Trail/all-mountain Bikes

Trek Fuel EX 9.8 $7,000

Trek’s venerable Fuel trail bike is back for more. The EX 9.8 model sports a carbon frame with 130 mm of travel, sram GX Eagle 1 x 12 drivetrain, carbon wheels and a 140-mm Fox Performance 36 Float fork. Component standouts include Shimano slx four-piston disc brakes, a Bontrager Line Elite dropper post and Line Pro oclv Carbon handlebar. A newer feature is an internal storage compartment, which is perfect for people who don’t want to pack tools or a tube. Extra small and small frames come with 27.5" wheels (as well as shortertravel dropper posts) for increased standover, while medium through extra large come with 29" wheels. ( trekbikes.com)

Yeti SB140 T1 $11,200

The SB140 is Yeti’s quintessential trail bike. It runs on 27.5" wheels and sports 140 mm of rear-wheel travel provided via Yeti’s own Switch Infinity rear-suspension design, which uses two separate rear shocks. Yeti says the setup provides excellent anti-squat characteristics, which should be especially noticeable as the bike gets deeper into its travel. The T1 build with carbon wheels features full Shimano XT and DT Swiss xmc 1200 30 hoops. At the front, a Fox 36 Factory Kashima Grip 2 fork with 160 mm of travel takes the bumps first on the trail. ( yeticycles.com)

Norco Optic C $11,999

Want a ridiculously sweet premium ride? The Norco Optic C axs short-travel carbon-fibre trail bike comes with sram’s xx1 Eagle axs wireless 12-speed shifting, and a Rockshox Reverb axs dropper post. Wireless, across the board. This 29er features 125 mm of rear travel provided by a Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH rear shock and 140 mm of front travel via a Rockshox Pike Ultimate fork. sram Code rsc fourpiston, 180-mm brakes will stop you on a dime. Crankbrothers Synthesis E11 carbon wheels laced onto Industry Nine Hydra 9 hubs will keep you rolling. ( norco.com)—stuartkernaghan