Imagine a bike that can tackle all-day epic rides with ease and efficiency, cover ground extremely fast and has just the right mix of componentry to fly down descents and you’re on your way to picturing the best downcountry mountain bikes.
Here, we list the best downcountry mountain bikes in 2021, as tested and rated by our expert reviewers at BikeRadar.
A relative newcomer to the mountain bike scene, downcountry bikes are growing quickly in popularity because they give you everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Many of these bikes started life as race-ready cross-country mountain bikes, but they have been given some extra travel and a more progressive geometry, while retaining their XC speed.
Not all downcountry bikes are built the same, though. While some are more like beefed-up cross-country mountain bikes, others are closer to the best trail mountain bikes – pared-back and adrenaline-seeking.
We’ve put together a buyer’s guide at the end of this article to help you choose the best downcountry bike for you and to help explain this new category of bike.
The best downcountry mountain bikes in 2021, as tested by our expert reviewers
- Transition Spur X01: £6,000 / $6,499 / AU$10,499
- Juliana Wilder CC X01 AXS TR Reserve: £8,299 / $9,449
- Specialized Epic EVO Expert: £6,750 / $6,300 / AU$10,100 / €6,699
- Trek Top Fuel 8: £3,850 / $3,830 / €4,099 / AU$5,300
- YT Izzo Pro Race: £4,599 / $5,299 / AU$83,99 / €5,299
- Nukeproof Reactor Carbon 290 ST: £4,700 / $4,700 / AU$6,600
- Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS: £8,199 (international pricing TBC)
Transition Spur X01
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/06/Transition-Spur-X01-Carbon-01-0da048e.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Transition")
- Great geometry
- Smooth downhill, sprightly uphill
- £6,000 / $6,499 / AU$10,499 as tested
Unlike some downcountry bikes, the full-carbon frame Transition Spur is neither a beefed-up XC machine or a pared-back trail bike. Instead, Transition started from the ground up to build a bike that, it claims, will cover ground quickly and fly down descents.
The Spur has 120mm of travel in both the front fork and the rear shock, and when it comes to descending it really shines a light on how capable a bike like this can be, staying composed with an innate ability to smooth out the trail despite its modest travel.
When climbing, the Spur is quick and efficient, surging forward as you step on the pedals, and staying firmly rooted on rough pitches.
Overall, Transition has created a bike with superb geometry, well-considered kit and a ride that would put many longer-travel bikes to shame.
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Juliana Wilder CC X01 AXS TR Reserve
!["Pack]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/09/Juliana-Wilder-CC-X01-AXS-TR-Reserve-01-b90137b.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Juliana")
- Super-light, responsive build
- Impressively capable on the descents
- £8,299 / $9,449 as tested
Weighing in at 10.5kg, it’s no surprise that this range-topping new downcountry build from Juliana is a mega climber.
By dropping the VPP linkage, the rear-suspension design has helped to shave 289g off the frame weight of the Blur – the Wilder’s Santa Cruz equivalent – yielding 115mm travel using the single-pivot linkage and flex-stays.
There’s more to this new downcountry rig than pure prowess uphill though: specced with 120mm travel up-front, the Wilder is surprisingly capable when it comes to tackling rougher ground and descents.
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Specialized Epic EVO Expert
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/06/Specialized-Epic-EVO-Expert-01-b91c80c.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Specialized")
- Super-fast when you step on the pedals
- Short-travel but incredibly capable
- £6,750 / $6,300 / AU$10,100 / €6,699 as tested
The Specialized Epic EVO is a rocketship, reflective of its cross-country roots.
On climbs, the bike is sprightly and energetic, and gives the feeling that everything you put into the pedals is translated into forward momentum. Slow up a little bit and the bike sits in the middle of its travel, and feels more supportive than others.
When you point the Epic EVO downhill, it’s surprisingly stable, delivering far beyond its 120mm of travel on rougher terrain, but getting the right line is important to really unlock the bike’s potential.
For the price, one might expect a carbon bar rather than the alloy one Specialized has specced, and the brand’s in-house tyres could be switched out for some extra bite.
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Trek Top Fuel 8
!["Pack]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/12/Trek-Top-Fuel-8-2022-01-65fbe93.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Trek")
- Ideal suspension and geometry
- Meaty but weighty frame
- £3,850 / $3,830 / €4,099 / AU$5,300 as tested
The Trek Top Fuel 8 won’t quite match its rivals on descents, but it’s highly versatile, climbing and nullifying rugged surfaces with aplomb.
The modern geometry and gearing of the Shimano XT/SLX groupset allow you to scamper up sheer inclines, provided the Bontrager XR4 tyres retain purchase.
Downhill, the Top Fuel is agile and the RockShox SID fork is only outgunned on the most technical sections.
Unlike an XC bike, the Top Fuel should be forgiving enough to pootle along on all-day adventures.
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YT Izzo Pro Race
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2020/09/YT-Izzo-Pro-Race-01-ddf31fc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"YT")
- Geometry encourages you to ride hard
- Good spec for the money
- £4,599 / $5,299 / AU$83,99 / €5,299 as tested
YT’s direct to consumer business model means there are few compromises on the Izzo Pro Race. The bike comes with a top Fox 34 fork, Float DPS shock and SRAM’s Eagle X01 drivetrain.
Underneath the bike’s sharp lines is a spot-on geometry that delivers an aggressive ride that eggs you on.
The anti-squat built into the suspension means the Izzo stays composed on climbs and gets up them with ease.
With 130mm of travel in the front and back, the suspension ramps up nicely and gives you enough support for charging down pretty rough descents, helping create a bike that won’t hold you back.
Nukeproof Reactor Carbon 290 ST
!["Best]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/05/Nukeproof-Reactor-ST-01-6ffecbf.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413" "\"Nukeproof")
- Downhill demon
- Great spec for the price
- £4,700 / $4,700 / AU$6,600 as tested
The Nukeproof Reactor ST is a really capable bike that comes with progressive geometry and a good riding position.
Considering the price point of the Reactor ST, the kit that is bolted to it is really impressive. There is a Fox Factory 34 fork, a Shimano XT 12-speed groupset, Maxxis rubber and carbon handlebar.
On descents, the Fox 34 feels well-controlled and the 125mm of travel in the rear can take some pretty big hits, creating a ride that is seriously fun.
The Reactor ST isn’t energetic on climbs and locking the shock is advised to get a bit more efficiency on long drags. This means the Reactor ST isn’t quite as rounded as other downcountry bikes, but when it comes to descending and value for money, it’s hard to beat.
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Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS
!["Pack]("https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/21/2021/09/Scott-Spark-900-Tuned-AXS-02-1d90d0c.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413" "\"Scott")
- Lightning fast
- Suspension eases over bumps
- £8,199 as tested (international pricing TBC)
Even in its downcountry guise, with a 130mm-travel fork, the Scott Spark 900 Tuned AXS is suitably rapid. This is in part due to the Fox Nude 5T shock and fast-rolling Schwalbe Wicked Will tyres.
Thankfully, the Shimano XTR brakes can cool off that speed.
Although the Scott Spark whizzes up rock-strewn ascents, on leveller ground the suspension tends to absorb power from the pedals instead of propelling the bike forwards.