Value Mountain Bike of the Year Nominees
What constitutes a good value depends to some extent on the rider. It may be the best spec with the lightest weight that can be found for a reasonable price, and for others, durability and suspension performance may be the focus. Fortunately, brands are getting better and better at blending the best of both worlds and offering bikes with high levels of performance and value.
The Vitus Mythique, Fezzari Delano Peak Comp, YT Izzo, and Commencal Meta TR all stood out this year, and they all happen to have between 130 - 140mm of rear travel. Bikes in this travel bracket are a great choice for many riders, as they are versatile and do a lot of things well. Not to be left out, Trek's Procaliber brings XC race performance to the table in a lightweight carbon hardtail with a reasonable price tag, and Privateer's 161 is a beefy yet affordable enduro rig.
While the price tags for these bikes vary, they each offer something unique to their prospective buyers at a price that is a value when compared to other similar bikes that came out this year. Without further ado, here are the nominees.
Why it's nominatedThe Mythique is a 140mm travel trail bike that comes with a solid spec of parts all for $2,000 USD. It impressed us at the Value Field Test earlier this year with its versatile and capable demeanor and proving itself to be a worthy contender among even higher priced bikes.
The bike uses a Horst link suspension design paired to a RockShox Monarch R shock along with a 140mm Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork, SRAM's 12-speed SX drivetrain, Shimano's MT-501 stoppers, a dropper post, and proper Schwalbe tires.
As the review said, "The 140mm-travel rear-suspension is near-invisible when you're in the saddle, and it always felt like the grey Vitus could carry a smidge more momentum across undulating ground. The Mythique 29 VRX isn't trying to be a part-time all-mountain bike, and it's better for it. With a contemporary but compact cockpit, and the best fork of the group in its Marzocchi Bomber Z2, the Vitus is a no-fuss trail bike that gobbles up the miles and rough ground, sometimes making its competition appear slow and over-gunned."
From the review: | In my mind, the Vitus is best suited to a rider who measures the success of their trail ride by looking at it as a whole, whereas you might want a bit more bike if your idea of success is cleaning one particularly sketchy line or decent-sized move. |
Why it's nominatedFezzari's Delano Peak Comp is a well spec'd bike for the price, and like the other full-suspension bikes nominated, it offers a lot of versatility. Like the Vitus, it has a Horst link style suspension system and well-rounded geometry, with a 77.5-degree seat tube angle and 65-degree head tube angle.
It's the Elite version that's picture above, which retails for $4,619 USD, but it's the base model, Comp version that caught our eye when it comes to value. For $3,499 you get a DVO Diamond fork and Topaz shock,a Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain, and the same carbon frame as the higher end models. The 135mm travel bike is outfitted with DVO's 150mm Diamond fork and Topaz shock.
The review states that the bike is easy to get along with having an upright climbing position. It's well suited for both climbing and descending and it feels lighter than it actually is. "Slower speed, technical puzzles are where the Delano Peak felt most at home, those awkward bits of trail where you might need to do a little rear-wheel lift here, and a shimmy around a tree there to get through without dabbing. It's an easy bike to get off the ground, whether that's to pop off the lip of a jump or to skim over a chunky section of trail. That trait allowed it to perform well on steep trails, as long as they weren't too rough."
From the review: | Call it an aggressive trail bike, or maybe a shorter travel all-mountain bike; either way, the Delano Peak's well-sorted geometry, and part spec give it a high level of versatility. For rides that encompass a wide range of conditions – up, down, and all-around, the Delano Peak could be a worthy companion. |
Why it's nominatedPrivateer's 161 is made for, you guessed it, privateer racers, in search of a sturdy aluminum-framed machine that won't break the bank. Privateer offer a complete bike with a reasonable parts spec that's priced at $3,075, or the frame alone is available for $1,535.
The 161mm travel bike has a steep 80-degree seat tube angle, 490mm reach, and 446mm chainstays on a size P3. With a 170mm fork, it has a 64-degree head angle. The Horst suspension platform helps the bike perform well on the descents, although its heavier frame weight, close to 10 lbs, holds it back a little on the climbs and slower speed terrain.
The review states, "The 161 does best on faster, wider open tracks – it's more of a speed demon than a trail dancer – and when there's room to straighten it out and let off the brakes the stability at speed is very satisfying."
From the review: | The Privateer 161 isn't a bike for the timid. Drink those protein shakes and hit the gym, because this is a bike that requires a strong, confident rider at the helm. If you can hang on, the Privateer is a stout machine that comes alive at higher speeds. |
Why it's nominatedNot to be outdone by direct-to-consumer brands, Trek's Procaliber is a high-performance XC race bike that is surprisingly affordable. There are four complete bikes in the range, starting with the 9.5 which sells for $2,000 USD up to the $4,000 9.7 and as a frame only for $1,500.
The 9.7, pictured, features a great build kit with SRAM GX Eagle, Shimano brakes, carbon wheels, seatpost, and handlebar. It comes set up tubeless and uses SRAM's UDH. The bike has modern XC geometry and is a great option for NICA racers, weekend warriors, and beyond.
Trek's ISO-speed junction is used in the frame and the bike does offer a more comfortable ride than a traditional hardtail, especially on longer rides. Fatigue by no means disappears - it's still a hardtail - but it doesn't build as quickly, which allows for more comfort and less soreness the day after.
From the first ride: | The Procaliber handles as if it's ready to go uphill and down with no regard for anything except stopping to get on the podium. For the money, Trek have put together a high-end carbon package for a fairly reasonable price and that should bode well for many riders, especially racers on a budget. |
Why it's nominatedCommencal's Meta TR is yet another formidable contender in the trail bike category. The 140mm travel bike received a revamp for this year with more travel and a more aggressive geometry. There are five different models available starting at $2,199 USD and a frame only, without shock, available for $1,399.
The previous Meta TR impressed us with its no-fuss climbing manners during the Value Bike Field Test, and that sentiment carries over to the new version. It's not light, or particularly nimble, but the 78.6-degree seat tube does an excellent job of hiding the bike's length. It creates a centered position that makes it easy to keep the front wheel weighted, free from any wandering, and it virtually eliminates any worries of looping out on extra-steep climbs.
The review says, "If TR no longer stands for trail, Turbo would be a worthy substitute. The Meta TR loves to go fast, no matter if that's on a rough, chunky trail, or something a little smoother, ideally with plenty of berms and big jumps. I wouldn't think twice about taking it to a bike park, doing an enduro race or three, or tossing it into the back of a truck for some rowdy DH shuttle laps – it has an aura of solidity that makes it feel right at home when gravity takes over."
From the review: | The new Meta TR is all about more - it has more travel, more aggressive geometry, and it's more capable than ever. Can it still be classified as a trail bike? That all depends on what your ideal trail looks like. It's not the first bike I'd grab for an all-day epic on rolling terrain, but for a big ride that was full of steep rock rolls, jumps, drops, and tricky technical sections? Absolutely - this is one of the most fun bikes that I've ridden this year. |
Why it's nominatedJust a couple years ago, $3,000 wouldn't go as far as it does now when it comes to trail bikes and the Izzo is a good example of that. Starting at $3,000 USD, the Izzo Comp has a very capable parts build with a SRAM NX drivetrain, G2 brakes, Fox Rhythm fork, and a carbon frame.
The bike's 130mm of travel is geared towards all-around riding and the geometry of the bike makes it exceedingly capable in a variety of terrain, with more of a "modern cross-country" focus. Geo is also adjustable, a huge plus for riders looking to fine-tune the feel of their ride.
From the review: | For the trails that go up, down, and around with your dropper up and down like a fiddler’s elbow, the Izzo is a hoot. The Izzo is a Jack of most trades and a master of one. |
Honorable Mention
There are five finalists in the running for the Value Mountain Bike of the Year title, but given the sheer number of excellent bikes that were released this year it made sense to give a little extra recognition to one other we haven't had time on but feel could be a strong competitor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5eMMf11uhM
@hamncheez: I'll stand in for the 40 somethings and say we don't need pills or plastic bikes to compensate either. You OK, bruh?
Good work.
If something looks to good to be true it usually is.
You can self-clear customs on your own and not pay brokerage fees. Once you get an email saying your package has arrived but you need to pay customs fees to have it released, refuse their service. Tell them to email you the forms to self clear customs - they have to supply these if you ask. They might say you can't but they are lying because they want to gouge you for the fee. If they refuse then tell them you are going to make a complaint to the CBSA and their attitude will quickly change.
Once you have the forms (2 copies of the commercial invoice - 1 for CBSA and 1 to be stamped and returned to the broker, plus 1 copy of the shippers invoice and, if that doesn't give a breakdown of prices for each item then take a copy of the invoice the seller sent to you or have it ready on your phone as well) go to a CBSA office that offers Inland Services - usually near airports, including some fairly small airports depending where you are located. They will calculate the duty and taxes based on the items (different % for different items. I was told clothing had the highest % of duty) You will pay the taxes and duty right there - or in my girlfriends case the guy said 'happy birthday' and handed her back the form with nothing owing even thought the broker had calculated $65 in duty/fees.
If you are close to the warehouse where the package is held you can usually pick it up directly once you give them the stamped copy of the commercial invoice or you can email it back to the broker/courier and then they will deliver it with no other fees owing. This can be done with all couriers including UPS.
Brokerage fees are a scam. They are usually on a sliding scale, meaning the more expensive the item is the more you pay - not just one set fee.
The complaining: why do so many value oriented bikes come with SRAM SX/NX drivetrain and Shimano brakes? ie exactly the opposite of each brand's strengths?
From my sample size =1 personal experience, SX is on entry bikes because it let's the builder clean out the parts bin for everything else. On my bike those old HG driver Formula hubs must have cost Commencal $8 for the bike, and the leftover X1 aluminum cranks they shipped wouldn't have worked with Deore. Got to get the price down somehow.
Also, the Level brakes were the first things to go. Not sure I'd call entry-level stoppers SRAM's strength....
Reading thread after thread of people complaining about the Sramano like this is how I ended up with Hayes brakes. They nice ????
Jokes aside, i've never tried last gen codes, but first gen guides left me terrified. Way worse than elixirs (which weren't such terrible brakes)
For some reason PB replaced my smiley face with question marks though, so kinda changed the comment.
Just a couple years ago, $3,000 wouldn't go as far as it does now when it comes to trail bikes
I got a capra several years ago for 3600€
It came with Carbon frame, RockShox top level suspensions (Pike and Monarch in the highest versions), decent brakes, X1 transmission, and E13 wheels. I kept it 4 years, and it worked really well ans proved to be reliable.
I doubt that you could get any better today for the same price tag.
Yes the Izzo rides better in provably every way because of new stuff and especially geometry, but cost wise newer bikes are nearly always more expensive for the same "level".
In fact, you are partially wrong. I compare the € prices, because this is what we can see on the sites.
Today YT Capra for 4000€ comes with Lyrik and Monarch Select,
I am sure if you search for the USD price of the capra few years back, you will be surprised to see what 4000$ could give you
Propain Tyee CF?
Vitus Sommet?
Marin Alpine Trail Carbon?
Commencal Meta TR?
Bird Aether 9C?
Ghost Riot EN?
So many great value-oriented bikes were released this year. How come none of them are on this list?
There are sooo many nice bikes available today that it is more about ones subjective taste than one bike being better than the other .
That and perhaps the available value single pivot/faux bar bikes aren't that good.