It is quite exciting for those who are fond of outdoor activities to ride to reach the peak of a mountain. In fact, mountain biking is an ideal way to discover nature and keep you fit simultaneously. It is worth investing in a great mountain bike to make the most memorable cycling experience and enjoy beautiful mountain scenes.
We are going to share a list of the best mountain bikes under $500 below for your consideration. Let's check it out!
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Top 7 Best Mountain Bikes Under $500:
1. Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike
Our first pick is a beefy bike - the Mongoose Dolomite. It stands out with all-around versatility. What makes it great is its 26 x 4 inch fat tires.
Accordingly, they excel at the traction level of the bike for stable rides with full control.
Thus, irrespective of ground conditions like muddy, snow, or wet surfaces, you are able to conquer all confidently.
Certainly, braking on challenging trails plays a crucial role, and with this bike, you can rely on the rear and front disc brakes. Particularly, not only do the brakes deliver stopping power in unstable conditions than caliper models, but they also offer you better grips to safely go downhill.
Accordingly, the bike can stop fast with no losing control to protect you in some emergency cases. On top of that, its rear derailleur with 7 speeds helps you climb hills much easier. Meanwhile, twist shifters will deliver smoothness to change gears when riding.
There is one only downside to this bike. This is its unpleasant tire smell.
Pros
Cons
2. Merax 26" Mountain Bicycle with Suspension Fork 24-Speed Mountain Bike
If you are going to use your mountain bike as a recreation on the weekend, you should consider the Merax 26 inch.
What we are impressed with this bike is that it does not compromise on safety. It is designed with 24 speeds and a lockout suspension to lower the risks of all rough terrains as well as possible accidents.
Furthermore, its Shimano shifters and derailleurs provide easy shifting gears with full control, which helps you take on different challenging terrains with no throwing off balance.
Plus, the mountain bike comes with an aluminum frame. That's why the bike is quite lightweight and durable. It highlights heat-treat finish for lower brittleness and higher hardness.
Additionally, the bike's alloy wheels are made from premium magnesium. It's safe to say this is a great strong, but lightweight mountain bike under 500.
However, it can take you a while to install the bike completely.Pros
Cons
3. Schwinn Bonafide Mountain Bike
The next spot comes to Schwinn Bonafide can work excellently out of the box.
The bike features 29-inch wheels and 2.25-inch wide knobby tires. Thanks to that, the cycle can provide ready smoothness out of all rough terrains.
Plus, the Schwinn Bonafide is equipped with a strong suspension fork, along with a lightweight and durable aluminum frame.
It can soak up all vibrations easily to give you a better riding experience.
Certainly, convenience and safety are two great paramount features to Schwinn. That's why the brand chose Shimano components for its bike. Particularly, it comes with Shimano trigger shifters and Shimano derailleurs.
You know, this combination helps the bike become much easier and smoother in gear shifting but also controllable in many terrains.
Additionally, the Schwinn Bonafide features dual mechanical disc brakes, which provide crisp quitting out on all conditions for optimal safety. On top of that, to express its confidence in the bike, Schwinn offers a five-year warranty for those who buy this bicycle.
Any cons? We have to say yes. It would be much better if the bike's cassette doesn't wobble.
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Cons
4. Mongoose Impasse Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
If you are seeking an affordable mountain bike, you could consider the Mongoose Impasse. This bike is able to roll over the most challenging conditions without any problem.
This is because it comes with a combination of large 29 inch-2.1 inch wheels and element suspension forks. Also, it features 21 speeds available and SRAM twist shifters.
Though it's not the most versatile bike, it is enough for novice riders to conquer hardcore terrains. Moreover, the bike's rear and front disc brake system provides instant stopping power along with little jarring and noise, making you feel confident when riding.
But you will need to put your water bottle on your bags as the bike does not have a holder for it.
Pros
Cons
5. Mongoose Malus Adult Fat Tire Mountain Bike
Another bike that we want to recommend to you is the Mongoose Malus. While the above bikes are mostly for novice riders, this one is slightly different. It is designed for experienced riders.
The bike comes with wide 26-inch x 4-inch fat tires, along with big rims and seven-speed gear system. It's ideal for you to ride on snow and sand, especially mountains, as it gives more balance on the trails.
And on rough terrains, the bike absorbs vibrations easily, and a well-padded saddle helps it become more comfortable to ride. And thanks to heavy-duty construction, the bike can handle heavy weight better. It can, in fact, carry a maximum weight of 300 pounds.
What we also like about this bike is its beach cruiser pedals. They are quite easy to use and soft. This feature also makes the bike different from other bikes at this price range.
That said, we have to say, this bike is a bit heavier than other competitors.
Pros
Cons
6. Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike
Like other bikes on our list, the Kent KZ2600 is also designed with a stable and lightweight aluminum frame. Therefore, you get a bike with high durability.
Plus, it does provide a full suspension that is greatly helpful in distributing weight across the frame.
Along with a coil fork, the bike can give you a comfortable riding gesture, which reduces body fatigue and your back pain.
However, it is worth noting that the MTB fork of this bike is suitable for flat terrains as it lacks pushing power when you pedal in hilly conditions, which will make you exhausted quickly.
Another highlight of this bike is its great braking system. It does well on the challenging roads due to a decent stopping force.
Pros
Cons
7. Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike
Well, with this bike, you can ride with this high timber from all the trails to the pavement.
In particular, the bike's Schwinn steel frame and full suspension fork provide a responsive and durable experience of riding on many terrains.
Moreover, it comes with a seven-speed Shimano rear derailleur and twist shifters.
Thus, the bike can bring smooth and precise gear changes in any condition.
Furthermore, the bike's rear and front brake system can provide good stopping power. Besides, its wheels are equipped with alloy rims for lightweight strength and a durable riding experience.
Finally, the Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike comes with a durable alloy crank, which offers less maintenance and steady gearing.
However, the bike would be better if it gets a better sturdiness.
Pros
Cons
Mountain bikes under 500 dollars- Buying guide
Frame material
Irrespective of your budget, you still need to consider the bike's frame material. It is important to decide if your bike is easy to ride and sturdy or not. At the rage of under $500, there are three common frame materials as follows:
Steel
If you are on a tight budget, it is worth considering a steel frame. It is quite strong and durable to deal with more challenging terrains. In turn, this kind of material is definitely heavy, which requires you to have strong arms to ride it.
Aluminum
Most bikes today come with an aluminum frame as it is affordable, durable, corrosion-proof, and lightweight. Plus, it can last for years, even under popular abuse.
Carbon fiber
We could say this is the best of the three. It is famous for its high durability and unbeatable lightness. That's why it comes with the most expensive price tag among the three.
Wheel sizes
It depends on the terrains you are about to ride your bike on frequently. There are regularly three sizes of wheels, including 26 inches, 27.5 inches, and 29 inches. You know, the bigger the wheels, the more comfort they offer. That said, if you are riding novices, you should consider 26-inch wheels as they will provide the full control for you to ride confidently.
Hardtail
Regarding the hardtail, there are certainly some affordable full suspension options out there. But unless you get a flash sale, the odds are at the price point. Thus, you will get a mountain bike with all components that can not work well or last long. So it would be better if you put attention on a bike with a hardtail.
This will provide efficiency and lightweight for your bike. Another big benefit when getting a hardtail is that it can provide you a better riding experience because it forces you to improve your skills.
Suspension
Regarding the suspension of the mountain bike, you have three choices:
- Hardtail mountain bikes with front fork suspension
- Rigid bikes without suspension
- Full suspension with rear and front fork suspensions
Certainly, full suspensions come with the highest price. If you're on a tight budget, we recommend you to go for bikes with rigid suspension as it's the most affordable but still can meet some fundamental requirements. Meanwhile, the hardtail mountain bikes are a bit better as the fork suspension will provide better shock absorption than rigid ones.
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Final Thoughts
That's all our list of our best mountain bikes under 500. We believe that these bikes will help you get a great riding experience. If you are going to buy any product above, we hope that you will have a great time with it.
And if you are still struggling to decide which bike you should choose, we recommend you to go for our first pick. This bike can provide a great riding experience and enhanced safety.
Anyway, please feel free to let us know in the comment box below if you have any further information.
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