Best Short-Travel Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes – 100 to 130mm
Trail and Cross-Country mountain bikes offer limitless fun on various terrains. There are quite a few different mountain bike types out there, but in this review – we’ll be focusing on the lighter end of the spectrum, bikes that are considered as short travel full-suspension mountain bikes.
Ibis Ripley – One of the most iconic short-travel playbike
Table of Contents
Intro
100mm front travel
120mm front travel
130mm front travel
What is a short travel mountain bike?
XC & Trail | Trail & All-Mountain | Enduro
100-130mm | 130-160mm | 150-180mm
- Generally, bikes with 70-110mm travel are considered Cross-Country (XC) bikes
- While short-travel Trail bikes have around 100-130mm on the front and rear.
- Next up are the so-called mid-travel mountain bikes with a range of 130-160mm, mostly known as Trail
- ..and Enduro bikes that have travel up to 180mm in the front
- the last up is the downhill/gravity – which provides any heavy-duty bikes with a range of 160-200mm+ suspension on the front and rear.
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Best Trail & All-Mountain MTBs
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Best Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes – Under $3,000
Best Electric Mountain Bikes – of 2021
Best Short-Travel (100-130mm) Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes
XC / XC Race / Trail
100 mm front travel
100/100
100/90
1. Orbea – Oiz M10
2. Giant – Anthem 2
3. Cannondale – Scalpel Carbon 2
4. Intense – Sniper XC Expert
5. Niner – RKT 9 RDO RS 2-Star
1. Orbea – Oiz M10 ‘2021
Best XC Full-Suspension Mountain Bike of 2021
Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.2″
MSRP $4,899 JensonUSA
The Orbea Oiz M10 is an ultra-light full-suspension XC bike, weighing in at an average of only 10kg depending on size. With a full carbon frame, DT Swiss carbon rims, carbon handlebar, and carbon seat post, it’s no wonder!
It’s ideally suited to cross-country or long-distance trail riding, with an extra-wide 12-speed Shimano XT groupset that covers 10-51T on the cassette. Fox provides both the DPS Factory shock and the remote-adjustable 100mm travel fork. To complement the lightweight rims, you get 29×2.2″ Maxxis tires, Ikon on the rear, and Ardent upfront.
Fork: Fox 32 Float SC Factory FIT4, 100mm travel
Shock: Fox I-Line DPS Factory, 120mm travel
Wheels: DT Swiss XT-1650
Head tube angle: 69º / Seat tube angle: 75º / Chainstay: 435mm
JensonUSA.com
2. Giant – Anthem 2 ‘2021
Best full-suspension mountain bike under $3,000
Aluminum / 12-Speed Shimano Deore / 29×2.35″
MSRP $2,400 Giant Bicycles
The Anthem is a solid mid-priced Giant full suspension mountain for those who want good quality without breaking the bank. The ALUXX aluminum frame is strong and relatively light for an MTB, with extra-large 29″ wheel spacing and tight suspension on the rear. It comes standard with 2.35″ Maxxis Recon tires but can fit larger if desired.
It uses the Maestro system with 90mm of travel and a RockShox Deluxe shock on the rear plus a 100mm travel Recon Silver fork up front. This is ideal for XC, along with an ample 12-speed Shimano Deore system for the drivetrain with MT410 hydro disc brakes and a Praxis crank and BB.
Fork: RockShox Recon Silver RL, 100mm travel
Shock: RockShox Deluxe Select+ RT, 90mm travel
Wheels: Giant XCT 29
Giant-Bicycles.com
3. Cannondale – Scalpel Carbon 2
Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.25″
MSRP $6,000 Aventuron
One of the more expensive offerings on our list, this Cannondale full suspension mountain bike is a professional XC carbon racer with aggressive geometry and top-quality parts. The BallisTec frame even features a ‘Stash’ built-in repair kit section. The 100mm travel Lefty Ocho fork is a strange component that some might find a bit odd at first – but it works well!
The HollowGram crank merged with a 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes couldn’t be better, not to mention 29″ HollowGram tubeless-ready rims. On the rear is an adjustable Fox Float Performance shock and the tires are 2.25″ Schwalbe Racing.
Fork: Lefty Ocho, 100mm travel
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Elite EVOL, 100mm travel
Wheels: Hollowgram 25
Head tube angle: 68º / Seat tube angle: 74.5º / Chainstay: 436mm
Aventuron.com
4. Intense – Sniper XC Expert
Carbon / 12-Speed SRAM NX Eagle / 29×2.25″
MSRP $3,999 JensonUSA
The 29″ Sniper XC Expert from Intense Cycles is a blend of downhill and cross-country features combined to create a unique riding experience. The lightweight full carbon frame has aggressive downhill geometry juxtaposed against Fox Performance suspension with only 100mm of travel.
For the groupset, it matches SRAM’s more trail-focused NX Eagle drivetrain with Shimano’s downhill-ready M500 hydraulic disc brakes. This makes climbing easier and descending safer, plus you get a Recon dropper seat post for added downhill capabilities. The wheelset fits Maxxis Rekon 29×2.25″ tires on Stan’s Crest alloy rims.
Fork: Fox Performance Float 32 Stepcast, 100mm travel
Shock: Fox Performance Float DPS, 100mm travel
Wheels: Stans’ Crest Alloy
Head tube angle: 66.5º / Seat tube angle: 73º / Chainstay: 439mm
JensonUSA.com
5. Niner – RKT 9 RDO RS 2-Star
Carbon / 12-Speed SRAM SX Eagle / 29×2.25″
MSRP $3,900 JensonUSA
The RKT 9 is a Niner full suspension MTB focused on cross-country racing with a lightweight carbon frame, Fox Float suspension, and SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain. It uses Niner’s CVA (Constantly Varying Arc) suspension design for subtle yet stable movement, with 100mm of travel on the front and 90mm on the rear.
The wide gear ratio (11-50T) allows for easy hill climbs while SRAM’s Level hydraulic disc brakes ensure safe descents. The wheelset combines standard 29″ alloy rims with 2.4″ front and 2.25″ rear Maxxis Rekon tires.
Fork: Fox 32 Float Rhythm GRIP EVOL, 100mm
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance EVOL 3-Position, 100mm
Wheels: Niner Alloy Boost
Niner RKT 9 RDO 2-Star ‘2020 – $3,900
Niner RKT 9 RDO 3-Star ‘2020 – $5,100
Niner RKT 9 RDO 4-Star ‘2020 – $5,900
Head tube angle: 71º / Seat tube angle: 74.5º / Chainstay: 440mm
JensonUSA.com
120 mm front travel
120/110
120/100
6. Rocky Mountain – Element Carbon 70
7. Specialized – Epic EVO Expert
8. Trek – Top Fuel 9.7
9. Yeti – SB100 TURQ T1
10. Pivot – Mach 4
11. Santa Cruz Bicycles – Tallboy C R-Kit
12. Diamondback – Atroz 1
6. Rocky Mountain – Element Carbon 70 ‘2021
Best value full-suspension mountain bike
Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT/XTR / 29×2.4″ & 29x.2.3″
MSRP $5,799 JensonUSA
Canadian manufacturer Rocky Mountain are known for their quality bikes and this 29-inch full suspension mountain bike is no exception. It’s a pure XC bike, designed for speed over rough but mostly flat terrain. The Smoothwall carbon frame is fitted with a 120mm Fox Float Performance fork and matching 100mm rear shock, which holds excellent traction along with the 2.4″ Maxxis tires.
The Element Carbon 70 runs a typical 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain with matching hydraulic disc brakes and is finished off with top-quality RaceFace components. This is a beast of an XC trail bike and in all black, it’s got the looks to match.
Fork: Fox 34 SC Float Performance Elite, 120mm travel
Shock: Fox Float DPS Performance Elite, 100mm travel
Wheels: Race Face AR 25 Rims
Rocky Mountain Element Carbon 50 ‘2020 – $4,599
Rocky Mountain Element Carbon 50 ‘2021 – $4,599
Rocky Mountain Element Carbon 90 ‘2021 – $7,499
Rocky Mountain Bikes Overview (Opens a new tab)
Head tube angle: 69.8º / Seat tube angle: 75.3º / Chainstay: 438mm
JensonUSA.com
7. Specialized – Epic EVO Comp
MSRP $6,300 Specialized
The Epic EVO Expert is a Specialized full suspension mountain bike with a full carbon frame, progressive XC geometry, and RockShox SID Select+ suspension. It features 120mm of front travel and 100mm or rear, with a top-of-the-range SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain and matching G2 hydro disc brakes.
To keep weight down, Specialized has chosen Roval carbon rims on DT Swiss hubs and 2.3″ Roval tires with GRIPTON technology. Right down to the spoke and X-Fusion Manic seatpost, every detail is accounted for, making for the perfect XC trail bike.
Also available at Mikes Bikes
Fork: RockShox SID Select+, 120mm travel
Shock: RockShox SID Select+, 110mm travel
Wheels: Roval Control Carbon
Head tube angle: 66.5º / Seat tube angle: 75.5º / Chainstay: 438mm
Specialized.com
8. Trek – Top Fuel 9.7
Available in-store only
Carbon / 12-Speed SRAM NX-Eagle / 29×2.4″
MSRP $4,000 Trekbikes
The Trek Top Fuel is a full suspension XC mountain bike designed to flatten out the mountains, decimating climbs and thundering down descents. The stiff, lightweight carbon frame is fitted with a 120mm RockShox Reba fork and 115mm Fox Performance shock, which is an interesting combination.
Some nifty Trek-specific features include a highly responsive Straight Shot downtube, protective Knock Block headset, and Mino Link adjustable geometry. SRAM’s NX Eagle sorts out the 12-speed drivetrain, with Shimano supplying the hydraulic disc brakes.
Fork: RockShox Reba RL,120mm travel
Shock: Fox Performance Float, n/a travel
Wheels: Bontrager Kovee
Head tube angle: 68-67.5º / Seat tube angle: 75.5º / Chainstay: 434mm
Trekbikes.com
9. Yeti – SB100 TURQ T1
Best Performance Bike
Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano XT / 29×2.3″
MSRP $6,499 JensonUSA
The SB100 Turq T1 is a Yeti full-suspension mountain bike that blurs the lines between XC and downhill. The carbon frame isn’t overly stiff and the seat tube allows longer dropper posts, but the redesigned Switch Infinity pivot on the Fox Factory suspension is specifically designed for 100mm travel. This combination provides an XC bike that seems intended for more intense, rougher terrain than usual.
For power, you get the top-class Shimano XT drivetrain with a 12-speed 10-15T cassette and XT hydraulic disc brakes. The DT Swiss rims are fitted with 29×2.3″ Maxxis tires, a Minion upfront, and Aggressor on the rear.
Fork: Fox Factory 34 SC, 120mm travel
Shock: Fox Factory DPS, 100mm travel
Wheels: DT Swiss M1700
Yeti SB100 Turq T2 ‘2020 – $6,999
Yeti SB100 Carbon C1 ‘2020 – $5,099
Head tube angle: 67.8º / Seat tube angle: 74.2º / Chainstay: 437mm
JensonUSA.com
10. Pivot – Mach 4
Four Different Designs
Carbon / SRAM X01 Eagle / 29×2.2″
MSRP $6,999 Backcountry
Pivot Cycles is a relatively new bicycle company but has already won awards for its innovative design. This can be seen on its Mach 4 SL 29er full-suspension mountain bike, a lightweight carbon beast with top-level parts. It’s a professional XC bike for advanced riders, just slack enough to handle big drops but tight enough that you won’t lose pedal power on flats.
The suspension is tight, with a Fox Factory 120mm fork up front and 100mm shock on the rear. The aggressive geometry places you higher over the pedals for more power into each stroke and with a 12-speed SRAM X01 drivetrain you get perfect shifting every time.
Fork: Fox Factory Stepcast 34, 120mm travel
Shock: Fox Factory DPS, 100mm travel
Wheels: DT Swiss M1700
Head tube angle: 68-67.5º / Seat tube angle: 75.5º / Chainstay: 434mm
Backcountry.com
11. Santa Cruz Bicycles – Tallboy C R-Kit
Carbon / 12-Speed SRAM NX Eagle / 29×2.3″
MSRP $4,199 JensonUSA
The Tallboy is of the most popular Santa Cruz full-suspension Mountain Bikes and this version has a tighter, more grounded feel, perfect for attacking bumpy terrain at high speed. With the Santa Cruz Flip-Chip upper link, you can fit 29″ or 27.5″ rims and tires, although it comes standard with 29×2.3″ Maxxis tires on WTB STi25 rims.
The 12-speed SRAM NX Eagle groupset runs a wide-ratio 11-50T cassette for easy climbing and includes SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes. It’s finished off with a RaceFace stem, handlebar, and seat post with WTB saddle and Cane Creek headset.
Fork: Fox Rythm 34, 120mm travel
Shock: Fox Float Performance DPS, 110mm travel
Wheels: WTB ST i25 TCS
BUILDS
Santa Cruz Blur C S-Kit – $4,499
Santa Cruz Bronson C R-Kit – $4,399
Head tube angle: 68º / Seat tube angle: 73º / Chainstay: 432mm
JensonUSA.com
12. Diamondback – Atroz 1
Best Cheap & budget full-suspension mountain bike 🏆
Aluminum / 24-Speed / 27.5×2.35″
MSRP $950 Amazon
This Diamondback full-suspension mountain bike is one of the most affordable on the market and it still comes with decent parts. The aluminum frame is fitted with an SR Suntour XCM fork with 120mm of travel and a 100mm rear coil-sprung shock, both adequate for heavy trail riding.
The drivetrain is a 9-speed Shimano Altus with a sufficient gear ratio for steep climbs and for braking you get trusted Tektro Aries mechanical discs. None of the parts are top quality by any means but they fit together well to provide excellent value for money. If you’re on a tight budget but love hitting the mountain trails, this bike will do you fine.
Fork: SR Suntour XCM, 120mm
Shock: ,100mm travel
Wheels: DDM-2, 32h – Double wall
Atroz 2 – $1,200
Atroz 3 – $1,600
Head tube angle: 66.5º / Seat tube angle: 72.5º / Chainstay: 435mm
Amazon.com
130 mm f
13. Ibis – Ripley
14. Yeti – SB115
15. Santa Cruz Bicycles – 5010
16. Santa Cruz – Tallboy 4 C S-KIT
17. Evil – Following GX
13. Ibis – Ripley ‘2021
🏆 Best all-around mountain bike for every terrain – there’s nothing to add or remove about the bike
Carbon / 12-Speed Shimano SLX / 29×2.35″
MSRP $5,099 JensonUSA
Coming in at just over $5,000, this is one of those professional level bikes for serious riders. Luckily, it has the goods to match. Straight off the bat, the 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain is impressive with matching hydraulic disc brakes.
Naturally, it has a premium quality carbon frame with superb DW-Link suspension technology, offering 120mm of rear travel supported by a Fox Float Performance shock. With a similar kit up front, you get 130mm of travel on the Float 34 fork and it’s all rounded off with Ibis rims and 2.34″ Schwalbe Hans Dampf/Nobby Nic tires.
Ibis Ripley long term review – YouTube MTByumyum
Fork: Fox Float 34 Performance, 130mm travel
Shock: Fox Float Performance, 120mm travel
Wheels: Ibis S35 Aluminum & Ibis Hub
Max Clearance 2.6″
BUILDS
Frame – $2,833
Deore – $4,199
SLX – $5,099
GX Eagle – $5,399
XT – $5,799
XX1 Eagle – $10,899
Seat Tube Angle: 76 / Head Tube Angle: 66.5 / Chainstay length: 432mm
JensonUSA.com
14. Yeti – SB115
CARBON C2 BIKE 2021
Carbon / 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle / 29×2.5″, 2.3″
MSRP $4,900 JensonUSA
Another top-class mountain bike from Yeti, this combination XC and trail bike attack both the hills and the drops with equal vigor and aggression. The lightweight carbon frame combined with the 12-speed SRAM GS Eagle’s 10-52T cassette makes easy work of hills, while the Switch Infinity rear suspension technology combined with 130mm travel on the Fox Performance fork make downhills a breeze.
You get added support from a thick 2.5″ Maxxis Minion DHF front tire and 2.3″ Aggressor on the rear, wrapped around DT Swiss rims. Oh and let’s not forget the Fox Transfer dropper seat post for added ease and enjoyment!
Head tube: 67.6 / Seat Tube: 74.1 / Chainstay: 437mm
JensonUSA.com
15. Santa Cruz Bicycles – 5010
Carbon C / 12-Speed SRAM GX Eagle / 29×2.3″
MSRP $4,999 JensonUSA
This XC bike from Santa Cruz is designed to excel along flat trails while also tackling the occasional steep descent with ease. The lower-link VPP suspension on the full carbon frame combined with increased travel on the Fox 34 fork provides better confidence on the downhills.
For more stable charging along flatter terrain, you get slacker geometry combined with only 120mm of travel on the Fox Float rear shock. The combination results in a lively, responsive ride with strong traction and efficient climbing ability. The groupset is a 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle with G2 disc brakes on RaceFace rims and 2.3″ Maxxis Minion tires.
Fork: Fox Float 34 Performance, 130mm travel
Shock: Fox Float Performance DPS, 120mm r travel
Wheels: Race Face AR
Head Tube Angle: 65.7 / Seat Tube Angle: 76.7 / Chainstays: 430mm
JensonUSA.com
16. Santa Cruz – Tallboy 4 C S-KIT
MSRP $4,999 JensonUSA
Every XC rider comes across an unexpectedly steep descent every now and again, leaving them in a precarious situation with an inadequate bike. The Santa Cruz Tallboy rises to this challenge, offering an XC-specific bike that can tackle steep downhills with confidence.
HT: 65.7° / ST: 76.7° / Chainstay: 430mm
It achieves this with the addition of a RockShox Stealth dropper post combined with slacker geometry and lower-link VPP suspension. The Fox 34 Float fork has slightly longer than usual travel at 130mm, with the standard 120mm of travel on the rear with a Fox Float DPS shock. A wide range SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes make up a solid mountain-ready groupset that can tackle climbs and descents with ease.
JensonUSA.com
17. Evil – Following GX
MSRP $5,799 evo
Evil Bikes is known for making high-quality mountain bikes that push the boundaries of design and innovation. The ‘Following’ is its versatile XC offering – a high-speed MTB with 29″ wheels, semi-compact geometry, and mid-range travel that can tackle unusually harsh conditions
The proprietary DELTA suspension system and RockShox Deluxe shock are both highly tunable to adapt to varying conditions so if you feel like doing some downhill riding, simply adjust it to your needs and hit the trails. On this more affordable version of Evil’s Following, SRAM provides decent 12-speed gearing and instant braking with its mid-level GX Eagle groupset and G2 RS disc brakes.
evo.com
Conclusions: Best XC / Trail Mountain Bikes of 2021
1. Orbea – Oiz M10
2. Giant – Anthem 2
3. Cannondale – Scalpel Carbon 2
4. Intense – Sniper XC Expert
5. Niner – RKT 9 RDO RS 2-Star
6. Rocky Mountain – Element Carbon 70
7. Specialized – Epic EVO Expert
8. Trek – Top Fuel 9.7
9. Yeti – SB100 TURQ T1
10. Pivot – Mach 4
11. Santa Cruz Bicycles – Tallboy C R-Kit
12. Diamondback – Atroz 1
13. Ibis – Ripley
14. Yeti – SB115
15. Santa Cruz Bicycles – 5010
16. Santa Cruz – Tallboy 4 C S-KIT
17. Evil – Following GX
Best Trail / All-Mountain Bikes > 130-160mm
Best Enduro Mountain Bikes > 150-180mm
Where it’s best to have a 100-130mm travel mountain bike?
Short travel mountain bikes are ideal all-rounder bicycles for fast and zippy trails, whether it is flat or hilly.
Downhill mountain bikes with lots of travel are ideal for extremely rough terrain with big drops and large obstacles, but actually provide a disadvantage on flatter terrain.
The less stiff your suspension is, the more speed you lose when riding fast on flat terrain. So you need to choose a bike that best suits the type of riding you intend to do. For most All-mountain, Cross-country, and Trail riding, you shouldn’t need more travel than 100-130mm. MTB bikes with travel between 140-180mm are intended for intense downhill and enduro-style riding.
Of course, many of these bikes have adjustable suspension, so in some cases, you can change it for the terrain of that day. However, if you don’t intend on ever tackling extreme downhills, big jumps, or huge drops, then there is no need to spend the extra on advanced suspension with unnecessarily long travel.
What Else?
Carbon vs Aluminum
Which is better: Carbon or Aluminum for a full-sus. MTB? Well, carbon has taken over the whole cycling industry for a while by now, and it is not different from the mountain bike scene. As carbon-tubing gets better each year, there is a reason why mountain bikers prefer carbon over aluminum. Carbon simply has the right ‘feel’ to the whole ride, while providing enough durability and ways to form a bike.
Tires & Pressure
It is recommended to use more air in the rear tire when on trails.
- 29″ – 18-28 psi. Plus-size tires or on wider wheels (Ibis) can be run on lower,11-18 psi range
- 27.5″ (650b) – 16-30 psi.
Lowering your tire pressure means you create more contact with the ground so if you have thin tires, less pressure will provide more grip. However, while this may be a bit more comfortable offroad it comes at the sacrifice of speed on flatter ground. Depending on your weight, you should try to find a perfect balance that isn’t too low or too hard.
Tubeless tires can usually run lower pressure since there is no tube to pinch. Similarly, wider rims can also accommodate lower tire pressure. These are all factors to consider when pumping your tires.
Suspension set-up
You should always tune your suspension correctly to accommodate your weight and riding style. This can be done by rocking up and down on the bike to measure your ‘sag’ rate and then adjusting the air or spring pressure accordingly.
If you’re going to be hitting big jumps or drops, you’ll need wider, looser suspension to take heavy impact. If you’re riding mostly flat trail, you’ll want it stiffer so you don’t over-compress and lose speed on each little bump.
Compression / Sag / Rebound
The Sag, as mentioned earlier, is important to measure and set accordingly before heading out on the trails. Once that’s done, set the rebound damping by pushing on the front suspension and seeing if you get any ‘bounce’. Tighten it until it only rebounds once, doesn’t bounce up and down.
For the compression settings, you’ll need to specify it according to your riding style. Different shocks have different settings, so its down to your style and preference. Basically, add more compression damping if you want tighter traction on corners, or less if you want more absorption on big drops.
Rider Weight
It’s important to get the correct weight distribution on a full-suspension bike otherwise you could injure yourself on the trails. The longer wheelbase a bike has, the more stable it will be, so heavier riders should consider this factor.
Bottom bracket height is also important, as the higher the less stability you get but it can’t be too close to the ground either for obvious safety reasons. Generally, these measurements can all be perfected for you in-store when you buy a new bike. It’s always a good idea to have a professional fit your bike for you.
Where to get the best deals on full suspension mountain bikes?
These are the sites places to buy full-suspension mountain bikes online:
- REI – Cannondale, Salsa
- JensonUSA – Best selection online, most high-end, and mid-range bikes available to order online. Jenson USA is one of the oldest online cycling stores.
- Competitive Cyclist – High/Mid-range bikes, awesome deals for frames and previous year models, too.
Best Full-Suspension Mountain Bike Brands
- Ibis Cycles – High-end mountain bike manufacturer
- Yeti Cycles – High-end mountain bike manufacturer
- Santa Cruz Bicycles – High-end mountain bike manufacturer
- Rocky Mountain bikes
- Specialized
- Trek
- Giant
- Orbea
- Pivot
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