It all used to be so clear… 140mm of rear travel meant trail bike, 160mm meant all-mountain bike. A clear division of intent and purpose. For a lot of riders, 140mm felt like the sweet spot for UK riding – enough travel to take on the rough and tumble of the Lakes or Scottish Highlands, but without feeling lifeless at smoother trail centres. With suspension systems and frame materials increasing in capability while decreasing in weight, the boundaries between trail and big mountain have become blurred – why not have 160mm of travel when the weight penalty has never been lower?
It’s in this blurry middle ground that a number of 150mm bike have appeared, catering for those who are after a bit more capability from their trail bike without stepping up to a mini downhill bike.