Testers and PinkBike editors spent the last year hitting singletrack from Bellingham to Squamish to evaluate 2024’s newest crop of trail bikes. Fifteen bikes, ranging from hard-charging, downhill-oriented crushers to cross-country-style rippers, were in the mix, but when all the dust settled, these six impressed the most in overall performance.
At a Glance
- Editors’ Choice — Best Overall: Scor 2030 GX ($6,499)
- Editors’ Choice — Best Value: YT Jeffsy ($4,399)
- Best High-Pivot Trail Bike: Forbidden Druid ($7,199)
- Best All-Around: Cannondale Habit Carbon LT 1 ($5,550)
- Best for Getting Air: Commencal Tempo LTD ($4,900)
- Best Easy Ride: GT Sensor ($4,313)
- How to Choose a Trail Bike
- How We Test
- Meet the Lead Testers
All gear in this guide was tested by multiple reviewers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.
Editors’ Choice — Best Overall
Scor 2030 GX
Build: 2030 GX
Weight: 29.9 lb (size M/L)
Pros and Cons
⊕ It’s a better descender than most 120-millimeter travel bikes
⊕ Very quiet, no cable rattle or excessive chainslap
⊗ Your enduro bike might start collecting dust
It only takes one three-letter word to summarize why the Scor 2030 is our 2024 Editor’s Choice winner: FUN. With its stubby back end and relatively slack head angle, the 2030 is incredibly entertaining, especially on technical, rolling terrain. Pumping, manualing, and jumping are the 2030’s strong suits, but it also squeezes every last drop of performance out of its 120 millimeters of rear travel. That trait allows it to shine brighter than most bikes in this travel bracket when faced with chunky, technical sections of trail.
The 2030 is more focused on the descents than some other bikes in this category (like the Yeti SB120), but Scor’s designers didn’t forget that it needs to go uphill, too. It’s an energetic pedaler, free of any wallowing or mushiness while still delivering enough traction to keep that low-profile Rekon tire from spinning wildly. The perfect balance between efficiency and grip can be tricky to achieve, but the 2030 does it very well. It has the quickness you’d hope to get from a 120-millimeter bike without any accompanying harshness.
The geometry plays a large part in how comfortable the bike feels in the steeps, but the suspension deserves a mention, too: the Deluxe Ultimate shock is very well controlled, with a smooth ramp up at the bottom of the stroke. It’s a trait we noticed with the Scor 4060 a couple of years ago—there’s no harshness towards the end of the travel, which makes it easier to plop off a drop or push through a pointy rock garden without worrying about running out of travel.
Yes, there are limits—we’re still talking about a 120-millimeter trail bike here—and I’m not about to say it can go wheel-to-wheel with a full-on enduro bike. However, the fact that it can handle those more technical trails while also remaining entertaining on mellower ones is worth noting. The suspension opens up nicely at higher speeds, and it can deal with quick impacts very well.
The frame itself ticks all the boxes when it comes to the features we’d expect to see on a modern trail bike—there’s in-frame storage, angle-adjusting headset cups, well-sealed bearings, and effective chainslap protection that keeps the 2030 satisfyingly silent. The 2030 is one of those bikes that makes you want to keep on riding, sneaking in as many miles as possible before it’s time to return to reality.
Editors’ Choice — Best Value
YT Jeffsy
Build: Core 4
Weight: 33.3 lbs (size S)
Sizing: S-XXL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Easy and intuitive to ride
⊕ Good balance between stable and energetic riding
⊗ The suspension has its limits in rough, fast terrain
As a now-longstanding staple of the YT lineup, the main theme of the Jeffsy is alive and well: a 29er trail bike meant to get along with just about anything you might encounter. The all-mountain geometry of the updated model keeps the ride both stable and energetic—the ideal balance in a trail bike. But the third model also features a host of updates we’re seeing on many modern bikes, the most notable being the in-frame storage. The storage hatch stands alone above the bottle instead of doubling as the plate that carries the water bottle—eliminating the eventual loosening or rattling that might accompany the dual-duty designs.
I had an excellent first ride on the Jeffsy, and the positive feeling hasn’t waned much since that day. From quick laps on my local favorites to longer, very technical rides, the bike has felt predictable, fun, and simply easy to ride. YT seems to have nailed the tricky balance of a bike that is easy to cruise on while still holding its own when pushed hard or thrown into more serious terrain.
Climbing feels supportive and efficient—the bike remains energetic over technical terrain in and out of the saddle. Descending is intuitive and well-balanced, with excellent cornering performance and great pop on jumps and jibs. With the 145 millimeters of rear travel, I only bottomed out a few times on some serious hits. The bike has an active feel through chattery terrain, especially when you let off the brakes and push through the bike.
An immediate takeaway was just how quiet the Jeffsy is, with no rattles, creaks, or other annoyances developing over the past couple weeks of riding. Another rosy first impression is the dialed build kit—there’s nothing I’d change out of the gate on my Core 4 test bike. The brakes, drivetrain, suspension, wheelset, and cockpit are all pretty close to what I’d choose for a bike of this ilk, so I’m more than happy to stick with the stock options.
Direct-to-consumer brands like YT can still offer value that most shop model brands can’t compete with, as with the new Jeffsy. Topping out at $6,499, the Jeffsy lineup has 5 builds that cater to a wide array of budgets, depending on price, experience level, and component preference.
Overall this strikes me as a great bike for people looking for easy and intuitive handling, an unfussy layout, and a solid ride feel regardless of how hard you’re pushing the bike. But don’t let that dissuade you if you’re keen to ride hard, as Jeffsy is more than willing to get rowdy.
Best High-Pivot Trail Bike
Forbidden Druid
Build: GX FX
Weight: 32.4 lbs (size M)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Descends like a longer travel bike
⊕ Extremely quiet ride
⊗ The extra idler wheel can require more servicing
⊗ A unique spin on geometry means the XL frame’s chainstay grows extremely long through the travel
If you’ve ever ridden an idler-equipped high-pivot bike—meaning the bike’s main pivot is placed above the top of the chainring and the rear wheel axle—you know the calming effect that the rearward axle path brings to the nature of the ride. Forbidden has taken that to a trail bike, something seldom utilized on a 130-millimeter-travel bike. The original Druid won over fans of shorter travel bikes with its ability to handle descents as if it had magical powers—now, it’s transcendent. Even with a longer-travel model in the lineup, Forbidden’s enduro racer, Rhys Verner, claimed the top spot this season aboard the Druid V2.
We took the Druid out on singletrack uphills and downhills with chunky rock outcrops, and the bike felt superbly balanced. Thanks to the high pivot design and the Super Deluxe rear shock, the Druid handled technical bumps with ease and had no trouble carrying speed. The Druid thrives in singletrack because you can stay seated upright and comfy, and you don’t lose much speed when pedaling across roots.
However, the admirable suspension qualities of high-pivot bikes don’t come easily—they typically require more upkeep to maintain maximum drivetrain efficiency. Due to the precise placements of the pivots on the Druid V2, you cannot adjust the geometry. To pick between a 64 or 64.5-degree head tube angle, you’ll need to choose the specific frame member that houses either a 27.5 or 29-inch rear wheel. Although the brake line’s routing passes through the seatstay, it’s not a swap you’ll be making in the parking lot. On that note of chainstays, Forbidden scales their front to rear center lengths proportionally per size, so the same ratio is kept on all frame sizes. Even taller riders may have trouble wielding the 466-millimeter chainstay found on the XL frame size.
Overall, the Druid is one of the more capable short-travel bikes for riders who prefer snappy handling. It might take a while for some riders to acclimatize to its lengthy rear triangle, but the unbelievably smooth descent is worth it.
Best All-Around
Cannondale Habit Carbon LT 1
$4,163 at REI $4,163 at Cannondale
Build: Sram GX Eagle
Weight: 31.4 lbs (size L)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Balanced and composed in tricky situations
⊗ Not super efficient on the uphill
When we covered the release of the Habit, it struck me just how sensible and conventional it was. There was no quirkiness to it, at least on the surface, and everything about it seemed to be pragmatic and well-judged. The Habit LT’s geometry, frame features, and simple layout all scream modern, sensible trail bike. The frame has some nice subtle features, with a rubber cover to stop your chainstay from gobbling up rocks, non-guided routing that is very easy to work with thanks to a removable panel on the downtube, ISCG threads, and a tried-and-true threaded bottom bracket.
Though it is a typical four-bar bike, the Habit has a comparatively low anti-squat value. This may be bad news for all-out efficiency on smooth roads, but it’s good news if you need your suspension to adapt to terrain on rougher climbs. The Habit is comfortable on undulating terrain thanks to that higher stack, and the suspension tracks and grips well. I sometimes used the climb switch for hard-pack fire roads or tarmac stretches, but for anything remotely rough, I set it to open and let it flow. It might not be the most suited to out-of-the-saddle pedaling hard, but the bike does strike a great balance between tracking and efficiency. The Habit LT is weighted on the front, balanced on most trails, and able to handle very steep trails because of this well-proportioned and pragmatic geometry. I’m not a believer in massive reaches, especially when combined with short rear ends—the grip the Habit achieves on any type of trail is a testament to this. Extra-regular is no bad thing.
Overall, this is a very well-executed bike that simply works very well. Balance, composure, maneuverability, and comfort can oftentimes seem like ideologies that are opposed to one another in bikes, and you can merely have two or three out of the four at best. The Habit LT makes a very strong argument that, as riders, we might just be able to have it all.
Best for Getting Air
Commencal Tempo LTD
Build: Tempo LTD
Weight: 30.9 lbs (size S)
Pros and Cons
⊕ Quick and lively
⊕ Never met a jump or corner it didn’t like
⊗ Thru-headset cable routing can make maintenance more difficult
No matter which direction the trail points, the Tempo is fast. It has a satisfying snappiness that rewards hard pedaling efforts, especially on rolling terrain where the bike can be pumped and pushed to maintain that momentum. It’s also a very energetic climber, which will be a welcome trait to anyone coming off of a longer travel machine with more subdued pedaling manners. Compared to longer, slacker bikes where you need to swing wide to navigate awkward switchbacks, the Tempo is happiest taking the inside line, following a tight, precise arc on its way upwards. I’d be tempted to call it a trail bike for riders who prioritize the climbs—except that it’s a blast on the downhills too.
The Tempo is the type of bike that can breathe new life into mellower trails while also holding its own on the rowdier stuff. Modern mountain bike categories can be nebulous at times, but this is a trail bike in the truest sense of the term, well-suited to spinning out the miles while also goofing off and hitting every lip and landing possible. Do I wish it didn’t have thru-headset cable routing and better-sealed frame bearings? You bet, but I wouldn’t consider either of those deal-breakers. The overall ride characteristics of the Tempo are overwhelmingly positive, enough so that I’d be willing to deal with a little extra shop time.
Best Easy Ride
GT Sensor Carbon
Build: Carbon Pro LE
Weight: 32.7 lbs (M)
Sizing: S-XL
Pros and Cons
⊕ Feels like an old friend—easy to ride
⊕ Quiet
⊗ No in-frame storage
⊗ No flip-chips or ways to adjust the geometry
In 2023, it was nearly five years since the Sensor received a significant update, so it was high time GT revised its 29-inch trail bike. The Sensor’s frame still has that distinctive GT look, but the amount of rear travel has been bumped up to 140 millimeters, a change that’s accompanied by revised geometry.
There are five models in the Sensor lineup—three with carbon frames (except for the chainstays) with 140 millimeters of travel, and two with aluminum frames with 130 millimeters of travel. Prices range from $2,300 for the alloy Sensor Comp and go up to $5,750 for the Sensor Carbon Pro LE.
The Sensor’s geometry falls into what I’d call extra-normal-modern. The 65-degree head angle is moderately slack, but not extreme, and the 480-millimeter reach for a size large paired with a 77-degree seat angle is a familiar recipe. Compared to the previous version, the reach is approximately 10 millimeters longer per size, and the seat angle is a degree steeper.
After a series of almost suspiciously great rides, my conviction is growing stronger that the new Sensor is a good one. It climbs well, with enough support to leave the shock’s climb lever alone, and there’s plenty of traction even when set up with 25 percent sag. On the descents, the suspension does a great job of muting hits of all sizes. The tune on the RockShox Super Deluxe feels ideally suited to the Sensor’s kinematics—it’s fluttery off the top to take care of the small bump chatter, and then settles nicely into its stroke when dealing with repeated larger impacts.
The geometry may be fairly middle of the road, but it’s a recipe that works well, and the result is a bike that feels like a familiar, friendly companion almost immediately.
How to Choose a Trail Bike
The trail bike category is the most saturated in mountain biking, so it’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are a few easy questions you can ask yourself to narrow the field.
What Kind of Riding Will You Mostly Be Doing?
As much as you may want to answer this one with flowy, singletrack heaven, it’s important to be realistic about what you’ll actually be riding. This can be determined by the time of year that you mostly get out there (which will determine what the conditions will be like), which trails are most accessible to you, and which region you bike in. Are you planning on taking big trips consistently, or will you mostly stay local?
Will You Be Riding Lift-Accessed Trails?
If most of the riding you’ll be doing is lift-accessed, you may want to look in the enduro category. If you’ll be doing a mix of both and are planning on hitting jumps, look for a bike that has enough travel but doesn’t compromise on the uphill either.
What’s Your Riding Style?
If you prefer to charge through steep, technical sections, you could be looking at a very different bike than if you’re a more playful rider who likes to find side hits. Again, be honest with yourself about this. How do you actually ride, and what’s aspirational?
What’s Your Budget Like?
Yes, mountain bikes are expensive. But you do have options. Consider buying used (the market has finally gotten more reasonable this past year), by checking out Pinkbike’s marketplace or looking on Craigslist. Or, check out our best value bikes page for cheaper new bikes. If you’re thinking about buying a used bike (which can be an excellent option), watch this video from PinkBike Originals.
Are You Able to Test it Out?
You must take a bike at least for a spin around the block before you pull the trigger. You might find that you’re uncomfortable on a bike with a certain geometry that you’re not used to—and although sometimes it does take some more time on the bike—you’ll know if you’re just not sitting right. Taking it for a spin will also help the shop determine which size is best for you.
How We Test
- Number of Testers: 6
- Number of Products Tested: 15
PinkBike leads our mountain bike testing and just like in previous years, the team took out as many trail bikes as they could over the whole year. They tested trail bikes in Bellingham, Washington, and Squamish, BC, in a wide range of conditions that included everything from muddy, rainy days to ones with blue skies and perfect dirt. Testing was lead by Mike Kazimer, the managing tech editor for PinkBike, who is based in Bellingham, Washington and manages all mountain bike gear coverage.
Meet the Lead Testers
Mike Kazimer: Managing tech editor for Pinkbike, alien skeptic.
Mike Levy: Tech editor for Pinkbike, believes in aliens (or lizard people at the very least).
Alicia Leggett: News editor for Pinkbike who sometimes moonlights as a tech editor.
Sarah Moore: Content manager for Pinkbike, former elite-level cross-country mountain bike racer.