Mountain Bikes: Are They The New Luxury Hobby of Big Kids With Adult Money
The old hand-me-down hardtail is long gone. Here are eight flagship mountain bikes for Australian riders, from the Santa Cruz V10 to the S-Works Turbo Levo, but be warned you are going to need some deep pockets.
Ask anyone who grew up riding in the 90s or 2000s what their first mountain bike looked like and you'll hear the same story. It was a hand-me-down, a steel or alloy hardtail a size too big, with a front fork that barely moved and brakes that worked on a good day. You rode it into the ground and nobody thought of it as an investment.
However, the bikes at the top of the market now are a different thing entirely. Carbon frames, electronic shifting, coil and air shocks tuned to the rider's weight and full-power motors, at prices from about A$13,000 to more than A$24,000. A lot of the people buying them are millennials and Gen Z riders treating mountain biking as a serious sport rather than a weekend escape, and the spend looks a lot like the way they treat cameras, sneakers and watches. Here are eight flagship bikes for Australian riders, starting with the one that started this conversation, the Santa Cruz V10.
1. Santa Cruz V10 CC, the downhill monster
The V10 is a downhill race bike you can actually buy, with 208mm of rear travel, a carbon CC frame, VPP suspension, adjustable geometry through flip chips and reach-adjust headset cups. Empire Cycles lists the V10 CC X01-Kit at A$13,499 and the S-Kit at A$10,499. If you're riding bike parks and lift days, this is the one that earns its keep.
2. Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX AXS RSV, the all-rounder
If you want one bike that does everything, the Hightower is the Santa Cruz to buy. The XX AXS RSV build is A$16,999, with SRAM's XX drivetrain, Reserve carbon wheels and Fox Factory suspension, and it's the kind of trail bike that is quick up the hill and confident on the way down.
3. Santa Cruz Vala CC XX AXS, the e-bike for purists
The Vala is Santa Cruz's lightweight e-MTB, and the CC XX AXS is A$19,499. It has a Bosch CX Gen 5 motor with 85Nm of torque and 600W peak power, a 600Wh battery, 150mm of rear travel and a 160mm Fox 38 fork, plus SRAM XX Eagle AXS, Maven Ultimate brakes, Reserve carbon rims and Industry Nine hubs.
4. Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4, the full-power flagship
At A$23,500, the S-Works Turbo Levo 4 is the most expensive e-MTB here. The S-Works gets the 3.1 motor with 111Nm and 720W, an 840Wh battery, 150mm of rear travel and 160mm up front. Flow's review praised the plush suspension and quieter motor, but noted the weight, 23.62kg on their test bike, and that most riders won't need the extra S-Works power. The alloy Levo starts at A$8,900.
5. Yeti SB160 Turq, the enduro icon
The Yeti SB160 is the brand's flagship enduro bike, built around its Turq carbon frame. The T4 XX Transmission build is listed from A$16,990 at Empire Cycles, with 160mm of travel, Fox Factory suspension and SRAM XX Transmission. Check that the retailer is listing the current model year before you buy.
6. Pivot Firebird, the enduro bank-breaker
Flow called the Pivot Firebird "a bank-breaker of a bike", and the top build, the XX Eagle with Fox Live Valve Neo and carbon wheels, is A$22,999. The range starts at A$10,999. It has 165mm of rear travel, a 170mm fork and DW-Link suspension, and the Pro XT/XTR build Flow tested weighed 12.48kg.
7. Specialized S-Works Epic 8, the cross-country benchmark
The Epic 8 is the bike Flow picked as the best XC bike, with 120mm of travel and a lightweight frame. Flow's 2024 list priced the S-Works at A$24,000 with SRAM XX SL Transmission, a power meter and Level Ultimate brakes, and it can be fitted with RockShox's Flight Attendant auto-adjusting suspension.
8. Trek Slash 9.9 XX AXS T-Type, the high-pivot enduro bike
The Trek Slash 9.9 XX AXS T-Type has 160mm of travel, RockShox Ultimate suspension, SRAM XX Transmission and carbon wheels. Flow listed the Gen 6 at A$20,000.
At a glance
- Santa Cruz V10 CC X01-Kit: A$13,499, 208mm rear travel, downhill
- Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX AXS RSV: A$16,999, trail
- Santa Cruz Vala CC XX AXS: A$19,499, e-MTB, 600Wh battery
- Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo 4: A$23,500, e-MTB, 840Wh battery
- Yeti SB160 T4 XX Transmission: from A$16,990, 160mm
- Pivot Firebird XX Eagle Live Valve Neo: A$22,999, 165mm rear
- Specialized S-Works Epic 8: A$24,000 (2024 price), 120mm XC
- Trek Slash 9.9 XX AXS T-Type: A$20,000 (2024 price), 160mm
Verdict: the Hightower is the best single-bike choice for most riders, the V10 is the one to buy if you ride lifts and bike parks, and the Levo is the pick if you want the most power. Whichever you choose, your in for some serious money so make sure you have a good bike lock.
