Our Mountain Bike of the Year test is back and bigger than ever, featuring 32 of the latest and greatest bikes across four categories – and now it’s time to reveal our winners for 2023.
Having added an eMTB category last year (you can find our 2022 winners here), this year we’re also providing an antidote to price rises across the industry with a new budget hardtail category, alongside our long-standing trail and enduro sections.
In short, we’ve got something for everyone. Having hammered each of our 32 bikes to find their strengths and weaknesses, through months of testing across England, Scotland, Wales and Italy, these are our 2023 Mountain Bike of the Year winners…
- Trail Bike of the Year – Merida One-Forty 700
- Enduro Bike of the Year – Merida One-Sixty 6000
- eMTB of the Year – Orbea Wild M-Team
- Budget Mountain Bike of the Year – Voodoo Bizango Pro
Today, we’ve also revealed our Road Bike of the Year winners, with 25 drop-bar bikes tested across six categories.
We'll be publishing full reviews of every bike tested on our Bike of the Year hub page over the coming month.
For now, though, we’re focusing on all things off-road, so read on for more about our 2023 Mountain Bike of the Year winners, the contenders and how we chose our champions.
Four categories, four winners
Unlike our Road and Gravel Bike of the Year test, which has an overall winner, as well as sub-category winners, we only have individual category winners (trail, enduro, eMTB and budget hardtail) in our MTB test.
Why no overall champion? Mountain bikes cover an ever-broad spectrum in 2023 and, with this year’s test covering everything from budget hardtails to long-travel enduro rigs, choosing a one-size-fits-all winner is simply impossible.
After all, choosing the best mountain bike for your needs is all about finding the bike that matches your aspirations out on the trail (and your budget).
To pick the eight bikes shortlisted in each of the four categories, we called upon decades of testing experience and feedback from first rides and launches to select machines we knew would be up there with the best.
Testing involved numerous laps across the UK, from Scotland’s Tweed Valley to BikePark Wales, via the Forest of Dean.
Switching bikes frequently and altering the order in which we rode them helped us figure out the all-important details that make a difference during long days in the hills.
Then, we took our top three trail, enduro and eMTBs out to Dolceacqua in Italy for a final showdown on some suitably rocky terrain.
Once the dust had settled, we could only pick one winner in each category. As ever, this was no easy feat and the team genuinely agonised over the decision.
So how did we decide on this year's winning bikes? Let's get cracking with a closer look at our category winners for 2023.
Trail Bike of the Year – Merida One-Forty 700
- Merida One-Forty 700
- Vitus Escarpe CRS
- Whyte T-140 RS 29er
The trail bikes category continues to be one of the hardest-fought (and trickiest to define).
Our test this year spanned £2,950 to £4,350 and included bikes with 130mm to 150mm of rear-wheel travel.
We were looking for a bike that could handle an all-day epic but wouldn’t send you cartwheeling into the bushes at the mere sight of a black run at the bike park.
Tom Marvin’s verdict
“We say this every time, but choosing this year’s winner really was a toughie, as shown by the number of bikes scoring four or more stars.
“Notable mentions must go to the Marin Rift Zone XR and Trek Fuel EX 8.
"Marin clearly put plenty of thought into where to spend the cash – on top-spec suspension and a wonderfully finished frame (a great basis from which to upgrade, in time), while the Trek was let down by a few spec issues but has one of the best frames out there.
“When it came to the top three, there was a solid battle for second place. The Whyte T-140 RS is a true all-rounder trail bike, exhibiting a calm and composed feel on a wide range of tracks.
“However, its limited sizing and higher price meant the Vitus Escarpe CRS pipped it to the runner-up spot. This bike is a descender’s dream – supremely comfortable, utterly capable and cracking value for money.
“It didn’t take long to award the overall win to the Merida One-Forty 700, though.
"A trail bike has to climb with the best and descend as well as anything (on less rough tracks, at least), and the One-Forty arguably does both better than any other bike here, while also offering excellent value for your hard-earned.”
Trail Bike of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight Trail Bike of the Year contenders over the next month.
- Cannondale Habit 3
- Cotic Jeht Silver SLX Custom
- Marin Rift Zone 27.5 XR
- Merida One-Forty 700
- Trek Fuel EX 8 Gen 6
- Vitus Escarpe CRS
- Whyte T-140 RS 29er
- YT Jeffsy Core 3
Meet the tester | Tom Marvin
Keen on Lycra-clad XC, as well as rooty off-piste, BikeRadar and MBUK’s senior technical editor, Tom Marvin, is well-placed to rate these all-rounders.
Tom took all eight trail bikes to the same locations and trails for dedicated back-to-back testing on a wide variety of terrain.
From hand-dug cheeky tracks in the woods to trail centre laps and BikePark Wales’ rocky runs, he ensured each of the eight contenders was exposed to every type of trail such a bike is likely to be ridden on.
Riding the bikes back-to-back, usually with four bikes in each testing session, ensured he was able to pick out the finer performance points of each one.
Enduro Bike of the Year – Merida One-Sixty 6000
- Merida One-Sixty 6000
- Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite
- YT Capra 29 Core 4
A little like their prices, we’re seeing the travel figures of enduro bikes creep up.
This year, our shortest-travel bike has 160mm at the rear, and all those on test come with a 170mm or 180mm-travel fork – not quite downhill racing figures, but not far off.
Pleasingly, nearly all the brands have made their seat tube angles sufficiently steep, which makes winching back up the climbs that bit easier. It’s when heading back down that these bikes are designed to excel, though.
Pricing for this category spanned £4,000 to £5,500, due to an RRP hike during testing.
Rob Weaver’s verdict
"With so many good bikes in the enduro category this year, picking a winner was harder than ever. Even deciding which ones should make it into the final three caused serious stress.
“When you consider just how good the latest Cotic RocketMAX, Giant Reign, Vitus Sommet, Bird Aeris 9 and laser-focused Canyon Strive are, then it’s easy to see why we lost so much sleep over this decision.
“It was the Merida One-Sixty 6000 that surprised us early on, during back-to-back testing. And it continued to do so, no matter what terrain lay beneath its tyres.
"That’s not to say the YT Capra 29 Core 4 and Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite didn’t, too. While the YT’s easy-going nature and impressive all-round credentials make it a surefire recommendation, so too do the Nukeproof’s composure and stability when things really kick off, especially on seriously steep tech.
“But it was the Merida’s proportions, supportive suspension and electrifying ride feel that finally clinched it.
“The fun we had riding some of the gnarliest trails around Dolceacqua, skimming over jagged rocks and drifting loose turns, meant it had to be the winner.”
Enduro Bike of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight Enduro Bike of the Year contenders over the next month.
- Bird Aeris 9
- Canyon Strive CFR Underdog
- Cotic RocketMAX Mullet/Silver SLX
- Giant Reign 1
- Merida One-Sixty 6000
- Nukeproof Mega 297 Carbon Elite
- Vitus Sommet 297 AMP
- YT Capra 29 Core 4
Meet the tester | Rob Weaver
BikeRadar and MBUK’s technical editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, has years of racing and testing experience so knows what makes a good enduro rig.
But how do you separate good from the very best? For Rob, it’s all about balance and compromise.
Enduro riding and racing takes in all kinds of terrain and gradients. To tackle it confidently, safely and at pace, your bike needs to feel balanced, composed and stable.
Essentially, that equates to suspension that keeps the tyres glued to the trail but prevents the bike feeling like a bucking bronco when things get rough.
Of course, balance doesn’t just come from the suspension, but the geometry, too. The right mix should enable it to feel like to a downhill bike when gravity is on its side and pedal back up the hill when the time comes.
The parts package needs to offer good value for money, too. There’s always going to be an element of compromise, but the smart brands will spend their budgets wisely.
Over a 12-week period, all of the bikes in this category were put through their paces on a wide variety of trails and tracks to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses.
The bikes were ridden back-to-back, as well as in varying orders to see how each one felt at the start and end of the day, once rider fatigue had set in.
Electric Mountain Bike of the Year – Orbea Wild M-Team
- Orbea Wild M-Team
- Whyte E-180 RSX MX
- Santa Cruz Bullit CC S
Possibly the biggest area of growth, and the quickest in terms of tech changes, must be in the world of electric bikes.
Our mix of eMTBs for 2023 is more exciting than ever – and more expensive, too, with pricing ranging from a not inconsiderable £7,499.95 right up to £10,000.
All of these bikes are designed to be incredibly capable, but to win, they needed to balance ground-hugging suspension with a bit of pop and liveliness. That, and offer a super-smooth drive unit plus a parts package worthy of their price – not an easy ask!
Alex Evans’ verdict
“Separating these three boils down to the smallest differences, each offering a grin-inducing, high-speed ride on every trail we could find.
"In the end, it was the Orbea’s rounded performance that earned it the top spot.
“Santa Cruz’s Bullit CC S doesn’t offer the best value for money on paper, and its lower-power motor and more limited range count against it. Its ‘trail’-style riding position won’t suit everyone, either. But its downhill performance is impressive and its suspension comfortable.
‘The Whyte E-180 RSX shines when ridden aggressively, with excellent high-speed handling and control. However, a steeper seat tube angle would improve climbing performance and comfort.
“Although the Orbea Wild M-Team is £500 more expensive, it’s the most balanced-feeling bike here, whether descending or climbing.
"The Basque brand has hit the spec sweet spot, too. The Wild M-Team’s forgiving suspension and chassis make it one of the best, easy-to-ride-fast bikes on the market, and Orbea’s customisation options let you really make it your own.
“Ultimately, the Wild’s performance on the roughest descents and the longest days out cements it as our eMTB of the Year.”
eMTB of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight eMTB Bike of the Year contenders over the next month.
- Nukeproof Megawatt 297 RS
- Orbea Wild M-Team
- Pivot Shuttle LT 29 Ride SLX/XT
- Santa Cruz Bullit CC S
- Specialized Turbo Levo Expert
- Transition Repeater NX Carbon
- Trek Rail 9.8 XT Gen 3
- Whyte E-180 RSX MX
Meet the tester | Alex Evans
BikeRadar’s senior technical editor, Alex Evans, returns to take charge of our eMTB of the Year category, having led proceedings during last year’s individual test.
As a hard rider with a habit of breaking bikes, Alex pulls no punches with his testing, and has ridden more electric mountain bikes than anyone on the BikeRadar and MBUK teams.
Full-power, high-performance, gravity-focused ebikes need to behave like mini-DH bikes on the descents, but provide a comfortable, brisk and efficient means to climb back up.
Alex tested eight full-power eMTBs on his home trails in Scotland’s Tweed Valley, home to the UK’s round of the Enduro World Cup and the 2023 XC Olympic and Marathon World Championships.
Testing took place from November to late March, subjecting the bikes to a range of harsh weather conditions.
The pedigree and scope of the terrain on his doorstep is second-to-none, helping Alex push our eight bikes to their limits. Riding them back-to-back separated the strong from the weak before, finally, a winner was chosen.
Budget Mountain Bike of the Year – Voodoo Bizango Pro
- Voodoo Bizango Pro
- Vitus Sentier 29
- Marin Bobcat Trail 5
For the budget category to work, we needed to keep the price bracket as tight as possible. The difference between the cheapest bike and the most expensive is just £100, with RRPs ranging from £900 to £1,000.
At this price, we thought it’d be wise to stick with hardtails, too, because we don’t think there are eight sub-£1k full-suspension machines out there that are worthy of a true head-to-head test.
Our testers were looking for value for money – which doesn’t necessarily mean being the cheapest. Instead, brands need to have spent their budget wisely, on a quality frame and the components that matter most – along with a cohesive, capable and, ideally, versatile overall package. Buyers at this price may want to do more than just hit the trails on their bike.
Sarah Bedford’s verdict
“While the Marin Bobcat Trail 5 proved itself to be a sound purchase, some cheaper components – particularly the fork – meant the two bikes that charged ahead for the prize were the Voodoo and Vitus.
“The Sentier 29 is a well-built bike that’ll take a lot of punishment and is ready for whatever you throw it down.
"But the Bizango Pro takes the win with its smoother ride, great tyres, an excellent drivetrain and brakes, and unbeatable (at this price) fork, all of which easily outweigh our quibbles over the bar height.
“The versatility of the Voodoo will see you right on a gnarly day out, loops of a mellow-graded trail centre or even a quick blast through the jump park. Its relatively low weight and central rider position aid acceleration on the climbs, and despite its size, getting air is still a breeze.
“It’ll make a great partner for riders of varied experience, and represents exceptional value for money, too. Plus, the five-year frame warranty makes it a wise choice for a first-time purchase.”
Budget Mountain Bike of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight Budget Mountain Bike of the Year contenders over the next month.
- Cannondale Trail SE 4
- Cube Attention
- Jamis Highpoint A1
- Marin Bobcat Trail 5
- Scott Aspect 920
- Specialized Rockhopper Elite 29
- Vitus Sentier 29
- Voodoo Bizango Pro
Meet the tester | Sarah Bedford
BikeRadar and MBUK tester Sarah Bedford took the reins for our Budget Mountain Bike of the Year category, newly introduced for 2023.
Tweed Valley-based Sarah has short shrift for any flaws that make bikes less fun to ride, even if a rider’s budget is limited to less than £1,500.
With thanks to...
Thanks to our sponsors Crankbrothers, MET helmets, Bluegrass Protection, Supernatural Dolceacqua, Le Shuttle and BikePark Wales for their support in making Bike of the Year happen.
