optic is constantly stimulating senses through palms and soles, it rarely gets so edgy you can’t hammer along and push your limit."

For a full review of this short travel shredder, check out our  Norco Optic C2 SRAM review .

Santa Cruz Blur CC X01 AXS RSV

Santa Cruz hasn't had a proper podium-focused full suspension XC race bike in their lineup for years but the fourth-generation  Santa Cruz Blur  impressed me so much that I awarded it five stars in my full review. 

For the new Blur, Santa Cruz strived to combine XCO-race-worthy speed with the brand's signature handling that can be found on its range of popular trail bikes. New to the frame is a flex in the seat stay as well as a new suspension design that diverges from the brand's usual VPP setup. The suspension features 100mm front and rear, and there is a 120mm TR version of the bike available too. 

RockShox SID suspension front and rear are combined with SRAM's X01 Eagle AXS wireless drivetrain along with SRAM Level RSC brakes. Lightweight carbon rims are specced from Santa Cruz's in-house wheel brand Reserve and a 100mm Fox Transfer SL dropper post is also specced. Despite being seriously light you still get a full lifetime warranty on the frame, rims, bearings, and handlebars and no weight restriction either.

It's the effortless acceleration, effervescent flow and fun of the Blur that made it a favorite of our testers though, both on the race track and off.

Best full-suspension mountain bikes: how to choose

What are the benefits of a full-suspension mountain bike.

Hardtails will always be the cheaper, lighter option and if you’ve got the skills you can skip and skim them through some pretty technical terrain, too. 

When the surface gets relentlessly rough or there are big drops and rocks involved, full-suspension is a massive advantage though. It sucks up bike-stopping impacts to help you sustain speed, keep you on line and ultimately keep you on the bike. The rear wheel is more consistently connected for better technical climbing traction and cornering speed too. The days of power-wasting bob and bounce, rapidly wearing pivots and unreliable rear shocks are mostly long gone too. That means you can carry more speed with less fatigue and risk wherever you ride. 

How much mountain bike suspension travel is best?

150mm is the average real-wheel movement for most trail bikes. It’s enough to make a big difference in control off drops and through rock gardens but not so much that it disturbs pedalling or geometry even at full travel. Most shock and suspension setups are sorted enough that there’s no saggy middle stroke section or lost power either. 

There are some trail bikes with 125-130mm travel feel for a tauter, tighter feel and some of them exploit that with a lighter-weight overall build too. Meanwhile, 120mm 'downcountry' bikes pack a surprising amount of control into a significantly lighter package while pure XC bikes run 100mm of travel to achieve sub 10kg weights.

What's the best mountain bike frame geometry?

Geometry has been the fastest-changing part of mountain bike performance recently. The slackest trail bikes are now running 63-degree head angles that would have been on DH bikes only a few years ago. Even the most progressive XC bikes can be adjusted to 66 degrees now when 70 degrees was the average not long ago. To stop them feeling like DH bikes though the latest thing is for seat angles to steepen to triathlon bike numbers. That all works to put you in the center of the action for the best turning and handling balance while the suspension does its job at either end.

What are the best mountain bike components?

Most bikes run Fox or RockShox suspension with Shimano or SRAM stop-and-go equipment and you can't go far wrong with either. SRAM AXS is our favourite top-end spec though, while Shimano Deore and SLX are awesome at the affordable end. Other brands like Cane Creek, Ohlins and Hope get a look in occasionally too and that's generally fine by us. 

Wheels vary from brand name to own brand and while few are rubbish, the best thing is that most bikes come with decent tires. A lot of them are set up tubeless from the shop too which is a definite win. Bars, stems and dropper posts are generally the right shape/length and reliable too, which is a big change from 5-10 years ago. 

In short, it's pretty hard to go wrong with most bikes now, although the price of entry to decent full-suspension is more like £1500 than £1000 like it was a few years back.

How much should the best full-suspension mountain bikes weigh?

The lightest full-suspension race bikes still sneak in under 10kg and premium downcountry bikes are in the 11 to 12.5kg bracket. Cheaper XC and DC bikes are in the 13 to 14kg range, but by that point, they're short-travel trail bikes. Most trail bikes are now in the 14 to 15kg range with some big hit or low price options sneaking significantly over that.

The good news is that while most bikes have got heavier, they mostly pedal better which offsets the weight on climbs or when accelerating out of corners. More control and confidence mean you can carry more speed through turns and technical sections as well, so there's less accelerating to do afterwards.

That won't help you lift your bike over a gate or into a car though and when it comes to long, not technical climbs, less weight is always an advantage.

The top racers in the world used to all ride hardtails for minimum weight but tougher courses mean the fastest riders all use the best full-suspension XC bikes. 

The great news is that it’s creating some versatile high-velocity, short-travel machines that are as happy raving on your favorite singletrack as they are ripping up the race track. But which are the winning machines and what do you need to know to work out which is the best bike for you?

Meet the testers

Our testers have ridden all the full-suspension bikes in this guide on a wide range of terrain, from groomed trail center to technical and challenging singletrack, in a variety of weather conditions, from bone dry to properly sodden. We test bikes over several months so we can assess how they fare over time. 

Guy Kesteven is  Bike Perfect's  contributing tech editor. Hatched in Yorkshire, he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear

Graham is all about riding bikes off-road. Based in Edinburgh he has some of the best mountain biking and gravel riding in the UK right on his doorstep. With almost 20 years of riding experience, he has dabbled in downhill, enduro, and gravel racing

An ex-elite downhill racer, Mick's been mucking about and occasionally racing mountain bikes for over twenty years. Racing testing kit for magazines back in the day, and, nowadays, he's mostly riding enduro-style terrain on conventional and electric bikes.

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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Trek Top Fuel 8 review

• Alan Muldoon
• July 27, 2023

Once a lean XC race-focused machine, now a bulked up down-country rig. We test Trek's latest take on its short travel full suspension design.

Trek Top Fuel 8 Credit: Roo Fowler

Product Overview

Overall rating:, trek top fuel 8.

• • Poppy, playful and efficient
• • Available in six frame sizes
• • Internal down tube storage
• • Mino Link flip chip allows geometry tweaks
• • Needs a 180mm rear rotor
• • Accurate rear shock set up is crucial
• • A solid build, so not the lightest in its class

Manufacturer:

Price as reviewed:.

Think Top Fuel, and the image of a XC race bike instantly springs to mind. But like a faded polaroid tucked into the corner for a dusty picture frame, it’s not an accurate representation of the current design. With the Fuel EX increasing in travel, the Top Fuel has been swept along in its backdraft and seen in high definition, it’s now a capable 29er trail bike with modern sizing and 120mm travel and one of the best down-country bikes on sale. 

A dropper post and sorted cockpit complement the Top Fuel’s playful and poppy nature

Trek offers the new Top Fuel in carbon and alloy options, where the Top Fuel 8 tested here is the high-end alloy build. Regardless of frame material all Top Fuels come with integrated downtube storage. And while the quick release hatch under the bottle cage isn’t big enough to cram a three course lunch into the frame, there’s enough space for a tube, multi-tool, a few snacks and a lightweight jacket. 

Down tube storage is handy for those riders who are travelling light

Trek always offers a comprehensive size range; and with frame options from S to XXL, with a tweener M/L option too, the Top Fuel 8 is no exception. It also has geometry adjustment, but rather than having Trek’s signature Mino Link on the seat stay pivot, the Top Fuel has a flip chip at the lower shock mount. In the low setting this gives a relatively tall 340mm BB height for a 120mm bike, which is probably the only carryover from its race-bike roots – designed to let you keep the cranks spinning, and the speed high at all times.

• Best down-country mountain-bike: short travel full-suspension

The rest of the Top Fuel’s vital stats are on the money though, where a slack 65.6º head angle and steep 77.2º effective seat tube angle make it easy to hammer up the climbs and shred the descents. 

Flip chip in the lower shock mount offers 0.5deg head angle and 8mm BB height adjustment

It’s built solid too, the complete bike tipping the scales at 14.89kg. It also comes with a combined rider and bike weight limit of 136kg (300lb) so it’s clearly no wet noodle. Yes, it’s not the lightest for a 120mm bike, and not far off what you’d expect for a 150mm bike, but that’s the price you pay for integrated storage, as the alloy down tube needs reinforcing when you cut a hole in it.

Thankfully, the Top Fuel 8 rides light, as there’s less travel to pull through to get the bike off the ground, so it offers a different ride experience to modern long-travel trail bikes which tend to have one eye on enduro racing. 

The stock RockShox Pike Rush RC fork dishes out 130mm of travel

There are no sag gradients on the 130mm travel RockShox Pike fork, which we assume is down to cost saving, but set-up is still really straightforward with a tape measure to hand. And while the Pike has a reputation for having a sporty, firmer tune, the basic RC version on the Trek felt smooth and composed in all situations. Yes, the RC damper has a very wide range of rebound adjustment, but there’s only a small range that’s actually usable, but it is enough to get the rebound just so; and that’s all that really matters, right?

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You need to be equally attentive when setting up the rear suspension. Set to 30% sag, the top-end RockShox Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock bottoms relatively easily. So if you want to run the shock softer to achieve a lower dynamic BB height, you’re going to need to add volume spacers. As such, we increased the shock pressure and reduced the sag to 27.5%.

This small change alone was enough to prevent premature bottom out, but we could still use all of the available shock stroke when we really needed it. We also ran the low-speed compression setting in the minus position for maximum plushness. In the low geometry setting we measured rear wheel travel at 115mm, which is 5mm less than claimed. 

One of the biggest differences in terms of ride feel between the Lapierre and the Trek, other than sizing, are the wheels. The Bontrager Line 30 rims have a 30mm internal rim width, 5mm more than the Mavic rims on the Lapierre XRM 6.9 we tested the Trek against. This adds to the overall volume of the tyres and the stiffness of the bike. It is also why we dropped the tyre pressures slightly on the Trek, even though we were running the exact same tyres on both bikes. 

Bolted on chainstay protection is a neat and considered touch

With 108 points of engagement the freehub on the Bontrager rear wheel offers rapid, secure engagement, with less chain slack and chain slap as a result. The bike is not totally silent though as there is a little bit of cable rattle, but it will probably disappear when you stuff the BITS storage box to the gills.

The contact points on the Top Fuel 8 are all sorted and while there’s a stack of stem height adjustment, the three 20mm spacers don’t offer any fine tuning of the handlebar height. So swapping one of the 20mm spacers of a 10mm, a 5mm and two 2.5mm spacers, would be our first move before leaving the store.

• How to: ultimate guide to handlebar cockpit set up

Nothing else needs changing though. The mix of Shimano XT and SLX for the 12-speed drivetrain worked flawlessly in the dry, dusty test conditions, where the smaller 30t chainring is a real saviour on long draggy climbs or on days when your legs feel like lead. 

ABP suspension design transforms the seat stay assembly into a floating brake mount

Performance

The steep seat tube angle on the Trek Top Fuel 8 really helps with the pedalling dynamics on steeper climbs and the cockpit is long enough that even with the shorter 45mm stem, you never feel cramped or uncomfortable when climbing. It’s not so steep though, that it feels like the pedals are behind you when sitting down spinning across flatter, rolling singletrack.

Stand up to sprint and the rear suspension on the Trek clearly gets animated, the rocker link flapping around like the tail on an overly excited puppy. So the best approach is to sit and spin up the climbs, as the shock remains remarkably still and lifeless until you encounter a bump. Also if you really want to go for it on smoother climbs, the rear shock has a firmer pedal threshold setting. In short then, gaining elevation on the Top Fuel 8 is relatively straightforward and painless.

Knock Block 2.0 steering lock with 72º steering angle, protects the frame without limiting steering

So, it’s somewhat surprising just how rapidly you can throw those gains away. This bike simply rips the descents. Given the limited travel it still seems to carry speed everywhere, and while bumps that would normally chip away at your momentum are still felt though the chassis, they do not perturb the Trek one bit. It rails corners too. Simply load up the suspension mid-turn, and the Top Fuel has just the right amount of support and extension to keep the front end loaded, before slingshotting you out of the turn faster than you entered it. Combine the raw speed with the balanced weight distribution, and the Top Fuel 8 is a really fun, exciting ride and blisteringly fast too.

Would the Trek Top Fuel 8 be even faster with a genuinely low geometry setting? You bet it would. But we’d settle for a bigger rotor on the SRAM DB8 rear brake, as this bike is so fast in fact, that the 160mm rotor feels wholly inadequate and it looked like it had been tempered after just a couple of rides. 

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The Top Fuel 8 is at home on fast sweeping singletrack

At 14.89kg (32.83lb), the Trek Top Fuel 8 isn’t that much lighter than a 150mm bike. So if you want one bike to conquer all trails, it wouldn’t be our first choice. It’s still a great 29er trail bike though, and if bike park laps and enduro racing don’t fall under your trail bike remit, the Trek Top Fuel 8 offers a fast, fun and engaging ride. Its poppy playful nature, combined with generous sizing means you never feel limited by the travel for regular trail riding. Yet, it still feels more energetic and efficient under pedalling than than most 150mm bikes. It’s a heady combination that manages to keep both the tempo and fun factor high, without any apparent lows.