The all-rounder. The jack-of-all-trades. Trail bikes are all about versatility, equally capable on technical trails and smooth singletrack. A full-suspension trail bike is your best choice for a wide variety of terrain, while a hardtail trail bike might be your pick if you prioritize weight savings and simplicity.
Key Characteristics of a Trail Bike
Trail bike geometry strikes a balance between the compact, nimble feel of a cross-country bike and the more stretched-out, stable setup of an enduro bike. It’s a comfortable balance that gives you stability on descents and efficiency on climbs across a variety of trail conditions.
Many trail bikes offer both front and rear suspension to give you better control on rugged singletrack trails. The rear suspension typically features mid-range travel of 120mm to 145mm. A trail bike’s front suspension ranges from 120mm to 160mm. Hardtail trail bikes, those without rear suspension, also typically have a suspension fork up front that ranges from 120mm to 160mm of travel.
Trail bikes come in a variety of wheel-size configurations, utilizing 27.5 to 29-inch wheels, depending on frame size. The Trance X trail bike also features the option to swap out a 29-inch rear wheel for a 27.5 to run a mixed-wheel “mullet” setup.
Trail bikes are typically a bit heavier than XC bikes due to added suspension, with their weight often ranging from 28 to 35 pounds depending on the frame build and components. Some trail bikes are light enough to excel in an XC setting, while others could fill in as a lighter weight enduro bike.