ALL-MOUNTAIN LUXURY
With its upright geometry and five-plus inches of travel in front and rear, this bike is Barcalounger comfortable. But unlike other plush, slack-angled bikes, the Possum’s cushiness doesn’t detract from all-mountain performance. It let us charge nimbly on the windy and banked Chutes, a technical loop outside of Catalina State Park, in Arizona. And it climbed as well as some cross-country racers, thanks to the rear linkage’s forged pivot assembly and a tubular swingarm that provides excellent rear-wheel tracking. Plus you get high-quality drops—a Fox Float RL up front and Manitou Swinger X3 out back—for a sweet price. 30.2 lbs; fisherbikes.com
Bonus: Wide, 2.35-inch Bontrager tires keep the Possum glued to corners.
Bummer: True to its name, the Fat is a touch on the chubby side.