Best of 2021: MTB Parts & Accessories [Video]

Get ready for the Best of 2021 MTB Parts & Accessories! For our final installment of Trending Mountain Bike Products for the year, Jared and Jeff go over all of the best selling and customer favorite products of 2020 for every part of your bike. The best suspension, wheels, drivetrain parts, handlebars, grips and more! Tune in for the best of the best of the year!

#1 FOX Factory Rebuild Kit for Float Rear Shocks

With the massive influx of riders in our sport in the last couple of years, people are freshening up old steeds and keeping newer ones dialed in, which is where our #1 selling product of 2021 comes in - the Fox Factory Rebuild Kit for Float Rear Shocks. Since this kit works for Float rear shocks from the last 21 years, it comes as no surprise that this kit was very popular among all sorts of riders and is widely used. Servicing a shock with this kit is quite simple and can be performed in about the same amount of time as it takes to prepare and eat a cobb salad. 

#2 SRAM Disc Brake Pads - Sintered Compound, Steel Backed, Powerful, For Trail, Guide, and G2

Another service item that came all the way to our #2 spot is the Sintered SRAM Brake Pads for Guide and G2. With people looking for more power and durability out of their brakes, sintered brake pads are one of the first items on the list to accomplish those things. Especially if you are riding in the wet, the organic pads that typically come installed on these brakes don't work incredibly well in those conditions, which is another reason why you see a lot of riders swapping to metallic pads.

#3 SRAM GX Eagle Chain - 12-Speed, 126 Links, Silver/Gray

If the first two products are any sign of what has been popular this year, you probably guessed that the next product is a wearable part as well. If you did, you guessed correctly! If not, too bad. The SRAM GX Eagle Chain is tried and true and is compatible with all variations of 12 speed SRAM Eagle drivetrains and will last for hundreds, if not thousands of miles if properly taken care of. A couple of years ago, we even went to Portugal to SRAM's chain factory to get a behind the scenes look at how these chains are made.

- Drivetrain -

The drivetrain of your mountain bike has a hard job, and sometimes it doesn't get the credit that it deserves. That ends today. Thank you drivetrains of mountain bikes across the world that have been working hard to get us to the top of climbs and down sweet ribbons of singletrack whenever we put the cranks down.

First up on our countdown in the #8 spot is Microshift's Advent X Derailleurs! They continue to put out quality drivetrain components at a seriously competitive price. Next up is SRAM and their GX derailleur. Being one of the highest quality offerings at the price, it makes sense this was a top seller as well. Coming in at the #6 spot is the Quarq DZero XX1 Eagle AXS Power Meter. This is relatively surprising since it's such a high dollar item, however, being one of the better power meters out there it checks out that it's ended up on a large number of bikes.

Starting off our Top 5 is the SRAM Crank Boots which continue to be a top seller year in and year out. Next up in the #4 spot is the RaceFace Aeffect R Crankset. Being one of the more affordable cranksets, and a quality one at that, this was an easy choice especially when other cranks were very hard to source. First up on the podium for drivetrain parts this year was absoluteBLACK oval direct mount chainrings as they continue to be a top seller with people trying out the advantages of going to an oval chainring. In the #2 spot is an awesome piece of technology released this year, the SRAM GX AXS upgrade kit. When AXS was first released, you had to buy the complete groupset which ran around the $2,000 mark. Quite the barrier to entry for electronic shifting. Now with the GX AXS kits available for $600, we've seen hundreds of riders upgrade to electronic.

Taking the #1 spot in the drivetrain category is shared by SRAM's X01 and XX1 chains, keeping riders riding across the world. Not extremely exciting for a #1 spot but they do their job and they do it well. Our honorable mention for the drivetrain category is SRAM's UDH (universal derailleur hanger) which is being used on more and more bikes these days, and is awesome to see. Eventually we may just be able to pop into any old bike shop and pick up a derailleur hanger without having to worry about them being a dealer for your bike or if they prefer ciabatta bread or focaccia.

- Grips -

Grips are extremely important components because of the way they connect you to the bike. However, with all of the different thicknesses, shapes, designs, and compounds, it can be a dizzying affair trying to find the right one, especially the first time. Thankfully, we are here along with thousands of other riders to tell you our favorites, in hopes that maybe it will help you find your favorite, too.

First up in our top 3 is the ever popular ODI Elite Pro - made in USA and always a solid choice for your gripping needs. Up next in the #2 spot is the Ergon GA3 with the polarizing wing - some love and some hate it, but what is for certain is that it helps with hand and wrist pain that plagues riders everywhere.

Taking the win and the #1 spot for our top grips of 2021 is the PNW Loam grips. With a clever design, a great price and a bunch of colors to choose from, these grips are a no brainer for all sorts of riders. The honorable mention in this grip category is the Trail One Hell's Gate grip that was designed to be the dream grip with inspiration taken from our very own favorite grips.

- Tires -

We seriously never tire of discussing tires. They can transform your bike in a way that few other components can, like going from a lightweight XC tire to a DH casing knobby, and they can dramatically change the way your bike rides. If you think I'm exaggerating, go ahead and swap to some super fast rolling XC tires next time you go out for a ride with your friends and see if they notice how many miles ahead you are.

Speaking of tires, our #6 tire is the Teravail Coronado. Teravail has been coming out swinging lately with some seriously impressive tires and it shows with the Coronado coming in at one of the top spots. Next up the the Continental Cross King - being a relatively well rounded tire that could easily be at home on tons of bikes, it makes sense that the Cross King made the top 5.

If you are wondering where Maxxis plays into the top tires, they round out the rest of the top 5 with the Dissector coming in at #4, the Assegai coming in at #3, the Rekon at #2, and the famous DHRII claiming the top spot.

It comes as no surprise that Maxxis is king in this segment, and they have also claimed the honorable mention in this category with their 20th Anniversary Edition DHF tires. Few, if any parts on your bike stayed the same as much as the DHF which is a true testament to its impressive tread design and ability to stay relevant.

- Handlebars -

From flat and skinny to super wide with 69mm of rise, there are all sorts of handlebars out there for your MTB. We've come a long way from the handlebars of years past, and thankfully so. Bars these days are able to provide us with much more control, confidence and comfort than those old handlebars on your dad's bike that were barely wider than a French baguette. They also come in all sorts of price ranges as well, from the same price as a nice lunch to almost as much as that hardtail you've been eyeing up. Either way, lets check out the top handlebars of 2021.

The #5 handlebar this year is the PNW Range. This bar offers great value and the design is pretty sweet as well. Up next is the Deity Highside bar which is the brands bar that offers a high rise for riders who need that extra level of comfort. Taking up the first spot in the podium is RaceFace's Chester handlebar, a continuing top seller in the handlebar category. In the #2 spot is somewhat of a surprise, the Enve M6 Mountain handlebar. This is one of the lightest carbon bars in the segment and offers good, simplistic looks combined with comfortable ergonomics and the respected Enve name.

Taking the #1 spot in our top handlebars for 2021 is OneUp's Carbon Handlebar. This bar features an ovalized section that offers some vertical compliance to help eliminate a small amount of trail chatter and increase your comfort on the trail. Our honorable mention for the handlebar category is Trail One's Crockett handlebar which is one of the best bang for your buck carbon handlebars (and alloy) around, and also helps give back to the trails with the purchase of each product. 

- Wheels -

Wheels are another product category that vary vastly in how much they cost, and how they perform. The major differences in MTB wheels come down to hub quality, alloy or carbon rims, and overall weight and durability. High engagement hubs have been extremely popular lately, as they help riders get up and over technical obstacles much easier than hubs with a massive dead zone, and they also usually sound awesome when you are flying down the trail. With that in mind, it makes sense that our top selling wheels have been a combination of quality and value.

Taking the #5 Spot is Enve's AM30 wheels. These are Enve's entry level wheels, with external spoke nipples and more budget friendly hubs, they are significantly more affordable than their other offerings, and easier to work on as well. Next up is DT Swiss' E1900 wheels - at just $475 for the set, they are the most affordable wheels in out top wheels. Quality rims, hubs and spokes make it an easy choice especially for the price. Next up is Industry Nine's Trail S wheels - using their 1/1 hub with standard steel spokes and a 27mm wide rim, these are extremely popular among XC/Downcountry and trail bikes with tires up to around 2.4" wide. Taking the #2 spot is another Industry Nine offering, the Enduro 305. I have had a few sets of these wheels and they are some of the best wheels I have ever experienced. The stiffness combined with the incredible hub engagement and durability make them some of the most well rounded wheels you can get your hands on.

Speaking of Industry Nine and Enduro, their Enduro S wheels take the #1 spot on our top wheels of the year! This is another great wheelset for the money, coming in at around $750, the hubs have great engagement and the rim is extremely durable. Rounding off our top wheels is an honorable mention of DT Swiss' 54t ratchet kit which continues to be a best seller year in and year out. With tons of people running DT Swiss hubs, this upgrade will continue to be relevant for years to come.

- Dropper Seatposts -

Dropper posts are amazing. They have completely transformed the way we ride our bikes, in that you no longer have to stop before or after every climb and raise that seat up or drop it down. It can be a challenge initially to find that perfect dropper post for your bike with all of the necessary measurements and compatibility issues, however once you get everything dialed in it's like a tailor made suit.

With the #3 spot, RockShox's Reverb AXS post has found its way onto a ton of bikes this year, and people subsequently enjoying the wireless movement. In the #2 spot is Fox's Factory Transfer post. Being one of the most expensive and highest quality dropper posts out there, the Transfer is highly regarded among riders and you can't deny the bling factor that comes with matching kashima stanchions on your fork AND your dropper post... I mean come on.

Taking the #1 spot is OneUp's V2 dropper post, one of the best bang for your buck dropper posts out there. With adjustable travel, a replaceable cartridge, and travel options all the way up to 210mm, it's easy to see how the V2 post by OneUp is a popular option. The honorable mention for this category is Wolf Tooth's ReMote as it continues to be one our best selling dropper post remotes for a couple of years running. With smooth actuation, good looks and nice adjustability and features, it makes sense that riders continue to choose the ReMote for their bikes.

- Brakes -

Brakes are another component that don't always get the recognition they deserve. Without working brakes, we would be often found off the side of the trail in a bush somewhere. Thankfully, there are several companies out there that manufacture extremely high quality hydraulic disc brakes for our MTBs that allow us to stop on a dime.

Up in the #5 spot for our top brakes is SRAM's G2 RSC brakes. These brakes find themselves on tons of different bikes from XC and downcountry to aggressive trail and enduro bikes so it checks out that they are top sellers. Next up in the #4 spot is another 4 piston brake, but from shimano this time - the XT 8120 brakes. These are some of the most loved brakes among Shimano brake fans, and even though we struggled with supply throughout the year, they still managed to make one of the top spots. Starting off the podium for us is SRAM's Code RSC brakes, the brand's most powerful brakes that you'll find on everything from beefy downcountry machines like my own Revel Ranger, all the way to world cup downhill bikes. Hey, when you need braking power, might as well go all the way right?

Rounding off our podium in the #2 and #1 spots is Magura! I bet you didn't see that coming, unless you already watched the video then I guess you did. Their MT5 came in at #2 and the MT7 at #1. We know that people love their Maguras and this confirms it!

- Saddles -

Saddles are an extremely personal component for most riders, and that is because it interacts with a very personal part of our bodies. Trying to find the right saddle can also be a frustrating process, especially since they aren't as cheap, so you often have feelings of commitment when you purchase a new saddle. "I hope this is the one"... "This is gonna be a good one, I can feel it"...we've all been there before, only to have our buttocks screaming bloody murder merely minutes into our next ride. Thankfully, there are companies out there that are dedicated to reducing the discomfort from contact points that we occasionally experience out on the trail, and hopefully you are able to gain some tips from our best of list.

Speaking of which, coming in the #4 spot is WTB's Silverado saddle. This is one of Jeff's favorite saddles and the one that he is currently running on his Revel Ranger - it is a very slim and low profile saddle that looks good but doesn't have quite as much padding or comfort as others. Starting off the podium for our saddles this year is Ergon's SMC saddle. This saddle offers more padding and comfort than some of Ergon's other models, so you might find it more on E-bikes and stuff of the sort. Coming in at the #2 spot is WTB's Speed saddle. This one in particular is also a bit more comfort oriented than their other offerings, but it is obviously no less popular.

Taking the win for saddles this year is Ergon's SM Pro saddle. I've been using this saddle exclusively for the last couple of years and personally like it very much. It continues to be supportive and keep me comfortable even hours into my rides.

- Pedals -

Pedals are obviously an integral part of our bikes, and like some other components we've mentioned, they vary widely depending on what aligns with your preferences and riding style. Super light XC clipless pedals that you can barely stand on? Check. Massive concave flat pedals that grip the soles of your shoes like Zack grips a giant Jersey Mikes sub? Check. Our top selling pedals this year show the increasing desirability of composite flat pedals and that their performance out on the trail is nearing that of aluminum flat pedals.

Taking up the #3 spot in our top pedals of the year is the Deity Deftrap. This is one of Deity's newer pedals and is a composite version of their famed TMAC pedal, it offers a concave platform for exceptional pedal feel, and a large platform as well for extra grip and control. In the #2 spot is a pedal that most are already familiar with, and that is RaceFace's Chester pedal. These pedals are absolutely bomb-proof, and with replaceable parts available for nearly each part of the pedal, you can keep them going for years to come.

The best selling flat pedal of the year, however, goes to OneUp's Composite Flat Pedals. These pedals are tested amongst the most demanding conditions for mountain bikes, up north in the Squamish area of British Columbia where OneUp is located, so it makes sense that they're able to handle anything you're able to dish out. Our honorable mention in the pedal category is Crank Brother's replacement cleats as they are consistently a top seller and are universally used among clipless riders.

- Forks -

Suspension forks are an amazing piece of technology that help smooth out the trail for us and allow us to enter the send portal. Suspension technology has come a long way in recent years, and with that new tech we see a lot of people upgrading their existing forks' internals, or simply swapping to a whole new fork. The top forks of 2021 is a diverse array of the forks that we carry.

Coming in at the #6 spot is the RockShox ZEB Ultimate, the brand's heavy hitting 38mm stanchioned long travel enduro fork. Up next is the Fox 36, Fox's most versatile fork in their lineup. Taking up the #4 spot is RockShox's Lyrik fork. It hasn't gotten as much of the spotlight since the Zeb came out, however, the Lyrik is still one of RockShox's highest performing forks for the heavy duty trail/enduro segment. First up on the podium for top forks in 2021 is Fox's 38 - the brand's beefiest single crown fork they make. In the #2 spot, we have Manitou's Markhor which finds itself on a lot of bikes these days, being a more budget friendly option that still offers good performance.

Taking the top spot of this year's best selling forks is another RockShox fork, the Recon. Being one of the best forks for your buck, it comes as no surprise that the Recon is a top seller.

- Rear Shocks -

While on the topic of suspension, lets get into the top rear shocks of the year. We saw some new rear shocks this year from the likes of Fox, who swept the leaderboard of top selling rear shocks for the year. Not exactly shocking when you consider the impressive quality and performance of their suspension products.

In our #3 spot is Fox's hardest hitting air shock, the X2. You'll find this shock on everything from trail/enduro bikes to full on DH sleds, so it makes sense that this shock was very popular. Up next is Fox's newest air shock, the Float X. Again, a very versatile shock that can be found on everything from beefy downcountry bikes to enduro machines, the Float X improves on the DPX2 and gives riders features they have been asking for like numbered compression and rebound knobs and a more supportive end stroke while still maintaining small bump compliance.

Speaking of the DPX2, that shock takes the #1 spot in our top rear shocks of the year. Being the established shock that it is, it makes sense that this shock found its way onto bikes across the country and across the world.

- Maintenance -

Giving your bike the love it deserves will keep it going for years and years. Greases and lubes are always top selling products, especially those in the suspension and drivetrain categories, and for good reason.

Park Tool's High Performance Grease HPG-1 takes the #5 spot since it is one of Park's most versatile and highest performing grease they make. Next up is RockShox' Dynamic Seal Grease which is a popular item for suspension service. In the #3 spot is Buzzy's Slick Honey, another integral grease used for suspension service. In the runner up spot is Muc-Off's Bio Dry Chain Lube which is my personal favorite chain lube I've tried over the last few years. It seems to last longer than other dry lubes I've used and doesn't gunk up the drivetrain much.

In our #1 spot in the maintenance category we have SRAM's Butter Grease which is another great grease used in all sorts of suspension services. Our honorable mention in this category goes to WPL or Whistler Performance Lubricants, who makes quality biodegradable lubricants out of Whistler, BC. Their ForkBoost lube is one of their top selling products, and for good reason - people will do whatever it takes to keep their fork feeling plush, and this lube makes it super easy to do so in between services.

- Miscellaneous -

For all those products that don't exactly fall into one category or another, there's the Miscellaneous category. The top products in the miscellaneous category start at our #5 spot with Fox's Fenders for their 36 and 38 forks. These integrated bolt-on fenders have been insanely popular since they were released and continue to sell out every time we get a shipment. Up next is Fox's High Pressure Shock Pump, here to keep your suspension dialed and filled with the appropriate air pressure. In the #3 spot is OneUp's EDC Tool Threadless Carrier which means you no longer need to thread your steerer tube in order to carry that sweet EDC tool. In our runner up spot is Lezyne's Flow Side Loading Bottle Cage, one of our most popular bottle cages from the last few years. In the #1 spot for miscellaneous products is Quarq's Shockwiz Suspension Tuner, which isn't a huge surprise since it made it to the overall #3 spot in our Best of 2020. Our honorable mentions in this category are SRAM's revised AXS paddle which has continued to show strong sales as well as their Chaingap Adjustment Tool which is a key piece to keeping your Eagle drivetrain shifting smoothly.