These are the best looking bikes the Singletrack team has seen in 2021. Some we’ve never even seen in the flesh (or metal, or carbon) let alone actually ridden. You can but dream…
...
By ben_haworth
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackworld.com/2021/12/the-best-looking-bikes-of-2021/
I'm with Chipps on this one.
I'm in agreement on the tyres on the pink Starling - never been a fan of the big yellow logo on Maxxis. Shame Michelin have ditched the subtle look for blue and yellow monstrosities on their newer models.
Yep that Spark is stunning.
That Transition looks lovely
Not really fair on the other bikes, having to compete with a Starling.
That Stanton is triggering some serious cognitive dissonance with the steel front and carbon rear.
The Raaw looks lush. Any idea how to actually get a frame and fork here in Brexit Britain though?
Spark looks like it's missing a motor, Starling is lovely, Stooge looks like it was made for Screaming Lord Sutch.
The Starling, Transition and Raaw win for me. Some good choices up there. In true recommend what you have style, I would add the Swarf 155 to the list.
The Transition is a looker for sure.
Love how the seat stays and top tube align.
I do quite like the Scott Spark too, but there is a collaboration with Bold that just looks better!
Kenevo SL is my pick, I wonder why...
Definitely not Charlie's - the equivalent of saying there's no good music anymore. And loving the Australian Pink Floyd. or something.
I like Rocky Mountains. And the new Element. I bet it's an even more beautiful thing in the flesh.. I'll buy one when I've got some (loads of) money.
ps. Wot, no eBikes?? LoLZ (oh one just arrived! Of course it's the least ebike looking ebike (but still minging 😛 )
My form follows function sensibilities twitch looking at that Spark - putting all your suspension gubbins directly in harm's way of UK filth in it's own muck gathering pocket. Hmmm
The Starling is lovely. If you've not watched the GCN Makers episode 1 on Joe McEwan (and Caren Hartley of ISEN Workshop) it's really worth a watch over Christmas.
Definitely not Charlie’s – the equivalent of saying there’s no good music anymore. And loving the Australian Pink Floyd. or something.
Zing!
The Starling shows exactly how to make a beautiful, very modern bike in a traditional style.
The Stooge, not so much.
I'd go with the Cotic Jeht in gritstone they had at their ardrock tent - it looked very nice with lots of orange hope parts
The Spark has quite a hint of GT RTS about it, no…? 🙂
The Starling for me, although I'm biased as I've just taken delivery of a BTR in exactly that shade of pink...
I like the RAAW because I like straight tubes and simple lines.
The Spur and Sparks are nice for carbon bikes.
Why now hardtails on the list (I'm not counting Charlie's 'look I'm different' choice)?
My HT choice would be the latest Pipedream Sirius.
Hardtails you say?
You say "hardtails"?
i asked our Scott rep about the spark, he said 2023 at the earliest. had a customer turnd up in his van to buy one that day too 🙂
WOT no Huhn…
Posted June 2020…
Love how the seat stays and top tube align.
+1 for me.
Pipedream Sirius is a serious looker. Especially with a blue SID up front.
"When Intense was Intense"
I also think the recent Specialized have been rather easy on the eye:
Much as I love the Starling and also think the Orbea is a pretty bike, I can't get past the straight-line top tube and seatstay aesthetic of the Transition Spur. Thought it was stunning the moment I saw the launch pics and it still grabs me. That metallic grey & gold 'black powder' paintjob is a big part of the appeal though - it's still a good looking bike in the 'deep sea green', but not as drop dead gorgeous.
Would love to give the Stooge a try. I'll bet the ride feel of the frame and fork is great.
Top of the lookers list for me right now (tanwalls aside)
i asked our Scott rep about the spark, he said 2023 at the earliest.
You might want to call your rep again.
My LBS has one in store - and it’s available - albeit size small.
But definitely in stock in the flesh.
Looks great too.
MountainMania Tring - In stock 2022 Spark 910
Starling looks awesome barring the colour. I'm a sucker for skinny tubes
The sparks seat tube is slacker than the head tube. Looks like it has suffered a front on crash.
The starling I didn’t think I would like, but I do. But I think it would be better in a powder blue, to go with the ohlins yellow.
I agree with Hannah. Spur is the best looking.
My form follows function sensibilities twitch looking at that Spark – putting all your suspension gubbins directly in harm’s way of UK filth in it’s own muck gathering pocket.
Shock is entirely encased in the frame on the Spark - stays clean, wherever you ride it. pivots are same as any other pivot obvs
I was scrolling through the list and was thinking "surely any hardtail will easily beat any full suspension bike going when it comes to looks?" and then I got to Charlie's choice and was proven (by my own preferences) wrong. Of the options I think I prefer Hannah's pick of the Transition.
Geez.
Nearly all of you lot need to get down to Specsavers, pronto. Chipps needs to be right at the front of the queue.
And Benji needs the extra test like we had at school in the '70s and '80s for colourblindness.
Amanda's prescription still seems to be OK.
And Charlie passes with the choice of colour on his.
That Nordest looks good tho.
Glad I've ordered a Shand - it's gonna win hands down without the 12-pint beer goggles needed for some of the choices presented !😁
Top of the lookers list for me right now (tanwalls aside)
It looks like it's melted. Yuck.
recent Specialized have been rather easy on the eye:
I feel they're making their best bikes ever but I just can't get on board with the lopsided aesthetic. The Enduro looks OK though.
Pipedream Sirius is a serious looker.
But the seatstays "miss" the top tube. :O
The Spark doesn't do anything for me. Maybe with a less XC version it would improve.
Spur is super-nice right up until that head tube. Probably still great in the flesh.
I'm a sucker for straight raw aluminium tubes though so I vote Raaw! (I'm just looking past the seat tube for now)
I'm all in for the Starling, utterly gorgeous. Would totally keep the pink too...
@CharlieDontSurf have you ridden the Dirtbomb? Any thoughts?
Pipedream Sirius is a serious looker.
I met someone bikepacking on Islay with one - in the luuuuuuuuush sparkly dark blue colour.
I'm 100% with Chipps on this. Clean tidy lines with almost no visible suspension details or cables, top tube flattened and pretty much inline with the seatstays and as often with Scott - great colour.
I'm really itching for a proper XC bike again and this, with a sub 11kg weight really fits the bill.
Not my choice, but if you're gonna go with hidden suspension, I think the Caliber is nicer than the Scott
[img] 
[/img]
Front end looks wrong though.
Still the Element for me 🙂
Sorry - the Pipedreams don't do it for me... there are bits sticking together at all sorts of angles. The Nordest is nice tho'.
I like the new Canyon 🙂
Certainly not my Ebike
😆 😆
This.
Like the transition but better
Sorry, that Specialised is truly gopping.
Spur for me.
The Raaw looks lush. Any idea how to actually get a frame and fork here in Brexit Britain though?
I think they sell through Bike Components but stock is very limited. I emailed Raaw before I got my Privateer and they were super helpful about dates of restock, but that was quite a while ago.
I absolutely love the Pink Starling although I'm not cool enough to ride one that colour. Also love the Raaw and the Transition.
That ginger spesh is not a braw bike.
The Scott is nice, but I think I prefer the Bold.
I like steel bikes, but the Starling leaves me cold.
Don't mind the clunker Charlie suggested, but not really apples for apples comparision.
Spur is probably my favorite from the suggestions.
From releases in the last 12 months I'd nominate the SCOR:
No Treks?
Supercalibre?
No xc race bike up above, shame on you. 😔
I think the last visually pleasing bike I can remember Specialized making was Palmer's FSR DH.
I think the last visually pleasing bike I can remember Specialized making was Palmer’s FSR DH.
I thought you must be remembering it nicer than it was, as most vintage DH bikes look pretty ropey now (to my eyes).
But you are correct, it's gorgeous.
Combination of the white frame, frame graphics and the X Verts just did it.
Had a set of those forks on my Tomac and its a good job they looked awesome as they were awful to use 😀
My old school (and frankly old) head says that xc race bikes have 100mm or less suspension. With my new Spark having 120, I'm struggling to compute that. 🤯
I know that £9k is an enormous amount of money for a bike and more than I could ever spend on one.
But.....
The Scott Spark Pro - when compared to similar from other companies - seems good value for money.
https://www.scott-sports.com/gb/en/product/scott-spark-rc-world-cup-evo-axs-bike
That's if you can find one in stock.
Hardtail you say?
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51122444300_5130b8db14_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51122444300_5130b8db14_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Of those options, it's the Transition for me, but did nobody make any hardtails this year (aside from Charlie's suggestion)?
didnthurt
No Treks?
Supercalibre?
Nope, none at all. Well, except the one up the page.
mmm, Nordest, mmmm
No idea if this is a 21 bike or not, but apart from the hoachin tyres, it's braw.
Yes to the BMC and no to ta11pau1's offering
I'm with the Starling - I always thought they looked great, but as soon as I rode one and found that the theory worked in practice it seemed to look even better.
I keep wondering about a custom paintjob but it's a lot of cash...
Would love to give the Stooge a try. I’ll bet the ride feel of the frame and fork is great.
The Dirtbomb is a fantastic bike and I regret selling mine. The most fun place to be and way more capable than it looks. Would love to have kept it but was missing a bit of squish and can only have one bike at a time.
Dirtbomb, Starling and Transition get my vote from the list.
FWIW, I still quite like the Rå 😉