Trek: Rumblefish Corner Specialist

This is no typical 29er. The bike’s big wheels roll easily over rough terrain and the 120mm of rear travel, combined with an innovative dual-rate shock, soaks up big hits. But here’s what really sets it apart: The Rumblefish slices through technical terrain where other long-travel 29ers bog down.

The superb handling begins with a stiff aluminum frame that refused to flex no matter how hard we pushed it. The Fox-built DRCV shock deserves credit, too. With separate chambers for small bumps and major impacts, it rides high in its travel without wallowing. That’s especially beneficial in corners; while other bikes dive into their travel, the Rumblefish maintains an agile stance and snaps around sharp turns.

The bike uses proven G2 geometry borrowed from the retired Gary Fisher brand. This allows Trek to further improve handling by increasing fork offset—a subtle alteration that improves slow-speed steering. A long top tube and short stem make it easier to control the front end. That responsive handling pays dividends on the trail.

One particularly nasty section of our test loop includes a long rock garden followed by a 180-degree turn that leads to an elevated slab of granite with a 3-foot drop. The Rumblefish nailed it, racing through the unforgiving terrain like a cross-country bike, then using its travel to suck up the drop.

The ABP suspension platform is impressive, active while we pedaled, descended, and especially while braking. The shock and RockShox Revelation fork kept the tires glued to the ground, smoothing out even the roughest stretches of trail. Rarely will you find such high-performance suspension on a bike at this price.

Trek keeps the Rumblefish relatively affordable with value components. The parts performed reliably, though they added some weight. Fortunately, the bike has Trek’s Alpha Platinum aluminum frame tubes—the same pipes found on pricier versions, which makes upgrading to lighter parts a viable option. Fast, nimble, and plush, the Rumblefish is a breed all its own. Not only is this long-travel 29er one of the most versatile trail bikes we’ve tested, it’s also a great value.

Buy It: If you want a bike that can burn through corners and take big hits