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As we start to dig out our baselayers<\/a>, and search for that pair of waterproof socks we swore we bought last year, it\u2019s also time to consider which mountain bikes<\/a> will be making waves next year out on the trails.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t need our crystal ball for this, because we\u2019re not exactly attempting to predict the future. Instead, we\u2019re out to identify where things have evolved and what designs might become popular over the next 12 months or so.<\/p>\n With that in mind, it\u2019s time to introduce our headline bike test for 2023, with eight machines that each represent a compelling direction for MTB tech in the year ahead.<\/p>\n All eight bikes are here for a reason.<\/p>\n The Trek Fuel EXe illustrates how electric bikes<\/a> are developing and where, potentially, the future lies. And yes, we know we said similar about the Specialized Turbo Kenevo SL<\/a> last year, but you only need to look at the numbers to see that Trek has shifted things up a gear.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a similar story with the Hope HB.916, the UK brand\u2019s new high-pivot enduro bike. If Hope, too, is getting behind this newly popular suspension design, will we see an even bigger influx of high-pivot bikes next year?<\/p>\n Like the Hope, the Pole Voima is extremely interesting, and not just because of its geometry or design. The Finnish company\u2019s approach to manufacturing is very different from most brands, and it\u2019s great to see a fresh take on what\u2019s possible when it comes to making bikes.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve also included the new Canyon Strive, because of its stretched-out, rather radical geometry, which can be heavily adjusted on the fly.<\/p>\nSetting the pace for 2023<\/h2>\n