Most stable under load

How this is ranked

Longest average chainstay across published sizes.

Long chainstays move your weight forward of the rear axle and stop a loaded seat pack from steering the bike. They cost you some quickness in tight singletrack, which is the trade — that's why this is a criterion and not a verdict.

Every figure comes from the manufacturer's published geometry — see each bike's page for the source. Nothing here is a judgement about how a bike rides; it's one measurable property, ranked. Disagree with the criterion and the order changes, which is the point.