Scott Scale 750 (£1,399)

Nino Schurter was the first athlete to win a cross-country world cup race (and also the world championships this year) on a 650b mountain bike, and for 2014 Scott offers the choice of 650b and 29er. They’ve decided there’s no place for 26in wheels in their range.

The Scale 750 here is identically kitted to the 29er version and the same price, it’s even the same colour, with a 6061 aluminium frame and 100mm Fox 32 Float Evolution CTD Air fork. The groupset is a Shimano XT/SLX mix, brakes are Shimano M447 with 180/160mm rotors and there’s smart Syncros components at all the contact points.

Price: £1,399
More information: Scott Scale 750