Mountain biking is a fantastic way to get some great exercise while exploring the great outdoors.
It’s also a good way to see parts of your surrounding area that you might not ever see. But, to do it right you’ll need to first invest in a good, high-quality mountain bike.
That’s exactly where we come in. In this article, we’re going to give you the information you need to know about selecting the best mountain bikes.
‘ll also review the best mountain bikes that are currently available on the market today. Before going much further we’ll say right now that our choice for the best mountain bike is BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5 Mountain Bike.
A Spotlight On Some of The Best Mountain Bikes 2019
Our Reviews of the Best Mountain Bikes:
Our Review of the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21
We are starting our reviews of the best mountain bikes with the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21. We have plenty of reasons we’re including this bike on our list of the best mountain bikes.
The first thing we should mention is that the suspension system on the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 is fantastic. This is important because when it comes to high-quality mountain bikes a good suspension system is essential. And the suspension system on this bike is exactly that.
It contributes greatly to absorbing shock while keeping you steady, even when you’re on really rough surfaces. Some might dislike that it’s not a dual-suspension, although the single suspension functions perfectly well and it’s easily capable of handling difficult terrain.
Unless you’re riding on some extremely severe bike trails, the Vilano 26″ Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 suspension will be more than sufficient. It even has a lockout suspension which makes pedaling while going uphill much easier.
The brakes that are on the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 are also really good.
They are the mechanical disc brake type. There are quite a few different types of brakes being sold, however, mechanical disc brakes are consistently rated to be some of the best because they ensure that you’ll have the ability to stop quickly with very minimal effort.
We certainly don’t think there is any need to explain why having high-quality brakes is important on a mountain bike.
The Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 comes with 26″ wheels.
This can be a bit of a double-edged sword. While some riders won’t like the fact that this bike has smaller wheels, because this makes riding tough terrain a little bit more difficult, Others will appreciate and enjoy the small wheels because they cost less, and make steering the bike much easier.
We list this feature of the Vilano 26″ Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 as a positive and at the same time acknowledge that some will not see it that way.
Overall the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 is really an outstanding mountain bike. The small wheels give you maneuverability and mobility, while the brakes and suspension system make this bike very well suited for even the roughest terrain.
These factors make the Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 very deserving of being on our list of the best mountain bikes.
The Pros:
– The outstanding hardtail suspension system.
– It comes standard with high-quality, mechanical disc brakes.
– The maneuverable 26″ wheels.
The Cons:
– The Vilano 26” Mountain Bike Ridge 2.0 MTB 21 can be a bit tricky when it comes to assembly.
– There isn’t anywhere to store any extra gear.
Our Review of the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike
If the previous bike was not your preferred style of mountain bike, then you might like this one. The Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike.
To begin with, it comes with 27.5″ wheels. What this actually means is that the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike fits right in the middle of smaller mountain bikes with 26″ wheels and bikes that have bigger 29″ wheels.
This kind of gives you the best of both of those worlds. On one hand, you get the maneuverability and speed of having small wheels. While on the other hand you also get the capability to handle rough terrain like when you ride a larger mountain bike.
The trade-off for having both of these is that it does not exactly excel at either of the two, but a lot of mountain bike riders will truly appreciate the balance that comes along with having both.
If you know a thing or two about mountain bikes you might know what the term hardtail means, as it’s used in the bikes name. If you’re one who doesn’t it means the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike has a front-only suspension system.
This too has some downsides as well, but generally speaking, hardtail suspensions are well suited for most mountain biking trails.
They are quite capable of handling all except the absolutely most challenging trails. They also have their own set of advantages as well. One of their advantages is they require much less maintenance.
One other outstanding feature of the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike actually has little to nothing to do with the bike, but rather the company that makes it. The Diamondback company enjoys a great reputation in the mountain biking community for providing great customer service.
If you ever have any issues with your bike or you happen to be struggling with assembly all you have to do is contact their support staff over the telephone or via online chat and you’ll get immediate and helpful assistance.
The last thing we have to mention about the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike is that it is extremely easy to assemble.
You’ll very likely have no problems at all putting the Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike together, even if assembling things is not exactly your favorite thing to do. The instructions are really quite simple, and it’s actually delivered mostly already assembled.
The Pros:
– The Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike comes with access to the outstanding Diamondback customer service.
– The wheel size is perfect for striking a nice balance between power and speed.
– The outstanding hardtail suspension.
– Assembly is super easy with this bike.
The Con:
– You’ll probably need to replace the tires fairly often.
Our Review of the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike
To this point, each of the mountain bikes on our list of the best mountain bikes has been priced at the lower end of the price range scale, with each costing less than $500.
We thought it would just make sense to include a couple of mountain bikes that fall into the higher end of the scale.
That is definitely what the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike does. But, while it does certainly cost a bit more the high-quality of the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike more than makes it worth it.
To begin with the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike has a carbon fiber frame. Mountain bikes typically have either steel alloy or aluminum frames.
Each of these materials has their own advantages and disadvantages. The big advantage of carbon fiber is that it is light and maneuverable like aluminum, while also being strong like steel. This is one of the biggest positive aspects of the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike.
The outstanding quality of the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike is also visible in the brakes and suspension system.
It comes with very well-made hidden disc brakes. As well as an Air Fork Suspension. With components that are this high-quality, it’s certainly easy to understand why the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike cost quite a bit more.
To put it simply, the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike is an amazingly high-quality mountain bike and one that anyone who is looking to purchase a new bike should consider purchasing.
The Pros:
– The extremely high-quality construction.
– The carbon fiber frame.
– The BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike comes with hidden disc brakes.
The Con:
– The BEIOU Carbon Fiber 27.5” Mountain Bike is priced on the high end.
Our review of the Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike
The next bike we’re reviewing on our list of the best mountain bikes is the Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike, the second entry from Diamondback. If you’re in the market looking for a mobile, lightweight mountain bike option then this is the bike you want.
It has a super high-quality aluminum frame.
While aluminum may not be the most durable way to go, there is no questioning the fact that it is very light.
Riding a bike with an aluminum frame will allow you to get your speed up when riding trails. The Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike is perfectly designed to minimize weight which allows you to maximize your speed.
Do not make the mistake of thinking that because the Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike is lightweight it is somehow not suitable for serious mountain biking. With an 8-speed drivetrain, it can very easily carry you over some pretty heavy duty riding trails.
That, coupled with the hardtail suspension system that it comes with makes the Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike one that any serious rider cannot overlook.
Just like with the previous Diamondback bike we reviewed you also get access the great Diamondback customer service department with the purchase of the Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike. Since we’ve already explained why this is a big plus we won’t cover that again here.
The Pros:
– The extremely light all aluminum frame.
– It is designed for speed.
– The high-quality hardtail suspension.
– The Diamondback Overdrive 29” Hardtail Mountain Bike comes with an 8-speed drivetrain.
– Full access to the outstanding Diamondback customer service.
The Con:
– It does not have a very comfortable seat. You might want to replace it immediately upon purchase.
Our Review of the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike
The last bike we’re going to review on our list of the best mountain bikes is the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike. In a lot of ways, this bike is the exact opposite of the bike we just finished reviewing above from Diamondback. However, they both deserve to be on our list of the best mountain bikes.
The Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike puts great emphasis on power rather than speed. It has a strong, durable steel frame. This is good because the steel frame helps to absorb much of the shock when you’re riding on rough trails that have a lot of bumps.
Another unique feature of the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike, along with being really strong is the well-made, durable tires.
The tires help a lot when riding on uneven, rocky terrain that other bikes would struggle with a lot. The tires will also function quite well in a number weather conditions, including both rain and snow.
We also have to mention that the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike comes with 7 speeds. Anyone who knows even a little bit about mountain biking will know that having a good variety of gears is critical to being able to navigate difficult terrain.
The Pros:
– The outstanding steel frame.
– The steel of the Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Bike absorbs jolts and shock very well.
– The high-quality all weather tires.
– It comes with 7-speeds.
– It is very affordable.
The Con:
– It is an extremely heavy bike.
The Mountain Bikers Buying Guide
We feel pretty certain that everyone who reads it will find a mountain bike that they’d like on our list of the best mountain bikes, but we don’t want to just stop there. Understanding that there will be some who will not like or agree with any of the bikes we’ve chosen.
So, just to help those of you who feel this way out we’ve gone ahead and created a handy buyers guide. Within the buyers’ guide, we go over some of the more important aspects that need to be considered as you shop for a new mountain bike.
Even though purchasing a mountain bike is no different than purchasing any other bike there are a few differences noted here that even veteran mountain bikers are sure to find helpful.
Size of the Tires
Even though people may debate just what the most important factor is when purchasing a mountain bike, you’ll often be hard-pressed to come across anyone who doesn’t look at tire size as being one of the most significant things to think about when choosing a new mountain bike.
It’s because tire size carries a pretty noticeable effect on the way a bike handles as well as what type of surfaces the mountain bike is capable of dealing with.
When it comes to size, mountain bike tires will typically range from 26” to 29”. With each tire size having distinct good and bad points. Small tires are much easier to maneuver and they’re cheaper.
When you’re mountain biking mobility and maneuverability are vitally important and so this is one reason small tires are a good thing. Although 26″ tires are commonly what is being referred to when the term small tire is used there are also 27″ tires that this same small tire logic applies to as well.
Bikes with large tires are better on difficult terrain. They are better at handling more difficult terrain than small tires. Just depending on the type of mountain bike riding you’ll be doing at some point you’re going to have issues with regard to the terrain.
Some of the trails you find to ride will be well maintained and some definitely won’t.
When you’re on trails that are not very well maintained having larger tires will help you greatly at overcoming obstacles.
Beware that bigger tires have their downside as well. For example, 29″ tires tend to be very heavy. Tires of this size will also make steering your bike much more difficult. And bikes with 29″ inch tires cost a lot more.
Suspension System
The importance of a mountain bike’s suspension system is not widely understood by many casual mountain bikers. A good suspension system will help greatly by absorbing a lot of the shock that is generated when riding over rough terrain.
Bikers that generally only ride on smooth flat pavement don’t have very much reason to consider the suspension system. But, for those who ride bike trails, the suspension system is very important. There are basically three types of suspension systems.
You should generally avoid mountain bikes that do not have a suspension system. A bike without a suspension system will make for a really uncomfortable mountain biking experience.
Those mountain bikes with one suspension are referred to as hardtail bikes. This is the most popular option and it does provide a relatively comfortable ride when on rough trails.
If you need a mountain bike that can handle any terrain you’re going to need to purchase a bike that has a dual-suspension.
A bike with a dual-suspension has suspensions on the front and the back of the mountain bike. This makes the bike a bit heavier and also cost more, but you will be able to conquer virtually any mountain bike trail.
In Conclusion
This concludes our reviews of the best mountain bikes and buyers guide. We certainly hope that you find some value in this article.
If you have questions about shopping for a mountain bike that we didn’t cover here please let us know.