This feature originally appeared in issue 46 of BikesEtc magazine
Big, tough, bouncy. If you want to leave civilisation behind and go wild on the trails nothing beats a full-suspension mountain bike.
The polar opposite of the average road machine, they come with bump-dampening shocks at both ends, powerful disc brakes, and huge, grippy tyres.
A comical amount of fun, they flatten terrain, allowing you to batter your way through routes far exceeding what you'd imagine possible.
Although they employ a bunch of technology that's likely to be alien to the average roadie, they're nothing to fear, and we're here to explain all.
Still curious? Here are four we've rounded up that are well worth your consideration.
The bikes
Specialized Camber
Versatile, durable, and ready to be thrown up and down the trails, Specialized thinks the Camber is a perfect first mountain bike.
Fast-looking in bright red, with a double chainset and sharp angles, it’s more traditional in design than many rival bikes.
However, despite not featuring a dropper post, its wide bars and confidence-inspiring tyres hint at a wilder side. We’ll find out on the trail…
Click here to read the full Specialized Camber review
Trek Fuel EX 5
At first glance, the Fuel looks an absolute stunner. Using the same aluminium frame found on Trek’s high-end models, it provides a good dollop of suspension, a well-proven design, and spot-on modern trail geometry.
Still, at this price there are compromises to be made. These see a non-tubeless wheelset and tyres fitted, and a dropper post absent.
Will this put a damper on its forward progress? Only the ride will tell.
Click here to read the full Trek Fuel EX 5 review
Saracen Kili Flyer
Saracen reckons this is the perfect UK trail bike. A medium amount of travel, nimble and strong 27.5-inch wheels, and a slacker-than-average geometry.
Earn your treats by pedalling up, then smash back down. The suspension is designed to be efficient on the climbs and plush on the descents.
With a dropper post and serious tyres, it looks ready to rock, but will it provide a balanced enough ride to earn top marks?
Click here to read the full Saracen Kili Flyer review
Marin Rift Zone 2
The Rift Zone is Marin’s most speed-oriented full-suspension bike, created for riders looking for the pace and easy rolling capabilities of 29-inch wheels in a trail-ready package.
Long, low, and slack – it’s more aggressive than the average XC race bike. With an emphasis on having fun, it features matched 120mm travel and a dropper post.
Made for more than just chasing seconds, will it get the balance between speed and enjoyment right?
Click here to read the full Marin Rift Zone 2 review
The winner: Marin Rift Zone 2
Four mountain bikes that look broadly similar on paper but exhibit very different personalities once let loose on the trail.
With four high scores, we’d be happy to recommend any one of them, should its skill set appeal to you.
Yet in the final reckoning, there’s one bike whose build kit and design set it ahead of the pack. So how did they get on?
Running smaller wheels and exhibiting whiplash-quick turning, Saracen’s Kili is the bike we wished we’d had as a kid.
Capable of catching some sweet air time but also playing out all day, it’s surprisingly rangy.
Up-to-date geometry, a wide cockpit, and dropper post make it a blast to ride. However, a basic frame held it back slightly.
A little more grown up but no less fun, the Specialized Camber is an eBay splurge away from perfect. Old-school fast but surprisingly adept in tricky situations we loved the ride.
A hundred quid cheaper than the rest, we forgave it’s lack of a dropper post, but at this price its budget groupset is bordering on cheeky.
At its core, the Trek Fuel is our favourite machine on test, being more rounded than our winner as an all-day trail bike.
However, despite a superlatively good frame its lack of a dropper post and annoyingly narrow bars scuppered its chances of the win.
That left the field clear for the hard-charging Marin Rift Zone. Feeling like it has way more bounce than the listed travel of 120mm, it might not be the most efficient, but it is definitely the most fun.
Plus ,with a dropper post, tubeless wheels, sorted cockpit, and RockShox damper it ticked all the boxes on our wish list.