Top 5 | 2023 Cross-Country Mountain Bikes

We’ve covered the top 5 mountain bikes for 2023, so now it’s time to be a little more niche and show some love to cross-country.

It’s shaping up to be a big year for XC racing and in this video we highlight what some of the top professionals may, or may not, be riding.

We will be focusing not just on the top level of racing, there’s also a bike many of you won’t have heard of AND a budget-friendly option. Finally, a list truly for everyone.

Which bikes should have made the list? Let us know in the comments 👇

#xcbikes #crosscountry #mountainbikes

Image Credits:
DAVID PINTENS / Contributor / Getty
Luc Claessen / Stringer / Getty
Tim de Waele / Staff / Getty
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno / Stringer
BSR Agency / Contributor
DAVID STOCKMAN / Contributor
NurPhoto / Contributor
ANP / Contributor

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:16 BMC Fourstroke
01:46 Scott Scale
03:14 Scorpi El Camös
04:38 Cervélo ZHT-5
06:44 Cannondale Scalpel HT

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New BMC Fourstroke gets self-dropping dropper seatpost and updated frame

The Scorpi El Camös is a futuristic lightweight XC bike with a nostalgic nod to the 90s

New Scott Scale boasts a sub-9kg weight and an ultralight one-piece wheelset

Cervélo releases ZHT-5 hardtail as its first-ever mountain bike

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[bikeradar]

What do you think to our list this year? Did we get it wrong? Let us know your Top 5! 👇

[VictorM.Rodriguez-dh]

All nice bikes, hardtails are still my fave XC rigs!!!

[ThunderStruckMTB]

You forgot to mention the best thing about the BMC - they kept the cables out of the headset. A bike company that gets it.

[joeblack]

I’m all for a ludicrously expensive something, hell I have two Santa Cruz bikes (one a v10) but 13.5k for the Scott Hardtail!!! That’s madness

[neilgouws]

Thanks.... I'll stick to my *Specialized* *Epic* hardtail !

[mellissanash]

The updated Cotic Solaris with a 110mm fork looks like a fun XC meets bikepacking bike that's worth reviewing/looking into.

[mathewtallman]

Cervelo releases a hardtail from 2018 and makes the top 5 list in 2023??

[Andy_ATB]

I suspect the new Scale will mostly be seen in XC Marathon, rather than XCO racing. And I'd be surprised if we see Vos doing any MTB racing; however you'll likely see Van Empel in U23 XCO World

[michiganstate]

This autodrop is pretty cool. I always thought it'd be a really cool feature for a dropper.

[OZMDPrime]

Seems I'm vibing with the Italians on the same frequency! The past 2 weeks I created the future of XC racing bikes, but I was thinking it would be too futuristic and people wont accept it. Seems the Italians got it first this time and I have to settle for second place with my Alpha Airwolf. Nevertheless I'll finish it by the end of May. If you wanna have a look at the sub 8kg full sus dual drive beast - u know the drill. GL HF

[sigiroy]

Two stroke hardtail for £1900. Looks twice as nice although that scale looks 👌 £2900! Crazy

[stevekelly]

I think BMC has got modern XC geometry nailed down-my favorite of the bunch-

[johnkim]

(1) BMC - integrated seatpost where you can only buy from them
(2) Scott - drop seat stays that make structural engineer cringe as an update
(3) Scorpi - ditched the front triangle to replicate the structures of machines with stress member engines
(4) Cervelo - digressed to BSA because they could not figure out how to manufacture press-fit
(5) Cannondale - the drop seat stays... yay

[RatluBoogerbag]

A few thoughts. First, Scott cannot in a serious manner be expecting to actually sell any 14k bikes. They've only done that as a marketing exercise I should think. Second, 68 degrees is perfect for a cross country bike, you don't need anything slacker than that. Cross country bikes should be nimble not ludicrously capable.

[sevenninthsfabmachine]

If you haven’t seen it already, you guys should have a look at the new Allied BC40.

[lando]

nice video but what is with the orbea oiz 🤔

[runcationsviajarycorrer]

What about UNNO Aora? Is an awesome xc hardtail bike, maybe the best one

[spinwin]

Interesting proposition. Geometry is the same as my trail bike but lighter and less travel.

[RustyBiker]

This should be titled as most outrageously priced bikes that you should never consider buying

[erich]

32 grams = .07 pounds. I'm sure that'll make a huge difference in a race.