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MTB
8 great turn-shredding, climb-crunching trail mountain bikes for 2023
Looking for a full-suspension mountain bike that's perfect for taming trails? These are the best all-round trail bikes you can buy in 2023.
When it comes to choosing an all-round mountain bike, the almost infinite options available can seem overwhelming. But a trail MTB could be just the ticket.
A real workhorse of a bike, the right one can gobble anything you throw at it. The best thing is you don't have to blow your whole life's savings to get something solid.
But what is a trail bike? There are many varying interpretations of this – it’s pretty open ended – but most define ‘trail’ as a full suspension bike that will be fun and reliable for trail centre adventures, local rides, epic jaunts up in the mountains and Sunday razzing alike.
These aren’t bikes for Enduro World Series thrashing (that's what enduro bikes are for), and they aren’t lightweight cross-country steeds either, but trail bikes have been getting increasingly versatile as technology, geometry, and wheel size has evolved.
Trail mountain bikes balance weight, geometry and practicality in order to ensure fun times are had on the flat, the uphills and the descents, making them the perfect option for shredding pretty much anything in lower mountains and rolling terrain.
Not sure where to start in your search? These are the most exciting trail mountain bikes you can buy in 2023.
1. YT Industries Izzo Core 2
The Izzo is made for being thrown around the trails
© YT Industries
Price: £3,199
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Frame material: Carbon fibre front triangle/aluminium rear triangle
Wheel size: 29”
Travel: 130mm front/130mm rear
Direct-sales brand YT Industries specialises in producing extraordinarily good value, high performance bikes. The Izzo is the brand’s entry into the trail sector and it represents YT’s preference for gravity-fuelled riding. Slack angles on a low-slung frame with short chainstays make for confident descending and a bike that likes to be thrown around on the trail. YT even says the carbon-fibre and aluminium Izzo is happy taking in enduro laps, all-day epics or just riding along the river to get an ice cream. The Izzo Core 2 is the cheapest option and uses a Fox 34 Float Performance fork, SRAM NX drivetrain and SRAM G2 R brakes.
2. Norco Optic C3
The Optic is aimed at fun descents and tearing it up when riding hard
© Norco
Price: €4,599
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre front triangle, aluminium rear triangle
Wheel size: 29”
Travel: 140mm front/125mm rear
Canadian mountain biking is all about technical riding and that is reflected in the bikes made by Norco, which hails from the epicentre of the sport in British Colombia. Norco is unapologetic in stating the Optic’s intentions as a corner- and jump-loving bike aimed at fun descents and tearing it up when you are hard on the pedals. The Optic employs Norco’s Ride Aligned research and setup-aiding app to ensure the bike’s rider is centred on the bike for maximum grip and stability. This C3 model comes with DMR Deathgrip handlebar grips, an X-Fusion Manic dropper seatpost and a RockShox Pike Select fork, among other big-brand components. Although with limited stock making it to the UK, you might have to search further afield to get your hands on one.
3. Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp Alloy
You can swap the rear wheel for a 27.5” one if mullets are your thing
© Specialized
Price: £3,900
Frame sizes: S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6
Frame material: Aluminium
Wheel size: 29”
Travel: 150mm (S1) or 160mm (S2-S6) front/150mm rear
The Stumpjumper is Specialized’s flagship trail mountain bike, with the EVO version being, the brand says, its ‘rippingest’ ever. What that means on paper is angles and intentions usually reserved for longer-travel enduro or freeride bikes. A head angle that can be tweaked by spinning an eccentric upper headset cup, low bottom bracket height (also adjustable with shock linkage flip chips to make it even lower) and plenty of progressive support in the suspension alludes to the Stumpjumper EVO’s penchant for downhills and jumps.
Plus, you can swap the rear wheel for a smaller 27.5” wheel if mullets are your thing. Specialized’s trademark internal SWAT box (a stash box under the water bottle) is roomy enough for extra water, tools, and a cheese sandwich. The Comp Alloy model has had its price bumped like everything over the last year, but remains good value and comes complete with SRAM’s Code R brakes and NX drivetrain, Specialized Butcher and Eliminator tyres and Fox Float 36 Rhythm fork.
4. Propain Hugene CF Performance
Propain lets you custom the look of your bike for no extra fees
© Propain
Price: €5,064
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 29”
Travel: 140mm front/140mm rear
German brand Propain has made its mark on the global downhill scene through the likes of Phil Atwill racing on the Mercedes-Benz DH World Cup circuit. The Hugene, Propain says, is its do-it-all bike and is comfortable on singletrack rides, Alpine epics and shredding trails at home. With its carbon frame, RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and SRAM X01 parts, the Performance model offers fantastic value for money. You can also customise the colour of the frame, decal kit, grips, saddle and head badge for no extra cash.
5. Pace RC295 GX Ultimate
The RC295 is causing a stir for its capability in all situations
© Pace
Price: £4,799
Frame sizes: M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 29”
Travel: 140mm front/135mm rear
British company Pace has been around the mountain biking scene since the very start. Back in the early days, the brand made its mark with its famously square tubing.
Now its updated RC295 is causing a stir in the UK for its capability in all-terrain and situations. While Pace claims the RC295 is as happy racing enduro stages as it is pedalling around your local singletrack loop, it manages this on just 135mm rear wheel travel and 140mm fork travel.
Dealing with a small company like Pace also means simplicity: you speak directly with the factory and can also ask for a range of build kit customisations. The GX Ultimate model uses wheels from UK brand Hunt, Michelin Wild AM2 2.4-inch tyres and a RockShox Pike Ultimate fork.
6. Nukeproof Reactor 275 Carbon RS
The Reactor comes in more than 10 different variations
© Nukeproof
Price: £5,999
Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 27.5”
Travel: 160mm front/140mm rear
Nukeproof has gone to the significant lengths of creating not one but four different versions of its Reactor trail bike: choose between 27.5” and 29” wheel size on a carbon fibre or alloy frame. And that’s before you get to the three build (and one frame-only) options. That sort of commitment shows just how popular this style of bike now is, especially for riding in smaller hills and mountains. Select the smaller wheels for manoeuvrability or go for the wagon wheels for all-out speed, Nukeproof says. Then, choose a low/slack or high/steep setting – Rail or Trail – by flipping the geometry flip chip. The Reactor 275 Carbon RS is kitted out with top-drawer components, a 160mm-travel RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork and 27.5” wheels for thrashing around your local woods and hitting a few jumps on the way
7. Santa Cruz 5010 X01 AXS RSV
Danny MacAskill uses the 5010 for his trail-focused projects
© Santa Cruz
Price: £8,499
Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 27.5”
Travel: 140mm front/130mm rear
Championed by the likes of Danny MacAskill, Santa Cruz’s 5010 is a playbike built for trail riding at the extreme end of things. Ostensibly made for pedalling and singletrack riding, the 5010 is also great fun for jumps and stunts (or, if you're Danny, riding down the side of a mountain). Sharp angles, size-specific chainstay lengths and 27.5” wheels give the 5010 its responsive ride. But its Virtual Pivot Point suspension system promises a bottomless feeling beyond the bike’s modest 130mm travel. The latest model features a 140mm fork up front (previously the 5010 had 130/130 travel) for a confidence-inspiring ride. Santa Cruz bikes don’t come cheap, but with the X01 model you get a RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, wireless AXS gear shifting, Reserve 30 rims and top-tier CC carbon frame construction.
8. Pivot Switchblade Pro X01 Fox Live Valve and Carbon Wheels
If money is no object, then it has to be a Pivot
© Pivot
Price: $13,799 USD
Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L
Frame material: Carbon fibre
Wheel size: 29"
Travel: 160mm front/142mm rear
While all of Pivot’s bikes fall firmly into the superbike category (that is to say, they are eye-wateringly expensive), the American brand keeps hitting the nail on the head with its designs, and the Switchblade is no exception. Pivot puts the Switchblade in the ‘enduro’ category, but its 142mm rear travel and promise to ‘conquer the entire mountain’ put it in line with the other bikes in this list. The carbon fibre frame offers roomy standover (meaning a low-slung top tube), as well as reduced weight, space for longer dropper seatposts and a steeper seat angle than its predecessor. This model uses Fox’s Live Valve suspension, which automatically adjusts settings while you ride.
