Our annual bike mega-test is back with a bang for 2024
Bike of the Year is back for 2024 and it’s time to announce our winners!
Whether you’re after a trail bike, eMTB, enduro rig or hardtail, we’ve tested 30 leading mountain bikes across four categories, so you can find the best one for you.
Bike of the Year is our annual mega-test, with 24 road, gravel and urban ebikes also tested in addition to 30 mountain bikes.
We’ve got the most experienced test team in the business and, after three months of putting these bikes through the wringer, we’re ready to crown our champions.
Introducing our 2024 winners…
- Trail Bike of the Year – Whyte T160 RS
- Enduro Bike of the Year – YT Capra Core 4 29
- Full-Power and Overall eMTB of the Year – Canyon Strive:ON CFR
- Lightweight eMTB of the Year – Whyte ELyte 150 Works
- Budget MTB of the Year – Rockrider AM 100
While we’re focussing on mountain bikes here, our Bike of the Year test also covers road, gravel and urban electric bikes, with 24 contenders across five categories.
We’ve announced our 2024 Road Bike of the Year winners – and we’ll be publishing full reviews of every bike tested over the next month or so. Head to our 2024 Bike of the Year hub to find everything you need.
Now, on to the 2024 MTB Bike of the Year test…
What we tested
We’ve once again focussed our test on trail, enduro, electric and budget mountain bikes – but with a little twist.
We introduced an eMTB category to Bike of the Year in 2022 but this year’s electrified test, headed up by Alex Evans, is split between full-power and lightweight ebikes to represent the ever-growing and diversifying segment.
Over the past year, we’ve seen several high-profile lightweight eMTB launches, with these ‘SL’ ebikes designed to combine progressive motor assistance with a responsive ride feel.
As a result, we felt it important to provide a clear distinction between lightweight eMTBs and their full-power cousins, with four bikes tested from each sub-category and two winners, though we have also selected an overall eMTB of the Year champion.
Otherwise, our long-standing trail and enduro categories are back, with eight bikes each for Tom Marvin (trail) and Rob Weaver (enduro) to once again deliver their respective verdicts.
We’ve kept a tight price range on each category but have also kept a close eye on value by once again including a budget category in this year’s Bike of the Year test.
Having led last year’s test, Sarah Bedford takes charge of this one, with six hardtails all under £1,500.
That’s the basics covered, now let’s take a closer look at the top-performing bikes and contenders across each category.
Trail Bike of the Year – Whyte T160 RS
- Whyte T160 RS
- Canyon Spectral CF7
- Marin Rift Zone 29 XR
The trail bikes for our 2024 test cost between £3,000 and £4,199 and are best described as ‘burly’, with fork travel topping out at 160mm and 130-150mm of bounce at the rear.
These bikes are designed for all-day adventures, so they need to feel pacey and efficient on the climbs, maximising the effort you put in. But they also need to descend with control and comfort, and provide a fun, playful ride feel.
Meet the tester | Tom Marvin
Tom Marvin is one of BikeRadar’s senior technical editors and, as a rider who’s as keen on Lycra-clad laps as he is rooty off-piste excursions, he’s our chief tester for the trail bike category.
Tom’s initial long list included twenty bikes, with eight models making it into the final test.
The contenders were tested on a variety of terrain across the UK, in search of a machine that truly encapsulated the do-anything qualities of a modern trail bike.
Tom Marvin’s verdict
“The Whyte T-160 impressed from the off, thanks to geometry that suits the modern trail rider.
“The sophisticated suspension at both ends works together with the frame’s linkage to deliver suspension that performs in nearly every scenario. The spec list was impressive when I requested the bike, and even more so a couple of months later when Whyte dropped the price.
“At this price, you’re not going to find a better trail bike in 2024.”
Trail Bike of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight Trail Bike of the Year contenders over the next month. Here’s the full shortlist.
- Cannondale Habit LT2
- Canyon Spectral CF7
- GT Sensor Carbon Pro
- Marin Rift Zone 29 XR
- Scott Genius 940
- Trek Fuel EX 9.7 Gen 6
- Whyte T160 RS
- YT Jeffsy Core 3
Enduro Bike of the Year – YT Capra Core 4 29
- YT Capra Core 4 29
- Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS
- Trek Slash 8 Gen 6
When it comes to the enduro category, pricing ranges from £4,250 all the way up to £6,205. It’s a bigger price range than we’d like and is largely down to one brand sending the wrong bike. With our deadline for bike arrivals looming, we decided to include it anyway.
As ever, the focus here is on the descents. Sure, an enduro bike needs to get you to the top of the hill, but downhill stability, composure, control and speed-carrying efficiency will always be the priority.
Meet the tester | Rob Weaver
BikeRadar’s technical editor-in-chief, Rob Weaver, returned once again to head up our enduro category. Hard-riding Rob has years of experience racing at a high level, and testing bikes for more than 15 years, so he knows what makes a good enduro rig.
Over three months, all the bikes in this category were ridden back-to-back to eke out every last difference between them. Rob also rode them in different orders throughout the test period to assess which did or didn’t feel comfy when he was exhausted on the final run of the day.
The trails in question varied from steep, natural downhill tracks and forest singletrack, through to the high speeds and hefty impacts of BikePark Wales.
Rob Weaver’s verdict
“When push came to shove, the YT Capra Core 4 had the edge over the other seven bikes in this test, quietly disposing of track after track with a calmness and pace that few could rival, no matter the type of terrain.
“Even if you’re not riding the wildest trails going, the Capra provides enough support and agility to ensure the fun factor doesn’t ever fizzle out.
“While this was a top-three Bike of the Year contender last year, the spec changes for 2024 have helped the Capra Core 4 clinch the top honours this time round.”
- Our review of the YT Capra Core 4 will be published on Saturday 11 May
Enduro Bike of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all eight Enduro Bike of the Year contenders over the next month. Here’s the full shortlist.
- Cube Stereo ONE77 C:68 TM 29
- Ibis HD6 XT
- Kona Process X CR
- Marin Alpine Trail XR AXS
- Santa Cruz Megatower C R
- Transition Spire Alloy NX
- Trek Slash 8 Gen 6
- YT Capra Core 4 29
eMTB of the Year – Canyon Strive:On CFR
With ‘SL’ ebikes arriving thick and fast, this year we’ve split our eMTB test into two sub-categories – full-power and lightweight, with four bikes in each sub-category.
We’ve selected a winner for sub-category, as well as an overall eMTB of the Year in the case of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR.
Pricing for both eMTB categories starts at £6,699 and peaks at £10,000.
The full-power electric mountain bikes have at least 80Nm of maximum torque and boast larger batteries with a capacity of 600Wh or more.
The lightweight electric mountain bikes tip the scales at 20kg or less, offer 50-60Nm of max torque and up to 430Wh of battery capacity.
We’re now in a fantastic place when it comes to the development of eMTBs, with all eight bikes tested here offering decent geometry that really helps bolster their handling.
Meet the tester | Alex Evans
Senior technical editor, Alex Evans, has established himself as one of the world’s leading testers of electric mountain bikes and is our go-to rider for all things eMTB.
Alex tested all eight eMTBs on his home trails in Scotland’s Tweed Valley, home to some of the UK’s best trail centres, enduro tracks and downhill race runs, and host to plenty of international competition.
The trails are world class and impressively varied helping him push the bikes to their limits. Back-to-back laps of the same well-known test loops helped shine a light on the highs and lows of each model.
Full-Power eMTB of the Year
- Canyon Strive:ON CFR (Overall eMTB of the Year)
- Propain Ekano 2 CF Ultimate
Alex Evans’ verdict
“The Canyon Strive:ON is confident, capable and fun to ride, both uphill and down, especially if you’re tackling the hardest, fastest, gnarliest terrain around. It does exactly what it sets out to do; it’s an electric enduro race bike through-and-through.
“The motor, frame, suspension, and almost the entire spec list, are faultless and impeccable value for the £6,500 asking price. It’s not infallible though; a drivetrain and grips upgrade – when funds permit – would be at the top of my list.
“Offering a no-compromises package, the Strive:ON’s light weight is combined with a powerful motor and long-range battery; a mixture usually only way more expensive bikes boast.”
- Our review of the Canyon Strive:ON CFR will be published on Sunday 12 May
Full-Power eMTB of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all four Full-Power eMTB of the Year contenders over the next month. Here’s the full shortlist.
- Canyon Strive:ON CFR
- Propain Ekano 2 CF Ultimate
- Yeti 160E C1 Factory
- YT Decoy MX Core 5
Lightweight eMTB of the Year
- Whyte ELyte 150 Works
- Santa Cruz Heckler SL GX AXS X
Alex Evans’ verdict
“Impressive on the descents, the Whyte ELyte’s handling is calm and composed, offering a mature feel that extends its capabilities beyond those short travel suspension figures.
“Best ridden quickly and hard, it’s both dynamic and stable, feeling comfortable on a wide gamut of terrain types.
“Currently, there are few lightweight ebikes out there that can top the ELyte.”
- Our review of the Whyte Elyte 150 Works will be published on Thursday 16 May
Lightweight eMTB of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all four Lightweight eMTB of the Year contenders over the next month. Here’s the full shortlist.
- Giant Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 1
- Santa Cruz Heckler SL GX AXS X
- Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL 2 Expert
- Whyte ELyte 150 Works
Budget MTB of the Year – Rockrider AM 100
- Rockrider AM 100
- Whyte 529
- Giant Fathom 29 2
This year, our budget category spans the £1,000-£1,500 price bracket. That’s a marked increase compared to our 2023 test, which brings with it a jump in component specification, geometry and the overall capability of each of the hardtails included.
For this kind of outlay, you can expect a dropper post, a more tunable fork, a slicker drivetrain and better tyres, all of which add up to an even better experience in the woods.
Meet the tester | Sarah Bedford
Having led our inaugural budget test in 2023, Sarah Bedford, based in Scotland’s Tweed Valley, is back for the 2024 test.
Our selection of six hardtail mountain bikes caters to first-time mountain bike buyers, with Sarah paying particular attention to how each bike provided confidence for challenging terrain and skill expansion. Value for money is key, too, as well as the potential for future upgrades – and not forgetting the all-important fun factor.
To test these budget bikes, Sarah took to the trails in the Glentress Forest, finding the limits of each bike with a mix of trail centre, off-piste and bike park riding.
Sarah Bedford’s verdict
“The Rockrider AM 100 is a standout hardtail that offers impressive performance and style at an affordable price.
“It excelled on the climbs, despite the small wheels, while its nimble handling and trail performance impressed.
“In the entry-level category, the components may not be as high-end, but the AM 100’s serve their purpose effectively. The lightweight frame provides a solid foundation for future upgrades to enhance performance and further reduce its already low weight.
“Overall, the AM 100 is a smart purchase for those looking for a capable, nimble and playful hardtail without breaking the bank.”
- Our review of the Rockrider AM 100 will be published on Monday 13 May
Budget MTB of the Year contenders
We’ll be bringing you full reviews of all six Budget MTB of the Year contenders over the next month. Here’s the full shortlist.
- Calibre Line T3 27.5
- Cannondale Habit HT 1
- Giant Fathom 29 2
- Merida Big Trail 400
- Rockrider AM 100
- Whyte 529
Thank you!
This test is a huge effort from the BikeRadar and MBUK teams first and foremost, but a big thanks also have to go to the brands that supplied bikes, BikePark Wales for use of their trails for testing, and Forestry England for hosting our main photoshoot at the fantastic Forest of Dean Cycle Centre.
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