I tested three of 2025's most exciting trail bikes – and the winner is one of the best I've ever ridden

The trail bike category continues to evolve at pace and there are brilliant bikes for every rider, at almost every budget, in 2025. That's why picking the shortlist for this year's Trail Bike of the Year test was harder than ever.

In the end, eight of the best trail bikes we've tested this year made the cut. However, we couldn't stop there – next, Alex Evans and I had to thrash it out to pick the top three to go forward into our final showdown for more back-to-back testing – before we crowned an outright winner.

Whittling down this group of eight bikes to only three was a mammoth task. Each of the bikes is excellent in its own right, so we had to pore over the details before selecting the Atherton A.130, Canyon Spectral AL 6 and Forbidden Druid 3 as our final three.

Having established exactly what we want and expect from a trail bike in 2025, deciding on which of our final three would take top spot was a team effort, and included swapping bikes and lapping the same testing trails time and time again, before we could settle on the winner. And it was really close…

• Read more: Revealed! Our Trail Bike of the Year winner is...

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Variety is the spice of life

Pulling together top-rated bikes from the same category has left us with quite a few differences. But our top three show that despite huge price differences, a good bike is still a good bike, no matter what it costs.

While the Atherton A.130 is the priciest at £7,396 (based on the A.130.3 build but with a host of upgrades), the Canyon Spectral AL 6 is a bargain in comparison at £2,799, with the Forbidden Druid 3 sitting somewhere in the middle, costing £6,299.

Each bike is very different – and not only in terms of frame construction, although that plays a factor.

Canyon’s Spectral frame is constructed from aluminium and uses a four-bar Horst-link suspension design to deliver 140mm of rear-wheel travel. It’s the simplest of the frames here, but it works incredibly well.

At the other end of the pricing spectrum is the A.130. A chunk of the cost here is down to the beautifully crafted frame, which uses 3D-printed titanium lugs with carbon fibre tubes bonded into them.

The suspension is more complex than that of the Canyon, too, thanks to the six-bar DW6 system, used to control the 130mm of travel.

Like the Atherton, the Druid dishes out 130mm of rear-wheel travel.

Similar to the Spectral, though, the Druid uses a four-bar linkage at the rear, but it’s been turned on its head, with the main pivot sitting higher up on the frame.

This delivers a rearward axle path, in a bid to smooth out square-edge impacts more effectively.

However, this design requires an idler placed close to the pivot to help mitigate pedal kickback. That means with the additional cog, noise and potentially even drag may factor into proceedings.

If you’re desperate to stow your sandwiches inside the frame, the Druid is the only bike in our top three with dedicated down tube storage.

However, it’s not as slick an offering in use as you’d find on bikes from Specialized, Trek or YT, for instance.

Perfectly proportioned

As with their approaches to frame and suspension design, each brand does geometry a little differently, too.

The A.130 comes in a mind-boggling 22 sizes (along with custom options), with reach figures jumping up 10mm at a time.

Our size ‘8’ regular has a 460mm reach with a 400mm seat tube length. With a head angle of 65.5 degrees, it’s the steepest bike here.

However, it has the steepest effective seat tube angle at 78.8 degrees (measured with the saddle set to my preferred height) to create the most efficient seated position possible, and the shortest chainstays (433mm) for snappy handling.

Just like the Druid, this measurement increases as frames get bigger in a bid to deliver the same feel and handling no matter your height.

Forbidden’s Druid in the size ‘S2’ MX (of the four available) has a slightly shorter 455mm reach and is slacker by one degree at 64.5 degrees, hinting at its downhill intentions.

The effective seat tube angle is marginally slacker, though, at 77.9 degrees (measured at my preferred saddle height), meaning you won’t be sat quite as upright when compared to the A.130.

Chainstay length starts at 437mm, although it’s worth remembering that thanks to the rearward axle path, this’ll grow by around 20mm towards the end of the 130mm of travel.

Canyon’s Spectral has the most aggressive geometry of all the bikes here, boasting a 64.2-degree head angle in a bid to create plenty of downhill stability.

This combines with the longest reach at 475mm on the size medium. If that sounds a little lengthy, there’s no need to worry, because there’s a size small with a 450mm reach, and the XS frame is 25mm shorter still.

The seat tube angle closely mirrors that of the Druid, but compared to the other bikes here, the Spectral is the only bike that uses a single chainstay length across all sizes.

At 437mm, this may feel a little short on the larger frames. In not using proportionally sized chainstays, Canyon saves some cash, which helps make the Spectral something of a bargain compared to the other two rigs.

Sum of their parts

When it comes to spec, it’s the Canyon that surprises the most.

It might not be the best dressed at the party, but its moves on the dance floor more than make up for what it's wearing.

By that, of course, I mean that while it isn’t the flashiest kit, it works incredibly well on the trail – there’s nothing here that needs changing.

That’s quite rare for a bike at this price. Consider the tyres for a start. The Spectral uses the Maxxis Minion DHR II front and rear.

While the front uses the lighter EXO casing, the rear has the tougher EXO+ offering. Both tyres come in the reasonably grippy but quite fast-rolling MaxxTerra triple-compound rubber, too.

Shimano’s SLX gearing and four-piston brakes are a very dependable duo and Canyon’s own-brand bar, stem, grips and dropper post all feel great.

On top of that, you’ve also got the highly tuneable Fox 36 Performance Elite fork with 150mm of travel and the Grip X2 damper paired with the Fox Float X Performance shock.

Unsurprisingly, pay a load of cash for the A.130 and you’ll get a lot of incredible kit, including a Fox 36 SL 140mm-travel fork and an inline Float shock, both from the top-end Factory series.

Although you’ll see a Fox Transfer Neo post here, this was to replace the mechanical Transfer post that arrived with the bike, which caused some issues.

My test build was based loosely around the A.130.3, but with upgraded suspension, rubber (Continental Kryptotal tyres with the tougher enduro-spec casings are wrapped onto Stan's rims) and brakes (Hayes Dominion A4s).

This bike uses SRAM’s mechanical T-Type 90 gearing rather than the X0 AXS wireless drivetrain you get on top-end builds.

Sitting somewhere in the middle is the Druid 3. Like the Spectral, you wouldn't be disappointed with any of the kit, although the Maxxis Forekaster rear tyre isn't as aggressively treaded as some.

On the plus side, it is at least of the more puncture-resistant EXO+ variety and in the triple-compound.

Up front sits the very predictable Assegai, also in the MaxxTerra compound but using the lighter EXO casing instead.

These are installed onto the impressive Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro alloy wheels.

The Druid uses the same mechanical SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission gearing as the A.130.

Suspension is taken care of by RockShox, in the form of a 150mm-travel Lyrik Select+ fork and a Super Deluxe Select+ shock.

The Druid is the only bike in our top three to feature the seriously impressive gravity-focused SRAM Maven brakes, although they cropped up on a number of other trail bikes within the test.

On the scales, the Spectral weighs in at 15.52kg, making it the heaviest of our trio, but only just.

Thanks in part to those tougher tyres, next up it’s the A.130 at 14.93kg, with the Druid the lightest at 14.82kg.

Onwards and upwards

The best trail bikes need to do a lot of things well, including climbing. While we’re not expecting cross-country bike sprightliness here, they should still climb with a little more urgency and pep than enduro bikes.

Despite being the heaviest, the Spectral surprises on the climbs. While the seat tube angle isn’t quite as upright as that of the A.130, you still feel as though you’re perched over the bottom bracket and not overly stretched-out when holding the bar.

It helps that the suspension remains incredibly calm when sitting down and spinning the cranks, propping the back end up and creating the feeling that almost every ounce of energy you’re pouring into the climb is being fed back out through the rear tyre and onto the trail.

The Druid, on the other hand, bobs a little more if you run more than 30 per cent sag for a smoother overall ride. However, this active ride doesn’t feel as if it robs you of energy, and you’re only likely to notice it on smooth fire roads or tarmac stints.

But even with the faster-rolling rear tyre, it doesn’t feel as taut or as efficient as the A.130 when you’re putting the effort in.

The Forbidden’s seated position is comfortable and remains that way even after hours in the saddle.

You’re not perched quite as far forward as you are on the Atherton and, dynamically, the Canyon feels as though it holds up a little more, even though the seat tube angles are similar.

The Druid is an easy bike to power uphill. Where it comes into its own, though, is on lumpy ascents, with roots and rock steps that can often stifle progression.

Here, thanks in part to that high pivot and rearward axle path, the back wheel seems to calmly swallow the worst of the impacts, enabling you to keep the cranks turning and continue on your merry way up the hill.

There’s a little more noise from the Druid because the chain passes over the additional idler cog, but in the dry at least, there’s no discernible drag.

Muddier conditions can amplify this a little, though, and it’s important to stay on top of maintenance to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

Of the three bikes here, it’s the Atherton that feels the most eager when you start putting power through the pedals.

The steep seat angle helps to deliver a commanding seated position on steeper climbs, enabling you to dig in and drive the bike forward with every crank revolution.

The back end remains stable during concerted high-torque efforts, although it’s more active than the Spectral when taking on climbs with more chunder under the tyres.

Although things feel efficient, the A.130 still beavers away beneath you, helping to maintain rear-tyre traction. It’s not as smooth as the Druid, but still very effective.

Mounting momentum

Get speeding along a trail-centre traverse or wind your way along some singletrack and, again, each bike offers something different.

Exit a turn and step on the gas, and the Druid accelerates with ease, feeling responsive and keen to get moving. When you need to pump and push through undulations to build (or at least maintain) speed, it doesn’t surge forward as readily or as eagerly as the Spectral or the A.130, though.

There’s still plenty of support throughout the 130mm of travel – it just feels as if there’s more on tap and requires a little more effort, meaning you need to pump a little harder to feel the same effect as on the other bikes.

The Spectral, on the other hand, feels a little slower to pick up speed. It’s still very reactive, just not quite as sharp as its two carbon-framed counterparts.

Once you’re up to speed, though, the Spectral doesn’t shake it off easily, holding onto and building momentum every time you load your weight down through the pedals. On undulating sections at trail centres, this leaves you screaming along at pace and holding onto it without worry.

The slack and long geometry make for stable, hard-to-upset handling, giving you the time you need to process each bit of trail info that’s flying in your direction.

It’s calm, silent and easy to ride fast.

Atherton’s A.130 feels more connected, eager and urgent than the other two bikes.

When you need to drop some Watts, this thing just shifts. It’s the same when popping and pumping.

Even loading the bike up over the smallest lump or gapping to the shortest backside delivers a surge forward. Whatever level of effort you put into the bike, you get more out of it.

This means on dull, meandering sections of trail where some bikes can feel lethargic, the A.130’s energetic approach makes you want to push harder – and it enables you to do this without exhausting yourself in the process.

This makes it sound as if the A.130 is more about speed and efficiency rather than downhill prowess and handling, but that’s simply not the case.

Downhill demons

Get shifting into technical trails that point downhill and the A.130 feels instantly confident.

The balanced nature of not just the geometry, but the suspension, too, makes for a particularly commanding feel as you slice from turn to turn.

It feels confident and supremely predictable as you slingshot and pinball through consecutive berms with an air of stability that a 130mm-travel bike shouldn’t have.

Plough on into rougher sections of trail and it’s easy to get carried away, upping the pace to match the confidence the A.130 exudes.

The back end of the A.130 deals with harsh impacts and chattery braking bumps incredibly well, enough even to make you think you’ve got more travel reserves to draw upon.

But you will find the limits soon enough and realise there aren't enduro levels of travel available.

This won’t smooth the bumps in quite the same way as the Druid, and I felt that the back end of the bike was smoother with the RockShox Super Deluxe shock that was on the bike I originally tested. It’s still impressive, though.

On chopped-out tracks under heavy braking, the A.130 keeps on working, maintaining the connection between the rear tyre and the dirt, enabling you to keep some level of composure and buying you much-needed thinking time before you tackle the next obstacle or turn.

There’s more feedback through the Atherton than the Druid, and even the longer-travel Spectral at times, but less than you’d imagine thanks to the impressive way in which the DW6 rear end manages everything.

Forbidden’s Druid was previously referred to as the “downhiller’s trail bike” and that statement still rings true today.

While it might not have quite the same visceral, highly engaged ride feel as the Atherton, it’s still agile and dynamic, but I found pushing it hard and venturing into more testing terrain was where it bettered its contemporaries.

The Druid excels when pointed downhill. Its ability to smooth the edges off the nastiest hits enables you to dive into root spreads with the same reckless abandon as you might on an enduro bike – it’s that capable.

However, this can get you pushing too hard at times, where you suddenly realise you’ve used all that travel and need to slow things down a bit to bring some semblance of control back.

This bike is shockingly capable when pointed downhill, though. Through the turns, when loading the bike up hard and pumping, the rear centre will increase, due to the rearward axle path.

While some may think this might be off-putting, the reality is that it creates a balanced ride feel, distributing your weight nicely between the wheels.

While it might take a little more effort to manual than other bikes, it’s still easily doable once you understand what’s required.

At speed, the Spectral is quietly composed, thanks in part to having the longest front centre and slackest head angle.

In terms of stack height, all three bikes are very closely matched, although the Spectral has a few millimetres on both of its competitors.

This, coupled with the lengthy geometry, makes for a bike that’s seriously confident when the going gets steep.

Although there’s 10mm more rear-wheel travel than the Druid, it still can’t quite match the high-pivot prowess.

The Spectral is seriously surefooted when things get spicy. However, all that stability means it can’t quite match the other two bikes in terms of slower-speed agility.

Slinking between tight, awkwardly spaced trees at pace requires a little more muscle and manoeuvring.

There’s still loads of support through the 140mm of rear suspension, so quick changes of direction are still on the cards for those who like to dance about on the trail, but the A.130 still takes the top spot for nimbleness and split-second reactivity.

Canyon Spectral AL 6 vs Forbidden Druid 3 vs Atherton A.130.3 bottom line

Each one of these bikes is highly worthy of consideration if you’re in the market for a new trail bike.

If you’re a downhiller looking for a rig that’ll lap up the miles but still deliver on the downs, the Druid 3 is probably the strongest contender.

It’s a proper do-it-all machine that’ll climb, traverse and descend like a bike worth two or three times the price.

While it might not be quite as responsive or feel as rapid on mellower sections of trail, it’s by no means a slouch.

But the ace up its sleeve is that it offers a broader spectrum of use when it comes to tackling techier descents or rougher trails at the bike park.

In those situations, you’d be hard-pressed to put a figure on the travel on tap.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to spend the sort of money that would get you a bang up-to-date ebike, you can’t go wrong with the Spectral AL 6.

The kit might not be flashy, but it’s well-considered and superbly functional. This is a banger of a bike.

That brings me onto the Atherton A.130. Yes, it’s the priciest of the three, but the key here is the frame, not the build kit.

Although the stock A.130.3 isn’t cheap at £6,950, you’ll save a chunk of cash over this custom build.

If you’re interested in the bike, don’t rule out the cheaper frame-only option because it’ll still enable you to have one of the most exciting trail bikes currently on the market.

It’s a comfortable climber, ridiculously flickable and fun on mellower trails, but a hooligan when pointed downhill. Its turn of speed and overall ride quality make it a pleasure to ride.

It does everything very, very well, and for that reason, it takes top honours. As Luke said when he tested this bike originally, the A.130 is a boundary-pushing bike – and he wasn't wrong.