All-mountain bike test 2023: 6 touring MTBs up to 3300 euros in comparison
Jan Timmermann
· 22.03.2023
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Category All Mountain | Spring travel 140 to 150 millimetres | Price range up to 3300 Euro
BIKE tests - Contents
Test: 6 all-mountain bikes up to 3300 euros
(Click to go to the individual rating)
All Mountains: all-rounders of the bike world
Nomen est omen: All-mountain bikes are considered the all-rounders of the bike world. With 140 to 150 millimetres of suspension travel and a modern, long and flat geometry, you can master any trail. At the same time, the perfect all mountain should remain agile and be able to take on a wide variety of touring challenges. After-work ride, trail transalp, bike park detour or weekend tour? In theory, an all-mountain is always the right companion and not a specialist for just one particular niche. The ideal case would be a capable all-rounder at a favourable price. But does this really still exist today, especially for a maximum of 3300 euros?
More expensive & heavier: All mountain bikes today
For years, we have been receiving emails from readers expressing their displeasure at increasingly expensive and heavy bikes. We can't blame them, because thanks to their wide range of use, all-mountain bikes are the perfect introduction to the sport for many and, in our eyes, don't just have to be fun on the descents. If you're not just looking for a bike for shuttle rides, but also want to get on the trail, you'll benefit from a light weight. On average, our test bikes weighed 15.81 kilos including pedals. In the 2017 comparison test, the predecessors of all current candidates were also represented, with the exception of YT. Back then, the average weight was 14.33 kilos and all bikes cost less than 3000 euros. By comparison, all-mountain bikes in this weight class in 2023 usually cost € 5000 and more. The heaviest bike in 2017, the Rose Root Miller 2, is now the lightest in our test. In 2023, the reality is that bikers won't be able to find a really light all-mountain within the set price range. Seems like everything was better in the past.
Not by a long shot! The extra 1.5 kilos are invested in wider cassettes, more stable tyres, stiffer suspension forks and, in some cases, larger wheels and better frames. The geometries of the current all-mountain generation allow for more speed and riding fun downhill. It goes without saying that the components should keep up. But where is the pain threshold for an affordable all-mountain bike? At 16 kilos ready to ride? With Canyon, Focus and YT, half of the test bikes break through this limit and are particularly painful on steep ramps.
However, we must take up the cudgels in favour of the manufacturers: The entire test field rides much better than it did six years ago. In fact, all the bikes put in a good performance. A heavy bike doesn't automatically have to climb badly - as long as the rear suspension remains drive-neutral and the gearing is right. If the combination of efficient, steep seat angle and riding position works, you can reach the summit even with a 16-kilo bike. Only those who want to take their all-mountain bike on extended trail tours or even a transalp should consider the following before buying Weight tables study. The flatter the terrain, the more important good acceleration is. Heavy bikes quickly feel sluggish here. Small riders should also consider the bikes in relation to their body weight.
Good equipment - even for little money
What can all-mountain bikers expect for three grand today? The good news: telescopic seat posts, tyres with good grip and suitable cockpits can also be found on affordable bikes. The frames from Focus, Giant, Specialized and YT have a flipchip on board that can be used to fine-tune the geometry. In terms of equipment, the mail-order companies Canyon, Rose and YT usually offer a lot for the money. Their bikes feature powerful four-piston brakes and potent forks. The Focus package, with complete Shimano XT equipment and solid suspension elements, also matches the price.
However, the Giant loses valuable points to the competition due to its simple equipment. A pity, because the frame platform offers potential. In our last all-mountain comparison, the carbon version of the Trance X even emerged as the test winner. Then there's the Specialized. Although it has the lightest frame and even scored the most points overall, at 3900 euros it exceeds our price range and is therefore out of contention.
The comparison also shows that you don't necessarily have to expect better equipment for a surcharge of 600 to 900 euros, as only the Giant is worse equipped than the Specialized. A look at the manufacturers' product ranges reveals whether it is really worth investing more money or even choosing an even cheaper model. We have put together a list of cheaper and more expensive alternatives below.
Across the entire industry, it is a fact that prices have risen since the start of the coronavirus crisis. However, it would be wrong to claim across the board that bikes have become constantly more expensive due to inflation and economic chaos, as the 2023-generation all-mountain bikes we tested only keep up with this to a limited extent. Since the introduction of the current model, Focus has raised the price of the tested model by 100 euros, Specialized by 150 euros and Canyon by as much as 200 euros, but the prices of Giant and YT have remained stable. Rose has even lowered the price tag of the Root Miller 2 by 200 euros in the wake of the recent reluctance to buy. The fact that economic uncertainty prevails in the bike industry is also evident in the test field of affordable all-mountain bikes. Customers can win just as easily as they can lose. It has never been more important to compare.
High power density: Giant gives away test victory to YT
In our Points table the test candidates are extremely close to each other. Nevertheless, they ride very differently in some cases. While both the Canyon and the Rose suffer from a somewhat squat riding position on tours, the difference in overall weight and wheel acceleration in favour of the Rose is clearly noticeable. Although the position on the Focus fits well, the bobbing rear end with a lack of support and the excessive weight make you sweat on the climbs. The equally heavy YT takes a middle course, showing little suspension influence when pedalling, but also hardly any forward momentum. The combination of riding position and drive neutrality is best suited to the Specialized and Giant. Both can stand out in the uphill classification and are also recommended as touring bikes despite their less high-quality equipment.
Downhill, however, the Giant has to let the much better-equipped competition go and thus gives away any chance of winning the test. The Rose offers good riding characteristics without extremes, but loses points due to its weak suspension. The same applies to the Focus. On demanding trails, the expensive Specialized reaches its limit earlier than the competition due to less suspension travel reserves, but secures the riding fun crown thanks to its uncomplicated handling, even in slow sections. Meanwhile, the YT only really blossoms at high speeds downhill. Canyon provides an expert for steep, technical trails. With an extremely slack head angle and plenty of travel at the front, the Spectral can even hold a candle to some enduro bikes on the descents.
Even with an affordable all-mountain bike, you are well served in almost every bike situation. The entry-level models are particularly fun when they are supported by gravity. Especially in the lower price categories, manufacturers have specialised their all-mountain bikes more and more towards downhill riding. The result is bikes that have touring under control, but are masters of the downhill trails. The fact that a specialist and not a generalist emerged as the winner of our comparison test also shows how this category has changed over the years.
All-mountain bikes up to 3300 euros: Conclusion of the test
A good all-mountain bike doesn't have to be expensive. Successful geometries and capable suspension are also available for 3000 to 3300 euros, while low weights and a high-quality equipment package are unfortunately not available from every manufacturer. In the end, the YT Jeffsy secured the test victory on points thanks to its strong downhill qualities and good equipment at a bargain price - but only just ahead of the even more specialised bikes from Canyon and Focus. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE tester
The points: 6 all-mountain bikes in comparison
The heavy bikes from Canyon, Focus and YT lose points on the climbs, but can make up for it with strong downhill performance. Giant and Rose show the exact opposite picture in practice. Only the more expensive comparison bike from Specialized scores a lot of points both uphill and downhill.
Stiffness of all-mountain bikes in comparison
YT achieves the highest stiffness. The Specialized frame is also stiff in relation to its weight. The Focus is stiff, but also heavy. Giant offers the lowest values.
Wheel inertia of the All Mountains in the test
Thanks to slightly narrower tyres, the Rose benefits from low wheel inertia. The Focus and Canyon wheels are difficult to get going.
Weights¹ of the all-mountain test bikes
Only Rose remains under 15 kilos with pedals. The Focus frame and wheels are particularly heavy. This makes it almost a kilo heavier than the YT.
How BIKE tests
BIKE tests all bikes and most components in its own test laboratory. Many of our test stands were developed by the Zedler Institute for Bicycle Technology and Safety. The measured values from our laboratory flow into our complex points system together with the findings from the practical tests. This allows us to determine finely graded differentiations between the individual products. In co-operation with the Zedler Institute for Bicycle Technology and Safety, we are constantly developing our measurement technology to keep pace with product development in the bike industry.
As part of our Ride Green campaign, we are now also checking the ease of maintenance of the bikes tested. The focus is on the frame. A traffic light in the test letter provides information on how easy it is to change the cables/cables, how easy it is to replace a headset or bottom bracket bearing, how well the frame is protected against damage and whether there is a universal derailleur hanger.
Equipment: tips for all-mountain bikes
Despite their high downhill expertise, all-mountain bikes should still be suitable for touring. This equipment achieves this balancing act.
1 Chassis
Modern all-mountain geometries allow a lot of speed downhill. To fully utilise their potential, a fork with stiff 35 or 36 millimetre stanchions is recommended. A switchable platform on the shock is advisable to prevent bobbing. Shocks with an external reservoir dissipate heat better and offer more consistent performance, especially on long descents.
2 Drive
A wide gear range is required for good touring capability despite the high weight. The 454 per cent of the Sram SX/NX Eagle is the minimum. More - as with Shimano's SLX/ XT or Sram's GX Eagle - is better. Chainrings with 30 or 32 teeth allow all-mountain bikers to conquer even steep ramps.
3 Wheels and tyres
On rims with an inner width of 30 millimetres, all-mountain tyres are set up nice and wide. A tyre with good grip is a must at the front, while a lighter rolling model with good puncture protection is also suitable at the rear.
4 Brakes
Four-piston brakes are now standard on all-mountain bikes. To ensure sufficient heat dissipation, the disc diameter should be at least 200 millimetres at the front and 180 millimetres at the rear.
5 Attachments
Tours without telescopic stabilisers are unthinkable today. Depending on the size, the adjustment range should be at least 150 millimetres. Short stems of around 50 millimetres and wide handlebars of around 780 millimetres ensure direct steering and a high level of control on descents.
Cheap or expensive: alternatives to all-mountain bikes in the test
Better is the enemy of good, they say. In the manufacturers' product ranges, all-mountain bikes between 3000 and 3300 euros are usually on the second rung from the bottom. A look at price and performance reveals worthwhile alternatives.
High frame and wheel weights make for heavy bikes in our test. Carbon frames lighten the corresponding models by around a kilo, but also cost at least 500 euros more. On the trail, good suspension components are more important than the last gram. Here we show worthwhile alternatives to all-mountain bikes up to 3300 euros - some are more expensive, others even cheaper.
Canyon Spectral 29 AL 5
PRICE: 2499 Euro
WEIGHT: 16.2 kilos
If you mainly ride downhill and are on a budget, it's hard to avoid the entry-level Spectral model. The Koblenz-based mail order company equips the downhill-oriented aluminium frame with a Shimano Deore drivetrain at an absolutely competitive price. Although this puts pressure on the scales, it works well. The powerful Fox Float X Performance damps at the rear. At the front, a Fox 36 in the most favourable Rhythm version is used. If you want an identical chassis with a carbon frame that is almost 900 grams lighter, you'll have to shell out 3699 euros at Canyon.
Focus Jam 6.0 LTD
PRICE: 3999 Euro
WEIGHT: 15.7 kilos
Although you can get into the Jam family for as little as 2699 euros, Focus only offers the most basic equipment. The 8.8 model comes for 3899 euros with a carbon frame that is almost 500 grams lighter, but is also stingy when it comes to suspension and drive components. For 100 euros more, you can get the limited edition 6.0 model made of aluminium with significantly better equipment. These include wide DT Swiss wheels, a Sram GX Eagle AXS wireless drivetrain and a Rockshox Lyrik in the highest quality Ultimate version. The weight remains high even on the more expensive models.
Giant Trance X 2
PRICE: 3999 Euro >> available here
WEIGHT: 14.8 kilos
Giant only offers a more expensive alternative to the Trance X 2 that we tested. The € 3999 1 model is equipped with proven Fox performance suspension, Shimano SLX drivetrain and Shimano Deore brakes. The cheapest carbon model won the BIKE test last year, but at € 5399 it now costs a hefty € 300 more than back then - with a Fox 36 Rhythm fork and Shimano SLX drivetrain, it's anything but a bargain. On the other hand, the carbon frame is around a kilo lighter than its aluminium counterpart.
Rose Root Miller 2
PRICE: 2299 Euro >> available here
WEIGHT: 15.3 kilos
Beginners get a good deal with the basic model of the Root Miller. The favourable spec is comparable to that of the Giant Trance X 2 we tested, but costs 1000 euros less at the mail order company Rose. At the time of going to press, the Bocholt-based company even had the Root Miller 1 with dropper post on offer for € 1999. It doesn't get any cheaper than that. The equipment of the € 3899 top model Root Miller 3 leaves nothing to be desired with Fox Factory suspension and Sram X01/GX Eagle drivetrain. Rose does not offer an all-mountain bike with a carbon frame.
Specialised Stumpjumper Comp
PRICE: 5000 Euro >> available here
WEIGHT: 13.7 kilos
The Americans are not known for cheap bikes. The entry-level Stumpjumper model with aluminium frame is available from 2800 euros. However, the product managers reached right to the bottom of the shelf when it came to equipment. The cheapest carbon model costs 5000 euros. For this, there is a customised geometry with shorter chainstays and a storage compartment in the down tube. The equipment with Fox 34 Rhythm fork and Shimano SLX drivetrain lags behind even the cheaper competition. Nevertheless, the high-quality carbon frame saves almost 1.2 kilos.
YT Jeffsy 29 Core 3
PRICE: 3999 Euro
WEIGHT: 14.4 kilos
YT has made a big price jump from the Jeffsy Core 2 tested to the Core 3, which has a carbon frame and is around 700 grams lighter. When it comes to the suspension, the mail-order company doesn't let itself get carried away for € 3999 and installs a Fox 36 fork and a Fox DPX2 shock in the Performance Elite version. The only difference between this and the Factory models is the lack of Kashima coating. The wheels and brakes are the same as on the affordable aluminium model. However, the Sram GX Eagle drivetrain offers a wider range.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
