What Is the BEST XC Bike In 2024? (Downcountry Buyers Guide Conclusion)

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Are you trying to figure out what is the best XC Downcountry bike? Welcome to our XC Bike buyers guide! We have spent the last month testing 7 of the best XC bikes on the market and are excited to share with you guys what we think is the best one! We have review videos coming out for each of these bikes as well as a conclusion video where we let you know what bike was the best climber, best downhill, most fun, budget friendly and our personal favorite! So stay tuned!
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And until next time, Ride Awesome!
-Mo and Hannah
#xc #buyersguide #downcountry

Опубликовано:

17 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 198

@JSeg009 Месяц назад

This series of MTB reviews is what I enjoy watching on RU-vid. Direct and straight to point information with good riding. Yewww! Thxs Mo!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!!

@dazza187 Месяц назад

One of the best buying guide overviews ive seen. Great job with the videos and thorough explanations

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you so much!!

@roryveronda9933 Месяц назад

Great job on this whole test, I was looking forward to watching every bike - Happy to see Cannondale & Yeti tied, speaks volumes for Cannondale at its price point 👊🏼

@user-rj9ui3sz8u Месяц назад

The Scalpel gets such great reviews, I'm happy for Cannondale, they have reasonable prices too.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Such a fun bike!!!

@saddleweary2777 Месяц назад

Y'all sure are natural at bike reviews. The effort y'all put into these videos are appreciated very much. I wasn't sure about pushing a friend towards the scalpel but I think now that is what I'm going to do especially since a dealership is close by. Thanks for the great job.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thanks so much!!!

@michaeldiamond7063 Месяц назад

You should do a livestream with @MTBYUMYUam on these bike. He has ridden many bikes in this test. It would be great to see your conversations about these.

@RagoFam 15 дней назад

Not only was this a super fun series to watch, as a very old mtb'er, I was having a deja-vu. As a Thank You, Cannondale should send you a signed poster of their amazing racer Tinker Juarez in his heyday, and you'll see what I mean. Perhaps you already do. Total compliments to you two. Thanks!

@bike_somm Месяц назад

By far one of my favorite bike shoot out videos I’ve seen you do to date!! 🙌🏽

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@manalotomanaloto Месяц назад

Great series and such a well thought out and comprehensive summary of results!! Major props for being unbiased and unsponsored by the bikes in the review. I have friends and acquaintances who own scalpels - they consistently praise the performance, light weight, and value of their rides. Looking forward to more of your reviews. Thanks for sharing!!

@marksandoval5361 Месяц назад

Honestly, I don't think that there was a bad bike in the bunch. XC bikes with 120mm forks are so good right now, that you can't really go wrong. Most of the difference between these bikes was probably about geometry with wheelbase being most important. Longer wheelbase better descender. Shorter wheelbase better in the tight and twisty. I would have given the Spur the best 120mm travel XC bike for people who don't race XC award. The Spur was the first bike that made bikes with 120mm forks popular because it had longer geometry and then, bigger brands started making their XC bikes longer, slacker, and using 120mm forks.

@mikeglefke1970 Месяц назад

Totally agree, the Spur is the OG of “down country”. All great bikes though!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

So true!!! They are all amazing!

@TheAngryHusky Месяц назад

I have the Mondraker F-Podium DC-R from last year. Personally I don’t see how a bike in this category can be much better. They are all amazing and capable bikes. It’s pretty much coming down to asthetics and budget most likely.

@19ChrisP74 Месяц назад

@@mikeglefke1970 The Following has been DC for a lloonngg time...

@ondrej9 26 дней назад

@@mikeglefke1970 I would say the real OG of 'downcountry' category is Kona Process 111. It was heavy by todays standards and no racer but it showed people what can bike with XC travel and modern geo do and years later I still want one. Also their Hei Hei platform was great.

@davidmorris8121 21 день назад

OMG... For years, i've fantasised about a short travel Evil, built as an XC bike! Needless to say, my mind is blown by the Evil Following in your test! With that build, the price must be frightening, but WHAT a machine! Guys, your tests have been the definition of RAD! You must be exausted after all of that! Amazing stuff!

@djcordes4352 Месяц назад

Great info and video. Likely the best comparison I’ve ever seen in 38 years of this stuff!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thanks so much!!!

@samd6405 Месяц назад

Ibis Exie, Santa Cruz Blur, Trek SuperCaliber, Specialized WC, Canyon Lux, Allied BC40, Cervelo ZFS are a few missing from the list.

@skinny8019 Месяц назад

Revel Ranger.

@samd6405 Месяц назад

@@skinny8019 more of a trail bike, less XC.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Those would be rad!!!

@samd6405 Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel for sure…especially the Ibis Exie / Allied BC-40….USA manufactured still has to count for something.

@skinny8019 Месяц назад

@@samd6405 I have a trail bike. And a 24.5 lbs revel ranger. It’s not a trail bike. The ranger makes just as much or more sense in a xc shootout than the spur. Mo would love the cbf suspension and the zippy geo combo, I think.

@ericbeech2652 Месяц назад

The montage in the beginning is pristine! Perfectly done!

@saularanda4931 Месяц назад

Great job! I have a question about the tires, you really liked the recon tire, but what was your opinion on running ground control front and back?

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Amazing tire combo!! But a little slow rolling in comparison to the rekon, would be great for a downcountry setup for more tech or steeper riding!

@ColoradoGooner Месяц назад

Loved this review as a Spur owner. Not sure how much extra work it would have been but it would have been great to flash the bike name on screen during the riding footage. That way I wouldn’t have to be trying to first identify and then rewind to watch more of the natural riding characteristics. With so many bikes it was hard to keep track and that riding footage is super informative of the characteristics. Thanks again for putting this all together!

@hardmtnbiker Месяц назад

Have you considered doing the same comparison with mid travel trail bikes? Btw, your reviews are awesome! Plus the awards categories were really nicely done. You touched on how some of those XC rockets are borderline “fun all day” trail bikes. The Trail Bike review could touch on some that are borderline enduro bikes for steep tech.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

We are thinking about what the next one will be!!!

@hardmtnbiker Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel keep it up! Love your channel!

@evolusd Месяц назад

You guys have been working hard lately, all over my YT feed! Nice comparison, so much great info 👍 Evil for me!

@KneekoMTB 15 дней назад

Y'all Mo & Hannah put in work for this test. I saw him countless times in Laguna putting in the mileage to make this epic video

@JonathanLee7 Месяц назад

The amount of work that went into this must have been incredible. Great job, and thank you!

@DarshanParajuli Месяц назад

Really surprised Ibis Exie wasn't included in this. Great comparisons regardless!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

They didn't have a bike available for us!

@jeepsterc104 Месяц назад

Great job man this is the most comprehensive XC review series I've ever seen!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thanks so much!!

@XCRiders Месяц назад

Love that you didn’t have a low end xc shoot out. I like the good stuff 🤩

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

hahaha!

@cdygreen Месяц назад

Shoutout to Arin at PBS who has always helped me out with parts questions when getting my Spur built a few months ago. Their shop and staff are amazing.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Arin is awesome!!

@nhguapo Месяц назад

Great job Mo & Hannah. You guys did a great job on this series. I found it to be very relevant and looking forward to your future reviews.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you so much! Stay tuned!

@vhaisler 25 дней назад

I really enjoyed this shootout. If you do a similar comparison of the same class of bikes soon please try and include the Santa Cruz Blur TR. I'd be really curious to see how it stacks up, as I am considering purchasing one for general trail riding, and occasional XC racing. Keep up the great work!

@EmotionRadio Месяц назад

Great work. I’d say the Santa Cruz Blur, Ibis Exie, and Scott Spark would have been nice additions.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Those are rad!

@brianrowbotham4010 17 дней назад

I bought the new Mach 4 right when it came out and the suspension is amazing but it definitely lacks high speed stability. During a lot of rides that it was intended for and races it’s more than enough bike but if you’re hucking it down black trails (like I do) or at Downieville it feels overwhelmed from a geo standpoint. The epic 8 looks way better on paper for me but I definitely need to demo it first.

@TheHuester44 Месяц назад

Well imho it was an Awesome Review of all of the bikes . I’m happy to see the Cannondale made it to one of the favorites. Yeti is obviously well deserved as well . The reality is there wasn’t a bad bike in the bunch . Living in Arizona and meeting Chris from Pivot a few months ago they definitely make high quality bikes . I like the fact that Mondraker was in the mix . I’ve liked their design for a few years now . The Evil and Transition bikes seem like excellent choices if you don’t need a hardcore XC bike. Overall this was one of my favorite reviews you’ve done. For what it’s worth I like the Ari brand of bikes as well. They keep improving their bikes and allow more options to customize your build from the beginning.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!! So many good bikes!!!!

@TheHuester44 Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel Indeed !

@texasaggieproud 14 дней назад

I have an older 2000 model year Cannondale that was just accepted under their lifetime warranty claim. As a result of their help, I have just ordered the 2024 Scalpel 2 in that same Storm Cloud color (I do not like these drab black and dark gray bikes that so many are making now). Excited to get it. 🎉

@vlmo 26 дней назад

Awesome!!! Just one suggestion: put the weight also in kg. Not everybody is used with lbs.

@tiagoweyne6661 Месяц назад

What a great review, best one I have ever seen!! I love the reason why you disqualified the spur, makes me wants to buy one!!!

@johncarrington8612 Месяц назад

Its a different topic but you could do a segment on chain ring size - do a cholla up to meadows and coyote back to cholla loop with a 28, 30, 32, 34, and maybe a 36t front ring. See how time is affected - overall time, uphill and downhill.

@raulmedina6223 Месяц назад

That’s for the awesome comparison, good work 👍 in 2024 no bad bikes at this price range

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

So true!!!!

@dajtothe3472 Месяц назад

Great review series! Built up an Epic 8 Evo not long ago. It does want to go fast! Have heard nothing but great things about all these bikes. Not a bad choice in the bunch!

@MikeesTexas Месяц назад

Thanks for all the hard work y'all put into this

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@scottaw Месяц назад

Would like you to review the Top Fuel, that’s a big miss. Great job though, excellent reviewing!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

We don't know anyone at Trek but we will try!

@erikroest Месяц назад

Where is the Canyon Lux Trail or the Scott Spark? Would love to see those bikes compared to the tested ones...

@matthewandelin1984 Месяц назад

Can you share your data on the timed segments? Curious how close they all are in terms of uphill vs downhill. Thanks for the great content

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

and within seconds! We will post it online soon!

@TheRickysee 23 дня назад

Absolutely fantastic series. Great job and thank you!!

@mellissanash7517 Месяц назад

Thank you for the reviews. Personally, I'd like to see a review of the Ibis DV9, Santa Cruz Blur TR and Sour Crumble in 120mm mode.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!! We will try!

@ShadLife Месяц назад

Ha! Funny....sounds like the Transition is right up my alley! 🤘

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

It's a fun bike!!!

@stuartwarsop7083 Месяц назад

Amazing reviews! Great job. Next reviews I'd definitely like to see what you think of the YT Izzo and Orbea Oiz.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Would be awesome!!!

@TheAngryHusky Месяц назад

I like how you did the edit showing back to back clips of all bikes in the same section of trail. I got more out of that than watching the individual review videos.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

glad you liked it!!!

@Jacob99174 Месяц назад

Mo earned those downs! 😂

@BoiliniAdventures Месяц назад

Well done, what a great idea! Everyone loves comparisons, and they seem as hard to find these days as a good comedy.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!

@no-hope-in-the-pope Месяц назад

Right on! Thanks for the video and time spent!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@evanl889 2 дня назад

Crazy to leave out a trek supercaliber when it’s one of the best bikes from one of the biggest companies. More people likely to have access to trying one of those than anything else.

@moandhannahtravel 2 дня назад

We would have loved to include them however we have heard nothing back when trying to get a test bike. Hopefully in the future!

@voyant26 Месяц назад

Great review. Looking forward to trying out the Pivot Mach 4SL!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Such a fun bike!!!

@wbd3159 28 дней назад

@@moandhannahtravel thanks, did you test the pivot mach 4sl in the high or low setting?

@prestonthomas5399 Месяц назад

I’m on my second scalpel. I never recommend it bc I don’t believe it has the highest quality of components but for me, best bike I’ve ridden and I’ve ridden a few

@ireddie Месяц назад

You guys are great love what you do this was very informative thank you. I would like to see you go head to head the scalpel versus the scalpel SE and get your opinion.

@jeffehrenberg1650 Месяц назад

Thank you ! Super helpful and much appreciated

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@barbbrazes869 Месяц назад

Yay Mo! What a great bike review!! Awesome! Appreciate the great information!!😊

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you so much!!

@ryanmb21 Месяц назад

Please do a trail bike review!

@burglebro Месяц назад

would like to see how the yt izzo stacks up!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Definitely more of a trail bike!! So much fun!

@Biking_with_Akiva Месяц назад

That just rolled of the tongue didn't it "My Wife Hannah" 👌🏾💯💪🏾

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

hahaha!

@DaaamnGina Месяц назад

Thanks for the review! Enjoyed the video and seeing the terrain you tested on. How long was the course? What were the times?

@StarDust-vm1qs Месяц назад

Thanks, Awesome MTB Team.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@JenkinsB Месяц назад

Very well done! Thank you!!!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Glad you liked it!

@VQ30TLJ Месяц назад

Very useful summary! I have to say, Mo's super bouncy uphill technique makes me cringe....so much energy wasted.... But both of your downhill techniques are tops!

@jou3708 Месяц назад

Great job! Thank you!

@danielstormy3660 Месяц назад

I got full sus 120mm, but no need of front lockout completly, rear lockout is required yes.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Lockouts are awesome!

@MTBS.D. Месяц назад

sein Haupthaar bremst die Fahrt! Ein unrealistischer Test demnach! 🤭🤭🤭

@Seebema Месяц назад

Happy with the award given to the Evil 🤘

@ps3narciso Месяц назад

bmc fourstroke it’s missing, orbea oiz also, great job though! 👍

@Crazzzybob Месяц назад

This video (and series) is so good! Question -- I'm 6'5 and ride on the tight + rocky trails in Austin, TX. As a fellow XL rider that has ridden those trails, do you think the Cannondale Scalpel would be a handful on those trails or could adapt fairly well? I noticed the Mach 4 SL has a similar top tube length though much shorter wheelbase and thinking that may handle things a tad a better here.

@willienillie6337 25 дней назад

What is the difference between a full suspension XC bike and full suspension trail bike besides the obvious such as handlebars and travels.

@ChupacabraOffroad Месяц назад

Great video, well presented...

@samharris82 Месяц назад

I know the logistics is hard enough but the only way to truly test frames/suspension designs is to make every other component identical including stack and reach to grips measurements. I A/B tested a Pivot Mach 4 SL and Epic Evo 7 and it took weeks to get a fair comparison. In the end I had to get every component precisely the same and ride them back to back on the same day.

@trentvlak Месяц назад

What did you find out? In my experience, which agrees with yours, I can build up a frame to feel very different depending on suspension brand and wheels/tires. I wouldn't choose a single piece of suspension that was in this test.

@samharris82 Месяц назад

@@trentvlak they are shockingly similar when equipped the same. However, I couldn’t find a shock setup where the Epic Evo is both plush on rocky descents and firm under aggressive sprints. Can do either well but not with the same shock settings. Meanwhile, the Mach 4 SL absolutely can do both. Surprisingly, the Epic Evo frame was only 40g lighter than Mach 4 SL despite internet searches telling me the difference is supposed to be 428g.

@deezJ155 Месяц назад

Great video!

@brucehumphries6889 8 дней назад

Which one of these would be your pick for East Coast, example, Pisgah and DuPont?

@bensharma7503 14 дней назад

I gotta buy me an ASR!!!

@deezJ155 Месяц назад

I was hoping to see the Trek Caliber in the line up.

@mindofmission Месяц назад

Thanks for the XC nod. I like that you liked the Pivot, I’m a huge fan of their frame designs. I don’t necessarily like Cannondale for the style of frame, but I own a CAAD12 and a hardtail Trail and love them both. I would like to see both the Scalpel and the ASR compared to the Canyon Lux and the Trek Supercaliber!! Hannah!! What was YOUR experience and opinion in this test? Thanks, Love the content guys!

@trentvlak Месяц назад

The top Scalpel frame only comes in Boring Black as well, and it has headset cable routing. Sad.

@brucehumphries6889 Месяц назад

Killer series!!!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Thank you!!!

@DEXVD Месяц назад

Really interested in the Scalpel vs Mach 4 SL in term of picking through rough, rooty terrain and drops. What is most forgiving in technical challenging terrain?

@yumyumhungry Месяц назад

Hmm you categorized the transition spur as "an Enduro riders XC bike" I wonder if it would also work well as "a gravel rider's trail bike" I'm just not a fan of long travel bikes and am toying with the idea of a slack short travel bike.

@billryan8721 Месяц назад

The non Sid Following is your Huckleberry. It's stupid how capable the thing is.

@ericbeech2652 Месяц назад

Hopefully, the other brands that didn't have a bike for the review will pony up now. Then you can pit them against the yeti and Cannondale!

@nextlevelfitnessba2215 Месяц назад

I’ve been looking at upgrading my xc and a few of these catch my attention. Have you got any data to show one is quicker on a climb at a constant power than another and likewise on a timed decent ?

@tiagoweyne6661 27 дней назад

Any chance you compare transition spur with epic evo?

@ClintGibbs Месяц назад

Niner RKT9 RDO

@JasonScottCarter Месяц назад

Scalpel wins World Cup Races. It wins riders purchases as well.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Love the Scalpel!

@pedrojosetobar7153 Месяц назад

Great pack of bikes! but a little too fast speaking for me to apreciate that information. I would make a review in the same time but with less bikes or I would take more time to review all six in a better way.

@justthetrailmtb Месяц назад

Mo. Are those Lycra pants you are wearing. cause they are nice and look like MTB pants but tighter.

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

hahaha yes!

@justthetrailmtb Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel what’s the brand/style? . I feel I may not get ridiculed as much with those.

@BoxCarBoy12 Месяц назад

Mo, if you’ve ridden the Trek Top Fuel before how would you compare it to these bikes?

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

I have never ridden a Trek!

@trentvlak Месяц назад

Thanks for the test, Mo. As a wild card for the next test, build up a Chinese frame like an Airwolf YFM059 or Light Carbon LCFS917. That way you can tell us what we're getting with these $4000 frames compared to a $900 one.

@PavelisLord Месяц назад

Me own following. Me happy following funner bike. Yay bike. (Grunting enduro noises)

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

hahaha!

@fordrangerdog_shorts Месяц назад

would you recommend the epic 8? i wanna get 1 for nica/trail riding

@danaguidice Месяц назад

Trek Supercaliber??

@deanwaring6100 Месяц назад

What about Canyon 😊

@samd6405 Месяц назад

You mentioned the Epic was the fastest. How much of that is attributed to flight control? Who was the 2nd fastest?

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Not much I would say. It just is the perfect blend of low and just enough wheel base plus a very effiencint carbon! Second fastest was the Yeti but pretty close!

@samd6405 Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel ugh…I feel my bank account is about to suffer! I’ve been on the fence with the Yeti…

@ryanmiller1605 Месяц назад

bmc fourstroke

@georgebailey6307 Месяц назад

ARI cross country bike? did I miss that?

@markfitzsimmons3916 Месяц назад

where was the Santa Cruz blur?

@smithandshortdogs Месяц назад

Silly question, did you get spate bikes fir each of you or is Hannah as tall as me?

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

haha no Hannah had her own bikes!

@PavelisLord Месяц назад

What do you think of the Scott Spark?

@mrshadow8244 Месяц назад

I have spark rc 2024 , last 3 years had spark rc 2020. Spark is by far most versatile bike of all of this bikes. No other bike can do all like spark.. It is best descender of all of this bikes , it is aslo so comfortable, but in traction or close mode, it is also great ascender. Technical ascends in traction/climb mode are so easy and you have a ton of grip... In close or traction mode it is efective like another XC race machines but bonus for you is open mode and you have small trail bike in this mode.... But you depends on twinloc technology and you must use it... if it is ok for you , you have same ascender like best xc race bikes, and also best dc descender. If you are not going to use it, bike is too sensitive and it is not a good ascender in open mode nd its not effective. Or last week scott starts to sell spark RC with fly atendandt :) But price is starting near 8500 euro :( Also check frame, how thick it is, not like other squeezy frames... frame is so stiff and efficient and you have also oversize bushings and bearings, they are so stiff to... if you want 1 bike for xc racing all day journeys and also light tral riding, spark RC is best, but you need to use twinlock

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Never tried one!!

@LincolnRobinson 25 дней назад

What trails are these?

@lynngraycom 3 дня назад

No Lefty??

@vanw1554 Месяц назад

Could you please tell me which bike you find more confidence on downhill sections, the Epic or the Scalpel? I used to race road bikes and am now transitioning to XC racing. I consider myself doing alright on flat and even some technical uphill sections, but I always struggle on the downhill because I get scared. Thanks!

@moandhannahtravel Месяц назад

Both are good. I think the Scalpel gives a little more of a control feeling being a bit more stable at high speed but the epic is plenty confident too and can go to 65.9 degrees slack as well!

@vanw1554 Месяц назад

@@moandhannahtravel Thanks Mo! It really is one of the best no bullshit comparison videos on RU-vid. Excellent job! Even though I still can’t decide if I should get the Epic or Scalpel 😂😂