All Mountain Bike Buyers Guide
Looking for the perfect all-mountain bike that shines both uphill and downhill? Our buying guide explains the latest trends in geometry and technology, reveals why aluminum frames are making a comeback in 2024, and showcases the best models with 140 to 150 mm of travel.
All-mountain bikes with 140 to 150 mm of travel are among the most popular mountain bikes. It’s no surprise that many manufacturers are offering an extensive range in this category. A look at the MTB market suggests why all-mountain bikes have recently become more popular.
Enduro bikes have evolved into complex mini-downhill machines with high weight. Consequently, the weights of these bikes have skyrocketed. In affordable price ranges, enduros easily weigh over 16 kilos. No one wants to pedal that uphill anymore. Downhill, many bikers lack the right trails nearby to maximize the potential of modern enduros.
Enduro bikes have carved out a gap in recent years, which is now being filled by all-mountain bikes. As a biker, you hope that an all-mountain bike will hit the sweet spot between tour suitability and excellent descent skills. You want to pedal uphill with your own muscle power and then let it rip downhill. But can current bikes live up to this hope?
What are All Mountain Bikes actually?
Before we dive into the technical details, it’s important to define the reference point of this buyer’s guide. The definition of mountain bike categories always sparks discussion within the community.
The term “All Mountain Bike” isn’t consistently used across the market. In English, the All Mountain category is sometimes lumped together with trail bikes that have less travel. Consequently, the term All Mountain often doesn’t appear on the websites of American manufacturers like Specialized or Santa Cruz.
To ensure maximum comparability, we won’t mix apples and oranges and will categorize the market uniformly based on the travel of the bikes, regardless of how different manufacturers label their bikes. For us, all bikes with 140 – 150 mm travel at the fork are All Mountain Bikes.
The reasons why we are also using the fork travel as a benchmark for this test are:
- central component: The suspension fork is a key component that significantly influences the geometry of a bike with its axle-to-crown length. Frames or bike platforms are therefore developed around the suspension fork.
- limiting factor: The suspension fork is often the limiting factor on the trail with the travel it provides. The more travel a bike has, the more it is geared towards downhill riding.
- Price: The suspension fork is (after the frame) the most expensive component on a bike. While tires can be quickly swapped out, a new suspension fork can cost between 500-1000 €. Generally, you don't replace the suspension fork individually, but rather you ride it as long as you ride the bike.
What should you look for when buying an all-mountain bike?
As we tested various concepts of All Mountain Bikes, it quickly became clear: There are parts or rather aspects that shape the riding characteristics significantly more than others, especially in an All Mountain bike. If you’re considering buying an All Mountain bike, you should pay particular attention to the following.
- Brakes: You save at the wrong end here. With all-mountain biking, you want to enjoy the trail and especially endure long descents without arm pump. Large brake rotors (front 200mm, rear 180mm) are the way to go. SRAM’s Guide or G2 brakes have convinced us less for this purpose than stoppers from Shimano or Magura. Ideally, the braking system has 4 pistons per caliper.
- Suspension: For those who really want to shred and aren't opposed to regular visits to the bike park, a Fox 36 or Rock Shox Lyrik fork is essential. The 34 or Pike forks are excellent, but they reach their limits faster on rough terrain. Additionally, for long descents, a shock with a reservoir is a must. Coil spring elements perform well but are too heavy for this bike category due to their significant weight compared to air versions.
- Tires: Tires make the bike. If you want to shred, you need not only the right tread but also the appropriate puncture protection. At Maxxis, EXO+ protection is a good compromise between weight and reliability. For Schwalbe, the corresponding counterpart would be the Super Trail casing. Tour riders can save some weight with regular EXO (Maxxis) or Super Ground (Schwalbe) casings, but they also have to accept reduced puncture protection. Full send isn't really an option with these.
Geometries: End of the road for outdated designs!
Even though making a purchase decision isn’t easy, we can ease one of your fears. The market has found its sweet spot when it comes to geometries. There are still some outliers with very long main frames (reach), but the real duds are off the market. Often, the problem lies more in the choice of size.
Super steep head angles or extremely high bottom brackets are a thing of the past. Anyone who commits to their steed will no longer be disappointed by the absolute performance of the geometry in 2024.
However, there are still distinct characteristics. Bikes like the Raaw Madonna or the YT Jeffsy are on the more stable side. They appeal to riders who lean toward the fall line. Counterparts like the Santa Cruz 5010 or the Radon Slide Trail shine with playfulness on the trail. This characteristic is also significantly influenced by the wheels.
Wheel size: 29 Rules!
The vast majority of bikes now roll on 29er wheels. And rightly so. The larger wheels excel even in rough terrain. While they do carry a considerable weight increase compared to 27.5s, the enhanced stability they offer makes it worthwhile.
For those who can’t deal with the slightly more sluggish acceleration and handling, the All Mountain sector offers a few exotic options with mullet wheels. On the trail, the Santa Cruz 5010 or the Canyon Spectral in the mullet version (also available as a 29er) have clearly shown that All Mountains can still be playful even in 2024. And there are also market trends that don’t prioritize downhill fun above all else.
Topic of Frame Material: Is Aluminum Making a Comeback?
While mainstream manufacturers still favor carbon for their top models, a growing niche is emerging. Companies like Crossworx, Raaw, or even Commencal are making aluminum high-end bikes fashionable again. Unfortunately, all these companies do not focus on lightweight construction.
Even luxury builds like our Raaw Jibb test bike fail to come close to the magical 14-kilogram complete weight mark. Frame weights well over 3 kilograms make this benchmark a distant dream. Liteville shows it can be done differently with the 303 Enduro, which we also tested.
Aluminum has its advantages when it comes to sustainability, durability, and overall craftsmanship. This justifies its place in the high-end market, but currently, it only appeals to a niche audience. If you want a lightweight all-mountain bike and can live with the ecological footprint of a carbon frame, carbon is currently the better choice.
These all-mountain bikes you should have on your radar in 2024
In the following table, you’ll find a quick overview of the most interesting models available this year. Each of these bikes brings unique features and strengths that appeal to both beginners and experienced riders. Whether you’re looking for a bike for extended tours, shredding trails, or the occasional bike park visit, there’s something for everyone in this selection. And the best part: The featured models cover a wide price range, so there’s something for every budget. From affordable entry-level bikes to high-end machines.
| Model | Short Description | Prices |
| Cannondale Habit LT | The Americans' all-mountain bike steers clear of any complexity. The tech has been deliberately kept simple in this bike, yet the Habit LT shines with great geometry and robust components. It's a downhill friend. | €2,500 - €8,499 |
| Canyon Neuron | The classic among touring bikes. Combines lightweight construction with excellent geometry, 140 mm travel, and a very good rear suspension. | €1,399 - €4,999 |
| Canyon Spectral | The Spectral is the downhill-oriented counterpart to the Neuron. It comes with either mullet or 29er wheels and features a K.I.S. system in the carbon version straight from the factory. A good partner for tours and occasional bike park visits. | 1,799 € - 6,999 € |
| Cube One44 | The Cube Stereo One44 is the strongest competitor of the Canyon Neuron. With its focus on lightweight construction, it primarily appeals to sporty tour riders. It handles flow trails with ease. However, it is out of place in a hardcore bike park setting. | € 2,444 - € 6,299 |
| Crossworx Lite 290 | Crossworx fully embraces the Made in Germany motto and welds the single-pivot frame at their headquarters in Thuringia. Despite this, the bike remains affordable. In the lightweight build with 140 mm, it weighed noticeably over 14 kg. | Complete bike from €5615 |
| Giant Trance X | The Trance X, with its Maestro suspension, is ready for some serious shredding on the trail. When it comes to descents, this bike knows no bounds and also impresses with its excellent value for money. | 2,000 € - 7,000 € |
| Orbea Laufey | The Occam is the only hardtail that made it onto this list. With its rigid rear end, it has proven to be an excellent alternative to a full-suspension in our test. Especially if the budget is in the price range below or around 2000 €. | €1,499 - €2,599 |
| Orbea Occam SL | The Spanish bike shines with extravagant design, an integrated downtube storage compartment, good geometry, and many customization options. With its 140 mm of travel, it is one of the lighter all-mountain bikes on the market. | 2,799 € - 9,999 € |
| Propain Hugene | As a relatively small direct-to-consumer brand, Propain has nevertheless managed to build a large fanbase with the Hugene. A proprietary rear suspension design, customizable component options, and great value for money make for an attractive offering. | 5,000 € - 7,500 € |
| Raaw Jibb | If you like it robust, Raaw is the way to go. The sturdy aluminum frame with modern geometry easily handles regular bike park use. A rear suspension with lots of pop makes it easy to catch air off terrain edges. Uphill, the bike's heavy weight slightly hinders its touring ambitions. | Frame starting from €1,290 |
| Radon Slide Trail | Radon skips the plush packaging for its Slide Trail and instead delivers a fully equipped bike with excellent value for money. You won't find technical gimmicks here, but all the components critical for ride enjoyment are always of good quality. | 1.699 € - 4.799 € |
| Rockrider Feel 900 s | Somewhat characterless, but with very good price-performance ratio and a unique frame. With 140 mm travel, Cube and Canyon build lighter bikes. However, the components are of very high quality. | 3,999 € |
| Santa Cruz 5010 | The party bike among all mountains. In the mullet setup, the Santa Cruz scurries more eagerly over the trails than most competitors. Unfortunately, however, the bike remains exclusively in the premium segment in terms of price. | 3,699 € - 10,999 € |
| Scor 2030 | Little suspension travel, sporty chassis. The Scor 2030 is not a bargain, but it's a lightweight crossover between a touring bike and a downhill machine. | 3,299 € - 7,999 € |
| Specialized Stumpjumper | The Stumpi is a classic that has remained unchanged on the market for a long time and is currently becoming a price-performance tip thanks to generous discounts. Definitely worth a look. | 1,200 € - 5,500 € currently drastically reduced |
| Trek Fuel EX | An independent bike with a unique Split-Pivot rear suspension. Up-to-date geometry. Spec-wise, it’s not a bargain. | 3,299 - 12,749 € |
| YT Jeffsy | The Jeffsy has been redesigned for 2024 and is absolutely future-ready. It impresses with good kinematics and is especially appealing to fans of fast descents. On the scale, other bikes are lighter. | €1,999 - €5,999 |
The Best All-Mountain Bike 2024
Of course, everyone wants to know which is the best all-mountain bike. We thoroughly explored this question in the article the best all-mountain bike 2024.
