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#1 Juliana Joplin$2,879.95100/100BikeRide Score?
22 reasons to buy
- The frame comes with a lifetime warranty.
- The Juliana Joplin has room for a water bottle.
3 reasons not to buy
- One expert found that the suspension was not the most comfortable on sections with repetitive hits.
- One expert found the Maxxis Minion tires struggled to maintain traction on extremely technical terrain paired with loose gravel.
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#2 Priority Sauce$799.0098/100BikeRide Score?
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#3 Alchemy Arktos$3,799.0098/100BikeRide Score?
15 reasons to buy
- Internal cable routing keeps the Arktos's frame neat.
- The Arktos's full-carbon frame is loved for its light weight.
2 reasons not to buy
- Some builds feature SRAM G2 R brakes. More than one reviewer is unimpressed by their stopping power.
- The Arktos isn’t cheap. But as a performance machine, it is generally agreed by reviewers that you get value for what you pay for.
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#4 Ride1Up Prodigy$2,355.0097/100BikeRide Score?
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#5 Marin Team Marin$1,499.0097/100BikeRide Score?
12 reasons to buy
- Reviewers enjoy how light and nimble this bike feels to ride.
- The frame has mounts for two bottle cages inside the front triangle.
6 reasons not to buy
- Several owners of the Team Marin report cracked seat stays.
- Several owners complain that the paint quality is poor, and they find it very easy to damage.
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#6 Priority 600X Adventure$3,500.0097/100BikeRide Score?
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#7 Santa Cruz Tallboy$2,698.9795/100BikeRide Score?
20 reasons to buy
- Experts found the Tallboy playful and easy to pop off jumps on.
- Available in six sizes, the Tallboy fits a wide range of riders.
4 reasons not to buy
- One expert noted the steering was slack and that the front end could wander.
- Experts found that pedal strikes were frequent in the low flip-chip setting on the bottom bracket.
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#8 Intense Sniper$2,517.5095/100BikeRide Score?
17 reasons to buy
- A water bottle can easily fit in the frame of the bike.
- The bike is responsive and stays in line easily on rocky trails.
2 reasons not to buy
- Experts found they could become bucked around on the Sniper, due to its short travel.
- The press-fit bottom bracket is more difficult to maintain than a threaded bottom bracket.
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#9 Orbea Rise$4,239.0094/100BikeRide Score?
11 reasons to buy
- Stock 29" wheel options are covered by Race Face and Mavic.
- Maxxis Dissector and Rekon 2.4-2.6-inch tires provide a solid grip.
4 reasons not to buy
- The integrated battery isn’t removable, making it difficult to travel or leave the bike outside.
- Some experts thought the stock Maxxis tires didn’t have enough grip for loose or muddy conditions.
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#10 Specialized Chisel$1,349.9994/100BikeRide Score?
20 reasons to buy
- Testers reported excellent and “reactive” climbing abilities.
- Ample tire clearance allows leeway for mud and plus-size upgrades.
2 reasons not to buy
- One tester experienced pedal-bob, unless their RockShox Judy Gold suspension fork was locked-out.
- A tester felt limited by the Chisel’s 100 mm of front suspension travel.
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#11 Santa Cruz Chameleon$1,949.0092/100BikeRide Score?
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#12 Juliana Wilder$3,674.9592/100BikeRide Score?
11 reasons to buy
- Cable routing is fully internal for better cable protection.
- Juliana offers a lifetime warranty on the frame and bearings.
5 reasons not to buy
- Testers are disappointed by the stock Maxxis Rekon tires.
- Reviewers find the Wilder to be expensive, especially the top build.
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#13 Juliana Furtado$3,974.9591/100BikeRide Score?
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#14 Santa Cruz Blur$4,499.0091/100BikeRide Score?
15 reasons to buy
- One rider says the XC's progressive leverage rate means it rarely bottoms out.
- At around 23lb, the 2023 Blur is Santa Cruz's lightest-ever full-suspension XC bike.
4 reasons not to buy
- The Blur is expensive. Santa Cruz doesn't offer a budget-friendly build of this model.
- Experts criticize the XC's FOX Transfer SL dropper post and its two-position design compared to an infinite-style dropper.
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#15 Orbea Oiz$2,309.9590/100BikeRide Score?
15 reasons to buy
- With its steep geometry, the bike is efficient on climbs.
- A shorter rear end allows riders to corner smoothly on the bike.
2 reasons not to buy
- Orbea does not include a dropper post with XC models of the Oiz.
- One tester noted that the 160mm rear brake rotor was on the small side. Riders would benefit from upgrading to a 180mm rear rotor.
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#16 Specialized Epic$2,500.00901 reviews
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#17 Marin DSX 2$1,289.008714 reviews
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#18 Co-op Cycles DRT 2.1$1,278.938528 reviews
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#19 Gravity FSX$449.0084229 reviews
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#20 Norco Fluid FS$1,898.94834 reviews
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#21 Marin Wildcat Trail$449.00822 reviews
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#22 Mongoose Tyax$949.998264 reviews
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#23 Salsa Rangefinder$711.558231 reviews
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#24 Orbea Wild FS$4,355.00819 reviews
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#25 Ibis DV9$2,624.25801 reviews
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#26 Mondraker Chrono$1,199.00801 reviews
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#27 Marin Rift Zone$1,399.94805 reviews
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#28 Steppenwolf Tundra$2,899.997919 reviews
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#29 GT Stomper$264.997844 reviews
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#30 Diamondback Sync’R$597.997858 reviews
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#31 Cannondale Scalpel SE$2,999.97767 reviews
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#32 Norco Optic$2,998.94752 reviews
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#33 Mongoose Salvo$1,249.997011 reviews
33 Best Bikes
- Based on reviews from 71 experts and 800 users
- Learn how the BikeRide Score works
- Updated September 2023