BIG.NINE and BIG.TRAIL to be part of the BikeRadar “best hardtail mountain bikes in 2026” listing    

With the year turning, there are varies ‘best of 2026’ lists are emerging, and our BIG.NINE TR 8000 and BIG.TRAIL 600 have secured a spot on BikeRadar’s “best hardtail mountain bikes of 2026” list.

In the “Best hardtail mountain bikes over £2,000” category, the team included our BIG.NINE TR 8000, which was launched in 2024 and which perfectly combines the cross-country credentials of the classic BIG.NINE with some more trail-ready aspects, like longer travel forks, trail-biased tyres and a dropper post to give this carbon-framed race hardtail some enhanced trail capabilities. The team loved the “direct and fast reacting frame” as well as the well-thought-through specification, recommending it to “those looking for something a notch more capable than a cross-country bike”. 

To find out more about the BIG.NINE, please check out the micropage here, and if you would like to read the full BikeRadar review on the BIG.NINE TR 8000, please click here. 

In addition to the cross-country-biased BIG.NINE TR 8000, the BikeRadar crew also included our award-winning BIG.TRAIL 600 in the “Best hardtail mountain bikes under £2,000” category. The team was once again impressed by its progressive frame, efficient climbing and strong descending performance, as well as its well-thought-through specification.

To find out more about the BIG.TRAIL, please check out the micropage here, and if you would like to read the entire BikeRadar review on the BIG.TRAIL 600, please click here.  

For the complete article, please click here, and for more details on the tested models, please follow the links underneath DISCOVER THE BIKE.

For the entire 2026 hardtail listing, including the current BIG.NINE TR 8000 and BIG.TRAIL 600, please click here. 

Note: The bikes tested were the MY 2024 BIG.NINE TR 8000 and the MY 2025 BIG.TRAIL 600.