Feb 8, 2010
What Is The Best Affordable Mountain Bike Brand?
My definition of affordable would be anywhere from $150 to $250. Which bike brand do you think would be best for mountain biking, and which do you think is the fastest overall? I know that this question is hard to answer, but what is your personal favorite?
If’n all you want to spend is $250 then i’d say go to craigslist and hopefully find a good bike within a 3 hour drive that fits. new you’ll need $500 to get a good mt bike. trek, gary fisher, specialized, giant, cannondale, marin, kona, iron horse – they’re all good bikes. the bike you do not want is a “next” or any bike that walmart sells.
Um, this really doesn’t answer your question but I want to put this in perspective.
First, bikes in your price range could never be considered “mountain bikes”. They are, instead, called “utility bikes” or “sport bikes” which are intended for riding on the road and offroad on groomed trails… definitely not for riding in rough terrain or what is called cross country or all-mountain. It doesn’t matter if they have shocks or anything else, they are not mountain bikes.
Now, to prices:
In the 1870’s when the modern “safety” bicycle (a bike with 2 wheels the same size) was first introduced, a bike cost about $81 which was 3 MONTHS pay on average.
Today, the average bike costs $470 which is 1 1/2 WEEKS pay if you make $8 an hour.
So, although I would never expect you to spend 3 months pay on a bike (although I have done it once or twice), less than 2 weeks pay doesn’t sound so bad, does it? Give up one coffee or soda per day for a year and you have your money back.
Regarding speed, it all has to do with the motor which is YOU. Performance can be improved with a better bike, but not even the best bike can pedal itself.
I don’t really understand your second question. Which do you think is the fastest overall.
For 150-250 you can probably buy an Iron Horse. They’re tough as hell and come with good components. But I warn you, for 150-250, you can’t do much jumps. You can do tricks like wheelie manual hops and so on, but no drops, your rim will bend.
My personal favorites are Giant, Specialized and Jamis. Usually I just buy a good frame from one of these companies and buy my own components and ask for my local bike store to assemble it for me since I bad at doing those things. I can only repair.
Luck!
For that price range you would get a bike at Walmart or Costco. You are wasting your dollars on a bike in that price range anyways.
If you are willing to spend atleast twice that amount or triple that amount….which is what a sensible individual who actually values his time on the bike would spend and still considered to be on a low budget, then I recommend Kona or Marin bikes.
My favourite brand of mountain bike is Giant. Of all the bikes I’ve had it’s the one that has been the most reliable and easiest to maintain.
you wont find find anything but deparment store crap at that price,id look for a cannondale but those start around $400