The 12 Best Mountain Bikes under $1000

If you are one of an increasing number of people who are developing more than a passive interest in off-road cycling, you have no doubt feasted your eyes on countless images of mountain bikes designed for the sport. They are able to remain durable and perform at a suitably efficient level in rough terrain. As a newbie, you are probably relishing the prospect of cycling for long distances, climbing mountains, and riding downhill. One thing you’ll find almost immediately is that the best mountain bikes for those purposes can be quite expensive compared to other regular bikes.

While a more expensive model might be your goal in the long term, you should realize that you don’t have to spend above a thousand dollars right away. That is especially true if you are entirely new to cycling but also true even if you are simply transitioning to mountain biking. You don’t need a high-end bike to go riding on a trail snaking around the woods, which is what you will probably begin with anyway. So, you should go for high-quality mountain bikes that possess hydraulic disc brakes rather than cables. Generally speaking, cross-country bikes and all-mountain bikes with wide tires are best.

Hardtail mountain bikes are the type that constitutes the overwhelming majority of mountain bikes that you can buy for less than $1000. The term “Hardtail” is used to refer to the absence of the bump and shock-absorbing suspension on the back wheel. Sure enough, you are bound to come across some full suspension bikes when shopping for bikes in the aforementioned price range. The problem is they are almost always not as durable as either their more expensive counterparts or the hardtail mountain bikes.

While going through this guide, bear in mind that you can get both new and used hardtail mountain bikes in good condition with aluminum frames and tires at least 27.5 inches wide online. You will also find some dual full suspension mountain bikes and one hybrid bike on the list. We are sure that going through this guide will help you decide on which bike style or design is most suitable for your needs.

Be sure to check sizes and colors available when making your final selection.

Schwinn High Timber Men’s 27.5” Mountain Bike

As far as getting a mountain bike that is affordable without sacrificing quality goes, the Schwinn High Timber Men’s 27.5” Mountain Bike is the first brand that springs to mind. This bike is first on this list for that reason and more. It is immediately noticeable that the designers conceived this bike with a view to meeting the minimum requirements of professionals and beginners alike. Let us consider the features that led us to that conclusion.

For starters, it has a sleek frame that is 18 inches in measurement. Additionally the frame is crafted from alloyed materials, which increases durability and comfort. The adjustable seat also goes a long way in ensuring comfort. Then, of course, the bike possesses 27.5-inch wheels, which is the industry standard, and is designed to give more control and precision along with Alloy V brakes, a front suspension fork, and SRAM gripped gears. You will find it easy to assemble albeit heavy. It is available in black and white, so you can choose which you like better.

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Raleigh Bikes Tokul 2 Mountain Bike

Unsurprisingly, Raleigh Bikes have one of the most popular mountain bikes on the market. Like the Schwinn High Timber 27.5” bike, the Tokul 2 Mountain bike is also designed in sleek fashion. The major difference is that this bike’s designers evidently had rough terrain in mind when creating it and so it cannot exactly be classified as a bike for beginners. Aside from that, it is more than three times as expensive as the first bike on the list. Let’s look at its features.

The Tokul 2 mountain bike is a medium bike with a slightly smaller aluminum frame of 17 inches. Additionally, it is able to cater to riders of varying heights to ensure adequate comfort. You can choose this bike’s components according to the sizes presented in the size guide for small, medium, large, and extra large – 5.3 – 5.6 inches, 5.6 – 5.9 inches, 5.9 -6 inches, and 6 – 6.4 inches, respectively. It is equipped with 27.5-inch wheels, a 120mm travel fork suspension in front, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It is light with a weight of only 29.6 pounds but can be difficult to assemble.

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Diamondback Overdrive Complete 29ER Hardtail Mountain Bike

The Diamondback Overdrive Complete 29ER is just one of many instances where Diamondback ups the ante with their bike designs. In this case, they have managed to do so with one of the absolute favorite cross-country trail bikes for beginners and mid-level riders available while keeping the price below $1000. This is definitely one of the most expensive bikes on this list and for good reason. Let’s walk you through its features so you can see what we mean.

The bike is built on a slender Overdrive 29” butted 6061-T6-aluminum alloy frame. This is a hardtail bike and so it features only the Rockshox Recon Silver 29” fork and 32 mm Stanchion on the front wheel. This, when assembled along with Shimano Hydraulic disc brakes and Shimano 2×10 speed rapidfire drivetrain gears, gives you the ultimate hardtail mountain bike experience. For a bike with a wheel size of 29 inches, it is reasonably light with a weight of 32.9 pounds. You can’t go wrong with this bike.

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Diamondback Recoil 29ER Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Diamondback is also the producer of the Recoil 29ER Mountain bike, which is our first full suspension mountain bike on the list. The manufacturer lives up to the expectations of its customers by delivering a quality budget entry-level full suspension bike. You would be hard pressed to find another full suspension bike of this quality elsewhere for fewer than $500. The Recoil 29ER is one of a few of that class, which is why it makes the cut.

It uses a 6061-T6 aluminum frame like the Overdrive 29er Hardtail. The difference is that it possesses a dual suspension system of four inches of travel, which is extremely comfortable. The front wheel features the SR Sun tour XCT 100mm suspension fork while the back wheel features the Kind Shock rear coil shock – hence the name: Recoil 29ER. This bike similarly features 29-inch wheels, which are perfect for the Shimano 3×8 speed drivetrain gears that can shift 24 times. It comes in S/16, M/18, and L/20, which are suitable for riders of different heights from 5.4” to 6.1.”

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BEIOU Carbon Fiber Hardtail LTWOO 30 Mountain Bike

The fifth spot on our list goes to the BEIOU Carbon Fiber Hardtail Mountain Bike. BEIOU Zhejiang Composite Manufacture Co., Ltd, the top bike manufacturer in the country, has managed to come up with an answer to all of the hardtail bikes we have discussed thus far. It is as comfortable and affordable as the rest with a price tag of well below $1000. So let’s dive into the specifications.

The major characteristics of this hardtail mountain bike are the carbon fiber frame, which is 17 inches, and the Ltwoo 3x10S Speed Control System. The lightweight frame, which is only 28.7 pounds, is accompanied by the GTMRK 330 / 26 Hydraulic Suspension Fork, the SIMAERS Hydraulic Disc brakes, and the wheels, which are 26 inches wide for ensuring the rider of a smooth trip and highly efficient maneuverability.

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Airborne Seeker 29” Mountain Bike

The Airborne Seeker by Airborne Bicycles deservedly occupies the sixth spot. This hardtail mountain bike was designed for cross-country riding and trail riding. It is certainly one of the more expensive options, but is still less than $1000, making it suitable for beginners. If you can afford the higher price, it would certainly prove to be worth your while because this manufacturer has merged smooth, efficient riding with one of the most sophisticated designs on this list.

That is most evident with the sleek 16 inches hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame. In addition to this modern frame design pattern, the Airborne Seeker is fitted with a RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air Fork that has the capability of locking out and a SRAM X5 drivetrain 2×10 gear system. When you throw in the Vee XCV tires, which are 27.5 inches wide and the sealed cartridge bearing disc hubs laced to double wall rims, you have one heck of a comfortable bike for off-road racing. The only problem is it is only available in 16-inch frames.

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Mongoose Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle

The next mountain bike on our list is the Mongoose Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle. It is also the second dual full suspension bike on this list. Mongoose is one of the more established bike manufacturers on this list with over four decades of experience. So, it comes as no surprise that they would be able to deliver impressive maneuverability in an affordable design without sacrificing the quality on which it has built its reputation. Let’s have a look at its features.

This bike’s aluminum frame is comprised of the Element Suspension fork, the presence of which serves to negate the effect of bumps and other obstacles peculiar to off-road racing in an effortless manner to give the mountain biking enthusiast the ultimate comfort and control. Comfort and control is also helped by the presence of alloy wheels, which are 29 inches wide, a Shimano rear derailleur with SRAM twist shifters, and alloy front and rear disc brakes.

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Mongoose Men’s Tyax SUPA Expert 27.5” Wheel

The next bike is by the same manufacturer and costs twice as much. The Mongoose Men’s Tyax SUPA Expert 27.5” is a hardtail mountain bike that is perfect for hardpack, singletrack, and cross-country racing. It manages to be as adaptable and even as it is affordable. One thing that stands out right away in terms of its design is its Burgundy color, which adorns its 17-inch aluminum frame, making it arguably the most eye-catching design on the list.

The frame is a hardtail design, which is fitted with an SR Suntour XCR Air 100mm travel fork with lockout capability and rebound adjustment. This ranks among the most sophisticated travel forks on this list. The frame and suspension are complemented by the Shimano Deore/Micro Shift 2×10 drivetrain gear system with Alivio shifters, Shimano B-M365 hydraulic disc brakes, and wheels, which are 27.5 inches wide and 2.8 inches thick. The bike is not the lightest, though, with a weight of 43.5 pounds.

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Merax Finiss 26” Aluminum 21 Speed Mountain Bike

The Merax Finiss 26” Aluminum 21 Speed Mountain Bike is one of the least expensive bikes on this list. It is just the kind of bike you will enjoy starting off-road cycling with. This entry-level bike features a 19-ing heat-treated aluminum frame with a Suspension fork that possesses 80mm travel. You will have to rotate this fork to one hundred and eighty degrees before you assemble the front wheel.

You will have to do this not just to achieve maximum comfort and control but also to make sure the brakes, which will be set up on the front wheel, will function optimally. Once that is done, you will to do only a little more assembling, and then you will be able to enjoy singletrack riding effortlessly with the support of the bike’s 26-inch double wall aluminum rims wheels, Shimano 21 Speed Derailleurs gear system for easy shifting, as well as front and rear mechanical disc brakes. Be aware that this bike is quite heavy at 44 pounds.

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Montague Paratrooper 24 Speed Folding Mountain Bike

Our list would not be complete without the inclusion of folding bikes, or more accurately, folding mountain bikes. The Montague Paratrooper 24 Speed Mountain Bike is unsurprisingly the one that makes the list and its inclusion is not unconnected with the fact that Montague is the worldwide leader in the manufacture of full-sized folding bikes. It is also noteworthy that this folding design pattern was developed to aid airborne soldiers to drop effortlessly into combat.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the Montague Paratrooper 24 Speed Folding Mountain Bike is that it can be folded into a box with dimensions of 36” x 30” x 12” in very little time. This means that this bike is very portable and can be moved or transported effortlessly to any track of your choosing. Its cammy green aluminum frame comes from the custom drawn 7005 Series, which, of course, utilizes F.I.T (Folding Integrated Technology).

No tools are required to fold or unfold the bike, which means you can focus on enjoying the efficient maneuverability of its 27.5” wheels and 100mm front suspension.

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Cannondale Bicycles 700 Men’s Quick 6

The Cannondale Quick 6 is the very first hybrid mountain bike on this list. It has an enhanced SAVE micro-suspension in the rear triangle, which is fitted on a mid-range Quick SmartForm C3 Alloy SAVE headtube. The frame can also be fitted with both 29-inch tires and 27.5-inch tires that are 2.25 inches thick. The bike’s other features make it clear that it is designed for climbing as well as cross-country riding.

These features include the Cannondale Mini V Cartridge brakes made of forged alloy, a gear system comprising Shimano fire plus shifters, Shimano Altus and Shimano Acera derailleurs on the front and rear, respectively. All of this, along with the T6061 aluminum frame and 700c wheels, makes for one of the most comfortable riding experiences you can get for under $1000. Cannondale manufactures the Quick 6 in five sizes in order to cater to riders of different heights. That means five different frame sizes.

It comes in Black and Hazard Orange with charcoal gray and fine silver embellishments.

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Diamondback Atroz Full Suspension Mountain Bike

We round out our list with a dual full suspension mountain bike from Diamondback Bicycles called the Diamondback Atroz. This bike sports an 18-inch frame, which makes it a medium-range full suspension mountain bike. The frame is constructed using the popular T6 6061 aluminum alloy and is fitted with an SR Suntour Raidon-R suspension at the back and an SR Suntour XCM suspension in front. Both of these forks produce 120mm travel but do not have lockout capability.

The benefit of using a full suspension mountain bike is that it allows for a more relaxed, less stressful workout in which you don’t have to pedal while standing up. The SRAM shifter with which the derailleur gear system is fitted has 9 speeds. This is designed to handle riding uphill or downhill. When engaging in off-road biking either downhill or uphill, you are going to want to be able to call on reliable brakes, and the Diamondback Atroz is equipped with Tetra Aries hydraulic disc brakes to take care of this important need. The 27.5-inch wheels are also critical for control in these situations.

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