A subtle geometry update here, a comprehensive new development with a new rear triangle design there: MTB innovation is a very elastic term and is also used by bike manufacturers in this way. To give you a better overview of the really new, exciting mountain bike models, we have reviewed the past year and browsed through our new products ticker. The results are impressive: We show you the MTB innovations that you should definitely have on your radar for 2023 when it comes to upgrading your own fleet or buying a new mountain bike. Because even though the bike industry spends a lot of time and money on Brand new e-bikes for 2023 manufacturers have by no means forgotten classic mountain bikers and have been busy putting new MTB models with exciting detailed solutions on 29-inch wheels. For a better overview, we have divided the bikes into mountain bike categories: from hardtails to enduro MTBs. At the top of the gallery you will find all the new MTB models for the 2023 model year for you to click through at your leisure.
New MTB hardtails for 2023
Anyone who thinks that the development of mountain bike hardtails has slowly reached a final stage is mistaken. Even though there was no major racing event like the Olympic Games this year, several new bikes without rear suspension were presented for 2023. Spring saw the launch of two attractively priced aluminium hardtails from Rose and Orbea. While the Rose Bonero as a trail hardtail is rather made for rougher terrain, the Orbea with its Onna for 600 to 1100 euros to MTB newcomers. In addition, two proven road bike specialists are also getting involved in the mountain bike market for 2023: In March Factor with the Lando HT a race hardtailcelebrated in October Cervelo with the ZHT-5 its hardtail premiere. Both carbon bikes could also be seen in mountain bike racing in 2023. Scott and Simplon are throwing two new candidates into the ring for the contested title of the world's lightest production mountain bike. The slimmed-down carbon frame of the fourth generation of the Simplon Razorblade SL weighs a sensational 870 grams in size L (including thru axle, derailleur hanger and seat clamp). In contrast, the new Scott Scale RC admittedly admit defeat. But the new Scott 2023 hardtail is bursting with superlatives.
I love the liveliness and simple design of hardtails, but the shaking in rough sections can be tiring. The Lee Cougan revitalises the faded niche of the once popular softtail in an innovative way. The flexing rear triangle with two mini shocks filters out the bumps without restricting liveliness. Ingenious. - Henri Lesewitz, BIKE Editor-in-Chief
New marathon mountain bikes 2023
The marathon bikes are very much characterised by professional racing, as these bikes are used in the UCI MTB World Cup and in the toughest marathon mountain bike race in the world compete for the podium. Canyon has given superstar Mathieu van der Poel's professional bike an update for 2023 and has given the carbon frame of the new Canyon Lux World Cup another 91 grams lighter. In October, two MTB brands with a great racing tradition dropped the curtains on their new Racefullys: The Swiss are sending the new BMC Fourstroke 01 with an automatic vario support and even more radical geometry on the race track. This MTB innovation is also a real firework from a technical point of view. At almost the same time, Orbea presents the Oiz for 2023 the next generation of the Cape Epic winning bike with 120 millimetres of travel. System integration with cables that disappear into the headset plays a major role on pretty much all new marathon bikes.
MTB innovations 2023 for trail bikes
In addition to the down-country versions of bikes such as the BMC Fourstroke or the Factor Lando XC, there are also "real" new trail bikes for 2023. With the new Canyon Spectral 125 This year, the direct-to-consumer brand launched a short-travel trail bike with massive downhill potential, which was released at the beginning of the year. Mail-order competitor Radon has a new bike for mountain bikers in model year 2023 with the Skeen Trail AL an affordable aluminium trail bike for less than 2500 euros. If you are looking for exclusive, high-end bikes and money is no object, you should take a look at the 120 mm trail bike Last Celos take a look. With its "Made in Germany" carbon frame and top equipment, the trail bike even breaks the 10-kilo mark - with 120 millimetres of suspension travel! Yeti's mountain bike innovation in the trail bike sector is similarly exclusive. The completely new carbon frame platform of the Yeti SB120 rolls on large 29-inch wheels and has the same design language and Switch Infinity rear suspension system as its big MTB brothers with more travel.
Santa Cruz has two exciting new products in its programme for trail bikers next year: firstly, the somewhat sportier Tallboy in the down-country sector with 130/120 millimetre stroke, and the Fifth generation of the Santa Cruz 5010 with MX wheel mix, storage compartment in the down tube and optimised VPP rear triangle. Scott doesn't have a completely new trail bike to offer for 2023, but there is a more downhill-orientated version. Super trail version of the Scott Spark with 140-millimetre suspension fork.
Enduro geometry paired with only 125 millimetres of travel at the rear - the combination is so much fun to ride that I kept the Canyon Spectral 125 CF as a long-term tester. Also good: with the short suspension travel, even tamer trails suddenly offer technical stimuli again. - Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
All mountain bike novelties 2023
In the all-mountain bike segment, Ghost is mixing things up in the coming model year with two new versions of the Ghost Riot CF with. While the Ghost Riot Trail rolls down the trail with 150 millimetres of travel at the front and 140 mm at the rear, the Riot CF AM ups the ante at the front and rocks downhill with 160 millimetres of travel at the fork. It has to compete with the Yeti SB140 with 29-inch wheels, new geometry and customised Switch Infinity rear triangle. Trek has also made its 150/140 millimetre classic Fuel EX fit for the 2023 model year, with maximum adjustment options and practical details making the Trek Fuel EX particularly exciting for technology freaks.
And at the end of the year, Scott really hit it out of the park and finally breathed new life into its cult all-mountain bike Genius after five years. System integration on all channels, new geometry data and an extremely versatile frame platform make the Scott Genius for 2023 the most exciting MTB touring bike for the coming season. Instead of maximising system integration, Canyon is focusing on a different technological innovation for the Spectral CF for 2023. Only the small addition K.I.S. refers to the Syntace steering force assistant, which is currently available exclusively on the Canyon Spectral CF hidden in the top tube.
In terms of key data, the Bold Linkin 150 Pro looks like a normal all-mountain bike with modern geometry. However, the design approach with integrated shock and sophisticated details make it stand out from the crowd. This definitely makes the Bold mountain bike my highlight of the year. - Peter Nilges, BIKE Test Manager
Enduro MTB innovations 2023
After several years of standstill Merida's enduro bike One-Sixty radically revised for 2023. The One-Sixty provides 170 mm travel at the front and 162 mm or 171 mm travel at the rear - depending on the rear wheel size (MX wheel mix). Santa Cruz and Yeti are bringing rather straightforward updates for the upcoming MTB season to their enduro classics Nomad and SB160. Santa Cruz Nomad comes with MX wheel mix, revised geo and fine-tuned VPP rear triangle. New on the Yeti SB160 is the stiffer, revised carbon frame with the distinctive Switch Infinity system, which now also allows more tyre clearance. German manufacturer Nicolai, on the other hand, is breaking new ground with its new Nucleon 16 enduro bike. Nucleon 16 connects Nicolai for 2023 a high-pivot rear triangle with an alternative derailleur that offers 510 per cent range. The so-called Supre Drive comes from Canadian developer Cedric Eveleigh and requires a completely customised rear triangle.
