Best cross-country mountain bikes

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Do you have a need for speed? Do you relish red-lining? If fast and light is your game, then you’ve come to the right spot.

Modern cross-country bikes are more capable than ever. As courses have got more technical the bikes have become long, slacker and better suited to barreling headlong through rock gardens while still remaining light enough to make short work of the climbs — provided you’ve been putting in the miles.

Here are our top cross-country mountain bike picks.

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Trek Top Fuel 9.9 SL

Price: £6,800 / US$9,449 / AU$9,999

• Adjustable geometry
• Fuss-free internal cable routing
• Dual-lockout button for sprints

The new Top Fuel incorporates many of the technologies that the company has developed for the longer-travel Fuel EX and Remedy trail bikes into a race-bred package.

BMC Fourstroke FS01 XX1

• Stiff chassis
• Refined suspension feel
• Capable in rough terrain

Look 989 SRAM XO1

• Striking looks
• Expert blend of racy and refined character
• Very composed for an XC hardtail

Focus Raven Max Factory 29

• Fully ridged frameset
• 1x specific frame design
• Suited to short-track racing

Norco Revolver 9.2 FS

• 1x specific frame
• Available in 27.5 and 29er versions
• Full carbon frame

Scott Scale 960

• Relaxed handling
• Lightweight for the price
• Clean lines

On the horizon

Scott Spark 900 RC SL

Specialized Epic HT

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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