Pinkbike Poll: If You Had to Ride One Bike for the Rest of Your Life, What Would It Be?

May 22, 2020
by Daniel Sapp  
Photo by Trevor Lyden

On the surface, it's a pretty easy answer for most people when asked what bike they would choose if they had to pick one to ride for the rest of their life. It's probably the bike they have now that they ride the most, but think about it...it's for the REST OF YOUR LIFE! That's a long time. Every single ride, every turn of the pedals you do, it's your bike forever. And there are no take-backs, borrowing from a friend, or using something different. This is it. You can replace drivetrain components as they wear and service suspension, but the bike and its overall spec must stay the same from here on out.

There are plenty of things to take into consideration when choosing your forever bike. Versatility is key, of course, and then there's durability. Is it practical? Will you move and have different trails to ride? Will you reach a point in life where you want to do things at a different pace? You may think you're going to be riding the bike park at 60 or 70 years old, but let's be real, the only people doing that are the true legends, and even they would probably not be choosing a DH bike if it was their only option.

So, what bike would you choose? It has to be one from the list here and it isn't a weird or custom build or a situation where you can swap out wheels and tires. It's a current year model, off the floor of the bike shop. You're just stuck with what you pick and you're forever going to run what you brung.

If you had to ride one bike for the rest of your life, what would it be?



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402 Comments
  • 277 2
 Fully rigid 36er
  • 36 1
 You'll need that new 10-65 15 speed cassete.
  • 71 2
 The Grim Donut It looks perfect. Not sure how it rides,though.
  • 10 4
 I'm confused what is aggressive vs relaxed geometry?
In the before times, a lower number head tube angle was considered relaxed, slower and/or laid back and a higher number head tube angle was considered aggressive and agile (like a fighter plane and not a cargo plane)
  • 4 1
 now people talk about the Grim Donut having a more aggressive head tube angle
  • 9 1
 Penny farting 4life!
  • 8 0
 @nozes: We should make it a 10-69 speed. I want the satisfaction of having a 69 tooth cassette
  • 8 3
 @DaFreerider44: the cassette would be ~29 cm in diameter and the 36er spokes would be ~36 cm long and the derailleur would have to have a cage almost twice as long
So I guess you would have to ride only on skinnies
  • 17 5
 Full Susp ebike so don’t fool yourself’s !
  • 1 1
 @taprider: aggressive: steep head tube angle, maybe shorter wheelbase. relaxed: longer wheelbase, slacker headtube angle.
So I think you're right here.
  • 3 0
 Slap a 29er in back and you got yourself a 69er for real!
  • 6 1
 @jorgeposada: farthing.
Otherwise you have a GI track issue.
Stop swallowing pennies and you should be good to go.
  • 1 0
 @taprider: HAHA!! oxy-morons
  • 8 2
 Full Suspension, Electric, Fat Bike.
  • 13 0
 @taprider:

Agressive seems to be used in terms of the context it is applied too.

E.g. aggressive road race bike = shorter headtube longer toptube/reach stealer head angles and a slightly shorter wheelbase. This makes for a snappier handling bike that puts the rider in a more powerful more aero position. But you have to be well trained to sit in it for any length of time.

Agressive MTB = slack angles long reach, lower bottom brackets etc. for attacking harder terrain.

Agressive xc bikes are just confusing are we talking agressive for pedalling (like a road bike) or agressive for descending (like other MTBs).
  • 3 0
 @DaFreerider44: Wait, what if you could turn over a 69/69, huge in the front, huge in the back.....
  • 2 1
 @DaFreerider44:
  • 1 1
 @taprider:

Just the same as jeans.....
  • 1 1
 @RoadStain: Nice
  • 2 0
 Whatever bike I could get when I was 25 years old
  • 1 1
 @StinkyTO: ahahahababababababbbagahahaahaha
  • 1 1
 Penny farthing.
  • 1 1
 @taprider: aggreesive means different thing regarding mtb/road. aggressive road or gravel means steep angles and twitchy. relaxed slacker for comfort more upright position. aggressive mtb means -well you know the numbers on an enduro/dh bike?
  • 2 1
 @dhridernz: aggressive xc super low cockpit long stem lightweight. tbh they could drop the aggressive term we all know what xc bike is vs trail bike.
  • 1 1
 @a-d-e: AHH, but the above poll uses relaxed as slacker and aggressive as steeper. I have always thought using the term aggressive for bikes like the Grim Donut as oxymoronic
  • 1 1
 @jorgeposada: The OG Mullet
  • 1 1
 @benhg: Yeeeeaaa dude, need to get my afro mullet back in action. Hair helmet!
  • 1 1
 @taprider: ask anyone who knows me....You can be aggressive and relaxed at the same time
  • 137 4
 I’m 73. Still riding enduro style bikes,hope to for a few years more. I’ve got to say e-bikes are starting to look damn good!!
  • 32 0
 Respect!! I hope I’m still shredding big bikes at 73!
  • 23 1
 awesome! thx for sharing, at 51 I hope to be riding for a long time.. rode my first Ebike yesterday.. gotta admit, it was really fun.. 20 miles, 4200 ft of climbing in 1:45 min.. I won't be getting one any time soon, but I can see why people like them.. never have I had so much fun going up....
  • 2 2
 @billybobzia: I haven’t tried one yet....it’s just a matter of time. My average “up” is 1000/1500 ft. A big day is 2500. 4200 ft is just a dream!
  • 18 24
flag the-barn FL (May 22, 2020 at 16:59) (Below Threshold)
 I'm 38 and just ordered one
  • 5 7
 I'm 42, and after two big injuries (shoulder and PCL), i'm ready to throw in the towel on my 170 enduro and get a gravel bike or xc bike. and I'm the kind of guy that does 160 on motorcycles and jumps off small cliffs on skis.
  • 55 11
 @billybobzia: this isn’t directed at you personally, just an observation on the topic. Being able to put in more miles in a given amount of time is my least favorite argument for ebikes. I just can’t shake the feeling that it ain’t right. I guess in part because traffic on the local trails has grown significantly since ebikes hit the scene. More riders, way more wear and tear on the trails, including remote trails that previously couldn’t be accessed without paying a price physically. Maybe this smacks of exclusivity and elitism, but it bugs me.
  • 4 1
 Respect buddy! Hope to emulate you!
  • 25 4
 @BiNARYBiKE: totally agree with you. I jokingly called emtb a Sherpa bike the other day, but it’s pretty accurate. I can hike a lot farther and faster If I pay someone to haul my all crap for me. But hey, I’m 34, 3 small kids, full time job. I should be the perfect demographic for an ebike based on most of the recent arguments I’ve heard about limited time and more descents per ride etc...still just doesn’t seem like the same sport I fell in love with. Guess that makes me an elitist too.
  • 17 27
flag Stampers (May 22, 2020 at 20:20) (Below Threshold)
 @the-barn: I have one and it opens up so many possibilities.

Time, if riding alone or with other emtb’s, is a non factor. Fatigue, long day at work, lack of sleep, being hungover, leg day at the gym, coming off a cocaine binge (j/k)....nothing will keep you from shredding!

So hot laps at your favorite dirt jumps or downhill course now require no walking back up.

“EBikes are the best thing to happen to mountain biking since....mountain biking”
-Rob “Lord” Warner
  • 10 1
 @the-barn: I have been seeing some young hardcore enduro riders getting e-bikes. Surprised me.
  • 24 0
 @Stampers: ya, I’m not saying you’re wrong, that perspective just doesn’t resonate with me. It probably would have 15 years ago when all I wanted to do was shuttle my freeride bike. I’ll put it this way: I love backcountry snowboarding. I mean I love resort riding too on a great powder day. But I really love putting in the work required to get myself to the top of a mountain and the reward of riding down. And even though I don’t get a lot of time descending, I savor that run. And now days I feel largely the same about mountain biking. I’m 39, father of four, full time career in education... last Saturday I climbed and then descended 3700 feet in 2.5 hours. I just don’t see (for me) an ebike improving that experience. Unless I was trying to have that same ride without the fitness that I’ve worked for. But I want the fitness. Anyway, interesting stuff. I’m pretty sure eventually every bike will have a motor whether you want it or not, and it’ll weigh the same as our current bikes. And I’ll have one. But will I still feel like it’s cheating?
  • 9 2
 61. eBikes seem to get heavier every day I age. Will keep my 29er steel hardtail, it is easier to lift on the rack, over fences etc.....
  • 9 1
 @tacklingdummy: Same here. Many young enduro racers are training on top-end e-bikes. The number of runs they collect in a given amount of time is just amazing.
  • 3 2
 Booooooo@the-barn:
  • 4 0
 Whatever bike I could get at 25 years old, stay 25 for the rest of my life
  • 2 1
 @shralping-the-cube: I wouldn't through in the towel dude. I have blown out my ACL, collar bone, and full AC separation - all in my 40's, and share the same propensity to do crazy things on other toys. Just spilt the difference, take it bake a notch, and get a super capable trail bike - if you are inclined to take risks, just doing mellow rides will drive you batch shit crazy. It just takes a some time to get your head back in the game. Took me 18 months to finally stop thinking about my shoulder post surgery. And even then, I no longer do some of the higher risk crap I used to - risk reward is no longer there. But I ride both a Trail bike and a 170 mm bike all over, and still do parks as well. No need to "retire" man. ;^)
  • 13 3
 The idea of getting basically a free shuttle service all the time is enticing, but whenever I see one in person I cringe.

I just can’t do it. It’s not my sport. I’d MUCH rather get an enduro moto than an emtb anyways.

Back to the OP...my dad is 72 and rides my old 2010 spesh enduro with me sometimes, although he doesn’t really have it in him to do real rides with legit climbing, we still have a lot of fun. I’ve strongly been considering buying him an emtb, would really open up his world.

I have no idea what it feels like physically to be 72, but respect to OP for still banging out miles unassisted. My dad rides his other bikes to the beach and all around probably 3-5days a week, but he’d have to train super hard to clear most of our typical mtb loops...emtb for people like him is mint.

When I see other 30 somethings with them...I fill with vitriol...it’s elitist and silly, but that’s my gut reaction to them.
  • 1 1
 @shralping-the-cube: dude, I did the same, got fifteen years on you, still riding big bikes and big miles. Time to suck it up, you’ll never feel better than you feel now, but you stop now and it’ll be much harder going back .... if you can.
  • 2 1
 Big respect, SmilinBill! At 42, I hope I still have 31+ years of riding ahead of me!
  • 1 1
 @nurseben: good point. Just feeling frustrated at back to back injuries that have kept me off the bike and skis for the last year.
  • 1 1
 @Bliss503: thanks for the encouragement. I've had a lot of shoulder pain the last week so I'm pretty frustrated. will prob hold onto my bike. It does really well as a trail bike despite being 170/162.
  • 4 4
 ebikes ARE damn good. if you got into riding for the downhill, there is nothing better. If you got into it for the fitness, they're a good thing to put off. But if you got into riding for the up AND the down? I would say, if you have the ability to temper your, "these things do this?!" get one. If you're like me and you don't, keep your analog bike too. Plus, anytime the ebike goes down, you can roll the analog. I'm speaking from 30 years of mtb and I still ride analog 30% of the time, but I got hooked on bikes long ago because all I want to do is get to the dh. ride 7 days a week now that I can though... 70% E because they're just too good.
  • 1 1
 @shralping-the-cube: 48 and i have a few battle scars. love my gravel bike but would never be my only ride.
  • 2 0
 @Tasso75: same in my riding grou. 4 enduro riders, we all had capras and strives, now 2 switched to Kenevos! the amount of rides they get in limited time is waaay better than the one obtained by legs. And, having ridden many e-bikes, They are really fun. Still, at 23, I have lot of potential in my legs and in my YT Capra.
  • 1 2
 @BiNARYBiKE: I completely understand your position and if fitness is one of your main reasons for riding then ebikes are not your bag. The thing is, not everyone rides for fitness.

I’m a 45 year old with a family and my riding time is often limited. I use my KickR for fitness on top of weight training. I use my Slash for park riding or hanging with the family. The Rail comes out when my time is limited, when I simply want to ride a lot of trails or if I’m feeling sluggish for any number of reasons.

If I had a choice of only one bike, it would be an analog down country or trail bike. Fortunately I don’t have to make that sacrifice and can shred for pure pleasure on my Rail.
  • 2 2
 @ranke: yep, I love mtb for the speed and thrills on the DH. My eBike gives me that in spades. And I still have my analog bike (Slash) to roll with family and for the bike park.

If Fitness is a main priority, don’t get an eBike. If fitness is way down on your “why I ride” list then an eBike starts making sense especially if it’s a second bike.
  • 2 1
 @ranke: you keep using that word but I do not think it means what you think it means
  • 2 1
 @shralping-the-cube: not inconceivable, but sometimes I know what I'm talking about.
  • 5 2
 @BiNARYBiKE:
I think there are generally a few types of people that ride bikes:

People that suck. They are going to suck wether on a regular bike or ebike, road or mountain.

People that are ignorant. They will suck, but will learn and eventually be less so. Ebikes are an easy gateway for these types.

People who like riding bikes, but have little connection to their bikes. Blown shocks, squeaky or or dirty chains, etc. Probably do little to no work on the bikes themselves. Ebikes again will cater more to this crowd as well.

People where riding a bike creates a close personal connection between man and machine and what that machine allows the person to achieve both physically and emotionally. The person is in tune with this connection and therefor the bike is kept in tune as well. The goal is not more miles or more DH laps, the goal is to be using the bike, body, and mind as one.

P.S. I really have no issue with ebikes if the person understands proper riding etiquette, and has some underlying health issue, etc. But they are no longer biking, they are on a motorbike.
  • 2 1
 @shralping-the-cube: you’ll heal, it gets better, just keep using it. There will be days when it’s worse than others, find stuff that doesn’t hurt. I used to run ultras and ride muni like crazy, now my back is trash, so no running and no muni, but I bike all the time.
  • 6 5
 Yawn....

Go ride your bike for whatever reason gets you outside and enjoying life. People who don’t want to ride ebikes are welcome to do just that. Just quit throwing shade at those that choose a different path like you’re somehow better or pass some purity test.
  • 98 1
 Modern trail bikes in the 130-150mm range are so capable that you can conceivably do anything on them... you won't win any XC or DH races but you'll be able to have a good time on any terrain you find yourself on.
  • 20 0
 Yeah, I'd keep riding the bike I have.
  • 8 0
 Yep, the most versatile mountain bike. It climbs well, descends well, and can still huck it.
  • 7 2
 I would 100% keep my druid. Might rethink the lyrik and dpx2, but that's it.
  • 6 19
flag kookseverywhere FL (May 22, 2020 at 14:26) (Below Threshold)
 You could definitely win an XC race on one if you got the fitness
  • 14 0
 @kookseverywhere: You couldn't beat yourself on the XC with a mid-travel bike...
  • 2 4
 @kookseverywhere: depends on the XC race haha
  • 8 0
 @kookseverywhere: It is possible. Some hardcore XC guys that are just hulks on the climbs could ride a lighter trail bike and still kick the snot out of the fields.
  • 2 0
 My Jet 9 fits the bill of a perfect all-around bike for me with the trails nearby and in the NE for the most part. Hasn't been outgunned yet, isn't going to win any climbing or XC contests, but it is a fantastic all around bike. However, I did select the pennyfarthing up top...
  • 2 2
 @Arepiscopo: thats the thing isn't it -what's all around?? is it ok to good at everything but not great at anything OR great at one thing but just barely ok at others PLUS is it the frame and name or is it the components For myself it would be my next bike upgrade buy
  • 1 0
 It's not that hard to choose one bike forever as long as you don't have to use it for everything. I ride bikes 365 days in a year. I commute every single day you all will agree that Raaw v2 with mudgards, dynamo light, basket on the rear carrier, kick stand and Thule Charriot attachment is just lame..
  • 2 6
flag yonibois (May 23, 2020 at 5:44) (Below Threshold)
 Says the guy who lives in the country of babyarse smooth bike parks.
It's an inherently buggered question. It's a question of horses for courses.
Where I live we have old mountain paths made by people walking between mountain villages hundreds of years ago. They are rough and rocky, wrecked and often steep.
I doubted on the travel issue because 160 on a 27.5" isn't the same as 160 on a 29" and 1º head angle can be worth 1cm of suspension travel, but your 130-150mm would not cut it here however big your wheels were or slack your head angle.
  • 1 0
 up the ante to 160mm if you stick with 27.5 wheels.
  • 2 1
 As someone with a 130mm full sus, they still f*ckin' suck on the road.

If you bicycle commute or ride on roads with any degree of frequency a hardtail/downcountry becomes a lot more appealing. An XC whippet around 20lbs can grind gravel like a muther and if the geo is capable they can handle most terrain outside of bike parks and BC.
  • 2 0
 @rezrov: that's a function of tires, not travel. Throw some 2" slicks on a 130mm bike and over inflate your suspension and it'll keep up just fine on the road. But there's not a tire choice on earth that's gonna make a 20lb XC hardtail survivable for a bike park day or on a downhill course.

Modern trail bikes will offer the broadest range of enjoyable riding of any type of bike available today.
  • 2 0
 @rezrov: I threw a minion SS on the back of my 120mm full sus and it's not bad at all on the road. Easily my favorite back tire. I have full lockout on a remote and that helps a lot too. It isn't ideal of course but 120-130mm is the closest thing to a quiver killer their is.
  • 1 0
 @rezrov: rock razor fr&rear, 160mm w/ Volums spacers if not progressive enough, trail geometry not enduro, sub 29lb, extremely versatile. 130mm 29er sounds fun too, in same category.
  • 1 0
 @yonibois: those are some bad ass old trails in your back yard.
  • 2 0
 @rezrov:

While they aren't as good, I don't think they are as bad as you make them. Last week I rode my 160/135 Coil front and rear Stumpy with Minion DHF 2.5 from my house to the next town over's trails. This was roughly 12ish miles on a bike path. I thought I was going to be 30min plus in time from my road rides. I was within 5 minutes. 5 minutes is an eternity in a bike race, but when just riding its nothing.
Well, except that is sounds like it is enough to make people buy an ebike.
  • 1 0
 @rezrov:

Don't know why it double posted. Probably cause I am an idiot
  • 1 0
 @rezrov: I like riding my full suspension MTB bikes on the road better than my road single speed. Can jib while riding in urban landscapes. It is also more comfortable pedaling because I spend so much more time on the MTB.
  • 78 3
 Hardcore hartails, nothing else!!!
  • 27 5
 Hardtails are rad, but get harsher the older you get. Starts to rattle the bones a little much.
  • 12 1
 Yes yes yes STEEL 150mm 29er
  • 11 0
 @tacklingdummy: I definitely notice this as I get older (I'm now 46). I only have and ride a Kona Explosif hardtail and while it's pretty easy for me to stand up and absorb most bumps with my legs and arms, it's my ankles and wrists that feel the impact on rougher trails.

Whenever I borrow a full-suspension bike to use at our ski resort trails, I notice how much less beat-up I get in these two areas of my body.

Ah, aging.
  • 7 5
 I guess, if you live in Kansas
  • 6 5
 Rocks everywhere must not be a thing where you live.
  • 6 0
 @gdharries: im 53 and only ride hts, rocks roots ect. a good fork and your legs in shape to work as suspension and your all good. had a problem with my hands and solved it with new bars 11° sweep and ergo grips and its all good now. all the pain comes from skateboarding the bigger bowls now.
  • 9 0
 @brncr6: Hear Hear!!
51 and still prefer a Cotic BFe with 150mm Pike for most things.

All bikes make me feel my age these days..., and I've been riding LTHTs for over a decade, so I'd probably just stick to one of them if I had to choose. A new BFe Max would be lovely but my teenage kids don't leave the finances for that at the minute!!!!
  • 2 0
 @brncr6: you can ride a hard tail on anything. Just depends on how fast you want to go and how much fun you want to have.
  • 4 0
 Agreed! Keeping it real on my Primer 29er!
  • 3 0
 With a little more attention to line choice id ride anything on my chromag rootdown that i would ride on my enduro bike.
  • 2 0
 @gdharries: so get a full suspension
  • 2 0
 I'm an oldish guy, but the bike I just built could be the one...Ibis DV9 (HT) with Trust Message fork and 2.6" tires. I ride it more than my FS now and it is great everywhere. Downhill at high speed is like Mr. Toad's wild ride. Feels crazy, but you know it's all going to end well. Will be great on the DJ too when they finally reopen the park.
  • 2 0
 And you can chuck some road tyres on it and commute on it. You can't do that on a mid travel full sus bike. HTs are so damn versatile.
  • 2 0
 @brncr6: try 16 degree bars, I swear by them.
  • 1 0
 @gdharries: keep going ! keep digging deep! I am 44, father of 3 and doing flat marathon below 3h. I would buy ibis ripmo af as one bike for the rest of my life.
  • 1 0
 @ekho: Haha, we're basically in the same situation (mid-forties, three kids).

I've had a number of ankle injuries and surgeries - from basketball and skateboarding accidents - so that's where the pain is based on. Too much metal in there!

I like a lot of things about riding a hardtail, but sometimes a little extra forgiveness would help.
  • 50 0
 If the unicycle doesn't win, this poll is rigged.
  • 32 1
 Unicycle is, by definition, no bicycle (bike).
  • 17 0
 There's a poll? Just came for the comments.
  • 13 0
 You should be allowed to have 2 unicycles.
  • 1 0
 @kittenjuice: Nah, there is no limitation. Instead, this is the loophole. PB says you can have only one bike. You can still have your unicycles, pogosticks, skateboards, SUP boards, hanggliders etc.
  • 42 1
 Hardtail, but with a longer fork than 120. Probably a hardtail 29er, 150mm fork. Oh hey, there's my next bike!
  • 31 1
 Chromag has entered the chat
  • 5 0
 having made a change to this recently, with the current tire/rim combos, and suspension quality I forgot how much fun HTs can be.
  • 4 0
 That's what I was thinking! I spend like 70% of my time on my 130mm front hardtail but I'd want a bit more if I was to spend 100% of my time.
  • 4 0
 150mm hardtail 27.5 ftw.
  • 4 0
 @j-t-g: I just built up a chameleon 29er with 130mm Fox 34 up front and it kicks ass. Love it.
  • 1 0
 Yeah why is that not an option? Coz it's PB they hate a hard-core hardatil. It doesn't help sell bikes if people realise they could have more fun on old tech
  • 5 0
 Steel hardtail with 140/150mm Pike and 27.5*3.0 in the rear. Can take some beating!
  • 1 0
 Just built up a singlespeed Krampus a few months ago with 29x3 rubber and 130mm up front. It has quickly become my weapon of choice for nearly everything, and I have four other bikes mostly gathering dust at this point...
  • 1 0
 @cxfahrer: it's amazing how much plus tire bashing there is on this site, yet they can be so useful and so much fun in the right configuration
  • 1 0
 @underhillz: I think a large portion of it is that plus tires take a really long time to dial in properly for advanced riding. It's tough to find that sweet spot of the right tread pattern, sidewall, cornering support, suppleness, and predictability when you're dealing with what is essentially an undampened suspension product. So for many people, it actually takes a couple weeks to get the right balance of tire type/PSI and suspension setup - pairing a plus tire with a suspension fork/shock is a lot harder than a standard tire. Most people on here have either never tried them ("They're stupid and for new riders and girlfriends only hahahaha") or they demoed a plus bike once and didn't like it because the setup was completely wrong. So no wonder they're bashed pretty hard.
  • 44 6
 Fat Bike, not even close, and not on the poll. There's snow on the ground & fantastic groomed trails here for 5 months of the year. It's actually great on the trails in summer too if you get your tires set up right, and great for bike backing/load carrying/ trail work. It is conspicuously missing on this poll...you even have rigid clunker, fixed gear road bike, penny farthing, & unicycle on there. Jeez, you even have full suspension broken out by 160mm & 170mm.
  • 10 1
 Fatbike would be my choice, with absolute certainty. Without a fatbike, i would only be able to ride like 6 months a year here, so for better or worse, there no option other than fatbike for me
  • 2 1
 I was thinking the same! You pretty much just need 2 different tire sizes for the seasons. I have a rigid with a dropper and that gets me through everything in northeastern US.
  • 17 4
 Get some skis or a board for those five months. Problem sorted.
  • 1 0
 I'm probably there with you. Are we allowed extra wheels and tires? If I can switch to plus for the summer that's probably what I'd do. I'd sacrifice some speed, comfort or capability to be able to ride year round.
  • 4 0
 @samjobson: hockey skates for me
  • 7 1
 @samjobson: The problem is that I like to ride my bike and 2.x tires just won't allow it in the winter, buying the skis doesn't resolve that problem. Have the skis. Use the skis, a lot. You're comment is kind of like me suggesting you get water skis for the summer.
  • 10 4
 @UtahBrent: skiing is better than fatbiking. real biking is better than waterskiing.
  • 10 0
 @spaceofades: Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion man. Why not do both? If you had fat bike trails like we do, you would want to too. I can back country ski from my house, and still choose to ride my bike through the winter in addition to skiing.
  • 4 0
 Fatbike with Enduro build. Enduro/DH trails in snow is absolute blast, and fatties still fun in green season.
  • 2 0
 @samjobson: I have a snowboard as well as AT skis and I still thoroughly enjoy my fatbike in the winter. Become more open minded, problem sorted.
  • 3 0
 @spaceofades: Sometimes skiing is more fun, sometimes it isn't. Very much depends on the conditions. Sometimes you just want to ride. I've had some of my most fun rides on my fat bike, tell me how I'm wrong.
  • 3 0
 plus 1 on fatbike. Also since most of them can run 3 different wheel sizes, it is like having 3 bikes in 1. So we found the other loop-hole in the poll!
  • 2 0
 @underhillz: I'll give you that one actually. Often on those crusty ski days, fatbiking trails are the best they ever are.
  • 1 0
 in the end of the year I will be moving to a tropical beach town with huge dunes near it, the size of 10, 20 story buildings and hundreds of kilometers of beaches near steep mountains . Fat bike is going to replace some of my bikes for sure.
  • 1 0
 Yeah this basically a survey on what the bike industry will try and sell us next. They tried fat bikes already and it didn’t work at all so that’s probably why it’s not on the list. It doesn’t snow where I live but I’m interested to know how well these fat bikes actually work on snow. How comparable is it to regular trails on 2.4 inch tyres?
  • 2 0
 @thenotoriousmic: fat bikes are great for their purpose, but too many people jumped on the bandwagon that had no real use for them. They work great in the snow! A 26"x5.0" would be aired down to 1 or 2 psi for fluffy stuff. Groomed trails you can get away with higher pressures or narrower tires. It's a different experience. Slower, but more peaceful. It's like a magic carpet ride in the woods. Honestly, some of my most memorable rides have been in the snow on my fattie.
  • 1 0
 @spaceofades: that's the best part - fat bikes are essentially winter fun insurance policies haha
  • 1 0
 @underhillz: I’m by no means close-minded on fat bikes. However living in Oz, I have trails (and quite often dry trails) available to me year round. So I’ve just never had a need for a fat bike. The skis are supplementary to my bike for winter.
  • 2 0
 @samjobson: you're right you totally didn't sound close minded at all. The typical response "just get a pair of skis/boards for winter" is so tired at this point, and kinda silly considering I already probably ski more than they do
  • 34 1
 Obviously my choice is the 2020 bike I currently have, until of course, the mtb industry tells me it's out of date and obsolete in 2021.
  • 30 0
 I don't think they'll wait all the way until 2021 to tell you it's out of date.
  • 27 2
 KTM 350 XCF
  • 1 0
 I tried to upvote twice. My buddies all are on 350s now. I still dig the 300 2 smoke. But damn it, 350s are so smooth power
  • 1 0
 @sunringlerider: It really is between two bikes these days. 300 2 stroke or 350 4 stroke. Both are amazing on singletrack.
  • 1 0
 @Sycip69er: this is very true. Not many 450s in the woods much.
  • 1 0
 got a 2017 for sale... got a 250 xc. wanted to check out the 2 stroke experience.
  • 2 0
 That’s what moto I have.... 140mm trail bike. Best all around travel range I have ridden, and they r soooo good now days
  • 1 0
 @sunringlerider: I tried a XR650R in the woods. Ended up with a broken collarbone and a thigh that was bruised black for two months.
  • 1 1
 @shralping-the-cube:
Damn dude! Those are a little on the porky side. Not the best for anything tight at all.
  • 1 0
 @sunringlerider: yeah I know that now. didn't at the time. It was fun on wide open dirt though. and smoking harleys on the street.
  • 1 0
 @sunringlerider: but on endless fire roads they are the shit.
300 2 smoker for the woods.
  • 1 0
 That sherco 300 though..
  • 14 0
 Ti downcountry hardtail w/ a dropper post and proper tires please. Fun on most trails except the super gnar, but not a total slog if you have to pedal 10km to get to the trails, or want to go ride some gravel or go bikepacking.
  • 2 0
 I have no idea what you just said. Who are you? Are you new here? How many episodes of drop in tv have you seen? And what are your thoughts on the le toy porn king?
  • 1 0
 Hear hear
  • 2 1
 @thenotoriousmic:
- I am Maku's dad
- no not really
- a handful?
- had to google it, looks like a session
  • 12 1
 120mm XC trail because it could almost do everything, especially as I got older. I guess I would try to spread out my enjoyment over a lifetime.

Riding anything else with more travel when I’m old would probably suck.

Riding anything less right now would probably suck.
  • 6 0
 Ditto. I figure an XC hard tail could get me around a lot of single-track, but it would also be reasonable as a commuter and a dirt road touring machine.
  • 1 0
 I'm torn on this. I love my GG Trail Pistol, but it's not perfect.

I wish it had more space for a large frame bag, and clearances for 275x3.2 (for sandy bikepacking). I also wish it were lighter.

I always lust after a Moots Mountaineer or Appleman Monstercross. Something versatile and super light, but then I get rowdy on my Trail Pistol and realize I don't think I could deal with a hardtail as my one bike. They just beat me up too much.

Something like a Nicolai Saturn 11 "Plus" with big clearances would be rad, but made in the USA. Maybe out of titanium or carbon. 26lbs would be acceptable. Burly enough to get rowdy, light enough to ride all day. Throw in some wheel size options. Yea, I could deal with that bike for the rest of my life.
  • 2 0
 Sort of similar. A longer reach, modern geometry full carbon XC or "downcountry" full sus (has to come with a dropper) would see me right. I do a lot of riding on the road to get to work, but would want something I can do it all on forever. It's hard to consolidate fast commuter, full sus trail bike, XC hardtail while keeping myself from getting battered to pieces when I'm 70. So that would be perfect because I could call it a "quiver killer" and be simultaneously hated by every single kind of mountain biker as well as roadies. Should do this anyway, it's like living the dream.
  • 18 4
 The Grim Donut
  • 1 0
 We aren't allowed one until the future. :-(
  • 8 0
 To be awkward, I'd say 130mm, as long as it's slack enough for the downs, enough seat post for the ups and light enough for the road commute. Change the rubber for commutes and weekend shreds.
  • 7 0
 being out on bikes is fun, enduro is sweet for fitness and a fun day in the woods with friends, but nothing beats the feeling of riding a world cup dh bike to me. as impractical as it is a lot of the time, nothing is more fun to me than bombing down trails on a world cup spec dh bike and I'm unwilling to give that up.
  • 3 0
 PREACH
  • 3 0
 Gotta be a DH bike for me really, already done 20 years riding with them, and got plenty of riding done!
  • 12 1
 Doctahawk does not appear to be on this list
  • 2 0
 No hard tails over 120!? Who put this list together?
  • 8 1
 After a few years any broken parts on a full suspension are discontinued, see it all the time, broken at weld on chainstay, rocker link cracked, try get a replacement part 3 yrs down the road, therefore hardtail with 140mm fork.
  • 6 0
 for all you young bucks, here's a glance into your future:

I'm turning 60 and this week I'm picking up a 130 travel trail bike, with 150 fork. The group I ride with are mostly older than me, and a hell of a lot fitter. The bike of choice, by a huge margin, is the Trance 29er. No enduro bikes, no hardtails.
  • 1 0
 Word. I see a lot of long distance bikepacking records being set on short travel full-suspension bikes as well. Stuff like the Niner MCR, Barry Wick's Drop-Bar Hei Hei, and numerous other full-suspension oddities prove that you don't need a hardtail to go fast anymore. Modern geometry and durability improvements allow short-travel full-suspension bikes to get rowdy and they are a hell of lot easier on old joints when ridden long distance.
  • 7 0
 DJ all the way! Makes a driveway fun. Cheap to keep running. Can commute or ride dirt. Not ideal for anything other than fun, but fun is all I want...
  • 11 1
 Obviously a Peloton.
  • 5 0
 I think the only correct answer is the Rocky Mountain Instinct. Without changing the frame, you can run it 125mm, 140mm, and 155 out back and pair with anywhere between 130mm and 170mm out front. Unlike a shitload of bikes these days, it can take an angleset, and between the ride-9 options, the provided headset spacer, and offset bushings there's a metric fuckton of options that all work well on that platform.
  • 1 0
 sold me
  • 5 0
 There's a lot of people on here who don't commute any distance to work (or are absolute beasts) as ~5800 out of ~7800 chose a 140mm to 170mm full-suss as their only bike ever!

If you use a bike to commute 200km per week, for general transport, to have fun on mellow trails in the winter and also hit the Shore and Whistler in the summer, surely the only bike that will do all of those reasonably well (OK, won't absolutely suck at any of them) is a 130mm, averagely-geo'd, 29" hardtail with ~2.4" semi-aggressive tires?
  • 6 2
 My YT Capra is my lord of the rings 'one bike to rule them all' steed of choice. It takes me DH/ XC/ FR/ and even took me on a bike pack adventure multi day epic riding the whole South- West Coast path (North side).
Does fackin everythin i enjoy about riding.
Job done.
  • 4 0
 A lightweight fat bike with a suspension fork, utilizing a seasonal change of tires and chainring for dirt and snow. It can handle green/blue/black trails on dirt, tracked/groomed snow, plus go on any road imaginable (albeit not fast). Bikepacking and/or touring as well? Add bags and/or a BOB trailer and away you go.
  • 8 0
 Elliptical bike
  • 3 0
 Back in the day we only had one bike each. Fully rigid Rocky Mountain Blizzard. I used that bike for everything from North Shore shredding to multi-day bike-packing to every day commuting. Put some Tioga city-slickers on it and it made a very serviceable road bike. These days I am pretty happy to have a nice full-suspension mountain bike and a dedicated road bike tho. Which one would I pick if I could only have one? It would definitely have to be the mountain bike!
  • 2 0
 @Skooks you and I must be the same vintage. I'd never consider having more than one bike back in the early days. The hardtail was my XC race, trail, enduro, commuter and gravel bike. Or maybe I was just broke.
  • 4 1
 i've been raised as an xc racer, and always had an aggressive xc bike. I recently built up a gorgeous megatower cc with code rsc, xo1, reserve 30, super deluxe ultimate and a lyric ultimate in 170mm. I can ride up anything, and ride down anything. I do long days on the bike, with tons of climbing, and it works. I'm not gonna win any xc races on it, but i could for sure ride it for the rest of my life.
  • 4 1
 I would like a hard nose with 300mm rear travel. A 36in wheel at the back with a 20" wheel at the front. Just to make sure there is total stability i would like very steep angles, no dropper post and a 150mm stem and a 400mm wide bar. A plastic frame made out of recycled lego for extra strength. For braking power i would like drum brakes. For ultimate grip it would be best to have have solid moulded tyres with a slick tread and a 1.5 inch width. For the ultimate gear change a Sturmy Archer would finish off the build of all builds!!
  • 1 0
 Just take a road bike.
  • 4 0
 I didn’t see FS fatbike. My Bucksaw isn’t
my favorite bike in the quiver, but most versatile. 26x4” fat, 27.5x3” plus & 29x2.3 if I choose so- all w/ same
hub spacing and fork. Literally a Swiss Army knife...
  • 1 0
 +1 for Bucksaw love. So poppy and playful, tt really shines for me in mixed conditions and shoulder seasons
  • 3 0
 Not going to be the most popular or well liked bike but the bike I have now my Scott Genius 710. With the twinloc remote I can fully lockout the suspension, switch to traction mode 120mm front and rear and fully open at 150mm front and year.

With XTR and Carbon frame, handlebar, seat, and wheels my bike is 26.1 lbs with pedals and sealant.

This can do days in the park (swapping to bigger nobbier tires), do some aggressive trail riding, hang on the XC trails or do those long epic ride days.

One bike that does it all and I'm happy with it.
  • 2 0
 I don't see a Surly Fat Bike on there. It's the most versatile bike out there. It can do literally everything, from aggressive singletrack to relaxed rides on the boardwalk to transcontinental bikepacking trips to trips to the grocery store. Load it up. Strip it down. Ride it fast, ride it slow. Ride it where everybody else rides, or ride it where nobody else dares to ride. Tow all of your possessions across the country in the aftermath of the apocalypse. Ride it in the dirt, sand, snow, mud, hardpack...hell, float it across a river! Use it to do yard work. Ride with the wife and kids. Durable? What's more durable than a full rigid steel frameset? Suspension? Just lower your tire pressures. Quick on the pavement? Just raise your tire pressures. I think you see where I'm going with this. My choice for a forever bike is definitely, no questions asked, a Surly Fat Bike.
  • 2 0
 Which one?
  • 1 0
 @Rageingdh: I ended up buying a 2021 Ice Cream Truck. Built the 29+ wheelset for it last night. I'm looking at all my other bikes, wondering who will be sold first!
  • 1 0
 @scotthainstock: That’s awesome brother trucker. I just bought an icecream truck from buysell this morning. Susposed to ship tomorrow. I didn’t buy a new one as I was holding out for a prickly pear. I think I got a good one. I hope it doesn’t make me wanna sell my other bikes lol.
  • 10 4
 WHERE IS THE CYCLOCROSS OPTION?????
  • 8 4
 I couldn't agree more! Nothing beats a cross bike on singletrack for a sketchy and wild time!
  • 4 2
 @BigLips93: luxury! Try unicycling
  • 3 0
 Is gravel grinder the same as cross? I do see that on the list...
  • 3 0
 @buckeye74: Splinting hairs, but cross bikes usually have narrower tires, higher BB, shorter reach and wheelbase vs gravel bikes. Gravel bike is like the long, low, and slack version of a cross bike.
  • 3 0
 @dthomp325: I believe the term is "progressive"
  • 3 0
 My cross bike is a racer a gravel dancer a midnight ....joker...who sure don’t want to hurt no one....
  • 7 5
 Since "standards" keep changing, I gave up on MTB a couple of years ago and now I just have a DJ bike which I use as a free ride lead sled. It is quite tedious but I guess it works. I believe a 150mm Hardtail would be the ultimate shred machine, alas, no option given.
  • 1 0
 Oh man, I do love my ex-"Sick" Marino bike. Aggressive Hardtails are such a blast, haven't ridden my FS enduro much since I've gotten that bike...
  • 2 0
 @Kainerm: I built a very (like really unbelievably) cheap trail hardtail, then after my first ride out on it realised just how over biked I was on my 150/170 full sus. I sold it so I could put some money towards some better forks for the HT.
  • 1 0
 @alexhyland: I am this || close to getting a battle hardtail, I just need to find that one part to get it all started
  • 1 0
 @FrEeZa: haha in my case it was everything but the frame (including old Marz MX forks, xt crank, pair of elixirs and some wheels - halo front, xt/Dt Swiss rear) for £3 at local recycling centre. Then a dented 08 Trailstar frame on eBay for £25. Boom! Best 30 I ever spent!
  • 5 0
 I have a 170mm Specialized Enduro and it works pretty dang good on everything but the gnarliest of uphills.
  • 2 0
 29er hardtail, aggressive geometry, adjustable travel front fork(150-170) w lockout. It would have an ultralight 100W pedal assist-similar to the ones that cheating racers use. I could commute, ride all my trails, and when I hit my 60s/70s use a little extra umf
  • 2 0
 Is over-forking or mulletting allowed? 130(140) 27.5 rear with both 130(140)29 fork and 160(170?) 27.5 fork could do a lot.

If only one fork but mullet & over-forking is in, then 130 27.5 rear with 150-160 29 front is the king
  • 2 0
 Can I have multiple wheel sets? I'd go with a 29+ hard tail with a titanium frame, 67-degree HTA, 3" rubber, 130mm of travel, and a dropper post for trail riding and rough bikepacking. For commuting and road touring, I'd swap the wheels for a gravel set. I love mountain biking, but I also love bikepacking, so I want something that could do both.
  • 2 0
 170mm full suspension doesn't paint a clear picture when you're talking about a Scott Ransom Tuned. It should have its own category.

Currently building one frameset up with all the best / most Gucci parts, mullet style.

It should be sub 27lbs (12.25kg), may end up weighing 26.5lbs (12kg)... maybe less. It's a pretty ridiculous build.

So that's my choice.
  • 2 0
 Where's the hardcore hardtail option? I kinda had a trial for this scenario when travelling fir work 4 months USA, 6 months Israel). I chose my On One 456 with 160mm fork. It can do all the trails you want, but also works as your daily commuter bike. Would recommend.
  • 2 0
 i didnt see steel long travel hardtail... like my doctahawk!!! sure there are tools for specific styles of riding but this one does it all and is a blast.. 180mm travel hardtail that can climb with the rest of them and descend anything my big bike can..
  • 2 0
 As a long time biker, all genres, nearly fifty years since I first spun a crank, I find the ebike voting kinda sad, but you can’t just ignore it.

So I really doubt that young people are forward thinking enough to want an ebike before they need it and I doubt this site is full of geezers, so it must just be the way of the world; more couch potatoes.

I’d be really interesting to break out ebikes by country.

I would rather dumb down my climbing than ride an ebike ... and that’s with a Pivot Shuttle parked in our garage; it’s my wife’s bike.
  • 1 0
 I dont ride my hardtail alot. Actually ride my FS the most. Road bike 2nd, hardtail last but not least. Bueaty is I can ride the hardtail anywhere I ride ether of the others, trail, commute, road, even the occasional bike path with my wife! All it really needs is two sets of tires......hmmm.....could have saved alot of cash!!!! Ha ha
  • 1 0
 My son and I where chatting this up in the garage yesterday. You should have had a option for a rowdy hardtail with a 140/ 160 fork option. As much as I love jumping on my squish bike after fall, winter hard tail rides, my Rootdown is always a reliable and amazingly fun rally car ride that always brings on a smile. I don't think I would call a relaxed geo 120 front hardtail as well. Two steads in the shed Trophy Truck 29er and Rally car 29er. Thanks Pinkbike for all the fun articles, coverage, and Taj's comic strip art on Sundays. You put the party in pandemic, and made the news I choose to read more enjoyable.
  • 4 0
 I would choose an aggressive hardtail for sure. I'd be more than happy being stuck with my Chromag Rootdown forever.
  • 2 0
 A gravel grinder would be rad. so versatile in all facets of life. Can still go get sketchy on the trails and make runs to the market and around town comfortably. I vote unicycle
  • 2 0
 Gravel Grinder is not really right for the Salsa Fargo, but thats the most versatile bike, for doing nearly everything, even with a 100mm fork, and you can do everything, trails, commuting, hauling.
  • 1 0
 I've got a fully rigid Fargo that I use for touring, bikepacking, and commuting. I'd like something with a bit of travel, a dropper post, and a slightly slacker head angle if it were my only bike because then it would be less terrifying on techy trails.
  • 1 0
 Niner MCR would be a rad "one bike", but it's severely limited by it's lack of tire clearance. A "MCR Plus" with ability to run 275x3 or 29x2.6, now that'd be sweet.
  • 4 0
 I'll take my endurbro 150mm hardtail anyday. But seriously why isn't this an option???
  • 6 0
 Aggressive Hardtail
  • 4 0
 Oh man I just stood up and everything went snap, crackle and pop. Can I change my answer to eMTB duallie please.
  • 2 0
 If I have to ride it for the rest of my life, I'd like the option of a "grey grouch" titanium fatbike with a belt drive, so I can stealthily ride it down the stairs and out of the local retirement castle.
  • 1 0
 140mm hardtail 295 mullet for life!!1 Actually in a few hours I'll be testing this combo on my beloved Banshee Paradox that I've been blasting rear wheels on for the past 8 years. Had a few spins around town so far that took our relationship to a whole new level! xD
  • 7 2
 E bikes for life. 180 travel f/r. And you can be lazy.
  • 3 2
 Yep. Tough to not go with the Canfield balance or the Yeti sb 165 (...and dammit Jim, I'm a teacher not a dentist), but nothing beats the Kenevo. 30 years of mtb and never had more fun on a bike in my life.
  • 1 0
 Cannondale Habit. 140/130 stock, loves a 150 fork, and the Habit 1 (carbon rear has more clearance) is also great long shocked (high mode) at 160mm front and 143 rear. All one bike, two shocks,and a couple length air shafts..
  • 1 0
 I have a lightweight enduro with 170f and 160rear, which pedals like a hardtail, but i choose my single speed roadie for this. It is the most comfortable bike ive ever ridden. Feels like a hot knife on butter. Despite having 30 mm tyres, it somewhat damps every little thing on the way and feels so smooth!! It also accelerates and cruises effortlessly.
  • 1 0
 Heh, right now I have 2015 Canyon Torque DHX 26" size M next to 2016 Yeti SB6 27.5 L size. That enduro rig has like the same head angle, same bb height and its still faaar longer, weights a half of the dh rig and can smash the same stuff in same speed. Easy for me to stay with one bike
  • 1 0
 last year I would say my current 29er with 150/140 and not very progressive geo but recently I'm more and more into my lovely gravel one - hard choice. Gravel is ok for easy singletrack, road, city, backpaciking, CX. Not for enduro but I do enduro (endurish) like 5 times a year so maybe I could rent each time.
  • 1 0
 Even though I know how capable modern trail bikes are, I'd still take the 170mm enduro beast. It might not be the most playful but I would be fairly certain that it wouldn't hold me back like, ever. I'll be able to enter some DH races as well if I'm lucky enough.
  • 1 0
 Wow. People chosing 140mm trail full suspension and 160/170mm full suspension, clearly have never used their bikes for long distance travel on pavement. Or for a full day commuting. This shows they only use their bikes on the mountains.
  • 1 0
 Let's talk about brand and model. I'm curious. What would you ride if you could only own one bike? I think the bike I would own would be something could be ridden downhill but also in dirt jumps, pumptracks. Pretty low standover and short seat tube length, moderaye geometry, 26 or 27.5. 140-f 130r travel. Heavy duty tyres but semislick in the back. Wide range cassette.
Long travel dropper. Very light but also very strong... They used to make bikes like these in the past: the bottlerocket, dmr bolt, corsair konig.... A fun machine...Like an all around 4x full suspension bike but with all the new improvements in geo, materials and kinematics. What's similar nowadays? A 5010 maybe?
  • 1 0
 I have a 140mm FS bike and I only ride that for the past 8 years - yes I've ridden the same bike unlike most people who'd go for the latest bikes out there after 1 or 2 seasons. If my bike goes, I was thinking about anything that's 140 - 160mm in travel. However, after trying out full suspension eMTB's during demo days, that kind of change my way of thinking. If I'm going to spend at least $5K for a bike, I might as well look at an eMTB. With age, I'm not sure how my physicality will hold up in another 5-10 years. With the eMTB, you're still getting a bit of workout and for sure you're keeping up with the younger guys who are physically stronger and faster. eMTB is the future - at least when you start to get older or if you're dealing with long term injuries!
  • 2 0
 130/140mm rear + 150-160mm on front
29" inch or 29/27.5 mix will be best choice for anyone
as you can see in tab that is true!
  • 6 3
 My ex wife. She was a real pain to live with, full on “Karen” everyday but man could she ride.
  • 6 0
 Yes your right about that Smile
  • 3 0
 Yeah she does.
  • 5 1
 Where the hell is the FAT bike option ? ;-)
  • 3 0
 170/180 Enduro with an extra wheelset für climbing or touring. At least I will stay fit.
  • 6 4
 Since I'm pushing 50 and they are talking about 'for the rest of your life', the full suspension eBike option sounds like a solid choice to me.
  • 10 6
 Full sus ebike, assuming I was actually allowed to ride it on trails.
  • 1 0
 Majority of epic trails in Cali have to be poached, so not much of a transition legality-wise here.
  • 1 0
 Hardtail 29er with a 120 or 130 mm fork. Either Ti or steel. I'd also have a rigid fork for it and a two sets of wheels (light/XC ones and heavier every day wheels). I've actually thought about it this a lot.
  • 2 1
 After putting a few rides in on the new Tallboy I can safely say that I would be fine riding only this bike for the rest of my life. Only when paired with a 140mm fork up front though.
  • 4 0
 You are all wrong. All of you.
  • 1 0
 I do all my stuff in my 170 mm bike,2 ply tires. Commuting is slow but a I can do whatever I want. My road and commuter bikes are good bikes,but not very fun to ride. From DH to commuting in the same bike,it is winner to me.
  • 4 2
 It's an eMTB and I already have it. Norco Range VLT. Sold my DH bike last month and my trail bike last week. There's no other answer.
  • 4 0
 There is nothing my Chromag rootdown and 160mm fox 36 cant ride.
  • 3 0
 If it were an eMTB of the future that weighs 35lbs I'd go with that, but 140mm trail bike has it.
  • 1 0
 Something like Canyon Torque. A friend of mine rides it as all around bike. Good enough for downhill track in Indonesia and He still can ride it on more of enduro/am trail
  • 2 0
 Had to vote 120mm hardtail, 120xc/trail FS was a close second. Ideally it'd be a semi aggressive 140mm steel hardtail with sliding drops for SS.
  • 1 0
 My Mach 6 rides so well that I choose 160mm. For smoother trails I just give the shock a little more pressure to 20% sag and it's great. For big country days, back to 30% and it rips. Great design.
  • 3 3
 Ebike for life - I”d turn power settings up as limbs are switched out for robotic arms and legs. Eventually I’d be some kind of cyborg riding a full suspension ebike. At this point we could really question if ebike is human powered or not?

Ebike are future if you don’t like em go ride a stinking horse haha.
  • 2 0
 I will soon be a TRUE LEGEND OF THE SPORT. Thanks PB! I accept the compliment.

But I don't think my wife is ever gonna believe it
????
  • 1 1
 This poll says " for the rest of your life" , so despite all the hate for E-Bikes, the only logical answer is a full suspension E-bike because that will be the only kind of bike you will be riding if you want to stay in the game once you get older. By then E-bikes will so so light ( probably just as light as your bike now) and will ride like every other normal bike, but with an added boost when you need it to make up for deteriorating lung capacity etc...all the stuff that comes with age.
So despite the hate, If you are truly a mountain biker that likes to shred with the fast crew, but your 60 and they're 30.....E-Bikes all the way. I know there are some older dudes (and dude-ettes) that are really damn fast still, but I'm talking average people here.
On a side note, I don't have an E-bike and I don't plan to get one in the next 5 years, but I do recognize that it will be an inevitable transition if I want to keep riding at the same level into my late 50's, 60's...and beyond. There's a lot of years left to ride after retirement, and I'm planning to spend that time ripping it up as best as possible, using the best tools available to me at the time. That will be a full suspension E-Bike
  • 1 0
 I've recently done just this, ditched all the full sus frames bought a HT Kingdom Vendetta X2 UK spec and I'm loving the simplicity. A quick fork & wheel change when I want to mix it up. Highly recommended.
  • 1 0
 my honzo st I built up a few years ago, its always fun to ride, I have ridden it at whistler and had fun and once rode it in a 24 hr race, where I also had fun. Its my first pick for most rides.
  • 7 5
 Don’t necessarily like ebike but I cannot see myself pedal up unassisted at 70 Years old
  • 2 0
 I just turned 73, still riding unassisted (Orbea Oiz TR). I'm more cautious than I used to be (broken bones don't heal as fast anymore), but I can still manage mid-pack Strava times up and down, and I'm still having fun. I'm lucky to have a great group of "vintage" folks to ride with (at least before the virus hit). Probably not a candidate for an e-bike any time soon, although I've ridden with some and have no issue with them.
  • 1 0
 Am I allowed to have a shuck pump? My enduro bike has been taking care of me on XC rides through quarantine with the suspension pumped up super stiff
  • 6 3
 Whichever holds the most water bottles.
  • 2 0
 As good as my 2020 Mega 290 climbs has me thinking I could get along with it on some long days for the DH reward.
  • 4 1
 No point trying to have just one bike simply because they ALL break
  • 3 3
 For the rest of my life? Probably a 130mm 27.5 trail ebike (yes I said ebike) with modern geo so that I can still ride when I’m old and keep up with my kids as they get faster.
  • 2 0
 Uh, really, I just can't do it. BIG BROTHER needs to just assign me a Bike for Life, and then I'll live with it.
  • 3 1
 70 is 20 yrs away! :-(......
Not wanting to pedal much @ 70yrs old.
Ill have to go with the motorbike, so hate away......
  • 4 1
 So ... 180mm full suspension is not an option anymore?
  • 3 0
 Enduro Hardtail with 140 - 160mm Fork, nothing else.
  • 3 0
 I can't click on multiple options. Something's wrong with the survey!
  • 3 0
 Santa Cruz 5010, 130mm full suspension
  • 1 0
 Well actually with this economic virus apocalypse thing I allready asked this question myself some time ago... And felt so blessed to be on a Ripmo... Riding all.
  • 2 0
 120-130mm is the sweet spot for me but something like a Scott Genius is probably what I would pick it I did more park.
  • 2 2
 Let’s be honest and downvote me ir you want. But if “rest of my life” involves getting old with the same bike I’d ride today, then I pick the e-mtb option, as much as I dislike them now.
  • 1 0
 My Fully Rigid Singlespeed. I've raced all my XC stuff on this bike and gravel events like D2R2, The Mid South, etc. This bike can do it all.
  • 3 0
 no option for 150-170 hardtail... what?
  • 2 0
 A 26er with today’s geometry which I suppose would include boost hubs by default.
  • 2 0
 I don’t see it on the choices, but it’s gotta be a fat bike because it’s the only ride I can use all year long.
  • 1 0
 Hope Pinkbike will do the same survey every once in a while (maybe every 5 years). I am curious how our perception changes with new techs and hypes.
  • 3 0
 I can't believe a "Your Mom" isn' on the list.
  • 1 0
 Singlespeed with relaxed xc geometry (Honzo). Go ride 100 miles one day and hit the bike park the next day. Low maintenance and smiles for miles for me!
  • 3 0
 it wouldnt be a bloody 29er of that im sure
  • 1 0
 Yeah right, I bet most people in the 160 travel option would choose differently once they where in their 50s and 60s. It did say for the rest of your life....
  • 2 0
 I had to look up what penny farthing was.. it appears to be the ultimate mullet.
  • 1 0
 The current generation Nomad is what I've been waiting 20 years for.. a downhill bike I can pedal. I'm already on my 'rest of my life' bike!
  • 1 0
 i'll probably stick with my old Kona Bass Single Speed forever. So DJ? SS? 100mm dual suspension? Slope style? either way, the new bikes do not interest me at all.
  • 1 0
 My bike now is a 170mm hardtail, with a dropper post. I figure I could ride all disciplines poorly on it, including in winter, if need be.
  • 3 1
 Who are the other 2 Klunkerz? Let's roll!
  • 1 0
 Me: Obviously you wouldn't put rear suspension on a bike you expect to last 50 years.
Pinkbike: Hold my pivot bearings.
  • 1 0
 The rest of my life may be a while but I think a trail bike will climb better as I age. Hence the 140mm full suspension.
  • 1 0
 Currently on a Pole Taival 29 but I could be happy with a Stamina 140 for a loonnngggg time.
  • 2 0
 I wish I could be happy with one bike!
  • 2 0
 where is a Standard "rigid" Option?
  • 6 4
 150 to 170mm e-mtb for sure.
  • 3 0
 crf450rx
  • 3 0
 No 150 option.... lol
  • 2 0
 My 180 / 180 Slayer isn't an option?
  • 3 1
 Where is the 140mm full sus penny farthing option?
  • 4 1
 Penny farthings are the real mullet bikes
  • 2 0
 Why the 140? Y’all realize that won’t last on long park days?
  • 7 0
 Y'all realize not everyone has sick bike park setups at their doorstep?
  • 2 2
 @DownhillDoozy: Yeah I do, but almost everyone has, or will make the pilgrimage to one in their life.
  • 1 0
 @samslichter: So everyone should ride a big bike around their tame local trails in the off chance they're going to make a pilgrimage to bike park? Y'all take too many slams in the bike park?
  • 1 0
 @underhillz: This poll isn’t about what bike would best suit your local trails. It’s about what bike will allow you to ride everything you would ever want to. You will literally never be held back with a 160 or 170 enduro bike. Not exactly true of a 140 trail bike, and that’s coming from someone who has ridden, and broken, multiple trail bikes in the park. 170 may not win ya XC races, but a 140 bike fills no large scale racing category.
  • 2 0
 Tandem, the rest of your life is a LOT of work
  • 2 0
 I reject the premise of the question!!!!
  • 2 0
 Wow I'm a small minority. Can I get a shoutout from the other DJ riders?!
  • 1 1
 It’s cuz your young, you’ll get over as you age. The poll is asking about a forever bike for all uses, I’m pretty sure a DJ would suck for any ride longer than a half mile ... but there’s a bonus, you won’t have to worry about carrying water, cuz your car is parked a block away Wink
  • 1 0
 @nurseben: Hah I wish! Im 38. Yeah who knows, maybe when I'm 60 it'll change. But if HAD to ride one thing forever I'd say give me a nice 6 pack of dirt jumps!
  • 3 1
 Its pretty clear that PB has been taken over by overzealous xc wankers.
  • 2 0
 130mm 29er with a 140/150mm fork.
  • 3 1
 I'd ride a Grim Timbit (hardtail version of Grim Donut) forever.
  • 4 1
 A pedal bike.
  • 2 0
 SANTA CRUZ HIGHTOWER V2, best bike ever made!
  • 1 0
 A lot of people here riding to work on Enduro bikes just tearing through $70 tires
  • 3 1
 Hardtail with 140mm suspension made of steel please
  • 3 0
 What... No E-Bike???
  • 1 0
 2020 Specialized Enduro with Lyric fork and Push 11 6 shock and wide seat ....Ergon grips
  • 2 2
 Anyone not choosing the ebike is essentially consigning themselves to own a ford model T for the rest of their lives. Embrace evolution.
  • 1 0
 Ford Thunderbird or a Chevy Nova
  • 2 0
 full squish fat bike, with 5 different wheelsets
  • 2 0
 Tandem bike with Bruni steering !
  • 1 0
 I would have done 140mm but i like racing dh so i'd probably run a 160mm travel bike with a dual crown fork
  • 1 0
 Short travel trail bike. More specifically, a Norco Optic or SantaCruz Tallboy.
  • 2 0
 A bmx! Then I could still get parts that fit 2 years later
  • 1 0
 my 2019 stumpjumper, 140 rear, 150 front, with that "conservative " geo, is pretty much all I need
  • 1 0
 remember you came into this world on one gear.... your favorite gear! You can only ride one at a time,........
  • 1 0
 Steel Rigid 29'er Adventure Bike with flat bars. Super versatile. And, at least a 2x Drivetrain.
  • 1 0
 They failed to include the 160mm forked steel HT I would ride so I said unicycle.
  • 1 0
 Hardcore Hardtail definitely a missing option, @BTRfabrications Ranger fits the 120mm hardtail option though \m/ Big Grin \m/
  • 1 0
 None of the above. I'd quit riding and go back to running only if I could only choose one bike.
  • 2 0
 Fatbike
  • 1 0
 Where the long forked, steel hardtail option?
  • 1 0
 Rigid clunker w/ coaster brake
  • 2 0
 Surly Krampus
  • 1 0
 The one I’ve got... where was that option?
  • 1 0
 140-150mm rear travel with 160-170mm fork
  • 1 0
 I ride in the uplift, then shred on the way down..
  • 1 0
 Single speed voters...who hurt you?
  • 2 1
 Full suspension slope bike
  • 2 1
 Ride a yeti sb100. Unbelievably capable
  • 1 1
 We're probably thinking different categories when talking capability...
  • 1 0
 @benmoosmann: Nope, we’re talking 1 bike, Unless you’re riding park or full on downhill the SB100, in the hands of an experienced rider, is unbelievable.
  • 2 0
 dirt jumper forever Smile
  • 1 0
 Easy answer. The one that takes me down to the beach
  • 2 0
 160mm shore hardtail
  • 2 0
 Downcountry FTW!
  • 2 0
 A Scott Ransom
  • 3 1
 "Yo mumma"
  • 1 0
 Frankly i would probably take the Top Fuel.
  • 1 0
 Thought about that aswell. It would probably even survive the bike park. The question is just for how long.
  • 1 0
 I’ll take my rigid insurgent..... erry day !!
  • 2 1
 Why is "Your Mom/Mum/Dad!" not an option?
  • 3 0
 Your mom is always an option.
  • 2 1
 Fully rigid dirt jumper. No brakes. Simplicity
  • 1 0
 97 rocky mountain soul with bombers. My DH and xc race bike in one
  • 2 1
 I want to overfork that hardtail, then we are talking.
  • 2 0
 My bike
  • 1 0
 Santa Cruz 5010 V2 for life (maybe).
  • 1 0
 Gotta respect the 70 people who want a unicycle
  • 1 0
 5 speed Schwinn Lemon Peeler
  • 2 1
 WHERE IS MY f*ckING CHROMAG?
WIDEANGLE for everything!!!!
  • 3 2
 YT Decoy, fun when young or old. Everyday is 3k day.
  • 1 0
 Santa Cruz Blur. 23 lbs and jumps like a beast
  • 1 0
 BTR 26 Dual position RS Pike Hope Shimano XT
  • 2 0
 Tallboy 4 all day
  • 3 2
 Fat bike option please.. :-0
  • 2 1
 Hardtail dh bike 170mm+ travel
  • 1 0
 No option for a 29+ rigid? That's my choice.
  • 1 0
 WHERE TF IS THE FREERIDE BIKE?
  • 1 0
 Either super grountain or mini down country for sure
  • 1 1
 Luckily I have more than 1 bike and don't have to answer this pole - which is a bit ridiculous market research.
  • 1 0
 I have two bikes. The enduro bike which I also ride dh with and the dirt jumper. The big bike is big, easy to climb with, confortable, forgiving, fast...but not as fun as the dirt jumper I can easily 360, whip, manual...which apart from that is an useless machine. I sometimes go ride everyday as far as possible, sometimes I just want to play in the surroundings: a pumptrack, a curb, a little natural step up or kicker or even a big rock. Sometimes I'm in serious doubt of which one of my bikes I want to ride the most at that time. For me, both are esentially made for the same: fun, but now I want things as simple as possible. I dont want to play two different games, double the gear, double the bike costs and maintenance, double the tricks or skills needed, divide the experience... I think unless you are too keen on a very particular discipline, you can have everything in one bike, like a custom made suit. I don't feel like this perfect bike that suits me like that has been desinged yet, but I think I know in my mind how it would be. I see kade edwards, logan peat, semenuk ride a bikepark in their full suspension little dirt jump bikes, doing tricks all the time, looking like they are having mad fun and then I wonder...couldn't this bike be ready to be padalled uphill without losing so much fun factor???
  • 2 0
 Hardtail, 140 fork, 29er
  • 1 0
 Unicycle with 152 mm of travel and a free hub body. That's the future
  • 1 0
 Have you ridden a coaster hubbed unicycle?

It’s hard as f*ck, and I’m an expert muni rider.
  • 1 0
 Bike manufacturers now you know! Keep working!
  • 1 0
 Geometron G1 with a dual crown.
  • 1 0
 Fat bike and nothing else.
  • 1 0
 140-150mm trail bike works for me Smile
  • 1 0
 Not a lot of dirt jumpers Frown
  • 1 0
 Easy, 140mm trail bike. Literally the bike for the world.
  • 1 0
 If only one bike, I'd want something practical
  • 1 0
 Had to or could ride.......
  • 1 0
 170, age is not the obstakle, also 140 bike currently same as 170
  • 1 0
 I love that 4x more people prefer unicycles to road bikes ahah!!!
  • 1 0
 Rigid clunker w/ coaster brake FTW
  • 1 0
 Kona Hei Hei with a large fork. FOR LIFE!!
  • 2 2
 If having fun is the goal then, there's only one answer EMTB.
  • 7 7
 The eMoped answers are just trying to troll everyone. Don't fall for it.
  • 1 0
 No
  • 1 0
 Too late
  • 1 1
 Pivot Firebird all the way
  • 1 0
 Hahaha. My husband asked me my response to this poll question, I said "I choose my Firebird and suffering"
  • 1 0
 But in reality N+1.
  • 1 1
 no love for commuter ebikes?? tough crowd.
  • 1 0
 clash or torque
  • 1 0
 Kona Process 134
  • 1 0
 150mm Rear Travel 29er!
  • 1 1
 11-140 fox talas 29er hard tail
  • 1 0
 110-140**
  • 1 0
 Nike Air Coil.
  • 1 0
 full sus 160 ebike FTW
  • 1 0
 In terms of weight
  • 1 0
 A Big Wheel.
  • 1 1
 Ripley.
  • 1 3
 CrossDuro reverse mullet or GTFO
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