Pinkbike Awards: Mountain Bike of the Year Nominees
Mountain Bike of the Year Nominees
There was no shortage of new bikes this year, with over 50 reviews and first rides making their way onto the Pinkbike homepage over the last 12 months. There were a few notable trends, including the fact that the push for longer and slacker geometry is continuing, and numbers that once seemed insane are starting to hit the mainstream.
29ers continue to gain traction (no pun intended), and while they didn't completely dominate the DH World Cup scene like some expected they certainly made their mark. Don't worry, though, 27.5” bikes aren't going away any time soon, and several excellent options rolled out this season.
After plenty of heated arguments and name calling sessions we narrowed down our favorite bike of the year to the following five contenders. The nominees run the gamut from World Cup capable DH race rigs to do-it-all trail machines, a smorgasbord of 2018's top bikes.
Why it's nominated
If you took an Ibis Ripley, combined it with a Mojo, and then stretched things out a little bit, you'd get the Ripmo. It's a light and spirited 29er that can still handle plenty of punishing terrain, with 145mm of rear travel and a 160mm, reduced offset fork up front. Ibis managed to bake in their trademark liveliness into the Ripmo - this is the type of bike that encourages its rider to get airborne at every possible opportunity.
It may have debuted on the EWS circuit, but it's really more of an all-rounder than an outright race machine, with impeccable climbing performance that matches well with its descending capabilities. That balancing act is what placed the Ripmo on our list of nominees for Bike of the Year – there aren't many bikes out there that are as easy to ride up and down just about anything.
From the review:
 | Ibis embraced modern geometry trends with the Ripmo, and the result is a bike that remains composed no matter which way the trail is pointed. It's a well-rounded machine that still has that classic Ibis efficiency, but with extra stability and composure for the rough stuff. |
Why it's nominated
After much internal debate, it was Yeti's SB130 that ended up earning the nomination, edging out its longer travel sibling, the SB150. Both bikes live up to the Super Bike moniker, but the SB130 excels in a wider range of terrain; the 150 needs some proper rowdiness to really come alive.
It's certainly not an inexpensive option, but that's not as much of a factor when it comes to choosing the Bike of the Year. Performance is the focus here, and the SB130 delivers a smooth, balanced, and efficient feel, and makes the most of those 130 millimeters of travel out on the trail. Yeti's new geometry is right on target, with a roomy front center that creates a stable ride while descending, and a steep seat tube angle for climbing comfort. Of course, the fact that it now holds a water bottle in the right place is a welcome improvement, but even if it didn't there's a good chance it would have still earned a nomination due to its excellent ride quality.
From the First Ride:
| Descending aboard the SB130 is a joy, and no matter the terrain, the bike has a planted and confident feel. It makes the most out of its 130mm of travel, and with the 150mm fork up front it's easily been able to handle any situation I've piloted it into so far. |
Why it's nominated
A string of World Cup DH victories doesn't guarantee a Bike of the Year nomination, but the performance of Commencal's Supreme DH 29 under Amaury Pierron sure didn't hurt. The Frenchman racked up three victories aboard the aluminum rocketship, a testament to just how capable this chassis truly is.
The high-pivot suspension layout isn't a new design for Commencal, but for 2018 they added in a big-wheeled option, and increased the frame's reach. It's the Supreme's combination of stability and traction that elevate it above other current downhill bikes, delivering controlled comfort even at warp speed. There's also the fact that Commencal's consumer direct sales model allows them to offer the Supreme DH at a very reasonable price, making it an extra-appealing option for aspiring DH racers.
From the review:
| Charging into rough rock gardens and braking bumps is unreal - the Supreme was the first bike I have ever ridden that got easier to handle the harder I pushed it. It never even came close to flinching. |
Why it's nominated
Santa Cruz gave the Bronson a full revision this year, changing the suspension layout in addition to making it a little longer and a little slacker. It still has 150mm of rear travel and 27.5” wheels, but those alterations created a bike that somehow manages to feel better in the rough stuff than the previous version, while still offering excellent climbing performance.
For riders looking for a bike that can be used for a big enduro race one weekend, and a long backcountry adventure the next, the Bronson is a worthy option. The fact that Santa Cruz didn't go too crazy with the geometry updates is part of what makes the Bronson so enjoyable – it feels just right, right out of the box.
From the First Ride:
| Does the Bronson feel like a mini-Nomad? In a way, yes, although the word 'mini' might be underselling the capabilities of this bike. That 150mm of rear travel is incredibly supple and well controlled, which makes it feel almost bottomless in the really rough stuff. |
Why it's nominated
That's right, another high pivot downhill bike made it onto the Bike of the Year nominees list, and for good reason. Norco's new Aurum HSP is a force to be reckoned with between the tape, capable of maintaining a blistering pace with ease. The suspension design allows it to glide through whatever nastiness lays on the trail without losing speed, and it feels right at home in steep, rough terrain.
Norco earn extra credit points for giving the Aurum HSP different rear center lengths and tubing stiffnesses for each size, a feature other manufacturers would do well to adopt. It was the 29” version that won us over, but there is also a 27.5” option for those who prefer the smaller wheel size. Overall, it's a highly adjustable race bike that can be fine-tuned to exactly suit a rider's preferences, and one of the best out there for DH riders with a need for speed.
From the review:
| Norco have done a stunning job on the HSP, the finish is superb and everything has been considered down the final details. It's a premium product, at a premium price, with premium performance. |
Remember, there can only be one winner of the Pinkbike Mountain Bike of the Year award. Last year it was the Trek Slash - any guesses as to who will take home the prize this year? The victor will be revealed next week, but until then let the debating begin.
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The Ripmo I demo'd was pretty damn good too.....you can't loose right now!
What about that rear flex?
That is interesting and merits a discussion. Firmer in the beginning of the stroke and softer at the end. Needs a shock that's soft off the top and a bunch of spacers to help with ramp up at the end. Not sure how Lopes is running a coil on his. Tons of HSC packed into that shock for sure. I still liked the bike though and think it rips. I did like the sb130 more tho. The dentists just don't know how good they have it!
Anyway the bottom line is there's better kinematics out there that have more mechanical advantage and subsequently don't require higher spring rates and the static friction that goes along with it.
www.pinkbike.com/photo/16516871
Add in a threaded BB (the Yeti has a pressfit design) and more suspension travel (with a lighter frame weight) and you end up with a bike that is more capable, lighter, and less expensive. I'd say the RIPMO is the winner here.
So a 2019 Trek Session is playing catch up to a 2001 kona stinky???
The commencal is undoubtedly a rad bike, but the Norco is just a better all round product!
@ali-chapple: shrug. If you wanna go historic I guess but I think you know that wasn’t my point. I was discussing which one got here first, the Norco or the one that isn’t Canadian.
The Commencal maybe isn’t made out of carbon like a road bike or have more gimmicks than a Transition but it’s an unapologetic DH race bike that has only one goal and that is to win all the things, something it seems to be helping it’s riders do quite well.
PS my post about the wank carbon was actually my frustration at myself having accidentally deleted my post twice. Dumbass. My apologies everyone I’ll go away now and sob while I try and come to terms with the Norco being a better all round bike.
That’s a lie I’m way too lazy to scroll up. It hurts my thumb.
I can't believe the (*insert adjective) editors didn't nominate (*insert bike). What a (*insert exclaimation)!
That said, I'm not sure why we're comparing dh rigs with am rigs here?, so my decision would depend purely on its application
Thanks
the supreme SX is 27,5” so its not the bike in the text (but the frame is pretty much the same) so cant really answer your question sorry
RESPECT to the reverse now all I have to do is rob a few banks.
Damb I wanti wanti cyan getti getti
“the Bronson's numbers make it enjoyable on much more than just the steepest trails. It's certainly capable of holding its own in an enduro race, but it's also just as useable as a trail bike with plenty of travel for the technical stuff. When it comes to cornering performance, the Bronson's low center of gravity makes it feel extremely stable and planted, and testers were unanimous in their praise about the grey machine's tenacity in the turns.”
I work my ass off and saved up to buy a nice bike, and without mentioning the bargain hunting I did on the way to building it I said I like it. Tell me again why that offends you.
Money is a little like riding a bike. If you study it and work at it, you can become proficient and successful.
Lots of great resources available to help you become more financially prosperous.
Get some financial wisdom, work harder - and stop putting other people down - it just makes you look bad.