STRAP IN FOR THE RIDE!

Whether you’re after a trail bike, e-MTB, enduro rig or hardtail, we’ve tested a host of bikes so you can find the best one for you

There couldn’t be a better time to buy a mountain bike. Take a look in your local bike shop or on the internet, and it doesn’t matter what type of rig you’re looking for, you’re sure to find one at a big discount. These cut-price deals are due to turmoil in the cycling industry. The bike-buying boom of the COVID lockdowns is a distant memory, the bubble has well and truly burst, and it’s been tough watching brands try to survive. Sadly, not all have made it through to the other side.

This will be the first time in years that we’re not including a Vitus or Nukeproof in our Bike of the Year mega-test, which is a real shame. Whether you were a fan of the Chain Reaction Cycles/Wiggle business or not, the people behind the brands were dedicated, passionate individuals. It’s hugely disappointing to see them close up shop after all their past successes. Our four categories do, however, remain packed with some of the latest and greatest machines available.

Before we get into the reviews, it’s worth a quick recap of what we’re looking for from each type of bike. This year, our budget category spans the £1,000-£1,500 price bracket. That’s a marked increase compared to our 2023 test, which brings with it a jump in component specification, geometry and the overall capability of each of the hardtails included. For this kind of outlay, you can expect a dropper post, more tunable fork, slicker drivetrain and better tyres, all of which add up to an even better experience in the woods.

The trail bikes here cost £3,000£4,199 and are best described as ‘burly’, with fork travel topping out at 160mm

WE COULD ONLY PICK ONE WINNER, AND THE TEAM GENUINELY LOST SLEEP OVER THEIR DECISIONS

and 130-150mm of bounce at the rear. These bikes are designed for all-day adventures, so need to feel pacey and efficient on the climbs, maximising the effort you put in. But they also need to descend with control and comfort, and provide a fun, playful ride feel.

When it comes to the enduro category, pricing ranges from £4,250 all the way up to £6,205. Why such a big gap? That’s largely down to one brand sending the wrong bike. With limited time and numbers, we had little choice but to include it anyway. As ever, the focus here is on the descents. Sure, an enduro bike needs to get you to the top of the hill, but downhill stability, composure, control and speed-carrying efficiency will always be the priority.

With ‘SL’ e-bikes arriving thick and fast, this year we’ve split our e-MTB test into two categories – full-power and lightweight. Pricing for both starts at £6,699 and peaks at £10,000. The full-power e-bikes have at least 80Nm of maximum torque and boast larger batteries with a capacity of 600Wh or more, while the lighter-weight models tip the scales at 20kg or less, offer 50-60Nm of max torque and up to 430Wh of battery capacity. We’re now in a fantastic place when it comes to the development of e-MTBs, with all eight bikes tested here offering decent geometry that really helps bolster their handling.

Our testing took place throughout the wettest months of the year, on the trails of South Wales, the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, the Tweed Valley in Scotland and BikePark Wales. Switching bikes frequently and altering the running order in which we rode them helped us figure out the all-important details that really make a difference.

Once the mud had dried, we could only pick one winner in each category. As ever, this was no easy feat and the team genuinely lost sleep over their decisions. But which bikes came out on top? Grab a brew and start reading to find out…