Bought my "Down Country" bike last month. They are very versatile bikes. I went for the Trek Top Fuel 9.8 AXS. 120 rear and 130 front. Perfect fit for rockier and steeper trails around Cape Town.
Owned a Spur now for a couple of years and got to say it’s probably the best bike I’ve owned. I started mountain biking back in the late eighties and has been a constant hobby till this day. I’ve ridden trials, downhill and had a jump bike as well as cross country. Mountain biking has been a passion for many years and been lucky to own some iconic bikes over the years. But the Spur is something special it really has become my do it all one bike and does it extremely well. Most my riding these days are out doing all day epics which includes everything you would expect to find in the UK and the Spur has been an absolute joy to ride.
running a 12kg (pedals and bottlecage included ) L size gen 1 Spur - i changed it to a full xt build (incl. 4 pots 8120s) and swapped the sid with a 130mm fox34 perf elite. it's really really great and just accelerates like no other bike i've been ringing
Has somebody who’s been mountain biking for almost 2 decades and just now heard this phrase it sounds like a trail bike? Something that can basically do it all if it was even more beef up it would be closer to an Enduro. Definitely not a category to itself. Just another way to market the need for another bike
Yeah, they just needed a new buzzword for "the short-travel trail bike that probably fits your local trails best" after everyone got obsessed with plus tires, then ultra-aggressive long + slack downhill-focused 140, 150, and 160 bikes. Everyone wants to buy a bike that's MORE capable, not less, so they had to market it as "as fast as XC but MORE capable!" instead of "a trail bike with LESS travel (that's actually better for you ,we promise!)"
Past trail is now xc, past enduro is now trail, and so on. A pure xc and a modern trail have a big distinction so I understand this category although feel where you are coming from
I think the is just more options available than before, so they "need" something that discribe what they are. As threre's more bikes the differences between them are smaller. One brand having so many bikes for simply "trails". Like Canyon having Lux Trail, Neuron, Spectral 125, spectral and spectral 29 each with different versions. I'm just happy they are offering something for everyone and I don't really care if bikes between XC-trail or enduro-dh get some marketing name like "downcountry" or "superduro". I don't need to own Downcountry, trail, enduro AND superduro bikes but I do enjoy having the one bike that fits my use best.
In my opinion, for a bike to be considered a "Downcountry" bike, it needs to come with 120mm XC fork and components/frames must be lightweight. The Specialized Epic 8 (not Evo), Pivot Mach 4SL, and Yeti Arc should have been on this list. Any bikes that come with a 130mm Trail fork should not be on this list. Put XC tires on a Downcountry bike and you should be able to take it to an XC or Marathon race. Even after 4 years, the Spur is still the best example of a Downcountry bike. However, the new Epic 8 is right up there also.
WC XC is 120mm both ends now, the 130mm fork is what makes it down country imo You'd swap tyres, to do an XC race on it, not the fork. An XC bike with just bigger tyres, is still an XC bike.
130mm is perfectly fine, I still have my 2017 Giant Anthem SX1 which is the normal Anthem but with a 130mm fork and it’s as fast as the normal Anthem XC bike just more playful. I can put knobby’s on it and go play or put racey tyres on it and go race.
I guess that was the original essence of the category, but as ever, things change and move on. We were close to including the Pivot and Yeti, but wanted to include some cheaper choices, as neither are what you can call cheap!
Both are great bikes, this isn't a definitive list of "These are the XXXX bikes you must buy" just 5 bikes I think are worthy of a closer look from my own ride impressions (I've ridden the Spur/Epic/Lux Trail) or offer something different
The Spur is a genre defining bike and its still relevant and right up there today. I have to say though, having ridden it back to back with the Epic, the Epic (not even the EVO) is a very capable bike. Only feels like the tyres and cockpit really hold it back in the gnar.
Yep, its a great bike, but as mentioned in another comment, I don't get on with TwinLoc and others in this list I think are either better (Spur/Epic/Lux Trail) or offer something different.
@@bikeradar Stunt by that hipocricy, Lux Trail has 3 position lockout it's a twist not a twin okay, but still the same functionallity. The whole thing reaks of Brand engagement.., otherwise it's absolute and pure inadequate position and actually raises the question, why do you post TOP series..? I'm off this channel after 6 years of subscribtion to be honest - and that is because of your lame-@ss Editing attempts :)
I'm on a 2021 Trance 29er now, which I believe is 115mm rear and not adjustable, and 130mm front. Would it be worth going to the Spur or Epic EVO from that bike?
I'd say unless theres anything mechanically wrong with it, or you want to change it, stick with it! Its a good, solid bike. You likely won't notice a night and day difference.
Spur? Nahh. Maybe if you're just going up & down. But it's unwieldy in slower technical trails with switchbacks or fast, twisty trails compared to the Ripley, Trail 429, etc. Isn't that what the advantage of a lighter short-travel tail bike supposed to be, fast & agile? Plus the unsophisticated back suspension doesn't compete well climbing in technical terrain compared to Santa Cruz' VPP or the DW-Link of the Pivots & Ibis type bikes, which would justify the price they are asking for the Spur if it could, but it can't.
The Spur isn't as spritely in tighter terrain, and yes the suspension isn't as good as some (or even the new Epic) but it is still a great all rounder, just like the Ripley and Trail 429 are great bikes. You can choose your poison, which is great! Pick what suits your needs and your trails
I don’t agree with your comment regarding the Spur, I’ve owned mine now for a couple of years and have definitely not experienced the issues you say. I live in the south east and most of my local rides include a lot of tight twisty single track and the Spur has been awesome. Definitely not unwieldy, I think riding technique plays a huge part. Also its technical climbing ability is extremely good. I’m constantly surprised how versatile this bike is and what it is capable of. I’ve ridden many bikes over the years and this one has been easily one of the best. The only issue I have found is very slow sharp switch backs that the bike struggles with its length and wheel size but all bikes like this will suffer similarly.
Absolutely! The Spur now comes with 35mm rise bars which is what I run on my own and it rips with a 40mm stem. You gotta hold on pretty hard on rougher terrain, but it can manage it!
The Spark is a good bike, and still relevant today even if its nearly 4 years old now like the Spur, but in my opinion, I'm not a fan of TwinLoc. The TwistLoc solution is a smidge better, but I'd be keen to try the latest Sparks with Flight Attendant. But then, of course they $$$$$$$. The other bikes on this list are either better performers IMO, offer something different (the Merida) or are from a brand I always forget about (Giant). Nothing personal on Giant btw, their bikes are very good!
They do not like having a remote control to change the characteristics of the suspension as used for all competitive XC bikes (though Flight Attendant is being adopted by some brands now). They prefer manual change or not changing at all and bobbing along it seems. If you listen to what they say and comment on they are riddled with hypocrisy and bias.
I'll add that chainstay length imbalances can ruin bikes with long wheelbases. They need to be proportional. A 430mm CS might seem okay with a 1190mm WB, but it's going to effectively kill the ride of a bike with a WB exceeding 1230mm, making the front wheel too lofty. This is especially true for XC riders who are used to the front wheel being more glued to the ground from an even shorter WB with 430-450mm CS lengths. There are "sweet spots", that get the CS as short as possible, up until the point that the ride starts becoming even worse, but these numbers are personal due to riding styles and body types--425CS|1190WB, 430|1210, 435|1230, 440|1250 are my sweet spots. Someone taller and heavier than me (I'm 5'7", 140 lbs), or someone who rides with their position more rearward, would want a slightly longer CS. I also ride the same tires front and rear. A grippier front tire is a must if you go with a CS length on the shorter side for you. Bikes are sensitive enough to this effect to feel great in one size, but a bit off in the next size up, making the front feel much easier to wash out. The Arc8 bikes are especially prone to this, as their sweet spots are in their smaller sizes. Can feel this effect on the XL-sized Spur, Top Fuel, and Element too. The Izzo has a CS length that increases between L and XL, mitigating this effect. The new Yeti ASR also tunes CS length per size.
have a giant trance advanced pro 29 0 the putty/copper one at end of vid - its a 2022 model 130 fork and 120 shock - or I should have said "Hello, my name is Darren and I own a downcountry bike" :(
People have been doing it for years, hence the controversy surrounding the name, even if the bikes themselves are not far removed from what's gone before 🤘
Downcounty are just 2018 2019 short travel trail bikes. Maybe a bit slacker. Don’t get me wrong I built they are way more fun on mild trails. But pretty darn close to 6 year old ST trail bikes as trail bikes that have gone to 120-130 travel to 140-150. The Lux trail is basically my ‘19 trek fuel 122 rear 130 34 performance elite with a 10mm head angle spacer I’ve been riding for a few years. Geos super close
Manufacturers offering retro-fit upgrades ? Has it ever happened ? Seems pretty unlikely - I'm guessing frames are made in batches by sub-contractors and 'when they're done , they're done' and on to next years hotness with a 0.5' slacker head angle and BNG.
Ibis did it with the original Mojo HD when it went from 26" to 27.5". They offered the new rear triangles separately for existing owners. Others have done similar to keep the bikes up to date, but its far from common!
If I knew what the hell down country meant, I'm sure I'd be furious. Can't BikeRader take a moral stance and just stop using silly names. Why not just categorise bikes by suspension travel; would make everything much simpler.
It is stupid, but I (Tom) like it and if you don't that's cool! I like it because its stupid, gotta have fun with bikes, whether you're riding them or talking about them 😉
@@bikeradarcheck the angle of the headset and the frame geometry you might be surprised on the result. Example a previous 68deg from 120mm then overfork it to 160mm there will be changes with HT of 66.5-67ht. But on a safe side 120rear and 140mm for me is the best setup from your old frame. Look at the downcountry setup 120mm/130-140mm.
No wonder I have switched from loving mountain biking to hating it over the last few years. With all these ridiculous categories and stupid wheel sizes/combos it's all got absolutely ludicrous. No wonder the industry has been massively suffering recently.
The industry gives all bikes a tag, downcountry is just one I (Tom) like, but I totally get others don't. I'm equally happy calling these short travel trail bikes, but I like DC because why not? 😂 Its corny and cheesy, but the bikes rip and thats all that matters
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
My outdated trail bike became hip and cool downcountry bike overnight.
Hey, if ripped yesterday, it'll still rip today!
Bought my "Down Country" bike last month. They are very versatile bikes. I went for the Trek Top Fuel 9.8 AXS. 120 rear and 130 front. Perfect fit for rockier and steeper trails around Cape Town.
Sounds like a ripping bike and ideal for your trails, enjoy!
Owned a Spur now for a couple of years and got to say it’s probably the best bike I’ve owned. I started mountain biking back in the late eighties and has been a constant hobby till this day. I’ve ridden trials, downhill and had a jump bike as well as cross country. Mountain biking has been a passion for many years and been lucky to own some iconic bikes over the years. But the Spur is something special it really has become my do it all one bike and does it extremely well. Most my riding these days are out doing all day epics which includes everything you would expect to find in the UK and the Spur has been an absolute joy to ride.
Thanks for sharing, sounds like you've found the bike for you!
~ Will
running a 12kg (pedals and bottlecage included ) L size gen 1 Spur - i changed it to a full xt build (incl. 4 pots 8120s) and swapped the sid with a 130mm fox34 perf elite.
it's really really great and just accelerates like no other bike i've been ringing
Has somebody who’s been mountain biking for almost 2 decades and just now heard this phrase it sounds like a trail bike? Something that can basically do it all if it was even more beef up it would be closer to an Enduro. Definitely not a category to itself. Just another way to market the need for another bike
Trail bike
Yeah, they just needed a new buzzword for "the short-travel trail bike that probably fits your local trails best" after everyone got obsessed with plus tires, then ultra-aggressive long + slack downhill-focused 140, 150, and 160 bikes. Everyone wants to buy a bike that's MORE capable, not less, so they had to market it as "as fast as XC but MORE capable!" instead of "a trail bike with LESS travel (that's actually better for you ,we promise!)"
Like the tag or hate it, just think of them as mountain bikes with 120-130mm travel and many of them rip!
Past trail is now xc, past enduro is now trail, and so on. A pure xc and a modern trail have a big distinction so I understand this category although feel where you are coming from
I think the is just more options available than before, so they "need" something that discribe what they are. As threre's more bikes the differences between them are smaller. One brand having so many bikes for simply "trails". Like Canyon having Lux Trail, Neuron, Spectral 125, spectral and spectral 29 each with different versions. I'm just happy they are offering something for everyone and I don't really care if bikes between XC-trail or enduro-dh get some marketing name like "downcountry" or "superduro". I don't need to own Downcountry, trail, enduro AND superduro bikes but I do enjoy having the one bike that fits my use best.
I'd add the Blur TR and the Ripley v4 to this list and is my favorite style of MTB.
Both very capable bikes and the Ripley AF is great value too!
In my opinion, for a bike to be considered a "Downcountry" bike, it needs to come with 120mm XC fork and components/frames must be lightweight. The Specialized Epic 8 (not Evo), Pivot Mach 4SL, and Yeti Arc should have been on this list. Any bikes that come with a 130mm Trail fork should not be on this list. Put XC tires on a Downcountry bike and you should be able to take it to an XC or Marathon race. Even after 4 years, the Spur is still the best example of a Downcountry bike. However, the new Epic 8 is right up there also.
WC XC is 120mm both ends now, the 130mm fork is what makes it down country imo
You'd swap tyres, to do an XC race on it, not the fork.
An XC bike with just bigger tyres, is still an XC bike.
130mm is perfectly fine, I still have my 2017 Giant Anthem SX1 which is the normal Anthem but with a 130mm fork and it’s as fast as the normal Anthem XC bike just more playful. I can put knobby’s on it and go play or put racey tyres on it and go race.
I guess that was the original essence of the category, but as ever, things change and move on.
We were close to including the Pivot and Yeti, but wanted to include some cheaper choices, as neither are what you can call cheap!
Add the Scott Spark RC on the list as well.
@@bikeradaryall forgot the sickest one of them all - The Allied bc40....
Love my Spur…and the more I ride my e-bike the more I love my Spur for some reason.
Weight. The difference between riding and being ridden.
The Spur is such a great bike, we have a review of the revised one coming soon
For me this kind of list/comparisons video from Bike Radar is more relevant than what most of GMBN's content has become.
I love my Transition Spur. Favorite bike I've ever had and I've had many high end popular brands/bikes.
Yeah having Merida and Giant's monstrocity's inside the list but missing Oiz and Spark - hahah ggood one :)
Both are great bikes, this isn't a definitive list of "These are the XXXX bikes you must buy" just 5 bikes I think are worthy of a closer look from my own ride impressions (I've ridden the Spur/Epic/Lux Trail) or offer something different
@@bikeradar And again, abscent of the Oiz and Spark are speking a lot for your perspective and possibly credentials
The Oiz and the Spark are XC race bikes, not down country.
I have a 2023 Spur, that thing is a beast, I use it for my local flat trails up to bike parks around the country. 👍
The Spur is a genre defining bike and its still relevant and right up there today.
I have to say though, having ridden it back to back with the Epic, the Epic (not even the EVO) is a very capable bike. Only feels like the tyres and cockpit really hold it back in the gnar.
The Scott Spark with 130x120mm is missing 🥲😉
Yep, its a great bike, but as mentioned in another comment, I don't get on with TwinLoc and others in this list I think are either better (Spur/Epic/Lux Trail) or offer something different.
@@bikeradar Stunt by that hipocricy,
Lux Trail has 3 position lockout it's a twist not a twin okay, but still the same functionallity. The whole thing reaks of Brand engagement.., otherwise it's absolute and pure inadequate position and actually raises the question, why do you post TOP series..? I'm off this channel after 6 years of subscribtion to be honest - and that is because of your lame-@ss Editing attempts :)
@@bikeradar”offer something different” but Scott is literally offering “something different” 😅
I'm on a 2021 Trance 29er now, which I believe is 115mm rear and not adjustable, and 130mm front. Would it be worth going to the Spur or Epic EVO from that bike?
I'd say unless theres anything mechanically wrong with it, or you want to change it, stick with it! Its a good, solid bike. You likely won't notice a night and day difference.
Spur? Nahh. Maybe if you're just going up & down. But it's unwieldy in slower technical trails with switchbacks or fast, twisty trails compared to the Ripley, Trail 429, etc. Isn't that what the advantage of a lighter short-travel tail bike supposed to be, fast & agile? Plus the unsophisticated back suspension doesn't compete well climbing in technical terrain compared to Santa Cruz' VPP or the DW-Link of the Pivots & Ibis type bikes, which would justify the price they are asking for the Spur if it could, but it can't.
The Spur isn't as spritely in tighter terrain, and yes the suspension isn't as good as some (or even the new Epic) but it is still a great all rounder, just like the Ripley and Trail 429 are great bikes.
You can choose your poison, which is great! Pick what suits your needs and your trails
I don’t agree with your comment regarding the Spur, I’ve owned mine now for a couple of years and have definitely not experienced the issues you say. I live in the south east and most of my local rides include a lot of tight twisty single track and the Spur has been awesome. Definitely not unwieldy, I think riding technique plays a huge part. Also its technical climbing ability is extremely good. I’m constantly surprised how versatile this bike is and what it is capable of. I’ve ridden many bikes over the years and this one has been easily one of the best. The only issue I have found is very slow sharp switch backs that the bike struggles with its length and wheel size but all bikes like this will suffer similarly.
@@noelbodle8863 You can always tell the people who didnt ride one and just go off the internet.
I got a Fezzari Signal Peak Tr, 120 front and 115 back and it is a blast to ride. I don't think I will ever buy another bike that isn't downcountry.
A “downcountry” bike with tall bars and a short stem can be a ton of tun of technical but slightly less high speed trails.
Absolutely! The Spur now comes with 35mm rise bars which is what I run on my own and it rips with a 40mm stem.
You gotta hold on pretty hard on rougher terrain, but it can manage it!
just enough suspension and burliness while still being lightweight and fast to pedal. it's the perfect non-bike park bike.
Nailed it!
They totally missed Scott Spark. Interesting that they did. I wonder why.
The Spark is a good bike, and still relevant today even if its nearly 4 years old now like the Spur, but in my opinion, I'm not a fan of TwinLoc. The TwistLoc solution is a smidge better, but I'd be keen to try the latest Sparks with Flight Attendant. But then, of course they $$$$$$$.
The other bikes on this list are either better performers IMO, offer something different (the Merida) or are from a brand I always forget about (Giant). Nothing personal on Giant btw, their bikes are very good!
They do not like having a remote control to change the characteristics of the suspension as used for all competitive XC bikes (though Flight Attendant is being adopted by some brands now). They prefer manual change or not changing at all and bobbing along it seems. If you listen to what they say and comment on they are riddled with hypocrisy and bias.
The Spark is an XC race bike.
@@CogMarks the Spark has a non-RC version, which is more geared towards Trail/DC w/ 130mm
The Last Celos and Arc8 Evolve FS are even better examples of DH-inspired geo trickling down to XC-weight frames (
I'll add that chainstay length imbalances can ruin bikes with long wheelbases. They need to be proportional.
A 430mm CS might seem okay with a 1190mm WB, but it's going to effectively kill the ride of a bike with a WB exceeding 1230mm, making the front wheel too lofty. This is especially true for XC riders who are used to the front wheel being more glued to the ground from an even shorter WB with 430-450mm CS lengths.
There are "sweet spots", that get the CS as short as possible, up until the point that the ride starts becoming even worse, but these numbers are personal due to riding styles and body types--425CS|1190WB, 430|1210, 435|1230, 440|1250 are my sweet spots. Someone taller and heavier than me (I'm 5'7", 140 lbs), or someone who rides with their position more rearward, would want a slightly longer CS. I also ride the same tires front and rear. A grippier front tire is a must if you go with a CS length on the shorter side for you.
Bikes are sensitive enough to this effect to feel great in one size, but a bit off in the next size up, making the front feel much easier to wash out. The Arc8 bikes are especially prone to this, as their sweet spots are in their smaller sizes. Can feel this effect on the XL-sized Spur, Top Fuel, and Element too. The Izzo has a CS length that increases between L and XL, mitigating this effect. The new Yeti ASR also tunes CS length per size.
We (Tom at least!) are very keen to try the Celos, it looks incredible
But what about Orbea OIZ? why isn’t it on the list, it’s one of the best down-country bikes today!
It is a great bike, but I'm yet to ride it and as with the Spark, I have reservations about the dual remote lockouts.
have a giant trance advanced pro 29 0 the putty/copper one at end of vid - its a 2022 model 130 fork and 120 shock - or I should have said "Hello, my name is Darren and I own a downcountry bike" :(
Mondraker Podium SE for the win
Great shout! We have a review of the latest F-Podium coming to the channel soon
Did this years ago with the Banshee Spitfire Mk.l…
People have been doing it for years, hence the controversy surrounding the name, even if the bikes themselves are not far removed from what's gone before 🤘
i bought a trek top fuel 9.8 xt just before covid and now the same bike cost $2300 more or 34% more.. for exactly the same bike
.....until November when it will be 34% less again.
Prices sure have gone up!
To not have the Yeti SB120 on there is a crime.
Yes, and the Scott Spark!
Yeti do not want to call the SB120 a down country bike, so I didn't 😉 but absolutely, if you want a short travel bike, the SB120 is a brilliant choice
Downcounty are just 2018 2019 short travel trail bikes. Maybe a bit slacker. Don’t get me wrong I built they are way more fun on mild trails. But pretty darn close to 6 year old ST trail bikes as trail bikes that have gone to 120-130 travel to 140-150.
The Lux trail is basically my ‘19 trek fuel 122 rear 130 34 performance elite with a 10mm head angle spacer I’ve been riding for a few years. Geos super close
Love/hate the term, the bikes then and now are sick!
Manufacturers offering retro-fit upgrades ? Has it ever happened ? Seems pretty unlikely - I'm guessing frames are made in batches by sub-contractors and 'when they're done , they're done' and on to next years hotness with a 0.5' slacker head angle and BNG.
Ibis did it with the original Mojo HD when it went from 26" to 27.5". They offered the new rear triangles separately for existing owners. Others have done similar to keep the bikes up to date, but its far from common!
Intense Sniper T is another option.
If only we already had a category for such bikes.. Trail, Enduro or something like that 😂
If only! We'd have one less video to make then! 😂
What the hell is a down country bike? Are ya’ll just renaming bike categories for new content ?
You can blame another publication for the name 😉
Wow, he can read the specsheets.......
He can read specsheets from an autocue, give Tom some credit 😉
And he has ridden 3 of the 5 bikes on this list, so knows his onions!
The Evil Offering is missing from this list.
If I knew what the hell down country meant, I'm sure I'd be furious. Can't BikeRader take a moral stance and just stop using silly names. Why not just categorise bikes by suspension travel; would make everything much simpler.
This is whyI love downcountry
Its controversial
If you watch this video it is very likely you own a bike already. Just go out and ride and save money. My 12 years old 26 ibis is doing the job.
SC Tallboy?
Great shout and one I'm keen to try but not had chance to yet!
err, why aren't they trail bikes? Stupid nomenclature. But these are the bikes I want to ride
It is stupid, but I (Tom) like it and if you don't that's cool! I like it because its stupid, gotta have fun with bikes, whether you're riding them or talking about them 😉
Nah just upgrade your existing 120mm to 140mm front and can even getaway with 160mm front, can take more trail and fast as XC
You might want to check your frame warranty before lobbing a 160mm fork on any of these bikes! 😳
and make it handle like a noodle, you've missed the point.
@@bikeradarcheck the angle of the headset and the frame geometry you might be surprised on the result. Example a previous 68deg from 120mm then overfork it to 160mm there will be changes with HT of 66.5-67ht. But on a safe side 120rear and 140mm for me is the best setup from your old frame. Look at the downcountry setup 120mm/130-140mm.
No wonder I have switched from loving mountain biking to hating it over the last few years. With all these ridiculous categories and stupid wheel sizes/combos it's all got absolutely ludicrous. No wonder the industry has been massively suffering recently.
There are lots of "trends", fads and silly names, but bikes are still bikes and they're still ace to ride! And that should be all that matters
Those are trail bikes
The industry gives all bikes a tag, downcountry is just one I (Tom) like, but I totally get others don't. I'm equally happy calling these short travel trail bikes, but I like DC because why not? 😂 Its corny and cheesy, but the bikes rip and thats all that matters
@@bikeradar Thank goodness my Scott Spark RC is not corny and cheesy then and I use it with the RS Twistlock lol.
yt izzo ?
Hi.
I'm currently riding sc hightower... but the Spur really appeals to me.🙄

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