trek full suspension xc

• Mountain Bikes
• Gravel Bikes
• Hybrid Bikes
• Electric Bikes
• Commuter Bikes
• Exercise Bikes
• Women’s Bikes
• Kids’ Bikes
• All Best Bike Brands
• Mountain Bike Brands
• Electric Bike Brands
• Bike Rack Brands
• Brand Review: Rad Power Bikes
• Brand Review: Ride1UP Bikes

Disclaimer: Bikexchange is reader-supported . We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links on our site.

Trek Supercaliber Review — Podium-Winning XC Race Bike

Maddie Munro showing off her skills on a Trek Supercaliber.

The Trek Supercaliber is an XC race bike designed to bridge the gap between hardtails and full-suspension MTBs.

The Supercaliber utilizes innovative Trek Bikes’ IsoStrut suspension technology and industry-leading components to maximize performance and gain an advantage over the competition.

Snappy XC geometry, fast-rolling tires, premium carbon fiber, and low-travel suspension make this bike lightning fast and efficient.

With seven builds in the series, XC riders with big ambitions can choose the Supercaliber that fits their needs and budget. 

This Trek Supercaliber review will outline the series’ standout characteristics, discuss each model in detail, and finish with our verdict on who should choose this bike. 

A race-ready cross-country mountain bike designed for speed and efficiency.

• Exceptionally efficient
• Agile and snappy handling
• Ultra-lightweight for a full-suspension bike
• Plenty of small bump sensitivity
• No dropper post
• Narrow handlebars

Main Trek Supercaliber Specs

• Frame: Carbon OCLV
• Wheel size: 29″
• Tires: 2.2″
• Front travel: 100mm (120mm compatibility)
• Rear travel: 60mm 
• Drivetrain:  12-speed
• Brake rotors: 180mm (f), 160mm (r)
• Weight: 21.6 – 27lbs

Trek Supercaliber Overview

The Trek Supercaliber is a specialist cross-country bike for riders who want to maximize speed and climbing efficiency. This bike will help you break all your personal bests on your local XC trail but won’t provide much comfort on rough terrain with its narrow tires, rigid seatpost, and 60mm of rear suspension. 

Carbon OCLV Frame

Trek’s frames are renowned for their innovative design features and world-class ride characteristics fit for champions. Each Supercaliber uses the same patented OCLV Mountain carbon frame.

Trek utilizes techniques borrowed from the aerospace industry to deliver one of the world’s strongest and most durable carbon bike frames , even after impact. 

The Supercaliber has a Straight Shot down tube to enhance the responsiveness of the frame and reduce weight. Another unique feature is the Knock Block headset design that prevents the fork crown and handlebars from spinning too far in a fall, which often damages the frame. 

Trek also designed the Supercaliber frame with enough space to carry two water bottles, a non-negotiable for demanding XC racing. Finally, Trek backs each frame with a limited lifetime warranty. 

XC Geometry 

The Trek Supercaliber geometry plays a big role in its ride characteristics. Its straightforward, compact design delivers a sharp and efficient ride quality . 

Trek Supercaliber has a straightforward, modern and compact geometry with a Straight Shot downtube that reduces weight and improves handling.

It has a steep 69-degree head angle and a relatively slack seat angle of 74 degrees. A short stem (70mm), a tight rear center of 430mm, and a compact wheelbase of 1079 to 1172mm keep the Supercaliber as agile as possible. 

This geometry means the Supercaliber can change direction quickly and with minimal effort, allowing easy navigation of tight switchbacks and picking the fastest line. The low bottom bracket drop of 53mm also helps balance the sharp steering with extra stability. 

Trek IsoStrut Suspension

Trek’s IsoStrut frame-integrated rear suspension is a bespoke system designed in partnership with Fox. The Supercaliber comes with a Float Factory or Float Performance shock integrated into the IsoStrut, depending on the build. 

Trek’s IsoStrut technology provides the Supercaliber with firm and precise suspension that help the bike thrive on XC race tracks.

Each Supercaliber has just 60mm of rear travel, which aligns with Trek’s minimalist thinking. The IsoStrut is a structural element of the bike , eliminating the need for extra parts and unnecessary weight. The shock is enclosed in a stanchion that protects it from damage and reduces lateral frame flex. 

The IsoStrut contributes to a more efficient, durable, and sleek bike. In addition, by utilizing the remote lockout, you essentially turn the Supercaliber into a hardtail. 

You can tune the spring rate and adjust the rebound as you would on a standard shock. The only downside is that it requires more effort to maintain as you must disassemble the bike to service it.

Trek Supercaliber Builds

There are four models available in 2023. The new 9.6 and 9.7 Trek Supercaliber 2023 builds and the 2023 versions of the 9.9 and 9.8. 

All four models have a carbon fiber frame and components from leading manufacturers like Shimano, SRAM, Maxxis, Fox, RockShox, and Trek’s Bontrager. The Trek Supercaliber price varies from mid-range to elite-level. 

Trek Supercaliber 9.6 2023

MRSP: $4,300

The Trek Supercaliber 2023 9.6 is the most affordable model. Of course, this version isn’t cheap but gives ambitious cross-country racers a more achievable price. 

The 9.6 comes with the same premium OCLV Carbon frame and IsoStrut suspension as the top models. However, it has a Fox Float Performance DPS shock paired with a RockShox Recon Gold RL fork.

This version is the only one with alloy wheels; Bontrager’s Comp 23s. These come wrapped in XR2 Team Issue tires. The rest of the build kit on the Supercaliber 9.6 is aluminum alloy, excluding the steel-rail Bontrager Arvada saddle. 

Finally, this build has a Shimano Deore/SLX groupset with a 10-51t cassette and MT4100 brakes. 

Trek Supercaliber 9.7 2023

MRSP: $5,100

The Trek Supercaliber 9.7 is another 2023 edition of the bike. It’s built with mid-range components for more accessibility to the general market but gets a few notable upgrades from the entry-level 9.6.

The most significant improvement is the step up to SLX/XT drivetrain components with MT501 brakes. Additionally, the 9.7 gets Bontrager Kovee Elite 30 carbon fiber wheels.

Other notable changes include an E*thirteen alloy crankset, a Bontrager P3 Verse Elite stainless steel saddle, and vibration-absorbing ESI chunky grips. All of these changes reduce weight by 1.6lbs to 25.41lbs. 

Trek Supercaliber 9.8

MRSP: from $6.550

The Trek Supercaliber 9.8 is the more affordable of the two pro-level models. The 9.8 is available in three builds , SRAM GX, GX AXS, and Shimano XT, with $1,000 separating them. 

The 9.8 gets several upgrades on the 9.7, including Kovee Pro 30 wheels and a carbon seatpost, stem, and handlebars. Additionally, the fork steps up to a Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast or a RockShox SID SL on the electronic SRAM build. 

The other major change is the improved groupset. Each 9.8 has a carbon crankset, and the SRAM models come with 10-52t cassettes. The 9.8 models are roughly 2.5lbs lighter than the 9.7. 

Trek Supercaliber 9.9

MRSP: $9,550 – $11,500

The Trek Supercaliber 9.9 is the most advanced model and comes from their latest lineup. It comes in two builds, SRAM XX1 AXS and Shimano XTR, with almost $2,000 separating them. 

Both Supercaliber 9.9s get Fox Float Factory shocks. In addition, the XTR has a Factory 32 Step-Cast Float fork, and the top model gets a RockShox SID SL Ultimate. 

The wheels are Bontrager’s highest grade Kovee XXX carbon wrapped in XR1 Team Issue tires. Unusually, the XTR is the only version with a dropper post, a Fox Transfer SL 100mm. 

Finally, the Trek Supercaliber 9.8 XX1 AXS has SRAM Level Ultimate brakes. Both weigh approximately 21.5lbs. 

How Does the Trek Supercaliber Perform on the Trails?

The Trek Supercaliber is a high-performance machine built for speed. So it’s no surprise that this bike is used by world-class cross-country athletes , including Jolanda Neff, in her 2021 Olympic XCO win. 

Where Does the Trek Supercaliber Thrive?

Trek Supercaliber weight and pedaling efficiency are its two standout characteristics. With an unusually light build for one of the best full-suspension bikes , you will have a distinct advantage over your competitors in a race environment. 

This efficiency comes from the stiff and lightweight OCLV carbon fiber frame with IsoStrut suspension. IsoStrut ensures you get maximum power from each pedal stroke for an incredibly snappy feel when you put the power down.

This bike is so efficient that the remote suspension lockout is only really beneficial for sprint efforts. The racey geometry of the Supercaliber means it is agile and responsive for cross-country-style trails, allowing you to maneuver tight situations and pick the smoothest line. 

Although it doesn’t ride like traditional 100mm XC bikes , it’s not far off. The 60mm travel in the rear provides just enough extra traction and comfort when you need it.

To get the best out of this bike, it helps to ride aggressively, attacking chunkier sections to avoid getting hung up. 

What Can Be Better?

There’s not much we would change about this bike. For the casual rider, the 60mm rear travel means this bike will quickly bottom out on big hits, meaning you’ve got to be more conservative on chunkier terrain. That said, this isn’t a bike for your typical rider. 

The one component that may be worth changing for some riders is the narrow 720mm handlebars. In addition, we’d like to see a dropper post to improve the bike’s overall capability. 

Trek Supercaliber Sizing

The Trek Supercaliber frameset is available in six sizes, S to XXL, with a rider height range from 5′ to 6’8″. 

• S – 5′ to 5’6″
• M – 5’3″ to 5’8″
• M/L – 5’5″ to 5’10”
• L – 5’10” to 6’2″
• XL – 6′ 1″ to 6’5″
• XXL – 6’5″ to 6’8″

This bike is a significant investment, so you’ll want to ensure it fits perfectly. If you fall between two frame sizes , visit a Trek dealer near you to test-ride the two models that might work. Alternatively, you can compare the Trek Supercaliber size chart and geometry to an XC bike you’ve ridden before. 

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Trek Supercaliber

As we’ve seen, the Trek Supercaliber is a highly-specialized XC mountain bike, limiting its appeal to the broader market. 

Incredibly efficient suspension, a stiff, lightweight frame, agile geometry, and industry-leading components give this bike its ability on cross-country trails.

Jolanda Neff riding her Trek Supercaliber XC race bike to Olimpic victory.

This ability makes the Supercaliber an excellent choice for ambitious XC riders who want a bike to help them smash their PRs and win races. However, if you’re not obsessed with speed and just want a bike to handle a variety of trails and climb well, the Supercaliber mightn’t be for you. 

Add this premium race bike to your shortlist if you want pro-level performance and have the budget to match. 

Shop on TrekBikes.com

Share this on:

About the Author

Jordan Grimes

10 thoughts on “ trek supercaliber review — podium-winning xc race bike ”.

Thanks so much for your assistance in my purchasing decision. Great article by the way!

You’re welcome, Edward! Have fun riding!

Thanks. Which SLR 2024 Supercaliber model would you recommend for an enthusiast who might race only once a year?

The lowest-priced SLR 9.8 XT Gen 2 should be plenty good!

I have a 2021 Trek Procaliber and love it. How would a 2024 Supercaliber compare to my Procaliber in shock absorption, handling, weight, etc.?

Hi Edward! To be honest, the two would feel very similar to ride, though the shock absorption and handling would be better on the 2024 model considering it has 10mm more travel and the carbon fiber technology is getting better and better in terms of weight and compliance. Other than that, they don’t differ all too much.

Thanks for your response. What would be a great alternative to the 2024 Supercaliber? How about the Specialized cross country bike? Or others?

Specialized Epic is a great alternative. At the moment, Specialized is running a massive discount, so you can get the full suspension Epic EVO for just $2,400 (down from $4,000), which is a pretty good deal (though stocks might be low). You could also consider the Specialized Chisel (Hardtail) or Canyon Lux, both are excellent choices.

Does the 2024 model now appeal to a broader base of non racers? Thanks.

I wouldn’t say so, Edward. The 2024 Trek Supercaliber is still an XC race bike—the cheapest model has a carbon frame and costs $4,300. Non-racers can get it, but it’s a commitment.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lighter Weight, More Travel - Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 First Ride 7

Increased travel, lighter slr frame options and a new rockshox sidluxe isostrut make the new trek supercaliber gen 2 a podium contender for any cross country racer..

T rek has been in the sub-100mm full-suspension XC bike category for several years, and in 2019, they released their first strut-designed Supercaliber featuring 60mm of rear travel and 100mm up front. Vital spent some time on the Gen 1 and praised its weight and sporty feel, but only 60mm of travel and steep (dare we say old) geometry left us wanting more. Enter 2023 and if imitation is actually flattering, the XC community confirmed as much on social media when Specialized released the 2023 Specialized Epic WC. Looking an awful lot like a Trek Supercaliber, the Instagram comments on the Specialized account giving Trek the nod were pretty entertaining. Specialized, however, wasn't using a strut design, but they had upped the ante with more travel (75mm rear) and slacker geometry; something we'd wanted in the original Supercaliber. Fast-forward five months and the new Gen 2 Supercaliber wins the travel battle (80mm rear), updates to modern XC geometry and slaps in a new, user-friendly RockShox SIDLuxe IsoStrut that is more serviceable than the FOX found on the Gen 1.

Big company drama aside, Vital had two test riders on the new Gen 2 Trek Supercaliber. Over the last few weeks, they've clocked some long local rides and even raced on the top-of-the-line, SLR 9.9 XX AXS model that we were sent. Our test bike is a World Cup XC-ready machine with a retail price of $11,699. Claimed weight for a size medium complete is 20.84 pounds. The base model Supercaliber Gen 2 starts at $4,199 and is a gallon of water heavier than our baller test bike. Trek offers 5 other XC weapons in the Supercaliber lineup, so let's get into what makes this Gen 2 Supercaliber different as well as our initial ride impressions.

Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 Highlights

• Increased travel: From 60mm to 80mm rear, 100mm to 110mm front
• Two levels of carbon frame: SLR and SL
• Improved IsoStrut suspension
• Updated geometry
• Floating brake mount
• S, M, ML, L, XL Sizes
• Weight as tested: 22.6lbs / 10.25kg - Size L with 2.4 Bontrager Sainte RSL XR front tire, Shimano XTR pedals, 2 bottle cages
• Prices from $4,199 to $11,699 (tested)

SLR SL or SL Models

Engineering Notes:

There are no differences in frame shapes between SLR and SL. Carbon laminate and cable routing features in the front triangle are the difference as the SLR and SL share the same swingarm.

The primary difference in the material is fiber aerial weight (FAW), modulus, and amount of material. The SLR has lower FAW material, additional higher modulus material, and overall less material (i.e. fewer plies).

IsoStrut Design

Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 Models, Prices and Claimed Weights

Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 Key Spec Features

• 9.9 SLR XX AXS - 20.84lb lightest build possible (size medium). Kovee RSL carbon wheels, XX SL AXS transmission, SID SL Ultimate fork, Fox Transfer SL dropper, Level Ultimate 4-piston brakes
• 9.9 SLR XTR - Kovee RSL carbon wheels, XTR drivetrain, Fox Factory 34 SC fork, Fox Transfer SL dropper, XTR 2-piston brakes, RSL bar/stem
• 9.9 SLR X0 AXS - Kovee Pro carbon wheels, XO AXS transmission, SID Ultimate fork, Reverb AXS dropper, Level Silver 4-piston brakes, RSL bar/stem
• 9.8 SLR GX AXS - SLR Frame, Kovee Elite 30 carbon wheels, GX AXS transmission, SID 110mm fork, Line dropper, Level Bronze 4 piston brakes, RSL Bar/Stem
• 9.8 SLR XT - SLR Frame, Kovee Elite 30 carbon wheels, XT drivetrain, Fox Perf. 34SC 110mm fork, Line dropper, XT 2 piston brakes, RSL Bar/Stem
• 9.7 SL - SL Frame, Kovee Comp 25 Wheels, GX AXS transmission, Reba RL 110mm fork, Line dropper, SRAM Level Bronze 2 piston brakes
• 9.6 SL - SL Frame, SLX/Deore drivetrain, Recon Gold RL 110mm fork, JD dropper, Shimano MT500 2 piston brakes

The Supercaliber uses a floating rear brake mount to isolate braking forces from the flex stays.

On the Trail and Race Course

Trek's focus on the Supercaliber is weight and going light may often mean trade-offs. Our test bike (SLR 9.9 XX AXS) is the only model in the new Supercaliber line with 2.2-inch Bontrager Sainte-Anne RSL XR tires front and rear. All the other models have 2.4 Sainte-Annes on both ends. Trek said this was to make the bike as light as possible. They also said that the SID SL Ultimate is technically only approved for tires up to 2.35 due to legal requirements around clearance. Many XC racers may not mind the stock 2.2-inch tires and SID SL Ultimate fork with 32mm stanchions as they chase seconds on the track, but it didn't take long for us to out-ride the waify configuration. For our riding style and terrain, the 2.2-inch front tire felt too sketchy, so we went outlaw and switched to a 2.4 Sainte-Anne (the same Bontrager model as our stock 2.2). We had no problems with clearance on the fork (it's literally 1.27mm wider than allowed), but perhaps muddy conditions could prove problematic. We left the stock 2.2-inch Sainte-Anne on the rear.

The SID SL Ultimate fork felt a bit flimsy in rough conditions for our 175 lb testers. It has a 32mm chassis and weighs 1352 grams. The next bike down in the Supercaliber line, the SLR 9.9 X0 AXS, comes with a much stiffer SID Ultimate (35mm chassis, 1476 grams). Whether the weight savings is worth it will depend on your terrain and priorities.

The two-position fork and shock lockout on the SID and SIDLuxe IsoStrut worked well. Some riders may instinctively want a middle setting, but we found the two positions to be ideal. In the open setting, the pedaling efficiency was stellar without the bike feeling harsh like a hardtail. GripShift suspension lockout control was easy to use and left room for a full-size dropper lever. Compared to other XC bikes, the lockouts on the Supercaliber are barely necessary because of the bike's efficiency, but more of a "nice to have" for out-of-the-saddle sprints or long, smooth stretches.

By the numbers, the Supercaliber's 80mm of rear travel puts the bike in between a standard 100mm/110mm XC bike and a hardtail. In reality, this speedster is closer to being the best of both worlds - great pedaling efficiency combined with reasonable comfort and descending capability.

Riding position on the Supercalber is aggressive, but not uncomfortable and both of our testers (5'10" and 6') felt very comfortable on our size large. The one-piece Bontrager bar/stem combo geometry is locked in, save trimming width or adjusting stem height on the steer tube, so finicky riders with specific cockpit tastes should be advised. Head tube angle has slackened by 1.5 degrees, reach has grown 10mm across sizes and chainstay lengths have grown making for a stable, planted ride. While the seat tube angle steepens by half a degree, the standover height drops with a lower intersection between the seat tube and top tube.

Even with their quest for weight savings, thankfully Trek spec'd a dropper post on all models. Neither of our testers ride fixed seatposts. Our test bike was decked out with all the best SRAM and RockShox components but had a FOX Transfer SL instead of the RockShox Reverb AXS (found on the 9.9 SLR X0 AXS model) because of the weight difference.

What's the Bottom Line?

Both Vital testers, who regularly race XC and often take on longer endurance rides and events, said they would buy this World Cup-winning bike. If you're not a cross-country racer, in its stock trim, our Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS probably isn't for you with svelte 2.2-inch tires and a 32mm SID SL fork. Our Supercaliber 9.9 SLR test bike has shaved every gram and is bred for the race track, ready to tackle most XC race courses. For those wanting a little more diversity out of the bike, Trek offers Supercaliber models in both SLR and SL frame constructions with 2.4-inch tires and RockShox SID forks using 35mm stanchions. These weapons should handle any cross-country terrain and will even let you dabble in some legit backcountry epics.

Hit up www.trekbikes.com to shop the new Supercaliber Gen 2.

View key specs, compare bikes, and rate the new Trek Supercaliber in the Vital MTB Product Guide.

Supercaliber Gen 2 FAQ Supplied by Trek

What is different about the frame compared to the previous generation of Supercaliber?

The frame is completely new to make it a more capable bike without sacrificing any of the speed. The travel has been increased from 60mm to 80mm rear travel and the front suspension has increased from 100mm to 110mm. The geometry has been updated with a slightly longer reach and slacker headtube angle. There are now two unique Supercaliber frames. There is a lightweight SL frame and a super lightweight SLR Supercaliber frame. The frames look identical, however, the SLR frame has a lighter carbon layup and does not have the internal cable routing guides on the mainframe. There is also a new RockShox SIDLuxe IsoStrut on all models.

What is the rear brake mount? What is the max rotor size?

160mm direct post mount. Minimum and maximum rear rotor is 160mm.

How much dropper post insertion does the frame have?

SM – 215mm MD – 225mm M/L – 250mm LG – 270mm XL – 330mm

What is the hub spacing?

The frame uses 148mm hub spacing and has a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) for SRAM Eagle Transmission compatibility.

Which frame will be available as a frameset?

The lighter-weight SLR frame will be offered as a frameset.

What is the maximum fork axle-to-crown and/or travel?

The bike is designed for a 110mm travel fork, but it is compatible with 100 and 120mm forks. This allows the rider to choose the fork and travel that best suits their preference for geometry, weight, and performance. The maximum axle-to-race is 525mm.

Is there any downtube protection?

Yes. There is a clear 3M adhesive film placed on the underside of the downtube to protect the frame and paint from downtube strikes.

Is it compatible with SRAM T-Type transmissions?

Yes. It has a universal derailleur hanger that can be removed and a hangerless T-Type transmission used in its place.

What is the seat tube dimension?

Wheels & tires

What size tire is spec’d on the bikes?

All models get 29 x 2.4” tires except for the Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX SL T-Type which has 29 x 2.2” tires on it to help save weight and because the new RockShox SID SL fork on that model has a max clearance for 29 x 2.35” tires.

Is it compatible with other wheel/tire sizes?

No. The bike is designed around fast-rolling 29” wheels on all sizes.

What is the maximum tire size?

Frame: 2.40" Fork: See manufacturer

Are these bikes tubeless compatible? What additional parts are required?

Yes. All models are tubeless out of the box. They include TLR strips, valves and sealant.

Can tubeless inserts be used with Supercaliber?

Yes, tire inserts can be installed if desired.

What type of bottom bracket does it use?

Like the previous generation, it uses a press-fit 92 bottom bracket.

Is it compatible with cranks with 30mm spindles?

Yes, but you'll need to supply your own 30mm bottom bracket and compatible crank.

What is the maximum chainring size? Minimum chainring size?

55mm chainline only. Min chainring is 30T, max chainring is 38T

Is the new frame compatible with the previous FOX IsoStrut?

No, the frame is only compatible with the new RockShox SIDLuxe IsoStrut due to several dimensional changes (eye-to-eye, stroke, diameter).

What is the recommended sag for the new RockShox IsoStrut?

New Supercaliber was designed around 25% IsoStrut sag for a balanced level of rider efficiency and suspension response. Riders can also adjust setup pressure throughout the 15-35% sag range, as marked on the new RockShox IsoStrut, to fine-tune their setup based on preference and riding conditions. Higher pressure/less sag = higher ride height and firmer and a more efficient pedaling bike, while lower pressure/more sag provides lower ride height and softer and more compliance through rough terrain.

Is there any special suspension setup knowledge needed for the RockShox IsoStrut?

There are sag gradients marked on the strut to help you easily set up and tune your preferred sag.

Also, the IsoStrut rebound has numeric labeling: 10 is slow rebound and 1 is fast rebound. Ya know, just like the podium, you're racing for. #1 is fastest and higher numbers are slower. (Hope that helps you remember.)

Are there IsoStrut air volume spacers?

Yes. However, installing the RockShox air volume spacers is different than FOX. A walk-thru is available on Trek U.

Can all sizes fit 2 water bottles?

Yes, all sizes can fit 2 water bottles – 1 on the seat tube and 1 on the downtube.

Are there any unique tools required for this frame?

There is a unique bushing tool needed for service. See the Supercaliber service manual for details.

What is the warranty?

Standard Trek warranty. Lifetime for the main frame of the original owner. More details here

View replies to: Lighter Weight, More Travel - Trek Supercaliber Gen 2 First Ride

Most Popular

Join our Email List

Subscribe to our mailing list.

Oversize Charges

Some of our large and/or heavy items are subject to additional oversize charges that are separate from standard shipping costs. Most Bikes are subject to this fee. Learn More

OPEN: Mon, Sat 10-5; Tues - Fri 10-6; CLOSED: Sun

• Account Account
• Stores Stores
• Subtotal : $ 0.00 Checkout Cart

Availability

• In Stock Now 20
• Medium/Large 44
• Show More Sizes
• Show Fewer Sizes
• $2000 to $3499.99 14
• $3500 to $5999.99 20
• $6000 to $100000 21
• & up 25
• & up 30
• & up 31
• & up 32

Trek Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

• Bicycling Catalog
• Full-Suspension

What is Full Suspension?   A full suspension mountain bike has a main frame made up of three parts: the front triangle, rear triangle, and connnecting pivots and linkages.  A shock controls the rate of compression and rebound. The front wheel is connected to the front triangle by a suspension fork.  Both fork and shock allow the wheels a certain amount of controlled vertical movement that varies depending on the style of bike (Cross Country = 60-120mm; Trail = 120-150mm; Enduro = 150-180mm; Down Hill = 180-200mm).  Suspension is designed to give riders more comfort, stability, and control by keeping the wheels on the ground while on rough terrain.

Read Our Trek Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Guide

Who is it for?  Full suspension is smooth, comfortable on rough terrain, and stable on descents.  This means more control and more confidence.  However, these benefits cost more money, add weight, and decrease pedal efficiency.  Is a full suspension bike for you?  That depends on how much you want to spend and what types of trails you'd like to ride. If you're comfortable investing $2,000 + in a bike and would like to experience the widest range of Utah trails (which tend to be narrow, rocky, and loose), a full suspension is probably a good fit. We recommend visiting your local bike shop to talk with a professional about your cycling goals.  It's a good idea to test ride some different models and note what you like or dislike about each.  The most popular and versatile full suspension model we sell is the Trek Fuel EX.  Swing by and check one out today.

For those looking for the cost-savings or simplicity of a hardtail, please take a look at our selection of Trek Hardtails .

2024 Trek Supercaliber Review | A striking & deadly efficient short travel XC race bike

The not-so-minor details, 2024 trek supercaliber slr 9.8 gx axs.

https://www.trekbikes.com

From $8,999 AUD ($11,999 AUD as tested)

- Beautifully sleek & distinctive frame design - Ruthless pedal efficiency - Hardtail-like handling response - Great small-bump sensitivity & grip - Dropper post standard on all models - Unrivalled mud clearance

- IsoStrut lacked lubrication oil from factory - Insanely tight tyre & rim interface - Expensive for the spec - Cockpit ergonomics aren't great - Messy cables

Wil reviews the 2024 Trek Supercaliber

The Trek Supercaliber debuted in 2019 as a short travel XC bike built around the distinctive IsoStrut suspension design. Bred for racing at the very highest level of the sport, the Supercaliber has earned plenty of success including multiple World Cup, World Championship and Olympic victories. Four years is a long time in the XC world however, and the platform was no doubt due for a makeover.

To bring things up to date Trek recently unveiled the second generation Supercaliber. Although it appears to be a spitting image of its predecessor, a closer look reveals two new carbon frames, key geometry updates, an increase in travel and a redesigned IsoStrut shock made by RockShox.

So how do all those changes play out on the trail? How different is it to the original model? And how does it compare to the best XC bikes on the market? We got our hands on the 2024 Trek Supercaliber to find out!

Watch our video review of the Trek Supercaliber here:

Despite the improved suspension performance, it’s clear that the new Supercaliber has lost none of its ruthless efficiency.

An overview of the 2024 Trek Supercaliber

The 2024 Trek Supercaliber remains as the US brand’s flagship full suspension race bike that’s designed to compete with fellow XC speedsters like the Scott Spark RC , Specialized Epic World Cup , and  Giant Anthem .

It still features the distinctive IsoStrut suspension platform, though rear travel has increased from 60mm to 80mm. Fork travel has also bumped up to 110mm. However, the frame will handle a 100-120mm travel fork for those looking to tune the geometry and handling.

The OCLV carbon frame is all-new, and it’s now produced in two tiers; SL and SLR. They share an identical swingarm, but feature different front triangles. The SLR version incorporates higher modulus fibres, and it also uses conventional internal cable routing with foam insulation tubes to prevent rattling. In comparison, the SL frame features moulded-in guide tubes to make cable routing easier, at the expense of some added weight.

On that note, we’re glad to see Trek bucking the trend for routing the cables through the headset. Keeping things simple, the Knock Block steering limiter is also gone.

The Supercaliber does retain its 92mm wide PF92 bottom bracket shell, though an update to the new-school 55mm chainline has allowed the engineers to build in more tyre clearance. And aside from the top-end model, each Supercaliber now comes standard with 2.4in wide tyres. There’s also a new floating rear brake mount that’s designed specifically for 160mm rotors.

There’s a new IsoStrut

While the IsoStrut suspension design carries over to the new Trek Supercaliber, the shock itself is all-new. It’s now manufactured in partnership with RockShox, and it’s based on the latest SIDLuxe shock .

The available adjustments remain the same with an external rebound dial, air valve and a two-position remote lockout. However, the stroke has increased from 32.5mm to 40mm to help deliver the extra rear travel. Trek says the leverage rate is higher and flatter, with the goal of improving small-bump sensitivity and grip. Furthermore, the shock damper incorporates a bigger piston to improve oil flow and reduce choking on high-speed impacts.

The IsoStrut stanchion has also grown in diameter to 38mm, which is said to improve rear wheel tracking and elevate the frame’s overall torsional stiffness. It now gets anodised sag gradients to make setup easier, and the head of the shock only needs a 4mm hex key to open it up for servicing, compared to the Race Face BB tool that was required for the old bike.

Even with the extra travel there’s still a keen focus on efficiency. Trek has moved the main pivot 10mm upwards to increase anti-squat and better resist suspension bob under pedalling inputs. It also means you can fit a larger chainring (up to a 38T) without sacrificing the Supercaliber’s snappy pedalling performance.

Trek Supercaliber frame weight

As mentioned earlier, the 2024 Trek Supercaliber frame is offered in both SL and SLR variants. The SLR frame is claimed to weigh 1,950g including the shock, while the SL frame comes in at 2,100g.

Now although Trek says the new SLR frame is lighter than its predecessor, that isn’t entirely true. It’s worth noting that when the Supercaliber first launched in 2019 it actually boasted a claimed frame weight of 1,933g. Curiously that figure has grown over the years and is now listed as 2,150g.

We asked Trek about this increase, and the response was that it was due to a rolling change in 2021 that saw a heavier swingarm developed for UDH compatibility. It’s unclear how a UDH dropout could result in a 217g weight increase, so perhaps there were other reasons behind the swingarm getting heavier.

Comparisons to the old bike aside, here’s how the new Supercaliber SLR frame compares to the claimed weights of some of its competitors;

• Specialized S-Works Epic EVO  – 1,659g
• Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup – 1,712g
• Giant Anthem Advanced Pro  – 1,735g
• Orbea Oiz OMX  – 1,798g
• Scott Spark HMX SL  – 1,870g
• Canyon Lux World Cup CFR  – 1,894g
• Cannondale Scalpel Hi-Mod  – 1,910g
• Santa Cruz Blur 4  – 1,933g
• Trek Supercaliber SLR – 1,950g
• Merida Ninety-Six RC  – 2,064g
• Trek Supercaliber SL – 2,100g

Geometry updates

There have also been some noteworthy updates to the geometry on the 2024 Trek Supercaliber.

The 67.5° head angle is quite a bit slacker than the old bike, and the reach has grown by 10-15mm across the five frame sizes. Along with a 5mm increase in chainstay length, the overall wheelbase is considerably longer.

Trek has also steepened the seat angle by half a degree and lifted the BB height by 7mm. The aim was to improve the Supercaliber’s technical climbing performance, while also factoring in the change in dynamic ride height due to the increased suspension travel.

Trek Supercaliber price & specs

There will be six Trek Supercaliber models available in Australia, with prices starting from $8,999 AUD for the Supercaliber SL 9.7 AXS.

Most of the higher-end models will only be available through the Project One custom bike builder, which allows you to choose from a range of paint jobs and specification options. You can see the detailed specs and prices of the full range at the bottom of this review.

Our test bike sits in the middle of the lineup, and we expect it’ll be one of the most popular options; it’s the Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.8 GX AXS, and the current price on this is $11,999 AUD.

• Frame | SLR OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoStrut Suspension Design, 80mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox SID, Rush RL Damper w/Lockout, 44mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Shock | RockShox SIDLuxe IsoStrut w/Lockout, 240x40mm
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee Elite, Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Tyres |  Bontrager Sainte-Anne RSL XR, 2.4in Front & Rear
• Drivetrain | SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/34T Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
• Brakes | SRAM Level Bronze 4-Piston w/180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
• Cockpit | Bontrager RSL Integrated Bar & Stem, OCLV Carbon, 750mm Width
• Seatpost | Bontrager Line Dropper, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 125mm (M-ML), 150mm (L-XL)
• Saddle | Bonrager Verse Elite, Austentite Rails
• Confirmed Weight | 11.62kg
• RRP | $11,999 AUD

The increased travel and flatter leverage rate offers noticeably improved sensitivity over its predecessor, and indeed the back end is smoother than you’d expect for an XC bike with just 80mm of travel.

Trek Supercaliber sizing & fit

At 175cm tall I have the option of riding either the M or ML size in the Trek Supercaliber. The stack is identical between the two, with the key difference being the reach (435mm vs 450mm). Most of the XC bikes I’ve been testing lately have been in the 440-450mm zone, so I elected for the ML size.

The riding position is stretched-out, aggressive and racy. Your weight is pushed low and forward thanks to the short head tube and negative rise 70mm stem. You feel very much in-the-bike, with the Supercaliber hovering close to the ground.

While the fit is good, I can’t say I’m totally gelling with the cockpit ergonomics. There’s a limited range of adjustment for the lever reach on the SRAM Level Bronze brakes, and even with the dial wound all the way in they’re still not quite as close to the grips as I’d like.

Our test bike comes standard with the cheap version of Bontrager’s dropper remote that features a standalone bar clamp. It really only fits in between the TwistLoc remote and the brake lever clamp, and that means the paddle sits quite far outboard. Not only does it push into the knuckle of my thumb, it also makes it difficult to grab a hold of the TwistLoc remote to actuate.

High-end Supercaliber models get a dropper remote that mounts directly to the brake lever, which would help to alleviate this clearance issue.

As we’ve experienced with the 2024 RockShox SID , the new TwistLoc Ultimate remote works well. However, for some reason our test bike came with the straight cable guide that spits the cables out perpendicular to the handlebar, which makes for an unsightly mess of cables. The angled cable guide would certainly make more sense here.

Suspension setup

Setting up the suspension on the new Trek Supercaliber has been made significantly easier thanks to the anodised sag gradients on the IsoStrut stanchion. Trek says you run the shock with 20-30% sag depending on the feel you’re after. I ended up at 25% sag, with 116psi to support my 67kg riding weight. I’ve set rebound damping on the quicker side at just three clicks off the fastest setting (7/10 clicks).

It’s also possible to tune the shock’s progression with volume spacers, and two are included in the box with the bike. It’s not a straightforward process however, as you’ll need to remove the IsoStrut assembly from the frame in order to open up the shock and access the air spring.

Up front is the new 2024 RockShox SID . It’s the base model with the Rush RL damper, though it features the same chassis and DebonAir+ spring as the top-end Ultimate model that I’ve been testing recently. As with the Ultimate model, I’ve found the suggested pressures via the RockShox Trailhead app to be too low. Instead of the recommended 69psi I’m running 82psi, and I have the rebound damping set nine clicks out from the slowest setting (9/22 clicks).

Trek Supercaliber weight

With the tyres set up tubeless our Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.8 GX AXS test bike came in at a confirmed weight of 11.62kg. That’s higher than the claimed weight of 11.28kg, and it’s also on the heavier side for a premium XC race bike with a $12K price tag.

As with all Supercaliber models, it does come fitted with a dropper post, which is fantastic to see. The Bontrager Line dropper is relatively heavy at 554g (confirmed), so you could drop 200g alone by upgrading to a Fox Transfer SL .

It’s worth noting that the Bontrager Kovee Pro wheelset is the older version with heavier rims and a deeper profile. These came in at a confirmed weight of 1,757g including the pre-fitted TLR rim strips and valves. That’s reasonable, though nowhere near the jaw-dropping 1,217g weight of the Kovee RSL wheelset we recently reviewed .

I suspect this obscenely tight fit is due to the combination the thick plastic TLR rim strips and the tyres themselves, but whatever the case, it’s not good.

Super-tight tyres

We’re glad to see Trek including a bottle of sealant with the bike, which makes it easy to set the tyres up tubeless.

Speaking of, these are the new Bontrager Sainte-Anne tyres that’ll be replacing the outgoing XR2. With a tread pattern that’s reminiscent of a Schwalbe Racing Ralph, they feature a finely-woven 220tpi casing, sidewall protection, dual compound rubber and a generous 2.4in width.

During the initial build I discovered that the tyres on our test bike appeared to be welded onto the rims, and found it impossible to physically pop the bead with my bare hands. With the help of a friend, a vice and some choice vocabulary, we eventually managed to peel the tyres off the rims. I suspect this obscenely tight fit is due to the combination the thick plastic TLR rim strips and the tyres themselves, but whatever the case, it’s not good.

Once I removed the tyres I was able to weigh them (798g confirmed) before fitting a tubeless insert into the rear wheel. I aired them up to 22psi up front and 24psi out back and rolled towards the trailhead, desperately praying I wouldn’t suffer any punctures.

Servicing the IsoStrut

Having spent a load of time on the previous generation Trek Supercaliber , I was very excited to see how the new bike would compare. However, I have to admit that I wasn’t totally loving it during the first few rides. The claims of improved sensitivity weren’t exactly playing out on the trail, with the back end feeling somewhat harsh.

This wasn’t a total surprise as the IsoStrut assembly does require some trail time to bed in, though out of curiosity I decided to pull it apart to get a closer look at the innards and see how different it was to the old bike.

Straight away the back end of the Supercaliber felt better, and it gradually became smoother and more sensitive over the course of the next few rides.

It’s worth noting here that the 38mm stanchion is essentially one half of a RockShox Zeb. In fact, the IsoStrut uses exactly the same bushings and wiper seals as the big-hitting single crown fork. That’s pretty cool, and it should make it easier to source replacements when needed.

For those wondering, the IsoStrut weighs in at 369g on the workshop scales, which is about 100g heavier than a conventional SIDLuxe shock. Bear in mind that it’s also a structural member of the frame, so it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.

With the IsoStrut cracked open I discovered that while it wasn’t totally bone-dry inside, there wasn’t a lot of lubrication fluid present. I gave it all a clean and pumped in 15cc of the requisite Maxima Plush suspension fluid and bolted everything back together.

Straight away the back end of the Supercaliber felt better, and it gradually became smoother and more sensitive over the course of the next few rides. Now with over 250km of testing logged, I’m confident to give a detailed appraisal of the bike.

What do we dig about the 2024 Trek Supercaliber?

With the IsoStrut dialled in, the Trek Supercaliber has been getting better the more I’ve ridden it.

The increased travel and flatter leverage rate offers noticeably improved sensitivity over its predecessor, and indeed the back end is smoother than you’d expect for an XC bike with just 80mm of travel. Seated comfort is excellent, and the rear suspension generates usable grip whether you’re in or out of the saddle.

Of course it’s not as plush as the longer travel Spark or Oiz . In direct comparison, the IsoStrut platform delivers a feel that’s closer to those two bikes when their suspension remotes are set to the middle setting (Traction Control or Medium).

However, for most XC racer types the Supercaliber will be sufficiently comfortable, and it’s obviously way more compliant than a hardtail. The high volume tyres also allow for lower pressures and more cushioning across sharp edges, and the 110mm travel SID keeps the front end tracking smoothly. The bigger chassis is a great match for the sturdy Supercaliber, offering a considerably more planted ride quality over the skinnier 32mm forks that came standard on the old bike.

Being able to drop the saddle down for the descents also makes a huge difference to descending confidence. Combined with the slacker head angle and longer wheelbase, the new Supercaliber is a far more stable bike at speed.

Stompable efficiency

Despite the improved suspension performance, it’s clear that the Supercaliber has lost none of its ruthless efficiency. Indeed the lockout is somewhat superfluous on this bike, which is good because I couldn’t really activate the TwistLoc remote anyway due to the poor placement of the dropper lever.

Really the only reason you’d reach for it in the first place would be to stabilise the fork during out-of-the-saddle sprinting. Otherwise you can comfortably leave the suspension open all the time with no concern for losing precious watts to pedal bob.

As for the source of the Supercaliber’s impressive efficiency, that comes down to a combination of the frame’s kinematics and the shock’s damper tune. We’re told that the compression damping in the Open setting is actually the same as the middle setting on a regular SIDLuxe 3-position shock, which makes sense as it’s very steady under pedalling inputs. Combined with the linear leverage rate and increased anti-squat, there’s zero hint of wallow through the rear end.

This makes the Supercaliber incredibly responsive under power, and it really encourages you to attack the trail at any opportunity. There’s minimal flex between the handlebar and the rear axle, which helps to translate explosive efforts when you’re yanking on the grips and stomping on the pedals. It lights up technical climbs, with the slightly taller BB height offering decent ground clearance over technical features.

Razor-sharp rigidity

Indeed it’s the overall chassis stiffness that represents one of the main drivers behind the IsoStrut platform. With the big 38mm stanchion braced by two widely-spaced bushings, Trek’s engineers have been able to minimise rear-end flex compared to a frame with a traditional swing link. This gives the Supercaliber a near-hardtail level of rigidity, with a sharp and agile feel when darting through the corners.

Trek has bolstered this with the stiff carbon wheels and RSL one-piece cockpit, so while the slacker head angle has calmed down the steering somewhat, the handling is still positively telepathic compared to most other XC bikes. Steering inputs are transmitted with minimal lag, and I found myself subconsciously taking the inside lines whenever possible.

There’s a real sense of what the terrain is doing beneath you thanks to the direct line of communication between your contact points and the tyre contact patches. This lack of vagueness is particularly beneficial across softer trail surfaces and through dusty berms, where you can modulate your weight distribution to maximise grip.

What has it struggled with?

While it is smoother and more stable than predecessor, the Trek Supercaliber doesn’t offer the same level of big-hit confidence on the descents as the Spark and Oiz. It’s surprisingly well controlled thanks to its sturdy chassis and nicely balanced geometry, but you can still run out of travel when pushing hard on rocky terrain.

There isn’t a tonne of support from the rear suspension, and that means it’s possible to bottom it out on bigger and harder landings. The sensation was initially quite harsh and metallic-y, though hitting full travel did become notably quieter and more damped after servicing the IsoStrut with fresh oil. It still makes a bit of noise when fully bottoming out, which seems to be amplified by the hollow stanchion.

With this in mind, I’d suggest heavier riders and anyone who’s wishing to run more than 25% sag will need to add a volume spacer to increase ramp-up. In my case, I found the stock setup worked fine as long as I exercised a little nuance and chose smoother lines as I would on a hardtail.

Even still, the Supercaliber exhibits noticeable feedback through the drivetrain across high-frequency chatter. This is the downside of the higher main pivot, which results in increased pedal kickback that is particularly noticeable on rocky tech climbs.

You could mellow out this sensation by fitting a larger chainring. This would reduce the amount of chain growth that occurs as the shock goes through its travel, potentially leading to a smoother ride quality.

Component highs & lows

It has to be said that for the $11,999 AUD asking price, our Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.8 GX AXS test bike doesn’t represent amazing value for money. It costs the same as the Cervelo ZFS-5 I’m currently testing, yet that bike comes with a SRAM X0 Transmission and a Reverb AXS dropper post. And the Orbea Oiz M10 I reviewed recently is $2,500 AUD cheaper despite having Factory Series Fox suspension and a nicer wheelset.

This would suggest that it’s the gorgeous SLR carbon frame and efficient IsoStrut suspension that you’re mostly paying for here. It’s also worth highlighting the trick Bontrager RSL one-piece cockpit, which sells for $640 AUD on its own and weighs just 239g.

While not overly blingy, the rest of the component package on our test bike has worked pretty well. The SRAM GX Transmission isn’t as light as its pricier X0 and XX siblings, but the gear range and shifting accuracy is superb. And although the Level brakes weren’t totally quiet, they otherwise offer excellent power and feel.

The Kovee Pro wheels have been solid, though as a lighter rider I didn’t find the stiff carbon rims to offer much compliance on rocky trails. I confirmed this by testing out the Supercaliber with the Kovee RSL wheelset , which made a noticeable difference to the overall ride quality. The stock wheels are very direct though, and the buzzy 108pt engagement offers rapid pickup at the pedals. The freehub is already starting to show some signs of contamination, so you’ll want to keep on top of maintenance to avoid premature bearing wear.

As for the overly tight-fitting tyres, I was mighty thankful not to have encountered any punctures throughout testing. If this were my bike, I’d be replacing the plastic TLR rim strips and fitting standard tubeless tape.

While not a big issue in terms of performance, the rear tyre has had a hefty wobble in the casing from new, which is a bit disappointing from a quality control perspective. I was otherwise happy to see the Sainte-Anne tyres measuring up exactly as claimed at 2.4in wide, and I found them to roll really well while offering predictable grip on dry and dusty hardpacked trails. The rubber compound lacks some grip on wet rocks and roots, which caused me a couple of pant-shitting moments when the wheels were spat out sideways.

Frame details

One positive I noticed during a particularly muddy test ride was the insane amount of clearance through the rear of the frame. Unlike most full suspension designs, the chainstay bridge on the Trek Supercaliber sits in front of the seat tube. This significantly reduces mud build-up, which is something you’ll be thankful for when the weather conditions turn south on race day.

As mentioned earlier, I’ve not been stoked on the cockpit ergonomics or cable management. Our test bike has exhibited some cable noise from inside the frame, and the bird’s nest in front of the handlebars spoils the otherwise clean lines of the IsoStrut platform.

It is nice to see the Supercaliber equipped with a conventional headset, though I do miss the Knock Block steering limiter. On our M/L size test bike, the dropper post lever and right-hand controller are able to contact the top tube when the bar spins around, which could cause some unfortunate damage in the event of a crash.

In terms of general maintenance, RockShox recommends servicing the IsoStrut air can every 100 hours of ride time, which is actually double the interval for a regular SIDLuxe shock. Given our experience however, I’d suggest checking the lubrication levels if you’re experiencing any harshness from new. Our test bike came out of Trek Australia’s production stock, so there’s a chance there could be consumer bikes out there in a similar condition.

Servicing is a relatively easy process to undertake, and I like how the IsoStrut combines existing components from the Zeb fork and SIDLuxe shock. I was also glad to see all of the bolts and mounting points lining up neatly, and there was no bending or preloading required to get the swingarm back into place. Of note is the new main pivot, which now uses a collet axle with a conical wedge to keep everything snug and secure.

Trek Supercaliber vs Specialized Epic World Cup

When it comes to comparisons to the Trek Supercaliber, none are more apt than the Specialized Epic World Cup .

Launched earlier this year, the Epic World Cup features a similar profile with its rear shock partially hidden within the frame’s top tube. Equipped with 75mm of rear travel, the Epic World Cup also utilises a custom shock that’s manufactured by RockShox. It’s called the SIDLuxe WCID and it uses a unique, tuneable air-spring to deliver an automated pedalling platform. Combined with the fork’s Brain damper, the Epic World Cup is defined by its lack of remote lockouts and excess cables. The result is a remarkably clean cockpit that is quite the juxtaposition to the Supercaliber.

As for pricing, the Specialized Epic World Cup Pro we tested sells for $13,900 AUD. It gets a considerably better spec with a RockShox SID SL Ultimate fork, a SRAM X0 Transmission, a powermeter, Level Silver brakes, and a Roval Control Carbon wheelset. Unfortunately it doesn’t come standard with a dropper post, but overall it feels like a more refined package out of the box.

It also comes in quite a bit lighter at 10.32kg. Even if you did add a Reverb AXS dropper, it’d still be close to a kilo lighter overall.

While we’re talking weight, the Epic World Cup’s FACT 12m carbon frame is claimed to be over 200g lighter than the Supercaliber SLR (1,712g vs 1,950g). There are some other differences, with the Epic World Cup featuring a threaded BB shell and internal routing through the headset.

Out on the trail, both bikes offer incredible pedalling performance. They share a similar ethos with no need to adjust levers or toggle remotes, encouraging you to hammer away on the pedals and focus on the trail ahead. It’s quite a different experience to the Scott Spark for example, which is very much reliant on its TwinLoc remote.

Thanks to the WCID shock and its tuneable negative air spring, there’s considerable scope for dialling in the rear suspension on the Epic World Cup. In the ‘Active’ setting the rear suspension isn’t as efficient but it is smoother than the Supercaliber. There’s greater support with a stronger ramp-up towards the end of the travel, while the lower anti-squat results in a more neutral feel through the pedals over chunky terrain.

Furthermore, the Epic World Cup features a slacker head angle (66.5° vs 67.5°) and more BB drop (57mm vs 46mm), which results in improved stability and confidence on the descents. The Brain-equipped SID SL fork isn’t overly supple, and you need to be riding fast and assertively to get the most out of the inertia valve. The upside is that it doesn’t bob much at all when you’re sprinting, and it provides awesome stability on high-speed flow trails, staying high in its travel through berms and rollers.

For smoother race courses, setting up the WCID shock in the ‘Firm’ setting delivers an almost locked-out hardtail feel. In this setting the Epic World Cup is a touch more efficient than the Supercaliber, but it does lack some small-bump compliance.

Given the adjustability that’s on offer, the Epic World Cup requires a decent amount of trail time to experiment with the available settings in order to find your preferred setup. Of course there is no way to adjust the settings on-the-fly, and the lack of a remote lockout may be a turnoff for some racers. For others, the automated platform and clutter-free cockpit will be more than worth it.

In comparison, the Supercaliber is a simpler and more focused beast. Once you’ve dialled in your shock sag and rebound, there’s not much more to worry about. Pedalling performance is always ultra-snappy, and you’ve got access to a proper full lockout when needed. While the back end isn’t as supportive on bigger hits or as compliant on rockier terrain as the Epic World Cup, it does deliver excellent climbing grip and seated comfort. Along with the taut carbon frame, higher BB and steeper head angle, it’s more responsive through the turns and it’s arguably the better climber out of the two.

Flow’s Verdict

With its new frame, updated geometry and redesigned IsoStrut, the 2024 Trek Supercaliber is a welcome evolution of the original.

Some folks may be disappointed that it doesn’t look all that different, and for sure it isn’t a radical departure from its predecessor. It’s still sharp, efficient and highly responsive on tight singletrack, making it well suited to racing dirt crits and short track XC.

The suspension is notably improved however, offering better grip and small-bump sensitivity. Along with the bigger fork, dropper post and 2.4in tyres, the new Supercaliber exudes more confidence on the descents and greater stability at speed.

It isn’t exactly a flawless package though, and we’ve not been blown away by its weight or value for money. It’s also not as plush or as supportive as some of its longer travel contemporaries, and that makes it less versatile outside of the race tape, especially on rockier terrain.

If you’re serious about XC racing and you value efficiency above all else however, you’re unlikely to find a more focussed bike than the Supercaliber. It does a marvellous job of straddling the performance gap between a hardtail and a traditional full suspension bike, offering razor-sharp handling and crisp pedalling performance with just enough travel to get you out of trouble when needed.

2024 Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS

• Fork | RockShox SID SL Ultimate, Charger Race Day Damper w/Lockout, 44mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee RSL, Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Tyres |  Bontrager Sainte-Anne RSL XR, 2.2in Front & Rear
• Drivetrain | SRAM XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/34T Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
• Brakes | SRAM Level Ultimate 4-Piston w/160mm Rotors
• Seatpost | Fox Transfer SL, Factory Series, 31.6mm Diameter, 100mm Travel
• Saddle | Bontrager Aeolus RSL, Carbon Rails
• Claimed Weight | 9.45kg
• RRP | $18,999 AUD

2024 Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XTR

• Fork | Fox 34 Step-Cast, Factory Series, FIT4 Damper w/Lockout, 44mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee Pro 30, Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Drivetrain | Shimano XTR 1×12 w/34T e*13 TRS Race Carbon Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XTR 2-Piston w/160mm Rotors
• Seatpost | Fox Transfer SL, Factory Series, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S-M), 125mm (ML-L), 150mm (XL)
• Claimed Weight | 9.75kg
• RRP | $17,299 AUD

2024 Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 X0 AXS

• Fork | RockShox SID Ultimate, Charger Race Day Damper w/Lockout, 44mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee Pro, Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Drivetrain | SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission 1×12 w/34T Crankset & 10-52T Cassette
• Brakes | SRAM Level Silver 4-Piston w/180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
• Seatpost | RockShox Reverb AXS, 31.6mm Diameter, Travel: 100mm (S), 150mm (M-XL)
• Saddle | Bonrager Aeolus Elite, Austentite Rails
• Claimed Weight | 11kg
• RRP | $16,499 AUD

• Claimed Weight | 11.28kg

2024 Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.8 XT

• Fork | Fox 34 Step-Cast, Performance Series, GRIP Damper w/Lockout, 44mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee Elite 30, Carbon Rims, 29mm Inner Width
• Drivetrain | Shimano XT 1×12 w/34T e*13 TRS Race Carbon Crankset & 10-51T Cassette
• Brakes | Shimano XT 2-Piston w/180mm Front & 160mm Rear Rotors
• Claimed Weight | 10.95kg
• RRP | $11,599 AUD

2024 Trek Supercaliber SL 9.7 AXS

• Frame | SL OCLV Mountain Carbon, IsoStrut Suspension Design, 80mm Travel
• Fork | RockShox Reba RL, Motion Control Damper w/Lockout, 42mm Offset, 110mm Travel
• Wheels | Bontrager Kovee Comp 25, Alloy Rims, 25mm Inner Width
• Handlebar | Bontrager Line Pro, OCLV Carbon, 750mm Width
• Stem | Bontrager Elite, 35mm Diameter Clamp
• Saddle | Bontrager Verse Elite, Austentite Rails
• Claimed Weight | 11.8kg
• RRP | $8,999 AUD
• Submit for Review
• Terms & Conditions

Enjoy reading this?

Get similar articles delivered directly to your inbox

Best cross-country XC mountain bikes: Thoroughbred racing steeds

• Alan Muldoon
• April 16, 2024

The best cross-country (XC) mountain bikes are all about raw speed. But their light weight and excellent efficiency also makes then ideal for fast, flowing singletrack as well as racing.

XC Race Bike Test opener Credit: Mick Kirkman

Welcome to a lean, mean collection of the best cross-country mountain bikes built for speed, all put through their (race) paces by our expert team of reviewers. Lighter and faster than the more versatile bikes from our list of best mountain bikes , these whippets are not for the faint-hearted.

While all these bikes bring distinctively different approaches to what makes an XC race winner, there is a thread that ties them all together: all are rolling on 29in wheels. From hardtail to full-suspension options, some feature traditional XC geometry, while others are a little slacker in the head angle with more suspension to take on the increasingly technical modern cross-country tracks, and also thanks to the growth in popularity of down-country bikes .

Best cross-country mountain bikes: hardtails

The latest Trek Procaliber 9.7 keeps the same comfortable frame but gains a SRAM wireless T-Type transmission.

1. Trek Procaliber

Best xc hardtail for a compliant ride.

Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon | Frame sizes:  S, M, M/L, L, XL, XXL  | Suspension travel:  110mm f  | Weight: 11.01kg | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable as well as speedy
• Wide size range

Reasons to avoid:

• Lacks a dropper post for modern XC courses

We tested the Trek Procaliber 9.7 a few years ago and it blew the competition away to take the top step of the podium in our group test. The current model hasn’t changed significantly – it still uses the same OCLV carbon frame with effective, trail-smoothing IsoSpeed decoupler, that lets you save energy and channel more into effort into reaching the finish line first.

When we tested it we were blown away, writing: ‘From the first pedal stroke the Procaliber took the lead in this test and never faltered. We were instantly won over by its effortless turn of speed, in part thanks to the carbon wheels, but it’s also about the more forgiving ride quality of the frame. Bumps just didn’t chip away at our speed as much as they did on the other bikes on test. And even when we were out of the saddle, the Procaliber was still the smoothest bike here.’ High praise indeed.

Read our full test review of the Trek Procaliber 9.7

Giant’s XTC SLR 29 1 is dressed to impress.

2. Giant XTC SLR 29 1

Best budget xc race hardtail.

Frame:  ALUXX SLR aluminium  | Frame sizes:  S, M, L, XL  | Suspension travel:  100mm f  |  Weight:  12.29kg | Rating:  10/10

• Giant Crest forks adds accuracy
• Needs lock-on grips
• Tall top tube height

A light frame, precise fork, and stellar handling ensured the Giant XTC emerged out in front when we tested four budget XC race hardtails. There’s an obvious pedigree bred from years of racing development, and the result is a bike that we described as “startlingly fast yet totally forgiving”.

Whether you’re planning to dip your toe into XC racing, have a crack at a marathon event, or fancy the challenge of a long-distance trail such as the South Downs Way, the Giant XTC SLR 29 1 is up for the fight.

Read our full test review of the Giant XTC SLR 29 1

The Voodoo Bizango Pro won our hardtail of the year test in 2022, and carries so much pace that it would make a superb starter XC bike.

2. Voodoo Bizango Pro

Best budget mountain bike for racing and long rides.

Wheel size:  29in |  Frame sizes:  S, M, L, XL |  Weight:  13.2kg |  Suspension travel:  130mm front |  Rating:  10/10

• Good geometry and superlative spec choices
• Low weight and comfy ride feel
• BB could be a finger’s width lower
• Fatter tyres and more standover clearance would be welcome

The Voodoo Bizango has smashed pretty much any test it’s ever entered, winning our Hardtail of the Year award multiple times, earning regular podium places on our list of  the best hardtail mountain bikes , and impressing everyone who rode it. It must have been very tempting for Halfords to stick with the old frame, add a modern colour, fettle the spec and keep mixing up that winning mix.

We’re extremely glad they didn’t then. For Halfords’ sake, standing still in the ultra competitive hardtail market is suicide. And for our sake, the new Bizango Pro is much the superior bike to anything Voodoo has made before, and ultimately more fun to ride. Great brakes mean you can go faster in the happy knowledge you can stop when you need to, while the 12-speed shifting means you can cruise the hills faster than plenty of full-sus bikes out there. And then there’s the fork, it’s hugely superior to anything we’ve tried before on a £1k hardtail: air-sprung so you can set the sag to your weight, effective rebound dial for control, and a really smooth feel.

Read the full Voodoo Bizango Pro review

Scott’s Scale has an enviable racing pedigree.

3. Scott Scale

Best chassis for upgrade.

Frame: 6061 Custom butted aluminium | Frame sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Suspension travel:  100mm f  | Weight: 12.97kg | Rating: 9/10

• Composed ride
• No tubeless-ready tyres
• Basic fork gets overwhelmed easily

Some brands use race teams for marketing, others focus on product development; Scott clearly does both. As such, the Scale is a finely tuned XC race machine with a huge trophy cabinet to prove it. It’s a light bike for the money, and with a stance and fit that will appeal to performance-minded riders, it will come as no surprise that the Scott feels quick straight off the mark. In our review, we explained this was “assisted no doubt by the wide 92mm bottom bracket shell and boxy, flattened chainstays”. Which meant that “putting the power down out of the saddle feels both natural and rewarding”.

Unfortunately the fly in the ointment is the basic RockShox Judy fork. It doesn’t have the damping control to match the speed you can generate from the chassis, so you end up using more energy to stay on line and maintain that valuable momentum. Given that the frame deserves it, we’d recommend stepping up to the Scale 960 at £1,699 which runs a stouter Fox 32 Rhythm.

Read our full test review of the Scott Scale 965

Best cross-country mountain bikes: full-suspension

The new Specialized Epic WC is as much brain as brawn.

1. Specialized Epic 8

Techno tour de force.

Frame:  FACT 12M Carbon | Frame Sizes: XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL  | Suspension travel: 120mm f, 120mm r | Weight: 10.49kg | Rating: N/A

• Superlight yet impressively controlled and practical frame
• Automatic Ai suspension leaves you with more mental capacity for tactics
• Perfect race componentry
•  Premium performance comes at a premium cost
• Flight Attendant auto-suspension is bound to be an opinion divider

Specialized always likes to be one step ahead of the competition, whether it’s on the race track or the shop floor, and the new Epic 8 is the most advanced XC bike on the planet. Of course, that also means that the price tag is out of this world.

But you do get a mind-bendingly fast machine that’s now in its 8th iteration – hence the name. Perhaps the most impressive part of this bike is the way it blends old-school know how – excellent handling, efficient pedalling, capable suspension – with a fork and shock that work together under the control of a sophisticated brain to make sure you’re always in the optimum mode. Which lets you get on with the job of showing your competitors a clean pair of wheels.

Read our full review of the Specialized Epic 8 WC

Trek’s Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2 builds on a winning formula.

2. Trek Supercaliber Gen 2

Best money-no-object xc race bike.

Frame: SLR OCLV Mountain Carbon | Frame Sizes: S, M, L, XL | Suspension travel: 100mm f, 100mm r | Weight: 9.75kg | Rating: 9/10

• Conventional frame configuration
• Predictable handling and suspension
• Race-ready build
• Press-fit BB servicing sucks (but you’ll find them on most XC race bikes)
• Narrow tyres and no power meter on the top spec

Don’t be fooled by the dropper post; Trek’s new Supercaliber is still a pure-bred XC race bike that thrives on speed and success. The latest frame design is a subtle evolution of the original, which means it’s more about ironing out the creases than starting from scratch. The proprietary IsoStrut suspension minimises weight while maximising stiffness, so you get a smoother, faster ride, without losing forward momentum in a sprint or on the climbs. 

As we said in our review, “ the stiff frame, progressive suspension and increased anti squat all boost ego when you’re putting the effort in”. And while the dropper post adds a tiny bit of weight to the sub-10kg package, it lets you attack on the descents as well as the climbs. 

Read our full review of the Trek Supercaliber SLR 9.9 XX AXS Gen 2

Integrated suspension system conceals the RockShox NUDE 5 shock inside the full carbon frame.

3. Scott Spark RC

Best xc bike for on-the-fly suspension optimisation.

Wheel size:  29in |  Frame sizes:  S, M, L, XL |  Weight:  11.12kg |  Suspension travel:  120mm f/120mm r |  Rating:  9/10

• Ruthless in its efficiency
• Hidden shock should need less maintenance
• Remote suspension adjust
• Suspension could be more supple in Descend mode

Scott’s Spark has won more trophies than any other race bike, with double Olympic gold back in 2016. This latest version gets a sleek new frame and more modern geometry, meaning that while the Scott Spark has lost none of its potency, it has now become even more versatile. It also gets a hidden shock for reduced maintenance, and remote suspension control for uphill efficiency without compromising on downhill confidence. It’s also one of the sleekest, cleanest designs on the planet.

Read our full review of the Scott Spark RC WC AXS

Santa Cruz Blur is not the stiffest race bike, but it’s one of the lightest and a lot of fun to ride.

4. Santa Cruz Blur

Punches well above its weight.

Frame: CC carbon, 100mm | Frame Sizes: S, M, L, XL | Suspension travel: 100mm f, 100mm r | Weight: 10.41kg | Rating: 8/10

• So light it barely needs any human propulsion
• Rear suspension is not the firmest under power

The Santa Cruz Blur barely makes an impression on the scales, weighing a scant 10.4kg in size large with the build kit shown above. But it certainly makes an impression on the trails, with a comfortable ride and effortless momentum over sections that would have most XC bikes tensing up and slowing down. There’s no shortage of urgency to the acceleration, and it’s surprisingly capable downhill, but there are better climbing XC bikes.

We found the suspension tune gave loads of grip, but absorbed some of our energy on the climbs. Luckily there’s a remote lockout to compensate, but it’s not as sophisticated as Scott’s TwinLoc system.

Read our full test review of the Santa Cruz Blur XC CC X01 AXS RSV

How we tested

Each of the bikes above was put through its paces in a rigorous testing process, ridden hard over many miles by experience bike testers. Judged on performance when sprinting, climbing, descending, riding features such as drops, jumps, root sections and rock gardens, only the bikes which scored highly in reviews have been included here. These are the best of the best.

Evie Richards performs at UCI XCO World Championships in Glentress, Scotland on her Trek Supercaliber // Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool.

What is XC racing and what makes a good race bike?

In many ways, XC racing is the foundation upon which our sport has been built. Yes, new styles and disciplines come and go, or morph in the way that 160mm-travel all-mountain bikes transformed into enduro rigs. Cross-country racing, however, has weathered the storms of fashion and remains ingrained in riding culture to this day, and with the success of the Olympics and stars such as Evie Richards, Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel now couldn’t be a better time to try one of these addictively fast machines. If you want something more versatile, check out our buyer’s guide to the best down-country bikes as these bring a little bit more suspension travel and allow you to broaden your riding horizons.

Like all survivors, XC racing has prospered by evolving. Long gone are the three-hour mud-fests on non-challenging terrain. Courses are now shorter and more demanding, challenging riders and equipment, while pushing the visual aspect to make it more appealing for spectators.

A typical XC race loop now features punchy climbs, descents worthy of any EWS stage plus more purpose-built features for the TV cameras. XC riding and racing is thrilling to watch because it is no longer purely a test of raw fitness; it’s about pushing skill levels and bike handling as much as heart rates.

We had to borrow Lycra from our sister publication for this XC hardtail test.

Full-suspension Vs hardtail: which makes the best XC race bike?

We love hardtails at mbr. XC race bikes have never been in a better spot, the bikes rising to the challenge of modern courses and the demands of the next generation of racers.

And while most of the racing elite have smoothly transitioned to 29er full-suspension bikes, if you’re just getting into XC racing, a trusty 29er hardtail is a much more affordable way to get your hands on a lightweight, efficient bike. Which is why we have several XC 29er race hardtails selected for this list.

The Scott Spark RC is one of the most iconic race bikes of modern times.

Which bike should I choose for cross-country mountain biking?

As XC courses have evolved, so too have the bikes. As such, modern XC races will probably see very few races won on a hardtail, with lightweight full-suspension bikes proving to be the most efficient over the majority of race courses. Even at the highest level of World Cup racing, the pros have realised that effective suspension and confidence-inspiring geometry can bring bigger gains than just weight saving and efficiency alone.

So for most riders, a full-suspension XC bike will reduce fatigue on a modern race course, allowing you to use that saved energy to attack the competition. And when you’re not between the tape, a full-sus race bike can also hold its own as a trail bike, giving extra versatility.

Riders like Tom Pidcock are bringing a fresh injection of style and excitement to XC racing.

However, if you’re toying with trying a few XC races, but also fancy the idea of a gravel bike, an XC hardtail would make a better tool. Why? Well, they’re likely to be just as fast as a gravel bike on most actual gravel roads, but with the right cockpit and geometry for bombing off-piste when the opportunity arises. And who wants to spend their life grovelling along a gravel road when you could be ripping some prime singletrack?

• Help Center
• Chat with a Ride Guide
• 1-866-401-9636
• Retail Store
• Bike Services

Reset Password

We will send you an email to reset your password.

Don't have an account? Create an account

Create Account

Already have an account? Sign In

• Favorite your products & save them to your account
• Save a search & get notified when new products drop
• Be first to know about the latest events & promotions

Bike Finder

Results have arrived, the 13 best xc-cross-country mountain bikes 2022: singletrack mtb speeders.

To cross the finish line first, beat your own PRs, or just explore local trails, you want a fast cross-country MTB by your side. For those who live to pedal, these are the best XC bikes around.

Written by: Bruce Lin

Published on: Apr 6, 2022

Posted in: Bikes

There exists a special breed of mountain biker, whose M.O. is to cover ground as quickly as possible. These riders crush climbs, blast down flow trails, and sometimes, they even wear lycra (though it’s not required!). Their weapon of choice? The cross-country (a.k.a. XC) bike. These hardtail and full-suspension trail missiles are designed to keep weight low and speed high. For riders who love to pedal hard and explore faraway trails, these are the XC bikes they need to keep on their radar. 

[button] Shop XC bikes [/button] | [button] Shop all mountain bikes [/button]

Best XC-Cross Country Hardtail Mountain Bikes

For minimal weight and maximum efficiency, nothing beats the XC hardtail. The rigid rear end makes sure every watt goes from the pedals into the ground. They are perfect for less technical trails, flow trails, and rides that mix in fire roads, gravel, and even some pavement. These are our favorite fast hardtails.

Specialized Epic HT

[product-block handle="2018-specialized-epic-pro-ht-l"/]

Specialized replaced its long-running Stumpjumper Hardtail with the new Epic Hardtail in 2017, which takes its name from the brand’s ultra-successful full-suspension XC bike. Weight weenies loved it because, at the time of its release, the 895-gram Epic HT frame was the lightest frame Specialized had ever produced, road or mountain. In 2020, it received a geometry update with a slacker head tube to enhance its downhill capabilities. 

Trek Procaliber

[product-block handle="2021-trek-procaliber-9-5-s"/]

Trek took a traditional hardtail and added extra comfort with its IsoSpeed Decoupler technology to create the Procaliber. First used on the Domane endurance bike, IsoSpeed fully decouples the seat tube from the top tube. A set of bearings and elastomers allow the seat tube to flex independently so it can absorb bumps and vibration without the extra weight of rear suspension. 

Cannondale F-Si / Scalpel HT

[product-block handle="2019-cannondale-f-si-carbon-3-m"/]

Supposedly, “F-Si” means "For those with Serious Issues.” It’s a joke, but it gets at the core of what the Cannondale F-Si is all about. XC racers obsess over having the most efficient, agile, and lightest race bike possible. They’re the type to ride the F-Si. Its party piece is Cannondale’s distinctive single-sided Lefty Ocho fork . For 2022, the F-Si was replaced by the Scalpel HT, which has dropped seat stays and a slacker head tube angle.

[product-block handle="2020-ibis-dv9-xt-m"/]

With the DV9, Ibis wanted to create an affordable cross-country hardtail for racers on a budget. But just because it’s affordable, doesn’t mean it’s a slouch. It has a lightweight carbon frame with clearance for wide 2.6” tires. It’s compatible with 100mm-120mm forks and has a nice, slack 68.5-degree head tube angle that makes it easy to transition from fast and flat short track races to steep and gnarly downhills. 

Specialized Chisel

[product-block handle="2018-specialized-chisel-comp-l "/]

Carbon fiber isn’t for everyone, and some just prefer aluminum . You can pretty much think of the Specialized Chisel as a slightly slacker aluminum version of the Epic HT. To increase stiffness and strength while reducing overall weight, the frame uses the same D'aluisio Smartweld technology found on Specialized’s ultra-popular Allez Sprint. The Chisel is perfect for a budget race rig or newer XC riders building their skills. 

Best XC Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes

XC racing has evolved over the last decade, favoring gnarlier courses with technical features and big descents. To keep up, modern full-suspension XC bikes have taken geometry cues from trail and enduro bikes, while maintaining efficient pedaling platforms for uphill assaults. Full-suspension bikes provide more traction and comfort on rough trails. Here are our favorite fast full suspensions.   

BMC Fourstroke 

[product-block handle="2022-bmc-fourstroke-01-two-m"/]

In the cross-country world, the BMC Fourstroke is kind of a big deal right now. It’s the bike of choice for multi-time XC world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, and most recently, it was piloted to Olympic Gold by rising star, Tom Pidcock. The Fourstroke is pretty progressive too, with long and slack geometry for tackling downhills, and a sleek BMC RAD integrated dropper post that looks like a standard seatpost. 

Trek Supercaliber

[product-block handle="2021-trek-supercaliber-9-9-xx1-xl"/]

The Supercaliber is Trek’s lightest, most efficient full-suspension XC bike, and it too recently won Olympic Gold under Jolanda Neff. It uses Trek’s unique IsoStrut suspension system with a frame-integrated shock that provides 60mm of travel. That is just enough to take the edge off bumps and harsh impacts while maintaining hardtail-level weight, stiffness, and efficiency. It’s the perfect compromise for those torn between a hardtail and a full-suspension bike. 

Scott Spark RC

[product-block handle="2020-scott-spark-rc-team-issue-axs-xl"/]

The Scott Spark is a modern XC legend thanks to the exploits of Nino Schurter, current world champion and one of the greatest XC racers of all time, and his teammates, Kate Courtney and Lars Forster. The Spark received a massive overhaul in 2022, switching to Bold’s hidden-shock suspension with 120mm of travel, but the previous generation 100mm bike is still a threat in any race and perfect for riders not ready to commit to a new school 120mm bike. 

Specialized Epic

[product-block handle="specialized-epic-pro-mountain-bike-2021-medium"/]

No list of XC bikes would be complete without the Specialized Epic, one of the most popular and successful XC race bikes of all time. The Epic’s suspension uses Specialized’s proprietary Brain damper. An inertia damper keeps the suspension stiff and efficient for pedaling but during impacts, it opens up instantly to allow the suspension to move. This means you never have to think about locking and unlocking the suspension while riding.

Cannondale Scalpel

[product-block handle="2019-cannondale-scalpel-si-limited-m"/]

Cannondale’s Scalpel has been in production for nearly 20 years and it has always prioritized low weight and efficient rear suspension. Of course, the Scalpel also comes equipped with Cannondale’s trademark single-sided Lefty fork , which really helps it stand out from the crowd. It’s not all for show though. The Lefty’s unique design provides more fore-aft stiffness than traditional forks so you can charge harder into technical terrain. 

Canyon Lux CF

The Canyon Lux is all about efficiency and agility, and its 100mm of travel is stiff and well-controlled so the bike leaps forward whenever you get on the gas. Of the bikes listed here, it has the steepest and most traditional geometry numbers, so it will appeal to riders who want their mountain bike to fit and feel like their road or cyclocross bike. That’s exactly why Mathieu van der Poel chose to ride the Lux to his multiple World Cup victories.  

[product-block handle="2019-orbea-oiz-m30-l"/]

The Orbea Oiz (pronounced like “Oy-eth”) was developed in the mountainous Basque Country in Northern Spain. It features a rear shock that is neatly recessed into the top tube to create a sleek silhouette and free up space to fit two water bottles. It also has an impressive race pedigree with several World Cup XC wins and a win at BC Bike Race. For riders who are a bit more downhill-focused, the Oiz TR beefs things up with 120mm of travel front and rear.  

Santa Cruz Blur

[product-block handle="2021-santa-cruz-blur-cc-m"/]

Santa Cruz doesn’t just make downhill-shredding freeride, enduro, and trail bikes. The Blur brings Santa Cruz attitude to the XC world, and it’s sure to appeal to the cool kids on the trail. The first generation Blur used Santa Cruz’s tried and true VPP suspension system. Then in 2022, it got updated to the same single-pivot flex stay system seen on nearly every other bike on this list. Either way, the Blur is a bike that goes fast uphill and shreds back down. 

I’ve had the pleasure of riding most of the bikes on this list. Among my favorites have been the Santa Cruz Blur, Cannondale F-Si, and Orbea Oiz. I’m currently riding a Specialized Epic (albeit the Evo version ) and absolutely loving it. For my future bike, I’m incredibly curious about the Trek Supercaliber. I often find myself wishing I could own both a hardtail and a full suspension, but I don’t have the space or funds. The Supercaliber could be the perfect solution because it manages to split the difference. Ultimately, if your goal is to beat your personal bests out on the trail, you can’t go wrong with any of these bikes. 

Which XC bike would you choose? Or do you think there’s some other XC bike that belongs on this list instead? Let me know in the comments!

Bikes, Features, Latest Apr 15, 2024

The Sanitas Tap Root: Win A Singlespeed Ti Hardtail With Downcountry Geo

Bikes, Gravel, Latest, Road Apr 11, 2024

ENVE Fray: The Definitive All-Road Bike? The Coolest for Sure.

Bikes, Latest, MTB Apr 5, 2024

This Specialized S-Works Epic World Cup Is My Perfect Leadville Bike

Bikes, Fun, Latest, Road Mar 29, 2024

What's the Best Bike at Tour of Flanders 2024?

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest Mar 28, 2024

This Crust Bombora Shows Us a Different Side of Cycling

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest, Tech Mar 22, 2024

This ENVE MOG x Classified Bike Might Represent the Future of 1x

Bikes, Features, Latest, MTB Mar 15, 2024

Banshee Legend DH Bike Review: A Privateer’s Dream Bike

Bikes, Features, Latest Mar 6, 2024

The Seven 622 SLX: How Carbon/Ti Is a Bit Retro, but Also Maybe Futuristic

Bikes, Features, Latest, Vintage Feb 21, 2024

The Mantis X-Frame Valkyrie: A Rare Experiment in MTB Frame Design

Bikes, Features, Latest, Tri&TT Feb 14, 2024

Cervelo P5X: A Real-Life Tron Bike That’s Crazy but Also… Practical?

Bikes, Features, Gravel, Latest Feb 7, 2024

I Like This Revel Rover, but I Like the Recyclable Wheels Even More

Bikes, Features, Latest, MTB, Vintage Jan 24, 2024

The Tioga Racer: 1993 Raleigh John Tomac Signature Ti/Carbon

New arrivals.

Certified Pre-Owned

Santa Cruz Bronson CC MX Mountain Bike - 2022, X-Large

3T Exploro Speed TEAM Gravel Bike - 2020, X-Large

Trek Verve+ 2 Low-Step Commuter E-Bike - 2021, Small

Revel Rascal GX Eagle Mountain Bike - 2020, Large

BMC Alpenchallenge AMP CITY LTD Commuter E-Bike - 2020, Medium

Specialized Diverge Carbon Gravel Bike - 2021, 49cm

Cervélo Caledonia-5 Rival eTap AXS Road Bike - 2022, 56cm

Cannondale Synapse Hi-MOD Disc Red eTap Road Bike - 2018, 54cm

Specialized Allez Sprint Comp Road Bike - 2023, 49cm

Pinarello Gan Disk 105 Road Bike - 2018, 54cm

Trek Fuel EX X01 AXS Mountain Bike - 2021, Medium

Cannondale Topstone Aluminum Gravel Bike - 2019, Large

Full suspension mountain bikes keep you in control and comfortable over rugged terrain. Trek's suspension solutions have been proven and refined over the years. Active Braking Pivot (ABP) and Mino Link make Trek full suspension models a class above the competition.

Cross country mountain bikes

From cutting-edge carbon race bikes to versatile models made for loads of fun on light trails, our cross country bikes are fast, lightweight, and efficient.

Supercaliber

Game-changing IsoStrut suspension tech makes this World Cup carbon race bike fast, light, and smooth.

• See all models

Top Fuel’s a full suspension XC ripper that’s fast on flow and loves getting down on techy trails.

Trail mountain bikes

Trek trail bikes are versatile, light, and exceedingly capable. They climb just as well as they descend, making them ideal for everything from enduro racing to ripping laps after work.

A long-travel all-mountain bike built for racing rugged enduro lines and having a rippin’ good time in the rough.

Snappy 27.5˝ wheels make this the rig for popping off jumps, railing corners, and throwing the bike around.

The ride-it-all MTB. It’s fast, capable, and fun everywhere—no wonder it’s our most popular trail bike!

Electric mountain bikes

Our e-MTBs let you explore more of the mountain and rip more laps than ever before. The natural-feeling, trail-tuned boost powers you up climbs and lets you be your own shuttle.

Powerfly is a versatile and powerful e-MTB that helps you explore more of your off-road world.

Our lightest full suspension e-MTB delivers the perfect amount of suspension and power for long, fast XC rides.

A hard-charging electric trail bike with plenty of travel and proven technology to get you through the rough stuff.

Fuel EXe offers just the right amount of quiet assist when you want it and disappears under you when you don't.

Downhill mountain bikes

Our downhill bikes are built to go big and shred hard, whether you're ripping a World Cup downhill or charging through the gravity park.

This World Cup champ is built to clock the fastest times down the biggest mountains.

For those who spend most of their time in the air perfecting whips, flips and other gravity-defying tricks.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The Trek Supercaliber Is the New XC Race Benchmark

After two months of testing Trek’s top-secret, UCI World Cup race bike, we can confirm this about the Supercaliber: It’s fast as hell.

The Takeaway: Sharp and lightweight, the brand new Trek Supercaliber is a dedicated XC race machine.

• IsoStrut rear suspension is integrated into the frame and provides 60mm of rear travel
• There’s a 100mm Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast fork and remote lockout for the fork and strut
• This 21-pound bike absolute screams

Price: $9,499 Weight: 21.2 lb. (L) Tire clearance: 29 x 2.2 in.

The Trek Supercaliber is the worst-kept secret in mountain biking this year: It’s been rumored, spy-shot, and raced throughout the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup by high-profile Trek pro riders Jolanda Neff and Ellen Noble, with its top-secret rear suspension shielded by a fabric sleeve. That Trek designed a custom sleeve just to disguise the Supercaliber’s rear end tells you something about the black magic at the back.

Now, the secret’s out, and its name is IsoStrut. The Supercaliber is an unapologetic, uncompromising XC-race machine, and IsoStrut is what separates it from any other bike you can buy today. The structurally integrated system uses a main pivot and a custom-designed Fox shock that lives within a Kashima-coated strut. There’s no pivot at the rear axle; the thin seatstays are designed to flex. The shock provides about 55mm of rear travel, with the flexing stays adding 3 to 5mm of deflection for a total rear travel figure of 60mm.

Trek Supercaliber

The Supercaliber aims to bridge the gap between fast-pedaling hardtails and more capable full-suspension race rigs. On XC-oriented singletrack, with rocks and roots but no obstacles larger than you’d find on a World Cup course, the ride is sublime. The 21-pound bike pedals extremely well: There’s almost no apparent bob under hard acceleration, yet the suspension becomes active over rock gardens and descents. Even on trickier terrain, the 60mm of rear travel never felt like a limiting factor—leave that to the sharp 69-degree head angle. With quick steering and 1,290-gram Bontrager Kovee XXX 30 wheels (on our Supercaliber 9.9), the bike corners fast and feels snappy and direct as you load and unload the suspension into the trail.

The Supercaliber will come in four different builds, starting with the SRAM NX Eagle-equipped Supercaliber 9.7 at $4,799 and ending with the SRAM Eagle AXS bike at $10,999. Trek tells us the models will be in U.S. dealers by early November, so you’ll have time to move some money around before next year’s XC season.

XC-Optimized Frame

The Supercaliber has been in development for three years as Trek grappled with the essential XC race-day question: Do you spring for an efficient-pedaling hardtail or a fast-descending full-suspension model? Prior to this season, Trek pro riders could pick the Procaliber—a 100mm hardtail with a rear decoupler that provides 11mm of undamped travel—or the 120/115mm Top Fuel, a full-suspension bike that’s become slacker and less race-focused over its lifespan.

The company observed that its racers tended to pick the Procaliber if they thought they could get away with riding a hardtail, reserving the Top Fuel for the most challenging courses, says Trek MTB brand manager Travis Ott. That defines the rationale for the Supercaliber: a short-travel full-suspension rig with the lightness and responsiveness of a hardtail.

The ground-up race focus is apparent. The size medium frame weighs 1,933 grams—23 grams less than a medium Procaliber—a weight made possible by eliminating the swing link and second pivot at the rear axle and instead using thin, low-modulus carbon fiber seatstays to handle the IsoStrut’s travel. The flexing stays also add 3 to 5mm of additional travel. Trek uses three sizes of rear triangle to tune the frame for different rider sizes and maintain low standover heights across the size range. All frame sizes carry two bottles, and the top three models come with dual remote lockout.

.css-1hhr1pq{text-align:center;font-size:1.1875rem;line-height:1.6;font-family:Charter,Charter-roboto,Charter-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq em{font-style:italic;font-family:Charter,Charter-styleitalic-roboto,Charter-styleitalic-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq strong{font-family:Charter,Charter-weightbold-roboto,Charter-weightbold-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:bold;} 5 Things We Love About the Trek Supercaliber

OCLV Carbon

The frame somehow weighs less than Trek’s hardtail XC race bike, the Procaliber.

Crisp, reliable mechanical shifting with a 500 percent gear range.

Remote Lockout

Press the lockout lever for ultra-powerful pedaling on the flats.

SRAM Level Discs

The SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic discs give you controllable stopping power.

Internal Routing

Keeps the cables out of the way and lends a slicker aesthetic.

The first thing to know about IsoStrut is that it’s part of the Supercaliber’s frame, with front and rear mounts that connect the front and rear triangles beneath the top tube. The Fox shock mounts within the front of the strut, with an anti-rotational pin inserting into the shock’s stanchion mount to prevent twisting within the strut.

A carbon fiber carriage connects the Kashima-coated strut to the rear triangle, with fork-style bushings and wiper seals to maintain a smooth stroke. When the shock compresses, the carriage moves forward along the strut. And because the carriage is part of the rear triangle, the seatstays flex as the shock and carriage move. Press into the suspension and you’ll feel the rear end unload with a snap, a possible byproduct of the stays returning to their original shape.

Inside the IsoStrut

Trek includes two sizes of volume reducers to provide additional progression and bottom-out support. At 170 pounds, I ran the bike without any reducers, as the IsoStrut felt plenty progressive for my weight. Despite the combined 60mm of rear travel, I never felt the bike bottom out, even though the strut’s o-ring indicated that I’d used all of the travel—the soft stays and low (1.7–1.8) leverage ratio might explain why I never felt myself hit the end of the travel.

Uncompromising Componentry

The only expenses spared on the Supercaliber 9.9 are the fork and drivetrain (the Supercaliber 9.9 AXS upgrades you to electronic shifting and a RockShox SID Ultimate fork). The rest of the 9.9 is top-shelf, starting with the ultralight Bontrager Kovee XXX 30 carbon wheels and Bontrager XR1 Team Issue tires. It’s a fast-rolling combination, although they’re not the tires I’d choose for wet rocks and roots.

That shiny, gold XX1 Eagle 10-50t cassette gives you a 500 percent gear range that keeps you pedaling on any incline, and the XX1 Eagle drivetrain itself shifted quickly and reliably during testing. The SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes modulate well, not giving you full power until you’re really pulling the levers, which helps you control your stopping when you rocket into a late apex and grab the brakes with a bit of force. The saddle is Bontrager’s firm-yet-comfortable Montrose Pro, the cockpit is all Bontrager Kovee Pro and XXX carbon bits, and at the end of the bar you’ll find lovely, soft ESI silicone grips.

Trek Supercaliber 9.9 Details

Frame Carbon Travel 60mm Shock Fox Factory DPS Fork Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast, Float EVOL air spring Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle Cassette 10-50t Tires Bontrager XR1 Team Issue, 29 x 2.2 in. Rims Bontrager Kovee XXX 30 carbon Brakes SRAM Level Ultimate (160mm rotors front and rear) Crankset SRAM XX1 Eagle DUB, 34t Stem Bontrager Kovee Pro Handlebar Bontrager Kovee XXX Saddle Bontrager Montrose Pro Seatpost Bontrager XXX

The Supercaliber Family

The base Supercaliber 9.7 gives you the same OCLV carbon fiber frame, IsoStrut, Boost 148mm spacing and internal routing as the rest of the line. To keep the price at $4,800, it comes with a SRAM NX Eagle 1x12 drivetrain, a RockShox Reba RL fork, a Fox Performance shock, and Bontrager Kovee Elite 23 carbon wheels.

The next step up is the $5,900 Supercaliber 9.8, which adds dual remote lockout, SRAM GX Eagle, and a Fox Performance 32 Step-Cast fork. The $9,500 Supercaliber 9.9, our test bike, upgrades you to a Fox Factory 32 Step-Cast Fork and a Fox Factory shock, SRAM Level Ultimate hydraulic discs on 160mm rotors, and Bontrager Kovee XXX 30 wheels. The top-end bike is the $11,000 Supercaliber 9.9 AXS, with SRAM’s Eagle AXS electronic shifting and a RockShox SID Ultimate fork.

Ride Impressions

I raced the Supercaliber at two Mid-Atlantic Super Series races and a couple local short-track events during my two-month testing period. It’s effing fast: On XC-designed courses, it annihilates full-suspension bikes through sections with hard pedaling and doesn’t give up anything on the descents. The bike picks up speed so quickly that the trail just comes at you faster than usual—I quickly realized that I was the limiting factor.

The feeling of IsoStrut is uncanny. There’s an ever-so-slight pedal bob on flat sections of trail, but it’s shallower than on a 100mm full-suspension XC bike—I’m using the Canyon Lux CF SL 8.0 that I rode earlier this year as a comparison point. The Supercaliber feels more like a soft tail than a full-suspension bike under pedaling, but the IsoStrut becomes active when you start rolling over rocks and logs and roots.

As a 170-pound rider, I experimented with shock pressures between 110 and 140 psi (the latter pressure is what Trek recommends for my weight). Lower pressures give the bike the small-bump compliance you’d expect from a full 100mm of rear travel, but sacrificed the IsoStrut’s snappiness, so I settled at 140 psi and 25 percent sag. That setup popped me off the saddle if I hit unexpected rocks while seated, but it pedaled a lot more efficiently and prevented me from blowing through the travel during descents.

Ride enough trail bikes with long, low, and slack geometry, and you might forget what’s it’s like to really control a bike. The Supercaliber reminds you fast: On more technical, definitely not-XC terrain, it’s a bike you have to ride very deliberately. There’s no slack head-tube angle, dropper post, or long-travel fork to save you if you get your line wrong. You certainly can find a rhythm on technical, root-filled trails, you just have to be a better bike handler than I am. The only thing I will blame on the bike is the tires: The team-issue Bontrager XR1s roll fast and grip well enough on dirt and mud, but they slide straight off the wet boulders and roots that line Eastern Pennsylvania’s rocky singletrack.

In its element, however, the Supercaliber is superb. The remote lockout is a full lockout, so you get razor-sharp pedaling response when you don’t need the suspension. The steering feels sharp and as a 29er, the bike maintains momentum with ease. It’s simply everything you want from an XC race bike. If someone riding a Supercaliber beats you next season, take solace in the fact that their bike is faster than yours.

A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bikes & Gear

Organic vs Metallic Disc Brake Pads—Which to Use?

2024’s Best and Most Exciting Bikes!

2024’s Best Gravel Bikes

2024‘s Best Mountain Bikes

2024’s Best Road Bikes

2024‘s Best Commuter and Urban Bikes

Enve’s Fray Is an All-Road Race Bike

The 10 Best Mountain Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

The Best Beach Cruisers for Leisurely Rides

This Top-Rated Electric Mountain Bike Is 22% Off

The 7 Best Electric Mountain Bikes of 2024

Best XC mountain bikes 2024 – the fastest bikes we’ve tested for cross-country, downcountry and trail

We select the best XC mountain bikes for flat-out cross country and marathon racing, as well as fast, efficient recreational riding

Best XC race bikes

Best downcountry bikes, best xc bikes for rapid trail riding.

• How to choose
• How we test

The top cross-country racers in the world used to all ride hardtails for minimum weight but tougher courses mean most of the best XC mountain bikes are now full-suspension models. 

The great news is that the shift has led to some really versatile high-velocity, short-travel machines that are as happy raving on your favorite singletrack as they are ripping up a race course. But which are the winning machines and what do you need to know before you buy? Here's everything you need to know to find the best XC MTB for you.

We've divided this guide into XC race bikes, downcountry bikes and fast trail bike options – these three categories span speed-orientated bikes. At the end of the article, you'll also find advice on how to choose the best XC mountain bike.

Specialized S-Works Epic 8

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The new Specialized S-Works Epic 8 is the first bike to feature SRAM's XC orientated Flight Attendant AI-controlled suspension system. While the trail version has been around for a while now, the new XC system controls the operation of RockShox SID fork and SIDLuxe shock aided by inputs from the trail and a Quarq XX SL power meter. In our testing, the system works superbly and gives you the optimum level of suspension support for whatever the trail throws your way.

While this tech is very impressive, the real star of the show is the new Epic 8 frame (also used by the Epic 8 Evo). The progressive and totally sorted geometry allows for all sorts of rowdy riding, but it's light (claimed 1,795g with the shock and frame hardware), taught, super tough and ready to win races.

Unsurprisingly for a top spec race steed, the kit list leaves no box unticked. The bike runs on sub 1,300g Roval Control Wheels, while a Roval SL one-piece carbon cockpit and carbon rails on the Body Geometry S-Works Power saddle help keep the grams to a minimum. The drivetrain is SRAM's race-spec Eagle AXS XX SL T-Type Transmission and you get a 150mm drop RockShox Reverb AXS seatpost which the SRAM AXS shifter Pods also operate.

Tester, Guy Kesteven summed up the S-Works Epic 8. "If you can afford the S-Works Epic 8, it really is a next level technology and velocity benchmark that makes maximum speed easier than ever. Whichever spec of Epic 8 you get, the frame, geometry and suspension will make it an exceptional XC race/superfast trail bike though."

For more, see his full Specialized S-Works Epic 8 review .

Santa Cruz Blur CC X01 AXS RSV

Santa Cruz haven’t had a proper podium-focussed full-suspension XC race bike in their line up for years but the fourth-generation Santa Cruz Blur impressed us so much that we awarded it five stars in our full review. 

While Santa Cruz's trail bikes from Tallboy to Megatower all look the same and share the same suspension system, the Blur is totally different. The 'Superlight' suspension system uses flex in the seat stay and a top tube mounted shock to give 100mm of travel. That’s matched by the ultralight RockShox SID SL fork up front but there’s also a 120mm TR version of the bike available. 

SRAM’s X01 Eagle AXS wireless drivetrain along with SRAM Level RSC brakes delivers top spec stop and go. Lightweight Reserve carbon rims are responsive yet controlled while the 100mm Fox Transfer SL dropper post is just enough for jiving on tech trails. Despite being seriously light you still get a full lifetime warranty on frame, rims, bearings and handlebars, and no weight restriction either.

It's the effortless acceleration and effervescent flow and fun of the Blur that really made it a favourite of our testers, though, both on the race track and off.

Check out our in-depth five-star review of the Santa Cruz Blur .

Scott Spark Team Issue AXS

The Scott Spark is by far the most successful cross-country race bike of the last decade, and the current model is faster and more controlled, as well as looking uniquely sleek.

The most obvious change is that Scott has hidden the rear shock inside the frame so it’s not exposed to the elements. The brand has also bumped up the rear suspension travel to 120mm on all Spark models, not just the downcountry/trail ones. The already progressive, control-boosting geometry can also be made a degree slacker in just a couple of minutes on the trailside.

The Team Issue AXS is a real sweet spot in terms of value for racers too. The excellent RockShox SID fork and Deluxe rear shock suspension feature bar lever controlled open, traction and lock settings for maximum efficiency. The SRAM GX Eagle AXS electronic drivetrain is flawlessly fast and you get the superlight Syncros Hixon all in one carbon cockpit. The Syncros Silverton wheels are light too and Maxxis Rekon 2.4in tires roll super fast while staying rocky section safe. 

All it's really lacking is a dropper post, although some racers still don't use them so the omission is forgivable. Also, if you’ve got the cash for an ultimate race bike, even lighter HMX and HMX SL versions of the frame with carbon Syncros wheel options are available.

Read more about the bike in our full Scott Spark Team Issue AXS review. 

With trail bikes getting heavier and travel getting longer all the time, a new breed of agile, responsive but still impressively controlled and fun-to-rally 'downcountry' bikes have appeared. A lot of the models that claim to be in this category are too heavy or slow, however, so we've picked our favorites carefully.

Specialized Epic 8 Evo Pro

The Epic 8 Evo runs the same frame as the flagship S-Works Epic 8 XC bike (see above), but is designed for those who want a bit more travel and handling prowess. 

The suspension is bumped up to 130mm front and 120mm rear with a Fox 34 Factory Grip2 fork and a Float Factory EVOL shock. Wheels come in the form of Roval Control rims on Industry Nine 1/1 hubs and are shod with Specialized Purgatory Grid T9/T7 tires. Gears and drivetrain are SRAM's Eagle XO AXS, T-Type Transmission, complemented with 4-pot SRAM Code Stealth Silver with 200mm and 180mm rotors for plenty of stopping power.

In our testing, the latest Epic Evo has proved itself to be more capable than ever. The tech-taming longer, lower frame geometry can seriously challenge all-out trail/enduro bikes on tougher trails despite relatively its short travel. It's about a kilo lighter than those bikes too, so feels far spritelier and leaves them dead in sprint or climb situations. The extra capability means it's also about a kilo heavier than the previous version, but if you want a lighter bike, the regular Epic 8 is the one for you.

Our tester, Guy Kesteven, said the Epic 8 Evo Pro "has muscled up a weight category, but punchy pedaling, welterweight agility and trail brawler spec make it a downcountry champ."

For more, see his full Specialized Epic 8 Evo Pro review .

YT Izzo Pro Race

The Izzo is YT's debut into the lightweight full-suspension bike category is more downcountry than cross-country with 130mm of travel front and rear. However, while this may not be a pure-bred race bike, it can keep up with the pack on climbs and then shred them on the descents. 

The suspension is Kashima-coated, Fox Factory series with a 34 fork up front and Float shock at the rear, and the shock has a remote lockout. The bike is outfitted with a SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and SRAM G2 brakes. The DT Swiss XMC 1200 Spline wheels are wrapped in Maxxis tires. 

While the Pro Race launch spec version we tested was already light for its category, YT have now bought out an 'Uncaged 7' version of the Izzo with RockShox SID suspension and Maxxis Rekon Race tires at both ends. This drops travel to 120mm but at just 11.4kg and with faster rolling rubber it’s a proper rocket ship. There's also the more affordable Izzo Core options that give even better value for money.

Check out our full review of the YT Izzo Pro Race .

Merida Ninety-Six RC9000

The RC9000 version of Merida's XC race bike lineup features sorted suspension, a stiff frame and improved handling. The presence of Kashima-coated Fox Factory suspension front and back, and a full Shimano XTR groupset also helps make it a proper flagship machine. Like most Merida bikes it offers great value for money compared to top XC bikes from other brands.

Even though this bike is a bit heavier than its competitors, it's still effortlessly efficient with a blisteringly quick baseline. Slacker and longer geometry than previously hysterical Merida race bikes means acceptable stability for attacking fast technical XC circuits. It's also less stressful for extended distance rides or marathon events. There's a longer fork version if you want to gain rally capability at the expense of race weight, though if you get this flagship version, watch out for the awkward remote lock-out and bleed-needy brakes.

If you want more detail check out our full review in which we went epic in full winter conditions to test the Merida Ninety-six RC9000 .

Cannondale Scalpel SE 1

Cannondale's Scalpel full-suspension mountain bike can slice and dice with the best XCO bikes out there. The SE model range keeps the speed but relaxes the bike's geometry to move it more towards the downcountry space. 

A 120mm suspension platform is filled out by a RockShox fork and rear shock that lead to efficient pedaling and excellent sensitivity on technical trails. The build kit is provided by Shimano with an XT drivetrain which will be a welcome sight for old school riders who prize reliability. The XT brakes need careful bleeding to meet similar expectations but they're great when they do work.

The Scalpel SE's geometry isn't the most extreme that we've ridden but will still make you want to ride both flowy and technical trails all day. A dropper post specced as standard helps when things get really hectic but don't believe the 'trail bike' hype as any Scalpel will always be first and foremost about speed.

Read more of our thoughts in our full Cannondale Scalpel SE 1 review. 

Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29 1

Giant's Anthem has matured from an addictively feisty privateer racer into a more measured and controlled all rounder. We tested it with the latest Fox Live Valve automatic suspension, although there are more affordable analogue models now too.

While the Fox batteries and control boxes mean a middling 11.45kg mass, the actual Anthem frame is 250g lighter than before. Like the Santa Cruz Blur that's partly thanks to Giant swapping from a twin link (Maestro) design to a simpler flex stay set-up. We did find it collected some of that weight back in terms of mud collecting near the BB, but Giant says the shaping gives them 20% more pedaling stiffness.

While the Live Valve didn't always play ball, the basic bike is clearly well balanced and confident thanks to a 67.5-degree head angle and 450mm reach on the medium model. It's also naturally fast whether or not the 'sentient' suspension decides to open the shock and fork. Although the bike launched with Live Valve only, there's a manual remote shock version available now as well. Check you're getting the latest version, however, as the steeper angle Maestro suspension version is also available on the Giant website.

If this has got you tempted, check out Graham's full review of the Giant Anthem here

The best XC mountain bikes: everything you need to know

What are the benefits of a full-suspension mountain bike.

On a smooth surface such as a fire-road climb or flat-out sprint down the start/finish straight, nothing is faster than a super-light hardtail like the ones in our best lightweight mountain bikes under 10 kg guide. If you’ve got the skills you can skip and skim them through some pretty technical terrain, too. 

When the surface gets relentlessly rough or there are big drops and rocks involved, however, full-suspension sucks up bike-stopping impacts to help you sustain speed. It also keeps the rear wheel more consistently connected for better technical climbing traction and cornering speed. In most cases, full-suspension mountain bikes for racing will have a remote lockout so you can turn them into hard sprinting pseudo-hardtails at the flick of a switch. 

That’s why you’ll rarely see any of the fastest male racers on anything but full suspension bikes. That said, more of the top female riders still pick a hardtail – particularly on less technical courses with a lot of climbing – because they're generally lighter. 

How much mountain bike suspension travel is best?

100mm is still the most common amount of wheel movement (travel) for race bikes. It’s enough to make a noticeable difference in control off drops and through rock gardens, but you still get to use the lightest possible front forks. 

That said, there are an increasing number of race bikes – such as Scott's Spark and Specialized's Epic Evo – using 120mm of travel . If it's done right that extra 20mm really makes a difference on rough, technical sections. It rarely adds any weight to the frame of the bike either. And while 120mm forks are always a few hundred grams heavier, if the overall lap times are lower those extra grams are worth it. 

Not all race bikes are adding suspension, however. Bikes like BMC’s TeamElite softail and Trek’s 60mm travel Supercaliber (with its ‘pump-action-shotgun-style' shock arrangement) have both won World Cup races this season.

What's the best XC mountain bike frame geometry?

The latest full-suspension race bikes tend to have slightly more ‘trail-style’ geometry such as 66 to 68 degree head angles for more stable steering. Top tube reach figures are growing slightly on some bikes to compensate for shorter stems, and increase confidence on more challenging courses.

But we’re still talking about race-focussed bikes built for close-combat responsiveness, rather than short-travel trail bikes for flat-out mountain descents. So while there are some 120mm travel bikes with identical geometry to 150mm travel enduro bikes, they’re not targeting the same sort of riding.

What are the best mountain XC bike components?

The more progressive riders on the circuit are also fitting trail-style components to their race bikes and we’re seeing that reflected in some off-the-shelf bikes, too. In terms of specifics, that can be as simple as wider handlebars (that you can trim down to taste) or enough space in the frame to run wider tires. Trek is the only brand brave enough to fit 2.4in rubber as standard on its new Top Fuel , though. Most of the latest short-travel suspension frames can also take an internally routed dropper seatpost, and it's becoming more common on XC bikes. 

How much should the best XC mountain bikes weigh?

A sub 10kg (22lb) overall weight is the goal of most flagship XC full suspension bikes, but you need to throw a lot of carbon and money at most frames to get there. 'Downcountry' isn't helping either as some brands – including Trek and their Top Fuel – include short-travel trail bikes (weighing up to 15kg) in the XC category on their website.

That’s why it’s normally a good idea to look at frame weights to give you an idea of the potential outcome of any upgrade journey – or it would be a good idea if a large proportion of manufacturers didn’t massage their mass figures by not including shocks, axles, seat clamps, linkages etc.

That makes getting actual weights for bikes – take a scale to the shop if you have to – worthwhile when shopping. 11-12kg bikes are reasonably easy to find without completely emptying your race entry fund.

And if you do start upgrading to save weight, make sure you actually weigh the stuff you're swapping rather than assuming it's worth doing. Things like cassettes, or cheap carbon bars and seatposts can be massively heavy. in contrast some alloy kit we've weighed has been surprisingly light, so always do a full bike 'cost per gram saved' audit before starting to replace parts.

How we test XC bikes

Our testing procedure for cross-country bikes is as rigorous as it gets. We subject them to testing in all weathers, all trail conditions and take the bikes outside their comfort zone to see how they perform on tougher runs. Whenever possible, we test the bikes in race conditions too. We also compare them to rival bikes in the same category, often doing back-to-back testing, to see how they measure up to the competition and of course, we'll always let you know of our findings.

Meet the tester

Why trust BikePerfect Our cycling experts have decades of testing experience. We'll always share our unbiased opinions on bikes and gear. Find out more about how we test.

Guy Kesteven is  Bike Perfect ’s contributing tech editor. He's been riding XC bikes since cross-country first became a thing and has tested hundreds of XC bikes in that time.

Guy has been working on Bike Perfect since we launched in 2019. Hatched in Yorkshire he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops and warehouses before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear. To make sure he rarely sleeps and to fund his custom tandem habit, he’s also penned a handful of bike-related books and talks to a GoPro for YouTube, too.

Current rides: Cervelo ZFS-5, Forbidden Druid V2, Specialized Chisel, custom Nicolai enduro tandem, Landescape/Swallow custom gravel tandem

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

• Richard Owen Editor, Bike Perfect

Best mountain bike clipless pedals 2024 – the top-rated clipless MTB pedals for XC, trail and gravity riding

Best MTB saddles for comfort 2024 – 6 top-rated butt-pleasing perches for mountain biking and off-road cycling

6 signs your mountain bike needs professional attention right now

Most Popular

• ALL MOUNTAIN
• ACCESSORIES
• ALL (130 Forums)
• WHEELS & TIRES

Trek Liquid 10 All Mountain Full Suspension

• USER REVIEWS

i love the bike, its really a jack of all trades, the fox talas is awesome and the components are quite good, the frame is already 16 years old now but still doing great, the wheels are also the same age and i never had to replace them, and i kind of ride a lot of enduro so i can pretty much say the bike is really good, i should definetly buy it.

there is a little sound it makes when the frame sags in, but i think i can get it fixed, also the front shock, that is a rockshox psylo c is a bit of a problem, i really like the 125 mm travel, but the topout is terrible, it makes a very loud 'clanck´ noise and i really hate it, and also the rebount is not ajustable, still a very nice bike, i am going to buy the marzocchi dropout freeride fork for it

Great on climbs, descents, technical spots

It's kind of heavy, can't hike a bike with it, needs better wheels

I am not a bike expert. I have owned five mountain bikes since I started riding in 1991. I would never have bought this bike except the salesman talked me into testing it out in the parking lot. My original intention was to get something light and cheaper like a Specialized Stumpjumper or Rockhopper. But now, seven years later, I think I like the Liquid overall for its good climbing, excellent suspension setup (replaced blown out Psylo with new Fox). I still miss not being able to hike a bike it. Oh, well, can't have everything.

Similar Products Used:

overall great bike and i have had the bike for two years and never had to replace any major parts

none because when i crash which is my fault and when i break components

i love this bike and i would reccommend it to anyone whether a beginner or expert

COMFORTABLE, Disc brakes, Lifetime warranty

Bontrager Saddle, does not fit my bike rack and must be put in via the hatchback.

OK, this bike is a great jack-of-all trades bike. I always find it odd that people will buy an XC bike and then complain when it sucks on downhills or vice versa. I bought this to replace my Cannondale SuperV and it's been a perfect replacement. I don't race or do 5+ foot drops, I do mostly singletrack, hard pack, fun recreational riding. I think most of the components are fine, except the pedals/seat. I have not been able to reproduce the earlier poster's problems with the chain constantly rubbing the chainstay(or anything else). I think this bike is a great value. I think Trek really hit the nail on the head with this bike. I LIKE the less aggressive riding position. Bike manufacturers have building FS bikes to be function specific for too long. I'm guessing there are a lot of folks that can appreciate a general purpose, all-round full suspension setup. We may not be hardcore, but we still enjoy riding and this bike seems to fit that niche very well. 5 Chilis for recognizing a need and responding with a solid offering.

Sugar 3+, Cannondale Jekyll, Giant AC2

Solid very well built and pretty good parts specs. The Psylo up front and the rear suspension

If anything the tires and the wheel set. My rear wheel is slightly loose on the axle already.

I am a 6'2" 225 lbs rider who beats the crap out of everything. This bike was built to be beat on. I have smashed the outer chainring into seven or eight logs and haven't damaged it. The most difficult part so far has been adjusting the rebound but that is to be expected. I normally don't like the rapid fires but they have worked perfect so far. I am a very technical rider and can now go places where I usually have not been able to go with this bike. The criticisms of this bike so far seem ludricous. How do you review a bike you haven't even ridden for any length of time? Maybe the bike shop doesn't know what they are doing? Or, they could talk to Trek?

Gary Fisher Supercalibre

I think it's awesome. I have no complaints. This is the first time in my life I have actually researched and taken time before a bicycle purchase. My last fs bike was a Proflex 454, aka chromoly pogo-stick, thus I was wary of the full suspension thing. It climbs great, handles great, stops great. I am entirely satisfied with it. A lot of these reviews seem to think that the LX derailuer is bunk, but it works just fine for me. I highly recommend this bike.

Heavy...The geometry takes a little getting used to...The stock pedals clog up severely if you look at mud...The back brake rubs and I can't seem to correct it...The only way to adjust the fork preload is to change the spring, which is somewhat of a project...Heavy...(It's worth the weaknesses)

Bang for the buck I don't think this bike can be beat. I have a lot of fun on it. I wish it was lighter, but I think as I break parts I can replace them with lighter stuff. I was shocked the first time I used it to climb, as I expected my old Proflex, and found that it was more anchored to the ground than my hardtail. The trailbear tires are great on the back, but I think as a front tire they're only okay. The adjustable travel is neat, but I don't bother with it except to get it in my van and for really long climbs. The seat is a piece of crap and I hate it. The rest of the bike is super. Don't buy it if you think weight is a major issue. If you want a sweet low-priced bike, then do buy it...

I checked out these: GT I-Drive, Bianchi Denali, Santa Cruz Superlight, Cannondale Jekyl My last bike was a Trek 7000 (Which I loved)

Fox TALUS, Hayes disc brakes, 125 mm travel on front fork

LX rear derailleur

This is my first full-suspension bike, and I shopped around for several months. I am very happy with this bike because ofers an excellent design with 5 inch rear travel, and 125mm of front travel. I usually keep both front and rear full out. Occasionally, I adjust the TALUS shock to the 1/2 or 1/4 position on long flat stretches, but don't always feel it necessary to do so. Disc brakes are awesome, esp. on muddy trails. Would have liked a XT rear derailleur, but will upgrade it eventually. Very little to complain about this bike though. I am a beginner to intermediate rider who likes to ride technical single track, and believe that this bike will last me for many years to come. I was on a budget of approx. $1500, and had to stretch it a bit to get this bike, but glad that I did.

Specialized Enduro, Specialized Stumpjumper, Cannondale Jekyll 600

The most impressive feature of this bike is the smoothness of the overall suspension design. The "Liquid" name is the most fitting name Trek could have come up with for this great bike. It is as smooth as liquid, no joke! Also, there is no power robbing, rear suspension bob during climbing.

When I purchased this bike (Trek liquid 10), I was aware the components were sub-standard to my old bike's complete XT setup and fully intend to upgrade the SRAM cassette, Deore rear derailer, and chainrings very soon (they generally suck and shift hard). I know I'm spoiled by the nicer components on my old bike but the additional $$ for XT components, rebound adjustable Psylo fork, and disc specific wheels were a little more than I could convince my wife to accept all at once... The only problem I have encountered thus far is with the rear Hayes, disc rotor / caliper housing alignment. It has a problem with center rotor alignment and tends to rub (and squeal) when I turn (left). I am currently waiting on a reply from Hayes regarding the fix to this problem. Also, the brakes stink like an old semi with a bad clutch after a long, hard downhill accent. (Thats Ok, it makes me feel like I've really done something).

The frame and rear shock are the exactly the same throughout the Trek 10, 20, & 30 models. If you are interested in entering into the 'next stage' of your mountain biking obsession and have been looking for the perfect full suspension, 'all mountain' bike, check this thing out. I am a 6'3", 220lb, hard riding, XC mountain biker that was looking to bring my sport to the next level and this bike fills the bill perfectly. I rip through many of the technical trails along the Northern foothills of the Rocky Mountains about twice a week. My average trip entails 75% of intense climbing and 25% of insane down-hill (time wise that is), therefore I was concerned about the weight and strength of the bike. My Liquid 10 - 19.5” bike weighs in at about 31~lbs. The difference between the Liquid and my lightweight hard tail was only noticeable when climbing through the technical stuff as the rear wheel stays anchored to the dirt and rocks! So far the frame will take everything I can dish out. I have much more climbing control and down-hill confidence than ever before.

Great beginner all mountain bike. Got me going for what I could pay at the time.

Snapped the frame (SWING ARM)....BUT Trek replaced Swinarm with Trek Remedy SA and it kicked ass. The Psylo Is not great at all, but I rode almost everything with it with no problem. DON'T BLAME THE BIKE, BLAME THE RIDER!!!! although I have since upgraded big time

Look, this bike may have been bottom of the line, but I loved it. Then it got stolen and I was forced to get a new bike (remedy 66) which I love, but the liquid had the exact same soul. I've ridden Everything...but I LOve the TREK all mountain Feel. Get em and up grade em if you need, but the feel is like no other.

You name it, I've tried it (kinda)

Sweet design. There's huge travel, and it still rides nicely. The adjustable suspension is almost unnecessary, but it's still a nice comodity. Relatively cheap/

The bike is a little heavier than my last bike, about 3 pounds heavier. I got this one down to about 28.7 pounds, which is still pretty light for a full suspension bike with this much travel.

This bike is awsome. The K2 counterpart is nothing compared to this bike. The adjustable travel is sweet, and even without it, the bike still has an easy ride. I've hit quite a few bumps/drops/jumps, and I still havent bottomed out. This bike has given me enough confidence to do just about everything. It's not a cheap bike, but if you have a little time to find the right deal, you'll be getting an amazing bike. If you can find it for under $1200, you'll be getting a great deal.

Trek Fuel 80, KHS Rage, K2 Attack 3.0

Get the latest mountain bike reviews, news, race results, and much more by signing up for the MTBR Newsletter

Hot Deals See All Hot Deals >>

• CLASSIFIEDS
• TERMS OF USE
• PRIVACY POLICY
• ADVERTISING

VISIT US AT

© Copyright 2024 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved.

2024 Pinarello Dogma XC Drops 2 Carbon Specs for Full-Suspension & Hard Tail MTBs

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

The release of these 2 new Pinarello Dogma XC mountain bikes has been teased for longer than it took to develop them. And that’s maybe the wildest part of the story of how a relative newcomer to the mountain bike scene turned out 2 World Championship-winning XC bikes in the span of less than a year.

But now, after teasing us last spring and summer, the Pinarello Dogma XC mountain bikes are ready for consumers.

And you can pick up either the travel-adjustable full-suspension or the wildly asymmetric hardtail, each in two different carbon layups and requisite performance-focused build kits…

Btw, happy #panshotfriday!

2024 Pinarello Dogma XC full-suspension & hardtail MTB

Pinarello are back in the MTB scene with the official rollout of two all-new XC race bikes. Sure, It’s true that we all know the iconic Italian bike maker for road bikes, but they’ve also had a mountain bike line off and on in recent decades. But these Dogma XC bikes are nothing like the casual Pinarello mountain bikes of years past.

Two all-new off-road race bikes developed closely with Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Two all-new bikes that have each already been ridden to World Championship titles. All less that 10 months after the whole Pinarello Dogma XC mountain bike development project began.

All-new full-suspension Dogma XC

The first one we laid eyes on was Pidcock’s full-suspension bike. Raced and won in its first World Cup outing in Nové Město, Czechia last May. He followed that up three months later with an XCO World Championship win on the same bike.

That bike is now made official as the Pinarello Dogma XC.

All-new hardtail Dogma XC Hard Tail, too!

The next one we saw was Ferrand-Prévot’s hardtail which turned up in Peebles, Scotland in August. And she proceeds to win two UCI World Championship titles in the bike’s first race outing – both Elite Women’s XCC & XCO.

That second bike is now made official as the Pinarello Dogma XC Hard Tail.

Ten months start to finish. Pinarello turned a spark of an idea into 2 World Championship-winning bikes in a single season.

( More on that story with my First Rides Review! )

OK, back to the bikes you can buy!

Both new bikes are available starting today for purchase through your local Pinarello dealer. The INEOS team has a development partnership with SR Suntour, so that’s what the team is racing. But that suspension isn’t ready yet for consumers, so you can get excellent new FOX suspension in the meantime. They also race on Shimano. But since there isn’t yet a new XTR Di2 group, Pinarello figured they would spec these commercial bikes with the latest SRAM AXS T-Type Transmissions. Thankfully ( in my personal opinion and the minds of Pinarello ), the bikes get spec’d with the best-performing Shimano brakes instead.

2024 Pinarello Dogma XC & XC full-suspension bikes

In short, the Pinarello Dogma XC is the full-suspension option, with 90mm of single-pivot rear travel paired to a 100mm fork.

But it features a movable machined aluminum front shock mount that lets you optionally swap in a longer stroke shock paired to a longer for to get 100mm out back and 120mm up font with the exact same geometry.

Tech details

Kinematics-wise, you get a roughly 100% anti-squat with a flat curve and a leverage ratio around 2:1 for a “simple yet progressive” suspension setup. The linkage-driven flex-stay single pivot rotates on bearings at the main pivot and bushings everywhere else.

Key features of the full-suspension bike include the extra triangle above the bottom bracket to dramatically boost drivetrain stiffness, and stiffness at the frame’s main pivot. It also follows Pinarello’s concept of asymmetric design to handle the asymmetric forces exerted on a bike comparing driveside vs. braking forces.

Less obvious, but the rear end of the Dogma XC is composed of 2 completely separate triangles. Not chainstay or seatstay bridges to connect them. But… hidden inside the oversized main pivot, the sides are joined with a Hirth joint. An oversized aluminum half axle is molded into both halves of the rear triangle, and a toothed interface connects them back in the middle to stiffen the two sides into one. The result is stiffness like you had a chainstay bridge, but with the ability to have ultra-short 427.5mm chainstays with 2.4″ tire clearance, and no mud shelf!

Integrated cockpits

Pinarello also gives both bikes a new one-piece integrated carbon MOST XC MTB cockpits to save weight and boost steering stiffness. With fully internal cable routing through the headset and an internal 60° steering stop.

It’s a massive handlebar to look at. And we’ll leave it up to the comments section to debate internal cable routing on a mountain bike. But a pleasant surprise at least to me, Pinarello did a solid job of making it stiff in the right directions, without it rattling your teeth (or wrists) when riding choppy trails!

Full-suspension specs & pricing

Pinarello makes the Dogma XC from their top-tier, lightest and stiffest Toray M40 J carbon fiber, available in 4 sizes (S-XL). All manufacturing in Italy, at least for now. All full-suspension bikes & frames come set up as 90mm of rear travel out of the box, and can later be extended with a different rear shock. Complete bikes all get 100mm forks.

The top-tier Dogma XC is available in Pidcock’s rainbow and Olympic gold replica paint job or classic carbon black and red, for $13,000 / 13,000€. For that unworldly sum, you get a SRAM XX SL AXS groupset, XTR brakes, DT XRC 1200 wheels, and a FOX factory suspension package including the new reverse-arch 32 Step Cast fork . Complete weight of just 10.45kg.

Or pick up a Dogma XC frameset for $6000 / 6000€ including the Fox Float SL shock. Frameset weight of 1750g, plus 252g for the shock.

The simply named Pinarello XC is the same bike out of the same mold, but made from a slightly less stiff Toray T900 UD carbon fiber that adds less than 100g more to the more affordable frame. It comes in black only, and only as a complete bike for $7900 / 7900€. At that price you get Fox Performance Elite suspension, a SRAM GX AXS transmission, XT brakes, and alloy DT wheels. At a claimed weight of 11.3kg.

2024 Pinarello Dogma XC Hard Tail & XC Hard Tail hardtails

The Hard Tail is a much simpler design, but will likely make more people scratch their heads.

It also gets the same unique bottom bracket and lower front triangle design to improve stiffness. But it takes the asymmetry design concept to new extremes. With dramatically different chainstay and seatstay layouts for the hardtail. Pinarello say this asymmetry addresses the forces in a frame in a more balanced way, leading to better energy transfer, improved traction, and increased speed.

Like the fully, it gets an integrated cockpit. And also comes in four stock sizes (S-XL). What it does not include is a dropper post. All of the bikes are dropper compatible, but the lightweight dropper that Pinarello wanted to spec on the bike wasn’t available in production quantities. ( We think that was this world’s lightest Vertical Helium dropper. ) So they gave the hardtails a rigid dropper, and left it up to the buyer to swap one in if they want.

Hardtail specs & pricing

Again, the Pinarello Dogma XC Hard Tail is made from top-tier, lighter and stiffer Toray M40 J carbon fiber. And designed for a 100mm travel fork.

The top-tier Dogma XC Hard Tail is available in Ferrand-Prévot’s rainbow replica paint (a bit less gold) or carbon black/red, for $11,200 / 11,000€ complete. Again eye-watering, you get almost an identical spec. SRAM XX SL AXS, XTR brakes, DT XRC 1200 wheels, and FOX factory suspension with the new 32 SC fork. Complete hardtail weight of just 9.2kg.

Or pick up a 960g Dogma XC Hard Tail frameset for $4500 / 5000€.

And the simply named Pinarello XC Hard Tail comes out of the same mold, made from the slightly less stiff Toray T900 UD carbon fiber that adds around 50g more to the more affordable frame. It comes in black only as a complete bike for $6600 / 7000€. At that price you get Fox Performance Elite suspension, SRAM GX AXS transmission, XT brakes, and alloy DT wheels for a claimed weight of 10.2kg.

First Rides on the Pinarello Dogma XC

Word from Pinarello is that until last week, only two people had actually ridden these new Dogma XC bikes. Tom Pidcock and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Well, that was until I joined Pinarello’s development team and INEOS MTB Coach Kurt Bogaerts for the first test rides on the new bikes in Italy. Together with about ten other journalists. I got in a couple of fast rides over varied terrain on the top-spec full-suspension Pinarello Dogma XC. In its stock short 90/100mm travel setting. And I have to say… the bike pleasantly surprised me, at how a new XC bike from a road bike brand can feel so quick when you put the power down, yet still feel plush in such short travel without ever bottoming out.

More riding and development details in a full first rides review soon!

Pinarello.com

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com .

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Tell me how to turn off the GoPro ad so I can scroll the article without the video starting.

Cory, I’m starting to think you’re an AI.

So many weird grammatical errors and this…

“ 2024 Pinarello Dogma XC Hard Tail & XC Hard Tail hardtails”

Sorry to disappoint @Bumscag, but I am real. It is a bit of a mess that the English-as-a-second-language Italians over at Pinarello named their hardtail “Hard Tail”. And they named one hardtail “Dogma XC Hard Tail”, while calling the other just “XC Hard Tail”. I understand that it hurts your brain to read. But it also hurt my brain to write!

That’s insane, absurd, and as big an Italian FU to the English language as I’ve seen in a very long time.

Also, good to know you’re not *just* an AI

It’s a Hard Tale to tell……

So you get the credit for calling a “seatpost” a “rigid dropper”? “So they gave the hardtails a rigid dropper, …”

Follow Us On

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Russia Travel Blog  | All about Russia in English

• About our blog
• RussiaTrek.org

Sidebar →

• Architecture
• Entertainment
• RussiaTrek.org News

• Send us a tip with a message
• Support RussiaTrek.org
• Travel Guide to Ukraine
• Comments RSS

← Sidebar

The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

You might also like:

The bridge over Zolotoy Rog Bay in Vladivostok

The views of St. Petersburg from the TV tower >>

Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023

Online Returns Policy

FAST SHIPPING

• Urgent Question? WhatsApp us now!
• Click & Collect in 48 hours
• Interest Free Finance

Trek Full Suspension Mountain Bikes

Important Links

Useful links, customer support, opening times.

• New comments
• Military Photos
• Russian Military
• Anti-Aircraft
• SA-21/S-400 Triumf

96L6E Radar, S-400

• Oct 18, 2010

Media information

Share this media.

• This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. Accept Learn more…