In the market for a new mountain bike and looking for a ride that can excel on climbs, descents, technical features and everything in between? If so, a trail bike may be just what you need. There are many different types of mountain bikes, but trail bikes are perfect for those who want to do it all. Our expert picks for best trail bike of 2022 are in, and each bike on our list is sure to up the fun factor of your rides. Our choice for the best trail bike overall for 2022 is the Canyon Spectral 125.
What are the best trail bikes of 2022?
- Canyon Spectral 125
- Norco Optic C2
- Kona Process 134
- Giant Trance 29
- Santa Cruz Tallboy
- Nukeproof Scout 290
- Rocky Mountain Growler 40
1. Canyon Spectral 125
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Aggressive geometry
- Playful and fun to ride
- Excellent components
- Stable and confident on descents
- Powerful and precise braking
Cons:
- Rear shock can be a bit too stiff to soak up small bumps at lower speeds
- On the heavier side
The Canyon Spectral 125 blends the confidence and control of longer-travel bikes with the playfulness and versatility of a shorter-travel rig. The result is a superb all-around trail bike that is loads of fun to ride.
The bike sets up with aggressive geometry: a slack head tube angle, long reach, and a steep seat tube angle, and allows you to venture into “big bike terrain” normally reserved for enduro and downhill bikes with longer travel.
The SRAM Code RSC brakes provide excellent stopping power which further inspires confidence to let it rip, knowing you have precise and powerful brakes to slow you down if need be.
The suspension is plush and helps to keep things feeling composed through the chop on descents with a 140 mm Fox 36 Rhythm fork and a Fox Float X Performance shock in the rear.
The suspension provides a nice blend between soaking up the rough stuff while still providing plenty of pop should you wish to get airborne. Some riders may find the rear shock a bit stiff when rolling over bumps at lower speeds, but many would happily trade that for the poppy feel and ability to resist bottoming out on the big impacts.
The bike is a bit on the heavy side and can feel somewhat sluggish on long climbs. This isn’t to say its climbing performance is poor as its anti-squat design makes pedaling the bike quite efficient and reduces pedal bob, and the steep seat tube angle puts the rider’s body in a solid climbing position.
2. Norco Optic C2
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Efficient climber on smooth trails
- Stiff frame adds stability to the bike
- Snappy feeling
- Aggressive geometry
Cons:
- Brakes are good but could be better
- Rear suspension a bit stiff on technical climbs
One of our favorite trail bikes of the year is the Norco Optic C2.
The Optic C2 is built with aggressive geometry which inspires confidence to rip on fast descents. It also maintains an ability to get you back to the top of the hill efficiently, making it a solid all-around trail bike.
Coming standard with a 140mm travel RockShox Pike Select + RC Debonair fork up front and a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate DH shock in the rear, the bike does a great job at soaking up the big hits and is even more competent on descents than you would expect from a bike with this amount of travel.
The rear shock does a great job at soaking up high-speed impacts and keeping your rear wheel tracking the trail at speed. Unfortunately, this means it can be a little less responsive than desired on technical climbs.
The frame has a stiff feeling which adds to the bike’s stability and confidence on high-speed descents.
While the bike was stable and felt good at speed while descending, the brakes felt like they could be a bit stronger and more precise. They were adequate, but nothing to write home about. This could potentially be an after-market upgrade to look into for the Optic C2.
3. Kona Process 134
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Modern and aggressive geometry
- Plush feeling suspension
- Confidence inspiring on descents
- Long dropper post
Cons:
- Brakes could be better
- A bit on the heavy side
The Kona Process 134 is another excellent addition to our favorite trail bikes of the year.
The Process 134 comes with plush feeling RockShox suspension – sporting a 140mm Recon RL Motion Control Solo Air fork up front and Deluxe Select Trunnion shock in the rear.
We especially noticed the plush and smooth feeling of the rear shock which does a great job of soaking up the bumps at both high and low speeds, on climbs and descents.
The modern, slack shape of the frame inspires confidence on steep descents and feels aggressive and ready to venture into technical terrain. The bike also comes with wheel size options for riders, with offerings of the Process 134 including both 27.5″ and 29″ models.
Related: Kona Honzo Review
Like some of the other trail bike entries, we noticed that the brakes could be a bit better, although given this is a trail bike and not purely designed for downhill it does make sense that it wouldn’t be spec’d as well as an enduro bike or downhill model in this department.
The bike is also on the heavier side of entries on this list and can start to feel sluggish on long-climbs, although it certainly remains adequate to get you to the top of the hill and handles shorter and less steep climbs well.
For a more in-depth look at the Kona Process 134, check out our full review here.
4. Giant Trance 29
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Feels playful and energetic
- Modern, slack geometry
- Solid climber
- Precise handling in tight turns
Cons:
- Some energy loss from pedal bob on climbs
The Giant Trance 29 is a bike that is very fun to ride.
The Trance 29 feels playful and energetic thanks in part to its relatively short wheelbase. It feels quite maneuverable compared to some of our other favorite trail bikes, and handles with precision, especially on tight turns and berms.
Thanks to its precise handling the Trance 29 allows you to carry more speed into tight sections of trail, keeping you buzzing through the trails and allowing your momentum to take you further.
With a 130mm Marzocchi Z2 fork up front and a Fox Float DPS Performance shock in the rear, the bike feels confident when things get rough, and the suspension does a good job of soaking up hits both big and small. The rear shock especially does a good job of keeping the rear wheel tracking the trail.
The Trance 29 is also a solid climber, with its geometry putting the rider in a good body position to pedal up to the top of hills efficiently. On smooth climbs, we did notice some pedal bob resulting in energy loss from the responsiveness of the rear shock, but this is a minor complaint considering the added performance this responsiveness provides on technical climbs, and also on flat ground and descents.
5. Santa Cruz Tallboy
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Plush suspension for a smooth ride
- Low bottom bracket inspires confidence
- Slack geometry increases confidence on descents
- Adjustable Flip Chip
Cons:
- A bit on the heavy side
The Santa Cruz Tallboy is a smooth and confidence-inspiring all-around trail bike that looks great too.
Santa Cruz has taken a page out of its longer-travel bikes and created a shorter-travel bike with downhill and enduro geometry in mind. This gives the Tallboy a very slack geometry for the amount of travel it has, making it inspire confidence in riders on the descents.
The bike’s plush suspension, including a 130mm Fox Rhythm 34 fork up front and a Fox Float Performance DPS shock in the rear keeps things feeling smooth, even on rougher terrain and fast descents.
The Tallboy is also set up with a relatively low bottom bracket (332mm on Low Flip Chip setting, 335mm on High), which further inspires confidence on those technical descents and when hitting features like drops and jumps.
We do find the Tallboy to be a bit on the heavy side, and this can make the bike feel sluggish if you do a lot of long climbs.
Read our full review of the Santa Cruz Tallboy here.
6. Nukeproof Scout 290
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Excellent climber
- Low, slack geometry inspires confidence on descents
- Very maneuverable on tight turns
Cons:
- Dropper post could be longer
- Hardtail doesn’t soak up bumps as much as a full suspension
The Nukeproof Scout 290 is a playful and versatile all-around trail bike and is the first hardtail entry on our list.
The Nukeproof Scout line of mountain bikes is well-known and well-respected for a reason – they are very competent trail mountain bikes and are a blast to ride.
The Scout 290 is no different. It features low and slack geometry that makes those steep descents feel a little less steep and gives you confidence that the bike is up to whatever you may throw at it. The bike also sports a smooth 140 mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork up front.
Maneuverability, especially in tight turns, is one area this bike really shines. It allows you to carry speed into those tight turns and berms, and more importantly, carry speed as you exit the turn.
The bike is also an excellent climber, as there is no energy loss from pedal bob due to it being a hardtail, and because it is also lighter than many of the other bikes on our list.
As a hardtail, the Scout 290 doesn’t quite smooth out the trail as well as the full suspension models, nor does the rear wheel track the trail as well as those alternatives when things get bumpy. This means you may have to pick smoother lines.
Also, the dropper post that comes standard on the bike could stand to be a bit longer, but this is only a minor concern.
7. Rocky Mountain Growler 40
Pros and cons:
Pros:
- Stable at speed thanks to long wheelbase
- Efficient climber
- Comfortable to ride
Cons:
- Brakes could be better
- Not the fastest on tight turns
The Rocky Mountain Growler 40 is a solid all-around shredder that is competent in most terrain you throw at it.
This hardtail feels very stable on descents and holds up very well at high speeds thanks to its long wheelbase. It’s fork, a 140 mm Suntour Raidon 34 LDR Air Boost, does a good job at smoothing out bumps in the trail, although the rear wheel does tend to get bounced around some with no rear suspension.
The Growler 40 performs very well on climbs, thanks in part to its hardtail design contributing to pedaling efficiency, and thanks in part to its steep seat tube angle which puts the rider in a comfortable and athletic body position allowing you to beat your friends to the top of the hill. The fact that the Growler 40 is a hardtail also makes it more efficient on climbs since there is no energy lost due to pedal bob from a rear shock.
While the bike is composed on fast descents, the brakes do leave something to be desired and they don’t quite have the stopping power or precision of some other models.
Due to its long wheelbase, the Growler 40 trades away some maneuverability on tight turns for its added stability at speed.
About riding trail mountain bikes
Trail mountain bikes are perfect for riders who want to do a little bit of everything on their bike. Do you like riding cross-country some of the time and also enjoy doing technical descents, but can only have one MTB? A jack-of-all-trades trail bike is probably just what you need.
Frequently asked questions
Trail bikes have shorter travel suspension than enduro or downhill bikes, but more travel than cross-country mountain bikes. In terms of suspension and in terms of how aggressive and slack the geometry is, trail bikes fall somewhere between the downhill/enduro bikes and cross-country bikes. This makes them great all-around mountain bikes that can excel on both climbs and descents.
This will come down to rider preference and what types of trails the rider prefers most. If the trails you ride are mostly smooth, without many bumps like rocks or roots, a hardtail will likely be the better choice, because it will be lighter, more efficient on climbs, and can be easier and better suited to hitting features like dirt jumps as you don’t need to worry about the rebound from the rear shock on takeoff.
Trail bikes can be taken on almost all types of trails. They can be used at your local trail system that includes both climbs and descents. But trail bikes can also be used at lift and shuttle access downhill only trails. They may not be the best choice for the most difficult trails at the bike park, but they will definitely allow you to ride most trails and have a great time doing so.
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
If you’re thinking about getting a new do-it-all trail bike, check out some of these great bikes on our list and we know you won’t be disappointed. As mountain biking technology continues to evolve, it can be tough to keep up with all of the new bike types, features and options available. But that’s why we’re here – so you can spend more time enjoying your rides and less time researching which bike is right for you. Now get out there and ride!