Nathaniel Fried Picking the best downhill bike that suits you can be a tricky task. Suspension, brakes, different wheel sizes and frame materials. The options seem to know no bounds!
All these fantastic bikes which are built for all-out speed, aggressive riding, and hitting big jumps and gaps are the perfect option for those who love adventure.
Downhill bikes were created for off-roading and for providing lots of fun. Master of muck, king of the hills, and trail titan are just a few of the titles you can earn as a downhill biker.
If you are asking yourself which downhill bike you should buy, then this top should help you to find the best one for your needs.
YT Industries Tues CF Pro Race MOB Edition
(Image from yt-industries.com)
YT Industrial Tues has had more than its fair share of success over the years, having clinched numerous accolades amongst the cycling media. The new Tues has received some evolutionary changes to the kinematic, sizing, finish and detail.
YT Tues CF Pro Race MOB Edition is designed around 650b wheels and features a carbon chainstay to complete the chassis. The carbon frame delivers ideal stiffness and ultimate reliability at an impressively low weight.
Also, one of the most important characteristics is that this model comes in five sizes, ranging from the small which offers a reach of 410mm, to the XXL with a reach of 495mm. The new frame gets a totally revised head tube that’ll accept a reach adjust headset.
For the new CF Pro Race MOB Edition, YT has also altered the pivot hardware and sealing for improved durability. Cables are routed internally to help keep the bike looking clutter free.
The new model provides some integrated rubberised protection on the seat stays, on the downtube and the chain. Also, it has a neat little chainsuck protection around the mech hanger.
YT Industries Tues CF Pro Race it is so quiet, so clean, and so composed. A remarkable bike.
CANYON Sender CF 9.0
(Image from canyon.com)
If you want to test a downhill bike that can stand up to the hardest runs, then the Sender CF 9.0 is exactly what you need.
This is one of the most appreciated downhill bikes on the market, taking advantage of 650b wheels and the new Fox Factory 40 suspension fork. To guarantee a dynamic ride, it functions in conjunction with the Fox Factory Float X2 shock with a wide tuning range via HSC/LSC/HSR/LSR.
For the stem, bars and grips, this new model comes with the G5 carbon components from Canyon which are super-durable. One of the best features of this model is the ability to significantly adjust the geometry. More precisely, the bike comes with cups to take the head tube angle from 62 to 64 degrees. Also, the chainstay length can be tweaked from 16.93 to 17.56 inches.
The Sender’s four-bar linkage design incorporates Canyon’s proprietary MX Link. This link works hand in hand with the new highly adjustable air shocks. The MX Link isolates the shock from lateral flex in the frame, apparently reducing friction and wear.
CANYON Sender CF 9.0 is one of those charismatic bikes that delivers straightforward performance.
Specialized S-works Demo 8
(Image from specialized.com)
Constructed from the finest carbon fiber, FACT 11m, for unparalleled stiffness and strength, Specialized S-Works Demo 8 is a silent and amazing bike. The Demo 8 also has a magnesium swing link as opposed to the aluminium link found on the lower-end models.
The main highlight of the S-Works build is the Öhlins TTX rear shock that delivers unparalleled DH performance. It comes with high/low-speed compression adjust, enabling you to fine-tune the shock for the track at hand. The Öhlins TTX shock is very helpful and provides a great pedaling platform that feels surprisingly efficient.
Also, this model has powerful SRAM Guide RS DH that provides precise and highly adjustable braking.
The asymmetrical frame, especially with the yellow Öhlins TTX shock, make the Specialized S-Works Demo 8 stand out as a unique bike. This bike is built to keep things smooth on fast, rough trails, and it does that very well.
Mondraker Summum Carbon Pro
(Image from mondraker.com)
This fantastic model it’s built around an EPS skeleton, carefully wrapped in strategic layers of carbon and epoxy before being formed in a mould under pressure. The Mondraker Summum Carbon Pro with 27.5 inches wheels is one of the lightest downhill bikes you can buy, weighing only 16.5 Kg.
This model features stealth carbon frame, Shimano Zee 1x10s drivetrain, Fox 40 Float Factory Kashima FIT4 LSC Performance Elite 200mm fork, SRAM Guide R brakes and Fox DHX2 Performance Elite rear shock.
Mondraker Summum Carbon Pro is built around a Forward Geometry frame with 205mm Zero Suspension System. Combining a shorter stem and a longer front center to offset the increase in reach within the frame, Forward Geometry increases stability on steeper.
Also, the Zero Suspension System features new bearings, along with oversized axles and a newly designed lower link that have both been reinforced for added rigidity. More than this, it is a very progressive suspension system that boasts highly efficient pedaling.
Mondraker Summum Carbon Pro it is very easy to handle, especially for those who are accustomed to a downhill bike.
