Best Mountain Bikes Under 500 dollars in 2017
There is no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than pedaling your mountain bike on off-road trail and feel the wind in your hair. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to raid a bank for affording the best mountain bikes under 500 dollars.
This list of top 10 best mountain bikes under 500 dollars will show you details. While the list is not by any means definitive, it helps you to select a mountain bike which suits your needs and delivers excellent value for the money over its lifetime.
Before you delve into further details, just take a look on table of content. Believe me, it's a huge article & you will going to learn detail information about best mountain bikes under 500 dollars. So, take a cup of coffee and start learning.
Buyers guide of Mountain Bike
Choosing a right mountain bike is the most important part. There is lots of difficulties and misconception on how to choose your ideal mountain bike as per your need. That's why we write a buyers guide that is specially written for mountain bike.
Contents at a glance
- Problems of not choosing the right bike
- Common mistakes while choosing a mountain bike
- How to choose a perfect mountain bike
- Choose the right fit
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So, why you are waiting? Let's start learning. We have been trying to improve the quality and keep the information updated. This will not waste your time.
Here is our list of the best mountain bikes under 500 dollars in 2017. It should be noted that each bike's position in the list does not denote its relative ranking in comparison with the other bikes.
First Top 5 Mountain Bikes' Quick Comparison
Name | Type | Rating | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
Diamondback Sorrento Mountain Bike | Hardtail | 4.5 | |
Kent Thruster Excalibur Women's Mountain Bike | Hardtail and women's bike | 3.2 | |
Merax Finiss 26 Aluminum 21 Mountain Bike | Hardtail | 4.0 | |
Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike | Hardtail and Men's bike | 3.6 | |
Mongoose Men's Detour Mountain Bike | Hardtail and Men's bike | 3.7 |
1. Diamondback Sorrento Mountain Bike –The Most Versatile Mountain Bike
This bike aims to be an affordable alternative to the higher-priced bikes on the market. The makes believe the same high-quality features can be had without costing a fortune.
Listening to what consumers wanted, the bike now features several frame sizes so everyone from the smallest person to larger riders can find a comfortable size. High-quality, strong frame and double-rimmed tires add durability.
Further Details
Add in the trigger gear shifters and this adds up to a bike that rivals many of the higher-priced entry-level bikes on today's market.
More Details
- Frame
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The ride is smooth regardless of whether you choose to ride across town on paved roads or spend your day navigating rocky mountain paths. Besides, the rims work in tandem with the wheels, which makes the ride even smoother.
Pros
- An inexpensive choice, even with quality features
- Five frame sizes make it fit perfectly
Cons
- Most customer want to replace the seat since its little uncomfortable
- The brakes that are included wear out quickly and need to be replaced sooner than expected
- Pedals are somewhat slippery and need something to make it grip better
2. Kent Thruster Women's Mountain Bike - Best Bang for your Buck
If you consider the value of money for the best mountain bikes under 500, this bike offer from Kent is a good option for you. Featuring an aluminum frame and alloy crown front suspension fork, it is a well balanced bike that performs tolerably well on all terrains and trail conditions.
Further Details
You may be deceived to think that it's a bike lacking in features and performance if you considered it by it's price. But on a closer look, you will notice that it has some quality components those usually on mountain bikes in the expensive price range.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
This bike comes with a 21-Speed Shimano gearing system with a twin set of highly responsive Tourney Shifters. With such a drivetrain, you will be able to ascend on any incline with ease and accelerate on more even terrain with great ease.
Pros
- It combines structural strength, functional efficiency and top self aesthetics
- Natural choice bike for woman because it's specially designed for woman mountain biker.
Cons
- Not very good when you come upon a downward incline
- Heavier than other frame's bike
3. Merax Finiss 26” Wheel Mountain Bike - Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
If you are just getting started, this distinctive 26 inch wheel aluminum frame bike with 21-speed Shimano derailleurs and shifters will prove a great purchase.
Further Details
The manufacturer has gone to great lengths to ensure a bike that is lightweight and intuitive enough to suit the needs of a beginner with just the right level of versatility to appeal to more experienced riders.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The bike's Shimano EF51 21 Speed drivetrain is a highly adaptable system for tackling inclines and terrains with plenty of loose dirt or mud.
You can also trust the front suspension fork that is made of heat treated aluminum alloy, complete with mechanical lockout feature; to offer balance, intuitive control and response to sudden changes in the terrain including rocky outcrops or ruts.
Pros
- Front suspension fork delivers extra performance without calling for extra exertion on your part
- Comes with a lockout feature on suspension fork
Cons
- The instruction booklet provide general instructions for a all Merax mountain bike
- For newbie, assembling may seems difficult
4. Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bicycle - The Best Mountain Bike for Cross Country Riding
The Schwinn brand is renowned for quality, performance and dependability. This bike's frame is specially designed for that. However, the front suspension and the braking system are not "top shelf" if you catch the drift.
This means if you are dealing with a terrain with plenty of sudden change in gradient, you are going to suffer. But that said, you shouldn't expect more from a bike with such a budget friendly price tag.
Further Details
However, the 21 speed rear derailleur with SRAM twist shifters makes effortless speeding and the tires offer sufficient grip to take you through moderately inclined terrain without a fuss.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The Shimano 21 speed rear derailleur is widely considered among the best performance drivetrain component for mountain bikes. Control is achieved through a set of SRAM twist shifters.
Pros
- The bike offers one of the most intuitive gear shifting mechanisms of the bikes reviewed here.
- It comes with one of the most effortless acceleration and deceleration mechanisms in the business.
Cons
- The bike's linear pull breaks tend to be cantankerous and even when you tune them well.
5. Mongoose Men's Detour Mountain Bike - The Most Affordable Full Suspension Mountain Bike
This is the only full suspension mountain bike to feature in this guide and with plenty of good options too. Under normal circumstances, a mountain bike needs a rigid rear to give balanced performance on all terrains and offer improved traction.
Further Details
Mongoose has blown this piece of conventional wisdom right out of the water by coupling the full suspension system with an innovative three-piece crank which makes climbing uphill a more effortless task for you on the pedals.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The bike's 21 speed Shimano rear derailleur offers incredible control on all forms of terrain. To switch gears you have at your disposal a set of SRAM twist shifters, enhanced for immediate response.
Pros
- It's three piece crank allows greater pedaling efficiency and allow maneuverability round corners and obstacles on the trail.
Cons
- No suspension lockout mechanism, manual or automatic, greatly diminishes the versatility of this bike.
Last Top 5 Mountain Bikes' Quick Comparison
Name | Type | Rating | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
Diamondback Lux Women's Mountain Bike | Hardtail and Women's Bike | 4.2 | |
Nashbar Single Speed 29er Mountain Bike | Hardtail and single speed bike | 4.1 | |
GMC Yukon Fat Mountain Bike | Hardtail and Fat tire bike | 3.9 | |
Granite Peak 26-Inch Ladies mountain bike | Hardtail and Women's bike | 3.8 | |
HASA Kids Mountain Bike | Full Suspension and kid's bike | 4.8 |
6. Diamondback Women's Lux Hardtail Mountain Bike - The Best for Competition Level Trail Riding
This is a well balanced hardtail mountain bike meant to meet the needs of the women riders who want extra performance for competition level riding. It is therefore adequately lightweight and provides a number of performance features you usually find on high end bikes.
Further Details
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
With this mountain bike's Shimano 24-speed drivetrain, you have all eventualities covered. The gear shifting is performed using a set of Shimano Altus M310 Rapidfire twist shifters.
They are so intuitively responsive that you will be able to react to any changes in gradient or terrain conditions with effortless one touch action.
Pros
- The tires are well treaded and will offer great traction on slippery or uneven terrain.
Cons
- The rear derailleurs are not only difficult to align but are of much inferior quality.
7. Nashbar Single-Speed 29er - The Best Low Maintenance Mountain Bike under 500
If you are looking for a low maintenance, robustly built, and, allowing hours of hard riding mountain bike, you could not find a better choice than this single speed, 29er Nashbar bike.
Further Details
The no-frills aluminum frame bike is lightweight and show resilience on uneven terrain. It is available in all frame sizes from small to extra-large so you can opt for your size.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
None. It is just you, the pedals and the rigid frame beneath you.
Pros
- The performance of this bike comes from the sturdy and traction efficient tires.
- It comes with well balanced and sturdy frame.
Cons
- The pedals are angled somewhat awry and will prove slip-prone for aggressive cyclists.
8. GMC Yukon Fat Bike – The Best Mountain Bike for Winter Rides
Riding out on off-road trails littered with snow and frost calls for an altogether different kind of mountain bike. As the name suggests, this Yukon Fat Bike comes with a pair of extra wide, 4-inch tires to handle the demands of traction-deficient winter trails.
Further Details
The tires are treaded very aggressively, offering you tractable purchase even when the ground threatens to slip beneath you at speed.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The GMC Yukon Fat bike comes with a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain, a rear derailleur of the same brand and controlled by a set of Shimano RevoShift SL-RS25 twist shifters.
Pros
- There are three words to describe the performance of this bike: traction, traction and traction. You could literally ride it blindfolded on an uneven snow trail and go for a mile still upright.
Cons
- This bike accelerates pretty dismally. While it is true that outright speed is not the hallmark quality of fat tire bikes, this bike's gear shifting mechanism is not up to scratch.
9. Granite Peak 26" Ladies Mountain Bike – Best for Occasional Off-road Riding Experience
Built with convenience rather than performance in mind, this is a very budget friendly mountain bike. It has a rugged steel frame which, even if adequately strong, adds a considerable amount of weight to the overall package.
Further Details
While it would be a stretch to call it an entry level mountain bike, it is nonetheless adequate to meet the needs of the occasional off-road biker who does not need a machine tooled for performance or resilience.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
The 18-speed Shimano is a laudable feature as it makes up for the rigidity of the frame and the bare minimum leeway offered by the suspension fork. The twist style SRAM shifters could do with a little smoother locking but they are sufficient for most users.
Pros
- The price this bike is as pocket friendly as you are ever going to get, even with perfunctory steel frame.
- And it would be a disservice not to mention the tasteful alabaster-white paint job as a rather fetching feature.
Cons
- The linear pull brakes are pretty intractable especially when moving at top speeds.
10. HASA Kids Mountain Bike - Lightweight Kid's Bike With Adult level Performance
Many parents who buy run-of-the-mill kids bikes soon realize that going out on an excursion together as a family is barely practical. With most standard bikes lacking high performance suspension and impractical drivetrains, the young ones in the group will have to pedal twice as hard to keep up with the more adequately shod adults, especially when tackling inclines.
Further Details
The HASA kids 21 speed mountain bike with a 14 inch aluminum alloy frame does not have this drawback. It is designed for adult level performance while retaining a lightweight, easily maneuverable profile suitable for kids between 9 and 12 years of age.
More Details
- Design
- performance
- drivetrain
Fitted with the Shimano 21-speed drivetrain and suspension, this is a bike which guarantees intuitive control whether on an incline or riding through more even surface. Its set of SHIMANO TZ-30 twist shifters guarantee very responsive acceleration and maneuverability too.
Pros
- The robust gear system to thank for this including the very responsive twist shifters.
Cons
- The tires lack aggressive treading for tackling low grip terrain conditions.
Our #1 Recommended Best Mountain Bike Under 500 dollars
As our comprehensive review shows, the task of picking the best mountain bike under 500 dollars is neither easy nor straightforward.
But as we set out in our criterion for establishing the true worth of a mountain bike, the best that offers the balance of features and performance as outlined at the beginning: Diamondback Sorrento Mountain Bike.
It is available in different frame sizes to suit the needs of the entire family and boasts of a rich set of performance features and elements.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the objective of compiling this guide was to offer you insightful recommendations for the best mountain bikes under 500 dollars this year. I strove to ensure that the guide offered as much variety as possible to suit every cyclist's needs.
However, you need not take my word for it. All the bikes featured here are available for immediate shipping directly from the Amazon.com online store.
There you can access even more details including full specification sheets, customer reviews and ratings as well as the latest discount deals. Whichever mountain bike ends up being your choice, let 2017 be a year of conquering the horizon with a solid machine beneath you and the wind in your hair.
