Downcountry Bike Showdown
“Downcountry” is a style of mountain bike that has evolved in the last few years. There are several interpretations on what it is exactly and there’s no set definition. However, most can agree that this style of bike lies somewhere in between cross country and trail. A downcountry bike can cover ground with speed and efficiency, but also has the right mix of geometry and components to descend with relative ease. A majority of bikes in this category have around 115-130mm of rear travel with somewhat aggressive geometry for an ideal pedaling position. These bikes are growing quickly in popularity as riders of short-travel bikes continue to demand more from their rigs. As a result, more and more manufacturers are catering to this need by producing models that are specific to this category. We put our top three downcountry bikes head to head to see what all the fuss is about.
The Bikes
The bikes in question.
Trek Top Fuel 9.8 XT
- Wheel size: 29”
- Suspension travel: 120mm (R) 130mm (F)
- Head angle: 66° (low)
- Seat tube angle: 76° (low)
The Top Fuel is a do-it-all full suspension mountain bike that’s efficient and fast, but doesn’t shy away from bigger features and technical terrain. It’s light, stiff, and super responsive to let you pedal with ease all day long.
Pivot Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR
- Wheel size: 29”
- Suspension travel: 120mm (R) 130mm (F)
- Head angle: 66.5° (low)
- Seat tube angle: 75.5° (low)
The Trail 429 sports an all-mountain attitude with race bike pedaling and reflexes. It takes notes from longer travel bikes with its progressive DW link geometry but still maintains the responsiveness to provide sharp handling and push you up climbs. The Pivot 429 is one of the best quiver bikes in recent years and deserves a prime highlight for its versatility.
Santa Cruz Tallboy C S Kit
- Wheel size: 29”
- Suspension travel: 120mm (R) 130mm (F)
- Head angle: 65.5° (low)
- Seat tube angle: 76° (low)
The Tallboy has earned a loyal following amongst those who seek a go-to bike that will hold up to the relentless hammering of "power hour" hot laps or long days in the saddle harvesting the best trails. The VPP suspension on the Tallboy combines pedaling efficiency and all-out bump-chomping prowess. If ever there was a gravity riders’ XC bike, the Tallboy is it.
The Showdown
For this evaluation we took these bikes out on the trail to assess three main criteria: climbing/pedalability, descending, and value. Each criteria was made up of the following sub-categories:
Climbing/Pedalability
- traction
- acceleration and responsiveness
- riding position
Descending
- traction
- jumping
- handling of technical terrain (rock gardens, bumps)
- overall stability
Value
- price point to spec
- overall price of bike compared to quality of components
- versatility
- mix of climbing and descending capability
After riding, each bike was scored on a scale of 1-5 for each sub-category. This scale is in reference for only the three bikes tested, 5 being the best of the three and 1 being the worst. The sub-category scores were then averaged out to get a score for the criteria. Finally, the criteria scores were averaged out to arrive at a final overall score to see which bike performed best.
For example:
Trek Top Fuel
Jake attacking a climb on the Top Fuel
Climbing/Pedalability
When it came to climbing the Top Fuel really shined amongst the bunch. This bike was super responsive and you could feel every pedal stroke translating directly into upward force on the climbs. The geometry is quite aggressive which gives you an ideal pedaling position. Though I wouldn’t say it’s the best at tracking the ground over those rougher uphill obstacles, you’re usually going so fast that you can just float over them anyways.
Score: 4.1
Descending
With the right skill this bike can handle more than you would think, but I wouldn’t call the Top Fuel the best on the descents. Much of this can be attributed to the fairly aggressive geometry that tends to put the rider in a more forward leaning position, making it harder to get behind the saddle. That being said, the sheer length of this bike does contribute to a decent feeling of stability, and it does feel quite snappy and stiff as you push it into corners. Despite this the suspension is not the best at tracking the ground on technical terrain, so expect to be bucked around a bit or find comfort in speed over obstacles.
Score: 3.3
Value
When it comes to value, few brands do it better than Trek. For just $7,150 you’ll get a Shimano XT drivetrain, XT brakes, and carbon wheels on the 9.8 XT model. Most other brands don’t touch this level of componentry until around the $8K price point. Combine that with Trek and Bontrager’s unconditional guarantee and you’ve got a ton of value in the Top Fuel right off the showroom.
Score: 4.3
Overall Score: 3.9
Pivot Trail 429
The Trail 429 loves to rail corners
PC Tylar Furr
Climbing/Pedalability
The Trail 429 was not as the fastest bike going uphill, but it certainly did gets the job done well due to the flawless DW link system. The 429 excels at settling into a cadence and rocketing you up the climb, notably with little bobbing due to the amazing DW linkage design. Additionally, you will be sat in an upright, comfortable position that tracks the ground well and reliably gets you up a climb.
Score: 4
Descending
The 429 proved to be very balanced and capable when it came to going downhill. It carried speed extremely well and felt very stable over terrain that normally would have given me pause on a 120mm travel bike. I was really blown away however in the corners, which I attribute to short chainstays and superboost spacing. Every berm felt sharp, quick, and effortless, a feeling I usually only experience when riding a mixed-wheel bike.
Score: 4.2
Value
At $7,499, the Trail 429 Pro XT/XTR build gives some detailed and quality value. You won't find odd combinations of suspension brands, Pivot works exclusively with Fox Racing and that partnership pays off with the custom tuned suspension (the only brand tested here that does this). Working hand in hand with Fox Factory Racing you feel the difference. You also get XT brakes, an XTR rear derailleur, carbon bars, and a Fox Transfer seatpost (no Reverb problems here!) This bike is great for riders looking for a one bike assassin and fits the bill for those who want to get the most out of their suspension platform.
Score: 4.1
Overall Score: 4.1
Santa Cruz Tallboy
Tallboy definitely feels more capable than your average 120mm travel bike.
PC Tylar Furr
Climbing/Pedalability
The Tallboy demonstrated exceptional climbing ability for being such a stout bike. I always felt planted and sure-footed on my tires, even on loose terrain. The acceleration was ok, but better than you’d expect. Most of my uphill time on this bike felt more steady and stable rather than speedy and responsive. Like the Trail 429, you sit pretty upright on the Tallboy making for a comfortable pedaling experience.
Score: 4
Descending
There’s a reason Santa Cruz calls the Tallboy the downhiller’s XC bike, as it was a joy to descend with. I like to refer to this as the type of bike that can get you into trouble - you’ll often find yourself going after large features normally reserved for long-travel bikes. However, this bike wasn’t the most lively bike in the corners and it was noticeably heavier than the other two models tested. That being said the bike had a stable feel that was confidence inspiring yet thrilling at the same time.
Score: 4.4
Value
Santa Cruz does make some great quality bikes, but component specs have never been their strong suit. Unfortunately the Tallboy is no exception to this, as evidenced by the lower $5,499 price tag on the Carbon C S build. Here you'll get a SRAM GX drivetrain, SRAM G2 R brakes, and a base C level carbon frame, an alloy bar (the Pivot and Trek are carbon) which are all generally solid components.
Score: 4.1
Overall Score: 4.2
Each of these bikes were a blast to ride, but ultimately the Tallboy took the crown for our best downcountry rig. After throwing a leg over it’s easy to see why this bike has such a cult following. It’s burly, capable and gets the job done every time.
If you’re in the market for a downcountry bike, any one of these models would work great. Most of this evaluation comes down to personal preference and what you’re demanding out of the bike, so there really isn’t a right answer. Keep in mind that we do keep demo models of the Tallboy and Trail 429 at our shops, so feel free to ask us about trying one out on the trail.