THE TEN BEST DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKES OF 2023
Our favorite dual-crown machines for this year
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THE TEN BEST DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKES OF 2023
THE TEN BEST DOWNHILL MOUNTAIN BIKES OF 2023Downhill bikes are designed for one purpose and one purpose only—to go downhill. They are meant to handle the toughest, steepest tracks with the biggest jumps. Their frames and components are typically much stronger and stouter than typical mountain bikes with less gear range and bigger brakes. Most downhill bikes have between 190mm and 220mm of suspension travel capable of smoothing out the roughest trails and race tracks around. Read below to see our favorite downhill bikes for 2023!
COMMENCAL SUPREME DH V5
Commencal’s flagship DH race bike has seen an overhaul over the last few World Cup seasons, and this new platform is finally available to the public for 2023. Featuring their all-new HVCS (High Virtual Contact System) suspension layout and mixed wheels, the DH V5 is designed to win race runs. There is a flip chip at the shock mount that allows for 4 different positions, adjusting the bottom bracket height and head tube angle, as well as changing the shock kinematic to be either more linear or more progressive. There is also a flip chip to adjust the chainstay length by +/- 6mm, making this a versatile downhill race machine. The DH V5 has 220mm of rear travel, a 200mm fork, a 63.3-degree head tube angle (“Low” Setting), and is available in sizes S through XL. Check out our article with Amaury Pierron and his Supreme DH V5 race bike build!
Price: $5,700–$7,400
Contact: www.commencalusa.com
PROPAIN RAGE CF
Propain Bike’s dedicated downhill platform, the Rage CF, has proven itself both on the World Cup Circuit and on the gnarliest freeride features. Available in both full 29″ and mixed wheel sizes, the full carbon frame features adjustable geometry via a flip chip in the linkage and 215mm of rear travel. There is a Highend spec that is built around Fox Factory suspension, Magura brakes, and SRAM X01 components, along with a Performance level spec that utilizes RockShox Ultimate suspension, GX drivetrain, and Code RSC brakes. Additionally, Propain gives the buyer the option to build up the Rage CF how they want with their varied selection of components and suspension. With a 63-degree head tube angle and a chainstay length between 445mm and 460mm, the Rage CF is designed to tame the gnarliest tracks and features.
Price: TBA
Contact: www.propain-bikes.com/us
SANTA CRUZ V10
If you’ve been keeping up with World Cup Downhill, you’ll know the Santa Cruz V10 is one of the winningest bikes ever made, ridden by the likes of Greg Minnaar and, most recently, Jackson Goldstone. There are two build kits available using the carbon CC V10 frame, with 27.5-inch wheels for the size small, 29-inch wheels for the XL, and both mixed and 29” builds for the medium and large frames. Santa Cruz’s VPP design provides 215mm of rear suspension with a 203 mm-travel fork and a head angle of 63.7 degrees. Both build kits feature Fox suspension, SRAM drivetrains and brakes, Industry Nine hubs, RaceFace carbon rims, and a variety of other high-quality components ready for the send.
Price: $7149 – $9499
Contact: www.santacruzbicycles.com
NUKEPROOF DISSENT CARBON 290/297
Designed and developed in Belfast, North Ireland, the Dissent 290/297 is Nukeproof’s take on the carbon-framed 29″ and mixed-wheel downhill bike. The Dissent 290/297 comes in two carbon frame builds—the Comp in Bullet Gray and the RS in Racing Red, both available in a mixed-wheel or full 29″ configuration. Each build is spec’d with a mix of SRAM DH components and RockShox suspension with 200mm of front and rear travel. They’re only offering these bikes in sizes medium–XL and feature a flip chip on the main pivot that offers four different progression settings. To see it in action under team rider Louise Ferguson check out this video and for more details check out our first look story here.
Price: $3,199 (Frameset)–$6,999
Contact: www.us.nukeproof.com
CANYON SENDER CFR
With a name like Sender, you can expect a bike that is capable of big things. Canyon designed this versatile downhill bike to be very customizable, providing reach-adjusting headset cups, the option to run both a 29-inch and 27.5-inch rear wheel, and a flip chip in the rear dropouts to customize the chainstay length. The Sender has a 63-degree head angle and 200mm of front and rear suspension with a design inspired by motocross bikes that is claimed to optimize leverage ratios and anti-squat numbers. Size S is only available as a mullet, while XL is only available as a 29er, with both M and L available as both. Every one of them contains the linkage option to run either 29 or 27.5 if you decide you want to switch wheels occasionally. Check out our full review here.
Prices: $5,299–$6,499
Contact: www.canyon.com
GT FURY A/M
Newly redesigned and revamped for 2023, the new Fury A/M from GT is built for precision and speed. Only available in the United States as a frame/shock combo for now, this would be an excellent platform to build up into the downhill bike of dreams. At the seatstay and rocker link junction, there is a chip to adjust between dual 29″ or mixed wheels, while an adjustment at the lower shock mount lets the rider choose between a more linear or progressive kinematic. There is also a chainstay adjustment to tweak the effective chainstay length by +/- 10mm. With a 63.5-degree head tube angle and sizes MD through XL, the Fury is built to suit a wide range of riders and styles. Check out our story here for all the details.
Price: $2,600
Contact: www.gtbicycles.com
GIANT GLORY ADVANCED
Giant has introduced the new Glory Advanced, the latest version of its downhill race bike. This fifth-generation model has undergone a complete overhaul, aiming to provide downhill racers with a competitive advantage. The bike features a full-composite frameset that offers various adjustment options for frame geometry, reach, and rear wheel size. 200mm of rear-wheel travel and a stock mixed-wheel setup make the Glory Advanced ready to take on the toughest trails you can throw at it. You can find more details here.
Price: $6,200 – $8,000
Contact: www.giant-bicycles.com
PIVOT PHOENIX 29
Rolling on dual 29″ wheels, the Phoenix 29 is Pivot’s tried-and-true flagship downhill bike that has taken Bernard Kerr to multipe Red Bull Hardline wins. It is built around 190mm of dw-link suspension driven by a Fox X2 Factory shock, although it is coil compatible, and a 203mm Factory 40 fork. The Phoenix comes with top-of-the-line Shimano Saint brakes and drivetrain (Race Face Atlas cranks) and bombproof DT Swiss FR 560 wheels, with the option to upgrade to Reynolds Blacklabel carbon wheels built around Industry Nine Hydra hubs. There is a 62.5-degree head tube angle, and the frame is available in sizes SM through XL to suit riders from approximately 5’4″ to 6’7″.
Price: $8,299 – $9,649
Contact: www.global.pivotcycles.com
SPECIALIZED DEMO
Needing no introduction, the Specialized Demo has long been one of the most recognized and highest-performing downhill bikes available under the likes of Loic Brüni and Finn Illes. Riding on a 29″ front and 27.5″ rear wheel, the Demo is only available in an alloy frame. For those that prefer big wheels front and back, it can also be run as a full 29″. There is 200mm of front and rear suspension as well as a head tube angle that sits at 62.5, 62.8, or 63.2 degrees, depending on the orientation of the adjustable flip chip. With 3 frame sizes to choose from, the Demo is built for all-out speed and for tackling the gnarliest race tracks.
Price: $3,000 (Frameset) – $7,100
Contact: www.specialized.com/us
TREK SESSION
This wouldn’t be a list of downhill bikes if we didn’t include the Session, right? With multiple World Cup podiums over the last couple of years, this bike has proven itself to be a DH race weapon. 200mm of suspension travel at both ends, dual 29″ wheels, and an Alpha Platinum Aluminum frame make the Trek Session a burly and capable bike that is able to handle the gnarliest tracks. The Session 9 (pictured above) receives top-of-the-line RockShox suspension and SRAM components, while the Session 8 gets a Boxxer Select fork, Marzocchi Bomber coil shock, and GX drivetrain. It comes in three sizes, R1, R2, and R3, which are based mainly on reach numbers and the rider’s inseam length rather than just their height. To hear how it rides and what we really think check out our full Trek Session review here.
Price: $5,500 – $7,200
Contact: www.trekbikes.com
