Top 5 | Reasons A Trail Bike Is The ONLY Mountain Bike You'll Ever Need

If you could have only one mountain bike to rule them all, what would it be? If you happened to ask our tech team at BikeRadar, most of them would say a trail bike.

Now, before you XC racers and enduro shredders get too upset, don’t worry - we love those bikes too, but someone’s gotta stick up for the underdog,.

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[bikeradar]

What do you think about our reasons? Do you agree? Or perhaps we are all wrong! As always, let us know in the comments.

[kaboozle]

Me one month ago: “I’d like to buy an MTB to enjoy the trails lesser traveled near where I live. I bet it’s gonna be a simple purchasing decision”.
Me now: “I wish I’d never started researching MTB’s.”

[laxeroftoday]

The perfect mountain bike is the one that gets ridden. Doesn’t matter what it is. If it’s being used, it’s good enough

[kingpet]

Trail bikes. The jack of all trades but master of none but I don't care coz I don't race and I just wanna have fun meeting and riding with my mates.

[koolkawika]

Mountain bikers can be so snobby. I see kids cooking a lot of mountain bike trails on cheap old mountain bikes. Don’t let not having a fancy downhill or enduro rig stop you from shredding. Love this video.

[pinkshinyalan]

I'm reminded of the old engineer's adage/joke, "the great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from."

[smontane]

Yes to trail bikes! I had a Santa Cruz Heckler from 2007 that took me everywhere: downhill racing, skislope shredding, long epic rides and even around the Annapurna circuit. With 26" wheels!
Then I got a hardtail Specialized Fuse with 27.5 plus wheels and it blew my mind, for how capable it is and how fun, and even slacker than the heckler! With this bike I haven't been riding ski slopes, neither racing downhill, but it still could do it, maybe not very fast, but fast enough to have tons of fun.
After all, is not about the bike, but also the rider's skills...
To finish, I'd say: just ride whatever works for you, have fun and respect other bikers choices. Happy trails!

[Pienimusta]

Meanwhile Sam Pilgrim blasts down double diamon trails in Whistler on 200$ Walmart bike.
I'm quite sure trail bike can deal with most you throw at it.

[bikesbeardsbeers]

Been using a short travel plus trail bike for the last couple of years and it’s been more than enough for me.

[ovrclcked]

I rode a short travel 29er everywhere. I rode double black, steep backcountry descents, whole enchilada. It's what I had, and I could often keep up with people who rode much more aggressive bikes. I switched to an enduro this year, but I'm convinced that you really don't need that much travel to get down pretty much any trail, it's just nice to have if you're trying to rip downhill.

[doxisch]

I gues it also depends a lot where you live. As for me, living in the middle of the alps, I'm more happy with my current enduro that my previous trail bike ...

[dcouture]

Have to agree with this video! Absolutely love my enduro bike but I can ride my trail bike on all the same trails. The trail bike just makes you pick your line a little more thoughtfully

[Egcmikey]

I went from 180mm coil to 130R/140F air, and I love it! So much easier to pedal, though you do feel the bigger stuff a bit more.

[KirilTrifonov]

I have a Scott Spark 940, and it's the best hybrid of XC and Trail. It can handle absolutely anything technical, while retaining some incredible cross country efficiency.. And it looks gorgeous!

[ZOB]

I love mine because of the versatility - I can lighten it up to be more XC focused by putting on lighter wheels and tires, or I can put on heavier, more robust wheels and tires to make it capable of a lot more aggressive terrain. It does a little bit of everything well enough for my needs.

[HarryBradbury]

Absolutely. 1 week of ownership with a GT Sensor 29er has convinced me that I really don't need another bike. Bike park laps, singletrack, XC loops, does it all.

[Wargwarn]

Depends where you live but I've just gone back to a hardtail (Whyte 905 V2) after 15 years of full suspension and I'm loving it.

[kubagajda]

It'd always be a XC hardtail for me. Not only as a only mountain bike but also as a only bike full stop. Enough to chase friends on gravel and road bikes, enough to ride all my local trails and also just about enough to go outside the comfort zone in the 'gnar' :P

[AntonBlaschuk]

I only own XC bike, but yeah, feels like a trail bike is a real do-it-all without much drawbacks here and there.
If I had option for 2 bikes, that'd probably be gravel and trail

[johnnydoe]

My perfect trail bike is a 27+ Hardtail with a 120-130mm travel fork, that's why I am picking mine up on Friday after the shop builds it up. Friday = New Bike Day 😁