TESTED THIS MONTH
Are the days of the XC hardtail numbered? It’s a legitimate question given that industry heavyweights and microbrands alike seem to be to be showcasing either the latest in e-bike tech or their new take on the trail and enduro categories.
With that in mind, it would be easy to think that XC bikes are sitting in the background being ignored. But surprisingly, we’ve seen far more new lightweight XC machines roll through the doors here at mbr over the last 12 months than in previous years, from both direct-to-consumer and shop-bought brands.
Guided by the more technical nature of modern cross-country race courses, there’s been a noticeable reworking of XC geometry and sizing, taking more than one leaf out of the trail bike rule book, while still keeping a keen eye on the headline weight and need for speed.
Wider bars and larger-volume tyres have also made an appearance on race-orientated bikes, allowing the rider to extract every last drop of performance, whether it’s a high-modulus carbon hardtail or short-travel full-susser.
And while that’s all well and good on the cutting-edge flagship models, does it translate to more affordable price points? To answer that question we’ve brought together four aluminium XC 29er hardtails, all around the £1,500 mark.
We have the latest bikes from Cube, Giant, Trek, and Scott, all major players in the global marketplace and no strangers to this type of bike; promising good value and an established network of dealers along with a long history of hardtail production.
With fast-paced riding and higher mileages on the agenda, these hardtails need to be comfortable and efficient places to be. After all, these bikes are more likely to see a GPS unit strapped to the handlebars rather than a month’s worth of used uplift passes.
So whether it’s a hard-and-fast XC race, a 100km marathon event or a multi-day self-supported bikepacking challenge, these bikes need to shine when your energy is fading and the trail starts to get testing.
In terms of kit, the bikes are fairly evenly matched. All roll on 29in wheels, are built around lightweight aluminium frames and come equipped with 1x12 Shimano transmissions. Fork travel on all four bikes is capped at 100mm – the norm for most modern XC bikes – and lockouts are a must-have feature. The lack of dropper posts at this price point is really more about weight saving than performance, as most professional XC racers have come round to the benefits of being able to drop their saddles without having to stop.
There’s been a reworking of geometry and sizing
So we have four very similar bikes, but are these XC hardtails just well-dressed recreational mtbs running on old-school thinking and standards or are they more affordable, lightweight rigs hell-bent on chasing podiums, pulling off PBs and embarrassing gravel riders? There’s only one way to find out. Let’s get to the start line…
CONTROL TYRES
To make the testing process as fair as possible we fitted the same Maxxis tyres to all four of the XC hardtails in this test. After all, you can’t gauge rolling speed, traction or comfort if the bikes all have different tyres fitted. To level the playing field we chose the new Forekaster, as it’s a great XC tyre for mixed conditions. Both tyres had folding Kevlar beads and the lighter EXO Protection casing to keep the weight down. We also ran the medium 3C MaxxTerra compound front and rear to increase the overall control, even if the dual-compound version would have offered slightly lower rolling resistance.
All tyres are available at extrauk.co.uk, prices starting at £69.99 each.
3C MAXX TERRA
An intermediate compound, 3C MaxxTerra is softer and offers more traction and control than 3C Maxx Speed, yet provides better treadwear and less rolling resistance than the softest MaxxGrip tyres.
EXO PROTECTION
EXO is an extremely cut and abrasion-resistant material that’s added to the sidewalls of Maxxis EXO tyres. This densely woven fabric is also lightweight and highly flexible, ensuring that the performance of the tyre remains unaffected.
CUBE REACTION PRO
£1,499
ube has just
