Best Mountain Bikes Under 1000 Dollars | Buying Guide
A mountain bike is a great way to get away from it all. You can explore remote roads and trails aboard your mountain bike and experience all the sights and sounds that nature has to offer.
You can also use your best mountain bikes under 1000 dollars to ride to work, or for daily exercise. The appeal of a mountain bike is that it is just as at home on the pavement of a city as it is out in the woods. Mountain biking is continually growing in popularity.
Top 10 Best Mountain Bikes Under $1000
Picture | Bike Name | Brake | Frame | Speed | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Disc Brake | Aluminum | 27 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brakes | Aluminum | 24 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brake | Aluminum |
24 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brake |
Aluminum | 24 Speed | |||
 | Linear Pull Brake | Aluminum | 21 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brake | Carbon-Fiber | 30 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brake | Aluminum | 24 Speed | |||
 | Promax Disc Brake | Aluminum | 21 Speed | |||
 | Disc Brake | Aluminum | 24 Speed | |||
 | V-brakes | Steel | 7 Speed |
Since they were first introduced, the technology available on mountain bikes has changed measurably. Frames are available in steel, aluminum, titanium, and even carbon-fiber materials. Many mountain bikes feature disc brake technology. Bikes are available with many more gears, such as 24-speeds, or even 30-speeds. Front and rear suspension are available similar to that found on mountain bike, only smaller.
Bicycle engineers are focusing on creating the lightest but strongest bike possible out of many exotic materials, and this can quickly drive the cost of a mountain bike up. If you are currently thinking about buying a mountain bike, don’t worry. There are many great mountain bikes available that cost under $1000.
Best Mountain Bikes Under 1000 Dollars
In this article, I’m going to review top ten best mountain bikes under $1000. I combed the internet for the best mountain bikes, and narrowed it down to the following ten bikes available for sale:
Diamondback Overdrive Sport 29er Mountain Bike
It is a trail-ready, reliable 29er that can be said to be relatively lightweight for a Diamondback Overdrive. That implies that whether you are looking for a bike for commuting, conquering the terrain during the weekends or simply pedaling around, this Sport 29er fits the bill in almost every way possible.
The Overdrive Sport’s frame is built with well-constructed, hand-built aluminum 6061-T6, so you can be sure that it won’t be bending or breaking anytime soon.
As usual, being a Diamondback- although an entry-level one – the braking system employs Shimano hydraulic discs for that instant but controlled halt.
SE Bikes Big Mountain Bike
SE Bikes Big Mountain Bike is a high quality yet very affordable mountain bike. Customers who bought this bike all seem to love it.
Bike performance was good for both on and off-road. Some buyers upgraded the stock seat and pedals for better comfort and performance. Most people were able to perform a few minor adjustments to get the bike in working order. This is a very quality full and affordable mountain bike.
Others avoided this headache by having their local bike shop assemble it for them for a modest fee. Overall, this is a good quality mountain bike with good features.
Highlighted Features
- Aluminum frame
- 27.5 inch wheels
- This mountain bike weighs 33 pounds
- Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes
- Frames are available in 15″,17″, 19″, and 21″
- SR Suntour XCT 100mm travel front suspension fork
Diamondback Recoil 29er Mountain Bike
Diamondback Recoil 29er Mountain Bike is considered as best entry level mountain bike according to the reviews of most users. I think this is due to the spring suspension, which some users upgraded to air suspension.
Assembly for this bike seemed to average around two hours, and a little adjustment of the brakes and shifting systems to get them up to snuff.
Most people love the smooth ride of the 29-inch wheels as compared to 26-inch wheels. One user complained about the lack of a kick stand and wished that this bike had a more cushioned seat.
As i said before, this is a great bike with a bunch of quality features for the price. With a few upgrades, this can be a mountain bike you will keep for a long time.
Highlighted Features
- 29-inch wheels
- Schwalbe Rapid Rob tires
- This bike weighs thirty pounds
- Shimano SL-M310 rapidfire shifters
- Hayes HMX-5 disc brakes front and rear
- 6061 T-6 formed and butted aluminum frame
- SR Suntour XCT 100mm front suspension fork
- Shimano Altus front and Alivio SGS rear derailers
- Kindshock coil rear shock with 4-inch suspension travel
- Lifetime warranty on the frame and a five year warranty on the other components
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
Schwinn Protocol mountain bike is the most affordable out of this group. The first things I noticed about this bike are the smaller 26-inch wheels and the lack of disc brakes on the rear of the bike.
Assembly times ran around 2 hours, but people recommended getting a tune-up at a local bike shop before riding the bike, which is a good idea when buying any new bicycle.
Users reported that rider weights over 160 pounds were not ideal for the spring suspension when riding off-road. A couple of riders used this solidly built frame as a starting point and added some trick accessories to build a high-performance and tough mountain bike. This is a good quality entry level mountain bike with a rock-solid frame.
Highlighted Features
- 26-inch wheels
- Shimano Altus derailers
- Pro Max front disc brakes
- Shimano EF-50 trigger shifters
- SR Suntour suspension front and rear
- The weight of this mountain bike is 43 pounds
- 18” aluminum alloy frame with steel rear triangle
- All other parts are covered by a one-year warranty
- This bicycle frame comes with a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser
Diamondback Bicycles Sorrento Hard Tail Complete Mountain Bike
This mountain bike from Diamondback Bicycles Sorrento Hard Tail is a very basic model that fits somewhere in between the box store and the bicycle shop. It is considered as best mountain bikes under 1000 dollar among the other bikes of diamondback.
Customers who bought this bike were impressed with its performance for the price. Complaints were that the seat was too hard, tools required for assembly were not included, and that adjustments for the front and rear derailleurs were required.
People said that assembly of this bike was fairly easy. This is a simple, straightforward bicycle that is meant primarily for cruising around the neighborhood. Since this is a Diamondback frame, the possibilities for upgrading this bike are limitless. A good value for the price, but nothing fancy here.
Highlighted Features
- Diamondback XC260 wheels
- Shimano SX-3 trigger shifters
- SR Suntour M3030 XC 75mm front fork
- Tektro front and rear friction brakes
- Frame sizes available are 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 inches
- Shimano Tourney derailer on the front and Altus derailer on the rear
- Heat treated, butted, 6061 T-6 aluminum alloy frame with replaceable derailer hanger
BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Hardtail MTB LTWOO 30 Speed
BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike is loaded with materials and features you get from bikes that cost two to three times more than this one:
Users reported that the bike is very easy to assemble at home, but some customers opted for bike shop assembly.
People loved this bike for use both on and off-road, but many of them opted to upgrade to a softer seat since the one included with the bike is pretty hard. It was very difficult to find a negative opinion about this bike. The appeal here is the high-tech carbon fiber frame for an affordable price.
Highlighted Features
- Hydraulic Suspension Fork
- SSIMAERS hydraulic disc brakes
- The LTWOO weighs only 28.7 pounds
- Ultra lightweight Carbon Fiber frame
- Frames are available in 17 inch sizes
- BEIOU Aluminum 600mm Flat Handlebar
Diamondback Bicycles 2016 Recoil Complete Full Suspension Mountain Bike
If you are looking for the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike, the Diamondback Bicycles 2016 Recoil is one option that deserves consideration. The sturdy-built and aesthetic appearance will surely fetch the sweetest return of your money.
This mountain bike comes with a handcrafted, 4 -inch aluminum frame to provide full suspension. It contributes to the strength of the bike. The full suspension frame ensures that you can move over the undulating path without experiencing jerks.
The bike carries an optimized pivot along with sealed cartridge bearing that promises for a smooth and durable performance. The manufacturer has incorporated a coil rear shock to tackle the challenges of the terrain. You can select from the options like 16-inch, 18-inch, and 20-inch in size.
This incredible bike is presently available for the buyers from the US only. The bike comes with a standard warranty to safeguard the financial interest of the consumers. The bike enjoys a position within the Top-20 bicycling list.
GMC Topkick Dual Suspension Mountain Bike
The GMC Topkick Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike is another one of the best mountain bike list.
This mountain bike comes with a 31-inch sturdy aluminum frame that displays full-suspension properties. You can avail the bike, either in Matte black or blue shade.
The floating beam suspension gets mated with a suspension fork with Spring/Elastomer technology.
The 26-inch wheel enables the rider to control the cycle well in adverse conditions. The Promax Disc brakes ensure the safety of the riders. This bike comes with 21 different speed levels.
The combination of modern technology and a beautiful look makes this bike a coveted product to the enthusiast mountain bikers. The Bike fetches an excellent value in return for the money invested for its purchase.
GMC Topkick Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike comes with standard warranty coverage from the manufacturer. Amazon offers round-the world-delivery for this product.
Diamondback Bicycles 2016 Women’s Lux Hard Tail Complete Mountain Bike
While it is not exactly the most cushioned and comfortable bikes out there, this Diamondback Bicycles 2016 Women’s Lux Hard Tail Complete Mountain Bike is arguably one of the easiest to assemble and the gear shift is very smooth.
Other than that, the Lux Hard Tail is optimized for female riders who are looking to do at least 30 to 40 miles at a go without necessarily spending a fortune on the bike. The 30″ are designed to help you roll over obstacles smoothly while the mechanical brakes are responsive and tactile enough to bring you to a sudden halt almost immediately.
Overall, it is a solidly built bike with all the bells and whistles but optimized for the ladies.
Nashbar AT1 Mountain Bike
If you look at the Nashbar AT1 Mountain Bike on paper, you will just find it too good to be true…well, until you see the real thing.
Harmonizing well with the cash you could rationally want to part with for a bike, every bit of the AT1 has been built to stand rocks, water puddles, mud and shrubs.
It sure isn’t going to forsake you in the middle of the forest nor is it going to effectively put you at the back of a trail on a Sunday afternoon group ride.
The shock absorbers are great, the braking world class, gearing top notch and control mind blowing. Add an attractive design and a comfort-enhancing 400mm handlebar to that, and you have all you’ve been dreaming about in one classy mountain bike.
Justify Before Buying Best Mountain Bikes Under $1000
Now a days choosing the best mountain is sometimes challenging, owing to the numerous types and models of it is available in the market.
In essence, there are thousands of mountain bikes that vary in terms of wheel size, suspension, gearing, brakes and more.
If you want to buy the best mountain bikes under 1000 dollars, then here is the list of guidelines on how to choose the best mountain bikes.
This guide will surely help you narrow down your choices by providing you with the useful information you need to be a conscious buyer with convincing expectations.
Look at the Mountain Bike’s Frame Materials
The frame of a mountain bike influences its strength, weight, price, durability as well as its ride quality.
Therefore, if you want to choose the right one, it is essential that you consider the frame material of the mountain bike. The commonest material used in its frames is the aluminum alloy; among others include carbon fiber, titanium, and steel.
Aluminum frames are very lighter and somehow expensive.
Steel frames are strong, relatively inexpensive and provide you with smooth riding, but heavy.
Made of titanium is very light and stronger but it is very expensive, but it is the high-tech mountain bikes.
Carbon fiber is most commonly used in fat bikes, cross-country, because of its low weight and strength.
However, it is expensive. Therefore, if you want to get yourself the best mountain bike that you will meet your need, you should consider its frame materials.
Distance you will Riding the Bike
The distance you will be riding going with your bike also matters if you want to get the right bike that will not disappoint and be able to have comfortable how to rides.
So, if you are planning to buy a bike that you will be using to cover short distance like going to a coffee shop, the consideration going for a one-speed cruiser and be able to save your money.
On the other hand, if you will be using your bike for cycling more than five miles then, a city mountain bike with fenders, racks, and integrated lights will be the best for more comfortable and safety rides. Therefore, the distance you are going to cover with bike matters a lot.
Justify Mountain Bike’s Brakes
Nowadays, disc brakes have taken over rim brakes on all entry level. When you want to buy a mountain bike, first you should consider its brakes.
A mountain bike that uses disc brakes has brake pads, which grips onto the rotor mounted on the wheel hub, and comes in two versions Hydraulic disc brakes and cable activated brakes.
A mountain bike with hydraulic disk brakes has strong braking with a less finger effort, as well as with a pad that adjusts itself to reduce the pad wear, so when you are looking for one with strong braking consider one with Hydraulic disc brakes or one with cable activated brakes.
However, one with rim brakes features pads, which grips on the wheel rims, the benefit of having a mountain bike with rim brakes is that you can easily observe wearing of the brake pad an replace the pads.
So, you should look at the brakes of your preferred bike and evaluate if it will meet your needs for you to get the best and safe mountain biking.
Justify Suspension
A mountain bike’s suspension is among the important factors you should consider when buying a mountain bike.
A mountain bike can have front suspension also referred as hard tails, or it can have both fronts, and rear suspension referred as full suspension.
Front Suspension Mountain bikes feature only one shock; their frames are simpler as compared with the dual-suspension bike, meaning they are easy to maintain and clean and lighter.
While, mountain bikes with full suspension offer control, comfort, and speed that is much fun that people don’t concentrate on the weight it has.
So, if you want to experience more convenient rides without considering the bikes weight, then you should consider a mountain bike with full suspension over a front suspension.
Things To Consider Before Buying Best Mountain Bikes Under $1000
So what are the major considerations to take into account when buying a mountain bike? In my opinion, there are three major items to consider:
Consider the Size of the Mountain Bike
The frame and the wheel size of a mountain bike determine its size. Therefore, if you are planning to buy you should visit the store and test it with different sizes and choose one with the size that fits you before you purchase it.
A mountain bike with proper size fitting improves your confidence and handling to enable you to tackle challenging and technical rides no matter the terrain. Also, the wheel size and rims matter a lot.
Every mountain bike comes with remarkably reliable wheels designed to bear up the difficulties of riding off-road.
So if you are looking for a mountain bike that you will be riding off-road, you consider one with robust and long-lasting wheels and rims to enable you to enjoy your rides.
Consider the Mountain Bike’s Gears
The number of gears a mountain bike is calculated by multiplying the number of front chain rings by the number of sprockets on the cassette.
Nowadays mountain bikes are available from single gear to thirty or more gears, when looking for the best bike you should consider the number of gears it has depending on your needs.
If you are looking for a bike that you will be riding on steep valleys, climbing mountains and on rough terrains, then one with more gears is the best choice that you should consider.
However, if you are looking for a mountain bike that you will be riding only on flat terrains, or you are a strong biker, you will have to consider a bike with fewer gears which will also make you bike light giving you easy rides.
It is also important to know that bike gearing can be modified after buying a bike, to fit your needs.
Frame Material
A bicycle frame is something that can last you a lifetime. Make sure that the mountain bike you are considering has a frame made out of the material you want. Figure out if you want steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, or another exotic material. Over time, you can change all the other parts around the frame to suit your needs.
Features
Figure out any specific features you want in your mountain bike. Write them down and refer to your list when shopping for your new bike. Most people use wheel size, number of gears, type of brakes, and suspension as their main shopping features. Figure out what you want ahead of time and be prepared.
Price
Price plays a key role in every buying decision. Whether you are shopping online or at a local store, you should have a certain maximum price in mind before you start shopping. You don’t want to end up spending more than you should have. This can result in buyer’s remorse and low satisfaction with your bike as a result. As always, try to maximize the number of features and benefits you receive for the price.
Final Thoughts
The technology of mountain bikes has come a long way since they were first introduced. Modern materials continue to push the boundaries of lightweight yet incredibly strong bicycle frames. Disc brake systems and suspension are now available on mountain bikes.
But you don’t have to spend $10,000 on a mountain bike for it to be a good one you can get best mountain bikes under 1000 dollars. The ten mountain bikes reviewed above are all great mountain bikes near or below the $1000 price point. Make your buying decision based on the frame you want, features required, and price.