Sounds like a jet war in the background.

:how much travel do you need? James Harden: yes.

In process of picking a new bike and last week, I literally spend 50% of my wake time reading through articles and watching vids and this is definitely the top 3 I have watched! Good work, love the numbers and times.

here i am crying with my 100mm xc hard tail

"If I had only one bike" is such a theoretical question! 😅

I think the most important factor is simply where you live. I see all these youtubers living in Cali, BC, or North Carolina that are all running around on 160mm fork enduro bikes, but where I live in the Dallas, Tx area that much travel would be silly. We have no elevation, the whole area is pretty flat with lots of short burst climbs into 5 second descents. Anything over 130 is completely unnecessary. And that really makes it fun, having a short travel bike here. In north Texas, a 26-31 pound bike is much more fun than a heavy 34 pound enduro bike.

This is probably one of the best bike reviews I’ve seen on KZfaq. Succinct, well organized, and honest. It was helpful to have two different opinions in one video. Nice job!

Tbh I think 130-150mm is sorta a good start point for anyone who wants to hit trails, have good pedal efficiency but also hit some downhills when they arise. I’ve got a 130mm trail bike, but with its good Geometry and intelligent riding it’s never really felt out of place, it’s not the best when going downhill but once you start popping off roots to skip sections the bike becomes something else

I believe that you can push a short travel bike and use it as a medium travel as needed just depending on the “set-up” Wider rims with 2.6” tires, stronger brakes, and bigger forks is just an example.

1 bike, for 1 rider, for 1 playground 🤘 no bad bikes in 2022, only different priority. Nice test. 👌

“Ask any racer, any real racer. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile; winning's winning.” - Tallboy

Nice comparison! I've decided that I'm currently over biked for my local trails and riding style. I rode a 120mm on a trip last month and it was so playful and fun that I'm going to make a switch (at least for awhile). I don't need to be the fastest. I just want to have fun. Cheers

I love the climbing hard time data, Vs. "well, it felt faster"!

I really enjoyed this video. It give me a clear insight on the differences between the 3 types of options and possibilities. 👍🏽 I would also want all 3‼️😁

Great video guys. Took a no right answer topic and helped us to be able to do a better job when shopping!

Enjoyed your review on the 3 types of mountain bikes. I can relate to Brock, especially coming from the tallboy and now to a longer travel bike. Me going to an all-mountain style bike just fits me better for my style riding and trails I ride (or willing to ride). :)

Excellent review and comments by both riders! Very honest and helpful! Thanks! I have a 120mm short travel 29er and I love how it rides on the trails I have available to me here in Florida. One day I'd love to demo an enduro at a bike park.

I demoed the Tallboy. What a bike for less technical and gnarly trails but that still can get steep. I like my Bronson for the one bike to rule them all- smaller wheels and bigger travel = maneuverable, poppy and plowable = fun anywhere. Nice vid. Great getting such similar bikes to limit the variables as much as possible to just suspension travel.

What an excellent review. I bought the HT but rode the Tallboy back to back with it just this weekend (and a MT a while back). Your review is exactly how I felt. Find the trails you love and there is an awesome bike for you. But between these three, the HT magically encapsulates the TB and MT in one...opportunity costs regardless.

How you came to your conclusions, and how clearly you communicated them, was super valuable - great video, thank you.

Thought this was a really cool idea and well done. Thanks for this!

Great review! two different opinions but they explain WHY they chose the one they did. Knowing their train of thought helps the audience choose the right bike depending on what trails they have around and how they like to ride, fast, play around, XC, and so on. Keep these thoughtful reviews coming. Thanks guys.

Thanx. After 5 days of searching, watching and reading i choose the megatower. I wish I had found your video at the beginning. It’s the resoult of 5 days searching. Perfekt 👌 keep on!

Thanks for all these videos! So many bikes to chose from but I really appreciate 2 different riders and their preferences. My current bike is a 2019 Bronson but I've been blown away by the enduro bikes that can climb. They all have bigger travel and climb 100x better. I do love me some climbing 2-3k but it's always for fun decent. Just picked up a SB160.

GREAT REVIEW THOUGH GUYS , I’m not criticising, Ive just demoed all these bikes and I love the Megatower, Me personally though I ride a 2018 5010 XE BUILD with Dt Swiss carbon rims and 240” hubs , it climbs incredible and descends just as fast as the Megatower

Location is a huge factor too. Midwest here. Very few local trails that will max out 130mm+ suspension. But I still love the slack geometry.

I ride a Bronson because I wanted a bike that could climb but rock the descents. SC drops the new Tallboy and oh my! Had no idea the trails could be that much fun. Insanely capable for a low travel machine

You guys each need a dedicated mic

This has been the industry challenge in other sports such as snow skiing or tennis. Any time you monkey around with geometry design changes to positively affect performance in one area there is always a negative affect in other attributes. The "Trail" bike is the one quiver bike, good at everything, not great one thing. Longer travel bikes in general (enduro) add two components to it's riding characteristics that will negatively affect climbing. One is weight and the other is longer travel bikes are less efficient, your typical pedal bob. Lighter frames /wheels with an efficient rear linkage system like the DW link (found on the Ibis bikes) will greatly improve the pedaling efficiency up hill. Riding preferences is all in the eyes of the beholder.

Best review I have ever scene

most of the vids are about trail bikes as thats the standard now. my bike is now looking more trail than xc and its even labeled like XC Trail. New times new solutions. Im on 100mm as i spend most of the time on flat but i like light trail and climbs are so interesting to me. I live near danube and there are dozens of swamps and forest roads its beautiful.

Good video! Great work guys!

Where you live and ride is a huge factor. Im very happy with my 27.5 trance . Might seem like over kill for a all arounder , but in the Catskills it's very rocky and rooty. I did ride a $500 hardtail for two years in the same conditions. And then I got my trance. So much more fun on the trails. Although slightly slower on climbs and smooth decents.

My 2005 Slayer "All-Mountain" bike with 125mm of travel would be the Trail bike in this test, although with the smaller 26" tires, it's probably not even close to as good as the Tallboy as a Trail bike... This video has given me a lot to think about. I think the upgrade that I need most, that isn't discussed in video...need friends to ride with.

awesome breakdown...these are the kind of reviews everyone at a crossroad needs

I started at 130mm with a Fuel EX. Later I bought a DH bike. Because of the DH bike (i ride a lot bike park) I got so fast that i went through the travel of my Fuel EX all the time with max spacers in the fork and shock. Bought a Megatower.

It seems to me that the 120mm bike worked the best for you guys despite the comments. It was only marginally slower in the downhill and significantly faster climbing.

Nice edit guys. Most of us who ride regularly over multiple disciplines and topology understand the design philosophy and geometry of the current mountain bikes in the stream. My first bike into MTBiking was a Trek EX9 All-Mountain rig. This bike had 130-120 full suspension travel. I then went to Scott as I matured to benefit from a single quiver bike using the twin-lock and never looked back. After buying Scott’s 2017 Genius 700 LT Tuned that supports 27.5 and 29ers with 160/160 travel and the twin-lock for geometry when climbing/fire roads/descents, this bike smokes everything I’ve ridden as a quiver killer bike. Each configuration using the twin-lock has crushed all comers and encompasses all three of these bikes presented here literally into one bike. From 27.5 @2.35” all the way to 2.8” tire sizes and the flip chip for 29er @2.6” tires is truly a quiver killer. From all day rides in Galbraith, to A Line in Whistler, bike does it all progressively. What I’m getting at is this, from entry into mountain biking, to mid-high transition, into the gnarlier burly trail-sets will define your weapon of choice. A rider who doesn’t understand what he’s looking for and decides that safety via abundance of travel, will not enjoy the ride if they live in certain places. Which will also tend to increase the cost much more than they expected to spend. 1. Research your local riding trails and typical riding expectations based on your skill set. 2. Research your local bike shops and test ride different manufacturers and geometry configurations. 3. Go to the most gnarly trail head and take a walk. Meet some riders at those places and ask questions. They will guide you and give experience lessons to assist you. They may even get you riding with them and you will progressively get better. 4. Don’t spend too little or you will have a terrible entry into MTBiking and possibly get hurt. This sport is great but you WILL have crashes and setbacks. Last thing you want is to have your rig be the cause. 5. Buy all the safety equipment...helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, some good knuckle padded gloves, and eyewear. Use them all for your first year. 6. Don’t try to use clipless right away, use flat pedals when starting out unless you have previous experience using them. Any decent rubberized athletic shoe will suffice. 7. Watch a shit ton of KZfaq professionals to edify your fundamentals related to equipment, skills, and experiences. 👍🏼

Very interesting and thorough video. Thank you so much!

Very nice video, good job.... subscribed!

Good conversation. I went from a XC Hardtail to a 150mm Enduro bike. Love the latter. Yes the climbs can be a bit of a grind but I find the Enduro bike better on tech and loose climbs than the XC and then when you point it down hill - fun fun fun. Also air time and popping off stuff, the Enduro is just so much more capable. Just firm up the compression on the suspension if the trail is less rowdy and pop away.

I ride a full sus 140mm travel bike (2017 Scott genius 720 plus) feels like the best of both worlds in a sense, having enough travel for what downhill I ride, plus the 2.8 tire provided some additional supplenesses, but also having partial and full suspension lockout capabilities for climbing.

140/125 , never had a problem

140mm to 160mm is all you need !!! If you know how to work it that's all you need. NO need for a downhill bike. Been riding my all mountain/enduro since 2012 and never lets me down.

Bike for every trail I agree all three.

I've got a 13/120 mm trailbike and i'm picking up a DH in a couple weeks :)

i have an 140mm front an rear all mountain ebike with an 67.3° headangle and i love my bike for what i ride.

I have a sc blur, a xc bike, and i wanted to train more descents, like, really techy descents for training, and i was thinking about the tallboy. What are your thoughts on this? (Sry i'm still learning english kkk)

Thanks for the reply guys, keep up the good work 🤘

Excellent video my friends

I guess I'll stick with my 120mm. Since I need to use it for daily riding as well.

Great video, was trying to decide between the Hightower and the Tallboy.

Man that first trail is glorious 🤤

👍🏽 I’m excited for the occam am review.

good video!!!! nice review !

I have a 130 mm 29er trail bike and a 153 mm 27.5 bike. Thought I’d use the trail bike most of the time and the enduro on “fun” days but end up grabbing the enduro every time! The trail bike might be lighter and faster on XC type trails but I don’t care. It’s just not as fun for me 😁 Nice comparison BTW👍🏻👊🏻

The trail bike had the fastest times 4 out of 6 including on the flowy and tech downhills. Shows that it’s all about rider skill, not amount of travel.

Thanks Guys.

Been on my 2020 Tallboy just over a year now. I bought her on a whim because of love at first sight. My two slight grumbles are: (1) the Fox 34 Performance fork becomes challenged on sandy washerboard fire service roads. That could be my setup more than the fork itself. Sometimes I wish I had Grip2 high and low speed compression and rebound settings rather than Grip1. On the other hand, the simplicity of Grip1 means I spend less time fussing and more time riding. (2) Setting the shock sag is pretty unscientific. Because the shock piston is in a frame tunnel it involves measuring pencil marks on toothpicks. Sag setup is an issue I knew about before buying the bike. The technicians at my LBS who sold me the bike couldn’t help me with setting sag… they just shrugged and said “good luck.” I expect sag setup is similarly difficult for Hightower, and maybe Megatower. After lots of testing shock pressures I think it’s about right, but I couldn’t tell you what percentage my sag is. I replaced the 175 mm cranks with 165 mm to eliminate pedal strikes. I tried a 34 tooth SRAM chainring before returning to 32 tooth on the 165 mm cranks. The 34 tooth chainring is better for 175 mm cranks, and the 32T chainring is better with shorter cranks. Those details relate to my local terrain and body form. We Are One Union wheels with I9 Hydra hubs are a perfect complement. I tried a bunch of different tires and I am happy with Kenda trail tires as long as I stay away from goats-head thorns. On flowy SoCal trails and street riding (90% of my year-round riding) I couldn’t be more pleased with this bike. She’s a real beauty - I get compliments on her all the time. Thanks for providing a great Santa Cruz comparison review.

Thanks for the reviews, I was torn between the tallboy and Hightower. Now, I’m still stuck but Leaning Hightower 😂

Great comparison video. I'm a former cross country guy from the east coast living in Cali and I can't get enough of the bigger trails, drops, rocks out here. I'm leaning towards an enduro bike. I need to find a demo day to compare different bikes bake to back.

I have a Enduro with 180 front, 165 rear, ok i'm dying when I have to climb but bro the descents feels soooooo good

Really helpful vid! I'm thinking of getting a full sus again after a year with a hardtail. I ride a mixture of xc/trails in my local hills and trail centre blues and reds. Generally prefer the flow trails but that's partly due to a lack of confidence on tougher trails. The local hills have a big variety of routes, long flat climbs, step techy climbs, fast rutted and rooty downs. I had been leaning towards the HT before I saw this video but now I'm wondering if the TB would suit better... What do you guys think? I'm 38, 6'5" if that makes any odds...

Thanks for the review i had a full sus 160mm (all mountain , at the time?) bike on 26 and now have 120 mm hard tail trail bike on 27.5 +. I rented a 140mm full sus this summer on 29s. i was surprised how different they felt, but i couldn't quite place all the issues or quirks. i miss the high handle bar feel the most of the 160mm travel bike but cant afford one. i would like to try to save up for one. i would also have to decide what tire size now, too. i guess all mountain is now smaller? Is it more about reducing the height combined with the bigger tire size but having a stiffer fork with less travel?

My custom build 2018 Santa Cruz V10CC has all the travel I need!

Excellent job of riding all three on the same trail, same day, same weather, etc. Levels the conditions/playing field so that we can focus on the bikes. [I'm trying to figure out if I want to move to an All Mtn Bike from a Trail Bike] Thank you

The gentleman on the right I had a feeling he would weigh more into the megatower because of his height. Looks more like the riding style. I feel like I would go more towards the tallboy for the way I ride, even though the hightower and the mega tower is more comfortable downhill. But having the tallboy suspension a little stiffer for how aggressive I ride made a major difference. Also moving the bars a hair forward gave more confidence in all sections body height 5' 10". Would like to try a little less head tube angle and the crank set a little further back. Possibly go to a L to an XL if I had less head angle. Curious thoughts.

I have a 5010 and a (pre-mullet) Bronson, the 27.5 equivalents of the Tallboy and Hightower. The comparison is similar. The biggest difference is the 5010 is more poppy and the Bronson a bit more supple. The 5010 is a more efficient climber, but the Bronson is fine. The 5010 is fun at the bike park, but the Bronson is more planted, faster, and even more fun. For flowy & twisty the Bronson is fun, but the 5010 makes me grin ear to ear. If I’m riding all day in mixed terrain, I’ll usually take the Bronson as it’s less fatiguing and a bit more forgiving. If someone was looking for a single bike only (27.5), the Bronson is where I’d steer them. And btw, an enduro bike is just too much for 90% of what I ride. Maybe it’s telling that I just decided to add a 29’er to my life and chose the Hightower. The 5010 and Bronson will be sticking around, but I bet a year from now I’ll be grabbing either the 5010 or Hightower (based on the ride) and the Bronson will be collecting dust until someone visits from out of town. When they visit, the Bronson will guarantee a fun time wherever we go.

Unless I'm at the lift served resort, a 130+- travel range bike is the best all around. I prefer down hilling but slogging uphill SUCKS!!! The lower travel and weight bikes really open up the terrain and trail options and variety. And who knew that I wouldnt mind climbing as much when you're on a bike that accommodates it!?!?

Great vid. Thanks!

Awesome vid!! Rider weight and height will make some differences as well I assume seeing both reviewers are of different built?

Great review. Having a difficult time choosing between a TB versus an HT. Other factors aside, would you say a longer travel all mountain is a better fit for someone very new to the sport - assuming the short travel TB is less forgiving than an HT? Thanks for the great reviews - they are some of the best I've come across.

Usually there are differences in HTA and Seat tube angle as well as the differences in travel and weight. The shorter travel bikes that I've ridden have a more slack STA, which makes a big difference to me in how it pedals. A 75.9° STA vs a 76.9° STA (Spur vs Sentinel) is the main reason I sold my Spur. I'm simply more comfortable on the Sentinel, and if I'm more comfortable, I'll ride more and I'll ride more confidently. In short, if you're not trying to win races, ride what you enjoy rather than what is "best" for some other metric.

thank you very much

Your conclusions were fairly insightful, might just trail up my AM a bit with some tokens and a lighter tread and go maximum enduro for my next bike. Or just buy two new bikes, we'll see. :p. BTW, not saying you guys were illegible, just the BG noise was just a bit distracting is all. Thanks for the video!

I'm a fan of having 2 bikes...but fight having the Enduro bike and AM bike when I should go with the trail bike. Great review!

I think one thing you should touch on next time is Air pressure , and how that could help make lower travel do more...

I ride a 120mm on everything. Just bought a 135mm as an upgrade. I think that will get me through as gnarly of stuff I care to ride. If I went to bike parks all the time with lift access, I’d get an enduro. Either way, all bikes are good.

Trail bike keeps you honest on the descent and enduro on the ascent. All mtn., well just depends where you live AND your age.

I have a somewhat older enduro (which now looks more like a full susspension trailbike)....Goes fast on the trails and at 150 travel it has somewhat more than I normally need..... I mostly hate climbs :))...... I like a bigger travel because I love jumping and plowing over stuff.....

Thanks for the vid, good one. I'm luck to own a Carbon Norco Optic (120 rear 130 front, trail bike) and a Devinci Troy carbon 29, 140/160) so most bases covered. I agree with much of what you found, so thanks again. Not sure if you guys are under an airport or if it's the freeway or what, but lots of jet sounding background sound for so much forest. Interesting.

I have a tallboy4 with a fox36 set to 140 and cascade link at 128rear. Fun new england bike

Maybe you could have rated the bikes in terms of GNAR as well. Good vid thanks.

Nice comparison video and better riding!

I currently have a 150mm travel all mountain bike, but I demoed and Ibis Ripley, and riding that made me realise how important good suspension platform is. So my next bike will be a bit shorter in travel.

I would say 140mm is the sweet spot for me I’m building a hardtail that is compatible with up to 150mm but I’m going with 140mm and I’m getting my very first FS in a 120-130mm configuration

if you have the option of locking your suspension like for example the scott genius 940, or scott ransom 920 22. does the extra travel then matter in an uphill?

I think it's great that you both , have a different opinion on what is your opinion are different. This being a great statement, how each have a different opinion , what are the different opinion that each of makes a different opinion on what each mtn bike are different.

My new old bike is 178mm, before that my old Foes was 152... in between (my road and downhill cheapie) was 76mm of RST awfulness. Even my old enduro trailbike (1986 Yamaha IT200) had 300mm.... The 10yo totems on my Giant are a little brittle in their response tho.. My old Bombers on the foes were so plush my favourite trick was to stick a neubie on it and tell them to ride into the nearest gutter... watch them tense right up followed by the comment "I hardly felt it?"... (3.0" Gazzaloddi's helped... man I wish I could get one now to restore the foes. (it still has 20yo ones on it and I only retired it in Jan.

Nice video...well done explained

Though this video is a couple of years old its still very informative but I/m not sure you'll see this question. I've been on my Santa Cruz 5010CC since I purchased it in 2017. I live up here in the Pacific Northwest where we have some long technical climbs (1000' to 3000' climbs) and the moderate to extreme descents. I've only recently been riding with some very good riders who have pushed my harder than I've been pushed in many years (I'm 61 years old but in good shape but they're all 20 years younger). I noticed that are all on 29'ers and I have 27.5. To be honest going downhill (I'm just an above average mountain biker, not extreme and not a jumper) I don't have the confidence on steep technical downhills. So I was looking at changing to a Hightower to instill more confidence (per some recommendations) with a increased head/tube angle pushing the wheel out further, more travel (as compared to the 5010). The local bike shop has the Tallboy and will not get a Hightower for at least a year. Wanted to get your opinion on a Tallboy for a above average rider, not going for speed or big air, just having a fun time with friends on hopefully a more confidence (downhill) inspiring bike? Thank you!!

OUtstanding review. The conclusion, as you said, may be a little confusing. The real value of this video is the discussion and opposing view. Each rider can identify with one or the other reviewer, given their own preferred riding style.

can someone tell me which is the All MTB, which is the trail and which is the Enduro>? looking at a Stumpjumper , a Santa Cruz Tallboy and hightower, I live in FL but moving to NC soon. im 6'3 180lbs and long.

Depends where you Ride I Live In Vancouver So I Ride A 160/155 CF Warden Its An Awesome Bike 😎

Can you please let me know what the travel was on the trail vs All Mountain bike.. thank you, enjoyed your video!

:How much travel do you need? Freeriders:Yes Roadbikers:Travel? BMX Riders:Who needs travel

I need 180 front and rear!

Just go on a good build high suspension hard tail and one enduro or DH bike. Boom best of both worlds.

Good info. That’s music was driving me nuts!

Damn hill air force base and them jets!