2024 was filled with tons of fun, awesome rides and cool new mountain bike parts. Today we reflect on the year and present to you all of the most popular items, chosen by riders just like you. Tune in!
2024 didn't see a ton of innovation on the drivetrain front as we are still reveling in the glory that was the introduction of the SRAM T-Type transmission and to be honest, we haven't seen anything new that's very compelling or even compares to T-Type from any of the competition either. Riders everywhere have been loving these groupsets, and the GX T-Type came out on top by quite a margin. The GX Eagle E-Bike T-Type AXS Groupset continues to be one of the best performing workhorse groupsets for an E-bike that we've ever seen for it's incredibly smooth shifts under load and impressive durability, which earned it the number 3 spot. Tons of riders are still loving the good old mechanical GX Eagle drivetrain as well, which is probably SRAM's best bang for your buck drivetrain out there. There was also a surprising amount of demand for their top tier XX SL T-Type Eagle Transmission Power Meter Groupset that you'll find on only the fanciest of bikes.
Groupsets:
As far as other drivetrain components go, Shimano saw an increase in demand this year, likely due to increased availability and demand for quality mechanical workhorse drivetrains. Their XT components continue to be a top choice for riders everywhere and the extremely exciting XT CN-M8100 Chain took the top spot while the XT CS-M8100 Cassette took the 3rd spot. It makes sense when you consider the value and performance they offer. Microshift made an appearance in this year's top 5 with their ADVENT X Cassette which is a part of what has to be one of the best priced groupsets out there. Competing at opposite price points with their podium placements, RaceFace and 5Dev are back again in the top picks with their beautiful cranksets in the Turbine and RaceTrail/Enduro Crankset, respectively.
Drivetrain:
Grips are a personal preference type of component and riders will typically find something they like and continue to use it for years to come. It's awesome to see people enjoying the Trail One Hell's Gate Grips which took the top spot as well as the relatively new Farlow Gap Grips that earned the 3rd spot. Ergon continues to be a favorite among riders for their ergonomically comfortable designs in the GA3 Grips and GA2 Fat Grips which were good enough for the 4th and 5th spot while ODI takes the number 2 spot with their tried and true Elite Pro Grips.
Grips:
This year we once again decided to split the top tires into two categories because Maxxis seemingly continues to have a stranglehold on the market, with one exception... Continental appears to be chipping away at their market share and Conti's Kryptotal snuck into the overall number 4 spot showing serious demand and quickly becoming a tire to be reckoned with. However, the Maxxis Minion DHR II reigns supreme in the top spot and will likely go down in history as one of the most popular mountain bike tires of all time. The Maxxis Rekon and Assegai closely follow behind the DHRII as future hall of famers as well while the new Forekaster rounds out the top 5, showing riders have really been enjoying this relatively new tire that has a wide range of applications.
Tires:
As you already know from the text above, Conti's Kryptotal was the favorite non-Maxxis tire on our site, with several Schwalbe options in the top 5 show the brand's impressive popularity. Their Wicked Will took the second spot, Nobby Nic the third spot, and Racing Ralph in the 5th showing strong demand this year. Conti's Xynotal took the 4th spot - an impressively fast rolling tire that also has a wide range of applications.
Non- Maxxis Tires:
Handlebars come in all shapes in sizes, however one trend has been consistent in recent years and that's the increase in demand for bars with rise over 30mm. Chalk it up to a change in geometry, overall rider preference, or maybe even the video we made a while back about handlebar rise and what works for you. Trail One took two spots in this years top 5 with the Alloy and Carbon versions of the Crockett handlebar, with OneUp once again taking the top spot with their Carbon Handlebar. Title and Renthal also snuck into the top 5 with their AH1 bars and Fatbar 35 bars, respectively.
Handlebars:
Reserve continues to show solid demand and this year their Reserve 30 HD SL AL Wheelset taking the top spot. Their impressive quality, durability and warranty are certainly giving riders and others in the industry notice about what should be the standard when it comes to wheelset offerings. I9 followed closely behind with their beautiful Hydra Enduro S Wheelset that continues to be cherished by riders everywhere, while DT Swiss and BERD made consistent top 5 showings again as well as in recent years. Stan's took the number 4 spot with their Flow S2 wheels, offering a solid wheel and hub package at a great price that is hard to beat.
Wheels:
Fox dropped their own wireless post this year in the Transfer NEO, and it saw strong demand earning it a number two spot behind the OneUp V3 Dropper Post which arguably offers the best value in a dropper post these days. The NEO beat out the RockShox Reverb AXS, showing that riders not only want to match their kashima but also want a wireless dropper with longer travel. The classic Fox Transfer Factory was revamped this year, offering adjustable pressure and more user friendly serviceability, creating more consistent demand and taking the number 4 spot, while PNW's Loam took the last spot in the top 5 with it's solid performance and value.
Dropper Posts:
Wolf Tooth's ReMote Pro continues to be a crowd favorite for it's high quality, top tier performance and good looks, while OneUp followed close behind with it's Remote V3. Fox continues to be in demand with it's Transfer remote ever since they updated it to have a smooth bearing and non-cable-fraying actuation. Wolf Tooth's relatively new ReMote 360 showed surprising demand, likely for riders who have other things in their cockpit vying for that valuable real estate. PNW's Loam Lever V2 rounds out the top 5, remaining a top choice with its beautiful machining and thump padded lever.
Dropper Post Remotes:
SRAM's gravity oriented Mavens have been impressing riders everywhere with their insane power and became very popular this year for that reason, and the claim that they are the most powerful mountain bike brake full stop. They've found their way to the top spot with their Ultimate tier brakes and the #3 spot this year with their Silver tier Mavens. TRP and Shimano found their way back into the top 5 again, with SRAM's Code RSCs rounding out the final spot.
Brakes:
Ergon continutes to be a favorite among riders with their SM Pro taking the top spot and SM-E Mountain Pro rounding out the top 5, while Title surprisingly showing strong demand with their slopestyle and DH inspired JS1 saddle. WTB's Volt and Silverado continue to get the love they deserve with slight revamps in design and materials, taking the 3 and 4 spot respectively.
Saddles:
Trail One continues to impress riders and this time around it's with the Vortex composite pedals taking the top spot, while the gorgeous new Sage Alloy Pedals took the 5th spot even without a full year of being for sale. OneUp once again makes the top 5, but this time with their Aluminum Platform Pedals instead of their composite pedal like in years past. Wolf Tooth's Waveform Pedals makes the top 5 for the first time, while Crankbrothers, like OneUp, swaps spots in the top 5 in their Stamp 7 Pedals replacing their composite version among rider's favorites.
Flats:
Shimano takes the top two spots in their trail/enduro oriented XT M8120 while their weight weenie favorite XTR M9100 takes the second spot. Crankbrothers once again takes a top spot with their Mallet Enduro but this time it gains some ground in the top 5 while some newer candidates sneak into the top 5 in Time with their ATAC XC 10 Pedals, and Garmin with their fancy Rally XC200 Power Meter Pedals.
Clipless:
This year saw Fox dropping several new fork dampers in the Grip SL, Grip X and Grip X2, and their 34 and 36 forks took the #4 and #5 spots respectively while RockShox swept the podium with their value oriented Judy Gold RL taking the top spot. Riders everywhere need a solid fork to upgrade entry level bikes with and the Judy does just that. Their Lyrik Ultimate Charger 3.1 RC2 and SID Ultimate Race Day 2 followed closely behind the Judy and continue to be a top choice among riders for their buttery smooth performance, durability, and good looks.
Forks:
Again, Fox dropped some serious fire on us with their Live Valve NEO, challenging RockShox's Flight Attendant technology and sneaking into the #4 spot with the electrified version of the Float X. It's awesome to see advancements in suspension technology and it's very interesting to think about where this incredible tech will end up in a few years time. Fox dominated the rear shock segment with their FLOAT Factory and FLOAT X Factory Rear Shock taking the top two spots, while Ohlins showed serious demand for their TTX22M.2 Coil Shock. If someone could explain that naming convention to me in its entirety it would be great. RockShox squeaked into the top 5 with their extremely impressive gravity oriented Vivid Ultimate RC2T rear shock which we got to test on Crestline's S180 and loved its extremely tunable, buttery smooth, bottomless feeling performance.
Rear Shocks:
This year we saw continued demand for Park Tool's kits in the AK-5, PK-5 and SK-4 that offer a comprehensive assortment of tools that will get any home or professional mechanic a solid head start on their tool arsenal - they took the #1 spot, #4 spot and #5 spot, respectively. Wera also took a couple of top spots with their bike specific Bicycle Set 4 Hex and Torx L-Key Wrench Set as well as their Bicycle Set 3 Screwdriver Tool Set. Wera makes tools for people who are absolute tool geeks so if you love tools and have never heard of them, you should do yourself a favor and check them out.
Maintenance:
This category shows a solid mix of random products that don't really ever get the spotlight, but that doesn't mean they aren't extremely popular among riders. Sealant is obviously always in demand and Stan's takes the number 2 spot while Orange Seal takes the 4th spot. The SRAM Pro DOT V2 Hydraulic Brake Bleed Kit is the top choice for bleed kits among riders with SRAM brakes which earned it the number 3 spot, and it truly makes bleeding your own brakes a breeze and some would even go as far as to say it makes it fun. Maybe that's just me. The Trail One Components Tubeless Valve Stem V2 round out the top 5 with their clever design and smart extra valve core, while Fox's XL Fork Fender for 36 and 38 forks takes the top spot once again. That's one fender that deserves to go on a bender! I'll see myself out.
Missile Anus:
Arguably the simultaneously most boring and most interesting category is the top sellers of the year. It shows what riders actually need, desire, and purchase the most. Service kits continue to be popular in Fox's 36mm Fork Low Friction Flangeless Dust Wiper Kit as well as their rear shock Rebuild Kit for Float Rear Shocks, taking the 5th spot and 2nd spots, respectively. DT Swiss continues to show demand for their 54t Ratchet Kit, taking the number 3 spot while Trail One's very own Hell's Gate Grips takes the 4th spot. Wouldn't you know it, the number one product all year is.... brake pads. SRAM Code Disc Brake Pads. Don't everyone cheer at once.
Top Products of the Year:
Specialized 2FO Shoe
Sad.
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Hello, mountain bikers of the world! Another year has gone by, and we have sold well over a quarter million worth of mountain bike parts. In this video, we're going to tell you all of the absolute top sellers in every single category, and you'll probably learn a little bit as we go through those as well. If you want to skip to different chapters, feel free to do that. We're going to cover everything, including drivetrain, non-drivetrain parts, grips, tires (including non-Maxxis tires), handlebars, wheels, dropper posts, dropper post remotes, brakes, saddles (also known as seats), flat pedals, suspension forks, rear shocks, tools and maintenance, and then miscellaneous items. We'll even discuss the overall top sellers by quantity sold and the least-sold product of the year. Stay tuned—let's go!
Drivetrain: We have broken this up into group sets, which are obviously dominated by SRAM. We'll go from fifth to first and then talk about various other drivetrain components. Starting in the number five position for group sets, we have the SRAM XX SL T-Type Transmission group set. This is as fancy and flagship as a group set gets—lightweight, high-end, and very expensive. In the number four spot, we have the GX Eagle 12-speed mechanical group set. It's a more wallet-friendly option that's still super popular. Coming in at number three is the GX Eagle T-Type eBike AXS group set, designed specifically for eBikes. In the number two position is the XO T-Type Eagle Transmission, aimed more at Enduro bikes, while the XX SL is geared towards trail and cross-country bikes. Finally, the number one spot goes to the SRAM GX T-Type Transmission group set. Despite some naysayers online, it has become incredibly popular for its value and performance.
Other drivetrain components include the Race Face Turbine crank sets, which are lightweight and beautifully finished. The Microshift Advent X cassette is a value-oriented favorite, followed by the Shimano XT cassette, the 5DEV RSPEC Enduro crank set, and the XT 12-speed chain, which takes the number one spot.
Grips: In the number five spot are the Ergon G2 Fat grips, and at number four are the Ergon GA3 grips, known for their ergonomic design. Number three is the Trail One Farlow Gap grips, designed for trail comfort. At number two, we have the ODI Elite Pro, a long-standing favorite. Finally, the number one grip is the Trail One Hellsgate grip, combining comfort, grip, and a philanthropic mission.
Tires: Maxxis dominates the top five with the Forekaster, Assegai, Recon, and DHR II taking key positions. However, Continental's Kryptotal snuck in at number four overall. For non-Maxxis tires, the Racing Ralph, Zotal, Knobby Nic, Wicked Will, and Kryptotal lead the charge.
Handlebars: High-rise handlebars have become increasingly popular in 2024. The top five include Trail One Crockett carbon bars, Renthal Fatbar 35, Title AH1, Trail One Crockett alloy bars, and the OneUp carbon handlebar.
Wheels: Bird Hawk 27 wheels with I9 hubs take the fifth spot, followed by Stan’s Flow S2, DT Swiss EX1700, Industry Nine Enduro S, and Reserve aluminum wheels with DT350 hubs, which claim the number one spot.
Dropper Posts and Remotes: The top dropper posts include PNW Loam, Fox Transfer Factory, RockShox Reverb AXS, Fox Transfer SL, and the OneUp V3. In remotes, PNW, Wolf Tooth, and OneUp dominate, with Wolf Tooth’s Pro remote taking the top spot.
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC and Shimano SLX lead the charge, but the powerful SRAM Maven Ultimate takes the number one position.
Saddles: Ergon and WTB dominate, with the Ergon SM Pro saddle claiming the top spot.
Pedals: In clipless pedals, Garmin Rally power meter pedals and Shimano XTR are popular, but the Shimano XT takes the crown. For flat pedals, the Trail One Sage pedal, Crankbrothers Stamp 7, Wolf Tooth Waveform, and OneUp Components aluminum pedal are top sellers, with the Trail One Vortex pedal in the number one spot.
Forks: The Fox 36 Factory, Fox 34 Step-Cast, RockShox SID, and RockShox Lyrik Ultimate shine, but the RockShox Judy Gold RL is the best-selling fork.
Rear Shocks: The RockShox Vivid Ultimate, Fox Float X Live Valve, and Öhlins TTX22M coil shock stand out. The Fox Float X and Fox Float rear shocks dominate the category.
Tools and Maintenance: Park Tool kits are top-rated, with the SK-4 and PK-5 leading. The Wera toolsets are also a fan favorite for their quality and innovation.
Miscellaneous: Trail One tubeless valve stems, Orange Seal tire sealant, SRAM Pro bleed kits, and Stan’s NoTubes sealant make the list, but the Fox XL fender takes the number one spot.
Top Sellers Overall: The Fox 36mm Dust Wiper Kit, Trail One Hellsgate grips, DT Swiss 54T Ratchet Kit, and Fox Rear Shock Seal Kit were popular. SRAM Code brake pads took the top spot.
Least-Selling Product: Specialized 2FO clipless shoes had a tough year, overshadowed by significant competition.
Thank you for an incredible year! Comment your favorite bike part or upgrade of the year below. See you next year—happy riding!