KHS Tucson

Mountain bikes with 29-inch wheels are becoming increasingly popular. Fans say 29ers offer better traction and more control in turns and descents, and the large wheels power over obstacles more easily than smaller mountain bikes. Reviewers say the KHS Tucson strikes the best balance between price and performance. It's an excellent value, reviews say, and the hardtail aluminum frame is a good choice for new riders. The KHS Tucson has a good selection of components for the price, and testers say the bike is comfortable without sacrificing speed. However, one reviewer would like to see a longer travel fork (the current RST fork has 3.15 inches of travel), and we also saw a complaint that the brakes feel "wooden" and would be worthy of an upgrade. If you don't need a 29er, the Trek Fuel EX 8 (MSRP: $2,470) gets the best reviews overall.

The best review of the KHS Tucson comes from Mountain Biking UK, a cycling publication that conducts a group test of affordable 29ers. Although the full test is not available online, parts of the review are republished at BikeRadar.com. The Los Angeles Times also has a useful review, although its analysis is not as detailed.