GT

Verb Elite Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

We all know that full-suspension bikes are a bundle of plush trail fun, and it's an easy leap to think that more travel is always more fun. While eight inches of rear travel sounds impressive, toting the mammoth bike attached to that much suspension up any sort of incline without assistance will put a quick end to your positive thoughts. GT's 2017 Verb Elite Complete Mountain Bike strikes a balance between too-heavy, high-travel and jarring hardtail with 4.7 inches of trail-worthy Independent Drivetrain (I-Drive) suspension that isolates rear axle movement from pedaling input and maintains chainstay length throughout its travel for a responsive ride whether you're climbing or bombing rocky trails.

The Verb is made for everyday trail riding adventures, with aluminum construction that blends affordability with the durability to shred trails that you'd be hesitant to scratch a flashy plastic bike on. The rear axle orbits the bottom bracket in a steady arc through travel, letting the shock's tune dictate the suspension's behavior while I-Drive preserves an independent, feedback-free pedal feel, so you can hammer away, even when rocky climbs are hammering back.