Despite huge issues with supply chains and the boom in cycling uptake we saw last year, we still managed to get bikes in for testing.  This year, we’ve seen full sussers for as little as £850 right up to steel-framed, full agro hardtails so it’s safe to say, we’ve tested a good range of bikes. Without further adieu, here are the five most viewed mountain bike reviews of 2021. 

Of course, the longer a review is live, the more views it’ll accumulate so to keep things nice and fair we took the analytics from a month after each review’s publication. If you like your bikes with drop bars, don’t worry, click here for the five most viewed gravel bike reviews. So, in ascending order of page views…

Rockrider AM 100 S

2021 Rockrider am 100 s riding hero.jpg
2021 Rockrider am 100 s riding hero (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The AM 100 S from Decathlon-owned brand Rockrider is a wallet-friendly, all-mountain rig that offers an impressive pedalling platform and an agile ride. While providing all the kit you expect from a modern mountain bike and prime for trail centre routes, its rather dated geometry holds it back on the gnarlier trails.

  • See the full review of the Rockrider AM 100 S here.

Ragley Marley 1.0

2021 ragley marley 1.0 hero riding.jpg
2021 ragley marley 1.0 hero riding (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The Marley 1.0 is Ragley’s alloy trail hardtail, and it’s impressively capable while being heaps of fun on a range of trails. Ragley has been wise with the spec and for the most part, the geometry is on point. However, it trades climbing excellence for its downhill prowess.

  • See the full review of the Ragley Marley 1.0 here.

Stif Squatch

2021 Stif squatch hero riding.jpg
2021 Stif squatch hero riding (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

The Stif Squatch is a full aggro 29” hardtail that eats descents for breakfast while getting you back to the top efficiently and comfortably. Its fairly extreme focus means it’s not quite as comfortable over flat trails, but for winch-and-plummet fun it’s fantastic.

Merida Ninety-Six RC 9000

2021 Merida Ninety-Six RC9000-Main.jpg
2021 Merida Ninety-Six RC9000-Main (Image Credit: Matt Page)

Merida has updated the Ninety-Six, its flagship cross-country and fast trail bike, for 2021. The range-topping RC 9000 delivers a fast but very capable design and suspension platform, with a build capable of tackling the more technical modern cross-country racecourses. But is it radical enough to be a fast trail bike?

Carrera Titan X

2020 Carrera Titan X hero 3q.jpg
2020 Carrera Titan X hero 3q (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

Now for the most read review of 2021, the Titan X from Halfords brand Carrera offers the benefits of a full-suspension mountain bike for a very modest sum. It boasts all the mod cons with the spec of bikes twice its price, but while its suspension platform is a shining aspect, its geometry could be tweaked to cater to a wider audience.

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