Best Budget Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under $1000
Mountain biking is not a cheap hobby, and if you are buying your first bike, you will probably want to keep your costs to a minimum. The cost of a bike is a lot of money for anyone, especially if you aren’t sure if the hobby is for you or you aren’t cycling at an advanced level just yet.
If you look at a competitive level, mountain bikes for off-road riding or just standard mountain biking are likely to cost far more than $1000, but that shouldn’t put you off. This is a decent budget for a starter mountain bike, and you can purchase something with great features like mechanical disc brakes, rear suspension, shifters, and other components that will last you a long time and still handle some seriously rough terrain.
Unfortunately, it isn’t just as simple as deciding a budget and diving straight in with a purchase. Mountain bikes have a huge variety of features and no two models are identical. The important thing is to understand your own unique needs and preferences and we’ve set out to break down the features to make your decision as easy as possible—all without breaking the $1000 mark.
Hardtail vs. Full Suspension
These are terms you might have heard discussed in biking magazines and on product descriptions. Simply put, a hardtail means that the suspension is only on the front wheel of the bike. Full suspension means both in the front and at the back wheel too. If you hear the term “dual suspension” it is worth noting that this means exactly the same thing as full suspension.
Hardtails tend to be cheaper due to the fact there is less construction involved in only adding suspension on the front, and while some beginners opt for these, it isn’t necessary if your budget is $1000, as you can definitely purchase a good quality full suspension bike for this.
The suspension fork is a key aspect of any MTB and needs tuning to specific needs. A lot of suspension forks have different modes and allow you to switch between them. They are designed to make your life easier based on how you are riding, so there may be an uphill ‘lockout setting’ or downhill, trial, and full lock settings. Full suspension bikes are superb options for downhill riding, rocky surfaces, and trails as they can handle any bumps thrown at them, whereas a traditional hardtail might struggle.
Frame Build and Size
The frame of a mountain bike is nothing short of vital. It has a huge impact on the weight and feel of the bike. At the lower end of the market, in terms of price, anything you can find that isn’t just aluminum is a benefit. Aluminum is fine for starters, but a lot of the high-end products are now introducing carbon-based products for a huge amount of rigidity but less weight. When first introduced, people didn’t have as much confidence in carbon frames, but they certainly do now as the technology has come a long way and any fragility has gone.
Your frame should give a good strong basis for your MTB. It is the core holding everything together.
Frame size is another consideration and the height of each bike might be something you take into account when making any buying decision. There are some really handy charts out there that will help you choose your bike size based on your height and weight.
Wheel Size
Wheel Size is important but generally decided for you by industry standards. The industry has gone from using 26 inches to 29 inches and then to 27.5 inches. Ultimately, this is one less decision to have to make.
Mountain Bike Reviews
Now, on to the long-awaited reviews. We’ve picked a selection of bikes which are worth a look. Some are well under $1000 while others are close to this mark.
Cyrusher FR100 Folding Mountain Bike
Cyrusher FR100 Folding Mountain Bike
Cyrusher is an Asian brand with growing popularity around the world, especially America. The FR100 is a folding bike, which isn’t everyone’s preference, but having a bike that can fold up to a compact size does come with a huge amount of benefits.
The alloy frame of this bike may be seen as a disadvantage, but it is extremely sturdy with shock absorption in almost every possible place on the bike, allowing for flexibility. The front fork and middle frame are designed to absorb shock even in the most trying conditions and the suspension is hard to find fault with.
There is a school of thought that dismisses folding bikes, but actually, the Cyrusher is a great example of how great this technology can be. It is very easy to fold up and put in your car or take on public transport and once it has been folded out to full size, you wouldn’t really know it was a folding bike. Dual suspension on a folding bike is not something that is easy to come across, but the FR100 fits the bill.
This has 24 gear speeds on its gearbox made by Shimano systems, which means it is perfect for a wide variety of terrain and inclines. Whether you are on the way up or are going downhill, you can find a gear to suit. This bike is even popular among city bikers and commuters due to its wide range. The brilliant Shimano brake system it is suited to everything from muddy terrain to sidewalks.
This bike is designed for riders between around 1.6 meters and 1.85 meters and has 26-inch wheels. It is hard to find a downside, though an upgrade may be to choose a model which is not completely alloy such as this. It comes 90% assembled, so a little bit of finishing is required to ensure the bike is ready to take to the trails.
All-in-all, a decent option at a very good price, and if you don’t mind a bike with an aluminum frame, then the FR100 is well worth your consideration.
Diamondback Hook Complete Mountain Bike
Diamondback has such a huge range of bikes that there is always likely to be one of their products on an MTB list. We’ve selected the Hook model as one of the best models out there for beginners due to the features it packs in at such a reasonable price tag.
One of the big advantages of the Hook bike is the fact that it is available in five different sizes, so whatever height and size you are, you can find a bike that will suit you perfectly. The smaller options are ideal for youth riders.
This is another aluminum bike, which we’ve come to expect for this price tag. It weighs in at 31 lbs, which is far from the heaviest bike on the market. The Diamondback hook design is low-slung and the modern design is evident in the 27.5-inch wheels. It is great for trails and downhill biking. It handles really brilliantly with precise turning even on the tightest trails out there, but it also feels sturdy throughout.
There are eight gears on this bike, so not as many as a lot of the other products at this price range. This may be something of a disadvantage, but having eight gears does give it a fair range and is suitable for uphill and downhill riding.
Considering the price, the Diamondback has a really professional feel to it. A lot of their range is far more expensive than the Hook, which is their entry-level bike and comes with plenty to get you started.
Mongoose Stasis Comp 26-Inch Full Suspension Mountain Bicycle
Mongoose is a company with over 40 years of history-making bikes for both trail and ramp. The company was founded in a garage in California (just like all the best companies).
Something that really stands out in the Stasis is the exceptional price. One of the cheapest full suspension MTBs out there, but makes it onto our list on merit. It is very hard to find a bike with so many features at well below the $1000 mark.
The Stasis comes with a suspension frame and front suspension fork. It is perfect for almost any terrain you can throw at it and 21 speeds mean you won’t run out of gears. The gears are non-slip so even changing before maneuvers are simple and easy.
Disk brakes on both front and back give great stopping power whether going through mud or dry ground. Like many of the budget full suspension mountain bikes, this takes advantage of Shimano components such as a rear derailleur (this is what stops the gears from slipping).
This bike is a little on the heavy side—and it isn’t perfect—but when you take into account the very reasonable price this can be a great model for beginners. It is advertised as suitable for anyone over 5 feet and 3 inches, but that means you won’t get quite as comfortable as if you purchase a bike available in multiple sizes and, therefore, suited to your specific size. Mongoose may not be likely to penetrate the professional end of the market, but for affordable beginner options, this is worth a second look.
Raleigh Bikes Kodiak 1 Mountain Bike
Raleigh is a British company that has been making bikes since the 1800s. So, there is no need to worry about the heritage of this brand!
The suspension features on their Kodiak 1 are truly what make it stand out as one of the top options. It has large Weinmann U50 rims with 27.5-inch sizing. The 2.8” x 27.5” tires help with the absorption and you can really feel the suspension whilst riding. 4 inches of shock absorption on the back end can cope with even the rockiest and most challenging trails.
The gears are also impressive. Shimano shifters (yes, another brand using Shimano) give you 24 different speeds with easy switching. This, combined with Tektro hydraulic brakes, means your stopping power and control over gears is superb. This bike really lets you adapt to your environment and you can’t help but feel in control when riding.
Available in five different sizes, you can choose one appropriate for your build to get the most out of your bike. Raleigh is a great manufacturer with a rich history, and even offer a warranty on this bike so you can rest assured of its quality.
Just like many of the bikes on this list, it doesn’t come totally assembled. This can make life a little more challenging. The manufacturer estimates say that 30–120 minutes should be enough for you to get your bike ready to take out, but this is just an estimate. If you aren’t confident about doing work on your own bike, take it to a local bike shop where they will be able to get you totally up and running with no hassle. Unfortunately, this little bit of assembly is almost unavoidable no matter which bike you buy.
Raleigh’s features are impressive and the feel and control when you are on this bike mean that it is definitely one of the nicest rides you can get for under $1000, even if it will take up most of your budget.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is a lot of variation in different features and models. Unfortunately, alloy is the only material you are likely to find, but at least you know it is sturdy. If you are willing to spend a little more, you can upgrade to a carbon-based model with a little more professionalism.
The most ‘pro’ feeling model to make our list is the Raleigh Kodiak 1, and it also offers the best suspension. That’s not to say that this is definitely the model to go for. If you are looking for a cheaper model to get started with, there are full suspension bikes for a few hundred dollars that can help you to make a start, just don’t expect to be using them competitively any time soon.Choosing the right bike for you is what is important and a little consideration of what features you need will go a long way. For instance, if you are particularly short or tall, you may need to opt for a model with multiple sizes rather than a “one size fits all” type of bike.
The options above all have their merits, but you are best positioned to know which of these will suit the terrain and your needs.
