We Tested All the New Trail Bikes - Pinkbike’s 2025 Field Test

[@ridemx323]

This format is way better than the industry standard of multiple 9 minute videos released over a week.

[@Leo-ss2gb]

Only thing I'd like more is if every bike was same price point. Pick a price, i.e., 7k and pick the closest bike from each company to that target price. That or the classic pick the top of the line from each company and point out price differences....

[@TeddyParker]

Errr I was under the impression this is basically a preview video and they will indeed be releasing the normal 10 minute vids for each bike weekly from here on out, as they have always done. That said, yes, I would love for it to REMAIN a vs test and each video to be a category instead of having individual videos... but remember this is MARKETING for the brands. They want their highlight video, particularly if they are indeed losing out in the comparison. The best videos are always the round tables at the end anyway.

[@quithollerin7276]

No.

[@taylorklein2378]

Absolutely love the new field test video format!

[@Jelaaniali]

Great content, its cool seeing the level of production go up a notch on every field test. Sick!

[@jarnold1789]

Yeah this rules. Love to see the format evolve

[@TeddyParker]

i am emotionally preparing for the whiplash of Henry's silky smooth voice to Dario's ear shattering vocal fry (love you, Dario)

[@DroidBen]

Couldn't have said it any better

[@jarnold1789]

😂 The dichotomy works for me. Dario is a great addition

[@TeddyParker]

@@jarnold1789 I love Dario. His written articles are the best. He's the spiritual successor of Levy. The speech pattern errr I might pay for homies vocal lessons. He's much better when he's outside and having fun and talking. His inside voice is bananas lol

[@jdmbeaner182]

Can't wait for the bumbling

[@bubby372]

Love the format how this test was conducted. Quite informative and entertaining to boot.

[@tanner_kirk]

Absolutely love these raw, vlog style videos. Keep them coming!

[@IdrisFashan]

Agreed!

[@ethaneggert]

It would be super interesting to see a field test video about one trail or enduro bike where all the testers ride the same bike but a different size. Each tester would, of course, fit that bike-suggested size from the manufacturer. I think this test could show the importance of size-specific proportions other than reach. Maybe even do two bikes, one that has proportionate geometry like different stacks, chain stay lengths, and seat tube angle, and one that only has different reaches. I think that all the different-sized testers would give the bike or bikes different feedback in terms of ride characteristics.

[@joehoeper3941]

You must be a one marshmallow kid.

[@ethaneggert]

What’s that supposed to mean Joe?

[@pipsta1]

One of, if not the best field test videos. Bike lineup, the layout and information was on point. Keep up the good work 🤘🏼💯

[@nicholashines7686]

Man that Spot was silent. Great start guys.

[@C-M-R-9397]

I agree with many of the others; this format is great. Much more insight into the process, better explanations, much more involving. Well done Team PB.

[@RyanHryciuk]

Nice to see the addition of Matt & Dario! Haven’t watched pb in a while, maybe they are just new for me, but hope to see more down to earth, casual characters like this! Sets a much more watchable and friendly tone for pb!

[@MountainDeweyMTB]

Great format but these are trail bikes, where is the pedaling? Trail bikes being tested on only DH tracks doesn’t really make sense to me

[@peterj.2114]

a bit of it is at minute 25

[@WorkLessRideMore]

Who cares about pedaling?

[@MountainDeweyMTB]

Usually people who buy a trail bike right? I have an enduro bike, park bike and a trail bike. I care how my trail bike pedals

[@richardburns1287]

​@@MountainDeweyMTBDMR Vaults 👍

[@WWulf]

Wow - this is next level! Thank you so much for that entertaining look into you Test set up. Looking forward to see upcoming videos about the bikes 👍👍👍

[@christofferosterberg5185]

Love the concept! Best field test video ever!

[@justsayin3600]

There's 2 things I've found that is a must have. 1) adjustable geo. 2) mixed wheel. Another thing I look for is after market parts that makes the bike better than stock like, Cascade link, and hopefully a WRP yoke. I went down the rabbit hole making my bike a trail weapon. I wouldn't have been able to if I didn't have so many options for tuning.

[@tim__sadler]

Does Dario have a side job being one of the Hawkins cops in Stranger Things?

[@harryjenkinson]

This was great! Love the new format and enjoyed the process of learning about the thought process behind the reviews

[@thomasstepat2642]

This is awesome!!! Love the new format👍

[@casestudymtb]

I love seeing more FPV and follow cam footage, it's super helpful for understanding rider style expectations for bike preference. Rad crop this year.

[@pgson8929]

Love this format. Very relatable to the owner experience with getting a new bike

[@reaodasdf]

shouldve had the izzo or jeffesy

[@AORNova]

Yeah. YT, Ibis, Pivot, Marin are all missing. Pinkbike always skews their reviews away from certain brands and it shows unfortunately...

[@chiefsilverback]

@@AORNova They've got the new Ripmo in the test, and the new Jeffsy was part of the Value Field Test earlier in the year...

[@AORNova]

@@chiefsilverback Oh yeah I saw the Ripmo, typed too soon. But yeah still a few brands omitted.. but meh you can't get them all in one vid I guess.

[@MTBCoop]

Love this new format! Great intro episode, Gents!

[@bobbravo_82]

Love the format. Super cool to hear about the bro science that goes into the field test.

[@douzle]

Been waiting for this one and now its here!

[@AdventuresWithClair]

Hell yeah, excited to see the results especially since I bought the Rocky Mountain Instinct this spring after testing a few bikes and doing a review on them myself. I always love to hear other opinions about a bike I own.

[@petedog9581]

Henry must not know how to set up a suspension, if he cannot keep the front wheel down on a 64 HTA and 440mm chainstays. I have a 2023 Instinct C30 w a modest Deore spec, and it blows away my 2019 Stumpjumper w high end parts.

[@mrvwbug4423]

It sounds like they don't have the fork set up properly. Rockys are normally plush, but also usually incredibly stable.

[@AdventuresWithClair]

I agree, mine is so amazing. Best cornering bike I've ever been on.

[@petedog9581]

@@AdventuresWithClair Yep. That is bc the the body position is so centered on the bike. My Stumpy is more poppy with the shorter chainstays, but so much less stable and capable. Henry is the first person in all the reviews of Instincts that has ever said he had trouble keeping the front end down. He must be riding 140 psi and wide open compression in the rear shock???? He is a "special" kind of rider.

[@petedog9581]

@@mrvwbug4423 More like the shock is not set up correctly, if the front is lifting.

[@hifiandmtb]

I wonder why Canyon doesn’t put the KISS spring parts inside a loose rubber tube to stop the rattling?

[@MrGourd]

Great selection of bikes in this field test. I'm actually cross shopping several of them so I'm very intrigued at how they'll will stack up with each other.

[@PatBK]

Love the production value an this, great work 🙌

[@BasicBodThor]

Henry riding that stumpjumper with maximum compression

[@mrvwbug4423]

And apparently zero compression or tokens and maybe not enough air on the Instinct.

[@NerfHerdsman]

Great to see you guys ride as you describe what’s going on

[@soidk9031]

Man i would love to test out all those bikes. Love the content pb❤

[@obc3095]

Really like this format.

[@daviddawson4091]

Great format, really enjoyed how day one flowed visually and editorially; three word summary, brilliant. Day two, was....descriptive and necessary for understanding the parameters of the testing, I suppose?

[@pinkbike]

Day 3 gets fun, stay tuned!

[@daviddawson4091]

Looking forward to it@@pinkbike

[@mrvwbug4423]

Sounds like the Instinct isn't set up correctly? I've also heard other complaints about the Lyriks that come on the new Bronson. Did RS put out a bad batch of Lyriks this year? I ride a 2023 RM Altitude, which is very similar to the Instinct and it is quite plush, but is also incredibly stable, though it's also on a 38 Grip 2 not a Lyrik of unknown damper version. You should also bring back last years winner though, so a real comparison can be made, how do these stack up against the Fuel EX Gen 6, last years winner. This is also a much better format than the very underwhelming format used for the enduro bike field test.

[@petehoang719]

I like this new format :)

[@rpiian]

This is good Pinkbike.

[@snemelc3752]

Im waiting for the new DH bikes!

[@Adventuregirl96]

I understand why you tested the Sentinel, but wouldn't the Smuggler be closer to a normal trail bike?

[@od13615]

Is there any reason why that grip damper is almost used fully locked out around 9:25 in the video? I thought it was supposed to be fully open on the descents

[@octodadmtbmartyrichards2862]

Trail bikes 🎉. Should have included the Merida one twenty and Marin rift zone xr

[@patrickgibbons8353]

Love your guys stuff, suggestion, make a video comparing some bikes from 2/3 years ago, there's still alot of new old stock that people are going to opt for...example specialized stumpjumper evo expert 50% off !

[@brianmagee5847]

Great video! In a future test, I would be super curious to see you guys try the Shockwiz settings for the suspension vs your own dialed approach for bikes you don't really know all that well.

[@MikeesTexas]

Sweet, wus just giving y’all a hard time, i knew PB wouldn’t let me down

[@honzakrcil7454]

Great format

[@TheDiablosix6six]

Would have liked to see the Deviate Highlander 2 with the high pivot. Would have been interesting to see the difference with the suspension platform!!

[@Standard_Issue_Pedestrian]

Or one of the offerings from Forbidden.

[@makeitrandom3067]

great field test. they test some bikes that i am considering to purchase this coming december.

[@j_potatoe]

Hey Mike, as already commented: Great new format. But one question left: What Backpack is it your wearing? (I'd like to have quite large pockets on my chest...o.k. not on, but above)

[@Mike_Kazimer]

That’s the Evoc Hydro Pro 3.

[@TwoWheelStrength]

Great work guys

[@thegriff9425]

No Norco sight???

[@rickyg8293]

Exactly what I was thinking , built my fluid fsa2 essentially into a sight . Once I have enough miles on it will most likely get into the sight carbon

[@kleini3]

Would love to see a Cube bike along these in a Field test.

[@kjakan79]

Orbea?

[@rileyjohnson4223]

You should add the Ari Delano Peak in the next one!

[@Stonehockey]

Missed opportunity when removing the KSS system on the canyon to say you were going to kiss it goodby.

[@veganshredder]

we love dario

[@birddog76]

Would have loved to see the Revel Rascal V2 in this test.

[@Wombat_one]

9:23 Henry got his fork locked out?

[@gstpierre69]

As far as I know he runs his pressure low and compression super high

[@Henry-Quinney]

@@gstpierre69 Haha, something like that. Not locked out, but definitely using the adjustment.

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@gstpierre69 Which is why the Lyrik on the Instinct was giving him fits, you never run heavy compression on a RS fork, you run more pressure instead. Fox usually works better with less pressure and more damping. Though there may be an issue with this years Lyriks, I've heard lots of complaints about the ones that come on the new Bronson too.

[@quithollerin7276]

I find myself looking for the can of beer. Remember sitting on the tailgate ...sweat drying on your back ...talking the Kona 153, or the Norco Range. Remember Bible of Bikes. And who the fuck is spot?

[@peterk5578]

I now have the choice between: Turbo Levo Expert 20234/24 (best price), Santa Cruz Vala GXS GX (20% more expensive), orbea Rise LT M 10 (just as expensive as the Vala). Which bike would you buy for the low mountain range and as a bike for everything? The alternative would be the new Levo, but it probably costs 30% more (Expert)

[@SergejGrabun]

Henry rode with his fork almost entirely if not entirely locked on Specialized on the first ride. What the...

[@ProWhiteAntiJew]

No trek fuel ex? No polygon? Pivot trail 429? Please rate the bikes out of ten or out of the number tested. Climbing comfort plushness chunk flow. downhill flat. Some actual tangible numerical comparison spread sheet numbers. I know there are lots of bikes for way too much money for an unmotorized means of the simplest best human powered transportation ever invented but we all would like some hard spreadsheet numbers, not just wishy washy feelings without some type of numerical ranking system displayed on a sorted list for us all to review.

[@JoeIsCrazyWillman]

For Pivot to be in this group you'd want the Switchblade. 429 is more like what down country is. Polygon is 135mm rear, and they said only 140-150 for this test. I DO love my modified T7 tho (160Yari/135Topax)

[@michaelmicallef668]

Trek Fuel EX came out a couple of years ago. As such it participated in the 2022 PB field test- and won it! Go check it out bro

[@ProWhiteAntiJew]

@@michaelmicallef668 that is true a berd I did find that video. I find it strange that bike shops and online are still selling the trek fuel ex gen 5 and gen 6. The gen 6 ex7 is on sale for 3500 Canadian right now and I'm a size extra medium. 177cm. I really wanted to try out the polygon collosus and siskiu though. They are better spec for less money. Wish I could just buy a frame for less than the cost of a complete bike

[@feedbackzaloop]

Tuned out after hearing everything else is even more expensive than Stumpjumper.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Specialized didn't send an S-works, what sorcery is this haha.

[@ccw22lr]

Which bike were they talking about when they said the things

[@JJ_MTB_15]

Great picks

[@JS-sy8mo]

Love these guys! When's the next episode?

[@pinkbike]

Thanks! We have some of the individual reviews coming out this week, and then on Monday will be another BTS/how we tested style video

[@hellotherexu2393]

10:04 fork is locked out?

[@marksandoval5361]

Personally, I would only consider the bikes that have 150/160mm travel, full 29, and 64-65* HTA. That's the formula for the perfect Trailbike for me. I currently ride the Stumpy Evo which is all of those things and that combination would be tough to beat. Specialized should have just kept making the Stumpy Evo instead of producing the new Stumpy.

[@Leo-ss2gb]

I upgraded from old evo to new stumpy and swapped in a 160 air spring. 145/160 travel but the 145mm of "geenie" feels better than the old 150mm of regular float x.

[@marksandoval5361]

@@Leo-ss2gb The new Stumpy should come stock with a 160mm fork. I don't have any problem with 140-150mm rear travel.

[@Leo-ss2gb]

⁠​​⁠the coil bikes come with 160 but the air shock builds are 150. They probably think 150 is more “all around” but I clearly agree I like the 160 more haha.

[@marksandoval5361]

@@Leo-ss2gb The 150 fork and the 160 fork weigh the same and cost the same. Why not get that extra travel? The same could could be said for the rear shock as well. Why not go for 150mm of rear travel. The Genie shock could have just a bit more stroke.

[@Leo-ss2gb]

@@marksandoval5361 Yeah so clearly they're not doing it to save money. Like I said I think the assumption is if the lightweight air shock builds come with 160 they think fewer people would buy since they may see it as "too much bike" for what they want. They make the coil builds with the burlier shock also have more travel in the fork. I wanted 145/160 on my stumpy 15 with air shock so I swapped my airspring with a new one from marketplace for super cheap - lots of people swap air springs on new bikes so easy to find them there. Remember, goal for them has to be selling as many stumpys, not building the stumpy to your or my exact preference on every single spec

[@MrSupermugen]

the point about the sentinel's head angle was to correct the poor balance the previous bike had.

[@fen2453]

No trek fuel? Crazy.

[@princelinus8320]

Their biased towards other brands

[@KineticsReborn]

Would have loved to have seen the harp Daley here

[@prestaposts]

No Trek FuelEX? Lame

[@MrAntoniovine]

On the exact day I get my new RM Instinct, Henry trashes it! Way to ruin “New Bike Day”, Henry!

[@petedog9581]

Dude, If he cannot keep the front wheel down on an Instinct, he's doing something completely wrong with his set up. I have highest stack I could put on steerer tube and 30mm rise bars and the front end is pinned, especially with long chainstays. In fact, it is still somewhat hard to do quick pulls on the front end to do hops at speed. I never agree with him anyway, and he is the least skilled of the test riders. I rode Stumpys for 20+ years and the my 2023 Instinct is a far better bike. You will not be disappointed.

[@Henry-Quinney]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The footage was literally my first time swinging a leg over the bike. I hope I haven't taken the shine off your day too much. Enjoy the bike.

[@MrAntoniovine]

@petedog9581. thanks for the feedback. I also suspect it’s a setup issue. I was also contemplating swapping out the bars with 30mm rise bars so glad to hear you did the same.

[@MrAntoniovine]

@@Henry-Quinney no worries! Just have to wait for next year to ride it! Thanks for the reply, btw!

[@mrvwbug4423]

Yeah I think Henry was having issues getting that fork dialed

[@thingswelike]

3:10 I feel seen!

[@secondgen]

Kaz always sounds like he's talking at 1.25X speed hahaha

[@livefreeandshred9818]

No Druid but a spot mayhem ? Ok

[@benjy288]

Most of these bikes seem to be blurring the line with enduro bikes, my old 2017 trek slash 9.8 had 150 rear and 160 front

[@MarathonMindy]

No pivot?

[@ChupacabraOffroad]

Killer content

[@jeydebelen7395]

i am a fan of commencal, i wish there is a commencal in that field test the previous format of field test is more in deep about the specific bike. i don't like this kind of format.

[@jeffrogers2180]

No Giant? No Trek? Those boutique brands are cool, but not what most people are riding.

[@ej4796]

What kneepads does Dario wear?

[@Videomorgue]

KISS that gimmick goodbye. Canyon is charging money for a spring system that no one wants or asked for. It should be an optional accessory, not something you have to pay for, and then remove.

[@emilioformenti5870]

Do xc bikes!!!

[@Yimchifung]

喜欢这种新内容，大家一起骑车对比感受

[@applicablerobot]

I'm starting to think the kiss system is just a marketing tool to get more air time. Can't see another valid purpose myself...

[@nathantoney.1501]

New channel suggestion: pink ski.

[@flybyguy1450]

No trek topfuel or fuel ex??

[@Kovacs-sf1hi]

Topfuel isn’t the right travel bracket, and they’ve talked about the fuel ex like 5 times. No need.

[@davidthompson1075]

Anticipating the great content. Not sure how you sleep at night accepting clothing from a company that hasn't made money for seven years 😯 have a heart!!

[@ESR_Tachograf]

Am I trippin ? Or Henry was flyin down with the fit grip damper fully close on the stumpy? 😂

[@Henry-Quinney]

I have it at like 5:30, in 'clock terms' Ha. Not fully closed. That one could go to 7 o'clock, so to speak. It was actually very good and it's great to see that entry/mid level full suspension bike built for riding, straight out the box.

[@ESR_Tachograf]

@@Henry-Quinneyits kind of interesting, all of the fit grip dampers I had in my hands set to 5:30 ;) was hard like rampage forks 😅

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@Henry-Quinney Was there an issue with the Lyriks on the Instinct and Bronson? This isn't the first time I've heard a reviewer complain about the Lyrik on the new Bronson.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

The ripmo used to look like a blobfish but it transformed into a mermaid. Beware, must be hiding something 😂

[@MikeesTexas]

Trail bikes in a lift assist bike park.... bruh I'm missing Levy and the impossible climbs!!!!

[@pinkbike]

More challenges are coming in the next ep!

[@JamesJozef]

@@pinkbikeAt the same time, a LOT of people that buy one mountain bike want to rip local trails but also do a few bike park days when they can. It’s not like you’re sending huge jump trails. Bike park test on these bikes is totally valid.

[@tonkshred]

Pretty stoked on my marin alpine trail… I have a set of coil suspension and thiccc tires/wheels for enduro race, black, dh and park days… and set of air suspension plus trail wheels having lighter casing tires for long days in the saddle and anything chill. A few pounds diff between the two, few mins to swap… 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 really different experience riding between them almost like two diff bikes.

[@mrvwbug4423]

I rode a Ripmo AF as my park bike for 3 years, it did the job, maybe not quite as plush or fast as an enduro bike, but will do fine on anything less than double black park trails. The only park I've personally ridden where I wouldn't have taken that Ripmo is Whistler, I rented a DH bike for that and have since replaced my Ripmo with a RM Altitude.

[@Shawn-in-da-Canyon]

No Trek to test is no bueno!

[@mkrj2576]

Great video. Thanks. Dig it but too much dh bias. Physics and gravity apply where I live so the vast majority of time I’m on a bike is during a climb. And climbing tech can be a blast on the right trail bike. Hopefully later episodes will focus on that. Axiom: DH is fun on any bike, uphill ain’t.

[@mrvwbug4423]

All modern trail bikes climb well. Easy answer for this pack, the Ripmo will outclimb the rest, but none will be bad climbers.

[@benscott6266]

Every time you crash and shred the palms of your hands bc you are not wearing gloves, do you just think, "man gloves are not cool" , or "I am too fast for gloves, bc otherwise I can't feel the bike" Or is the skin of your palms similar to armadillo skin, bc you are digging trail all of the time?

[@willd2156]

Rapha havent really got the fit right hahaha

[@RM-yc3dq]

No Kona 134 or 153!!!!!!😭

[@JoeIsCrazyWillman]

134 too short. Closer to down country or XC. 153 would've been ok

[@artemartem9438]

Непогані у вас трейли, непогані😊

[@brandonbikes2558]

Henry gets no credit on the stumpy 15 review because his fork was locked out in every GoPro clip. Do better

[@milktop1]

I miss the Bible tests

[@rdone4932]

Guess I'm the only one not really into this style of review

[@ProWhiteAntiJew]

I'm with you. In a review I expect data, comparison to other gold standard bikes. Numerical Rating system in a list. This was all fluff without a shred of actual information. Biggest thing in the video was the stupid steering centering device in the canyon lol.

[@gamehunter788]

Cwop