Budget Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes under $1,000

Many budget mountain bikes are hardtails, meaning there is suspension only in the front and not in the rear. In general, experts say hardtail bikes are a good choice for beginners because they are less expensive and require fewer adjustments than full-suspension mountain bikes. For beginners looking to venture to trails, reviewers say the Trek 3900 (MSRP: $440) is a good starting place. It's not designed for exceptionally rugged terrain, but this hardtail mountain bike is a good choice for gravel and dirt trails. The Trek 3900 sports one of Trek's white aluminum frames, 80mm front suspension, Shimano shifters and derailleurs, and 26-inch Bontrager Connection Trail tires. It comes in six sizes. The Trek 3900 WSD (MSRP: $440) is designed specifically for women, and it comes in two sizes.

Bicycling magazine praises the rigid frame and smooth shifting on the Trek 3900, but strongly recommends that beginners spend an extra $40 to upgrade to the Trek 3900 Disc (MSRP: $480), which comes with disc brakes instead of rim. Riders agree -- many owners posting reviews on MTBR.com say they regret not buying the upgraded version with the disc brakes. Overall, though, most of these owners are happy, saying the Trek 3900 is a great value and a solid choice for a first mountain bike. They say the frame is top-notch, providing solid performance on trails and dirt. However, owners say the stock components can't stand up to aggressive riding, vigorous downhills or jumps. The saddle also takes a few hits for being uncomfortable.

Although more expensive, the Gary Fisher Marlin (MSRP: $710) is another hardtail option for riders new to mountain biking. It has an aluminum frame, 100 mm of travel in the front and a Shimano drivetrain with a nine-speed Sram 11-32T cassette. Like the Trek 3900, the Gary Fisher Marlin can also be upgraded with disc brakes in the Gary Fisher Marlin Disc (MSRP: $800), and it also comes in a GS design (MSRP: $710) for women. A columnist for The Boston Globe recommends it as a "down-to-earth mountain bike," saying it's a versatile bike with "decent" front suspension. In addition, the Gary Fisher Marlin scores well on smooth trails in independent testing several years ago. Owners also give the Gary Fisher Marlin above-average ratings on MTBR.com, saying it has a sturdy frame and offers solid performance on both climbs and descents. On a negative note, some heavier riders question the frame's durability, and several reviewers say the pedals and saddle could use an upgrade.

Although it isn't covered in any recent professional reviews, the lower-priced Gary Fisher Wahoo (MRSP: $550) also gets good marks from owners. It shares a similar G2 hardtail geometry with the Gary Fisher Marlin, and reviewers say the Gary Fisher Wahoo boasts excellent handling at an excellent price. It does use lower-quality components than the Marlin, but most owners love the value.

For women, reviews also point to the Specialized Myka HT Sport (MSRP: $510), which is picked as a good choice for riders who are new to the sport. Fitness magazine praises the Specialized Myka HT Sport for its design, which is tailored to fit a woman's smaller frame, and responsive brakes, although they say it is a bit hefty. Sunset magazine also praises the athletic-inspired design, but they think it's a good idea to upgrade to the disc brakes on the Specialized Myka HT Sport Disc (MSRP: $610).

There is also a good budget pick in the "29er" category; these bikes have larger 29-inch wheels and are designed for rough terrain. The Diamondback Overdrive (MSRP: $740) is a hardtail bike that was first introduced in 1992, and reviewers say the 2009 model has come a long way. This aluminum-framed mountain bike sports 29-inch wheels, Hayes brakes and levers, Sram X-4 shifters and 100 mm of travel. The Diamondback Overdrive scores a mention in Bicycling's latest Buyer's Guide, where Chris Cassidy praises it for a firm ride and precise shifting. The Los Angeles Times' Roy M. Wallack is also impressed by the value; he can find no other 29er that also includes a suspension lockout and disc brakes at this price point. Shorter riders may have problems achieving a good fit on 29ers, and Cassidy recommends that riders shorter than 5 feet 6 inches skip the Diamondback Overdrive and select a more typical mountain bike with 26-inch wheels instead.

Like the bikes discussed above, most value-priced mountain bikes are hardtail bikes. Full-suspension mountain bikes are more expensive than hardtails, and experts say it's not easy to find a full-suspension bike under $1,000. However, if you want a full-suspension bike at an affordable price, reviewers say the Haro Shift R1 (MSRP: $895) is a great value. It offers 120 mm (4.5 inches) of rear and front travel, in addition to Tektro IO disc brakes, an eight-speed Shimano drivetrain and Kenda Komodo 2.1 tires. The Haro Shift R1 was featured in Bicycling's 2008 Buyer's Guide, where it was recommended for new riders. Although some full-suspension bikes can require frequent adjustments, Bicycling says the Haro Shift R1 is relatively low maintenance, thanks to a single-pivot suspension system. In a more recent review, Men's Fitness picks the Haro Shift R1 as one of the best mountain bikes of 2009. They're impressed with the value, not only because it's full-suspension, but also because it offers a fork lockout to improve the ride on level trails.

If you can't afford to spend at least $400 on a mountain bike, your options are mainly limited to the mountain bikes sold in budget stores like Target or Wal-Mart. Most experts discourage new riders from buying mountain bikes under $200; they can be exceptionally heavy – more than 40 pounds in some cases -- and may hamper your enjoyment of the sport. Instead, experts recommend saving up for a more expensive mountain bike or scouring bike shops for bikes from previous years.

Discount-store mountain bikes can be a decent option if you only plan on occasional riding around town or on smooth trails. Most of these bikes, including the Next PowerX Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (MSRP: $90) or the Mongoose XR-75 Mountain Bike (MSRP: $120), get mixed reviews from owners. Some riders love the low price, but others say that the components break easily and they question the overall reliability and durability of these mountain bikes. Most reviewers who are happy with these bikes use them for general fitness riding, rather than true mountain biking. In particular, we found many accounts of breaking pedals and a chain that falls off with the Mongoose XR-75. Similarly, the Next PowerX bike gets complaints for its uncomfortable seat, poor construction and cheap pedals. Quite a few owners say that when they spent some time to adjust the bike and upgrade some components, it was fine. Other say it broke on the first use.