If you’re in the market for a new mountain bike and are the type of rider who doesn’t shy away from steep descents, difficult terrain, and big impacts, while still wanting to be able to pedal your bike back up the hill, an enduro bike may be just what you need. There are many different types of mountain bikes, but the enduro bike is perfect for those who want to tackle any terrain. Our expert picks for best enduro bike of 2022 are in, and each bike on our list is sure to improve your mountain biking experience. Our choice for the best enduro bike overall for 2022 is the Trek Slash 8.
What are the best enduro bikes of 2022?
- Trek Slash 8
Nukeproof Mega 290 Santa Cruz Bronson Giant Reign 29 Rocky Mountain Altitude Orbea Rallon M10 Specialized Status 160
1. Trek Slash 8
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Feels stable at high speed and on descents
- Strong climber for an enduro bike
- Suspension is plush but supportive
- Shorter chainstay helps make the bike lively and playful
Cons:
- On the pricier side for this range of enduro mountain bike
The Trek Slash 8 looks good, but more importantly feels good when riding it, and is our choice for the best enduro bike of 2022. It’s relatively shorter chainstay helps bring the bike to life giving it a playful feel, and making it fun to ride over a variety of trails. The bike is unique in that it has a lively feel while at the same time giving riders confidence with its stability.
The Slash 8 is well balanced due to its stability on descents, over technical terrain and at high speeds, all while having great climbing ability for an enduro bike. The plush yet supportive suspension performs well over the roughest sections of trail, even at speed, and does not sap too much energy on climbs.
A cool feature the Slash 8 has is internal frame storage, allowing you to keep any items you take on the trail with you right in the frame.
Trek has outfitted the Slash 8 frame with top-level parts. This includes the RockShox Lyrik Select+ fork, the RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and SRAM Code R 4-piston brakes. These components paired with the Slash 8 frame make this the best enduro mountain bike for 2022.
2. Nukeproof Mega 290
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Plush suspension that soaks up big hits on the trail
- Frame has a great shape
- Stable on descents
- Comes standard with excellent parts including brakes and drivetrain
Cons:
- Not as lively and playful as some enduro bikes
The Nukeproof Mega 290 is a formidable descender. The suspension is plush and the relatively long chainstay length adds stability to the bike – but this also makes it feel less lively and playful when compared to competing models.
Five frame sizes are available for the Mega 290, making it a viable option for virtually anyone looking for an enduro mountain bike.
The frame has aggressive geometry, and the slack head tube angle gives you confidence when descending steep, chunky terrain. This is a bike that is build for high speed.
The bike comes standard outfitted with parts you’d expect from a quality enduro bike, including a RockShox Yari fork, RockShox Super Deluxe rear shock, and Shimano Deore brakes and drivetrain.
3. Santa Cruz Bronson
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Stable at high speed
- Capable over chunky terrain
- Adjustable geometry
Cons:
- Not the most nimble enduro bike
Related: Santa Cruz Megatower Review
The Santa Cruz Bronson is a stable enduro bike built for high speeds and hard hits. The bike feels composed over the rough stuff, with the suspension doing a good job of soaking up bumps.
The Bronson has adjustable geometry, giving riders the ability to adjust the bike to better suit their size and preferences and giving the bike wider appeal. It also comes with 27.5 inch and 29 inch wheel size options.
While climbing is not a strength of the Bronson, it really excels when you point it downhill. The bike and its suspension remain calm and composed over even the rowdiest terrain.
Santa Cruz has outfitted this model with great quality components that riders have come to expect from the company. The Bronson has quality suspension, with the RockShox Lyrik Select fork up front, and the FOX Float X Performance shock in the rear. It also comes with the high quality SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and SRAM G2 R brakes.
4. Giant Reign 29
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Great looking frame with balanced geometry
- Capable suspension
- Composed over the rough stuff
Cons:
- Stock saddle could be more comfortable
The Giant Reign 29 has great balanced geometry, and looks awesome to boot. It feels very sturdy on descents while maintaining a decent climbing ability.
The Reign 29’s plush suspension soaks up the big hits keeping the bike composed when the terrain gets rough, and will help you keep the speed up on uneven trails.
One minor issue we noticed is the stock saddle seemed rather uncomfortable compared to other models, but that’s nothing that a relatively cheap upgrade can’t fix.
The Reign 29 comes standard with a components package that delivers great value for money. It features the RockShox Yari RC fork, RockShox Deluxe Select+ shock, Shimano Deore brakes and Shimano Deore drivetrain. Paired with the Reign 29 frame, the complete bike makes for a great enduro option for riders.
5. Rocky Mountain Altitude
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Plush, well-balanced suspension
- Adjustable geometry
- Lively and agile for an enduro bike of its size
Cons:
- Not the fastest-climbing bike
The Rocky Mountain Altitude is a bike that will bring a smile to your face. It feels lively and agile for an enduro bike of its size, allowing you to make any trail a blast, not just the steep downhills.
The Altitude has adjustable geometry, which will allow riders of different sizes and with differing preferences to find the right fit. It also is available in both 27.5 inch and 29 inch wheel sizes depending on the frame size you get.
The plush, well-balanced suspension allows you to keep your cool and maintain control even over some of the roughest and gnarliest terrain. It won’t win any races uphill, but then you probably aren’t buying the Altitude for its uphill prowess.
The Altitude comes outfitted with an impressive kit, including the Fox 38 Float EVOL GRIP Performance fork, Fox Float X Performance shock, Shimano SLX Trail 4 Piston brakes, and Shimano Deore drivetrain.
6. Orbea Rallon M10
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Awesome looking frame with custom paint-job available
- Feels well-balanced
- Great climbing ability for an enduro bike
Cons:
- The bike is slightly short, making it a bit less stable at high speed
The Orbea Rallon M10 is a solid enduro performer that looks the part. The Rallon M10 is a lively feeling bike that performs well on a wide variety of trails, and is a good climber compared to other enduro bikes.
The suspension feels well balanced, performing well when encountering chunky terrain while not wasting too much energy on flats or climbs.
The bike feels more agile than stable because of it being a bit short for an enduro bike. That’s not to say its not a capable descender or composed over technical terrain, but when you get up to high speeds you can notice its a bit less stable feeling than some other selections.
Orbea has packed plenty of top-level parts on the Rallon M10 frame, including a Fox 38 Float Performance fork and Fox Float X Performance shock, SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain, and Shimano XT M8120 brakes. The frame paired with these high performance components make the Rallon M10 a solid choice for anyone in the market for an enduro bike.
7. Specialized Status 160
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Looks that inspire confidence
- Slack geometry built to handle steep descents and rough terrain
- Playful, agile bike due to smaller rear wheel resulting in shorter chainstay
- Strong climber for an enduro bike
Cons:
- Shorter back end makes the bike less stable than some other models
The Specialized Status 160 is a bike that will inspire confidence. It’s slack geometry makes it well suited for steep descents and rough or technical terrain. The bike feels playful and agile to ride, partially because its a “mullet bike” having a smaller rear wheel at 27.5 inches versus the front wheel at 29 inches.
The smaller rear wheel size results in the Status 160 having a relatively short chainstay. While this is in part what gives the bike its poppy, playful feel, the shorter back end also has the effect of making the bike feel slightly less stable, especially at high speeds.
This works in the bike’s favor for climbing, however, making the Status 160 one of the better enduro bikes at going uphill.
The Status 160 comes standard with an impressive set of components, including the FOX FLOAT 36 Rhythm fork, FOX FLOAT X Performance rear shock, SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and SRAM Code R brakes.
About enduro mountain biking
Enduro mountain biking is a type of mountain bike racing that combines both downhill and cross-country riding. The goal is to complete the timed sections of a course as fast as possible, without getting fatigued from transfer stages which are not timed but must also be completed, and typically involve climbs uphill. Enduro courses include a variety of terrain, from fire roads to technical singletrack, and riders need to be able to maintain their speed on both the uphills and downhills.
Enduro mountain bikes are designed to be able to handle varied terrain and technical downhill sections like downhill bikes can, while being able to also climb effectively. For this reason the enduro bike is the bike type of choice for many riders who enjoy a variety of trails.
For more information on different types of MTB including enduro mountain biking, check out our post: Different Types of Mountain Biking.
Frequently asked questions
An enduro bike is a type of mountain bike that is designed for downhill riding, but that can also be used for cross-country rides. Enduro mountain bikes typically have longer travel suspension than other mountain bikes, which allows them to handle more aggressive terrain. The best enduro bikes also typically have more robust frames and components, which makes them better suited for rough rides.
Enduro mountain bikes are designed for off-road riding, and they are good for a variety of purposes, including cross-country racing, downhill racing, and trail riding. Enduro bikes typically have longer travel suspension than other types of mountain bikes, which allows them to handle more challenging terrain. They also usually have more robust frames and components, which makes them better suited for heavier riders or riders who frequently ride in rough terrain.
There are a few key differences between trail bikes and enduro bikes that are worth considering if you’re in the market for a new mountain bike. The best enduro mountain bikes tend to be more burly and aggressive, with longer suspension travel and components designed for the rigors of enduro racing. Trail bikes, on the other hand, are lighter and a bit more versatile with shorter suspension, making them better suited for leisurely rides or even cross-country riding.
In general, enduro mountain bikes are designed for both climbing and descending, so you can absolutely climb on one! They tend to be a bit heavier than other types of mountain bikes, but that extra weight can actually help with traction on the uphill sections. The best enduro mountain bikes are well balanced in their geometry and suspension and allow riders to retain their climbing ability fairly well compared to a trail bike.
Yes. Enduro mountain bikes are good for jumping because they have plenty of travel in their suspension, allowing them to absorb impacts when landing. They also have a low center of gravity, which makes them stable when jumping. The key to jumping any bike, especially a long-travel full suspension enduro bike, is compressing the suspension into the face of the jump.
Mountain bike review criteria
When reviewing mountain bikes, these are the things we look for:
- Frame quality
- Component quality
- Bike weight
- Bike style and aesthetic appeal
For a detailed breakdown of how we assess each of these criteria, see How We Review Mountain Bikes.
Conclusion
Enduro bikes are becoming more and more popular for riders looking to push themselves and have more fun. We’ve outlined some of the best enduro bikes of 2022 to help make your decision easier. Whether you’re looking for a bike that can withstand extreme conditions, or one that is easier to maneuver, we have you covered.
Getting the right bike for you will improve your mountain biking and help you have more fun on the trails. Do you have any favorite bikes not mentioned here that you consider to be the best enduro bike? Let us know in the comments!