One of the best parts of my job is getting paid to attend trade shows like Interbike and seeing all the hottest new bikes available. Manufacturers bring out the bling and feature their high-end models with matching high-end price tags. There are many reasons that a bicycle can push into the five figure price range. Carbon remains the high end frame material of choice with some manufacturers even offering different levels of carbon frames with different layups and carbon processes used. Electronics have also driven up prices whether it be e-shifting, e-suspension or the much debated e-drive. Even without electronics, the latest 1x and 2x drivetrains carry a hefty price. Of course, no Dream Bike is complete without Dream Parts like carbon hoops, carbon bars, carbon stems, carbon cranks, carbon spacers...etc. It should also be noted that all of the bikes featured here are rolling on 27.5" wheels with the exception of BMC's XC racer (rolling on 29s).

With any of these Dream Bikes, you are getting a drool worthy rig that is sure to be the envy of all your buddies on the trail. But not only does carbon look good, it is stronger and lighter than anything else out there. And let's not forget the top notch ride quality of a truly dialed ride. As in some of our other round-ups, this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of every Dream Bike, but a collection of those that we saw in person at the Big Show. Here, in order from least expensive to most expensive are the 2016 Dream Bikes from Interbike.

If you hit the Powerball tomorrow, which of these bikes would you throw down for? Any other favorites? Perhaps you're already riding a high zoot Dream Bike? Let us know in the comments below.

That GT's most expensive bike is a DH race rig is not surprising given their serious WC level race team and gravity oriented heritage.

That GT's most expensive bike is a DH race rig is not surprising given their serious WC level race team and gravity oriented heritage.​

GT Fury World Cup - $7050

GT has spent many years building up a serious race team for both World Cup Enduro and DH racing, so it's not really a surprise that the Fury World Cup is their most expensive model. It's an alloy frame which is part of the reason it starts off our list as the least expensive of the most expensive. Refined over the years by racers such as Mick Hannah, Gee and Rachel Atherton and Tyler McCaul at Red Bull Rampage, the Fury represents the pinnacle of all those years of development. With 210mm of travel, the Fury World Cup is ready to race right out of the box. But not only is it ready to race, it's ready to win.

The Fury WC is kitted with Fox Factory 40 Float fork and Fox DHX2 shock, Shimano Saint drivetrain and brakes, and Shimano Saint hubs paired with DT Swiss spokes and Stan's rims. If you prefer to build up your own race rig, the Fury WC is available as a frame and Fox DHX2 shock for $2170. Or if you're a racer on a budget, GT offers the Fury Elite at $3250.

GT Fury World Cup - $7050

To learn more, visit www.gtbicycles.com.

The Marin Attack Trail Pro features a monocoque carbon frame and uses Marin's QUAD 3 suspension design to produce 150mm of travel.

The Marin Attack Trail Pro features a monocoque carbon frame and uses Marin's QUAD 3 suspension design to produce 150mm of travel.​

Marin Attack Trail Pro - $9349

Marin has been building up their high-end bikes and have built up a reputation on both the EWS and National enduro scene with the likes of Kyle Warner racing his Attack Trail Pro. It features a monocoque carbon frame and uses Marin's QUAD 3 suspension design to produce 150mm of travel. The price tag here is a culmination of the carbon frame and high end parts together such as the Shimano XTR 1x11 drivetrain, XTR brakes and XTR hubs mated with WTB's Ci24 carbon rims.
Something a bit different is the BOS suspension. BOS is a French company that is popular in Europe and gaining more OEM ground here in the States. The front is handled by a BOS Deville FCV fork with 160mm of travel and the rear 150mm of travel is powered by a BOS Kirk 3-way shock.

The Attack Trail is available as a frameset (frame+shock) for $3079. If you forego the carbon frame, there is an alloy framed Attack Trail complete bike available starting at $2749.

Marin Attack Trail Pro - $9349

To learn more, visit www.marinbikes.com.

The Norco Aurum C7.1 is a beautiful bike with its Yellow and Black finish paired with the color matched ENVE carbon rims.

The Norco Aurum C7.1 is a beautiful bike with its Yellow and Black finish paired with the color matched ENVE carbon rims.​

Norco Aurum C7.1 - $9700

Norco shows their North Shore roots and is another brand that specializes in gravity machines. The Aurum C7.1 is a carbon framed work of beauty with the black and yellow frame matching perfect with the ENVE M90rims. This bike is raced by the likes of Jill Kintner, Bryn Atkinson, Sam Blenkinsop, Jack Iles and more. Norco's A.R.T. suspension produces 200mm of travel from the Cane Creek double barrel coil shock and the RockShox Boxxer World Cup matches that with 200mm of travel up front.

The Aurum C is also available as a frameset (with shock) for $2475 with a complete bike carbon version (Aurum C7.3) available for $4050.

Norco Aurum C7.1 - $9700

To learn more, visit www.norco.com.

The BMC teamelite 01 is the pinnacle of XC 29er hardtails and it is piloted on the WC circuit by none other than Julien Absalon.

The BMC teamelite 01 is the pinnacle of XC 29er hardtails and it is piloted on the WC circuit by none other than Julien Absalon.​

BMC Teamelite 01 - $10,599

At the complete opposite end of the mountain bike spectrum is the BMC Team Elite 01. This bike is all new for 2016 and it is a World Cup race rig as well, except for the high performance XC category. There are a lot of tech features built in to this carbon 29er hardtail, like the MTT (Micro Travel Technology) system that features user customizable elastomers in the seatstays to provide just the right amount of cush.

The carbon frame itself is designed with all the knowledge that BMC has gained from working with carbon on their road bikes but that doesn't mean they don't know about mountain bikes. They have none other than Julien Absalon racing this very same bike and not just winning, but dominating.

The bike features Shimano's top of the line XTR Di2 drivetrain with plenty of BMC's own carbon parts like the bars, stem, seatpost and even BMC's hubs and carbon rims. Truly, if XC speed is your utmost concern, this rig is for you. And yes, it's over $10k.

BMC Teamelite 01 - $10,599

To learn more, visit www.bmc-switzerland.com/.

The Intense M16 has adjustable rear travel from 215 to 240mm.  We tested the Pro Build version and it straight up rips.

The Intense M16 has adjustable rear travel from 215 to 240mm. We tested the Pro Build version and it straight up rips.​

Intense M16 Factory - $11,299

Intense Cycles was born from DH racing and they have always had some of the most innovative bikes on the market. For 2016, The Intense M16 Factory represents the highest of the high and utilizes titanium hardware throughout. The high modulus carbon frame produces a staggering 9.5 inches of rear travel (that's 240mm for those of you on the metric system). The list of development riders and racers include Bernat Guardia, Jack Moir, Luca Cometti and Ferran Jorba, as well as Intense test pilots Chris Kovarik, Claire Buchar and none other than Shaun Palmer himself (who has his own limited edition of the M16).

We recently did a full review of the M16 with a Pro Build and came away completely impressed. The M16 Factory spares no expense however and features a RockShox Boxxer WC fork, RockShox Vivid Coil shock, SRAM X01 DH drivetrain, ENVE carbon bits like the bar and seatpost, and ENVE M90 wheels with DT Swiss hubs and spokes. The Intense M16 Pro Build that we tested has a price of $8499 but the M16 Factory pushes past the $11k mark! But they do make an aluminum framed version, too. Oh, and that finish? The M16 Factory paint job goes through the paint line 4 times due to masking and process.

Intense M16 Factory - $11,299

To learn more, visit www.intensecycles.com.

Continue to page 2 for more budget busters from Rocky Mountain, Pivot, Scott and Cannondale »

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL has a smoothwall carbon frame that  produces a lightweight bike that is stiff, light and efficient. The frame weight alone is a claimed 2350 grams.

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL has a smoothwall carbon frame that produces a lightweight bike that is stiff, light and efficient. The frame weight alone is a claimed 2350 grams.​

Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL - $11,499

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL is a carbon framed trail bike and with its 120mm of travel front and rear, it is neither a DH rig nor an XC racer. The smoothwall carbon frame produces a lightweight bike that is stiff, light and efficient. The frame weight alone is a claimed 2350 grams.

The Thunderbolt features a wide range of adjustment with what Rocky calls their Ride-9 system that is basically a flip chip inside a chip that changes the top mounting position of the shock.

Suspension is handled by a Fox 32 Float Fit 4 fork and a Fox Float DPS rear shock. The Shimano XTR Di2 electronic drivetrain adds to price tag. Other parts highlights include Shimano XTR brakes, Stan's Neo+ hubs and Valor rims with Sapim Laser spokes.

To learn more, visit www.bikes.com.

Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 799 MSL - $11,499

Versatile is the word used most often to describe this Dream Bike from Pivot Cycles.

Versatile is the word used most often to describe this Dream Bike from Pivot Cycles.​

Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Carbon XTR Di2 - $11,999

The Pivot Cycles Mach 6 has been a favorite of ours for a while and is truly one of the most versatile bikes on the market. The Mach 6 features 155mm of dw-link suspension and really strikes a chord with so many mountain bikers out there, which is a testament to the quality and reputation that they have built over the years.

In fact, the biggest news this past Interbike was the launch of the alloy version of the Mach 6, making it attainable by those who can't quite save up enough for the full carbon version.

The Dream Bike carbon version shown here is available with a whopping 10 different build kits, with the Shimano XTR Di2 version coming in at $12 grand. This high-zoot rig comes with Fox suspension front and rear, Shimano XTR Di2 2x11 drivetrain, XTR brakes, KS LEV dropper and DT Swiss's XMC 1200 carbon wheels. You are getting the latest technology in mountain bikes in a package that all together creates one of the most popular mountain bikes on the market today.

Pivot Cycles Mach 6 Carbon XTR Di2 - $11,999

To learn more, visit www.pivotcycles.com.


Scott Spark 700 Ultimate - $11,999

The Scott Spark 700 Ultimate is one of the lightest full suspension bikes available. The HMX carbon is a cut above their standard HMF carbon with a special fiber that creates a frame that is 20% stiffer and lighter. The frame itself even has one layer of cosmetic carbon removed in the name of weight savings.

With its "Ultimate" designation, this bike comes equipped with all the high end tech bits like Shimano's XTR Di2 2x11 drivetrain and suspension from Fox including the proprietary eNude iRD rear shock developed by Fox in conjunction with Scott just for this bike. With the high price tag comes high tech. The eNude provides adjustable travel and variable damping based on the travel setting. Scott's TwinLoc system works with the Fox iRD fork and Traction Control equipped rear shock.

The Spark 700 Ultimate also has Scott's IDS variable dropout system, adjustable BB height and now standard features like a tapered headtube and direct mount disc brakes. Naturally, the bike features quite a few choice carbon parts like the carbon bar, carbon seatpost and carbon wrapped stem. The Syncros XR 1.0 rims are carbon matched to Syncros XR 1.0 hubs (made by DT Swiss). All in all, the Scott Spark 700 Ultimate weighs in at a claimed 22.7 lbs. Svelte, indeed.

Scott Spark 700 Ultimate - $11,999

To learn more, visit www.scott-sports.com.

The all black treatment is a sign of Cannondale's ultra-premium spec Black Inc. series.

The all black treatment is a sign of Cannondale's ultra-premium spec Black Inc. series.​

Cannondale Habit Hi-Mod Black Inc. - $12,250

Cannondale has been using the designation "Black Inc." on several of their bicycles as the top-of-the-line, no-hold-barred models. They use it on their high end carbon road bikes like the SuperSix Evo Black Inc., Synapse Hi-Mod Black Inc. and the Slice Hi-Mod Black Inc. Until now, only one mountain bike has been offered in Black Inc. treatment, the F-Si Black Inc. (carbon hardtail World Cup race bike). Now, the all new Cannondale Habit Carbon Black Inc. is available with the super high-end parts spec and slick looking black and mirror chrome graphics.

The frame is Cannondale's top tier BallisTec high modulus carbon frame with carbon swingarm. At over $12 grand, the Habit Black Inc. has the distinction of being the most expensive bike here. The frame features 120mm of travel and even the suspension linkage is a one-piece carbon masterpiece. No Cannondale mountain bike would be complete without their signature Lefty fork and the Habit is no exception. The Lefty 2.0 carbon fork has 120mm of travel and uses Cannondale's XLR isolated damper technology with trail+ tune and X-Loc full sprint remote. Key to keeping the handling nimble is the 50mm of fork offset. For the rear, a RockShox Monarch DebonAir XX shock provides 120mm of travel with a Fullsprint Xloc lock-out.

Like the other high end Dream Bikes listed here, the Habit Black Inc. features Shimano's XTR Di2 2x11 drivetrain and Shimano XTR M9020 (not M9000) disc brakes. A main price driver here are the ENVE M60 carbon rims, Chris King ISO rear hub, Lefty 60 front hub and DT Swiss Aerolite spokes. Add in more ENVE carbon candy in the form of the carbon riser bar, RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper and Cannondale HollowGram SiSL2 cranks and you have a light, stiff and strong mountain bike. Cheap? No way. Exclusivity included and no extra charge, though.

We had a chance to ride the down-spec Habit Carbon 1 (did we really just call a $7500 mountain bike "down-spec"?) a few months back and it is indeed one sweet ride. It is one of those bikes that rides like more than its specified travel, showing that it is not how much travel you have, it's how you use it.

Cannondale Habit Hi-Mod Black Inc. - $12,250

To learn more, visit www.cannondale.com.

Let us know which one of these is your favorite and why? Or perhaps you have a suggestion for this list...let us know in the comments below.