The best trail bikes hit the sweet spot between rowdy enduro bikes and svelte cross-country bikes, delivering performance that's equal parts fun and super-capable.
This has made trail bikes an incredibly popular category among the best mountain bikes in recent years. They give you a bit of everything, and open up the widest range of trails and riding when compared to other types of mountain bike.
The flipside is choosing the best trail bike for you can be quite a bewildering prospect – there are simply so many options on the market.
Fortunately, you've come to the right place, because our expert mountain bike testers have spent years riding and reviewing dozens of trail bikes. This list of the best trail bikes in 2024 will help you find the perfect machine for you.
We've also put together a buyer's guide to trail bikes at the end of this list that explains everything you need to know about this type of mountain bike, from what sort of terrain they are good for to the size of the disc brake rotors – we've covered it all.
Editor's note: we updated this article on 3 December 2024, with the best bikes from our recent trail bikes group test.
Best trail mountain bikes in 2024
Whyte T-160 RS
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- £2,999 as tested
- Pros: Fast and reassuring on the descents; well-specced for the money; good climbing ability
- Cons: Seat angle could be steeper
We were so impressed with Whyte's T-160 RS that it won the title of Trail Bike of the Year 2024.
The British brand has given the bike an almost unbelievable spec list for the money, with a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork and a Super Deluxe Ultimate RC2T shock used for suspension.
We found the T-160 RS performed well on rough trails, remaining calm over rocks and roots thanks to the sophisticated suspension.
It's a bit hefty at 16kg, but it tackles climbs with comfort and efficiency – although we'd have liked a slightly steeper seat angle.
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Atherton A.150.1
- £7,900 as tested
- Pros: Suspension performance excels; comfortable on the climbs; efficient; balanced, customisable geometry; great ride feel; 22 size options
- Cons: Functional rather than fancy spec; cost
The Atherton Bikes A.150 is a masterpiece of production processes and suspension design. Like its carbon stablemates, it's constructed of carbon tubes bonded into Additive-Manufactured 3D-printed titanium lugs.
On the trail, the A.150 performs impeccably. Its suspension is out of this world and the stock geometry is balanced, bolstering that incredible suspension’s performance. Thanks to the 22 size options – plus further customisation if you desire – there’s no doubt you’ll find your Goldilocks figures.
It’s expensive, especially for the level of kit bolted to it, but most of the asking price is going towards the frame’s tech rather than the functionally impressive (if not glitzy) parts bolted to it. If you can stomach the cost, from a performance perspective, there are no reasons not to plump for the A.150.
Canyon Spectral CF7
- £3,299 / $3,699 / €3,449 / AU$5.249 as tested
- Pros: Playful character that's stable at high speed; smooth, comfortable suspension; well thought-out geometry
- Cons: Fork isn't the most supportive when riding aggressively; down-tube storage doesn't feel the sturdiest
The Spectral offers impressive ground-covering ability for all-day cruises and a geometry that leaves nothing to be desired on the descents.
It's playful on all gradients and remains settled when ploughing through rough sections of the trail. This is helped by Canyon's KIS (Keep It Stable) system, which uses a pair of springs to connect the top tube and fork steerer.
The bike represents exceptional value, with a carbon frame and fantastic spec list sealing the deal.
While the Fox Rhythm 36 fork proved easy to set up, we felt it could be more supportive for aggressive riding.
Merida One-Forty 700
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- £3,100 / €3,869 / AU$4,599 as tested
- Pros: Boundary-pushing geometry options; one of the best climbers out there
- Cons: Stem could be shorter; not the smoothest ride
The Merida One-Forty 700 impressed us in testing, winning our Trail Bike of the Year 2023 award.
The carbon fibre frame, which is shared with the longer-travel One-Sixty, uses flex stays in the rear linkage and provides 140mm of rear travel.
Merida has packed serious value for money into the bike, with a RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shock and a 150mm Marzocchi Z1 fork.
On climbs, the bike has zero wallow and a perky attitude, making the uphills easier than on its contemporaries.
Downhill, the geometry is spot on with composed and accurate handling adding to the ride.
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Norco Fluid FS C2
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- £4,999 / $4,999 / €5,299 as tested
- Pros: Confidence-inspiring geometry; makes good use of suspension travel
- Cons: Brakes could be more powerful; tyres won't suit everyone
Norco's Fluid FS C2 has a playful agility on the trail that remains composed at high speeds.
With a 140mm RockShox Pike Select+ fork up front and a Super Deluxe Select+ controlling 130mm of rear-wheel travel, the Norco feels planted through rough terrain, balancing a poppy yet bump-gobbling ability.
We found the Fluid capable of all aspects of trail riding, but it was on the hills where it really impressed, with the bike eager to attack short, sharp climbs with grace.
Because it's able to carry a lot of speed down the trail, the SRAM G2 RS brakes feel a little under-gunned in some situations, with the bike deserving of more powerful brakes.
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Santa Cruz Bronson CC X0 AXS RSV
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- £8,799 as tested
- Pros: Predictable and muted suspension; sorted geometry; mixed wheels balance drifting fun and straight-line stability; very impressive spec list; easy setup
- Cons: Very expensive; not the fastest climber
On the trail, predictability and muted, well-damped suspension reign supreme and the Bronson (now in its fifth iteration) is beautifully calm in all respects. Whether you’re pedalling hard, pushing your limits in rough terrain, pumping jumps or hammering on the brakes, it remains a steadfast and predictable companion.
Its suspension and geometry give it a wide performance bandwidth; you can either work it into the terrain or let it dance over the top.
Spec-wise, this top-spec model leaves little room for upgrades. As a package – with low weight, sorted geometry, impressive suspension performance and good general balance – it punches both below its weight and above its travel in the trail and enduro categories respectively.
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Trek Top Fuel 9.8
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- £6,500 / $7,000 as tested
- Pros: Quiet, composed and capable in a surprising range of terrain; decent kit selection; adjustable suspension makes a noticeable difference to feel
- Cons: Our test wasn't a fan of the one-piece cockpit piece cockpit bar/stems
The Top Fuel is Trek’s short-travel trail ripper, with just 120mm of rear travel, controlled by Trek’s signature ABP linkage.
The 9.8 is the third-tier model in the Top Fuel range and gets a decent spec - Select+ suspension from RockShox, SRAM GX AXS Transmission and four-piston Bronze-level brakes.
A four-position flip chip offers up more (19 per cent), or less (14 per cent) progression for the air shock, as well as doubling up as the High or Low geometry-setting chip. The differences aren’t world-changing, but they are noticeably divergent enough to make a real-world difference.
The least progressive setting gives the Top Fuel its traditional XC-racer-like feel. It’s sprightly, reactive under pedalling and aggressive.
Pop the lower shock mount into the more progressive setting and you can turn the Top Fuel into more of a true trail bike. The early part of the stroke is softer and more comfortable, taking the edges off the hits and pumping through terrain results in a slightly more muted ride feel. While the support is there, it’s deeper into its travel.
The Top Fuel might not be a true quiver killer but, with its two personalities, it comes as close as any bike we’ve ridden in recent times.
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YT Jeffsy Core 1
- £2,499 / $2,799 / €2,499 as tested
- Pros: Confidence-inspiring geometry; good spec for the money; fork performs well
- Cons: It's not the the lightest
YT's entry level to the Jeffsy range offers the value for money often associated with the German direct-to-customer brand.
The bike offers impressive capability, tackling enduro trails with ease while remaining playful on mellower trails.
A centred riding position gives you plenty of confidence to push the bike to the limit on the descents. A steep 77.9-degree seat angle puts your weight over the BB, helping on technical climbs.
It's not the lightest trail bike we've tested, but we feel this is less important with it sitting towards the more aggressive side of the segment.
Cannondale Habit LT 2
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- £3,500 / $3,625 / €3,699 / AU$5,899 as tested
- Pros: Spritely and playful character; good climber; absorbs big hits well
- Cons: Basic suspension dampers aren't the smoothest
The Habit LT 2 is Cannondale's long-travel trail bike with 140mm of rear suspension travel matched to a 150mm fork upfront.
We found the bike enjoyed being pumped and pushed over tough terrain while being able to absorb big impacts when asked to.
The suspension isn't as smooth as forks that use posher dampers, but the confidence-inspiring brakes and geometry will allow you to push the bike on more challenging trails.
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Forbidden Druid V2 MX
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- £6,999 / €8,699 / $6,899 as tested
- Pros: Impressive suspension performance climbing and descending; formidable grip; very versatile
- Cons: Larger brake rotors would boost confidence; more drivetrain drag caused by idler wheel; more chain maintenance needed; poor value
The Forbidden Druid V2 MX is an extremely capable trail bike, especially considering its modest 130mm of travel.
While the Druid's asking price isn’t cheap, you get a decent selection of kit and a frame that’s had plenty of research and development prior to its launch.
Its high-pivot suspension design and chain idler layout give it modest small-bump sensitivity, impressive square-edge hit absorption and descending progression that belies its travel numbers.
Still, there’s a trade-off for this impressive descending capability – its pedalling performance is acceptable, but not class-leading, and there’s no denying the idler wheel isn’t as efficient as a traditional drivetrain setup.
The Druid will appeal to those seeking a short-travel trail bike with the heart of an enduro bike – there are similar-travel trail bikes that pedal better, but they can’t be thrashed as hard on the descents.
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GT Sensor Carbon Pro
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- £4,199 / $4,750 as tested
- Pros: Incredibly supple suspension; well-balanced geometry; comfortable and confident handling
- Cons: Not the most perky climber; drivetrain spec is lacklustre
The Sensor Carbon Pro has 140mm of rear-suspension travel married to a 150mm fork up front.
We found the bike made good use of the travel, with the quality RockShox suspension providing smooth and supple bump absorption.
On steeper more technical tracks, the Sensor Carbon Pro performs excellently but it's climbing performance isn't as spritely as other trail bikes.
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Marin Rift Zone 29 XR
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- £3,775 / $3,899 / €4,289 / AU$5,499 as tested
- Pros: Fast and stable at speed; clever spec choice; impressive on technical terrain
- Cons: Not the best climber; freehub engagement could be better
Marin's Rift Zone 29 XR is built for the descents, with the frame and suspension offering a great platform for tearing up your local forest.
With only 130mm of rear-suspension travel, the Rift Zone 29 XR proves numbers aren't everything by absorbing big bumps and providing a composed ride feel.
We found the Rift Zone 29 XR wasn't the fastest on the climbs, but it made up for this when pointed downhill.
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Merida One-Forty 500
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- £2,600 / €3,160 / AU$3,799 as tested
- Pros: Efficient pedalling; playful handling; good spec for the money
- Cons: Rear-end grip isn't the best in the wet; brake bite point can wander
The One-Forty 500 uses the same frame as the One-Forty 700 that we awarded Trail Bike of the Year in 2023.
At this lower price point, the bike remains an impressive performer with eager climbing characteristics and supportive suspension on the descents.
The bike offers an impressive spec for the money, though we did find the Shimano Deore four-piston disc brakes a little unpredictable, with a wandering bite point affecting the accuracy of our braking.
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Specialized S-Works Stumpjumper 15
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- £10,000 / $12,000 / €13,000 as tested
- Pros: Great geometry that’s easy to adjust; impressive suspension feel that can be altered easily; very capable and versatile
- Cons: Tougher rear tyre would up performance further; very pricey; Pro version rides just as well
The S-Works Stumpjumper is made from Specialized’s FACT 11m carbon fibre. This includes both front and rear triangles and, in the case of this top-end bike, the rocker link – something no other bike in the line-up is treated to.
At the heart of the Stumpjumper 15 is the Fox Factory Float shock with Specialized GENIE technology. The proprietary shock design contains two, rather than one, positive air chambers and aims to flatten the spring curve in the first 70 per cent of travel, before reducing the overall air volume and upping the progression considerably in the final 30 per cent.
The S-Works Stumpjumper is a seriously capable, fun bike to ride and its tunability and versatility make it a real jack of all trades. Although it’s nimble and agile on the trail, there’s still a reassuring air of calm when things get a little rowdier.
In this top-end guise, it’s hard to find fault with the spec. It’s undeniably pricey, especially since the cheaper Pro version rides just as well and saves a chunk of cash.
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Starling Murmur
- £7,000 as tested
- Pros: Great small-bump performance; balanced climbing and descending feel; smooth ride quality; easy to set up; single-pivot simplicity
- Cons: Deep-travel hits could be managed better; air-shock option to increase progression; not the fastest or lightest 135mm-travel bike
Starling Cycles’ Murmur is a steel-framed, 135mm-travel single-pivot bike made in the UK.
As the only full build available directly from Starling, it’s no surprise the Murmur’s decked out with high-performing parts from the likes of Öhlins, Shimano, Hope and DT Swiss.
On the trail, the Murmur is a glowing example of a trail bike; it handles rough and smooth terrain, and the fast and slow with equal competence. It has limits like any trail bike, but pushing beyond these doesn’t see performance drop off a cliff edge.
Uphill, the seated climbing position is impeccable – your hips sit directly over the bottom bracket, which makes for a comfortable and efficient position.
All in all, the Murmur is a fuss-free performer that proves there’s plenty of life left in a single-pivot design.
Trek Fuel EX 9.7
- £4,175 / $4,000 / €4,499 / AU$7,500 as tested
- Pros: Excellent frame; well-considered geometry; very capable with great suspension
- Cons: Poor brakes; tyres aren't the best
The Fuel EX frame provides a solid, adaptable and high-performing bedrock to the bike with the geometry and suspension design offering good confidence on the descents.
Our tester found the SRAM DB8 brakes to be a little underpowered when riding aggressively, compromising the bike on fast, technical downhill sections.
The tyres were also behind the competition, making for a less-than-precise ride feel.
YT Jeffsy Core 3
- £3,999 / $4,299 / €3,999 / AU$6,999 as tested
- Pros: Capable climber; fun handling; easy to ride on a variety of trails
- Cons: Less poppy than previous iteration
The Jeffsy performs well on the climbs, with a slight suppleness adding good traction on technical ascents, while keeping an efficient-feeling pedal platform.
Playful handling makes mellow trails entertaining, but the bike feels more mature than the previous version and remains more composed on rough terrain.
This leads to the bike being more capable downhill but at the cost of poppiness on level ground.
Trail bike buyer’s guide | Everything you need to know when choosing a trail bike
What is a trail bike?
The trail mountain bike category occupies the space between lightweight, speed-focused cross-country bikes and enduro and all-mountain mountain bikes designed to fly downhill and slowly winch back to the top.
Balancing pedalling efficiency and gravity potential, trail bikes are intended to hit a sweet spot; they aren’t quite as rowdy as enduro bikes but are tougher than cross-country bikes.
They make light work of riding down flow trails with big sweeping berms and can cut it on more demanding terrain too – and you might be surprised at just how capable they truly are.
Really, trail bikes are best for mountain biking in the most general sense and are designed to give you just about enough of everything.
Trail bikes also tend to be relatively affordable when compared to other types of mountain bike. The components don’t have to be super-lightweight as on XC bikes, or heavy-duty enough to survive the rigours of downhill, which helps to keep costs down.
Although enduro and downhill bikes are considered to be the Formula 1 of mountain biking, we think trail bikes are the most important and widest-spanning category, and benefit from economies of scale where bigger production runs also play a factor in keeping prices down.
The affordability of trail bikes combined with their versatility, helps to make them an ideal choice if you’re new to the world of mountain biking or are looking for a one-bike solution to all your mountain biking needs.
What to look for in a trail bike
There are no set rules when it comes to defining what a trail bike is and, like all mountain biking sub-disciplines, they exist on a sliding scale in terms of capability, geometry, suspension travel and price.
However, there are various factors that when put together constitute a trail bike and are worth bearing in mind when looking for one of these versatile machines.
Frame material
Many brands stick to aluminium alloy or carbon fibre for trail bike frames, while some more boutique builders opt for alternative frame materials, such as steel or titanium.
Carbon has the advantage of being lighter and stronger, and can be made to be stiffer than an equivalent aluminium frame, so it's a good choice if zipping uphill and weight are priorities. It does, however, cost more than aluminium.
While it might not have the exotic feel of carbon, or be as lightweight, an aluminium frame is a good call if you’re new to the sport or on a budget, but it’s hard to argue with the desirability and performance of carbon.
Geometry
Frame geometry probably has the biggest impact on how a mountain bike handles, with even slight adjustments to the wheelbase, head tube angle and reach determining how a bike feels.
In keeping with their Goldilocks position between XC and enduro bikes, trail bikes have a relatively slack geometry that makes them capable enough to handle most rough descents, while being suitable for all-day epics and plenty of comfortable and efficient climbing.
As a general rule, trail bikes have a head tube angle of between 64 and 66.5 degrees and seat tube angle of between 73 and 78 degrees.
Look for slacker head tube angles if you want a bike that will descend better, because a slacker angle helps give the bike a calmer ride by slowing down the steering. It also makes its wheelbase longer, which helps improve stability at high riding speeds.
Travel
Most commonly, trail bikes have front and rear suspension with between 120mm and 150mm of travel.
As travel increases, a bike will be better suited to riding downhill and less suitable for climbing, so when considering how much travel to go for on a trail bike think about the type of terrain you'll spend most of your time riding and your riding style.
If you ride on rougher, more technical trails, or like to barrel down descents, choosing a trail bike with 140mm or 150mm is advisable.
Shorter-travel bikes won’t descend quite as well, but they are light and efficient so are a good choice if endurance riding and climbing is more your thing.
Wheel size and tyres
There used to be a time when mountain bikes simply had 26in wheels. But those days are long gone, and now mountain bikes come with either 27.5in or 29in wheels.
Both wheel sizes have their advantages and disadvantages. 29in wheels roll over obstacles and hold their momentum more, making them the preference for cross-country and the best downcountry mountain bikes. Compared to 29in wheels, 27.5in wheels are faster accelerating, stronger and more agile, with handling and placement feeling more natural too.
Trail bikes come with either of the two sizes and there isn’t really a right or wrong answer to which size wheels you should go for – you might prefer the snappier feel of 27.5in wheels or value the efficiency of 29in wheels.
One thing to bear in mind when selecting what wheel size to go for is your height. A taller rider will probably benefit from a larger wheel, whereas a shorter rider will benefit from a smaller wheel. Some manufacturers do consider this and provide models with different-size wheels depending on frame size.
Trail bike tyres tend to be chunkier with a decent amount of tread and are around 2.3 to 2.5in wide. These provide a decent amount of grip and help make trail bikes the versatile machines they are.
The best mountain bike tyres can really change how your bike feels, so it’s worth paying attention to what tyres a trail bike is specced with, but also remember that it’s not too hard to swap tyres out for something more suitable for your riding.
Drivetrain
Trail bikes tend to have drivetrains with one front chainring. Thanks to wide-ranging 12-speed cassettes (normally between 10 to 52t), only having one front chainring doesn’t limit climbing potential.
Groupsets such as Shimano Deore XT M8100 are a popular choice on trail bikes. Trail bikes also tend to have easier gearing than speed-focused XC bikes. Front rings are usually between 30- and 34-tooth, while rear cassettes can go up to 52-tooth.
This gives trail bikes a wide range of gears for enough speed on the flat and to help you get up tough climbs.
Brakes
Like most aspects of trail bikes, the brakes strike a balance between stopping power and weight saving.
Trail bikes will generally come with disc brakes that have two- or four-piston calipers. Four-piston brakes are more powerful and are aimed at downhill riding, where more braking power is needed, but this will of course add weight.
Rotors on trail bikes are often a mix, with up to 200mm both front and back. The larger the disc rotor, the more powerful the brakes will be, but this also comes with a weight penalty.
Hydraulic brakes are standard on all full-suspension trail bikes costing £1,000 or above, and often the best mountain bikes under £1,000 come with these brakes too.
Handlebar
Wide mountain bike handlebars are becoming the norm, and provide extra stability, comfort and control.
Trail bikes follow this trend, many coming with a 760mm or 780mm bar, while some go up to 800mm. Just as smaller-sized trail bikes tend to have smaller 27.5in wheels, they also come with a narrower bar, going down 740mm, to help make the bike a better fit for smaller riders
Dropper posts
Dropper posts are almost standard on trail bikes.
They allow you to lower and raise your saddle with the flick of a handlebar-mounted button, giving you extra room to move your weight around on descents and the correct saddle height for efficient pedalling.
A dropper post is one of the first upgrades you should consider if your trail bike doesn't have one, because it will open the bike up to a wider range of riding.
