Choosing A Trail Bike:
The do-it-all appeal of trail bikes makes them one of the most popular categories in mountain biking today. With frame geometry designed for confidence over rough terrain and suspension engineered for efficiency and comfort, the trail bike’s versatility is unmatched.
Above: Ryder Bulfone pointing the Sensor Carbon down some BC steeps
Their adaptability allows riders to have enough bike to handle chunky roots and rocks in the bike park, while remaining nimble enough for a fun ride on the local XC trails. While the Sensor Carbon range does an excellent job of balancing these needs, riders can fine-tune their experience by opting for the Sensor ST Carbon. Let’s dive into how to choose between the Sensor Carbon and Sensor ST Carbon.
Cut from the same cloth, but stitched differently. The newly refined Sensor Carbon frame weighs 600 grams less than the previous generation, and is more capable than ever. Both bikes are built around the new Sensor frame, but the ST is optimized for the trail rider who values pedaling efficiency over airtime, or the rowdy XC rider. To figure out which bike is best for you, let’s go through the key differences between the two.
Suspension Travel:
The biggest difference between the Sensor Carbon and its ST sibling is their suspension travel. The Sensor Carbon boasts 150mm of travel in the front and 140mm in the rear, while the Sensor ST Carbon offers 140mm in the front and 120mm in the rear.
With 140mm of travel out back, the Sensor Carbon gives you extra cushion to handle gnarly sections of trail and take on harsh landings. This bike has an appetite for big rocks, fast chunky sections, drops, and even the occasional enduro race or bike park day. Sure, it still climbs well, but with more suspension comes more energy loss—especially on flatter, more pedal-focused trails.
The Sensor ST Carbon and its 120mm of rear travel will absorb the smaller hits and dampen the big ones, while offering a different set of perks in exchange. It trades big-hit absorption for pedaling efficiency, giving you a snappier, more responsive ride—ideal for smoother or faster terrain. It won’t feel as plush in the rough stuff, but it'll make it up on the climbs and through the flats.
A keen eye also will notice that the ST has an extra 20mm of travel up front, which is a feature unique to the ST. Since the rear suspension is key when creating a fast-pedaling bike, the extra travel in the front offers insurance for when the trail gets rowdy—without sacrificing too much pedal power. The Sensor encourages you to jump into the deep end, and we made sure the ST can still swim when things get choppy.
Above: The Sensor ST Carbon Pro flexing its 140mm/120mm travel
Componentry and Geometry:
To complement its shorter suspension travel, the Sensor ST also comes with subtle changes to its componentry and geometry. These tweaks, combined with the reduced travel, help the ST out-pedal its 140mm sibling when the head goes down and the heart rates goes up.
Above: The Rockshox Super Deluxe Ultimate on the Sensor Carbon Pro LE
Different strokes for different folks. While the 140mm Sensor Carbon runs enduro casing tires, the ST comes equipped with a lighter tire casing and a less aggressive tread pattern. The tires on the ST are still soft and grippy, but their lighter weight makes for more distance with each pedal stroke. The enduro tires on the 140mm Sensor Carbon on the other hand, will provide a bit more puncture resistance and better support at high speeds over hardpack surfaces—ideal for extra spicy sections of trail or bike park speeds.
Along with a difference in travel, the suspension components on the ST are slightly different. The Sensor ST still utilizes high-end, adjustable air suspension from RockShox or Marzocchi, but saves a bit of weight by opting for a lighter fork and shock compared to the 140mm Sensor Carbon.
Above: The (lighter) Rockshox Deluxe Select+ on the Sensor ST Carbon
Lastly, the ST’s shorter travel allows for more pedal-optimized frame geometry. Its head tube and seat tube angle are both half a degree steeper, which translates to improved pedaling efficiency and power transfer when you’re really putting the hammer down.
It’s worth noting that these geometry and component tweaks are subtle—the ST simply aims to get more out of each pedal stroke without sacrificing too much capability when the trail gets rough.
The Bottom Line:
Above: Freerider Dave Lieb on his Customized Sensor ST Carbon
The Sensor ST Carbon is best suited for riders who prioritize smoother, flowy trails and hammering on the pedals, but still want a bike that can handle some chunk when necessary. The Sensor Carbon, with its full 150/140mm of travel, is a trail bike with a big appetite - ready for everything from all-day epics to bike park laps. While it can certainly handle a pedal-heavy day, the ST is your go-to if you value pedaling more than big jumps and rough landings.
Overall, the Sensor Carbon platform is not one to turn down a challenge. Both bikes are ready to take on whatever you point it at, but the ST exists because we know there’s nothing better than having the perfect tool for the job. No two riders are the same, so pick your poison and let it rip!
