As any cycling enthusiast would attest, there is something very liberating about cycling on a mountain bike such as the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B Mountain Bike. Maybe it’s the wind singing in your ears. Or the fire in your calves as you trudge uphill. Or maybe, it’s the sweet triumph knowing you’ve just bested a mountain, on your bicycle no less.
Top Pick: BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B Mountain Bike
Ever since we tried to balance on our first two wheels, crying for our parents not to let go, every single cycling milestone has been a moment of celebration. Maybe you have just realized that you can cycle in places other than the city streets. Maybe your friends are suggesting an outdoor weekend getaway. Maybe you’ve been riding your whole life and you are looking to upgrade your road bike to a mountain bike. Maybe you are a hardcore cycling enthusiast or an athlete. Regardless of who you are we have tried to curate a list of mountain bikes out of which we are sure you can find a perfect one for you.
Buying a mountain bike is a serious deal. Unlike your regular everyday bike, a mountain bike has to be safer and sturdier. It should be able to carry you over boulders, water streams, gravel and grass. One little defect in the brakes could lead you to having serious injuries. The wheels have to be dense, the frame solid, the suspension good and the brakes faultless.
Just like in everything else, in the cycle industry as well, the market for mountain bikes is enormous. There are well known brands which customers keep on returning to, elite brands only the most hardcore cyclists can afford, new names with great technology and smaller price tags. Browse through our list and see which one hits your sweet spot.
BEIOU is a relatively new name in bicycle manufacturing. However, they have indeed made their mark with bicycles such as our top pick. This mountain bike certainly is not cheap to buy. But compared to other mountain bikes which cost more than twice as this one, the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B Mountain Bike is great value for money. It’s a great pick for a mid-range bike for someone looking to upgrade their old bicycle into something new and advanced.
Customers who bought this bicycle on Amazon had only good things to say about it. Because of the carbon fiber it is made from, our top pick is lightweight but it’s extremely strong.
Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro Complete All Mountain Full Suspension Bike
Ah! What a step up pick this is. The Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro Mountain Bike is a masterpiece. It’s a genius piece of engineering and technology. At a staggering and jaw dropping price, it is worth every penny you spend on it. At a casual glance, one might be tempted to ask whether any bicycle (which is essentially two wheels on a chain) warrants this kind of a price. And the answer is yes. It does. The Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro Complete All Mountain Full Suspension Bike is built for all terrains. Whether you are cycling uphill on a ragged mountain, or if you are cycling through wet marshy land, this is the bike for you. The only setback is the price, which is why this bike is our step-up pick and not our top pick.
2016 Gravity FSX 1.0 Dual Suspension Mountain Bike Shimano Acera Suntour
Our budget pick, the Gravity FSX is a great entry level mountain bike. It is a great pick for anyone who’s just getting into serious biking.
As we mentioned, we have picked for you bikes from beginner level to high end to browse through.
What is a Mountain Bike?
A mountain bike (MTB) is also called an all-terrain bike (ATB). Mountain bikes are bikes specially manufactured for off road cycling. The difference between a road cycle and a mountain bike is that the mountain bike has a sturdier frame, special wheels and usually gears and speed settings.
If you only ride in the city or mainly on paved roads, mountain bikes are not the choice for you. They are great for hilly terrains, muddy fields, forests, single tracks, mountain trails and other similar places. If you are planning to ride in any of the above places, it can be extremely dangerous riding a road bike instead of a mountain bike.
A Few Choice Words
When speaking about mountain bikes there are few names and words which keep repeating. Some of them are indications of a good bike. Some of them are just technical terms. We have rallied up some names and words which would pop out throughout the article just to give you a feel of what we are talking about. A more comprehensive guide to cycling terms can be found in this glossary.
1. Shimano:
Shimano is a Japanese company founded by Shozaburo Shimano in 1922. They are the world’s leading bike component maker. They contribute to 50% of the world’s bicycle component market. Shimano components are known to be reliable as all good Japanese biking components are. If you find that a certain mountain bike you like has Shimano components it is a sure bet that it is a good bike. Shimano manufactures various mountain bike group sets as mentioned in this Wikipedia article.
2. Carbon fiber, steel, aluminum and titanium
For a very long time, bicycle frames were made using steel or steel alloys. Then came aluminum frames. Carbon fiber frames are a relatively new innovation and have been the craze among cyclists in the recent past. However, lately, bicycle manufacturers are reverting to making bicycle frames with steel and aluminum again. All three materials have their distinctive advantages. For instance, steel is known to be sturdier and carbon fiber is known to be lighter.
You can read more about the comparison between steel, aluminum and carbon fiber in this quora article.
If you want something even better than steel, aluminum or carbon fiber, recent innovations in metal alloys have made it possible to use titanium as a material for building bicycle frames. Bikes made from titanium are top of the line and are much more expensive than the others.
3. Hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes
As you read our article, you will notice that we talk about two kinds of mountain bikes, hardtail and full suspension. A hardtail bike is a mountain bike with a single solid frame and a front suspension fork. As opposed to the hardtail bike, a full suspension bike consists of two triangular pieces joined by pivots with.
It is generally agreed that full suspension bikes are more suitable if where you are cycling is very hilly and bumpy, but in the end, the choice always comes down to personal preference.
Our Trailing Grounds
There are all kinds of mountain bikes in the market. There are hardtails and full suspension bikes. There are different frames. Some with 30 gears, and some others with 20. Some with Shimano components, some others with Suntour components. It can be very hard to decide how to pick a good mountain bike.
To make this easier for you to pick one, and to illustrate how we narrowed down our list to one top pick, we used a general criteria with a few simple rules.
1. Suspension type.
Depending on the trail you want to ride, the suspension of the bike can be very important. We completely disregarded the suspension-less rigid mountain bikes in our search, and concentrated our efforts on hardtail and full suspension bikes.
2. Wheel size
When it comes to how far and how fast you can go, the wheel size of the bike plays a crucial part. We chose bikes between 25′ to 29′ in our search.
3. Bicycle frame material
Bicycle frames are made from steel, aluminum, carbon fiber or titanium. We didn’t include the very top end titanium frames in our search, because they are mainly only used by the top athletes and the general layman cannot afford them.
4. Gears, brakes and other components
We also checked how many speed settings/gears each bicycle has, the brand name of the company making the components and the kind of brakes the bicycle has, For example, we checked if the bicycle in question has disk brakes, rim brakes or hydraulic brakes.
Our top pick
Top Pick: BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B Mountain Bike
Our top pick has a lot going for it. Let’s start with the frame. The BEIOU 650B is made with carbon fiber. This is a huge deal because most hardtail bikes (which our top pick is) have frames made of aluminum or steel. The carbon fiber frame composed of T800 carbon makes this mountain bike ultralight, barely 24lb when fully assembled. Carbon fiber frames are also known to be more durable than their steel or aluminum competitors. Which means that this bike will hold up beautifully even when the going gets tough.
The BEIOU carbon fiber 650B comes with dal disk brakes which are state of the art. They have a hydraulic disk brakes system supplemented with Shimano M355 for the 17′ frame and Tektro HD-M285 for the 19′ frame.
Now you know our top pick is light weight, it’s durable and it’s got great brakes. How about speed? This mountain bike has got a SHIMANO DEORE 610 speed control system with 3*10 speeds. With this bike, you will feel like you’re flying over the mountains. The 27.5′ wheels are packed with carbon hubs and MAXXIS 27.5*1.95 60TPI’tires.
Let’s now talk about the price. For a carbon fiber hardtail mountain bike with all the accruements we just mentioned, the price doesn’t possibly get better than this. This bike is a sweet deal for any rider.
What’s more, even though the bike is shipped to you from China, you will find that it reaches you as soon as 7 days from order. BEIOU is also known to have superb customer service. They would get back to you within an hour from your complaint (if there is one) and either make a refund depending on the defect you’ve found or send you new parts.
Flaws but not deal breakers
This bike does not have many flaws for obvious reasons. If you were nitpicking, you might find the seat the bike comes with a little hard for your liking and needs changing. In addition, the pedals which are issued with the bike are fairly standard issue pedals. If you plan on cycling frequently, you might want to consider investing in a pair of pedals which match your specifications.
However, these are the only drawbacks we were able to come across and they are certainly not deal breakers.
Our Step Up Pick
Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro Complete All Mountain Full Suspension Bike
There is no doubt that our step up pick will take you to cycling heaven. Our step up pick this time around is the Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro. Diamondback is well known and celebrated for their great bikes. And the best thing about Diamondback is that they seem to have a bicycle for everyone, within a vast range of prices. Our step up pick fits into the higher end of this range.
Anyone who has seen or experienced the beauty that is the Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro will agree that it is one amazing ride. It is an upgrade from their 2015 version of the same name, everything made better and more streamlined.
The Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro is a great mountain bike for all terrains. Whether it is the high jumps and steep descents that give you the kicks, or whether you like to trudge through muddy sludge of a drying river this is the perfect bike for you. It will jump when you will it to. It will turn when you want it to. It will not bend. It will not let you down. This is why the Diamondback 2016 Mission Pro Mountain bike has been hailed a beast machine.
The frame of the Diamondback 2016 Mission pro is aluminum, specially crafted by Diamondback for low weight and high tensile strength. It is equipped with Shimano components for speed control and has hydraulic brakes. The 27.5′ wheels are great for any kind of terrain you want to cycle in. This mountain bike will remain stable and fast no matter what condition you put it in.
Our Budget Pick
2016 Gravity FSX 1.0 Dual Suspension Mountain Bike Shimano Acera Suntour
As we said in our intro, our budget mountain bike pick, the Gravity FSX is a great mountain bike for a beginner all-terrain biker. The Gravity FSX is easy on your wallet, but completely surpasses what you pay to acquire it.
The Gravity FSX comes equipped with front and rear disk brakes and Shimano speed control components. The Shimano components make sure that speed changes are easy and smooth. The frame of this bike is aluminum alloy 6061 which is known for its low weight and high strength. For an entry level mountain bike, it certainly is better than any mountain bike you could buy at the department store.
Sun Cycles, the company which sells the Gravity FSX 1.0 is also known to have excellent customer service.
Mountain Bikes for the Newbie
We looked at a whole range of mountain bikes, so that we can bring to you a list of the best. Let us start from some of the best bikes for a low price range. When we say low, we don’t mean department store low, but something we can assure you is good and is great value for money.
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s dual suspension mountain bike
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
The Schwinn Protocol is a great mountain bike with an aluminum frame and Shimano speed shifters. It is sold as an all-terrain mountain bike. However from our experience we can tell you that this bike is a good entry level bike that is good for single tracks and easier terrains.
However, here’s why it’s great. Because of the aluminum frame, this is a lightweight bike. This also means that the shock absorption also works great. For someone just starting out as a mountain biker, this bike will pave the way to gaining experience with a sturdy, durable mountain bike.
Diamondback Bicycles Sorrento Hard Tail
Diamondback Bicycles Sorrento Hard Tail Complete Mountain Bike
The second mountain bike in our mountain bikes for newbie list is the Diamondback Sorrento. As we have already established, Diamondback makes some awesome bikes. Even though the Sorrento Hard Tail is on the other end from our step up pick, it is also no exception to that fact.
The Diamondback Sorrento Hard Tail also comes with an aluminum frame and a Shimano derailleur and gears. It is also very solid in construction and is very comfortable. Because of the shimano components, and the quality of the frame, the bike’s shock absorption works great. For a newbie mountaineer biker, who is casually getting into biking and looking to cycle in easier terrains, this bike is quite a bargain.
Diamondback 2015 Overdrive Sport Hardtail
Diamondback Bicycles 2015 Overdrive Sport Hard Tail Complete Mountain Bike
This is a hand built, aluminum frame hard tail mountain bike with Shimano gears and brakes to round up the design.
GMC Topkick Dual Suspension Mountain bike
GMC Topkick Dual Suspension Mountain bike
The next mountain bike on our list, the GMC Topkick is also a mountain bike with an aluminum frame. It also has 21 speed controls and full suspension and is fitted with a Shimano TZ-30GS derailleur.
The push button indexed shifters for the 21 speeds are easy to use and the derailleur makes the shifting a piece of cake. Having disk brakes makes this bike a good one for cycling in both wet and dry areas.
More Than a Budget Pick
Upland X90 26 inch Hardtail Mountain Bike
Upland X90 26 inch Hardtail Mountain Bike
The next mountain bike we are about to introduce to you is slightly more expensive than the ones we’ve just shown you. Converse to the increase in the price, it also comes better equipped and with improved gadgets.
Upland is a fairly new name in the biking industry. It is a Chinese made bicycle that is being sold in the USA by America Golden Wheel Bicycles. The point that most attracts cyclists to buy the Upland X90 is the fact for the relatively low price you pay, what you get is par with a bike much more expensive.
This hardtail bike not only looks good, but it also rides smoothly and is made with the best of materials. If you need another incentive to take a look at this bike, consider the great customer service by Golden Wheel Bicycles a bonus. Their customer service has been raved about by their customers who claim it a pleasure to do business with them.
High End Mountain Bikes
BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Hardtail MTB Shimano M610
BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Hardtail MTB Shimano M610
The first one of this list is another BEIOU mountain bike. Truth be told, the more we rode BEIOU mountain bikes, the more we fell in love with this brand. Their bikes are great for the novice and the pro alike. They are smooth to ride and because most of them have advanced speed settings, you can go either slow or fast depending on the landscape you find yourself in. This BEIOU is not any different.
The BEIOU Carbon Fiber M610 is quite similar to our top pick, the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B. This is a hard tail mountain bike with a Shimano M610 Deroe system and 30 speed settings. It is also an ultralight bike only weighting 10.8kg. The great thing about this bike that has everyone raving about it is that for the price you pay it is quite comparable to a very expensive bike, such a Trek or Giant. Without having to pay a lot of extra money for a brand name, with this bike you get the same great quality. The added bonus is the great customer service of BEIOU we previously talked about.
Adamant Double Wall Alloy X5 Mountain Bike
Adamant Double Wall Alloy X5 Mountain Bike
The next mountain bike on the list comes from a bike brand we haven’t talked about before, Adamant. The Adamant Double Wall Alloy X5 Mountain Bike is made with a strong and durable aluminum alloy. This mountain bike is lightweight and as is the custom of best mountain bikes, is fitted with a Shimano 24-speed TX-800 drive train and Zoom disk brakes.
When you buy the Adamant Double Wall Alloy X5 Mountain Bike, it comes to you 95% assembled with solid construction. This bike is a great buy for someone who does riding in the city and goes off mountain biking. It is easy to ride both on city streets and gravel or rocky surfaces. With this bike, both ascents and descents will be very easy to handle. If you are looking to just gear up your mountain biking game, this is the bike for you.
Rocky Mountain Instinct 950BC Edition Mountain Bike 2015
Rocky Mountain Instinct 950BC Edition Mountain Bike 2015
The last mountain bike we are going to introduce to you is a mountain bike for professionals. The Rocky Mountain Instinct 950BC is great for biking marathons as much as for off trail cycling. While there is a new 2016 version of this bike, we chose the 2015 version because it has been proven time and time again what an amazing cycling experience can be had with this bike.
Rocky mountain bikes come with their own trademarked RIDE-9 system which lets the rider tune the geometry and suspension of the bike to suit the terrain he is riding in. The Rocky Mountain Instinct 950BC Edition Mountain Bike 2015 comes in sizes from S to XXL ensuring that anyone can find a mountain bike with a great fit. The frame is also trademarked and is made with FORM’ 7005 Series Custom Hydroformed Alloy. The brakes, brake levers, shifters, and both front and rear derailleurs of this bike are of Shimano make.
As mentioned in the renowned bike magazine Enduro’s article on Rocky Mountain bikes this bike is a great cult buy for any serious mountain biking enthusiast.
Trailing to the End
For any discerning cycling aficionado, there is no bigger rush of endorphins than trailing on a good mountain bike down a treacherous terrain. But for a newbie this is no easy task to accomplish. However, whether you are a novice mountain biker, someone wanting shift from a regular BMX to a good mountain bike or if on you free time there is nothing you’d like more than to hit the trail, we hope you found something to suit your needs in our list.
Our top pick for the day, the BEIOU Carbon Fiber 650B Mountain Bike is great find. It’s better than the money you pay for it. It’s not expensive enough to put you off considering it. It’s not cheap enough for you to think that it won’t be technologically fine. In fact our top pick, is an all-rounder mountain bike which we are sure will be a delightful find for, well, you.