Have you decided to start mountain biking? If so, you should start with a reliable budget-friendly mountain bike. In this article, we’ll give you a detailed review of the 5 best mountain bikes for the money.
Introduction
Are you considering getting into the sport of mountain biking? If you’re a novice mountain biker, you should probably not get something extremely extravagant and expensive to begin with. You should get something reasonable but durable — something that can take abuse — and then upgrade once you’ve progressed in mountain biking.
Mountain Biking is an excellent sport to build up your strength and endurance. Furthermore, because you’re riding on adventurous trails through the rocky mountains and woodlands, you never get bored. There’s always more to see and explore.
Most people believe that all mountain bikes are extravagantly priced. However, that is not true. There are a lot of amazing beginner’s mountain bikes that are reasonable. In fact, in this article, we’ll give you a detailed overview of the 5 best mountain bikes for the money.
Since there are so many mountain bikes out there, the choices can be overwhelming. Furthermore, a lot of the budget mountain bikes are dangerous because the manufacturers skip out on using durable materials or safety features. That’s why we consulted with some expert mountain bikers and manufacturers to determine which is the best mountain bike for the money on the market.
Below are our picks for the 5 best mountain bikes for the money.
Best Mountain Bike for the Money — 2020
| Best Mountain Bike for the Money | Editors Rating | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
| Diamondback Overdrive 1 29″ | 5 Stars |  |
| GMC Yukon Fat Bike | 4.5 Stars | |
| Merax Finiss | 4 Stars | |
| Vilano Ridge 1.0 | 3 Stars | |
| Stowabike 26" MTB V2 | 3 Stars | |
1. Diamondback Overdrive 1 29″
Diamondback is widely known as one of the best brands for mountain bikes. They have a range of mountain bikes both for novices on a budget and for experts and professionals. The Diamondback Overdrive 1 29″ is undoubtedly the best mountain bike for the money.
This mountain bike is made of a high-quality aluminum frame with Schwalbe tires that can provide great traction so that you can get through slippery grounds without difficulty. It has 29” wheels that can help you get through rough obstacles like fallen branches, heavy roots, and even rocks. The disc brakes can stop the bike immediately, thus enhancing the safety considerably.
Due to the aluminum frame, it’s a little heavy. However, that’s not much of an issue as it runs smoothly. The assembly might offer a little resistance and it might require some technical knowledge, however, the instruction manual would guide you through it.
- Great traction.
- Durable.
- Top-end components.
- None
Diamondback Overdrive 1 29″ is the best mountain bike for the money if you’re going on complicated trails that require durability and strong traction.
GMC Yukon Fat Bike is the best fat mountain bike for the money. Fatbikes have recently become extremely popular in the mountain biking community because they are extremely versatile and powerful. They can even be used to ride effectively on difficult terrains like sand and muck. The Fat Bikes are named as such because they have extremely thick tires with exceptional traction that can take you through the bumpiest of terrains.
The GMC Yukon Fat Bike is constructed of an aluminum frame and has 26” tires that are 4” wide. They only come in a single frame size but they can accommodate riders who are between 5’6” to 6’, so you have a good range to work with. It uses disc brakes instead of hydraulic brakes, so stopping the bike might need a little bit of an effort, though it’s still a lot better than a V-brake.
As a budget mountain bike, it doesn’t have a lot of great components, however, it has the essentials. This bike uses Shimano components that are recognized in the industry as some of the most reliable. There are 7 gears on the back, which might seem too little but it prevents the bike from being too heavy, especially considering it’s already 44 pounds.
- Easy assembly.
- Extremely sturdy and durable.
- High traction.
- No space to hold a water bottle or any other equipment.
- Heavy.
- Few gears.
GMC Yukon Fat Bike is the best fat mountain bike for the money for individuals who need stability and traction more than anything else.
Merax Finiss is probably the cheapest mountain bike for the money on the market. It also happens to be extremely popular amongst novices, and it’s easy to see why.
This mountain bike comes with 26” double-walled wheels that are perfect for tackling moderately difficult trails. The unfortunate aspect of this bike is that it’s only available in one 19” size, so it can only be ridden by people between 5’10” and 6’2”. So if you’re a shorty, sorry, but you’ve got to look elsewhere. The frame of this bike has been constructed with aluminum and it’s available in 2 different color combinations — Red and Green.
It’s also quite lightweight at 33 pounds and is equipped with low-level — but reliable — Shimano components. There are 21 gears available which is just perfect for tackling a wide range of different terrains be it mountains or river banks.
- Extremely cheap.
- Lightweight.
- Double-walled wheels.
- 21 gears.
- Can only be used by tall people.
- The front shock only provides 80mm of travel, which is too less.
Merax Finiss the cheapest mountain bike for the money and it has some great features, but it can only be used by really tall people.
Vilano Ridge 1.0 is another extremely reasonable yet reliable mountain bike for the money. It’s only meant for beginners and it’s equipped with hardtail suspension, 26” wheels, and mechanical disc breaks. The bike has been constructed of double-butted 6061 Aluminum alloy which makes it durable but also pretty heavy weighing 41 pounds. There are 21 gears available so it can be used on various surfaces.
- Extremely durable construction.
- Good for beginners.
- Cheap.
- Heavy.
- Not the most reliable.
Vilano Ridge 1.0 is a decent mountain bike for the money meant for the absolute novices and training purposes.
Stowabike 26″ MTB V2 is the only good foldable mountain bike for the money. It’s extremely cheap and it can be folded down to the size of 38.2 x 12.6 x 29.5 inches. It’s made of steel frame and uses durable materials like full suspension and a range of 18 gears. The worst aspect of this bike is that it uses V-brakes, which is too rudimentary for mountain bikes.
- Highly portable.
- Cheap.
- Steel frame isn’t ideal.
- V-brakes are dangerous on tough terrains.
Stowabike 26″ MTB V2 is a mountain bike that can be used for training purposes by people who value foldability. However, it shouldn’t be used for serious trail riding.
Tips for Buying a Budget-Friendly Mountain Bike
There are a lot of great budget-friendly mountain bikes on the market. However, there are a lot of terrible ones as well — ones with shoddy safety features or durability. Furthermore, even if a mountain bike is good, it might not be right for you. In this part of the article, we’ll help you figure out which is the best mountain bike for the money for your specific needs.
- Size Matters
Getting a mountain bike with the right frame size is the most important thing to consider. Ride the bike and measure the distance between the saddle and the bars, and the distance between the center of the crank to the mid-head tube. It should all be comfortable. A short seat is good as it increases maneuverability, and you should be able to go to full pedaling height without overextending.
- Wheel Sizes
This depends on the types of terrain you’ll be conquering. If you’re riding long distance, go for bigger hoops with narrow tires. And if you’re riding on complicated trails with lots of obstacles, go for thick tires as they provide more traction.
- Hardtail or Full Suspension
A hardtail suspension is easier to maintain and allows you to ride smoothly through moderately bumpy terrains. A full suspension offers ultimate comfort but it’s hard to maintain — especially with the rear shock, bearings, and linkages.
- Weight is a non-issue
A lot of guides out there will tell you that the bike’s weight is extremely important. And, yes, if you’re a professional trail mountain biker who is competing with others and constantly has to carry the bike through hurdles, the weight will be important. However, since you’re getting a mountain bike for the money, you’re likely a novice and the weight shouldn’t be much of an issue to you. Furthermore, a lot of mountain bikes lower the weight by getting rid of essential components that can prove dangerous or inconvenient when you’re getting through rocks and roots. Just make sure that your bike is not way too heavy for you to handle and you’ll be alright.
I hope this article has helped you figure out which is the best mountain bike for the money on the market. As you can see, there are a lot of options for you. However, you should go through the Buyer’s Guide at the end of the article to help you decide which is the best mountain bike for the money for your specific needs.
If you have any other questions about the best mountain bike for the money, feel free to mention them down in the comments section.
