​Micro-travel rather than cross-country: The three fastest full-suspension race bikes in the world?

Conclusion by Max Fuchs, BIKE editor

80 millimetres of rear suspension travel? By 2026, that’s almost a niche option. Yet Trek, Specialised and BH are impressively demonstrating that less suspension travel doesn’t automatically mean lower performance. For racers, marathon riders and anyone looking for a maximally efficient XC bike, these three designs offer an exciting alternative to the established 100- and 120-millimetre full-suspension bikes. They do, however, have one thing in common: their natural habitat is fast race tracks and long climbs – not technical trail descents.

Trek, Specialized or BH? Which full-suspension bike is the best?

We’ve already had the chance to ride all three models extensively on the trail and put them through their paces in our lab. It quickly becomes clear that, despite having the same suspension travel class, the designs could hardly be more different.

The BH is the closest to a classic full-suspension bike. Its rear suspension responds sensitively, offering plenty of comfort and ample traction – qualities that really come into their own off-road. On the other hand, the rear suspension feels slightly less firm under load, meaning it cannot quite keep up with its competitors in terms of drivetrain efficiency.

The Specialized takes the most uncompromising approach. Its suspension feels noticeably stiffer and requires careful set-up to realise its full potential. In return, it rewards the rider with the lowest weight in the comparison and a riding experience that comes surprisingly close to that of a hardtail – direct, explosive and uncompromisingly geared towards forward momentum.

In our view, the Trek Supercaliber offers the most balanced solution. It combines the efficiency and direct forward drive of the Specialized with a level of comfort closer to that of the BH. Trek is best at making sensible use of the limited 80-millimetre suspension travel without compromising the character of a genuine race bike. For those looking for the most versatile all-round package, the Supercaliber is therefore our favourite.

A niche between hardtail and full-suspension bikes?

For a long time, there was a simple rule of thumb in cross-country: hardtail or 100-millimetre full-suspension. But the segment has changed significantly in recent years. Modern XC full-suspension bikes now usually offer 110 or even 120 millimetres of travel, longer reach figures and significantly more trail DNA. This makes them faster than ever on the descents – but at the same time, they’ve moved a little way away from the original racing philosophy of maximum efficiency.

This is exactly where Trek, Specialised and BH come in. Their bikes aren’t designed to be a cross between trail and cross-country bikes, but rather to bridge the gap between hardtails and classic XC full-suspension bikes. The motto is: only as much suspension travel as necessary, but as little as possible.

The result is bikes where hardly any energy is lost in the drivetrain – even with the shock open – whilst at the same time roots, rocks and bumps are absorbed significantly better than on a hardtail. This design certainly has its merits, particularly in long marathon races or XC circuits, where traction and fatigue are playing an increasingly important role.

Trek Supercaliber – The Pioneer

With the Supercaliber, Trek became the first major manufacturer to launch a modern micro-travel full-suspension bike in 2019. To this day, at the heart of the design is the IsoStrut rear triangle, which effectively integrates the shock absorber and frame. This saves weight, increases stiffness and reduces maintenance requirements. The bike is now in its second generation.

Key figures

• 80 mm rear suspension travel
• 110 or 120 mm suspension fork
• Frame weight: 1,672 grams (BIKE measurement, excluding shock, size L)
• IsoStrut suspension
• Carbon frame
• Intended use: XC racing and marathons
• Price: from around 5,000 euros

Conclusion on the Trek Supercaliber

Hardly any other bike deserves the title ‘race bike’ more than the Supercaliber. The Silver Arrow’s sharp character isn’t for everyone. Even the updates and the slight increase in suspension travel do nothing to change that. From a racer’s perspective, however, this Trek could be the perfect weapon for the big day, because in its latest iteration, the Supercaliber is even more focused on speed – both uphill and downhill. – Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

Specialized Epic World Cup – The hardtail reimagined

Specialised’s approach to the Epic World Cup a slightly different approach. Weighing just 9.6 kilos, the Specialized Epic World Cup is designed to please racers who want a hardtail rear end for sprints but still don’t want to do without suspension on the descents. Specialized combines 110 millimetres of travel at the front with just 75 millimetres of travel at the rear. What makes it special is that the rear suspension can be adjusted via a special shock absorber, much like on a classic full-suspension bike. In this setting, the shock is slightly compressed (negative travel) and responds fairly sensitively to uneven terrain. Alternatively, you can drain the negative chamber via a special valve on the shock. This generates a very high breakaway torque when the suspension compresses, and the rear end then feels rigid, just like a hardtail. The suspension travel is only released when encountering large impacts. Uphill or when riding out of the saddle, this is designed to provide maximum propulsion, just like a hardtail, whilst offering the safety of a full-suspension bike on the descents. However, as the already limited negative travel is completely absent, you have to sacrifice the traction and sensitivity of a full-suspension bike when dealing with small bumps.

Key figures

• Category: Race-Fully
• Weight: from 9.8 kg (BIKE measurement)
• Suspension travel: 110 mm / 75 mm
• Wheel size: 29 inches
• Weight: from 9.6 kilograms (BIKE measurement)
• Frame weight: 1,893 grams (including shock absorber, as measured by BIKE)
• Sizes: XS to XL
• Two models from 9,000 euros, frameset for 6,500 euros

Conclusion on the Specialized Epic World Cup

Anyone who’s always struggled with the choice between a full-suspension and a hardtail, or who regularly has to compete in World Cup Short Track and XCO events on the same bike, is likely to find the Specialized Epic World Cup to their liking. It’s obvious: this is exactly what the MTB was designed for. For everyone else, Specialized’s latest offering – featuring the lightest frame on the market – remains a fascinating piece of technology, albeit one costing at least 9,000 euros, which is only worth the investment if you can see the appeal of the rigid rear suspension concept. – Adrian Kaether, BIKE editor

BH Lynx SLS – The best value for money

BH is the newest addition to this genre. The Lynx SLS It avoids complex, specialised solutions and instead opts for a classic split-pivot rear suspension with 80 millimetres of travel. This makes the design feel familiar and is likely to win over many riders more quickly.

Key figures

• 80 mm rear suspension travel
• Frame weight: 1693 grams (BIKE measurement, excluding shock absorber)
• 110 mm suspension fork
• Split-pivot rear suspension
• Carbon frame
• Intended use: XC, marathon and fast touring
• Price: from around 4,200 euros

Conclusion on the Lynx SLS bra

The short-travel BH Lynx SLS impresses with a fully-fledged rear suspension system that delivers responsiveness and excellent traction. It also offers excellent value for money. However, the low frame stiffness and the significant flex in the handlebar-stem assembly mean it isn’t ideal for riders weighing over 80 kilos. – Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager

The pros and cons of the micro-travel concept

Plus

• maximum drive efficiency
• lower weight possible
• more comfortable than a hardtail
• better traction on root-covered climbs
• ideal for gentle XC races and marathons

Minus

• significantly less energy left on challenging trails
• a narrower range of use than modern 120 mm XC full-suspension bikes
• specialised technology, some of which is complex
• no price advantage

BIKE classification

These three bikes demonstrate that developments in the mountain bike sector do not necessarily have to mean ever-increasing suspension travel. Whilst many manufacturers are moving towards downcountry, Trek, Specialized and BH are pursuing an uncompromisingly sporty alternative.

It remains to be seen whether the concept will catch on in the long term. At present, neither Specialized nor Trek are competing in the World Cup with their micro-travel full-suspension bikes. The target audience is also relatively small and consists mainly of ambitious XC and marathon riders who prioritise maximum efficiency over trail performance. For these riders in particular, however, micro-travel full-suspension bikes may well be the most exciting alternative to the classic hardtail at present.

And perhaps that is precisely where their greatest strength lies: they don’t set out to be a bike for everything – but rather the fastest possible bike for their very specific purpose.