Trail bikes are the classic category for touring mountain bikers. Uphill, they have to let hardtails or marathon full-suspension bikes take the lead due to their slightly higher weight, but with more suspension travel reserves and a dropper seat post, they provide a lot of riding fun on single trails. With their all-round character, they are the perfect companion for Alpine crossings, trail-heavy tours in low mountain ranges or after-work laps on the doorstep. The choice of tyres often determines the character of trail bikes. Grippy 2.4 inch wide tyres tame demanding terrain, narrow 2.2 inch tyres make a marathon start possible with the same bike. Unlike hardtails or marathon fullys, large 29er wheels are not exclusively used here. It's worth opting for smaller 27.5-inch wheels to save some weight, especially on cheaper models. Trail bikes also feel right at home on flow trails or in trail centres.
PRICE Good models from 2000 euros
WEIGHT 11.5 to 13.5 kilos (without pedals)
FEDERWEG 120 to 130 millimetres
AREA OF APPLICATION Trail-heavy tours, Alpine crossings, tours in low mountain ranges, flow trails
Radon Skeen Trail 8.0 27.5
Outrageously affordable and still awarded the test rating Very Good. The low total weight of 12.7 kilos and the playful handling (27.5-inch wheels) are convincing both on the single trail downhill and on long climbs. The 2x11 drivetrain with its wide gear range is particularly suitable for less fit bikers. The Magura four-piston brake system on the front wheel provides powerful deceleration. The only downsides to the Skeen in this price range are the lack of a dropper post, a slightly over-damped rear shock and tyres that are a tad too narrow. These are all characteristics that can be easily rectified with a little tuning. If you decide in favour of the mail order company's bike, you get the perfect trail bike for beginners for little money.
Price 1599 Euro
Weight 12.7 kilos without pedals
Tested in BIKE 4/17
Judgement very good / 171 points
Transalp Signature II X12 Trail 1.0
Black anodised coating and simple tube shapes. The simple appearance gives little indication of how greedily the Transalp scurries through the undergrowth. Because the trail bike not only impresses on the climbs with its drive-neutral suspension and lightweight 27.5-inch wheels, but in our comparison test in BIKE 8/17 it was even in the same league as the all-mountain bikes on the descents. And this despite the fact that the suspension travel is only 125 millimetres. It is the extremely good equipment that makes the bike from Hamburg a trail rocket. High-quality DT Swiss wheels and wide 2.4 Conti tyres are combined with a powerful Pike fork. The 1x11 XT drivetrain is skilfully combined with an 11/46 cassette for a higher gear range.
Price 2899 Euro
Weight 12.94 kilos without pedals
Tested in BIKE 8/17
Judgement very good / 194.5 points
Scott Spark 940
A stretched seating position, suspension that can be locked from the handlebars and tyres that roll well. The Scott Spark can hardly hide its sporty genes (the Spark was originally a pure marathon platform). Nor does it want to. Paired with 125 millimetres of suspension travel, the sporty chassis is the perfect partner for long tours with lots of singletrack. Of course, the telescopic seat post is a must for this area of use. At 13.7 kilos (with pedals), the 29er is no longer a lightweight, but the aluminium frame is particularly rigid. The 1x12 drivetrain from Sram offers similarly small gears as standard 2x11 drivetrains, even on climbs. Important for aesthetes: All cables run inside the frame.
Price 3199 Euro
Weight 13.38 kilos without pedals
Tested in BIKE 3/18 - Reorder booklet
Judgement very good / 174.75 points
BMC Speedfox One
Innovative approaches and well thought-out details made the BMC Speedfox the winner of our future duel from BIKE 12/17. The highlight: a retractable seatpost integrated into the frame, which also controls the platform of the shock. If you lower the saddle before setting off, the shock opens automatically and makes its travel readily available. If you extend the seat post again for the next climb, the shock platform is activated as if by magic and the next mountain can be conquered with increased efficiency. Otherwise, the bike with its 29er wheels exudes a lot of confidence on difficult terrain. The weight of 12.10 kilos without pedals is not ground-breaking, but is acceptable given the good downhill performance.
Price 6999 Euro
Weight 12.10 kilos without pedals
Tested in BIKE 12/17
Judgement very good / 201 points
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