Best Mountain Bike Reviews
Our mountain bike experts have tested bike from Santa Cruz, Specialized, Ibis, YT, Canyon, and more.
The Yeti SB5.5 and Santa Cruz Bronson are both bosses on the climbs, the Yeti smashing technical climbs and the Santa Cruz busting up the smooth ones.
Credit: David Clock
With so many brands, models, and styles to choose from, finding a new mountain bike can be a daunting task. Lucky for you, we’ve been testing trail bikes, top hardtails, eMTBs, fat bikes, and gravel bikes for years. Unlike other review sites, we pay for the bikes we test, so you can be sure we aren’t being swayed by the manufacturers. Once you’ve found your perfect bike, we’ve got complete reviews of accessories and components to get you out on the trail safely and in style.
Most Popular
Best Picks in Best Mountain Bike Reviews
Trail Mountain Bikes
In the market for a new mountain bike for trail riding? We constantly search for new, compelling models to purchase...
Electric Mountain Bikes
We put the best electric mountain bikes to the test, riding them side-by-side to find the best in our detailed...
Budget Mountain Bikes
In search of a budget mountain bike? We're constantly testing new, intriguing models and looking out for outstanding...
Gravel Bikes
On the hunt for a new gravel bike? After researching the top options on the market, we bought 8 models for this...
10 Top Mountain Bikes
We're always searching for the best new mountain bikes. After researching the latest and greatest models on the...
Fat Bikes
In the market for a fat bike and not sure which is the right model for you? We're here to help! We've spent years...
Hardtail Bikes
We conducted a mind-numbing amount of research to identify the most compelling hardtail mountain bikes available...Best Mountain Bike Reviews Learning Center
How to Choose a Gravel Bike
In recent years, gravel biking has exploded in popularity and is one of the fastest-growing parts of the cycling...
How to Select the Right Mountain Bike
Every year we research hundreds of mountain bikes and ride thousands of miles to test dozens of them head-to-head...
How To Choose a Fat Bike
Interested in purchasing a fat bike? There's a lot to consider when searching for a new ride and we hope this buying...Recent Product Reviews in Best Mountain Bike Reviews
Editors' Choice
Santa Cruz Hightower 90 Review
The latest Hightower leans away from the Swiss Army versatility of the past model and picks up a bit more bravado. The...
Top Pick
Ibis Oso 1.1 Review
The second iteration of the Ibis Oso brings minor changes to the spec, but a huge change to the price tag. With 155mm...
Top Pick
Santa Cruz Vala R Review
The Vala is different in many ways. It's the brands first 4-bar suspension bike and their first bike to use a Bosch...
Co-op Cycles DRT 1.3 Review
The Co-op DRT 1.3 is a hardtail mountain bike with modern geometry and a sensible build at an attractive price point...
Top Pick
Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 Apex Review
The Van Rysel GRVL AF 2 APEX is an excellent way to get a taste of gravel biking with comfortable, stable geometry and...
Editors' Choice
Ibis Ripmo V3 GX AXS Review
The heavy hitter from Ibis is back for V3. The new Ripmo has enormous shoes to fill and no shortage of competition...
Best Buy
Canyon Grail CF SL 7 AXS Review
The Canyon Grail CF SL 7 AXS provides a quick and nimble way to dice up the road or trail. With consumer-direct...
Editors' Choice
Trek Farley 7 Review
The Trek Farley 7 is a burly, all-terrain trail bike with capabilities favoring winter. While primarily designed for...
Best Buy
Salsa Heyday Advent Review
Salsa has a long history of making great fat bikes and the Heyday! is the latest. The new Heyday! replaces the Mukluk...
Best Buy
Trek Roscoe 7 Review
The Trek Roscoe 7 is an adaptable and well-rounded hardtail mountain bike that is competent in most of situations...
Top Pick
Marin Rift Zone 29 2 Review
The Marin Rift Zone 29 2 is an affordable short travel trail bike that would make an excellent daily driver. This...
Polygon Siskiu D7 Review
In a sport filled with high-priced steeds, Polygon bucks the trend with their direct-to-consumer sales model and the...
Editors' Choice
Commencal Meta HT AM Essential Review
The Commencal Meta HT AM Essential is one of the most fun hardtails we've ever tested. This bike handles whatever you...
Norco Torrent A1 HT Review
The Norco Torrent HT A1 is an aluminum-framed 29er hardtail with aggressive all-mountain geometry. This long and slack...
Top Pick
Trek Top Fuel 9.8 GX AXS Review
The new Top Fuel is the 4th generation of Trek's lightweight, short-travel trail bike, gaining more versatility and...
Specialized Stumpjumper 15 Comp Review
If you replace your iPhone every year, you'll be wowed by the improvements in the new Stumpjumper. Like Apple's...
Norco Optic C2 Review
The redesigned Optic features Norco's VPSHP suspension to increase the rearward axle path and improve suspension...
Top Pick
Specialized Turbo Levo SL Comp Review
Specialized follows up on the success of their first Levo SL with a bike that looks more like the Stumpjumper than an...
Ari Wire Peak 2.0 Comp Review
The Ari WIre Peak arrives on the scene with a quality-looking spec and a very attractive price point. Sporting 145mm...
Best Buy
Aventon Ramblas Review
E-bikes are expensive, so we're constantly on the lookout for budget-friendly alternatives, and this bike is the very...
Santa Cruz Heckler SL R Review
A svelte and incognito version of the trail-slaying Bronson, the Heckler SL is powered by a Fazua Ride 60 drive unit...
Ride1Up CF Racer1 Review
Like the truck from Hyundai, some nuances of the CF Racer1 seem born out of inexperience in the market, but that might...
Top Pick
Revel Rascal XO Transmission Review
Revel is a passion project out of Carbondale, Colorado, building high-end bikes for discerning riders. While still...
Rocky Mountain Blizzard A20 Review
The Rocky Mountain Blizzard A20 is an aggressive fat bike that provides familiar, comfortable, geometry to riders who...
Editors' Choice
Santa Cruz Stigmata Carbon CC Apex Review
The Santa Cruz Stigmata nearly aced our tests and delivered in the important metrics, it's easily our top-rated gravel...
Top Pick
Yeti SB140 LR T2 TURQ Review
The Yeti SB140 LR isn't significantly different from the outgoing SB130, which is good. The retired model was one of...
Editors' Choice
Norco Fluid FS 4 Review
The Norco Fluid FS 4 is a ripping trail bike at an outstanding price point. This rad singletrack slayer delivers a...
Best Buy
Canyon Neuron 5 Review
The Canyon Neuron 5 is a fast and efficient trail bike with conservative geometry. This bike has a bit of an...
Best Buy
Canyon Dude CF 7 Review
The Canyon Dude CF 7 is a quality, carbon-framed fat bike offered at a reasonable price. The carbon frame is not only...
Top Pick
Fezzari Kings Peak Comp Review
The Fezzari Kings Peak Comp is an impressively well-rounded fat bike with a frame design that makes it a versatile...
Top Pick
Canyon Grizl 7 Suspension Review
The Canyon Grizl 7 Suspension is a reasonably priced, top-rated gravel bike with an aluminum-frame. It shines on the...
Salsa Journeyer Apex 1 700 Review
Salsa has created a winner with their Journeyer Apex gravel bike. This affordable aluminum-framed bike is the least...
Editors' Choice
Specialized Turbo Levo 4 Comp Review
Specialized follows up on the success of their Gen 3 Levo with small updates to the frame and suspension, and huge...
Top Pick
Fezzari Delano Peak Elite Review
The Delano Peak is a dialed mid-travel trail bike from the consumer direct brand, Ari. It has 135mm of rear travel, a...
Polygon Siskiu T8 Review
The Polygon Siskiu T8 is an excellent mid-travel trail bike offered at a reasonable price. Polygon's consumer-direct...
Specialized Diverge Comp Carbon Review
For the 2021 model year, Specialized redesigned their popular Diverge gravel bikes. It feels more confident and stable...
Top Pick
Marin Pine Mountain 2 Review
The redesigned Marin Pine Mountain 2 is a supremely versatile bike that is comfortable in many situations. This steel...
Top Pick
Rocky Mountain Growler 50 Review
The redesigned Rocky Mountain Growler 50 is a hard-charging hardtail with the attitude of an enduro bike. This...
Marin Rift Zone Carbon 2 Review
Marin is better known for their budget-oriented bikes, but that is likely to change with quality offerings like the...
Kona Process 134 29 Review
The redesigned the Kona Process 134 is an impressively fun and capable mid-travel trail bike at a reasonable price...
Top Pick
Giant Trance 29 3 Review
The Giant Trance 29 3 is an excellent trail bike, and our Top Pick for Short Travel in this price range. This 29er may...
Top Pick
Ibis Hakka MX Rival Review
The Ibis Hakka MX is a one of the top gravel bikes we've ridden and earned our Top Pick for Racing for its...
Canyon Neuron CF 8.0 Review
The Canyon Neuron CF 8.0 is a reasonably priced and user-friendly mid-travel trail bike that has a cross-country...
Top Pick
Ibis DV9 NX Review
The all-new Ibis DV9 is a swift-climbing and sharp-handling carbon fiber hardtail. This bicycle is an excellent option...
Salsa Timberjack NX Eagle 27.5+ Review
The Salsa Timberjack 27.5+ is a capable hardtail that delivers solid versatility. Salsa markets this bicycle as a...