With technology and design around suspension linkages and frame design constantly being refined, the best full-suspension mountain bikes have taken over all disciplines of mountain biking.
No longer reserved for gravity-orientated riders, we're seeing everyone from trail to XC riders adopting the best full-suspension mountain bikes as they offer a wealth of advantages including more traction, added comfort, and confidence when riding rough terrain.
For information on Bike Perfect's testing procedures and how our scoring system works, see our how we test page.
Keep reading to find out our pick of the best full-suspension mountain bikes for cross-country, downcountry, and trail riding.
While these are the best full-suspension mountain bikes, you don't need to spend loads of money to get a great full-suspension bike. If you are looking for good value bikes check out our best budget full-suspension bike guide.
Meet the tester
Guy Kesteven is Bike Perfect contributing tech editor. Hatched in Yorkshire, he's been hardened by riding round it in all weathers since he was a kid. He spent a few years working in bike shops before starting writing and testing for bike mags in 1996. Since then he’s written several million words about several thousand test bikes and a ridiculous amount of riding gear
Best full-suspension trail bikes
As the way most of us ride and the places we go get our fix have become increasingly extreme, trail bikes have been getting more confident, controlled and tougher. That inevitably means they've got heavier too, but as most of them pedal so well it doesn't actually matter. I've tested a ton of properly awesome all round trail bikes in the past year too, which makes picking a top five really hard. I reckon you can't go far wrong with any of these options though.
If you want to read a more sensible account of why the Specialized Stumpjumper Evo Comp is brilliant you should read my full review. But while I'm chained to a desk following an injury, here's some Stumpjumper Evo vibe vectors you might not find elsewhere.
Yes, there is an alloy bike and it's really good for all the same geometry adjust, plush suspension, 'lovable like a labrador' reasons as the carbon one is. It's obviously a win if you don't trust carbon either. It is a lot heavier though and you get both a hop up from SRAM NX to GX and the carbon frame for not much extra cash on the Comp. There's no storage either.
What really makes the carbon Evo standout though? The fact you can play around with the geometry in several ways just with an Allen key and a few trailside minutes is brilliant. You can produce some properly radical results with it too, rather than just correcting the numbers from outdated to OK like some bikes.
Specialized started the internal storage revolution and they still do it better than anyone else – I certainly haven't been able to fit three full size sausage rolls into any other bikes. The whole bike from grips to tires is totally sorted as well and while they don't officially offer a lifetime warranty, Specialized customer service is ridiculously good. If you pick up their shoes, gloves, helmet and clothing at the same time you'll be equally well looked after but people will throw stones at you unless you're riding round the Surrey Hills.
While not everyone agrees with me, I reckon the Evo pedals better than the standard shorter travel Stumpjumper too. It's still a bit soggier in feel than the stiffest bikes in category, but then FSR suspension always has been and you never have to worry about climbing traction on it.
Most of all though it's just a really fun, forgiving and friendly bike to ride on every ride. Maybe not the sharpest or showiest, but one that'll show you a damn good time every time. It'll generally bring you home less battered afterwards too, so you're fresh to go again the next day. The fact it's still in my workshop as a go to benchmark months after I posted the review is a big thumbs up too.
I've gone for Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8, but to be honest, any of the massive Spectral family could have made the 'best full-suspension bike' cut. That's because the fundamentals of really well designed and detailed frames, totally sorted progressive geometry and impeccably neutral four-bar suspension all loaded with killer value specs are the same throughout the range.
Having ridden the standard carbon frame in two different spec formats the significantly lower weight (lower than a lot of so called 'downcountry' bikes) definitely makes it worth stretching your wallet for. From what I've heard, the alloy bikes are still really well sorted though and at the price they start they're pretty much unbeatable in terms of ride and features.
As well as a huge range of price points – from Shimano entry level to SRAM Flight Attendant auto suspension – there are different wheel, frame and travel options under the broader Spectral umbrella too. The mullet wheel, coil-shock bike is perfect if you've got hero corners to slash. The shorter travel Spectral 125 is great for those who want more pop than plush too. You're not gaining any advantages in terms of weight though so the fancy frame CFR option is the win if you've got the cash for a proper, premium trail racer.
Even that's a comparative super bargain though, but don't forget a lot of that money is saved by skipping the expensive shop bit and sending you your Spectral in a box. Just like everything else Canyon it's a really nicely designed box though.
For more, see our full Canyon Spectral 29 CF 8 review.
Santa Cruz's latest Hightower is longer, slacker in the head, steeper in the seat and comes with internal storage where you can keep the massive sense of totally predictable progression.
Yes, as a cynical old sod I really wasn't expecting to be that blown away by the new version of Santa Cruz's 29er all-rounder. Mainly because the old one was already my benchmark of how good a mid-travel (150mm front/145mm rear) 29er could feel. And like most other evolution models from most other brands, I didn't think a door to a secret store was really worth more weight and a £1000 price hike.
"Ha" said Santa Cruz and immediately set about making me look like one of those reviewers who doesn't bother to weigh things or actually think of the consequences and realities of paying nearly 10k for a "push bike". The fractionally shifted, smaller pivot kinematic of the VPP suspension whispered sweet nothings in my ear. I'm not going to go into how the new RockShox Super Deluxe shock produced an ecstatic "oh yes" from me , but I can tell you every click of that spring detented, low-speed compression dial does something really special.
The slightly altered handling told me how incredible I was every time I held off the brakes a little bit longer or tipped the bars into corners a bit deeper. The boxier carbon frame, perfectly shaped Santa Cruz bars and bulge reinforced Reserve carbon rims told me their no quibble lifetime warranty didn't matter because the way they rode made me feel invincible anyway.
And when I clicked the sweetly over engineered catch on that internal storage it wasn't just like opening the door on a top spec German whip. It was like I was important enough for someone to be opening my car door for me.
So, whether you get it from these utterings or you still need to read the full Santa Cruz Hightower V3 review, if you've got a pile of cash or a robust lack of financial responsibility, the Hightower is the 'super trail' all-rounder to beat right now.
Mondraker bought the super short stem, long reach stability geometry revolution to the mainstream with their Forward Geometry bikes. The Raze is their latest expression of that rebellious responsiveness with a super lively lightweight carbon frame and 150mm front, 130mm suspension split.
What sounds like a wonky amount of travel works really well to encourage you to attack with the front wheel as much as possible. That's because it's when the Raze geometry is at it's best and Mondraker even fit a reinforced front tire but not a rear one to reinforce the point.
The stunningly looking slimline frame not only looks fast standing still. It feeds into the 'grab the trail by the throat' vibe with a sinewy, feel that snakes and swerves through trouble while laying down awesome traction. The race honed Zero suspension gets extra set up assist via the wireless MIND travel tracking sensors front and rear too. That literally makes the Raze RR a live wire both technically and in terms of ride character. And while not everyone will need that level of tech or want that much in your face, synapse reactive responsiveness it definitely deserves a shout out as something special.
For more, check out our full Mondraker Raze Carbon RR review.
You're probably not surprised to see carbon bikes from a string of mega brands filling this best of guide. Steel from a small outfit near Sheffield UK though? Really?
And yes, ferrous alloy is heavier than fiber composites by an average of a kilo for same category bikes. You won't get the same stiffness as a big box frame and it doesn't scream 'look how much I've spent on all this tech' either. The carefully curated steel tubes of Cotic's mid travel trail machine add a subtle spring and flow that's almost impossible to weave into a composite, shape into an alloy tube or dial into a damper though. Ovalisation and oversizing where it matters still means the Jeht can place its front wheel perfectly and drive its rear wheel powerfully too. The latest Longshot geometry is confidence boosting without killing the visceral, responsive vibe of the frame. The Cane Creek suspension is as refreshingly different but still impressively controlled as the frame and the whole package is just a riot to ride.
A whole range of build specs and rolling chassis options offer surprisingly good value for a small company and Cy and his team will work with you to create any custom of partial build solutions you want too.
Add a richly deserved reputation for awesome customer service and a warm fuzzy feeling when you see all the worthwhile projects and initiatives Cotic are involved in and steel might just steal your heart.
For more, see our full Cotic Jeht Gold XT review.
Best full-suspension XC bikes
The top racers in the world used to all ride hardtails for minimum weight, but tougher courses mean the fastest riders are now choosing the best full-suspension bikes instead.
The great news is that it’s creating some really versatile high-velocity, short-travel machines that are as happy raving on your favorite singletrack as they are ripping up the race track. But which are the winning machines and what do you need to know to work out which is the best bike for you?
Santa Cruz hasn't had a proper podium-focused full suspension XC race bike in their lineup for years but the fourth-generation Santa Cruz Blur impressed me so much that I awarded it five stars in my full review.
For the new Blur, Santa Cruz strived to combine XCO-race-worthy speed with the brand's signature handling that can be found on its range of popular trail bikes. New to the frame is a flex in the seat stay as well as a new suspension design that diverges from the brand's usual VPP setup. The suspension features 100mm front and rear, and there is a 120mm TR version of the bike available too.
RockShox SID suspension front and rear are combined with SRAM's X01 Eagle AXS wireless drivetrain along with SRAM Level RSC brakes. Lightweight carbon rims are specced from Santa Cruz's in-house wheel brand Reserve and a 100mm Fox Transfer SL dropper post is also specced. Despite being seriously light you still get a full lifetime warranty on frame, rims, bearings, and handlebars and no weight restriction either.
It's the effortless acceleration and effervescent flow and fun of the Blur that really made it a favorite of our testers though, both on the race track and off.
The Scott Spark is by far the most successful cross-country race bike of the last decade, and latest model is faster, more controlled and uniquely sleek looking too.
The most obvious change is that Scott have hidden the rear shock inside the frame so that it's not exposed to the elements. The brand has also bumped up the rear suspension travel to 120mm on all Spark models, not just the downcountry/trail ones. The already progressive, control boosting geometry can also be made a degree slacker in just a couple of minutes on the trailside which really boosted confidence when I was testing it.
The Team Issue AXS is a real sweet spot in terms of value for racers too. The excellent RockShox SID fork and Deluxe rear shock suspension feature bar lever controlled open, traction and lock settings for maximum efficiency. The SRAM GX Eagle AXS electronic drivetrain is flawlessly fast and you get the superlight Syncros Hixon all in one carbon cockpit. The Syncros Silverton wheels are light too and Maxxis Rekon 2.4in tires roll super fast while staying rocky section safe.
All it's really lacking is a dropper post, although there are lighter HMX and HMX SL versions of the frame with carbon Syncros wheel options on more expensive Sparks if you've got the cash.
Read more about the Spark in our full Scott Spark Team Issue AXS review.
Best full-suspension downcountry bikes
With trail bikes getting heavier and longer travel all the time, a new breed of agile, responsive but still impressively controlled and fun to rally 'downcountry' bikes have appeared. There are lots of bikes that claim to be in this category but are too heavy of slow though, so we've picked our favorites carefully.
The Izzo is YT's debut into the lightweight full-suspension bike category is a seriously fun yet surprisingly fast machine. At 130mm of travel front and rear and 12.5kg in weight, this may not be a pure-bred race bike. However, it can still handle those marathon days and keep up with the fast guys on climbs before shredding them on the descents.
The suspension is Kashima-coated, Fox Factory spec both the front and rear, and the shock has a remote lockout for long, smooth transfer climbs. The bike is outfitted with a SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain and SRAM G2 brakes but the real win are the DT Swiss XMC 1200 Spline wheels. Just like the Izzo the carbon rimmed favourites are very light yet properly trail tough and they've been wrapped in Maxxis tires for low drag, all conditions traction.
Like most YT bikes, the value for money is excellent too, although I reckon more radical riders might want to swap to a shorter stem than the climb optimized one supplied.
Check out our full review of the YT Izzo Pro Race and we've also reviewed the YT Izzo Core 3 model.
The radical 'Brain suspension' Epic has been Specialized's flagship XC bike for nearly twenty years, but the latest generation of the Epic Evo is a lot more than just a trail version of that bike. As well as removing the 'Brain' from the suspension (which makes it the lightest full suspension frame option from Specialized) travel is also is bumped up to 120mm front and rear and geometry is a lot more progressive too.
The RockShox SID forks and shock combination still keeps it superlight and some of Specialized's pro XC racers are actually picking this bike over the normal Epic. The Roval rims are wrapped in Specialized's own excellent downcountry tires too, complementing the beautifully lively and agile ride.
Slacker angles and a 150mm dropper post from X-Fusion to keep the seat out of the way mean it still loves dancing down properly technical trails. It can get twangy if you push proper hard though, but to be honest, playing with that edge of control is a big part of the thrill of riding it.
If you're looking for a bargain, the Comp version of this bike has all the trail-shredding capability and is still impressively light even with a lower tier parts spec. Plus it has skinwall tyres so we reckon it looks better as well.
Light enough to race but rowdy enough rally, check out our full thoughts in our Specialized Epic Evo Expert review.
Best full-suspension mountain bikes: everything you need to know
What are the benefits of a full-suspension mountain bike?
Hardtails will always be the cheaper, lighter option and if you’ve got the skills you can skip and skim them through some pretty technical terrain, too.
When the surface gets relentlessly rough or there are big drops and rocks involved, full-suspension is a massive advantage though. It sucks up bike-stopping impacts to help you sustain speed, keep you on line and ultimately keep you on the bike. The rear wheel is more consistently connected for better technical climbing traction and cornering speed too. The days of power wasting bob and bounce, rapidly wearing pivots and unreliable rear shocks are mostly long gone too. That means you can carry more speed with less fatigue and risk wherever you ride.
How much mountain bike suspension travel is best?
150mm is the average real-wheel movement for most trail bikes. It’s enough to make a big difference in control off drops and through rock gardens but not so much that it disturbs pedalling or geometry even at full travel. Most shock and suspension set ups are sorted enough that there’s no saggy middle stroke section or lost power either.
There are some trail bikes with 125-130mm travel feel for a tauter, tighter feel and some of them exploit that with a lighter weight overall build too. Meanwhile 120mm 'downcountry' bikes pack a surprising amount of control into a significantly lighter package while pure XC bikes run 100mm of travel to achieve sub 10kg weights.
What's the best mountain bike frame geometry?
Geometry has been the fastest changing part of mountain bike performance recently. The slackest trail bikes are now running 63-degree head angles that would have been DH bike only a few years ago. Even the most progressive XC bikes can be adjusted to 66 degrees now, when 70 degrees was the average not long ago. To stop them feeling like DH bikes though the latest thing is for seat angles to steepen to triathlon bike numbers. That all works to put you in the center of the action for the best turning and handling balance while the suspension does its job at either end.
What are the best mountain bike components?
Most bikes run Fox or RockShox suspension with Shimano or SRAM stop and go equipment and you can't go far wrong with either. SRAM AXS is our favourite top end spec though, while Shimano Deore and SLX are awesome at the affordable end. Other brands like Cane Creek, Ohlins and Hope get a look in occasionally too and that's generally fine by us.
Wheels vary from brand name to own brand and while few are obviously rubbish, the best thing is that most bikes come with decent tires. A lot of them are set up tubeless from the shop too which is a definite win. Bars, stems and dropper posts are generally the right shape/length and reliable too, which is a big change from 5-10 years ago.
In short, it's pretty hard to go really wrong with most bikes now, although the price of entry to decent full-suspension is more like £1500 than £1000 like it was a few years back.
How much should the best full-suspension mountain bikes weigh?
The lightest full suspension race bikes still sneak in under 10kg and premium downcountry bikes are in the 11 to 12.5kg bracket. Cheaper XC and DC bikes are in the 13 to 14kg range, but by that point they're really short travel trail bikes. Most trail bikes are now in the 14 to 15kg range with some big hit or low price options sneaking significantly over that.
The good news is that while most bikes have got heavier, they mostly pedal better which offsets the weight on climbs or when accelerating out of corners. More control and confidence mean you can carry more speed through turns and technical sections as well, so there's less accelerating to do afterwards.
That won't help you lift your bike over a gate or into a car though and when it comes to long, not technical climbs, less weight is always an advantage.
The top racers in the world used to all ride hardtails for minimum weight but tougher courses mean the fastest riders all use the best full-suspension XC bikes.
The great news is that it’s creating some really versatile high-velocity, short-travel machines that are as happy raving on your favorite singletrack as they are ripping up the race track. But which are the winning machines and what do you need to know to work out which is the best bike for you?