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Anyone who believes that the mountain bike has already been fully developed is completely wrong. Every year, new and exciting products are conceived and designed in the planet's large and small development departments. These innovations are designed to make mountain bikes faster on the climbs and safer on the descents. Even if the bike rides without an electric motor, electronics play a decisive role in many innovations. Added to this are key technologies such as 3D printing and ever-improving carbon production. Mountain bikes have never been as good as they will be in 2024. The most exciting products presented this season also give a foretaste of the 2025 model year. Here are our seven highlights.
Rocket technology: The new stars in the cross-country sky
At first glance, the sport of cross-country cycling may not seem particularly innovative. Riding a bike quickly through varied terrain has inspired mountain bikers for generations. In reality, however, XC bikes are real drivers of innovation and the 2024 generation is more progressive than it has been for a long time. This is probably also due in part to the Olympic Games in Paris have. Specialized presented a new Epic back in spring. The fully with 120 millimetres of front and rear travel combines a radical geometry with a steering angle of 65.9 degrees and a frame weighing just 1682 grams. At 14,500 euros the Specialised Epic 8 S-Works and one of the most expensive mountain bikes in the world. We have already been able to test the new super speedster and were enthusiastic about the new Epic's wide range of expertise.
The Specialized S-Works Epic 8 is a true superbike and a prime example of how versatile 120 millimetre cross country bikes can be today. The updates to the suspension and geometry make the Epic one of the most versatile bikes currently available. In symbiosis with an elegant chassis and the Rockshox Flight Attendant System, which is not immediately intuitive but works well, the S-Works version is a high-end race bike that will give the competition a run for its money. As a technology carrier, the most expensive production bike in the world is extremely exciting but by no means for everyone. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE test editor
No less interesting was the presentation of the latest edition of the Cannondale Scalpel. The Americans have always been known for their exclusive solutions and the new Race-Fully is no exception. 120 millimetres of suspension travel at the rear and front as well as wide tyres set new standards in cross-country descents. Downcountry was yesterday, 2024 is the year for capable marathon fullys. Our test certifies the Cannondale Scalpel 2024 great driving fun potential with high winning ambitions at the same time.
Fast corner changes, nasty root passages, jumps: the Scalpel demonstrates with flying colours how incredibly fast you can be downhill on a modern cross-country bike. Thanks to the superior 120cc suspension, it forgives the odd riding mistake and is simply fun to ride - even when you're not racing against the clock. Uphill, the Scalpel is still a really fast bike, even if the acceleration is no longer quite as brutal as with the asphalt cutter tyres of the sub-ten-kilo generation. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE test editor
A lot has also happened in 2024 when it comes to fast women's bikes. The new Liv Pique is an impressive example of this. Giant's sister brand is launching a modern race bike for demanding female athletes and has reduced the weight of the carbon frame alone by almost 300 grams. 120 millimetres of travel on the suspension fork and 115 millimetres on the shock are also intended to make up for this on the downhill. In fact, our test confirmed that the new Liv Pique 2024 offers a plush riding experience.
The new Liv Pique 2024 is a formidable, women's-specific bike for extended tours with a high proportion of trail riding. The geometry and suspension offer a good level of reserves for long distances. The range of use is wide. However, the lightweight Liv is more of a good-natured marathon bike than a cross-country weapon trimmed for efficiency. The painfully expensive Advanced 0 spec leaves almost nothing to be desired. Unfortunately, some details don't quite fit into the picture. - Gitta Beimfohr, BIKE editor
Faster is not possible: e-suspensions on the rise
It is a thoroughly logical step: electrical technology is finding its way into more and more areas of our lives and all signs point to electricity for MTB suspensions too. Electronic suspension forks and shocks are not a completely new invention, but in 2024 they will reach a level of quality and series maturity that has never been seen before. It all started in March this year with Rockshox with the launch of its Flight Attendant technology. Specially designed for cross-country suspensions, the smart suspension not only selects the optimum setup itself at lightning speed, but also learns over time. Innovative wireless communication with a power meter makes this possible in the Sram AXS Ecosystem. In the test, the E-suspension proved to be an effective means of getting the last ounce of efficiency out of a race bike. The smart suspension actually thinks for itself, but cannot look ahead and therefore does not make mountain bikers unemployed. For trail and enduro bikes, Rockshox pushed the latest generation of the Flight Attendant System only a short time after.
Fox went one step further with the E-suspension this year and presented the latest expansion stage of Live Valve Neo dampers for downhill-focussed bikes. The Americans have even developed their own wireless protocol for this purpose, which is said to react 200 times faster than Bluetooth. Two sensors mounted on the brake callipers feed the electronics with data and are designed to provide the optimum compression set-up in every trail situation. During our tests, it became clear how versatile the new Live Valve Neo system is. In terms of adjustability, it offers completely new options that you wouldn't even have dared to think about before. At the same time, it is obviously not easy to find the right settings on every bike. To go with the new Neo-Ecosystem, Fox also presented a wireless version of the transfer dropper post.
Round thing: Innovations in wheel construction
A bike is a bike, right? Component manufacturers don't make it quite that simple. Even after the establishment of large 29-inch wheels, there is still plenty to optimise in this area. Who would have thought, for example, that the suspension behaviour of a mountain bike could even be improved with the help of technology integrated into the rear wheel hub? The decoupling of drive influences and suspension is not a new idea per se. However, solving this via the rear hub is. Interest in the new eThirteen Sidekick hub was strikingly high. Fewer bumps via the crank with unhindered rear suspension compression - we were also very excited to test this. The system does indeed fulfil its promise and improves the suspension performance depending on the rear suspension. However, the solution does not only have advantages due to the high degree of freedom when pedalling.
Light is cool. We've known that about cross-country wheels for a long time. But it is also a fact that low weight is by no means everything. Stiffness and, last but not least, stability are also in demand outside of racing. In the high-end sector, more and more wheel manufacturers are pushing down the value on the scales with the help of carbon spokes. In our test, we subjected the expensive round blanks to a number of tests in the laboratory and in practice. Last but not least, the carbon wheels had to prove their safety in the crash test. Surprisingly, aluminium models of all things cut a remarkably good figure.
New materials such as the use of carbon or textile spokes, even in combination with wide rims, ensure record weights of well under 1200 grams. This ensures top acceleration. However, the tyres still have the greatest influence on acceleration. - Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager
Stop! The biker needs more braking power
At the latest since the triumph of heavy e-bikes, the requirement profile for disc brakes has increased enormously. However, downhill-orientated enduro and all-mountain bikes also benefit from a good portion of braking power. Sram surprised us early in the year with a new mineral oil-based anchor. Until now, the Americans have primarily relied on DOT as a brake medium. The new Sram Maven brakes already have a massive effect in the hand and are said to have an unprecedented level of deceleration performance. Our test revealed excellent power values for the gravity range. So much so, in fact, that one or two testers felt overwhelmed.
The Maven already grips firmly when braking. At the end of the procedure, minimal manual force is enough to decelerate properly. We can definitely confirm that the braking power is well above all other Sram products. You have to get used to that much power. Simply pulling the lever as carelessly as with a Code is no longer possible with the Maven. - Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager
2024 marks the rebirth of a braking legend. Magura brought back a popular classic with the Gustav Pro and promised brute braking power with four large pistons. Mechanics will be delighted with the special quick-release system for opening the hydraulic brake line. In the test, the Magura Gustav Pro showed a rather tame, soft starting pressure point, but added a large portion of power as the lever progressed. A real heavy-duty anchor!
With the Gustav Pro MTB brake, Magura promises not only more power, but also more durability and reliability. This is the right approach, especially for E-MTBs, where the additional weight is bearable. But the Gustav Pro is also interesting for other downhill-oriented bikers who often cover many metres of altitude in one go. - Adrian Kaether, BIKE test editor
Radial different: rethinking tyres
They have been around for some time in the road bike and motorbike sector, but this year Schwalbe broke new ground in the MTB sector: Tyres with radial alignment of the carcass plies. The special construction promises an increase in tyre contact area of 30 percent. The radial arrangement of the carcass threads also increases the flexibility and adaptability of the tyre to the surface. In addition, the new carcass is said to have slightly better damping, which should have a positive effect on off-road control and the riding experience in general. The BIKE test actually confirmed a fundamentally different riding experience.
Roots, small edges or stones: The new Schwalbe tyres with radial carcass completely swallow up small bumps, making for a noticeably more comfortable ride. At the same time, they offer unprecedented traction. The new radial tyres from Schwalbe also impressively provide a higher level of grip and safety when riding downhill. - Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager
3D printing for your bum: Customised bicycle saddles
No biker can afford to have seat discomfort. That's why there are now a whole host of manufacturers, which advertise bicycle saddles customised to your own backside. The key technology here is 3D printing. A printer is fed with the relevant data based on a personal buttock impression and the result is a highly customised seat. According to our tests, 3D-printed saddles represent an additional but costly option for increased seating comfort. Saddles such as the Posedla Joyseat 2.0 convinced us.
In the BIKE test, the Posedla Joyseat 2.0 impressed with its good fit, which is sufficiently customised to the rider and personal specifications. The saddle feels high-quality. The production of the mould using the Smiling Butt Kit is uncomplicated and the ordering process is very individual and simple. Only the price of 490 euros for the Smiling Butt Kit plus 3D saddle production is quite high. - Maik Schröder, BIKE online editor
Beautiful, more beautiful, custom bikes
For die-hard bike nerds, there is hardly anything better than marvelling at lovingly assembled custom bikes. There were all kinds of gems to marvel at at the trade fairs and exhibitions in 2024. At the Bespoked trade fair in Dresden won for example the Huhn Cycles Chabo received an award for the best mountain bike. The steel frame with 120 millimetres of suspension travel is "made in Berlin" and is adorned with Intend suspension components "made in Freiburg" and attachments from Bike Ahead "made in Veitshöchheim".
Hardly any other name is as synonymous with elaborate custom projects as Dangerholm. The Swede regularly tears Scott bikes apart, removes their paintwork with a knife cut and transforms them into unique tuner dreams. The Scott Spark RC Visione not only stands out with its Ferrari paintwork, but also with its exciting cable integration into the handlebar/stem unit. Milled titanium cranks and sinfully expensive smooth-running rollers on the rear derailleur make individualists' mouths water.
Even with pedals, the Stoll T3 SL cracks the magic 12-kilo mark - despite 140 or 135 millimetres of suspension travel. Trail bikes this light are an absolute rarity. At Stoll, not only the super-lightweight add-on parts, but also the German-made frame itself can be customised. Extra light or more solid carbon layup? With or without a storage compartment? Of course, so much exclusivity comes at a price. Our customised test bike costs an impressive 11,700 euros.
The Stoll T3 SL pulls out all the stops and pretty much hits my ideal idea of a trail bike on the head. The range of use of the lightweight fullys is huge. It's just a shame that the complete bikes only start at a price of around 8,000 euros, which severely limits the range of buyers. - Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager
Jan Timmermann
Editor
