Mountain biking is the kind of sport that can be completely immersive. Not only is it a challenging sport, it also gets you into the great outdoors in a unique way, which is one thing I personally love about it. Riding across trails you will be bombarded with sounds, sights and smells, all the while being completely exhilarated/terrified. At first if it seems a bit extreme you can always find plenty of entry level mountain bike trails, and a bike to go with them!
There are plenty of bikes out there for anyone starting out, and the ones we’ve included in our beginners buying guide are bikes that we consider to be great for not only when you’re a beginner, but when you reach an intermediate rider level as well. If you’re new to trail biking, shelling out lots of money isn’t ideal but at the same time you’re going to want a bike that doesn’t cut any corners in its design and could easily be picked up and taken for a spin easily and safely. That’s why we’ve found a range of cheap but good starter mountain bikes that we think make ideal entry level bikes.
Contents
What makes a good Mountain Bike?
As this guide is about the best beginner mountain bikes, let’s start with a quick rundown of a generic mountain bike to make sure you’re up to speed with all the lingo:
There’s a lot of components on here, but really you’ll recognise most of them from any other bike, like a road bike or cruiser bike.
The frame is the foundation of your bike and is made up of multiple different components, including the top tube (1), the down tube (9) and the suspension fork (2). The top tube and down tube make up the main bulk of your frame, and the suspension fork keeps your front wheel in place and, funnily enough, can provide some suspension. You have a few choices with your mountain bike frame, and you are advised to choose wisely, as a good frame can easily last you years. Aluminium is easily the most popular frame material, as it is generally affordable, and is strong and lightweight. Carbon fiber is more pricey as it provides a shock-absorbent frame, but is still strong and lightweight.
The gears required on your mountain bike will probably vary depending on what you want out of it. More gears means a larger variation of gradients you expect to ride, however less gears means you’ll free yourself of worrying about the number of moving parts on your bike, and therefore grant yourself a generally more reliable bike. The shifters (3) provide you with the ability to switch between gears, and this action is carried out with the front (18) and rear (15) derailleurs, which control the chainrings (11) and the cassette (16), respectively. The chainrings are collectively known as the chainset, and there are usually one, two or three chainrings which are each different gears. The cassette has many more sprockets (sprockets are basically gears), with 11 being the current maximum on any mountain bike. Combined, the chainset and cassette provide you with your gears.
One of the most vital aspects of a bike, its ability to stop, is carried out with two main components. The brake levers (4), situated on the handlebars, are connected to the disc brakes (6), (17) via brake cables. The disc brakes are situated around the hub (8) of your wheels and is a modern evolution of standard brake pads. The disc brakes uses pads which squeeze the wheel hubs to bring you to a stop. Disc brakes are across the board considered an effective and consistent way to stop your bike on any terrain or in any weather conditions.
Mechanical vs Hydraulic braking
Mechanical brakes and hydraulic brakes are variations of the disc brake. This is a type of brake that applies force to the hub of a bicycle wheel to slow it down.
Mechanical brakes are probably the braking system in bikes most people are more familiar with. The brakes are operated by cable and the pads close down on the hub of the wheel to slow the bike down. Hydraulic brakes are much of the same, however the brakes are operated via a fluid, which forces the pads to close down on the hub of the wheel, which slows the bike down. Ultimately hydraulic disc brakes are more efficient, they create more stopping power than a mechanical brake and allow for more control, this is because the pressure of the fluid is much higher than any pressure you can create with a mechanical brake.
So why does anyone want a mechanical brake? Well it comes down to price and ease of use. Mechanical brakes are often cheaper than hydraulic brakes, and due to the fact that they still ‘get the job done’, this is a big incentive. Furthermore, mechanical brakes are easier to modify and fix. Mechanical brakes are much easier for the everyday person to conceptualise and understand, therefore they are simpler to modify or replace.
Mountain Bike Tips
We’ve also got a few tips to get you through your first few rides, so you can get the most out of it.
Practice in a safe environment – There are plenty of movements and positions that need a lot of practice before they can be perfected. Therefore it might be better to start in a nice open space to attempt positions, like uphill and downhill form. Here’s a good video to expand on that:
Wear the appropriate clothing – This may be a given but nice, breathable waterproof fabrics are ideal. Anything made of nylon or polyester is great, additionally you’ll probably need cycling gloves, definitely need a helmet and we recommend knee pads.
Eat and drink properly – There may come a point while biking where you feel like you’ve run out of steam, or perhaps you never had any to begin with on this particular day. Something to consider is that you’ve just not hydrated properly, or that you’ve not fueled your body properly. That’s why I like to pack a few protein bars and bring plenty of water.
Pack the essentials – With mountain biking, packing the essentials is a must. You’ll definitely need a first aid kit, spare tires, chain lube, tire pump and tire lever, and a multipurpose tool. Other things you might consider are a flashlight, sunblock, and a battery pack for your phone depending on how much riding you’re planning on doing.
Read More on AltRiders:
Now onto the actual bikes:
Best Overall Beginner Mountain Bike
Gravity FSX 1.0 Dual Suspension
The Gravity FSX is a great quality beginners’ bike, that in my opinion is pretty underrated. It has a lightweight aluminium frame, with front and rear Tektro Novela mechanical disc brakes. The suspension is single pivot, which is the simplest type of suspension, therefore it’s reasonable to say the least amount of issues will arise. This bike has Shimano shifters with 24 speeds, and front and rear adjustable suspension. The tires are a decent starting point for a beginner but if you want to get down and dirty then you’ll need something bulkier, it’ll make all the difference.
The Gravity FSX is not a top of the line bike, but for the money you’re spending it’s very impressive. Coming in at well below $500, this bike has front and rear suspension and is made of high quality materials that can really take a beating. We’d expect this to see you through your introduction to mountain biking and well into the intermediate level. The only thing to note is that I’d consider replacing the tires if you want to take it on more intermediate trails to help add a bit more traction. Overall, this is a fantastic, cheap mountain bike that is great for beginners. It’s also perfect for less adventurous types and will work just fine on road or going through a park as is will on proper off road trails.
FYI, Shimano is going to be mentioned a lot here, scroll to the bottom to see what all the hype is about.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Beginner Mountain Bike Under $200
Merax Falcon 26″ Aluminum 21 Speed Mg Alloy Wheel Mountain Bike
The Merax Falcon is a lightweight, sturdy mountain bike with linear pull brakes. The aluminium frame makes this bike is light and durable, and the Merax Falcon is 33 lbs to be exact, meaning less unnecessary weight to stop you from going at the higher speeds. As a bonus you won’t find it rusting. The Shimano shifter comes with 21 speeds, and works with the front and rear derailleurs to produce fast and smooth shifting. The Merax has linear pull brakes or ‘V-brakes’. This is a breath of fresh air from the now standard disc brakes, and is often beneficial due to its affordability, and low entry level when it comes to installing and removing brakes. Some would say great for beginners! These brakes are often criticised for not being as responsive as disc brakes, however they’re often a good bargain which can produce reliable stopping power at high speeds. I think it’s also worth pointing out that I’m a fan of the design on this one, the colors and general look of the bike are great. For less than $200 you’re not going to get a much better mountain bikes for adult beginners.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Entry Level Mountain Bikes
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike, 26″ Wheels
The Schwinn Protocol is a great all-round mountain bike that’s idea for first timers. It has an aluminium frame equipped with dual suspension, and a Shimano shifter with 24 speeds. The frame is rust-resistant, and it’s pretty solid. The reliable Shimano shifter allows for precise and smooth gear changes. With the front disc brake and the rear V-brake, this bike gets you to a safe and controlled stop on any type of terrain. The combination of these brakes gives you the responsiveness of the disc brake, and the lightweight aerodynamics of the V-brake. The tires on the Protocol 1.0 have great grip and double-walled alloy rims. This combination means they’re strong yet light, and can be trusted on any trail.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Mongoose Impasse Full Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
If the Schwinn doesn’t do it for then this Mongoose might be a better alternative. This bike has a Shimano shifter which allows for a 21-speed gear setting, which works with the rear derailleur. The aluminium frame means the bike is lightweight, and the added suspension maximizes your comfort and the bike’s performance. Alloy front & rear disc brakes that work surprisingly well, putting lots of power into the stop, and dual disc brakes is a good bargain for a mountain bike at the lower end of the price range. Mongoose are giving you dual full suspension here, the suspension could be better, but will work well for standard off-roading or more sedate trails.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Value Beginner Mountain Bike
Vilano 26″ Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 Speed with Disc Brakes
The Vilano is a fun bike that’s great for trail riding, or will work equally well on a trip to the store or a commute to work. It has an impressive design with alloy mag wheels and Shimano components. The front and rear derailleurs are both Shimano, and the alloy handlebars stand at 31.8 x 640mm. The fork is a lockout suspension fork with 26” wheels, the lockout provided means energy loss is minimised on flat surfaces when it is activated. Vilano have gone with reliable mechanical disc brakes, which definitely provide impressive stopping power, and the aluminium frame means it’s light and sturdy. At this price you’re getting a lot of bike, it’s versatile, well made and will offer a lot of fun.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
What’s so great about Shimano?
Shimano is a huge Japanese company that produces a wide range of cycling componentry. Oftentimes, Shimano is considered the largest manufacturer there is, dominating the bike market from road bikes to mountain bikes. Almost all of the bike-related products Shimano sells can be lumped together in what is called a ‘groupset’, which makes up the drivetrain and brakes of the bike, the drivetrain being all of the components that push the bike along. Therefore, Shimano sells chainsets, brake levers, shifters, derailleurs, chains and cassettes.
Shimano has some stiff competition from an american company called SRAM, which started up in the 1990’s. Both of these manufacturers have a lot to offer and most of the time you can’t go wrong with either of them, so don’t worry if you see us mention SRAM in the future!
Final Thoughts
There we have it, our list of beginner mountain bikes, and other information that we feel is important or useful for a beginner to know. I feel a big consideration is often the frame material, type of brake and, let’s not forget, the price. Though mountain biking may seem daunting, I’d say it’s one of the most rewarding sports both in terms of fun and general fitness.
There are a lot of things to consider with mountain bikes, and sometimes as a customer it can seem like you’re never fully going to understand what you’re putting good money towards. Hopefully this guide will help you out with that, and if you have any questions, feel free to comment, email, or connect with us on Facebook.
Great Place to start and even a search for a bike …. especially for newcomers and youngster !!
Many folks start out with much too expensive bikes only too find they don’t really like biking at all !!
The instruction section on the site is SUPER !! Keep up the good work !!