Find the best mountain bikes under £500 for you. Be warned: all of these great value bikes will hook you into a new sport and a whole new way of
Alan Muldoon
Bike Test Editor
Best enduro mountain bikes: Big travel rigs for big mountain terrain
Enduro is still the hottest ticket in mountain biking, we cut through they hype and find the very best enduro mountain bikes on the market.
Best cheap full-suspension bike: $1200/£1000 to $1900/£1600 bargain bouncers
We have seven of the best cheap full suspension bike rigs that are evenly matched and that won’t break the bank. But which delivers the best bang for buck?
Best mountain bikes under £3,000/$4,000: serious trail bikes for riding hard
We bring you the rundown of the very best mountain bikes under £3000. Trail bikes In both 27.5in and 29in wheel sizes. In association with Alpinestars.
Best cross-country XC mountain bikes: Thoroughbred racing steeds
The best cross-country mountain bikes are about raw speed, making them lightweight, efficient and ideal for fast, flowing singletrack as well as racing.
It was love at first sight with the Santa Cruz Heckler SL, and having tried it, I’m now convinced it rides as good as it looks
When Santa Cruz launched the Heckler SL back in September 2023, my first thought was “wow, that’s one good looking bike”. Yes, even the bike test editor at MBR is…
Forbidden’s Dreadnought V2 has even longer chainstays than the original high-pivot enduro sled. And after two days riding it I think it’s the right move
Given the updates to the Druid V2 trail bike and the recently launched Supernought DH bike, it should come as no surprise that version two of Forbidden’s enduro platform –…
Best mountain bikes under £1000 or $1400: brilliant bargain bikes
Expert reviews of the very best mountain bikes under £1000/$1400 right here from our expert testers. From rapid hardtails through to burly hardcore bikes.
Looking for the fastest direct-sales downhill bike? The Canyon Sender CFR 29 would be my first choice if I was going racing again
With the CLLCTV Factory race team, CLLCTV FMD and CLLCTV Pirelli teams all racing the Sender, Canyon’s commitment to DH racing at the very highest level is second to none.…
Best full-suspension mountain bike: maximum speed, comfort, and control
It's the test you've all been waiting for, where the best full suspension mountain bike models fight it out for the coveted title of Trail Bike of the Year.
The YT Tues might be 5 years old, but if I was buying a DH bike today, this is where I’d spend my money
Spotted in 2018 ridden by Aaron Gwin, then launched in Feb of 2019, the current 29in YT Tues is now officially 5 years old. That’s the same year that YT…
Propain’s Rage 3 CF DH race bike has 215mm of travel and can be built around 29in or MX wheels – just don’t pick the wrong wheel size
As raced by Phil Atwill and his Propain Positive World Cup team mates, and ridden by YouTube star, Remi Metailler, the Propain Rage is built for the roughest tracks, gnarliest…
13 sneaky tricks you need to know when buying a lightweight e-bike
It stands to reason that even the best e-bikes are going to be heavier than the best analogue bikes for the simple reason that they come with the additional weight…
Lee Cougan launches the Crossfire Trail, a 120mm travel XC bike that boasts a broader remit. But does it deliver?
XC racing is evolving at a blistering pace and the bikes need to keep up. So the new Crossfire Trail from Lee Cougan boasts 120mm travel, remote lockouts and clearance…
Canyon pulls out all the stops on the new 2024 Spectral CF 9 trail bike with less travel, more sizes, internal storage and steering stabilisation as standard
Canyon clearly isn’t afraid to innovate. Because after just one year and a trial on just one model, it is back with a brand new range of Spectral CFs, all…
The new 2024 Canyon Spectral trail bike is packed to the brim with features, including adjustable geometry, internal storage, and a steering stabiliser
Canyon’s Spectral CF is a trail bike that needs no introduction. But how do you make one of the best trail bikes on the market even better? Well, you throw…
Swap out the tyres for something chunkier and the Saracen Mantra Trail would be my ultimate trail hardtail
With progressive geometry and MX wheels, the latest Saracen Mantra Trail LSL takes us one step closer to the perfect hardtail mountain bike. But has Saracen gone far enough? In…
The new Pivot Switchblade doesn’t get trendy internal storage or a steep seat angle, but there are good reasons for not following the crowd
Squint, and you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference between the brand new Pivot Switchblade V6 and the one that was released in 2020. It doesn’t help that both…
Best hardtail mountain bike: classic trail shredding machines
These handful of rad machines are the absolute best hardtail mountain bike options out there right now. We've been thrashing hardtails for nearly three decades to build this definitive shortlist.
Will you be swapping your Trek Rail or Specialized Turbo Levo for a Honda, Ducati, or Yamaha e-bike?
E-bike sales are currently dominated by traditional mountain bikes brands like Specialized, Trek, Canyon and Giant. But there are an increasing number of motorcycle brands keen to get in on…