Best Mountain Bikes Under 500 dollars in 2017
There is no better way to enjoy the great outdoors than pedaling your mountain bike off on off-road trail and feeling 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 the top 10 best mountain bikes under 500 dollars will show why this is the case. 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 money over its lifetime.
Before you delve into the top 10 list, just check 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.
Choosing a right mountain 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.
Buyers guide of Mountain Bike
Are you very new and want to start mountain biking? Do you need details on how to choose a mountain bike? Don't worry! You will get every details and you can easily choose your mountain bike perfectly.
Contents at a glance
- Problems of not choosing the right bike
- Common mistakes or misconceptions while choosing a mountain bike
- How to choose a perfect mountain bike
- Choose the right fit
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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.
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
The Frame
Heat treating has made the aluminum frame strong enough to withstand a great deal of weight without bending or warping. This means that a biker with larger body can comfortably ride the Diamondback without worrying about the frame.
The Design
This MTB comes partially assembled and includes all the tools you need to be up and riding in a short time. Its ability to go from paved roads to rugged trails makes it excellent for all-around transportation or weekend biking treks. It's sturdy frame and different sizes makes this bike a good fit regardless of your body type.
The Perfomance
The seven-speed drivetrain is operated with trigger shifters that allow for quick response when you need to adjust for obstacles and large 26-inch tires make driving over small obstacles easy.
The 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 & Cons
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
Further Details
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.
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.
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The Design
The mountain bike comes with a metallic sky blue color frame which provide strength and reliability. If you are minimalist when it comes to branding, you may find some of the decals a little too gaudy for your taste. However, these peel off with ease and reveal shiny blue frame underneath.
The Performance
With its 29 inch wheels and 21 speed Shimano drivetrain, this bike is natural for taking climbs. While climbing down on an incline, the ride can be bumpy but this is compensated by a very comfy seat.
The combination of front disk brakes and rear caliber brakes make it a bit tricky if you have to decelerate from a high speed to a sudden stop. However, if you are moving at a more sedate pace, the brakes are reliable and consistent.
The 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 & Cons
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
Further Details
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.
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.
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The Design
The most outstanding feature is the pair of magnesium alloy wheels. Instead of the standard steel needle spokes with nipple attachments to the rim, both wheels feature a set of six magnesium alloy bladed spokes.
This serves to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the bike while reducing the overall weight. The finishing is also impressive with the mix of passion red and black colors which is certain to stand out from the crowd.
The Performance
This bike responds very intuitively to gear shifts and handle bar steering. While the rear mechanical disk brakes may require some adjustments to eliminate a distinctive squeal. Otherwise, its responsive enough.
Some users may opt to replace at least the front brakes set with a hydraulic controlled alternative, but for standard mountain-biking needs, this is not necessary.
The 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 & Cons
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
Further Details
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.
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
The Design
This bike has a smooth matte black finish, a color design that appeals to riders across different demographics.
The Performance
This is a mountain bike that is reasonably lightweight in design and engineered for performance on long cross country trails where speed and pedaling efficiency are more important than traction.
While the front suspension fork bears the distinctive craftsmanship of Schwinn, it is not robust enough to handle sudden changes in gradient smoothly.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
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
The Design
This particular version of the bike features a shiny chrome frame, comprising a set of welded aluminum alloy tubes. Whether by deliberate decision or just as evidence of tacky finishing, the arc welding marks are clearly visible at the joints. But when the frame is subjected to integrity tests, the structure is rigidly put together to withstand rough use and shocks of the inevitable falls.
The Performance
Most riders who try this mountain bike for the first time are surprised by its great comfort even when rattling over rocky outcrops, roots and potholed roads. The full suspension system serves the biggest role in guaranteeing this but the sturdy frame design is also a significant factor.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
More Details
The Design
This Diamondback mountain bike with a customized aluminum alloy frame is designed to meet the needs of women riders by Devine Designs. Specifically, it comes with extra stand over clearance to ensure almost failsafe risk for riding injuries.
The frame is painted a dark shade of indigo with lime green accents (the rims are entirely lime green). It is a delightful color scheme without any element of the ostentatious.
The Performance
This is the first Diamondback Lux sport mountain bike to feature 27.5 inch tires. This brings some extra pedaling efficiency compared with 26 inch tires but still keeping the center of gravity low enough for added stability.
The bike's SR Suntour 80mm front suspension fork complete 10 millimeter of travel to smoothen even the roughest of rides to tolerable levels.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
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
The Design
This is a mountain bike with a lightweight frame, lack of complex drivetrain and, suspension elements give it a clean flowing profile. It is also inherently stable and smooth for steering.
The Performance
If you have never fallen in love with all the trappings of drivetrain bikes and can't stomach the cantankerous nature of doohickeys like derailleurs, shifters, and cassettes.
So, this is your chance to own a classic mountain bike that does what you need it to do without necessitating rocket-launch style set-up program.
The Drivetrain
None. It is just you, the pedals and the rigid frame beneath you.
Pros & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
The tires are treaded very aggressively, offering you tractable purchase even when the ground threatens to slip beneath you at speed.
More Details
The Design
The bike is as lightweight as they come, being crafted around a high tensile strength aluminum alloy frame. Of course the distinctively wide tires give the bike an overall rugged appearance. The frame is painted a light shade of sapphire blue, and with the branding decals in black and white, the color scheme is cool and understated.
The Performance
This is not a bike designed for speed but rather stability and traction. The lightweight aluminum frame is complemented by a set of steel rigid forks for both rear and front wheels. The disc brakes are dependable and efficient too.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
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
The Design
Even if the rigidity of the frame and wheel forks is not impressive, the color scheme used to finish this bike is stunning. It is painted a shade of alabaster white and the branding is authentic.
The tubes forming the frame are angled smoothly, forming functional joints with all the bike's essential components.
The Performance
If the trail is considerably smooth and lacking in sudden changes of gradient, you will find this bike easy to steer, control and maneuver around obstacles. The handlebars are angled ergonomically, reducing the amount of stress in your lists and elbows.
The brakes can be a handful to apply but, unless you are cruising at inordinately high speeds, there is nothing about their performance that should worry you unduly.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.
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
The Design
When it comes to kids bikes, appearances can be more important than the actual performance. This bike looks as great as it performs so there is no need to fear on this account. It has a strikingly aggressive aerodynamic profile that your kid will love to flaunt.
The Performance
The bike's front suspension fork and responsive derailleurs combine to ensure great efficiency while pedaling. The ARTEC brake levers are incredibly responsive even in emergency situations.
The 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 & Cons
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.
Further Details
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.