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The best cross-country mountain bikes are light, fast and more capable than ever. Check out our 15 favourites and our buyer's guide.
- Best Mountain Bikes Under £3,000
You've got £3k to spend, which bike should you choose? These...
- Shock
Our experienced test team has rated and reviewed air and...
- Tyre Sizes
Unsure of the best bike tyre size? Have no fear. We explain...
- Hardtail
The best hardtail mountain bikes reviewed by BikeRadar's...
- Suspension Travel
From cross-country to downhill, we take you through how much...
- Electronic Groupsets
A comprehensive guide to electronic groupsets, covering...
- Mountain Bike Upgrades
Mountain Bike Upgrades - Best cross-country mountain bikes...
- Cannondale Scalpel HT Hi-Mod 1
The Cannondale Scalpel HT Hi-MOD 1 is a high-performance...
- Best Mountain Bikes Under £3,000
- Wil Reviews & Rates The Best XC Mountain Bikes
- Specialized Epic 8
- Canyon Lux Trail
- Cervelo Zfs-5
- Trek Supercaliber
- Orbea Oiz
- Specialized Epic World Cup
- Canyon Lux World Cup
- Scott Spark RC
- Giant Anthem
Over the past five years I’ve been working at Flow, I’ve had the chance to review some of the best cross country mountain bikes on the market. From the strikingly svelte Trek Supercaliber, to the plush ‘n’ progressive Merida Ninety-Six, to the lethally lightweight Specialized Epic World Cup, we’ve tested some absolutely incredible full suspension r...
Highs:Active and highly capable suspension, clever custom-tuned fork & shock, contemporary geometry, SWAT storage, lightweight & practical frame designLows:S-Works model is eye-poppingly expensive, SRAM Level brakes, no alloy modelsHighs:Great suspension, naturally efficient, crisp handling, clever storage solutions, top value spec throughout the rangeLows:Not the most forgiving ride, cockpit ergonomics could be better, messy cable routingHighs:Beautifully smooth ride quality, plush & poppy suspension, lightweight but practical frame, superb spec packageLows:100mm XC builds don’t come with a dropper post, headset cable routing may be a turn off for someHighs:Striking frame design, powerful pedalling performance, responsive handling, contemporary build kitLows:Short travel is less forgiving on really rough trails, shock servicing and tuning are more involved, expensiveHighs:Lightweight and elegant frame design, superb geometry, plush and on-the-fly adaptable suspension, lots of spec options including alloy modelsLows:Headset cable routing, not the quietest bike, limited clearance for 2nd bottleHighs:Exceptional automated efficiency, superb geometry, tuneable shock, clutter-free cockpit, very lightweight, dual bottle readyLows:Ride can be unrelenting when not at race pace, Brain fork is jarring on rocky terrain, proprietary shock is yet to be proven in the mass market, expensiveHighs:Organic pedal efficiency, precise handling, high-tech bearings, dual bottle ready, very appealing spec for the moneyLows:Racy suspension feel won’t suit all tastes, headset cable routing, fork feels under-gunned, no dropperHighs:Progressive geometry, plush and traction-rich suspension, versatile chassis, split-personality TwinLoc systemLows:Reliant on remote for pedalling efficiency, headset cable routing adds maintenance frustration, noisy frameHighs:Very lightweight frame, fantastic all-round handling, updated Live Valve is brilliant for XC racing, near-faultless contemporary build kit, nice cable routingLows:Our original test frame cracked, Live Valve adds complexity and clutter, single bottle onlyJul 31, 2024 · The brand’s C-26, ARC, and FRO were iconic and high on most riders’ wish lists at the time. As full suspension became widely accepted for more than just downhill, Yeti released the ASR in 2000 as its first lightweight cross-country-focused full-suspension race bike.
- Ron Koch
Apr 16, 2024 · 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.
- Alan Muldoon
Mar 12, 2024 · If after reading this, you fancy looking at some more cross-country kit, then check out our guides to the best clipless MTB pedals, best MTB shoes and best XC tires. Best XC race bikes Specialized S-Works Epic 8 is a five-star XC superbike (Image credit: Specialized)
We look at the most exciting XC bikes heading to the Paris Olympics
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Discover the latest XC mountain bikes for 2024 and beyond with our top picks.