Welcome to the 2021 Field Test: Trail & Enduro Bikes

The modern mountain bike is an incredibly versatile machine that, depending on a few factors, is probably far more capable than whatever category name we're using to describe it. That's certainly accurate of the cross-country weapons we reviewed last time around - who knew that 100mm could work so well? - but it's even more true if we're talking about trail and enduro bikes, with many becoming so well-rounded and competent that the lines between them can get a bit muddy. Want an EWS-winning bike that won't feel like a lead sled during your all-day missions and huge climbs? Not a problem in 2020. Looking for a short-travel trail bike that won't kill you while you're trying to chase your long-travel buddies? Yup, there are definitely some of those around as well.

With so many able to do so much, the right thing for us to do was get a whole bunch of them to review; five are trail bikes with differing takes on what matters, while the other five are more likely to be seen at an enduro race or lapping the bike park.







How do we decide which bikes to include? While there are no set-in-stone rules, the list needs to have a combination of interesting, important, all-new, or notable checked off, with all ten of our contenders meeting some or all of that criteria. Yeah, we know the bike you wanted to read about isn't here, but we'd rather get to know ten bikes real well than only scratch the surface of what twenty are all about.



While it might seem like the most ambiguous category, you might also say that the name says it it: To be a trail bike, they shouldn't have any issues riding most trails. Within reason, of course - they don't need to feel cross-country efficient or enduro capable, but it doesn't hurt if they're not far off. And some of the newest examples do exactly that.












Nothing beats back-to-back testing and that's mostly what the Field Test is all about, but with Corona keeping Mike Kazimer in America and from joining me in Squamish, this cross-border edition of the Field Test was always going to be a bit different. There's a bit less shit talk because of that, but one thing that hasn't changed is the timing we do; the clock was running nearly every time a bike went out, letting us separate feelings from facts on the climbs and descents.





Our timed sections were representative of the bikes' intentions, too, with the enduro and freeride rigs facing some serious terrain under Kazimer and the trail bikes not far behind up in Squamish, BC. Yes, I'll always lean towards subjective feel and hastily scribbled post-ride notes over what the clock tells me, but it's neat to see those impressions backed up by cold facts. And especially because timing is one of the last things we do.

One of the first things we do, however, is put all the bikes on matching 'control tires' to try and limit the variables we're dealing with. After all, we want to know how the bike handles and how its suspension performs on equal terms, not on a set of tires that may only last a few months into you owning the damn thing before putting something different on. We decided on Maxxis' Assegai and DHR II tires for the enduro bikes, both with EXO+ casings (Double Down wasn't available in time), while the trail bikes all wore a Minion DHF and Dissector combo with the same casing and sticky compounds. Of course, that'd all be a waste of time if they weren't always inflated to matching pressures.




Aside from swapping to identical rubber, all ten bikes were tested in completely stock form, including the cockpit, seatpost, and any other components. That said, there's a big difference in stock spec between some of our test rigs, with more than $4,000 USD separating the priciest from the least expensive. That's why we focus on overall handling and performance, and also why it's likely that future Field Test series will include some sort of reasonable-ish budget cap.

I mean, are you really surprised when the $12,000 bike is awesome?

NOTE: This year's wide range of prices is thanks to limited availability—everyone is struggling with their supply chains right now, so getting bikes with more evenly matched price tags wasn't possible. That said, we've struggled with pricing every year in the Field Test; brands understandably want to give themselves the best chance at a positive review, so they insist on sending Bezos-priced bikes. That's why next year we're going to implement a hard cap on pricing for each Field Test. I don't know where we'll set that limit yet, but it'll be low enough to make the product managers' jobs harder. We want to actually evaluate their choices rather than just having every bit of unobtanium thrown at the one we try.



It wouldn't be a Field Test without a dash of bro-science in both directions from the Impossible Climb, Efficiency Test, and the ever anticipated Huck to Flat. As always, Jason Lucas sent all ten trail and enduro bikes, but you'll have to wait until the end of the Field Test to watch it. Who doesn't want to see these bikes use their travel and then a little more in some Phantom-powered slow-mo pornography?

And if you care at all about what happens on the way up, this year's Impossible Climb proved itself to be literally impossible and we wouldn't have it any other way.





With borders closed, travel suspended indefinitely, and it certainly not being the time for group fun, the 2021 Field Test was a bit different than previous editions. So instead of our usual all-encompassing fall extravaganza, this year's was put together by a pared-down video and photography team consisting of Jason Lucas, Max Barron, and Tom Richards who were charged with doing more with less.

As usual, those three did many times the work that Kazimer and myself were tasked with, from riding and filming with a 40lb camera bag all day to then spending all night editing. It's a ton of work, but we all had fun putting these videos together and hope everyone enjoys them. A special thanks also goes out to Ty Deschaine for handling the filming in Bellingham.

Stay tuned for the first Field Test video review that goes live tomorrow, followed by so many more over the coming weeks!


Previous Welcome to Field Test Articles
Welcome to the 2020 Pinkbike Field Test
Welcome to the 2020 Pinkbike Field Trip - Value Bike Edition
Welcome to the 2020 Pinkbike Field Test - Cross-Country Bike Edition

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Reviews and Tech Videos Field Test Enduro Bikes Trail Bikes Actofive Giant Ibis Norco Propain Rocky Mountain Salsa Specialized Trek