Our Favorite Long-Travel Mountain Bikes Of 2026 | Gearhead® Picks

Looking for the best long-travel mountain bikes of 2026? In this Gearhead® Picks video, Backcountry Bike Gearheads Julia and Kendall highlight three of their favorite big-travel bikes after real-world testing on some of the West’s most demanding terrain. From enduro-ready pedal park machines to one of the most exciting new e-mountain bikes on the market, these are the bikes that stood out for descending confidence, suspension performance, and all-around trail fun. 🚵 Featured Bikes: ✔ Santa Cruz Nomad — 170mm VPP-equipped mixed-wheel bike built for aggressive riding and bike park laps ✔ Yeti SB165 — A coil-sprung enduro machine with Switch Infinity suspension and unmatched downhill confidence ✔ Pivot Shuttle AMPED — A powerful new eMTB featuring the Avinox M2S motor, 800Wh battery, and DW-Link suspension After riding these bikes on technical trails in Moab and beyond, we're sharing our first impressions, favorite features, ride characteristics, and who we think each bike is best suited for. In this video: ✔ Best enduro bikes and long-travel mountain bikes for 2026 ✔ Santa Cruz Nomad, Yeti SB165, and Pivot Shuttle AMPED reviews ✔ Mixed-wheel (mullet) bike performance explained ✔ DW-Link, VPP, and Switch Infinity suspension insights ✔ Long-travel eMTB and enduro bike recommendations ✔ Real-world riding impressions from Backcountry Bike Gearheads Whether you're searching for a capable one-bike quiver, a dedicated bike park machine, an enduro race bike, or a high-performance electric mountain bike, these three models represent some of the most exciting options we've ridden this year. ➡️ Santa Cruz Nomad CC GX Transmission Mountain Bike: https://www.backcountry.com/santa-cruz-bicycles-nomad-cc-gx-axs-transmission-mountain-bike?utm_source=BCYT&utm_medium=YouTube ➡️ Yeti SB165 T3 X0 Transmission Carbon Wheel Mountain Bike: https://www.backcountry.com/yeti-cycles-sb165-t3-x0-transmission-carbon-wheel-mountain-bike?utm_source=BCYT&utm_medium=YouTube ➡️ Pivot Shuttle AMP’d Pro X0 Transmission E-Mountain Bike: https://www.backcountry.com/pivot-shuttle-ampd-pro-x0-transmission-e-bike?utm_source=BCYT&utm_medium=YouTube ➡️ Everything Bike: https://www.backcountry.com/cat/bike?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ All Mountain Bikes: https://www.backcountry.com/cat/mountain-bikes?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ Bike Apparel & Accessories: https://www.backcountry.com/cat/bike-apparel-accessories?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ Bike Helmets & Protection: https://www.backcountry.com/cat/bike-helmets-protection?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ Bike Footwear: https://www.backcountry.com/cat/bike-footwear?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ Our MTB Guide: https://www.backcountry.com/campaign/mountain-bike-guide?utm_source=BCYT ➡️ Shop The World’s Biggest Gear Closet: https://www.backcountry.com/?utm_source=BCYT Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:05 – Santa Cruz Nomad Overview 1:46 – Why We Like The Nomad 2:44 – Yeti SB165 Overview 4:05 – Why We Like The SB165 5:07 – Pivot Shuttle AM Overview 6:11 – Why We Like The Shuttle AM 7:29 – Outro Connect with a Gearhead: Call 1-800-409-4502 or chat with us online. 📍Find A Store: https://www.backcountry.com/sc/retail-stores?utm_source=BCYT What makes Backcountry the top choice for mountain biking gear? Our Gearhead® Experts are dedicated riders who tackle rugged singletrack to test the latest bikes, helmets, apparel, and accessories, allowing them to offer expert recommendations. Explore our wide range of mountain biking gear, and check out our insightful videos and blogs to find the perfect equipment for you and your family’s biking adventures. Backcountry is the place to Venture Beyond. Follow Along for More Content! 🐐 Backcountry Bulletin: https://www.backcountry.com/bulletin?utm_source=BCYT 🐐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backcountry/ 🐐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@backcountrycom?lang=en 🐐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Backcountry/ 🐐 Gearhead® Articles: https://www.backcountry.com/bulletin/explore-articles?utm_source=BCYT 🐐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/backcountry/