Seven Standout Mountain Bikes: Trail, Enduro and E-MTB Designs Worth Knowing

Introduction

Mountain bike design rarely stands still. Some seasons the biggest shifts happen in motors and batteries, in others the movement comes from geometry numbers or frame materials. The seven bikes in this roundup sit right at those pressure points: a light-assist e-MTB built around a compact motor, a high-pivot enduro bike from a British brand, a stainless steel hardtail, a CNC-machined aluminium e-bike, an enduro race bike with on-the-fly geometry adjustment, a mixed-wheel gravity bike, and a carbon trail bike with suspension telemetry built in.

Because they cover such different ground, they make far more sense judged individually than head to head. What they share is that each one says something about where a corner of the market is heading, and each one makes a clear design bet that a buyer can weigh up against their own riding.

What These Seven Bikes Have in Common

Read together, these bikes reveal a few recurring themes.

Motor integration is one. Compact drive units let a brand design a frame around its own geometry goals rather than building a bike around an existing motor, which is exactly what the Trek Fuel EXe does with its TQ unit. Construction is another: Bird keeps stainless steel in the hardtail mix, while Pole machines and bonds aluminium instead of welding tubes together. Geometry keeps pushing in two directions at once, longer and slacker for stability on rough descents, steeper seat angles for comfortable climbing.

Adjustability is the fourth thread. Canyon’s Shapeshifter changes a bike’s character with a lever, and Mondraker’s MIND system collects suspension data to help with setup. Neither idea is universal yet, which is precisely what makes them worth watching.

The sections that follow take each bike in turn, covering what it was built to do, how it behaves on the trail, and the trade-offs worth understanding before you commit.

Trek Fuel EXe: A Lighter, Quieter Electric Mountain Bike

Trek was not the first brand to build a light-assist e-MTB, but the Fuel EXe is one of the clearest examples of the idea. The brand partnered with the relatively little-known TQ to develop its motor, which meant the frame could be designed from the ground up rather than wrapped around a pre-existing drive unit. Because the TQ HPR 50 motor is so compact and light, Trek did not have to compromise the geometry either.

The numbers matter here. The motor produces 50 newton metres of torque with a peak power of 300 watts, so as long as your riding partners are not boosting away in the highest assist mode, you can keep pace with full-power e-mountain bikes. That is something not every lightweight e-MTB can manage. Steeper climbs ask a little more of the rider, but they remain very doable. The 360 watt hour battery offers a decent amount of ride time, and in real-world use it has covered 32.6 kilometres with 1,347 metres of climbing in the middle assist mode, returning to the car with roughly one percent of charge left.

Power arrives instantly and naturally, so there are no odd quirks to get used to. You simply get on and ride. The geometry feels confident and stable at speed, and combined with well-balanced suspension and a relatively low weight, the bike is happy being thrown around, lofted and launched. Despite the trail bike label, the solid frame feel, impressive proportions and suspension quality make it feel more capable than 140mm of rear travel would normally suggest. It does a genuinely good job of blending a regular trail bike feel with enough assistance to join friends on full-power e-bikes.

The top build is seriously expensive at around 13,250 pounds or 14,000 dollars, but it is worth knowing that Trek offers other versions of the Fuel EXe for a lot less money that use the same frame and the same drive unit.

Hope HB916: High Pivot Enduro Done Well

High pivot mountain bikes with an idler have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with major launches from several brands and claims of improved suspension performance. Results have been mixed. Hope’s HB916 enduro machine is a radical departure from the brand’s earlier HB160, using a new suspension layout with a high main pivot and an idler.

The bike delivers 160mm of travel through that high pivot design, with enough progression to suit either an air or a coil spring shock. Hope has pushed the geometry figures further than many mainstream brands: reach ranges from 450 to 510 millimetres in the low setting, the head angle sits around the 63 degree mark, and the seat tube angle is seriously steep at close to 79 degrees. It is also designed to be ridden either as a full 29er or with mixed wheels, and the switch to a smaller rear wheel is refreshingly straightforward.

On the trail, the HB916 feels sure-footed and eager to be ridden fast almost immediately. The steep seat tube angle makes seated climbing genuinely comfortable, and the open shock lets the bike work away underneath you on technical, steep gradients. It is on the descents that it really shines. Batter it into matted roots or jagged braking bumps and it smooths the trail impressively well, yet it never leaves you feeling disconnected by flattening every bump into the ground. There is still enough feedback through the frame to know exactly what the tyres are doing, along with a decent amount of support and pop to keep the ride dynamic and lively in hectic terrain. In choppy conditions it stays composed and calm, which is a real plus when you are picking lines at speed.

A couple of details are worth flagging. The Ohlins shock felt a little over-damped for a lighter rider, and the Hope carbon bar was on the stiff side. Neither detracts from what is a very impressive bike.

Bird Forge: The Steel Hardtail Still Earning Its Place

Steel hardtails built for hard riding are not going anywhere, and the Bird Forge shows why the genre still has a strong case. The Forge uses stainless steel, a rust-resistant material that is also more impact resistant, so the knocks and scrapes that come with mountain biking are more likely to be shrugged off rather than worried about.

With no rear suspension and 2.4 inch rubber at the back, the ride will never be smooth. But the classically skinny tubes of a steel frame give some respite from the harshness that stiff carbon or aluminium frames can transmit. Add a long 1,200 millimetre wheelbase and the bike pitches forward and back less over bumps than a shorter machine would, calming the ride in rough terrain. Those two elements combine to let the Forge hold good speed off road without rattling every filling out of your teeth.

In corners, the moderately slack 65.5 degree head angle pairs well with a low bottom bracket. Your weight drops below the bike’s axles, which encourages you to engage the tyres’ shoulder treads and carve. The low bottom bracket, medium length stays and long front centre might sound like a handful in tighter terrain, but in practice the bike never held anything back. It pivots easily side to side, and the odd cheeky Scandinavian flick is actively encouraged.

The bike’s biggest nemesis is a thick, moderately spaced root, which it clears at speed far better than closely packed or individual roots. On evenly spaced rocks the EXO casing tyre on the test build was most at risk, and given the speed the Forge encourages, an EXO+ casing would be a sensible minimum, or perhaps an insert. Helpfully, Bird is one of a growing number of brands that allow some alteration of the spec at the point of purchase, so a slightly stronger but slightly slower rolling casing is an easy box to tick.

Up front, the RockShox Pike’s air spring and damping combine to give great support as your weight pitches forward, and the front wheel never felt nervous when tipped into steeper terrain. The Formula Cura brakes fitted to the build are excellent, with a firm but not digital bite and ample power from the dual pistons. On paper the 75.2 degree seat angle, measured at pedalling height, does not sound particularly steep, but with the fork sagged it steepens rather than slackens as it tends to on a full suspension rig. That, plus the lack of suspension bob, helps the bike climb capably.

Pole Voima: A CNC-Machined Aluminium E-Bike With Its Own Geometry Logic

The bike industry is not always known for innovation, so it is refreshing to see a brand take a genuinely fresh approach. Finnish brand Pole is not afraid of doing things differently, and the Voima, its first e-bike, is no exception.

The frame is made from CNC machined billet aluminium, which means taking one solid chunk of aluminium and machining the bike’s shape out of it. This is done in two parts, and the two parts are then bonded together. The glue that bonds them is strong enough that the brand backs the bike with a massive warranty, and the frame has also been granted category 5 certification, which means it lives up to downhill bike standards.

The geometry takes another unusual turn. The bike is slack and long, but deliberately not low. Pole claims that making it taller in both stack and bottom bracket height should make it easier to ride on technical, gnarly and steep terrain. In practice this means there is zero bottom bracket drop, with the bottom bracket lining up with the axles on the horizontal plane.

Out on the trail, that makes the Voima an interesting ride. On flat out, gnarly, bumpy trails it is an absolute beast, and the 190 millimetres of front and rear suspension travel absorb bumps really well. Get into slightly tighter trails, however, and things slow down. The high bottom bracket and high stack both contribute to slower handling, which can make it a handful in tight and twisty terrain.

There is a clever upside to the construction method too. Because the frame is machined rather than welded from tubes, Pole could make design changes fairly easily, especially compared with traditional frame building. The Voima is a striking piece of engineering, and while the geometry will not suit everyone, it is genuinely groundbreaking. If you are a hard, fast charging rider, you will love the way it rides.

Canyon Strive CFR: Enduro Racing Focus With Shapeshifter Adjustment

The Canyon Strive had been left behind a little on geometry, something the brand itself acknowledged. As the only long travel 29 inch wheel bike in the range, it also had to appeal to trail-oriented riders. With the new Spectral and Torque ranges covering those duties, the Strive was free to go back to its roots as a thoroughbred enduro race bike.

Do not be fooled by the similar silhouette. The Strive CFR is a new beast with a complete frame overhaul, developed with input from Canyon’s factory enduro race team. At its heart is the Shapeshifter, a Fox-built piston that changes the position of the shock within the frame, altering the geometry and the suspension leverage rate. That gives the bike two distinct personalities, and it remains one of the best uses of on-the-fly adjustment available, letting you alter both handling and pedalling characteristics as you ride.

Let off the brakes and the latest Strive comes alive. With 160 millimetres of rear travel it has a real thirst for speed and shines when the going gets rough. The updated frame tube profiles have increased stiffness, which makes for direct handling, although at mellow speeds that can translate into a touch of harshness. A seriously low 36 millimetre bottom bracket drop and a slack 63 degree head tube angle offer plenty of stability, so you do need to throttle back on speed. Grippy Maxxis MaxxGrip tyres and snappy 435 millimetre chainstays mean you can throw the Strive around and it will change direction quickly without trying to get away from you.

Click the Shapeshifter into pedal mode and the bike’s personality flips. Travel is limited to 140 millimetres, the head tube angle steepens by 1.5 degrees and the bottom bracket is lifted by 15 millimetres. That transforms the handling and character of the bike, keeping it engaging over mellower terrain and improving climbing ability.

The updates have put the Strive firmly at the aggressive end of the enduro spectrum, long, low and slack. It has been built to serve a specific purpose and no longer needs to compromise, which makes it a giant leap in the right direction.

Santa Cruz Nomad: Mixed Wheels and 170mm of Travel

The long-standing Santa Cruz Nomad retains its place as the Californian brand’s most wild bike below the downhill-specific V10, but this time around it increases its versatility with a 29 inch front wheel, along with tweaked geometry and suspension kinematics. The Nomad was always known for maintaining its 650b status, so the change is a significant one.

The bike dishes out 170 millimetres of suspension travel front and rear, paired with slack and capable geometry for tackling the most ferocious descents. Santa Cruz tweaked the suspension kinematics by lowering the anti-squat to improve bump absorption over square edge hits, with a slight sacrifice in pedalling efficiency. The starting leverage rate was also lowered to better support body weight movements and maintain geometry stability on the trail.

It is clear what the Nomad is for, but it is nowhere near a poor climber, and the updated geometry makes for a comfortable seated position. Point it downhill and it comes alive. The grippy tyres are brilliant for instilling trust in the bike, and that confidence is further boosted by capable suspension that soaks up chunky trails with ease.

The Nomad is not a one-trick pony either. On mellower trails, the coil shock and leverage rate provide plenty of support to push against, allowing you to pump and pop your way down the hill and boost the fun even when the trail is tamer. The 29 inch front wheel helps give the Nomad a little extra speed over bumpy ground without reducing its fun factor in the corners. While there is plenty of stability from the slack 63.5 degree head tube angle, the moderate reach and size-specific chainstays give it eagerness in the turns and a sharpness to its handling. The increase in versatility has only made a good bike better, and any trade-offs from the new 29 inch front wheel are far outweighed by the benefits.

Mondraker Raze: Carbon Trail Bike With Suspension Telemetry

Mondraker’s mid-travel trail bike features a svelte 130 millimetre rear end with a burly 150 millimetre fork up front. What makes this full carbon bike stand out is the on-board telemetry system designed by Mondraker, called MIND. Magnetic field sensors on the fork and shock send live data on suspension use to an app, helping you see how much travel is used and where on the trail, as well as offering hints for shock and fork setup.

Set the telemetry aside for a moment, and the Raze impresses in its own right. The forward geometry, with its long front end and short stem, may not be classed as radical anymore, but it works exceptionally well on fast straights, where you can simply hang on and let the shock deal with the bumps. Confidence on steeper terrain is exceptional too. Drop the front wheel into an awkward steep corner where lesser bikes might understeer wildly, and the front tyre digs in and pulls you out of trouble. The Fox 36 Performance fork keeps you propped up while the chassis refuses to buckle. Mondraker’s zero suspension linkage does not give a completely isolating ride, which keeps a useful amount of feel coming through.

The open question is value. MIND telemetry is unique, but at this price the money could arguably have been better spent elsewhere. Performance-level suspension, lower-end SRAM NX and GX drivetrain components and frankly weak SRAM G2 R brakes compromise overall performance and value far more than the telemetry adds. The data is interesting but would need to be more detailed to be truly useful; for example, it may suggest you need less sag without indicating how much less. MIND has the potential to be an incredibly useful tool for a dedicated rider looking to extract maximum performance, but it will not appeal to every rider. Making it an add-on option while improving the value of the stock bike would make the Raze a stronger proposition overall.

Buying Advice: Matching the Bike to Your Riding

The honest answer to which of these seven is right for you is that they were built for different jobs, and the fit matters far more than any single specification line.

If you want assistance without giving up a conventional trail bike feel, the Trek Fuel EXe is the obvious starting point, provided you accept that the steepest climbs will ask more of you than a full-power e-MTB would. If your priority is composure on steep, rough descents and you want a high-pivot bike that still pedals well, the Hope HB916 makes a strong case. Riders who value a direct connection to the ground and simple, rust-resistant construction will find a lot to like in the Bird Forge, as long as they accept the realities of a hardtail.

The Pole Voima suits hard, fast charging riders who spend their time on rough, flat-out trails and are happy to trade some tight-terrain agility for that stability, while the Canyon Strive CFR is aimed squarely at racing and fast descending, with the Shapeshifter giving it a second, more trail-friendly personality. The Santa Cruz Nomad is the versatile gravity option, equally at home on chunky descents and mellower pump-and-pop trails. The Mondraker Raze is the data-driven trail bike, with telemetry that will appeal most to riders who genuinely enjoy tuning their setup.

A few practical checks are worth making before you buy. Look closely at which build you are paying for, because several of these bikes share frames and drive units across cheaper and more expensive versions. Check whether the brand allows spec changes at the point of purchase, as Bird does, since a different tyre casing or brake choice can change how a bike behaves. Finally, be realistic about where you actually ride. A bike tuned for maximum speed on steep terrain can feel slow and cumbersome on tighter, flatter trails, and a lighter, simpler machine may well put a bigger smile on your face.

Conclusion

These seven bikes are not competing for the same buyer, and that is exactly the point. A compact-motor e-MTB, a high-pivot enduro bike, a stainless steel hardtail, a CNC-machined aluminium e-bike, an adjustable enduro racer, a mixed-wheel gravity bike and a telemetry-equipped trail bike each represent a different bet on where mountain biking is heading.

The useful question is not which one is best, but which set of trade-offs matches the trails you ride and the way you like to ride them. Get that match right, and any of these seven will feel like money well spent.