Should You Be Riding A Trail Bike? | It Might Be The Best Option For You

There are many different styles of mountain bikes available, from big travel Downhill (DH) bikes to featherweight Cross Country (XC) bikes. The larger travel Enduro bike has become very popular over the past few years, but for many people, the Trail bike might be the perfect option for everyday riding, especially for those who are looking for great pedaling and maximum fun!

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What sort of bike do you have? Are you fortunate enough to have more than one bike? If you could have more than one style of bike what would you have and why? Let us know 👇

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[gmbntech]

What sort of bike do you have? Are you fortunate enough to have more than one bike? If you could have more than one style of bike what would you have and why? Let us know 👇

[jan-mtb]

Always a pleasure to see Doddy explaining and riding bikes in the same video!

[bitumen]

I really wish more bike manufacturers makes bikes like this.
Modern geo, good components, tough alu frame, decent amount of travel and very good price.
This kind of bike with normal maintenance can last for years, without worrying.
Yea I like to watch expensive bike reviews, but in last few years bikes become ridiculous expensive, even lowest models.

[YoungDoug]

Unless you're racing a specific discipline I feel like trail bikes are the way to go. The perfect mix of fast and rowdy

[johncole]

Most underrated bike with modern geometry to excell on the downhill is the external cable routing Marin Rift Zone 3. It already has through axles, a dropper and upgrades that just make it better.

[BillyBobSunshine]

Another great vid. Would love to see a tech video about how/why anti squat works?

[JeffMTBinVA]

I know this video is almost a year old but it was just what I needed. I have been trying to decide between an enduro nukeproof mega and vitus escarpe trail and this sealed it for me. Vitus is one of the best bang for buck brands out there. I love my 2020 Sentier but I need a full sus. Thank you so much for all the info.

[KingOfEden]

I feel like it depends on your intentions.
You like flow trails with hills and like to hit higher speeds, go XC.
You like going to nice varied trails with a good amount of climbs and descents with some technical stuff, go trail/all mountain.
You like to go the the bike parks, go enduro !

[benjy]

I feel mtb manufacturers have forgetting about categories, it used to be that xc bikes had steep head angles, trail bikes were slacker but not too slack, and enduro bikes were very slack, but now xc bikes are getting as slack as trail bikes from a few years ago, and trail bikes are getting as slack as enduro bikes, even approaching downhill bike angles, for example the new trek fuel ex can go as slack as 63.5, which is slacker than their enduro bike, I fear that eventually every bike from xc through to downhill will have the same head angle.

[billyb]

I have the VRX from a few years back, been good for everything I've needed so far

[traviswoyen]

I ride a 2021 Giant Trance - 130mm front, 115mm rear. For 95% of my riding, which is on pretty sedate single track in western Minnesota, that's more than ample (I'm seldom more than 2-3 feet off the ground). I used it for a first xc race for fun, and it's pretty fair to say that any weaknesses were more rider than bike. I'm actually planning a couple xc races next year and the only bike change I'm planning is a set of lighter tires and clipless pedals. I maybe get one park visit in per year - maybe if I were doing more of that, I'd feel like getting a more aggressive bike. But the lower travel on local area trails feels like a nice compromise where I can still feel the trail through the bike but it tames the harshness of harder hits.

[mattyfrommacc]

all good advice, I cannot believe I used to go over terrain like and worse than this with no suspension, no dropper post, and cantilevers, and definitely no disc brakes! back in the early 90's with me hanging over the handlebars desperately shifting my weight to the back in that position that 90's bikes put you in

[blakebrown]

Still rocking a 2020 mythique. Vitus makes quality stuff. Been rocking it three years and it’s handled bike parks here in CO and a couple on the east coast and all the single track I can throw at it.

[crookedcrank]

Love the little nose manuals on the slabs Doddy. They're steeper than they look on camera

[RadioReprised]

Polygon D7 for me and the geometry is great for my needs. I will upgrade the wheels eventually and then maybe the fork to a 130 34 step-cast Fox. I am light and don't need big travel like the ''Large'' guys to suck up the rough stuff!

[marktechsci]

My GF had a CF Vitus road bike. Well priced, nice group set and beautiful frame and finish. I’d not think twice about getting a Vitus, great value.

[scoops]

I've got an Orbea Occam and I think it's just about perfect for my Colorado trails. It hits that sweet spot for climbing and descending.

[plainuser]

I wish every manufacturer provided full information about the bike on their specifications pages. I mean, beside all components and sizes (some even won't tell you headset size!), most won't tell you about the bearings. There should be mandatory section for suspension: anti-squat, anit-rise, progression. Some started doing that, but it is few and far between. Hard to know what bike suits you and the targeted trails and how it will ride when you don't really know how it is designed. Vitus did well on the components and geo side, but failed with the suspension specifications

[walterreyes]

I ride a commencal meta TR. 160mm and 140mm it’s more like a mini enduro. Can really handle the bike park, enduro racing and it doesn’t seem like too much bike when I wanna do some local pedal mission.

[mtnbikerva]

Best all around: Pivot Trail 429 enduro.
Why because I do not go to Bike parks/ski resorts and just coast downhill and then ride a lift or shuttle up.
I had a Trek 140mm FOX/TREK shock and 140 FOX performance 36 fork bike previously and it was garbage compared to my 120mm FOX Factory rear travel and 140mm FOX Factory 36 fork!!!
I had just done a rebuild/service on the Trek also so the crap ride was not due to lack of service/maintenance.
My T429 feels better in build quality, ride quality and comfort by far over the TREK. The T429 somehow feels like it has more travel than the TREK downhill and is MUCH more EFFICIENT pedaling than the Trek.
I live and ride in the Midatlantic and Appalachian region. For me and my riding it is perfect!
Stuff did not come poorly manufactured and fail like the Trek.
I have had zero problems in my year of riding the PIVOT!
Depending on what you want and the mountains, surface you ride, I feel most do not need a 140 mm or more travel bike.
I think a well designed and quality controlled frame, suspension etc. makes a big difference.
In the end test ride as many bikes as you can.
Pick what you like and ride the fecal matter out of it, with a big smile on your face!!!!