Best 2021 Full Suspension Trail Bikes For $2000

This by far has been one of the weirdest years to try to buy a new bike. Stock shortages however are only part of the changing landscape of buying a new bike. Prices of base models have also been trending up. For example, a couple of years ago an entry-level StumpJumper ST cost $1,850 now the entry-level StumpJumper is $2,200. These are arguably different bikes but there is no denying that sub $2000 trail bikes are becoming fewer and farther between. In this roundup we’ll take a look at the best options we’ve found for 2021. Keep in mind, stock may be limited so you may need to hunt around to find one of these options.

Best Platform to Upgrade

Marin Rift Zone 29 1 – $1,679.00

We reviewed the previous version of this bike when it was rocking 120mm of front and rear travel. Marin has now bumped the front travel up to 130mm as we suggested in our review. The rear suspension layout on the Rift zone is a simple and proven single pivot design. The suspension on this base model is driven by the X-Fusion O2 Pro R.

The front suspension is handled by a RockShox Recon Silver with 32mm Stanchions. At 130mm of travel, we’d like to see a 35m or 34mm fork to stiffen up the front end but this is a budget build.

As far as the geo of the frame goes this bike has the most modern numbers of any bike in this round-up. There is a tendency for entry-level bikes to lag behind in geometry, but not so here.

This base model also retains the 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain but with a large range cassette and an updated derailer. This build overall does cut some corners to hit the price point. One of the biggest being that it has an upgradable 141 QR rear end. However, the frame and geometry are solid and parts can be upgraded over time. This build does not come with a dropper so that will be many buyers’ first upgrade.

Geo Chart

Size	S	M	L	XL
Wheels	29″	29″	29″	29″
Stack	603	607	612	616
Reach	430	455	480	505
Stack/Reach Ratio	1.40	1.33	1.27	1.22
Top Tube Length	580	606	633	659
Seat Tube Length	390	400	425	430
Seat Tube Angle	76.0	76.0	76.0	76.0
Head Tube Length	100	105	110	115
Head Tube Angle	65.5	65.5	65.5	65.5
BB Drop	34	34	34	34
BB Height	344	344	344	344
Front Center	736	763	790	817
Chainstay Length	425	425	425	425
Wheelbase	1,159	1,186	1,213	1,240
Rake	42	42	42	42
Trail	125	125	125	125
Standover Height	692	697	718	722

Most Canadian Bike

Norco Fluid FS 3 – $1,799.00

Who doesn’t love Canada? When speccing Fluid FS 3, Norco chose to go with X-Fusion suspension on the front and rear. You’ll also get a SRAM SX 12 speed drivetrain and Tectro brakes. Norco uses a sliding wheel size system that fits an XS and S bike with 27.5 wheels. Mediums get the option of 27.5 or 29 and the LG and XL sizes are dedicated 29ers.

We reviewed the Norco Fluid FS previously and found that the suspension was a bit finicky but overall we really liked how the bike climbed. For an all-rounder trail bike the Norco Fluid could serve nicely.

Size	XS	S	MD	MD	L	XL
Wheels	27.5″	27.5″	27.5″	29″	29″	29″
Stack	568	577	587	603	612	621
Reach	380	410	440	440	470	500
Stack/Reach Ratio	1.49	1.41	1.33	1.37	1.3	1.24
Top Tube Length	522	554	586	590	623	655
Seat Tube Length	370	390	420	420	450	490
Seat Tube Angle	76	76	76	76	76	76
Head Tube Length	100	110	120	100	110	120
Head Tube Angle	66	66	66	66.5	66.5	66.5
BB Drop	18	18	18	36	36	36
BB Height	342	342	342	342	342	342
Front Center	671	705	739	742	777	810
Chainstay Length	431	431	431	429	429	429
Wheelbase	1,101	1,135	1,169	1,169	1,204	1,237
Rake	42	42	42	51	51	51
Trail	114	114	114	109	109	109
Standover Height	640	654	664	682	694	704

Most Complete Build

Canyon Neuron 5 – $1,899.00

Canyon is one of the juggernaut direct to consumer brands in the bike maker landscape today. And they bring that buying power and savings to their Canyon Neuron 5. Unlike most other brands Canyon was able to skirt under the 2k mark while still equipping the front and rear suspension with RockShox components. You also get a 12 speed SRAM SX drivetrain, a dropper post, and Shimano brakes.

The geometry on the other hand of the Neuron is starting to look a bit dated. With the steepest headtube angle in the this round-up and the shortest reach, riders who are not into “new school” geometry are going to feel the most at home here. On the Neuron you’ll find 130mm of front and rear suspension. The wheel size moves from 27.5 to 29 depending on size.

Size	XS	S	MD	L	XL
Wheels	27.5″	27.5″	29″	29″	29″
Stack	579	589	612	623	651
Reach	398	418	433	453	473
Stack/Reach Ratio	1.46	1.41	1.41	1.38	1.38
Top Tube Length	559	581	603	626	654
Seat Tube Length	400	400	445	480	520
Seat Tube Angle	74.5	74.5	74.5	74.5	74.5
Head Tube Length	90	100	100	112	143
Head Tube Angle	67.0	67.0	67.5	67.5	67.5
BB Drop	18	18	38	38	38
BB Height	337	337	336	336	336
Front Center	693	717	729	753	785
Chainstay Length	430	430	440	440	440
Wheelbase	1,122	1,146	1,166	1,190	1,222
Rake	52	52	53	52	52
Trail	94	94	98	99	99
Standover Height	751	755	774	780	800

Best XC Racer

SCOTT SPARK 970 – $1,999

If you want a trail bike you can also race the Scott Spark 970 may be your ticket. Scott has a reputation for building fast XC bikes. The 970 retains race feature from more expensive models like their unique twin-lock lockout system that locks out the rear and front shock. Whereas most systems only increase low-speed compression in an effort to gain pedaling efficiency, TwinLoc allows Scott to change compression damping, and the spring curve, dynamically altering the geometry of the bike. The X-Fusion rear shock has a special travel / geo adjust system that give you 3 modes: Lockout, Traction Control and Descend.

You will find pretty standard XC geo on this bike with 130mm of front suspension and 120mm in the rear. A 12 speed SRAM SX drivetrain and Shimano MT201 brakes make this a bike your can roll out of the shop and race if needed.

Size	SM	MD	LG	XL
Wheels	29″	29″	29″	29″
Stack	593	593	602	612
Reach	403	433	460	477
Stack/Reach Ratio	1.47	1.37	1.31	1.28
Top Tube Length	575	605	635	655
Seat Tube Length	410	440	490	540
Seat Tube Angle	73.8	73.8	73.8	73.8
Head Tube Length	95	95	105	115
Head Tube Angle	67.2	67.2	67.2	67.2
BB Drop	43	43	43	43
BB Height	327	327	327	327
Front Center	687	717	748	769
Chainstay Length	438	438	438	438
Wheelbase	1,122	1,152	1,183	1,204
Rake	48	48	48	48
Trail	100	100	100	100
Standover Height	738	746	760	778