THE 2024 MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARDS

Just when you might think that the sport of mountain biking’s evolutionary curve is flattening, manufacturers find new ways to raise the bar and make the riding experience even better. The bikes and gear we reviewed in 2024 were not just better than ever; there were more that truly wowed the wrecking crew.

YETI ASR

We expect a lot out of Yeti because of its legacy and more recent track record of producing some stunning bicycles. What we didn’t expect was for the brand to throw its hat back in the hard-core cross-country race arena after a lengthy hiatus and do it as well as they did with the ASR. Not only did they shave grams in every place possible, like the rear axle and linkage, but they also gave it very progressive geometry that made us rethink what an XC bike is capable of. Even test riders who haven’t lined up for a cross-country race in over a decade thought about giving it a go again after riding the ASR, because it’s that good.

IBIS RIPMO

We picked the Ripmo as the best all-mountain bike in its class—not just because it’s fresh in our minds from the recent review, but because it’s just so darn good. Significant refinements have brought the former enduro bike to the pinnacle of all-around riding. It climbs, it descends, it dances, and it smashes. And it does it well regardless of its rear-wheel size and with a new look that everybody loves. The icing on the cake is the best downtube storage system to date.

SCOR 2030

We had difficulty parting ways with SCOR’s 2030 trail bike. It combined lightweight, efficient, and snappy climbing characteristics with aggressive geometry and plush suspension to make it feel more akin to a miniature enduro bike rather than a traditional short-travel trail bike. Climbing everything from technical singletrack to steep fire roads was handled without a second thought, like a longer-travel cross-country bike, yet it settled into its slack geometry and felt quite stable on fast and flowy descents, jumps, and when pushing through rock gardens—to an extent. SCOR’s 2030 was a short-travel weapon that really impressed our test riders and uniquely stood out among the many trail bikes that are out there.

YOSHIMURA CHILAO SS PEDALS

Flat pedals come in a wide variety of styles, but Yoshimura’s Chilao has been a staff favorite since they were first introduced. They come in two sizes, feature customizable pins, have a seemingly perfect concave shape, and have a durable axle assembly. This year, Yoshimura elevated their pedal game yet again with the SS version, which has a new axle system with an even more robust bearing system and technology that eliminates play and protects them from impacts like no other. The body has the same great features and feel, but it’s even lighter than before. The only problem? They’re almost too pretty to ride, so that first scratch hurts a bit.

FOX 36 GRIP X FORK

We have been fans of Fox Racing’s 36 fork for quite some time, and the latest iteration with their all-new GRIP X damper takes its performance to the next level. Engineered specifically for all-mountain riding where climbing efficiency and descending performance are prioritized, the GRIP X damper has a dual-compression lockout for grinding climbs and a simplified rebound knob that makes setup and adjustment easier. The sweeping range of high- and low-speed compression adjustments gave us an effective range to let us truly dial in the fork’s performance and feel deeper in its travel, and the small bump compliance on chattery trails was impressive. To us, the Fox 36 GRIP X fork is the ultimate all-mountain fork and provides a unique balance of efficiency and versatility.

PIVOT SHUTTLE AM

Pivot’s founder and CEO, Chris Cocalis, gets excited about every bike they release, but he had a special gleam in his eye and enthusiasm about the Shuttle AM. After just one ride, we understood why. Even among some truly great bikes in its category, the Shuttle AM has nuances to its ride feel, suspension, and handling that make it feel lighter and livelier than it should on paper or any bike in its class. Even though it’s simply superb at pumping the rollers and popping off jump lips, it can still be a plow in the rough when called upon. Throw in Bosch’s amazing Race spec drive unit option, and you have a bike that rules both the uphills, downhills, and everything in between.

ROCKSHOX FLIGHT ATTENDANT

When Rockshox first released the Flight Attendant in 2021, the electronically activated suspension was really good and made some trail bikes pedal better. Still, it wasn’t until they released the second version and applied it to cross-country that it became great. The new system’s way of manipulating the suspension based mostly on power output is a match made in heaven for cross-country riding and racing. Electronic suspension is still evolving, but the latest version of the Flight Attendant from Rockshox is ahead of the curve.

ONEUP COMPONENTS V3 DROPPER POST

When one of the most popular and reliable dropper posts on the market (and an MBA staff favorite) got an upgrade, we knew it was going to be good. The third iteration of OneUp Components’ dropper post sheds weight to a level that it’s now one of the lightest out there, and the lever takes even less force to operate with less of an on-and-off feeling. Its short stack height combined with a multitude of travel options make it everything we could want in a dropper post.

NORCO RANGE VLT

When Norco released its 170mm-travel Range VLT electric mountain bike, it looked like a total beast on paper with a high-pivot suspension design, 180mm-travel fork, aggressive geometry, and a powerful Bosch drive unit. Let’s just say that it didn’t disappoint out on the trail. We reviewed a lot of long-travel enduro-style ebikes this year, but none smashed through the rough and steep like the Norco. And, if that’s not enough, it pedals uphill amazingly well for such a gravity-oriented bike. If your idea of the perfect eMTB ride is lapping your favorite downhill trail over and over again, look no further than the Range VLT because it’ll put a smile on your face every time.

OZARK TRAIL RIDGE

When we thought back on the year and all the great bikes we tested, one kept standing out in our minds for all the right reasons, and that’s Walmart’s Ozark Trail Ridge hardtail. For less than most mountain bikers pay for a single component, new riders can get into the sport in a way that was previously unattainable at a sub-$400 price—and in a fun way. Unlike previous “department store” bikes we’ve ridden, the Ozark Trail delivers an experience on the dirt that’s exciting and enjoyable. We think this bike—and hopefully more to follow—will create a gateway to mountain biking for more people than ever before.