One bike to rule all of them: The trendy long-travel path bike actually is a ‘quiver killer’

Any opinions expressed on this article belong to the creator alone and don’t essentially characterize the opinions of Singletracks.com.

Yes, I do know: phrases like “quiver killer” have been drastically overused. Now when the phrases are uttered, most of us roll our eyes and mentally put together ourselves for one more fast advertising and marketing quip or slogan. 

I perceive; I do it too. But, hear me out: I do suppose the “do-it-all” bike exists. In truth, it’s the one I experience now — a 150mm, pedal-friendly, descending-oriented, trendy path bike. It is these long-travel path bikes that, I consider, may be your one and solely.

The trendy path bike

So, what precisely is the “modern trail bike”? Trail bikes, like many issues, fall on a spectrum. For probably the most half, we acknowledge this “trail bike spectrum” by its journey numbers. To be extra particular, path bike journey numbers (sometimes) fall between 130 and 150mm of rear wheel journey.

As Jeff identified in his latest Trail Bike of the Year battle, 20mm is a major distinction. While we used to have phrases that additional described bikes on this class, it appears we hear “downcountry” or “all-mountain” much less and fewer.

Instead, we simply say “trail bike.” And I’m okay with that.

The “modern trail bike” has additionally settled at a comparatively particular geometry vary. Head tube angles (HTA) are sometimes between 64° and 65°, and seat tube angles (STA) between 76° and 78°. For probably the most half, attain lengths are round 480mm (measurement massive), and stack heights are between 630mm and 640mm. Chainstays additionally range, typically touchdown between 435mm and 445mm for a measurement massive.

Obviously, there can be some geo variations, particularly whenever you go up or down in measurement, however the variations stay constant. Landing at these geo numbers actually helped set up the long-travel path bike because the quiver killer.

Geo modifications have helped

For reference, my every day driver is a 2023 Canyon Spectral CF8. It rolls on twin 29-inch wheels and has 150mm of rear journey paired with a 160mm fork. My measurement medium Spectral has a 456mm attain, 437mm chainstays, 64° HTA, and a 76° STA. 

I completely love this bike. It is bikes like this one — the Bronsons, Sentinels, Hightowers, Ripmos, Switchblades, and so on. — which have cracked the code of balancing longer journey numbers with environment friendly climbing. I’d argue that path bike geometry evolution is the important thing to unlocking this stability.

Nearly a decade in the past, Singletracks started monitoring path bike geometry. As you’ll count on, fairly a bit has modified in that point. For instance, in 2016, a Santa Cruz Hightower had a 67° HTA, 74.3° STA, 450mm attain (measurement massive), and 613mm stack (measurement massive). 

In 2025, a measurement massive Hightower now has a 64.2° HTA, 78.2° STA, 480mm attain, and a 641mm stack. Plus, journey elevated from 135/140mm in 2016 to 150/160mm as we speak. Yes, many of those modifications profit descending, however I don’t suppose they essentially hurt climbing. For the common rider, I might argue that the Hightower as we speak pedals and climbs simply as nicely, if not higher, than a 2016 Hightower.

A steeper STA, mixed with a taller stack and a slacker HTA, places you in an upright, comfy pedaling place. Yes, the attain is longer, however these components additionally compensate for what would in any other case be an uncomfortable, stretched-out pedaling place.

There’s little question that up to date suspension kinematics and technological developments, comparable to longer (and higher) dropper posts, play a component in bettering pedaling effectivity. But the geometry modifications definitely assist make a “long-travel” bike so comfy to pedal.

The ups and downs of a long-travel path bike

With all this discuss how nicely these bikes pedal, you is perhaps questioning: Does a contemporary 150mm path bike really climb higher than a contemporary 130mm path bike? Not fairly. But in my expertise, the distinction is so negligible that it doesn’t hassle me to be a contact slower with longer journey.

I’ve spent a great period of time on the shorter journey finish of the path bike spectrum. These are phenomenal bikes, and I recognize their effectivity. However, once I soar again on my Canyon Spectral, I don’t really feel as if that bike is now sluggish. In truth, reasonably than feeling just like the Canyon isn’t as environment friendly as its shorter-travel counterparts, I’m impressed by how environment friendly it’s for a 150/160mm bike.

But descending is a distinct story. Those 130mm path bikes which might be enjoyable and environment friendly climbers shortly discover their limits when descending rowdier trails. While they is perhaps enjoyable on intermediate chunk and flowy descents, they’re typically outgunned on rowdy, black diamond downhills.

Conversely, long-travel path bikes climb nicely and likewise don’t really feel like “too much bike” on mellower trails. But, because the path factors down and will get extra technical, 20mm of additional journey is available in large. Plus, a barely slacker HTA and maybe just a little additional attain and chainstay size present fairly a little bit of stability and confidence.

Isn’t there a weight penalty?

A heavier bike is a chore to pedal, and long-travel path bikes are sometimes heavier than their shorter-travel counterparts. However, after taking a look at each long-and short-travel trendy path bikes, it seems that the load hole isn’t as vital as we would suppose.

I’ll use two mulleted path choices from Santa Cruz as examples, each with the identical XO AXS RSV construct. The longer-travel 150mm Bronson has a claimed weight of 32.41 kilos, whereas the 130mm 5010 weighs in at 30.58 kilos.

Compared to the 5010, the Bronson has a weight penalty on account of beefier parts, comparable to suspension, wheels, and tires. Yet this penalty isn’t even two kilos, which few riders would really discover on the path. In truth, decrease weights and a extra environment friendly pedaling expertise may very well be achieved by operating a much less aggressive tire combo than the Assegai/DHR stocked on the Bronson.

Again, I doubt a tire swap can be wanted, as we might all possible be very impressed with the Bronson XO AXS RSV’s pedaling prowess. The Bronson’s two additional kilos is not going to negatively influence your total driving expertise and maintain you again on the climbs. However, I consider the 20mm of additional journey makes the Bronson a way more succesful descender than the 5010.

I’ll take an additional 20mm of journey for lower than two kilos each time, particularly when the general weight is simply 32 kilos.

Versatility for the win

Ultimately, it’s the versatility of those long-travel path bikes that makes them the “quiver killer.” They stay environment friendly climbers and pedalers whereas punching above their weight class on the descents. I’ve taken my Spectral on a 30-mile path experience one weekend and ripped downhill laps on the bike park the subsequent.

Obviously, the path bike you want will enormously depend upon the place you reside. If you don’t stay in a spot with a lot elevation or tough, rowdy descents, possibly 130mm is all you want. Perhaps you reside in an space the place large, tough, and rowdy descending is all there’s (I envy you), and 150mm isn’t sufficient. Your bike ought to match your terrain.

I stay in Bend, Oregon, the place there’s a great mixture of terrain. For lots of our trails, a 130mm path bike is all that’s wanted. Aside from the bike park, that is very true through the summer time. Our trails are flowy and quick, and are principally intermediate-level.

However, as soon as winter hits, lots of these trails are snowed in for the season. This is after we head east, the place we encounter a lot completely different terrain. Our winter driving is technical and steep. For instance, we could descend 1,000 toes in roughly one mile on our winter trails, in comparison with 1,000 toes over 4 miles in the summertime. 

Whether it’s summer time or winter, flowy or technical, I can deal with all of it on my long-travel path bike.

If you’ll be able to solely have one bike in your “quiver,” make it a long-travel path bike.