Shootout: Trailbikes for the rougher side of the mountain.

The trailbike category casts a wide net over the mountain. It can include anything from sub- 25-pound carbon fiber creations to 32- pound downhillers in disguise. There are amazing $5000 trailbikes and good $899 trailbikes. We corralled five popular trailbikes designed to handle the tougher trails on the mountain. These bikes are for riders who live for the downhill and technical sections and are therefore willing to pedal a little extra weight up the hill. That weight, they feel, is a fair trade-off for grippy tires, serious brakes, thru-axle forks and components that don’t mind being roughed up. Our five bikes retail for around $3000, so while you won’t find a carbon fiber frame among the group—and only one that uses carbon fiber stays— that price allows these bikes to be built with quality components that should need little, if any, upgrading. The MBA wrecking crew approached this like all of our bike shootouts. Each bike was ridden over an extended period and put through the paces on familiar test loops. Once that portion of the test was completed, we threw them all into Big Red and headed for the OK Corral (in this case, Space Mountain in Newbury Park, California). Judgment day. Each bike was ridden on a circuit and graded in 12 categories. When the dust had settled at the end of a very long day, we had an overall winner. Now we can tell you exactly which of these bikes is best for what you want to do.

Giant hit on a great thing with their Maestro rear suspension design. After years of struggling with different systems that all had issues, Maestro is so versatile and trail ready that it can be found on everything from their cross-country race offering to their long-travel trailbike. Its application on the Reign 1 is purely organic. It looks like the bike grew out of the system.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

Giant has an advantage over everyone else in this shootout because their frame tubes come from material made in their own forging facility. This proprietary aluminum alloy is claimed to be 30 percent stiffer than traditional 6061-series aluminum. The Reign uses an oversized, tapered head tube and fork steerer tube; you won’t find a gusset on this frame. The tube set is engineered to eliminate the need for them.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?

Giant delivers the goods in this sub-$3000 package. The Fox 32 Float RL fork has a 15QR thru-axle matched with a Fox Float RP2 Boost valve shock with XV sleeve (that stands for extra volume). The drivetrain is handled by Shimano SLX components, and braking power comes from Avid Elixir 5 disc brakes. The cable routing is intelligent. DT Swiss wheels are wrapped with Kenda Nevegal tires. If you have a wish list of components you want to upgrade to, we bet it reads a lot like this bike’s spec sheet.

WHAT DID THE CREW SAY?

• Tires may be too wide for some, but they add to the aggressive feel.
• This one gets the plushness award.
• Front end wanders a bit on steep climbs.
• Quick handling, yet stable at speed.

• The rougher the terrain, the better this bike performs.
• Bars are narrow for this kind of riding.

• Rear end stays active under braking.

• This thing is noisy.

• Giant-branded components not on par with others.
• Kenda Nevegal tires getting long in the tooth.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

Slap a chainstay protector on the bike. That should quiet the rear end a bit. A wider bar and something like ODI or A’ME grips would be a nice addition to the cockpit, as would a slightly more trailbike-oriented saddle. Converting those wheels to tubeless will shave a little weight and eliminate tube pinching.

BUYING ADVICE

The Giant ranked number two in the descending skills category, and isn’t that what this class is all about? Of course, you have to be able to get to the top of the mountain, and the Giant was second in that category too (although second to another bike). The only things hurting the bike’s overall score were noise, the cockpit spec and tire selection, all of which are easily remedied. If you look at the two most important categories—climbing and descending—and can live with or improve the weak spots, you’ve got a winner.

GT Force 2.0

The least expensive bike in our group, the GT Force 2.0, certainly doesn’t look cheap. It has major curb appeal, with a frame devoid of sharp edges and enough bling to hold your attention long enough for the salesman to lift the wallet from your rear pocket.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

While most of the frame tubes are hydroformed, a close inspection of the top tube reveals it is a monocoque construction (in essence, two shells welded together). An aluminum- shell gusset is used to add strength to the downtube where the main suspension pivot and seat tube join. The rear suspension is GT’s “Independent Drivetrain,” and the company has increased the system’s strength and rigidity by employing a forged I-link. Up front, you get an oversized, tapered head tube.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?

The GT is the only bike in the shootout to come with an adjustable-height seatpost (the X Fusion Hilo), and it comes with the remote lever on the handlebar to actuate it. Other features include a WTB Devo Comp saddle, GT co-molded Lock Down grips and meaty Maxxis Ardent tires. The SRAM Matchmaker clamp is a welcome addition, as it coordinates the Avid brake lever and SRAM shifter, giving the bars a clean look.

WHAT DID THE CREW SAY?

• Love these tires, but GT doesn’t leave any room to go bigger.
• Getting the rear wheel on and off is a real pain.
• The suspension feels harsh, even running with 30-percentsag, and then it has a tendency to blow through its travel when hitting hard.

• The X Fusion post hung up and got noisy.

• The stem is a good length, but watch the stem cap, deadly sharp.
• The seatpost’s saddle clamp moved under hard G-outs.
• Give me a riser bar, please.

• Adequate climber that carries its weight well.

• Head angle feels too steep, and that hurts descending.
• Rear end rides high. I couldn’t get a balanced feel.
• It feels like a 4-inch-travel bike while climbing—and descending.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

We would remove the X Fusion Hilo seatpost rather than put up with its flaws. It gave us trouble pretty quickly (hard to lower, very slow to return, noisy, and it didn’t do a great job of clamping the saddle. Getting the front end higher with the addition of a riser bar would go a long way toward giving this bike a more balanced feel. Get rid of the stem cap before you bleed.

BUYING ADVICE

The GT Force 2.0 couldn’t hang with the gang on the descents and was only ahead of one bike on the climbs (and that other bike won the downhill race). The GT Force 2.0 tries to offer something for everyone and, in doing so, never knocks it out of the park in any one category. It pedals in limbo between lighter-weight trailbikes and more gravity-oriented offerings. Once it makes up its mind about what it wants to be, we will be more comfortable suggesting it to a certain rider. Until then, it is for the rider who can’t make up his mind.

The Specialized Enduro Comp

While the other bikes in this shootout all make concessions to appeal to a broader range of riders, Specialized took another approach. No concessions. Specialized believes that job one for a bike in this category is going downhill as fast as possible with the most control. Meet the Specialized Enduro Comp.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

The Specialized Enduro Comp uses fully manipulated aluminum alloy ORE tubing. The rear suspension is Specialized’s own FSR-patented system that rocks on sealed-cartridge bearing pivots. A one-piece forged rocker adds rigidity to the rear suspension. The frame has an ISCG mount and a replaceable derailleur hanger. There is not a single gusset on the frame, resulting in the smoothest and cleanest lines of the group.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?

The Specialized is the only bike in the shootout to run a 20-millimeter front axle. Specialized uses their clout to get their suppliers to customize off-the-shelf components for the Fox shock, SRAM crankset and Avid brakes, and even the DT Swiss rims get some type of Big S massage. The bike sports a chainguide roller and chainring bashguard. Cable guides are supplied, should you want to add an adjustable-height seatpost. But what really stands out is the bike’s clean profile. It looks like something is missing. Everything tucks in, and the graphics are held to an absolute minimum. This is a beautiful mountain bike.

WHAT DID THE CREW SAY?

• Capable of handling most downhill runs at bike parks.
• Small compared to other medium-sized bikes.
• You will pay your dues climbing the Enduro.

• Covered so many of my mistakes while descending.
• The ProPedal is a welcome feature for climbing.
• Rear suspension remains active under braking.
• Wish for more adjustment on the fork.

• The Enduro deserves a season pass at the local bike park.
• I’ll survive the climb to have this bike under me on the descents.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

Every crewer desired a fork with more adjustability. That’s about it. You could convert the wheels to tubeless just to get rid of the tubes (and pinch flats). Performance wise, the tires were spot-on, tubes and all. An adjustable-height seatpost on the Enduro would be great.

BUYING ADVICE

Only one bike got a perfect score (20) in a riding category. It was the Specialized Enduro, and the category was “descending performance.” It took a hit in climbing and pedaling along the trail, but that’s probably why it won the downhill category. If you are looking for a good all-arounder, the Enduro is a little too focused on the prize at the bottom of the hill. If you live for descending, live it up on the Enduro.

The Trek Remedy 8

Trek has paid their dues on the World Cup gravity circuit, on the slopes of Whistler Mountain Bike Park and in Southern California’s bone-dry, rock-embedded terrain. The result is the Trek Remedy, a bike capable and competent on any trail it gets ridden up
or down.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

This aluminum masterpiece uses hydroformed 
tubes, and there are no gussets, except for one 
hydroformed gusset at the top tube/seat tube junction
used to add strength on the larger-sized frames. Trek uses their one-piece Magnesium EVO Link. The shock is not attached to the frame; it moves between the EVO Link contact and its attachment to the chainstay. Trek calls this their “Full Floater” design. The rear end pivots on Trek’s Automatic Braking Pivot (ABP). Of course, they give you a tapered head tube too. One final note: Trek gives custom frame builders sleepless nights by offering five frame sizes: 15.5-, 17.5-, 18.5-, 19.5- and 21.5-inch seat tubes matched with 21.7-, 23.1-, 23.6-, 24- and 25.2-inch top tubes, respectively.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?

The shock is Trek’s proprietary DRCV (Dual-Rate Control Valve) Fox shock. It is like two shocks in one. A smaller air chamber controls the spring rate until the bike encounters a bigger hit. A plunger opens the secondary air chamber, turning the shock’s air sleeve into a large-volume sleeve. Up front you get a Fox fork with the TALAS system, so you can drop the fork’s travel with the twist of a knob. ISCG (International Standard Chain Guide) mounts make it easier to go for a single-ring crank and bash guard.

WHAT DID THE CREW SAY?

• Rockets out of the corners.
• Rear braking is so smooth.

• Suspension remains active under braking or pedaling.
• Rear suspension is very linear.
• Rear suspension feels bottomless.
• The tires are the limiting factor on the downhills.
• This bike is so fun to work down a twisty trail.

• Leans a little closer to cross-country than the others.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

When shopping for your Remedy, check the components so you know what you are getting. Our bike was off spec. According to Trek, Avid Elixir 5 brakes, Shimano SLX derailleurs and Bontrager XR3 are stock, but substitutions were made due to availability issues. Chuck the tires. Every ride report identified them as a limiting factor in cornering performance and pure down- hill enjoyment. A wider bar would be a nice addition. And while even the crew is split on this, a number of them wondered aloud how much a 2x10 drivetrain would enhance this bike.

BUYING ADVICE

Read between the lines. The tires killed the Remedy’s chance for the top podium spot—and you know how easy it would be to change those. Trek had less money to spend on some components in order to bring you the DRCV shock and the fork’s TALAS feature, which we never used. All this is easily addressed, and it won’t set you back a lot of dough. Would we recommend this bike to a close friend? We already have.

The Yeti 575 Enduro

The Yeti 575 Enduro is the David of this shootout. The other four bikes are Goliaths from multi-million dollar companies or publicly traded conglomerates that make bikes for every
one from 3-year-old Betsy to hipster commuters on fixies. Yeti, the little Colorado company on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, better take perfect aim with their slingshot to have a chance against this group.

WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?

The Yeti’s frame is hydroformed 7005 aluminum with a tapered head tube, internal cable routing and a direct-mount front derailleur. Yeti throws in ISCG-05 mounts. Things change up in the rear where carbon fiber is substituted for aluminum. Gone is the asymmetrical rear triangle of old in favor of a more traditional and cleaner-looking design. The rear dropouts are Yeti’s chip system, which allows the rider to choose between a number of rear-axle configurations.

WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?

The Yeti 575 can be built from four build kits. We chose the Enduro kit, which is designed for riders for whom versatility is a priority. Before you call foul, because this is a kit and the other bikes are completes, you should know that most shops will assemble the bike at no extra cost. The components are stellar. All of them. There are no shortcuts or compromises. This bike is right, right out of the box.

WHAT DID THE CREW SAY?

• Wheels feel light and shine on the uphills.
• Best tires of the group.
• How do they get this fork and shock on the bike at this price?
• Proves single-pivot rear suspension has plenty to offer.
• Feels more like a high-end bike.

• Used the ProPedal feature to get up the climbs.
• Balanced and confident everywhere.
• Gives up a little on the descents and makes up for it everywhere else.

TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?

This bike is so versatile that an adjustable-height seatpost would be a good investment. You’d feel the difference right away. Other than that, go tubeless and go have fun.

BUYING ADVICE

The Yeti was one of only two bikes that scored a perfect 20 in a single category. That category was “overall spec.” Like a kiss from your sister? Yes, but looking at the scores shows the lowest mark was a 14 and most were in the 17- to-18 range. This was the most consistent performer of the group and the most well rounded. Turns out little David’s aim is lethal.

THE SCOREBOARD

1^st Place: Yeti 575 Enduro: The worst score the Yeti received in any category was 14 out of 20 points. Solid scores across the board earned this bike first place. Even before the scorecards were turned in, it was obvious from the riders’ faces that they loved the Yeti. This is a great trailbike that delivers a blend of performance none of the other bikes could touch. The Yeti is the only bike that didn’t use company branded components, and in the end, that is what sealed the deal. Whereas the other major brands had to use in-house components and tires that hurt their score, Yeti was like a rider in the world’s biggest bike shop who could pick and choose the best parts for the job at hand.

2^nd Place: Specialized Enduro Comp: Specialized lucked out on this one by splitting the votes with their downhill-oriented trailbike. While the bike earned low scores in categories like pedaling and climbing performance, it left the other bikes in the dust on the descents, where it earned the perfect score of 20. Many of the crewers commented that the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR EVO would have been at home in this group and
 far more versatile than the Enduro. Still, if you are looking more for a gravity bike than an all-arounder, and if you shuttle to some of your rides or if you frequent bike parks, bump the Yeti and move this to the top of the list.

3^rd Place: Trek Remedy 8: Four lousy point separated the Remedy from the Specialized, and it is obvious where those points could have been made up: tires and components. Trek has to use their company-owned Bontrager branded tires and components, and that hurt them. This is not news to Trek. They have hired tire guru Frank Stacy to improve the tire line, but it is too early for the Remedy to feel his touch. Slap on your favorite tires, replace the 11 score with an 18 or 19 and guess what? You have a score that would have moved the Trek within striking distance of the Yeti.

4^th Place: Giant Reign 1: What killed Giant’s chances for a breakaway win is that you could hear the thing coming up on you. Yes, the clanking of the rear end sealed fourth place for this otherwise great trailbike, which was a single point behind the Specialized in downhill performance. The Giant-branded components also robbed the Reign of valuable points. Wrap the chainstay in a pad to silence the chatter and revamp the cockpit and you would have a real challenge separating the top four bikes.

5^th Place: GT Force 2.0: The Force couldn’t hang with the others in the all-important descending category, where it never felt like a long-travel trailbike. It earned the most points in tire selection and drivetrain performance, but it earned mediocre scores everywhere else.

Reprinted from the October 2011 issue. Like us on Facebook