14,495 of you took the time to answer all 114 questions of this year’s reader survey. Once again, you’ve shown us how strong our community is – and that mountain biking is much more than just a sport. With an impressive average completion time of 28 minutes, you collectively invested a staggering 411,415 minutes – that’s over 286 days, almost an entire year – just to talk to us about your bikes, your preferences and the future of the scene. For that, we can only say: thank you – you’re amazing and our greatest source of inspiration!
Participants from 127 countries once again demonstrated how international and diverse our community really is. The majority of our readers are still based in Europe – 83 % to be precise. Germany remains in the lead with a whopping 6,576 participants, followed by readers from all around the globe. We were especially thrilled to see responses from exotic corners such as Egypt, Botswana and Madagascar. No matter where you’re from – your perspective matters!
This year’s age range spanned from 14 to 89 years – what a spectrum! Our oldest participant proves impressively that mountain biking has no age limit. With an average age of 44.5 years, you’re more experienced than ever, bringing plenty of expertise to the survey. Our female readers are on the move too:with 5 %, you’ve secured a firm place in the saddle – more than ever before. And while Michael (no surprise there!) remains the most common male name, he’s getting some charming company this year: Claudia is the most popular name among our female participants.
Your spending power, your experience – and plenty of fresh faces!
Looking at the numbers, one thing becomes clear: you take mountain biking very seriously. With an average net household income of € 70,900, you bring not only passion but also solid purchasing power to the scene. And that money flows straight back into our shared passion: on average, you’re planning to spend an impressive € 5,370 on your next bike – a new record, though prices have certainly gone up too. Quality and performance clearly top your priority list, and that’s reflected in your investment plans.
But it’s not just your budgets that impress – your experience does, too. On average, you’ve been riding for 17.6 years. Some of you are true legends: like Coz, 72 years young, who’s been mountain biking for an incredible 55 years – if that’s not inspiring, what is?
At the same time, we’re thrilled to welcome many new faces to the community: 8 % of you discovered mountain biking during the pandemic, another 8 % have been riding for less than a year – and 4 % even admitted they don’t yet own a mountain bike – welcome aboard! And since every beginning can be tough, we’ve got you covered: our Beginner’s Guide helps you choose the right bike, offers valuable tips for your first gear and trails, and shows you how to start your MTB adventure safely and with plenty of fun. So no more excuses – get out there, hop on your bike, and enjoy the ride!
A thirst for adventure meets a love of coffee – your off-trail obsessions
Of course, your lives don’t revolve entirely around bikes and trails – off the saddle, you’re a diverse and colourful bunch. Travelling tops your list: 46 % of you love exploring new places and chasing adventure abroad. No surprise, then, that so many of your best memories are tied to bike trips. Close behind is the growing trend of camping and vanlife – the perfect complement to travel and your favourite sport.
For the connoisseurs among you, coffee remains a true classic: more than 30 % of you appreciate the good stuff that fuels not only your mornings but also those post-ride pick-me-ups after a long trail session. Right behind comes your love of cars and – of course – a cold beer ;).
Creative passions also run deep in our community: photography and electronic gadgets are high on your list. So, you show great style not just on the trails but also behind the lens and in your tech toys. Motorbike enthusiasts are well represented too, and 15 % of you ride urban bikes in everyday life – whether commuting to work, hauling cargo or cruising through town. Family matters are just as important: 12 % of you are interested in kids’ bikes, because biking is a passion best shared with your little ones. In short: you embody the perfect mix of adventure and enjoyment – whether on two wheels, in your camper van or over a relaxed espresso in the sun.
Travel remains your undisputed highlight: on average, you spend 8.6 days per year on bike holidays – a bit less than last year, but you treat yourselves well. With an average spend of € 201 per day, you’re clearly investing more in the overall experience – not just shuttle laps or bike-park tickets, but also that well-earned sundowner after a long day in the saddle.
And you’re just as active at home: your typical local ride covers about 29 km, and over the course of a year, you clock an average of 1,684 km. Altogether, that adds up to an impressive 24,358,738 km – enough to circle the Earth more than 600 times. Respect!
Off to your garage – what’s in bike cave?
When we take a look into your garages, a clear picture emerges: the enduro bike remains your favourite with over 55 %, closely followed by trail bikes at 43 %. But e-mountain bikes have also firmly established themselves, and gravel and road bikes are well represented too. XC bikes, urban bikes – with or without a motor – and downcountry bikes complete the picture. Downhill bikes also continue to have a loyal fan base. Interestingly, almost 4 % of you don’t currently own a bike – so it’s about time to change that! On average, you own 3.1 bikes – enough to have the perfect setup for every occasion. Unsurprisingly, the bike you ride most often is the enduro, followed by trail bikes and eMTBs.
Praise, passion – and a bit of pain with your bikes
Your current bike investment averages around € 4,600. A quarter of you spent less than € 2,500, but the majority – 75 % – were willing to go up to € 5,500. For your next bike, you’re planning an even higher budget: an average of € 5,300 – that’s € 700 more than before – and 75 % of readers are ready to spend up to € 6,500. There are few outliers – no one plans to spend more than € 15,000, but a handful of hardcore fans would go that far for their dream bike.
Of course, age also plays a role in spending habits: riders under 20 spend an average of € 3,500, while those aged 50–59 spend around € 5,800. It’s clear: with growing experience usually comes a higher income – and greater willingness to invest. There are also regional differences: Australia leads with an average of € 6,068, followed by Canada (€ 6,008), the USA (€ 5,581) and the UK (€ 5,558).
You keep your current bikes for an average of 30 months – about 2.5 years. Interestingly, 25 % of you bought a new bike within the last six months. But how satisfied are you with your bikes overall? On average, you rate them 3.7 out of 5. Notably, 75 % of you give at least 4 points – showing a generally high level of satisfaction. Still, around 2,000 respondents gave their bike a score of zero – a clear sign that there’s still room for improvement.
A closer look reveals: about 20 % of you report no issues at all – lucky you! The vast majority, roughly 80 %, experience minor or major problems. The usual suspects top the list: brakes, wheels and drivetrains cause the most trouble. Close behind are suspension issues, worn bearings, punctures and general wear and tear. Noisy components are another common annoyance on your “to-fix” list. Frame failures, however, are rare – thankfully!
Satisfaction levels vary significantly between brands. Bikes from manufacturers such as Conway, Alutech, Niner, Lapierre, Bianchi and KTM scored the lowest with you – so there’s room for improvement. Overall, the takeaway is clear: you love your bikes, constantly tweak and upgrade them, but you’re also critical enough to call out flaws. And that’s exactly what drives the scene forward – honest feedback that pushes manufacturers to deliver even better bikes to the trails.
Wrenching or shopping? Your upgrades and buying plans
The big question every year: buy a new bike or upgrade the current one? The answer: both – but with a clear tendency. 18 % of you plan to buy a new bike within the next twelve months, 49 % don’t intend to, and 33 % are still undecided. So the market remains lively, even though almost half of you prefer to stick with your existing setup.
And what about those who aren’t buying? They’re wrenching! Upgrades are a must for many of you – and not just when something breaks. At the top of your wish list are brakes (41 %) and tires (39 %), closely followed by wheels (32 %) and suspension (30 %). The drivetrain (25 %) is another hot candidate for upgrades. The message is clear: those who don’t buy new are investing their money in tuning instead. Around 68 % of non-buyers are planning to spend their budget on new brakes, while only 31 % of new-bike buyers intend to upgrade them. It’s a similar story for wheels and drivetrains.
Your next bikes – trends and wishes
Among those planning to buy a new bike, enduro remains the top choice with 37 %. E-mountain bikes continue to gain ground, reaching 27 %, while trail bikes follow with 21 %. XC and downhill bikes, on the other hand, play only a minor role.
When it comes to wheel size, a clear trend continues: 29” remains king with 52 %, but mullet setups are catching up fast, already accounting for 37 %. Bikes with full 27.5” wheels are losing ground significantly, dropping to just 4 %.
The brand rankings show an exciting mix: Santa Cruz leads your wish list with 9 %, closely followed by Specialized (8 %) and Atherton Bikes (7 %). Propain and Canyon complete the top five. This means established heavyweights still dominate, but newer players like Atherton are bringing fresh energy into the scene.
And what matters most when making your purchase decision? Clearly, handling tops the list at 82 %, followed closely by suspension performance. That makes our testing work all the more important, since most riders don’t have the chance to properly test multiple bikes before buying. It’s not just the suspension though – components matter too, with 74 % of you saying that high-quality parts are a very important factor. Weight and sustainability still play a role, but clearly take a back seat. Interestingly, brand image hardly influences you – you buy based on performance, not prestige.
One result we’re especially proud of: 62 % of you say that our work and the test articles in the magazine are key to your purchasing decisions. That’s not only an incredible compliment, but also proof of how much you trust our expertise. Thank you for that – we’ll keep delivering!
Your feedback on our app & magazine
Beyond bikes, trails, and travel, we also wanted to know how you actually feel about our magazine.And your feedback makes us proud! With an average rating of 4.5 stars, you’ve shown us that you truly value our work. Many of you use the app regularly to read our comparison tests, inspiring stories and buyer’s guides even before they’re released on the web. The interactive features, high-resolution images and engaging reports make the app the centerpiece of your digital mountain bike experience – and for us, it’s confirmation that we’re on exactly the right track.
And the winner is…
Of course, no reader survey would be complete without a lucky winner! This year, the brand-new Atherton S.150 goes to Scott – representing the entire community. For Scott, this means not only a serious bike upgrade but also an unforgettable experience that will stay with him for a long time. To everyone else: don’t be disappointed! You’ll have another chance soon in our next reader survey – and maybe next time, you’ll be the one winning your dream bike. So stay tuned, keep shredding, and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter! 😉
So what’s the takeaway from this year’s survey? Our community is bigger, more international and more diverse than ever before. With 14,495 participants from 127 countries, you’ve once again shown us just how much passion and knowledge exist within the scene. Your responses are not only valuable to us but also influence the entire bike industry – from the development of new components and tomorrow’s trends to the design of your next dream bike. Whether you’re seasoned veterans with decades of experience or absolute newcomers, every one of you helps keep the scene alive and evolving. Your enthusiasm is infectious, your constructive feedback keeps us motivated, and your commitment is what makes the ENDURO community so unique. So, to wrap it up, just one thing: thank you for being part of it! Without you, there is no us. See you on the trails – and of course, in the next issue! 🤘
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Words: Peter Walker Photos: Julian Lemme
