4 Short-Travel 29ers REVIEWED - Vital MTB Test Sessions

Could you guys not score an Izzo core-4 with the remote lockout? That seems to more match the prices of these bikes.

So you were trying to keep the bikes as "apples-to-apples" as possible, but some bikes had enduro tires(dhf/dhr)and others had xc tires(forekaster)? I feel like that makes it unfair, if you wanted a truly fair comparison you should have put control tires on all the bikes.

Needed to throw a top fuel in the mix.

Pretty cool video, and very thorough! But I almost passed on the whole thing based solely on that pathetic high five at the beginning 😂

The on one scandal plus tires with 130 fork is my weapon of choice..budget hardcore hardtail 🤙🤙🤙

Super useful reviews, guys. Especially since they’re on my home trails! Thanks!

I've been riding a Scott Spark for over a year now, albeit a 970 and not a 910. I love the bike but it isn't without its flaws.
My biggest complaint about it is upgrading/replacing parts/components...especially the rear shock. My advice to those thinking of buying it would be to just save yourself the trouble and money, and get the better spec ones...like the 910 or AXS Tuned and just avoid the lower tier ones. Be prepared to spend a bit and swap the Twinloc for a different type of lever if you're going to use an AXS dropper.
Despite the hassle i went through, i still love this bike...it's deceptively capable, it's fast and it's a very good all-rounder.

Scott look good in off and on road

All nice bikes but the SPARK FTW!

Raaw jibb??????

This is a great example of how not to review an XC bike (aka Exie)

The market segmentation to sell more product started with the word "enduro". Now everyone and their brother in law has a riding category. I rode and raced a hardtail for many years and had as much fun then as I do on my "trail" bike. The moto of this story..just get on a mountain bike and ride...Love the video, thank you guys.

Kind of feel you should have been fair and gone for the Izzo at the same price point as the others just to see what the same money would get you spec-wise. $1000 jump up is quite a lot and i'm sure the level-up n parts would have made things more interesting,

Izzo doesn't fit into your test group......should have swapped it with a SC Blur TR or Specialized EVO

I felt like the bike should be reviewed for capability for the money. If the same money gives you lighter carbon features vs heavily features, wouldn't that affect the review.

To compare apples to apples, if you threw in the YT Izzo, you needed to do the YT Izzo Pro Race because its only 26-27 pounds, has Kashima everything, 1200 gram carbon rims and costs just $5500. At that build, that bike flies and is a more capable trail bike than any of those other bikes. I have a 2022 Pivot Trail 429 and it's on par with this bike. The 429 climbs slightly better, and turns faster but you can put the power down on that Izzo and it takes off when coming out of turns and the quick up down terrain. That Izzo Pro Race would be the best overall bike in this group of bikes you had because it is VERY capable for a short-travel trail bike.

These comparisons depend on the local trail features. The concentration on descents is specific and is not the case everywhere. Also, and as you said, some bikes favor larger/heavier riders, so the "best" bike is specific to your size/weight.

Pounds, feet, inches... Adopt metric once and for all, FFS!

What are the reviewers height and bikes sizes tested?

Why are the price ranges so different?

I love it when you dont have rely on the lockout for the climb. I was curius about the new spark before but after seen so many reviews of people loving it with the lockout system but not so much without it would make me go for the Exie all day even if i think it looks like curled up tagliatelle.

Where’s The Rocky Element?

What is your opinion of the Trek Supercaliber, also short travel and superb performance in XC tracks, world championships (on women category). 100 mm front 60 mm back

2022 Trance 29 identifies as short travel trail, not downcountry. Maybe upduro?

Interesting how much personal preference comes into play. The YT Izzo has been one of my all-time favorite bikes. I find it to climb extremely well and efficiently—constantly blowing my legs out as this thing begs me to go faster and push harder—I've never felt the need to use the lockout. It's far more capable on descents than I was anticipating. It is a trail bike through and through, not an XC bike as I consider the Spark and Exie to be. The spec choice does have pitfalls though. On the XL the 170mm seatpost is not enough, and the 175mm cranks on a 333mm BB height is just too much for my terrain and was constantly hitting my pedals (even when corning heavily). I had to put a 200mm dropper and 165 cranks on. I also put more aggressive and supportive tires on it. The G2R brakes just aren't enough for me at 180# with how capable this bike is.

Should have reviewed the Ripley instead of exie for this group

I feel like a closer comparison for the YT would be the Ibis Ripley over the Exie. A good video would be the SB115, Izzo, Ripley, and like a trek fuel.

Revel Ranger & Spur

It would have been a better apples to apples comparison if you tested the Izzo core 4. It still would have been the cheapest, but with better suspension, brakes, and lighter wheel set.

The thick stem with the even thicker spacer on the Scott Spark looks so ugly to me. They always say "oh wow integrated cable routing is such a design feature"... no stupid it's not, look at that abomination of a plastic spacer tower. How is that good design?

Wait a minute, 160mm rotors don't stop much of anything? I think you need to go ride a bike with cantaliver or V brakes.....160mm will seem like reverse thrusters..

I wish I knew which trails these videos were shot on!!

Great camera work!!! Its awesome to see short travel bikes getting loose! However, short travel riders arent just riding up to get down. We like the climb and want efficient bikes. It would be awesome to see reviews with hard data, not just how it felt. I personally would be more interested in timed loops rather than timed down hill laps (on these bikes)!

good group of bikes, there. however it guess it would not have been fair to also test the Ryve 115 against any of these. it would have gotten first place no doubt.

Wow! all 3 reviewers actually embrace the Twin Loc? and then Scott dooms it with poorly designed levers. LOL

Awesome cool bike s

You guys need to look into the Intense Sniper.

Why are people so against the "down country" name. All the category "names" are made up. WTF is "enduro"? WTF is "trail"? All bikes can be called "trail" bikes. Down Country makes sense and describes them perfectly. A cross country bike that does a better job on the way down.

Just got my son a spark 910, this video push us over the top from a pivot 429. He had a 2019 spark and just grew out of the medium. The 130/120 travel allows greater versatility than the old version so he only needs one bike two wheel set up for racing and playing around on the trails. He is a great climber and closest to Greg physically, so the multiple rider review was really nice. Would have love a stress test (that might have been asking to too much for a 1 week test).

they are all flat black,

You can have any bike as long as it’s black. I’m sick of black bikes….boring and show every nic and scratch

Arktos leverage curve is flat to regressive. Pass.

I'm a little disappointed that you didn't have a Banshee Phantom in the lineup. Still a good video! Thanks!

You test a totally XC bike (even its name is Exie) and complain it doesn't have enough travel and you need to be more careful riding it. Duh. Their DC (or short-travel trail) bike is the Ripley.

nice: it is so funny to hear the way things are moving - 65 degreee HA hahahaaaaaa

And you have to include the Specialized Evo.