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There’s nothing we love more than getting out of the office on the weekend, and heading out onto a good trail. Of course, we need a solid mountain bike for this kind of expedition, so we’re heavily interested in determining the best mountain bike on the market today.
We did hours of research, tested many different models, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. So without further adieu – here are our top picks for the best mountain bike.
Remember to always ride with caution – and be sure to wear a helmet.
Our Top Pick
BEIOU Carbon Fiber
This beautiful carbon fiber bike from Beiou is a great pick – and we recommended it highly. It is certainly not the cheapest option out there, but we believe it delivers the best performance. It has over 70 glowing online reviews, and if you’re serious about biking – this is the model to get.
Other Great Picks
Schwinn Traxion
This great dual-suspension bike from Schwinn offers a great ride. More affordable than our top pick, and with a cool paint job, this is a great alternative for those that are more budget-minded.
Mongoose Impasse
With over 300 stellar online reviews, this bike from Mongoose is an absolute delight to ride. Offering a better price point than our top picks, and a stylish aluminum frame, we definitely recommend it for anyone serious about their rides.
Schwinn Bonafide
This top-rated Schwinn mountain bike is a delight to ride, and it looks extremely sleek, to boot. We loved the 24-speed drivetrain, and the smooth ride from the front suspension. Highly recommended.
Schwinn High Timber
This highly affordable bike from Schwinn is a fantastic ride. We loved the low price point, the light frame, and the shock-free ride. Definitely recommended.
Kent KZ2600
This affordable, dual-suspension bike from Kent is a winner. With over 250 glowing online reviews, a sleek gray and blue frame, and one of the smoothest rides we’ve ever had – we can’t recommended it more highly.
Huffy Hardtail
Huffy has been a leading bike manufacturer for decades now, and this best-seller shows why. A cool frame, affordable price point, and great ride – all make it an extremely worthwhile purchase. Definitely recommended.
BEIOU Carbon
This is the Ferrari of mountain bikes. Sleek, expensive, and an immaculate ride – it is highly recommended. While not within everyone’s price range, if you can afford it – it’s definitely worth the money.
Mongoose Dolomite
This fat tire ride from Mongoose may have the coolest design we’ve ever seen on a mountain bike. With over 475 glowing customer reviews, and a flawless testing experience – we cannot recommend this bike enough.
Northwoods Aluminum
This affordable aluminum frame bike from Northwoods is a great deal, and the full suspension provided a fantastically smooth ride. If you are looking to save money, this is one of the best budget picks on the market. Definitely recommended.
What Is A Mountain Bike?
Much like trail running shoes, a mountain bike lets you take a regular exercise activity – and make it much more rugged. You can use a mountain bike to ride into forests, climb small mountains, and even ride through creeks.
None of this is possible, of course, with a standard road bikes. Mountain bikes also happen to be the most popular type of bike sold in the United States, as they can also be used for regular street riding.
What Is A Mountain Bike Used For?
Essentially? Everything. A mountain bike can ridden in the street, and then right onto a grass and dirt path.
We’ve taken our bikes everywhere (truly) – and we recommend you do the same. While we like running, there’s just something much more fun about exploring at a faster pace.
Mountain bikes also have multiple gears – which lets you make flat rides harder, and uphill climbs a little bit easier. Speaking of uphill climbs – they are one of the best ways to quickly ramp up your physical fitness level (not to mention aerobic and anaerobic capacities).
Who Needs A Mountain Bike?
Anyone interested in riding a bike on a regular (or even semi-regular) basis, will benefit from having a mountain bike. As a side benefit, you can also join lots of different biking groups.
These offer friendships, as well as increased physical fitness. Not to mention – it’s a lot less daunting to go on long rides when you’re not alone.
Where Can I Ride A Mountain Bike?
You can ride a mountain bike literally anywhere. Even shallow water won’t stop you.
We’ve taken our bikes in the desert, the forest, on the road, and up the steepest hills. Unless you plan on going completely underwater – your mountain bike will be right there with you – helping you speed through whatever the current obstacle may be.
Do I Need Suspension On My Mountain Bike?
There are three types of suspension available on mountain bikes – full, front, and rigid. This is actually a slight misnomer, as rigid really means that your bike has no suspension at all.
If you stay on relatively easy surfaces, you might not need suspension. Sometimes rigid bikes compensate by having fat tires with lower air pressure – and they also usually come in at a lower price point.
However, more commonly, most opt for either full or front suspension. These systems offer shock absorption (full suspension offers shock absorption on the back tire, not just the front) – and the more you spend, the better suspension system you’ll get.
If you are a serious rider, you will want to opt for full suspension, and a fairly high-end bike. This will grant you great performance, smooth rides (even on the roughest terrain), and excellent comfort.
What About Disc Brakes?
Disc brakes are newer than the old standard brakes, which apply rubber pads to the wheel itself. Road bikes still often use these brakes, since they work well enough in normal conditions (especially with lighter bikes).
Mountain bikes, however, are an entirely different beast than road bikes. They are heavier, and you will likely be taking them into much harsher conditions.
This is where disc brakes come into play. They offer better braking performance on heavier bikes, as well as far more reliable stopping power in wet or sub-optimal weather conditions.
What Size Mountain Bike Is Best?
Sizing for bikes is notoriously tricky. While the standard medium bike size will work for most people, there are still plenty of exceptions.
For example, if you have longer than average legs, you might need a large bike – even if you fit into the medium height requirement. If you’re shorter than 5′ 7″, opt for a small bike size.
If you’re taller than 5′ 10″, you’ll probably want to go with a large bike size. A key trick to remember for sizing, is that you want your leg to be comfortably and fully extended at the bottom of each pedal.
Does Wheel Size On A Mountain Bike Matter?
Wheel size can make a difference if you are shorter in height, but the standard 29″ wheels that come with most mountain bikes work well for almost everyone. Smaller wheels accelerate quickly, but aren’t great at handling bumps, and you won’t be able to hit your absolute fastest speeds.
While 26″ wheels used to be standard for mountain bikes, they are now an obsolete size. 27.5″ wheels are a compromise in between sizes, and are sometimes used when you have fatter tires.
Should I Get Fat Tires?
Interestingly, tires have gotten fatter over the years, and continue to grow. Generally, these tires result in a smoother, faster ride.
2.6″ tires are now commonplace, with 2.8″ also becoming popular. Any tires over 3″ would be considered true “fat” tires, and will work better on surfaces like dirt, mud, sand, and snow.
Fat tires are not required, but if you plan on riding on tough surfaces like sand, they may be a better fit for you. Fatter tires will also require wider rims.
Do Rims On A Mountain Bike Make A Difference?
Rims are one item to consider before finalizing a purchase of a mountain bike. You will want rims that can accommodate any potential changes in tire width.
Essentially there are four different ranges of rims to choose from. Rims between 49mm and 100mm will be used for fat bike tires, and rims between 31mm and 49mm are the right size for mid-fat tires.
In addition to these two ranges, there are also the rims that are between 26mm and 30mm in size, which fit the most common tire sizes. Any rims 25mm or smaller, would be considered small, and are used for cross country tires.
Gears On A Mountain Bike
One thing that has slightly changed since we were kids, are the amount of gears found on the average mountain bike. Well, not the number of gears directly.
But you may remember mountain bikes which had nearly 30 gears. This also required a large amount of chain, to switch between gears.
These bikes also usually had two or three chainrings, which made for a bulky look. Modern mountain bikes usually only have one chainring, in addition to other mechanical changes.
One chainring will still provide the same amount of gears, as the engineering behind this system had changed since the 90s. Bikes with one chainring will also be lighter, and easier to manage.
There are also many mountain bikes that have two chainrings, and these are still more common nowadays than vintage bikes with three chainrings. Ultimately, if you have a choice, you’ll want to opt for a bike with a single chainring, because it will provide for an easier, smoother, and lighter riding experience.
Saddle For A Mountain Bike
While there are many different types of saddles for mountain bikes, we have to admit that we are a little more partial to thick, padded versions. These are much more comfortable for longer rides, but if you are a racer, you may want a more minimalist saddle.
Types Of Mountain Bikes
There are a wide variety of mountain bikes available. Which type you go with, largely depends on how experienced you are as a rider.
Of the many styles to choose from, there are: cross-country bikes, downhill bikes, fat tire bikes, slope style bikes, dirt jump bikes, single speed bikes, electric bikes, enduro bikes, and trial bikes.
All of these different types offer specific advantages for unique activities, but none are absolutely necessary for a beginner (or even a novice). If you are particularly interested in one specific type, it is best to carefully research which model may be best for your specific needs.
How Much Should I Spend On A Mountain Bike?
This is a highly variable question, as beginner bikes can be very inexpensive. Starting at $100, there are very basic mountain bikes available.
On the other end, there are bikes that can cost more than $10,000. Much of the cost difference has to do with what the bike is made out of – is it an aluminum frame, or a carbon fiber one?
We recommend that the average person spend a few hundred dollars on a bike, up to $1,000 or more. Only the most elite and serious riders are likely to experience the benefits of spending $10,000 on a mountain bike.
What Kind Of Mountain Bike Is Best For Me?
Ultimately, it’s best to consider your own individual needs, when choosing a mountain bike. Are you going to take it off road – and if so, where to?
Or are you more into cross country racing, which will require a different size of tires and a slightly different bike? Are you a beginner, just looking for a casual bike, or are you looking to spend thousands on a carbon fiber frame?
It’s important to consider all of these questions for yourself, before purchasing a bike. What may be the best mountain bike for you, could be the wrong choice for someone else – so it’s best to carefully consider your buying options.
The Best Mountain Bike
There you have it – our top picks for the best mountain bike. You can go with fat tires, lots of gears, a carbon fiber frame – or any other number of options.
But – ultimately – you should choose a bike that you feel comfortable riding. What may be comfortable for you, may not be a great choice for someone else.
You should also factor in where you will be riding your bike, whether you have any desire to tricks, and if you’ll be competing in any mountain biking events.
There are perfect mountain bikes for beginners, novices, and experts. If you’re just starting out, there’s no need to spend a lot on a bike.
However, if you’re an expert, a carbon fiber frame is optimal. And these don’t come cheap.
Of course, there are lots of other options out there in the sporting goods market besides mountain bikes – so be sure and check out some of our other fitness product reviews.