What do you think about our reasons? Do you agree? Or perhaps we are all wrong! As always, let us know in the comments.

Me one month ago: “I’d like to buy an MTB to enjoy the trails lesser traveled near where I live. I bet it’s gonna be a simple purchasing decision”. Me now: “I wish I’d never started researching MTB’s.”

Mountain bikers can be so snobby. I see kids cooking a lot of mountain bike trails on cheap old mountain bikes. Don’t let not having a fancy downhill or enduro rig stop you from shredding. Love this video.

The perfect mountain bike is the one that gets ridden. Doesn’t matter what it is. If it’s being used, it’s good enough

Trail bikes. The jack of all trades but master of none but I don't care coz I don't race and I just wanna have fun meeting and riding with my mates.

I'm reminded of the old engineer's adage/joke, "the great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."

Yes to trail bikes! I had a Santa Cruz Heckler from 2007 that took me everywhere: downhill racing, skislope shredding, long epic rides and even around the Annapurna circuit. With 26" wheels! Then I got a hardtail Specialized Fuse with 27.5 plus wheels and it blew my mind, for how capable it is and how fun, and even slacker than the heckler! With this bike I haven't been riding ski slopes, neither racing downhill, but it still could do it, maybe not very fast, but fast enough to have tons of fun. After all, is not about the bike, but also the rider's skills... To finish, I'd say: just ride whatever works for you, have fun and respect other bikers choices. Happy trails!

I rode a short travel 29er everywhere. I rode double black, steep backcountry descents, whole enchilada. It's what I had, and I could often keep up with people who rode much more aggressive bikes. I switched to an enduro this year, but I'm convinced that you really don't need that much travel to get down pretty much any trail, it's just nice to have if you're trying to rip downhill.

Meanwhile Sam Pilgrim blasts down double diamon trails in Whistler on 200$ Walmart bike. I'm quite sure trail bike can deal with most you throw at it.

Been using a short travel plus trail bike for the last couple of years and it’s been more than enough for me.

I gues it also depends a lot where you live. As for me, living in the middle of the alps, I'm more happy with my current enduro that my previous trail bike ...

Have to agree with this video! Absolutely love my enduro bike but I can ride my trail bike on all the same trails. The trail bike just makes you pick your line a little more thoughtfully

I went from 180mm coil to 130R/140F air, and I love it! So much easier to pedal, though you do feel the bigger stuff a bit more.

I have a Scott Spark 940, and it's the best hybrid of XC and Trail. It can handle absolutely anything technical, while retaining some incredible cross country efficiency.. And it looks gorgeous!

I love mine because of the versatility - I can lighten it up to be more XC focused by putting on lighter wheels and tires, or I can put on heavier, more robust wheels and tires to make it capable of a lot more aggressive terrain. It does a little bit of everything well enough for my needs.

I only own XC bike, but yeah, feels like a trail bike is a real do-it-all without much drawbacks here and there. If I had option for 2 bikes, that'd probably be gravel and trail

It'd always be a XC hardtail for me. Not only as a only mountain bike but also as a only bike full stop. Enough to chase friends on gravel and road bikes, enough to ride all my local trails and also just about enough to go outside the comfort zone in the 'gnar' :P

Absolutely. 1 week of ownership with a GT Sensor 29er has convinced me that I really don't need another bike. Bike park laps, singletrack, XC loops, does it all.

I think it's all about the rider. The MTB scene here in Melbourne is a cesspit of kids with 10 grand full squishes who can't even hit the smallest jump in the bike park or pick a line down a rock garden. I ride a Trek Marlin 5 and despite being the worst possible tool for anything over a hard blue trail, I somehow managed to drag it down a double black tech trail with a 10-foot double where you land on wet, mossy rocks. Trust me, it's not fun but it did the job, and though you probably want something with a bit more travel, but the best XC racer could probably drag a DH bike up, and a DH racer could probably drag an XC bike down. For me, I would go enduro just because they climb ok and you can also take it to a bike park like whistler. thanks for reading this long comment :)

Depends where you live but I've just gone back to a hardtail (Whyte 905 V2) after 15 years of full suspension and I'm loving it.

I'm still riding a 2011 giant trance x2 26" wheel bike, nice and light. I had a fully decked out niner wfo 9 I built, manitou triple,, Hammerschmit, dropper post, she was big, heavy and just too much bike for my trails.

Theres a kid in Chihuahua mex who rides a cheap hardtail on tourist trail who is a guide and people with 6000 dlls enduro bikes and can't catch up.... My point is what ever works for you

My perfect trail bike is a 27+ Hardtail with a 120-130mm travel fork, that's why I am picking mine up on Friday after the shop builds it up. Friday = New Bike Day 😁

My friend went full XC for a while and did some big races, Leadville for example. So much training became a burden and he got burnt out. He won’t ride with me because the trails are too rough for him/ bike. My 140 mm full sus 29er treats me well and I’m riding the crap out of it ( though I do wish for that XC bike when I’m earning my down-hill runs).

I have a trail bike Marin Rift Zone 2. I changed my fork to Yari but reduced travel to 150mm and changed the tires to DHF/DHR combo. Worked wonders for me. Still a trail bike in a sense

I recently sold my trail bike for a "down-country" style xc bike. It basically works as a short travel trail bike. And can get some what deep into enduro territory, while still being a light weight KOM beast

That’s what I went with after much thought and consideration. After a few years couldn’t be happier with my choice👍

For me its a modern long travel slack hardtail. 160mm fork 64 deg ha. Extremely capable and under rated bikes. You really have to ride one to appreciate just how capable they are. The ability to build Speed by pumping on flow tracks is beyond compare, is equally at home at the bike park, very responsive bikes, a bit like riding an over sized bmx bike. And on top of that less maintenance.

i ride a 2016 stumpjumper for 3 years already and its all good. just enjoy every ride with friends 😊

The majority of weekend riders don’t just do enduro, downhill or XC. They ride their local trails and they look for versatile. Something with a geometry that can climb as well as it descends. I use to ride my local favorite (Skeggs) on an 160MM travel enduro bike. It was super fun on the descent, but found myself walking my way back up which was a long way. I decided to sell my Canfield Balance and purchased a Turner Flux 4.0. Was hesitant at first wondering if the 130mm of travel would hold up at Skeggs, especially through Manzanita trail, which has huge rock piles. I slowly rolled over the first set and flew through the next and it held up just fine. The climb back up was easier (not easy), but I powered my way back to the top with minimal walking. Was even thinking of going down to 120MM.

I've been riding my Patrol and I really like riding with more travel than I need. I really enjoy the added confidence. Of course, it is a bit of a chore winching myself up hills on it...

Sometimes I love to ride my NINER AIR 9 hardtail (2014) with 120 mm front fox, carbon wheels, and sometimes I love my SC HIGHTOWER C. Depends on my mood and how crazy I want to get. I will admit, the fun factor for my aluminum hardtail is hard to ignore, so quick and nimble. BUT the Hightower, lets get crazy on the rough/downhill stuff.

My all arounder has been my 2009 Trek Remedy 8 . I have no complaints since doing the coil swap on the lyric 2 step fork and putting a fox on back. Has been a great all around bike. I also love my 2008 S-works ht for any xc . Both are still running strong

I can ride my hardtail Whyte 905 anywhere I can on my Orbea Rallon. Sure I get beat up by the lack of suspension more and some sections I have to be more careful, but I am still having loads of fun. But on the flipside, I ride my Rallon on XC trails sometimes and even though it is overly plush and not as playful on those trails, I am still having loads of fun. Point is, bikes are fun, enjoy what you have!

I took a Banshee Darkside which came to me with 180mm front and rear, 222x70 coil rear and DVO Onyx SC fork and made it into more of a trail/enduro/park bike by reducing the fork to 170(will be going down to 160), and putting a DVO Topaz T3 air shock(216x63.5) which reduced my rear travel to around 164. I also adjusted the drop out flip chips so that the bike is less slack. Fit where and how I ride but because it all adjustable I can easily go back to 180 front and rear and slacken it out if need be. The frame also allows, well, is more meant for a 200mm dual crown fork so I can go that route too if needed. I can also get some dropouts for 26" wheels and make a mullet or a 26er if I wanted. Many bikes all in one.

Super Chuck reference...solid!

I used to race DH 15 years ago when Steve Peat was King. Moved to a city and just rode an old Kona with slicks to get around. I had no idea how much things had changed. Moved to the country this year and looked at getting a new freeride type of bike and am amazed how things have moved on. A modern 'trail' bike has better brakes than an 06 DH bike, bolt thru axles, similar headtube angle, stem length, bar and tyre width, and as much travel as an old freeride bike, and weights the same as an old FS XC bike, and has bigger wheels that roll over bumps way better than anything from 2006. Long story short, I'm pretty sure my new trail bike can get a decent time down Fort Bill.

Well done with this video. You don't need the best of the best to have fun and middle ground works just fine for some poppy fun!!!

Have a Giant Anthem 2 27.5 2017 model. I'm only 5ft8'. It's 28lb with deore and SLX with a chunky Fox upfront. 120mm at the front 115mm at the rear. It transcends cross country and trail riding beautifully. They do the 29er Trance now with the same travel. I love my best of both worlds bike. Anyone ridden both the last model of the Anthem 27.5 and the latest 29er Trance? Evolution or nice difference? Happy riding everyone!

This has got to be one of the best reviews I've seen because I have agree on all the points you guys made about the TRAIL BIKES I LOVE MY TRAIL BIKE THANKS GUYS!

Any bike with full suspension can be ruled out if you do any bikepacking. OK, you can in theory bikepack with full sus, but i would imagine the load carrying is limited.

A trail bike is generally a very good choice for most riders. Mine (Pivot 429) is great for both backcountry XC and also works fine for bike park tech and small to medium drops. But if I live in a really flat area, I'd likely just get a XC bike. If I lived next to a bike park, I'd likely make an enduro my main ride.

I am totally with you guys, but i would say that there are a few mor beefier trail bikes which are, in my opinion, the do-it-all-bikes. Eg Canyon Spectral, YT Jeffsy, Ibis Ripmo,.... You got all the advantages you mentioned in the video but still a tiny bit more travel for the rougher stuff

5:13 At 265lbs Super Boost has a home on MY bike - a 2019 Pivot Switchblade with Santa Cruz Reserve rims/Onyx hubs, Santa Cruz carbon bars, XTR and an eeWings crank, at 26.9lbs it's incessant joy, and at home on the climbs, gnarr, flow, boulders, fast downward runs and short flights high above terra firma. Having added a 170mm x 42mm offset fork to the front (sans 17mm spacer) it's even more capable while still retaining the snappy quick handling it was known for. Suits me.

Trail bikes are good enough for almost everything but if you do ride a lot of DH tracks the overall greater durability of enduro and DH bikes will definitely be appealing

Just upgraded my department store "trail" hardtail with 60mm of travel (when the shock wasn't seized up :O ) to a new Norco Fluid FS 3 the other day! Suits my riding needs perfectly. Enough travel to be comfortable on the technical singletrack, and to hit some jumps at the park. Good bike that does it all. Definitely agree that for most mountain bikers, a trail bike will do what's needed. But overall, the best bike is the one that's ridden. I certainly had as much fun as everyone else on the trails with my old department store bike.

Scott Spark RC XC bike is the ultimate machine.

I feel like a trail bike is like a good jackknife. Is it the best tool for every job? Of course not, but it does everything good enough for my needs. I'm not a racer, and there isn't much in the way of DH in my local area. If I could, I'd own a bike for every discipline, but you know there's things like a mortgage, and a car payment to think about... so I have a decent commuter bike for around town, and a 130mm trail bike which is plenty for any of my local trails.

I own a Norco Fluid HD3, with a carbon bar, better grips and a 27.5 X 2.35 set of tires and a 34 tooth chain ring. Trying to speed it up and lighten it up a bit. Approaching 69 yrs young and not liking the big uphills. But I still love biking. Have a great day.

Couldn't agree more. My Specialized camber is a ride anywhere bike, which is perfect for all the bike parks in my area, Brisbane Australia. as well as the local rail, when I like to take it easy. Only mods have been switch from a Sram 11 speed to a Sram Eagle, and a 30t oval chain ring. Carbon handle bars, and a dropper post. Future upgrades may be carbon wheels.

I was thinking the same thing a while ago, but with how capable in all ways possible bikes have become, IMHO the do it all MTB nowadays is an All mountain full suspension bike, with 130-140mm rear travel, and 140-150mm front travel... Or a beefed up trail bike with 150mm travel in front, if looking to upgrade

I'd agree before I got my '20 Specialized Enduro. It handles techy climbs, rocky jank and tight switchbacks better than most trail bikes, and isn't nearly as far behind in efficiency as you'd think. Then on the way down it's almost magical. I can't imagine a better overall bike to cover challenging trail riding all the way through laps at the dh park. I just want a light 130mm version of the exact same thing for all day long distance epics...

Enduro bike for me. As for affordability, my 2020 Whyte G-170s cost less than my 2019 Giant Trance 2. However, my 2019 Transition Patrol is more expensive and cost just a bit over $3000. I have rode many Enduro bikes, the G-170s is the best climber and descender. It's amazingly stable on the fast, loose DH trails. The climbing feels effortless on both the Trance 2 and G-170s. Whereas, the Patrol feels like I'm towing a tank.

My trusty Stumpjumper takes me up the steepest trails on colorados front range. It also just got me thru my first trip to a proper downhill bike park. I would agree, if you’re a one-bike biker, trail bike is hard to beat.

Agreed. When you reach 60 of age but you still feel wants to hit the trail like when you was 16,then suspension does matter. Believe me.

I have to agree, I used to own a 2016 trek remedy 8 29, 140mm 67.5 head angle, and I used to ride steep double blacks on it, until my mates brought enduro bikes then it became too sketchy for me trying to keep up with them on the remedy, so I brought a 2017 slash 9.8 29, 150mm/160mm, 65.1 head angle, but now some of those mates have moved away and I no longer have the need to ride steep double blacks fast, so I brought a 2019 norco fluid fs1 29, 120mm/130mm, 66.5 head angle, and its the most fun bike I've ever owned, really agile and lively with plenty of pop, yet it has almost the same stability as the slash, pedals well too, I reckon it would handle steep double blacks ok, just not fast, I reckon for 90% of my riding its better than an enduro bike.

100% agree 👍 My first bike was a 140 travel front and back budget trail bike. When shopping for my second bike I only demoed enduro bikes cause I bought into the hype. and yes they descended better but didn’t climb nearly as good as my trail bike. I live in Southern California and we do a lot of climbing for our descents. I demoed the Santa Cruz MT, Scott Ransom, and Norco S. I ended up buying the Norco Optic and glad I did.

I upgraded from an older pure XC race hardtail 100/0, to XC full suspension 100/80, to a trail bike 130/130 in the span of 2 summers. Where I live the trails are covered in giant sharp rocks. The FS trail bike feels SO MUCH NICER. I reckon that if I swap to a 160 or 170mm fork someday in the future I’ll almost have an enduro/freeride bike. No amount of upgrading was going to make either of my XC bikes comfy on super gnarly lines... but since I can barely jump and have no business riding downhill there’s no need to ever go bigger than a trail bike.

I've got a trail bike and a gravel bike - they can cover a huge variety of riding styles without overlapping too much.

Trail bike for all environment is a COMPROMISE! AND I DO NOT compromise! Thus, I hace a XC bike and an Enduro bike : )

I have a 2020 Canyon Spectral. it has 160mm front, and 150mm rear travel. 12 speed NX drivetrain, 200mm front and rear rotors, with 4/2 piston calipers. Ive done everything with it so far from riding down the street, to chucking it on a downhill park. i find more often than not, its me that is limited not the bike. and for a (just) sub $3k bike, its insanely impressive and capable.

I agree. My Escarpe is with me to the bike park, on long days out in the woods and just playing around in the parking lot to some closed warehouse.

I ride enduro trails o an XC hardtail with my buddies. It's not the fastest but it can get through alright so in my opinion saying a full sus trail bike is not capable just means you need to push your skills a little more

I think a 160/150 mm travel bike is the sweet spot if you really want to ride all trails and even bike parks. I got a canyon spectral recently, and while it’s not the best climber, it’s still adequate. It can do everything

Kinda depends where you live / ride, I've just gone for an XC race machine over a trail bike as my playground is panseyland Surrey / Sussex.

The reason why I bought my trek remedy, 27.5 ,playful and a bit more travel💯.

I want an enduro bike next but I agree with this, new trail bikes are more than competent on most trails.

I just bought a siskiu n9 but I’ve been riding my 1980s cannondale hardtail for 2 years on blue and black diamond trails, I’m not an awesome rider but you can use almost any bike as long as you take your time and don’t get in over your head

The best bike is the one you feel good about it. I've seen radicals that go to gravel group rides in DH bikes because they just love their bikes and they're not considering getting a more "appropriate" bike, or people that never got used to full suspension bikes (yeah, I've seen them, in DH racing). I agree that trail bikes are "great for everything, best for nothing". Factors like aesthetics also comes to play in this game, I dare to say many of us are looking for the most beautiful, badass, cool, nice bike.

I ride singletrack on my cyclocross. It requires way more finesse and care but it's doable.

Blake did Whistler and Megavalanche on a hardtail. So as a beginner I consider my agressive steel hardtail as plenty of bike till I develop the skills to ride faster and or rougher stuff.

im a fan of being over- biked. something that can hit the local park on week nights and maybe the park on weekends. 150- 170 is my sweet spot but i am hard on bikes and dont mind pushing more weight around the "enduro light" bike if you will. i do enjoy the thesis of this video though.

100% agree. i just converted a 2022 altitude to an instinct because trail is the way to go. i live in coastal bc lots of techy climbs and downhill for dayyyyz

I would agree that my fuel ex can get down pretty much any trail, it’s at speeds where it gets a bit sketchy

I just bought a trail bike....i was abit unsure at first but they are so snappy and fast and they make easy work of tech

Just got back to mtb after 25 years and totally agree trail bikes are the way to go as far getting back into riding totally happy 😊 with my Stumpy 27.5 carbon EVO 🤙🏾

Plus tyre 29er modern geo hardtail with a compliant rear end hits everyone of your points probably better tbh.

Totally agree. There’s not a lot I can’t enjoy on my orange five. It’s rarely ideal but also rarely the wrong bike.

This video answered so many questions… great summary and advice!

Trail bikes are awesome! Love my Trek Fuel EX8, Ibis Mojo 3, and Yeti Sb4.5.

I bought a hardtail because I thought it might be better somewhere than my capra. (And because hardtails were heavily marketed some months ago, and I am a stupid sheep). It isn't. I still ride my capra everywhere, when I am on a casual ride in the woods I just add some air in the dampers and it is perfect.

I have to take my entry level, size large,150mm 455 reach, 425mm chain stay, and 1180mm wheelbase bike down the double black dioxane DH bike parks. That is the first time I was convinced that I should get a big enduro/free ride bike like the canyon torque. Still managed to get down all the trails without any major problems (I do have burn mark on my calf from a slide out with overheating brakes, but that was the cheap 2 pistons fault and not the bikes) and will do so again this summer cuz I don’t have that much to spend, but I will still get that torque if I can

It really depends on what kind of rider you are and the terrain you are riding on. I am no high-end rider, despite the fact of having nice bikes throughout the years. For the last 5 years, I have been riding an all-mountain type bike. I have enjoyed the bike and gotten my money out of, but its a little cumbersome on tight turns, and I am not really riding enough terrain that I really have to have the additional travel. Previously I rode a cross country bike, which was quick and nimble. (I do miss a lefty) , a lot of the trails around me are in the woods, with trails cutting back between trees, up and down hills, , lots of roots and maybe occasional log climb. and but no big boulders. I think if you had a dropper post the cross country bike would be fine unless you are going to be hard on the bike.

Well it's suggesting that a trail bike is around 130mm, but even just a little more, 140r/150f and you have a very common set up in travel for many trail bikes. If you're on the fence about the "trail bike decision" that little extra travel can make the bike feel more capable IF you're riding it rougher and on more techy terrain. If you like to push your riding and require a bit more challenge once in a while, a little bit more travel can increase the excitement level. Of course you don't NEED it, but that extra capability of the bike and you're steeping up your ride if you're one that likes to ride a little harder. I guess I'm suggesting that the burlier 'trail bike' is more of a versatile bike than a lighter trail bike--again IF you're looking for something more aggressive. For most riders looking for something to handle simpler dirt road, dirt path, moderately techy woods and campground riding, 130 is plenty of rear travel, but seems JUST UNDER the "only MTB you need" category. Maybe I'm a little off on this, but the general definition of the trail bike class isn't very specific, and leaning closer to enduro the bikes seem to offer more capability. ~JSV

I have a 130/130 27.5 trail bike. It descends much nicer than my 100/80 26” xc bike used to, though it does weight 33lbs. I feel like if I bought a 150mm fork it would basically almost be an enduro bike at that point. And I could always swap back to 130 if I wanted. Fork swaps aren’t that hard. It’s never going to be an xc race bike but I’ll take the stability and travel. I was never going to be in shape for racing either.

Let’s face it, whether a bike is going to feel sketchy as shit once you push it is more dependent on geometry (most importantly), stem length, tires, brakes, having or not having a dropper, and handlebar width moreso than than 30 or 40 mm of travel. More travel will allow a rider to go faster through gnarlier stuff, and will open different lines, but the amount of suspension is not going to allow or prevent someone from safely doing most trails or features. And the beauty of a trail bike is that if you ride more XC type stuff you can get one more oriented towards that end of the trail riding spectrum, and if you like to do some enduro type stuff a bit you can get one oriented more towards that end of the spectrum.

Yes, that's what I have a trail bike too. Trek Remedy 8!

Me, Chuck Norris and the Techno Viking :)

I am STILL riding my 2007 Giant Trance 2 trail bike. And it rips! i am only considering a new bike as 26 inch wheels and triple chainsets are getting harder to upgrade with good quality stuff these days. I will still be looking at another trail bike though.

suspension travel choice is determined by bottom out force requirements, while preserving suppleness and keeping the extra energy needed to transfer power and control bike for that specific travel in check. Eg if I am running my 170fork at 35% sag never utilizing full travel on that 1 feature i hit once per year, i should go down in travel, i will benefit in efficiency. if I am trying to setup the 120mm to take those big drops, but i cant find the bottom out force resistance without making the fork too harsh and insensitive with those 5% of sag, I my need to go for a longer travel one. There's far too many people out there riding unnecessary amount of travel, including me, dragging around inefficient, too large bikes.

I started with a Gt aggressor pro and fully upgraded the bike converted into a 1x11 and upgraded basically everything in it because it’s what i love doing and now I own a nice polygon d7 2021 and just got my hands on giant trance 2021 All 27.5 and now I’m debating into getting a downhill enduro bike but I don’t think I need it this bikes I have they are fun and handle basically almost everything you throw at it

I’d agree. Except that I have two dh bikes that I would rather push up the hill if I had to choose between pushing the bike up the hill or riding my trail bike. But yeah. If I had to pick a bike it would be 150mm travel so pretty much all mountain (probably because I have shall we say more show hill then trail).

Direct-to-consumer modular frames now allow diy riders to use the same frame for lots of different styles of riding. Guerrilla Gravity is ahead of the industry on that front.

+1 agree with the Trail allrounder concept. I would be happy with 120-130 travel, have out grown the XC I am on now, but as price point for next purchase is whats holding me back for now.

I refer to my trail bike as my daily driver. Yes I have a stable my Enduro bike is for weekend park runs & the Knar 4000 ft descents but I’m on the trail bike for 100 miles a week off road, I’ve taken it to Big bear bike Park it’s a little rough but still Fun. So if u ride 3-4 days a week the trail bike is Hands Down the best Rig to be on😀

I went from 180 mm Capra as my first bike to a hardtail and then settled on a 150 mm stump jumper.

Agreed: the best all-rounder and perfect for the vast majority of rides in Britain.

2019er giant trance 2 29" with "only" 130/115mm so far so good from xc to sts2 trails and red lines at the park 👌🏼

Awesome review but one key problem the Jeffsy is more of an enduro rig and an all mountain bike rather than a traditional trail bike. I’m getting the Izzo pro, sick machine 🤘🤘. great review

I have an XC bike nearly all traill/am parts... I’m not sure what I should call my mtb, I just know it feels perfect for almost any kind of riding I’ll do