There’s been a reworking of geometry and sizing
Are the days of the XC hardtail numbered? It’s a legitimate question given that industry heavyweights and microbrands alike seem to be to be showcasing either the latest in e-bike tech or their new take on the trail and enduro categories. With that in mind, it would be easy to think that XC bikes are sitting in the background being ignored. But surprisingly, we’ve seen far more new lightweight XC machines roll through the doors here at mbr over the last 12 months than in previous years, from both direct-to-consumer and shop-bought brands.
Guided by the more technical nature of modern cross-country race courses, there’s been a noticeable reworking of XC geometry and sizing, taking more than one leaf out of the trail bike rule book, while still keeping a keen eye on the headline weight and need for speed.
Wider bars and larger-volume tyres have also made an appearance on race-orientated bikes, allowing the rider to extract every last drop of performance, whether it’s a high-modulus carbon hardtail or short-travel full-susser.
And while that’s all well and good on the cutting-edge flagship models, does it translate to more affordable price points? To answer that question we’ve brought together four aluminium XC 29er hardtails, all around the £1,500 mark.
We have the latest bikes from Cube, Giant, Trek, and Scott, all major players in the global marketplace and no strangers to this type of bike; promising good value and an established network of dealers along with a long history of hardtail production.
With fast-paced riding and higher mileages on the agenda, these hardtails need to be comfortable and efficient places to be. After all, these bikes are more likely to see a GPS unit strapped to the handlebars rather than a month’s worth of used uplift passes.
So whether it’s a hard-and-fast XC race, a 100km marathon event or a multi-day selfsupported bikepacking challenge, these bikes need to shine when your energy is fading and the trail starts to get testing.
In terms of kit, the bikes are fairly evenly matched. All roll on 29in wheels, are built around lightweight aluminium frames and come equipped with 1x12 Shimano transmissions. Fork travel on all four bikes is capped at 100mm – the norm for most modern XC bikes – and lockouts are a must-have feature. The lack of dropper posts at this price point is really more about weight saving than performance, as most professional XC racers have come round to the benefits of being able to drop their saddles without having to stop.
So we have four very similar bikes, but are these XC hardtails just well-dressed recreational mtbs running on old-school thinking and standards or are they more affordable, lightweight rigs hell-bent on chasing podiums, pulling off PBS and embarrassing gravel riders? There’s only one way to find out. Let’s get to the start line…