Hardtail mountain bikes are the perfect trail bikes for many riders. They’re fun and efficient for riding singletrack, and they give you the control and stability you need for technical climbs. If you’re new to the hardtail scene, this can be a bit confusing, as there is a lot of variety in terms of size, weight, and approach.
Time Is Your Friend. By the time 2024 rolls around, mountain bikes will go through a tough time. A lot of the bikes currently on the market will be gone, and there will be brand new bikes with new features and designs. So, what will you be riding? Are you ready for the hardtail mountain bikes of 2024? Click here to see the list of the top 5 hardtail mountain bikes for 2024.
Mountain bike technology is becoming more and more complex over time; riders demand more and more advanced features and the consumer market is growing to meet these demands. But hardtail mountain bikes are still the basis of mountain biking, so it is important to look at the top 5 brands that are going to be the best when we look into 2024.
The simple hardtail seems to be undergoing a mini-renaissance, with a slew of cross-country, downhill, trail, and perhaps even radder stiff frames set to debut in 2024.
The benefits are obvious. When it comes to uphill speed, the straight link from crank to axle, without any energy-draining suspension, is the fastest method to get up to speed.
Riding a hardtail on a rough-and-tumble path may injure you more, but there’s something almost zen-like about being able to choose the smoothest route between the chunder while pounding through rollers to create free speed.
Hardtails may also be lighter, simpler to maintain, and less expensive since they have fewer moving components that contribute weight, need maintenance, and require construction in the first place.
As a result, we chose five noteworthy bikes with a stiff rear-end that we’ve lately seen, all of which are ready for your 2024 mountain bike excursions. To make descents as thrilling as possible, we have everything from World Cup racers to alloy sleds.
Yeti ARC is number one.
ARC of Yeti’s anniversary edition.
The 35th anniversary Yeti ARC is noteworthy for a number of reasons. It harkens back to the good old days, when all you needed was a disc wheel, drop bars, and lousy Lycra to become one of the most renowned riders in history (we’re talking about John Tomac, of course).
The first is the anniversary edition itself, which is a complete homage to Yeti’s classic racing days, when the likes of Tomac, Juli Furtado, and Missy Giove shredded up race tracks across the globe on route to numerous wins.
Should you be one of the fortunate 100 individuals who have managed to purchase the £8,999 limited edition, anniversary model, the Yeti’s distinctive turquoise and yellow paintjob is guaranteed to stand out from the crowd.
The frame comes next. The ARC has evolved from its XC origins to become a true trail hardtail. The carbon triangles have 130mm forks and bump-eliminating 29 x 2.6in rubber on 30mm rims.
With a 67-degree head angle, 76-degree seat angle, a low-slung bottom bracket, mid-length 433mm chainstays, and reaches ranging from 420 to 490mm throughout the four sizes, the geometry is modern.
The six bikes vary in price from £3,799 for a bike with Performance level Fox 34 and Shimano SLX gearing to £8,999 for the all-singing, all-dancing anniversary model with Factory level suspension and SRAM wireless shifting.
Is that our only issue? The distinctive curved shape of the seat and chainstay junction seems to have been removed for some reason, and a much more conventional rear triangle has taken its place. But oh well!
2. Mondraker Carbon Podium
With a medium frame measuring 775g, Mondraker’s Podium Carbon is an extremely light bike.
The Mondraker Podium Carbon stands out for one very important reason: it is very light.
We’ve seen a lot of new XC bikes this summer, including a few with zero millimetres of rear suspension. This year, the Orbea Alma and Canyon Exceed join the Specialized S-Works Epic hardtail in the world of World Cup-ready racing bikes.
They’re all light, but none are as light as Mondraker’s Podium, which claims a frame weight of 775g in medium, which is 15g less than the S-Works Epic.
Perhaps 15g won’t make the difference between first and second place, but we believe there will be plenty of riders ready to go to any length to ensure they have the lightest bike possible, and why not?
Despite the frame sill’s characteristic Forward Geometry, Mondraker has managed to keep the weight down. Because of this design, the bike’s front end is longer than the competition’s – there must be some additional material in the top tube to make it that long!
Even though those 15g hardly register while pointing the bike up a hill, we believe that pushing the limits of materials and frame design is a good thing since that knowledge will ultimately find its way into the bikes you and I ride every day.
3. Twostroke BMC
The Twostroke from BMC is a stylish trail bike.
When BMC announced a new XC hardtail for 2024, we expected it to be a high-end, razor-sharp racing bike, so we were shocked to see that, although still packed with flat-out features, it appears like it’ll be an incredible blast on the trail.
It’s also got to be one of the best-looking motorcycles released this year, with design engineers citing the Lockheed Martin X-35 fighter aircraft as an aesthetic influence.
BMC also claims that it wasn’t pursuing grams. It’s nearly hefty at 1,037g for a medium frame, which BMC claims is due to the company’s desire to create a frame with lots of durability as well as rigidity to avoid it from feeling like a wet noodle.
With a reach of 465mm in a big, a head angle of 67 degrees, and super-slammed 425mm chainstays, the geometry is pretty out there, assuming you still consider this an XC bike.
There are some racy elements, though: a D-shaped seatpost that looks eerily similar to some of the aero profiles we’ve seen on curly-barred bikes in recent years (an adapter is available to install a round 27.2mm dropper if desired), and it’s still designed around 100mm forks.
Prices are very un-Swiss, with alloy cycles beginning at €1,199 and rising €3,999 for the top-of-the-line carbon model.
Could this be one of the first hardtails designed for downhill riding? We’re looking forward to throwing a leg over one and getting wild on the trails with it as soon as possible.
4. Zaskar GT LT
The GT Zaskar is an aluminum frame with the brand’s signature triple triangle shape.
The Zaskar, like the ARC, has a lengthy history and began life as a multi-purpose mountain bike – which means it was ideally positioned between the cassettes back then.
However, it has developed as well, and now symbolizes the contemporary aluminum hardcore trail hardtail.
With the seatstays extending beyond the seat tube into the top tube, the hydroformed aluminum frame incorporates GT’s distinctive triple triangle design. This floating design not only distinguishes it as a GT, but it is also said to improve comfort at the rear end, with a 50 percent improvement in frame compliance.
The two-bike Zaskar LT series begins at £1,000 and includes a 130mm travel fork, but they’ll gladly accept a 140mm fork if you want more front-end give.
The GT Zaskar LT Expert, which we just tested and gave four stars out of five, is the most affordable model in the series, costing only £1,300. Thanks to its long, low, and loose design, as well as hefty tyres that provided both traction and comfort, the bike exuded confidence on fast, rocky, and steep terrain.
If you want a contemporary twist on a classic nineties mountain bike but can’t afford the near-£9k Yeti, the Zaskar LT may be the bike for you.
5. Liv Tempt and Giant Talon
Temptation of Liv
Due to its cheaper cost and simplicity of ownership, hardtails have long been the preferred starting point for mountain cyclists. While it’s easy to be tempted by carbon this and compliance that, the bulk of individuals who want to ride a mountain bike will be looking at entry-level bikes from some of the most well-known brands.
The Talon and Tempt, Giant and Liv’s entry-level, “real” mountain bikes, have recently been upgraded.
Giant, and by extension, Liv, is one of the world’s largest bike manufacturers, providing frame manufacturing services to a wide range of other brands as well, so they know a thing or two about mass-producing bicycles. As a result, competitive pricing and high-spec frames for the money are possible.
Both bikes have 100mm of travel in the front, with the Tempt’s women-specific shape based on data collected from body measurements.
While mountain riding remains at their heart, Giant and Liv have recognized that these entry-level mountain bikes are frequently used for many purposes, therefore rack and fender attachments will be included to increase flexibility.
Both the Talon and the Tempt have a starting price of £399 and a maximum price of £850, which includes a 12-speed Shimano groupset and an air-sprung fork – not bad!
So there you have it: our best hardtails for 2024. It’s a diverse mix, and we’re hoping that something will appeal to riders from all disciplines. There are a lot of hardtails out there, so let us know if there are any you believe we left out in the comments.
Mountain biking is an exercise in balance and coordination, which is why mountain bikes are designed to be versatile and durable. Most riders tend to lean toward one specific type when they purchase a mountain bike, but the key to being successful on the trails is finding the type that fits your riding style—and, more importantly, your budget.. Read more about best mountain bikes 2024 and let us know what you think.
The best hardtail mountain bike for 2024 is the Trek Fuel EX."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the best mountain bike in 2024?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"
The best mountain bike in 2024 is the Intense 29er. It has a lot of features that make it stand out from other bikes, such as its suspension system and disc brakes."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the top 5 mountain bikes?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":" The top 5 mountain bikes are the following:
1. Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon 29er Mountain Bike 2. Trek Fuel EX 9.9 27.5+ Mountain Bike 3. Giant Trance X2 26 Mountain Bike 4. Kona Honzo Single Speed 29er Mountain Bike 5. Cannondale Habit Carbon 6 2018"}}]}
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hardtail mountain bike 2024?
The best hardtail mountain bike for 2024 is the Trek Fuel EX.
What is the best mountain bike in 2024?
The best mountain bike in 2024 is the Intense 29er. It has a lot of features that make it stand out from other bikes, such as its suspension system and disc brakes.
What are the top 5 mountain bikes?
The top 5 mountain bikes are the following: 1. Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon 29er Mountain Bike 2. Trek Fuel EX 9.9 27.5+ Mountain Bike 3. Giant Trance X2 26 Mountain Bike 4. Kona Honzo Single Speed 29er Mountain Bike 5. Cannondale Habit Carbon 6 2018
Related Tags
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- best mountain bikes 2018
