Best of Test 2025: The best freeride/downhill bikes from BIKE tests

Category: Freeride/Downhill

• Price range: from 4200 Euro
• Weight: 16-18.5 kilos
• Spring travel: 180-200 mm

Atherton A.200.1

• Price: 9912 Euro
• Weight: 16.3 kg
• Tested in: BIKE 01/25
• Spring travel: 200/200 mm
• Special features: Twelve frame sizes and custom geo available

In the Duel against the Pivot Phoenix Pro the A.200.1 with its six-link rear triangle won the test with aplomb. Why? The handling is intuitive, the sensitive suspension is forgiving and defined, the geometry fits right away. What's more, there is a choice of twelve frame sizes and even customisation is possible. This makes the Atherton a really fast big bike that is still very manoeuvrable and provides the rider with plenty of comfort.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Plus: top chassis; pleasing geometry; strong brakes and tyres
• Minus: High price; long chainstays

>> You can find the individual test of the Atherton A.200.1 here

Canyon Sender CFR Underdog

• Price: 4499 Euro
• Weight: 18.5 kg
• Tested in: BIKE 10/25
• Spring travel: 200/200 mm
• Special features: K.I.S. steering stabiliser, progression once.

Full throttle downhill? Maximum riding safety? Plenty of reserves? If these are your priorities, the new Sender is the right choice for you. On no other bike have we been able to in the test as uncompromisingly as with the CFR transmitter. The bike can also be individually fine-tuned. The completely new design has meant that the play instinct has suffered somewhat, but you get a racy downhiller - but that doesn't mean that you can't have fun in the park with the Canyon.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Plus: High-traction chassis; high driving safety; Vario geometry
• Minus: somewhat sluggish in narrow passages; little pop

>> All further details on the Canyon Sender CFR Underdog can be found here

Propain Spindrift 5 AL Park

• Price: 4204 Euro
• Weight: 17.4 kg
• Tested in: BIKE 10/25
• Spring travel: 200/180
• Special features: Singlecrown possible, online configurator

Park is written on it, park is inside. The double-bridge version of the Propain Spindrift freerider convinced us: handy, agile and playful. Precisely the characteristics that make banging around in the bike park even more fun. Even on the DH World Cup course, the bike performed solidly with (only) 180 millimetres at the rear, but had to let purebred downhillers go in comparison. The in-house thoroughbred downhiller Propain Rage would certainly have done better there.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Plus: solid tyres; high front; light wheels
• Minus: Not very smooth; short stroke at the rear; loud rattling

>> The individual test with all the details of the Propain Spindrift 5 AL Park can be found here

Propain Spindrift 5 CF

• Price: 7029 Euro
• Weight: 16.3 kg
• Tested in: BIKE 04/25
• Spring travel: 180/180 mm
• Special features: Configurable equipment

With 180 millimetres of travel at the front and rear, the Spindrift is a true freerider on paper. Thanks to the manageable weight of 16.3 kilos and the surprisingly good uphill characteristics, the carbon version of the Spindrift is very versatile. With plenty of reserves in its luggage, the Propain therefore also shone in our Enduro comparison test and secured second place behind the Forestal Siryon Diode. A real all-rounder that won't let you down even on long bike park days.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Plus: Suspension that is easy to swallow; confident DH position
• Minus: somewhat bulky on narrow trails

>> All further information about the Propain Spindrift 5 CF can be found here