Top 11 Best Enduro Bikes | The best enduro mountain bikes ridden & reviewed

There is no doubt about it. We have entered an exciting age in the world of enduro bikes. The sport is growing exponentially with self-perpetuating momentum. Technology available on bikes is more refined and capable than ever, which is leading to a boom in the expanse and quality of trails exploding all over the world, which fuels riders to go out and push these bikes to new limits, and opening the gates to new shredders entering the sport for the first time. Enduro racing has also become gnarlier and more competitive than ever, driving bike brands to go back to the drawing boards, constantly chasing better. And this, you guessed it, feeds back into greater bikes and accessibility to the sport. And so the cycle continues.

We here at Flow are, let’s be honest, giant nerds when it comes to this stuff. We live and breathe these machines and the places they can take us, and are absolutely buzzing to be a part of the industry at a time such as this. And with the demands required of modern-day enduro bikes and their riders, we find this is a particularly concentrated segment of innovation, with exciting new tech pouring in at an astonishing rate that we believe is truly making improvements in leaps and bounds to the bikes we ride, and the fun we can have on them.

We’ve tested a boatload of these ultra-capable machines, and as an outlet for all of this excitement, we have compiled the following list of enduro bikes available now that we think are pushing the sport in the right direction. While every bike in this list can descend with the best of them while still climbing to the beginning of the next trail or stage, each of them possesses unique design features and ride characteristics that set them apart from the competition, and one another.

It’s also worth noting that you don’t necessarily need an ‘enduro bike’ to race enduros. Even some of the world’s best are choosing slightly shorter options —  Canyon CLLCTV’s Dimitri Torodo has been racing a Spectral at World Cups while Charlie Murry from the Specialized Enduro Team has been riding a Stumpjumper EVO.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, and there are some popular bikes — like the Specialized Enduro — that aren’t here. The reason for that is that we haven’t tested one, and therefore can’t comment on its performance and how it compares to others in this category. Sure, we could make some assumptions based on what other folks have said, but that’s not how we run this show.

So without further ado, here are eight of the best enduro bikes we’ve ridden and reviewed.

• Looking for something a bit more svelte? Check out our pick of the top XC bikes
• Keen for some help on the climbs to maximise your adventures? Check out our pick of the top e-MTBs

The best enduro bikes ridden & reviewed

Giant Reign

Highs: Race-ready geometry and spec, fantastic composure in the rough stuff, mullet compatibility via a 3-position flip-chip, well-placed frame armour.
Lows: Frame storage hatch impractically small, the stiff 35mm bars transfer a bit of chatter up front.

Overhauled, stretched out and beefed up in all the right places, the all-new Giant Reign has entered 2023 with its best tyre forward — proving its race-winning potential already at the opening round of the Enduro World Cup in some seriously rowdy Aussie conditions.

Related:

• Squid’s Eye View Part 1 | Maydena EDR through the lens of Kristina Vackova
• Squid’s Eye View Part 2 | Maydena EDR through the lens of Justin Castles

Compared to its previous iteration, the Reign’s travel has been stretched out to 170mm up front and 160mm on the rear, activated via the fabled Maestro platform to deliver an awesomely plush, confidence-inspiring ride. The head angle has been slackened, chainstays stretched and reach increased, boosting the Reign’s enduro capabilities through the roof. Although this bike was never made for XC courses, power transfer is surprisingly efficient when stomping on the pedals, and its 15.04kg weight isn’t too hefty when compared to similar bikes in the category. Even with a climb switch on the rear shock, we predominantly left the bike in the fully open mode, serving up plenty of traction on loose and techy climbs. This bike really comes into its own however the moment you bring gravity into the equation.

With flip chips allowing for high, mid and low positions, the Reign allows riders to dial in the bike’s geometry for riding style, trail type or wheel configuration. With the flip-chip set to the low position, the 63.5° head angle rewards those that like to attack the descents. On the flip side, the high setting raises the BB to provide greater clearance for technical climbs, which are aided by the nice and steep seat tube angle of nearly 78°. We did however find that in this high-BB setting, the bike felt quite tall and awkward to handle. This setting does also allow the party animals out there to drop in a 27.5in rear wheel to go full-mullet if desired. All models also come with an adjustable long-stroke dropper post, which is a great feature by our books. The burly frame protection is well placed and provides not only great protection, but a nice and quiet ride regardless of how teeth-chattering the trail is.

The all-new Reign is as attractive as enduro bikes come these days, both in its curvy, understated aesthetic (we think), and its four competitively priced, well spec’d models. The Reign SX model has also made a comeback, with this model sitting even further in the gnar-zone, and features a dual crown fork and coil shock for those that have no interest in pedalling up, and full interest in sending big. You can see all of the specs, prices and details of the full lineup in our first-look article.

To dive deeper into just why we think this bike deserves its place on the list of the latest and greatest, check out our full 2023 Giant Reign review.

Merida One-Sixty

Highs: Modern enduro geometry, super playful suspension characteristics, mullet compatibility, 230mm dropper post, wide offering of models to suit most riders.
Lows: Cramped in-frame storage, issues with dropper post on test bike, headset cable routing

Gracing our eyeballs since its launch in late-2022 is the completely redesigned Merida One-Sixty. The aim of the game was to deliver one of the most playful, capable and versatile enduro bikes on the market. And gee-whiz, has Merida delivered.

From the very moment it was released, the One-Sixty struck us as an entirely different bike when placed next to its predecessor. And upon our first five minutes on the trail, we were able to confidently confirm that it too feels like an entirely new bike. The One-Sixty is right on the money with modern enduro bike geometry, employing a playful mix of longer, lower and slacker to result in a rig that is just as comfortable on backcountry epics as it is the enduro race stages — a statement few current bikes out there can boast.

The One-Sixty offers a few interesting changes between sizes. Firstly, sizes up to the medium come stocked with a 27.5in rear wheel and the large and XL options as full 29ers. The suspension receives a size-specific tune and making the leverage ratio more progressive the further up the sizing chart you move, providing greater support for heavier riders. When rocking the mullet configuration, the frame offers 171mm of rear travel, while opting for the 29er will reduce it to 160mm. This ample rear squish paired with a 170mm fork —or 180mm if you want to go big — makes this bike feel just at home on full-blown downhill laps as it does on undulating adventure rides. The head angle sits at a relaxed 64° whereas the very steep 79° seat angle still provides a comfortable climbing position.

Merida has now done away with the rearmost pivot on the bike, instead opting for a Flexstay rear triangle that the brand claims to boost stiffness, drops weight and creates a unique, lively ride characteristic. We can confirm that this bike is particularly playful, popping off jumps and blasting through chunky terrain with an energetic feel. The excellent seat angle on the One-Sixty places you in a comfortable position to tackle the climbs, however the lively suspension kinematic does feel a little over-zealous when you’re cranking hard out of the saddle.

The bike feels incredibly agile on those particularly curvy trails when the smaller rear wheel is dropped in — a fact that is far less apparent when running the 29er option. The tradeoff here is the increase in high-speed stability and composure on technical climbs. The great thing is, any new One-Sixty model in any size will be able to take either setup with the flip of a 2-position chip in the rear linkage.

The One-Sixty is available in 5 different models spanning both alloy and carbon chassis, each boasting a solid assortment of tiered spec options. Ranging from value-focused fit-outs to the stuff our wallets have nightmares about, we are genuinely impressed at Merida’s offering of a race-ready enduro bike the entire way through the lineup. Every model benefits from the same geometry, mullet options, primo Maxxis rubber and 230mm adjustable dropper post. Nice one, Merida!

Whether you’re looking to enter the gnarly end of the sport or you’re up for a blingy new upgrade to your fleet, check out the Merida One-Sixty review to fill yourself in on the rest of the tech, the niggling issues we encountered, alongside a side-by-side comparison to one of the most popular enduro rigs on the market.

Canyon Strive

Highs: One of the most race-aligned production bikes available, versatile personality thanks to the Shapeshifter, incredibly stable at speed through any kind of terrain.
Lows: Race-focused geo makes it less appropriate for everyday riders, and length makes the bike tougher to handle on tighter trails.

The Canyon Strive. Perhaps one of the most aggressive and well-known enduro sleds received a remake for 2022, incorporating feedback from racers like 2021 EWS Champion Jack Moir — before he changed teams of course. The result is something wildly aggressive, a veritable weapon beneath the right rider.

But what has changed from the previous model? To cope with the increasingly bonkers nature of modern enduro stages and the breakneck speeds they are raced at, the latest Strive CFR has been given a drastic update, taking it from one of the most conservative to one of the most aggressive, race-focused bikes out there. Travel has been bumped up from 150 to 160mm, which is paired to a 170mm fork. As previously, the bike still features Canyon’s trademark Shapeshifter system in order to radicalise the geometry to the extent it has.

For those unfamiliar, the Shapeshifter is a handlebar remote-activated system with two options – Pedal or Shred. This lever activates a gas spring in the rear shock, altering the bike’s geometry, travel and suspension kinematics on the fly. This allows the rider to shorten travel to a much rampier 140mm, raise BB height by 15mm and steepen the head angle by 1.5°.

Whether you’re stomping on the pedals in flat sections or conserving energy on the climbs, the Shapeshifter can lead to significant benefits in a race setting. With such powers being brought to your fingertips, this granted the Canyon team the freedom to make this bike seriously aggressive when in Shred mode. Sporting a mega-slack 63° head angle (the same as Canyon’s DH bike, the Sender), this bike feels right at home on the enduro circuit’s steepest trails. To further add to the Strive’s race alignment, reach has been stretched out to a very long 480mm on a medium — a figure that would not be uncommon on many competing brands’ large frames. So you’re able to actually reach the bars at all, a nice’n’steep 76.5° seat angle puts riders in a reasonably comfortable pedalling position, while a nifty reach adjust headset allows further dial-ability of your cockpit.

There are currently just three models available in the Strive, including an extra-pimped out special edition Troy Lee Designs model for those chasing the same look and spec list as the Canyon team riders.

There is so much more to this weapon than we were able to cover here, so make sure you take a look over the 2022 Canyon Strive Review to fill in on the specifics.

Cannondale Jekyll

Highs: Unique design delivers excellent stability and handling, scaled rear centre between sizes, double-take factor.
Lows: Could use a longer dropper post, shock cavity captures trail crud.

While we’ve now had a bit of time to process the new Jekyll since its greatly hyped release in mid-2021, we still can’t help but let out a little sheeesh every time we see one. Cannondale caused quite a stir with their addition to the growing family of high-pivot enduro sleds, taking a truly innovative approach to their offering geared towards the rowdy end of the sport.

Just one look at this bike tells you that it is something different. The unique frame delivers 165mm of well-balanced, progressive squish via a redesigned four-bar linkage, driving a rear shock that sits tucked exceptionally low in its downtube hollow. A 170mm fork up front completes the equation, making this a ride created to deal with some seriously gnarly terrain. The real eye-catching feature of this bike is its mid-high pivot design, implemented to provide a more rearward axle path that makes it feel as though the suspension doesn’t just soak up those square edge hits, but instead moves with the terrain.

An idler pulley then helps to minimise chain growth and pedal-kick as the suspension moves through its travel. You’ll find a similarly situated pivot placement on the GT Force, and a much higher pivot design on the Norco Range, among a few other long-travel bikes on the market. The Jekyll is 29in specific, with no adjustable geometry or flip chips to be found. This renders the bike incapable of rocking the mullet hairstyle, just in case you were wondering.

But when the going gets tough, how do these space-age aesthetics and fancy features translate into on-trail performance? The Jekyll’s well-balanced geometry, supple suspension and thoughtfully selected components make for an incredibly stable bike at high speed, while also not feeling as long and cumbersome as some of the other enduro-specific rides out there today.

The bike is reasonably hefty, with our large-size test bike weighing in at 16.14kg, however much of this weight sits low in the frame, adding to its feeling of unmovable stability and rail-like cornering. The highly active suspension can be felt on steep climbs, and the climb switch on the shock is made difficult to reach due to the shock’s tucked-away placement. A 77.5° seat angle does however position the rider comfortably for stints in the saddle. When it comes down to it though, it is the descending prowess of the Jekyll that really shines. A 64° head angle and tall riser bar give this bike a fun yet sure-footed feeling at any speed. We do however wish that Cannondale stocked this bike with a longer dropper, with the 150mm dropper post limiting manoeuvrability.

There are two Jekyll models available, both with the same carbon frame and high-pivot design, offering a mid-level and a high-end fit-out. Both models are great value, however we imagine that many folks wanting to race this bike may have a few initial upgrades that they might make before it reaches that A-list spec that we all dream of. Another cool thing? Each size of the Jekyll comes with slightly altered pivot placements, scaling the rear centre, retaining a balanced position and optimising suspension kinematics for different sized riders.

Overall, we’re mighty impressed with this striking enduro whip, performing exceptionally well throughout our testing period regardless of what we threw at it. To dive further into the Jekyll’s nooks, crannies and hollows, take a read of our full review here.

GT Force

Highs: Incredibly capable descender, adjustable dropouts, immediately comfortable geometry.
Lows: Hefty, sluggish on the climbs, fairly noisy.

Having played things rather conservatively in years gone by, GT has made a statement with the release of the Force for 2022. An undeniable shred-sled, the Force is a high-pivot monster with an insatiable appetite for sketchy terrain. But is it perfect? Read on to find out.

The GT Force is an exclusively 29in enduro beast with a set of credentials that immediately tell you exactly what this bike is about. At 16.24kg for a size medium with a carbon mainframe and alloy rear triangle, the bike is no featherweight fighter. It rocks 170mm up front paired with 160mm at the rear, with the mid-high pivot, four bar suspension layout tracing a slightly rearward axle path over the traditional up-and-down movement, albeit moving only about 10mm backwards as it plunges through its travel. This does however help the bike to not only deal with chunky terrain, but also accelerate through it as you hurtle your way down just about anything in front of you. The idler pulley then helps to deal with chain growth and pedal kickback, a similar design to what you’ll find on the Cannondale Jekyll and the Norco Range.

The 63.5° head angle, towering stack height and out-of-the-box riser bars means this bike will excel on anything pointing downwards, be it enduro stages or downhill bike park laps. A very steep seat angle of 78° balances such aggressive numbers nicely, making it quite a comfortable bike to climb on, too. However, the aforementioned weight of the bike will still have you working hard for those trailheads. The rear dropouts on the Force feature a flip chip that allows riders to extend or shorten the length of the bike, dialling in its character to suit the rider style or terrain, be it tight and jibby, or freight-train-without-brakes kinda riding.

The suspension on the Force does take a bit of noodle-scratching to figure out, with us having to remove fork tokens and stray from recommended suspension pressures before we landed on a set-up that felt balanced. Once we did though, this bike felt phenomenal, tracking the terrain beautifully and making us want to push harder through the sketchy stuff than we usually feel comfortable doing.

With all of these praises, it must also be mentioned that this bike is by no means quiet. Chain angle in the lower gears causes noisy rubbing on the idler pulley chain guide, and cable routing is noisy and causes rubbing at points.

When we reviewed the Force there were three models available, however for 2023 it appears PSI is only bringing the top-end Force Carbon Pro LE into Australia. This build comes in at $7,999 AUD, and features a slick set of running gear from Rockshox and SRAM.

We had a lot to say about this bike, and not all could be said here. Head over to the full review of the GT Force to get the rest of the good stuff!

Norco Range

Highs: Incredibly capable and confidence-inspiring descending, great tyre combo
Lows: Lifting the bike above ankle-height, manoeuvrability on tighter trails

After a four-year run with the previous layout, 2022 brought us the hotly anticipated redesigned Norco Range. A high pivot, low-slung monster truck of a bike that doesn’t just excel on rough trails, but devours them.

We’ll start this off by addressing the elephant in the room. This is one big-boned beast. Our Large size Norco Range C2 test bike, with its carbon chassis, 29in hoops, tubeless-setup DoubleDown tyres, coil shock, GX drivetrain with idler pulley and a chainring bash guard for good measure, all came in at a hefty 17.15kg. This figure puts it well beyond most of the enduro field we have ever tested, and even places it amongst some of the lighter e-MTBs out there.

When the terrain points down however, this weight all but goes out the window, making this bike one seriously aggressive high-speed descender. 170mm of super supple travel front and rear, the frame employs a funky Virtual High Pivot design that allows this bike to swallow entire trails whole. The linkage allows the rear wheel to move significantly backwards as the suspension compresses, meaning it can avoid becoming hung up on large square-edge hits, allowing you to track perfectly — and rapidly — across the gnarliest terrain imaginable.

The idler pulley, much like the GT Force and the Cannondale Jekyll, prevents chain growth and reduces pedal kickback while the linkage does its thing. A mega-slack head angle of 63.25° makes the handling feel like a DH bike on the descents, while a conversely steep 77° seat angle means this bike is actually quite comfortable to climb —providing you’re not in a rush to get where you’re going. With the distant reach and the bike growing in length as the suspension compresses, it can be a tough rig to wrangle on tight trails, preferring to hold the wide line around most corners as opposed to cutting in tight. In fact, it’s actually quite difficult to break traction on this beast, meaning you’ll want to pick your line from the start, hold on tight and let this beast of a bike do its thing.

The Range features size-specific geometry with a scaled rear centre length to ensure weight distribution remains optimal regardless of frame or rider size, retaining the same confidence-inspiring handling characteristics across the size curve.

The Range is made up of three models, spanning from mid-level to high-end componentry, all coming ready to race right out of the box.

If you want to find out more about the bike that could double as the boulder that chased Indiana Jones in the first movie, then check out our full 2022 Norco Range review here.

Pivot Firebird

Highs: Super stable yet responsive feeling on rough terrain, still a fun bike on more chilled and longer rides, bling bling
Lows: Eye-watering price tag, rattle from gear and dropper cables, under-gunned tyres

After 13 years and four highly successful preceding models, the Pivot Firebird has entered its 5th evolution for the 2022 season. And damn, is this thing a stunner. We assure you that these clean, refined looks are only surface level however, with the Firebird 29 being one seriously mean bike the moment you throw the leg over it.

It wouldn’t be incorrect to label the Firebird 29 as the fighter jet of enduro bikes, being an ultra-premium, high-performance ride worthy of the World’s fastest pilots. Its sleek carbon frame delivers 165mm of travel, which is paired with a 170mm fork and rolling on fancy 29in wheels out of the box. This can be set up to suit just about any rider however, with a 2-position flip-chip enabling a 0.6° head angle alteration and 6mm BB height adjustment, or a mullet conversion if desired. The frame will also handle swapping out to a 180mm fork if you’re that way declined. Head angle in the low position sits at a relaxed 64°, with the seat angle spanning between 76°-77° – a figure that fluctuates based on the frame size. Yep, the rear centre of each frame is scaled to suit the size, ensuring a balanced weight distribution of the rider regardless of the selected frame size.

These geometric figures place the Firebird right within the range of modern enduro bikes, positioning the rider from the get-go to conquer any descent or climb before them. It is the incredibly balanced, super progressive suspension characteristics of this bike that really make it shine through. The DW-link design delivers insane traction and a rearward axle path, meaning obstacles become less of a concern as you charge through them faster than you previously thought possible. The nuance of this bike that helps it stand apart from others in the category however is its lively feeling. Where some other bikes truck through chunky rock sections in a straight line as you barely register their existence, the Firebird retains a delicate feedback beneath you that allows you to manipulate the bike as you please without it ever feeling uncomfortable — a trait being the result of a light, stiff frame, balanced geometry, well-tuned suspension and superb componentry.

The overall weight of our Large test bike came to 14.66kg, an impressive figure for a long-travel enduro bike. This number does factor in the lightweight EXO+ tyre casings however, which we found to be insufficient for the kind of riding this bike is otherwise capable of.

The Pivot Firebird comes in a mind-boggling 15 spec combinations, the “most affordable” of them still a staggering $10999. With this kind of price tag though, you can be sure that you’re not just getting a pretty showbike, but a mean, performance-oriented machine that lives for the top step of the podium. But yes, it does look pretty damn sweet too.

If you need any more convincing on the prowess of this bike, jump over to our full review of the 2022 Pivot Firebird 29 here.

Trek Slash

Highs: Incredible composure on the rowdiest terrain, surprisingly efficient pedalling performance, and loads of in-built adjustability
Lows: Extra pulleys add complexity and noise, and the chainstay armour lacks damping

The Trek Slash has undoubtedly been one of the most popular enduro bikes on the market since it was first introduced back in 2011. It was late 2020 when we tested the last version, which impressed us with its buttery-smooth suspension performance and surprising agility for what was a big and burly brawler.

However, for 2024, the Slash underwent a total redesign from scratch. With a high pivot suspension system, an added idler wheel, and a mullet configuration, it’s unmistakably distinct from its predecessor. We were initially sceptical when we first heard about the 2024 Trek Slash. We had a genuine fondness for the previous model, and there was concern that Trek’s pursuit of the high pivot trend might dilute its magic. Thankfully, we found this not to be the case when Dan reviewed the brand’s new high-pivot beast.

The shift to a high pivot suspension design, along with Trek’s ABP platform, and RockShox’s excellent Vivid shock resulted in exceptional rock-handling capabilities. Coupled with its robust chassis and purposeful geometry, the Slash delivers a buoyant riding experience that instils confidence during aggressive riding. The Slash does perform best when ridden aggressively and pushed hard, but is surprisingly well-rounded and performs admirably during long days in the saddle.

Trek’s Knock-Block headset included on the previous Slash was polarizing, and while it has it’s merits, the omission of the steering-limiter is appreciated on the newest generation of the Slash. Combined with in-frame storage, the Slash has all of the modern-day bells and whistles we know and love.

Riders who love to adjust their setup will feel like a kid in a candy shop on the Slash, as the newest revision includes the mino-link adjustability that Trek have adopted for years, but now also includes modular headset cups similar to the Fuel EX which allows riders to adjust the head-angle, and subsequently the wheelbase along with it. Geometry figures in its stock setting on paper appear fairly aggressive, sporting a 63.3deg head-angle and a 1277.7mm wheelbase in a size Large, which certainly backs up why the Slash thrives on rowdy terrain.

To get up to speed on all of the details and Dan’s full ride impressions, head over to the full review of the 2024 Trek Slash.

YT Capra

Highs: Lively and fun on the trail, sleek design and high-quality finishing touches
Lows: Frame arrived with a manufacturing/assembly fault

As brands release new iterations of their enduro bikes, the trend seemingly leans towards increased stability and ability to tackle the gnarliest terrain, and in some cases, comes at the cost of liveliness and fun. YT however, have kept the fun with the brands flagship enduro bike, the Capra, which was a standout trait when Tom reviewed the Uncaged 11 MX Carbon in early 2024.

In a size Large the Capra sports a 464mm reach,  64° head angle, a 433mm chainstay, 77.4° seat tube angle, and a wheelbase of 1243mm. Sizes XL and XXL have a slightly longer rear end, with a chainstay measuring 438mm. These figures are fairly modest compared to similar bikes in its class. Coupled with the smaller rear wheel, this is the reasoning behind the lively handling. These moderate dimensions also ensure it doesn’t extend excessively at either end, providing a balanced feel for both climbing and descending.

Although the Capra doesn’t bulldoze through rough terrain without thought, its 170mm of front and rear travel effectively swallows the trail chunder and allows it to be ridden aggressively. It may not be the fastest or the most stable enduro bike we’ve had on test, but the Capra MX prioritizes fun in its approach, and that’s a philosophy we fully support.

The YT Capra MX is tailored for aggressive riders who prefer a versatile bike over a pure race machine. While capable of racing, its true appeal lies in riders looking to enjoy energetic laps with friends, frequent bike park visits, and trails abundant with jumps and corners. Riding this lively long-travel bike was a refreshing experience, and if you prioritize playfulness in an enduro bike, this could be your ideal choice.

For a comprehensive look at all the details and Tom’s riding impressions, visit the full review of the Capra Uncaged 11 MX.

Propain Tyee

Highs: A big bike that is still entertaining on flatter mellow trails, insane hunger for bumps and big impacts
Lows: Upside down orientation of the shock makes it difficult to reach dials and adjusters, headset cable routing is fiddly

Propain’s formidable enduro bike, the Tyee, stands out as an attractive, adaptable, and certainly unique bike. Offering a choose-your-own-adventure experience, it is offered in a variety of configurations and features Propain’s proprietary PRO 10 suspension platform. The Tyee offers versatility with the option of a 170mm or 160mm fork across all sizes, and is available with either 29-inch or mixed wheels, with both carbon and alloy frame options from Propain.

Our test bike was based on the Shred2 spec, featuring 170mm of robust front travel and a coil-sprung 160mm rear, it’s primed for aggressive riding straight from the factory. The test rig also received notable upgrades courtesy of distributor Ride by Instinct. They incorporated components from their extensive distribution network, enhancing the bike’s performance even further.

The Tyee proves itself as a versatile performer across various terrains. With an extensive array of build options and configurations available, most riders should find a setup that suits their preferences. Additionally, the opportunity to further customize the bike with a variety of components offered by Australian distributor Ride by Instinct ensures you can tailor it precisely to your liking right from the start.

 

Despite its long-travel design, the Tyee surprisingly excels on flatter flow trails, blending enjoyable handling with impressive descending prowess. This makes it an excellent choice for riders who mix up their trail types or can’t frequent larger trail centres or gravity parks as often but still want to maximize enjoyment when they do.

Its capability to handle rough terrain while still offering a fun experience on smoother flow trails makes the Tyee a compelling option for those who ride diverse trails. If you’re looking for a bike that can handle it all, the Tyee deserves serious consideration

For an in-depth exploration of all the details and Michael’s firsthand riding experience, check out the complete review of the Propain Tyee.

Scott Ransom

Highs: Unique frame design with great pedal efficiency for a big enduro bike
Lows: The one-piece cockpit limits adjustability, and headset cable routing will turn some people off

For 2024 the Ransom has been updated and now mimics the integration and aesthetics of the 2023 Genius, which include an internal hidden shock layout and an integrated cockpit configuration. On the topic of the integration, the level of detail here is nothing but impressive, and the amount of time and effort Scott’s engineers have spent developing the overall layout is evident. Does this help the ride characteristics of the bike? Nope. It does however quieten the bike down with minimal opportunity for cable rattle, and it certainly looks pretty flashy.

Unlike other bikes in Scott’s lineup, the Ransom features a distinctive suspension design, and according to Scott’s engineers, this new layout was adopted to enhance control over the bike’s kinematics, which they claim enables better isolation of anti-squat, anti-rise characteristics, and overall suspension progression. During our testing, we found the rear suspension to be particularly impressive, especially in rough terrain and under heavy braking.

The Ransom feels right at home on the chunkiest terrain we could find, and is best suited for terrain where others may be sporting full-fledged DH rigs. Bike parks? Tick. DH laps? Tick. Pedalling back to the top? Tick. This space-aged looking machine can do it all, but its polarizing looks and seemingly complicated cockpit may push some riders to look elsewhere.

To read the full scoop on what Tom and Lia thought of the 2024 Scott Ransom, jump over the complete review.

Honourable Mentions

While our list here is of the creme de la creme of the category, there are a pair of bikes that we felt also garnered a mention on this list.

Ibis HD6

Ibis have long been on the enduro bandwagon with the brand’s Mojo line, with the aesthetic and platform of their lineup being somewhat an acquired taste for many years. For 2024, Ibis released the HD6, a full fledged revision of the beloved Mojo HD5, with an all-new aesthetics being far more familiar amongst the industry.

Flow’s own Mick Ross pieced together his own HD6 in early 2024 with a full suite of drool-worthy parts, and unsurprisingly, has been might impressed with the Ibis thus far. We are yet to download his full thoughts on the HD6, but the initial impressions and an in-depth look were captured in his overview article. 

Polygon Collosus N9

First up is the Polygon Collosus. This alloy bruiser has a solid build kit and spot-on geometry, and with a competitive price tag, we expect you’ll see a lot of these ripping around your local trails.

With chunky tyres and supple suspension, it hugs the ground like it’s made from velcro and laughs in the face of rough and technical terrain. The IFS suspension platform also gives it fantastic pedal efficiency, but it has 16 pivot bearings that will need to be looked after over the lifespan of the bike.

With that, it’s chonky at 17.88kg, it lacks mullet compatibility and tool storage or accessory mounts.

But priced at $4,999 AUD, it’s half the cost of some of the other bikes on this list and the value-to-capability proposition is through the roof. Read more about the Polygon Gollsus N9 here.

Marin Alpine Trail 7

Coming in below the $4,000 price barrier, the Marin Alpin Trail 7 is a stupendously capable bike for the money. Built around 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm fork, it’s one of those slightly shorter travel, but ready for shreddy steep and technical riding, bikes we mentioned at the top.

With a robust chassis and contemporary geometry paired with smooth and sorted suspension, it’s ready for hard-hitting descending and corner-ripping shenanigans. There’s is plenty of progression built into the rear suspension, so you can access all the travel, but it’s never obvious when you’ve run out.

The Alpine Trail 7 is for riders who prioritise getting down the mountain as fast as possible while being able to jump, jib and manual along the way. This is a bike that rewards and aggressive pilot on more demanding trails.

When things go back up, it’s not the sprightliest climber, and the rear end is active, which is a boon on crumbly surfaces and techy ascents. Thankfully there’s also a climb switch for when it’s time to put the watts down.

It’s not an all-day pedaller, but that’s not what it’s supposed to be, and there are other bikes in Marin’s range designed for that purpose. It’s gimmick-free, simple, well spec’d and a ball of fun to ride.

For more, read our full review of the Marin Alpine Trail 7.

Wrapping up

Enduro has absolutely exploded, and the bikes are becoming ever more capable and reliable — as is a requisite of the racing format. There was a time not all that long ago, there would be an audible groan at the proposition of going uphill aboard a slacked-out gravity rig, with 160mm+ of rear travel. Now these bikes can tackle terrifyingly steep, nasty and rough gravity trails, and then pedal back up to the top no problem.

Better still, brands are taking these big travel bruisers in a tonne of different directions — high pivot vs non-high pivot, mullet vs no-mullet, etc. — and rethinking every aspect of these bikes all in the pursuit of creating the best enduro platform. With that, this is not an exhaustive list, and there are plenty of bikes we’d love to test, like the Forbidden Dreadnought v2, SantaCruz’s big rigs the Megatower or Nomad, or even something a little more unique like a Zerode Taniwah.

Which one is the best of the best? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as picking one clear winner, as it depends on what the rider is searching for and the type of terrain they frequent. Looking for a pedalable DH bike? The Norco Range is basically just that, although the Scott Ransom and Trek Slash give it a run for its money and are a bit more sprightly. Or are you looking for a well-rounded big-hitter? The Merida One-Sixty stood out as a true enduro bike that is more than happy to zip you to the top.

And with that, we’re constantly reviewing bikes, and we’ll be updating this feature as we come across more bikes worthy of this list.

If there’s something you’d like to see, sing out in the comments and let us know.