The Best Mountain Bikes of 2020
In the past year, we’ve ridden and evaluated quite 100 of the highest mountain bikes—everything from budget hardtails to do-it-all trail models to bomber downhill race bikes. We found entry-level hardtails that are truly capable of fewer than $900. And excellent full-suspension bikes for fewer than $1,500, which was unprecedented just a couple of years ago. And in fact, we discovered near-magical options that cost three and 4 times that. Check out five of our top picks below, or scroll deeper for extended reviews of those bikes and other high-ranking options, plus buying advice.
What’s New in all-terrain bike Design With the widespread adoption of dropper posts, better suspension, and geometry that favors longer front ends and tighter rear end, it’s now possible to shred pretty hard on bikes with less travel. Bikes just like the Santa Cruz Tallboy, Evil Following MB, and more recently, Giant Trance 29 have 120mm of rear travel (or less) but the slack angles (and stability) of enduro bikes. And bikes just like the Pivot Firebird offer you DH travel with crisper pedaling, to make one among the foremost versatile bikes we’ve tried. As you’re trying to find your next bicycle riders, pay the maximum amount of attention to geometry as you are doing travel and wheel size. How We Tested Every bike on this list has been thoroughly ridden and evaluated by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user
reviews, speak with product managers and engineers and use our own experience riding these bikes to work out the simplest options. Our team of experienced testers spent many hours and miles using these bikes for his or her intended purpose. We raced them, rode them on our local trails, and hit the bike park. Often we swapped tires and other components to urge a far better understanding of every bike. After tons of sweaty, dirty miles, we evaluated them on performance, price, comfort, handling, value, reliability, fun, and yes, e-factor (for anyone looking to feature a touch pedal-assist to their ride).