The 10 Best Beginner Mountain Bikes of 2024

Mountain biking is the most interesting and dangerous form of biking. It is the riskiest and hardest type to try.

Many people avoid mountain biking because of the risk. Parents want their children to be safe from any serious wounds.

The thing is, as risky as MTB riding is as entertaining as it is. With the perfect training and the perfect bike, anyone can be a perfect MTB rider.

All you need is a bike and the enthusiasm to ride it hard to be an MTB rider. And, remember one thing, to make it successful, all we need is to start it.

So, if you are an MTB dreamer and want to make your dream come true, we are here with the best beginner mountain bikes.

Why? Because you can find over 1000s of beginner bikes in the market, which can make you confused to make your buying decision.

So, to help you out, we have made this list of the best ones from the vast list of beginner MTBs.

Choosing the right bike is crucial for a positive experience. With a vast array of options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why researching and comparing different models is essential. Consider factors like wheel size, frame material, suspension type, and components to find a bike that suits your riding style, terrain preferences, and budget.

Best Beginner Mountain Bikes Comparison Table

Best Beginner Mountain Bikes Review

1. Best Comfort: MOPHOTO Mountain Bike

MOPHOTO mountain bike is made from aluminum alloy and steel frame. It has a front suspension fork that absorbs bumps and will give you durable and comfy riding.

It has a 21-speed shifter that ensures smooth gear change. You can change the gear quickly on the trail when you are riding this mountain bike.

It’s a 24-26-inch wheel mountain bicycle. The front and rear disc brakes of this bike provide crisp all-condition stopping out on the trail.

MOPHOTO adult mountain bicycle shipped with required assembly tools and manual. So, you can assemble it very easily.

Key Features

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Read More: The 10 Best Mountain Bikes Under $1000 In 2024

2. Best Responsive: Schwinn S29 Mens Mountain Bike

The Schwinn S29 men’s mountain bike comes with an 18-inch aluminum-made dual-suspension frame. A front suspension fork and rear shocks are enough for ultimate bump absorption and durable trail riding.

This mountain bike features 21-speed trigger Shimano shifters. The rear and front derailleurs on this bike offer precise shifting as well as a super-wide gear range that will let you ride comfortably.

It also features alloy triple cranks and a Shimano 7-speed freewheel combine that will supply the right gearing during mountain riding.

2.1-inch wide knobby mountain tires wrap extra wide double-wall alloy rims that give you confident riding.

During speedy and confident riding the front and rear mechanical disc brakes will provide crisp stopping and steady speed control that will enhance your confidence more to mountain ride.

Key Features

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3. Best Durability: EUROBIKE Moutain Bike S7 Bicycle 21 Speed MTB

Oh my god! It’s a dually. For you, this is one of the best dual-suspension Mountain bikes on the best budget. This one is a 27.5 inches bike that fits riders 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet tall.

It’s an Aluminum framed bike with exclusive aluminum rims for extra strength and stability. Its rims are very smart fashion designs smartly designed ones.

This one is maybe a budget friendly bike you can say, but the interesting thing is it doesn’t come with the boring old-fashioned v-brakes. It comes with a smart and robust disc brake system for smooth and exact braking.

Though its low price, it has an exclusive assembly of exclusive Shimano products. The derailleurs, shifters, and other gear line components of this one are made by Shimano.

It is a hulk type bike for the price of a rat because it can carry weight up to 310 lbs. When buying this bike, you will get multiple choices because it has different color variations.

Key Features

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4. Editor’s Choice: Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike

Hardtails were introduced on the list as well as dual suspensions, now it’s time for some fatty. Yes, this one is a fat tire mountain bike with rich color variation and exclusive design.

As the fat tire mountain bikes don’t have any suspension on them and their tires work as their suspension, they need to have durable frames on them, so this one, this fat tire mountain bike comes with a durable steel frame.

It has Shimano rear derailleurs and seven-speed shifters, which makes its shifting smoothest and makes it able to climb on the uphills easily.

The added threadless headset of this bike is easily adjustable for any rider, so no tension with size issues. As this bike has fat tires, it has thick rims, the rims are fat but made with Aluminum, so very less in weight for better performance.

It has disc brakes in both front and rear along with 26-inch rear hubs for precise braking in trails of any kind in any situation.

This bike has a limited lifetime warranty and ships ready to be assembled directly.

Key Features

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5. Top Pick: Huffy Hardtail Mountain Bike

If planning a trip and do not want to take the hassle with those boring bike stands, but want to have fun riding on some rough tracks with a dual suspension MTB, then none but this one is the best of all in every aspect.

It comes with a hi-tensile durable steel hardtail frame for more strength and stability because it has a joint in the middle of this bike. This bike also has reliable stronger front and rear steel linear pull handbrakes for more security and power, which gives it consistent, and dependable stopping action on demand.

The front suspension of this bike can handle uneven terrain with ease on stone mountain riding.

Any bumps and dips encountered on your mountain path can absorb the suspension fork installed in this bike giving you a smoother-feeling ride.

It has a Shimano TZ-31 rear derailleur combined with the micro-shift twist shifter that can deliver 21 speeds on-demand for downhill riding, uphill climbing, or pure acceleration with a smooth-shifting experience.

The removable rear derailleur guard protects the bike gears from any unintentional damage.

It has 24″ X 1.95″ knobby tires that give a good grip on dirt bike paths.

The handlebar is slightly raised and straight which enables upright riding to minimize your back and shoulder strain.

There is a premium padded ATB saddle equipped with stitched sides for long-lasting comfort with quality and also an alloy quick release provides easy seat height adjustment for long or short riders.

Key Features

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6. Best Overall: Mongoose Impasse Mens Mountain Bike

Why do beginner bikes always have to be the cheaper ones? It means you are buying a mountain bike to learn it, and after learning, you will not ride it anymore on trails.

So, if you are the one who wants a bike with which he will learn and approach the pro level of MTB riding. Then, there is no better choice than this carbon fiber hardtail MTB.

This Mongoose Impasse men’s mountain bike comes with a lightweight 18-inch aluminum frame that provides durability.

The internal cable routing of this bike is well ordered.

The Mongoose Impasse HD offers 21 speeds with smooth shifting. The 29-inch wheels are the perfect fit for adult riders who are from 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 2 inches.

It is equipped with an aluminum 3-piece crankset and a threadless headset that delivers crisp steering.

The front and rear disc brakes provide extra stopping power to the riders when they are on speed riding.

The extra-large 2.35-inch tires provide extra grip and stability on mountain riding.

Key Features

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7. Best Lightweight: Schwinn Bonafide Mens Mountain Bike

Another best Bonafide Mountain Bike made with an aluminum mountain frame is available in the best of its color variation. It has high-profile double-wall 29-inch alloy rims that add durability with extra strength and make it lighter in weight.

It has a durable powerful suspension fork that soaks up bumps and provides you with a durable fun riding experience. So, you’ll get more comfort and control over the bike.

The 24-speed Shimano EZ Fire trigger shifters and front and rear Shimano derailleur system make gear changes easy, more effective, and smooth control. It also makes the bike easy to operate.

The front and rear mechanical disc braking systems installed on this bike make it stoppable in any condition. The 2.25-inch wide knobby mountain tires are ready for the bumpy terrain of this bike making it more balanced.

The alloy cranks of this bike provide steady gearing and less pesky maintenance.

This bike ships ready to be assembled.

Key Features

CLICK HERE TO BUY FROM AMAZON

8. Best Folding: VIVI Folding Electric Mountain Bike

VIVI Folding electric bicycle equipped with 350W strong high-speed brushless motor with a 36V/8Ah removable Lithium-Ion battery.

The brushless motor has a longer life span and faster acceleration that provides you strong power especially when you are climbing the mountain, and empowers you with more speed, freedom, and fun. The long-lasting battery provides enough energy for cycling on the mountain. An energy-saving system is also installed on this bike.

The frame of this folding electric bike is constructed from aviation-grade aluminum alloy, which is strong, incredibly responsive, and lightweight.

The shock front fork is made of high-strength carbon steel with a quality rear shock absorber. This double shock absorption system makes your ride more comfortable and bump-free.

This electric mountain bike has anti-slip wear-resistant thick tires and 26-inch wheels with aluminum alloy spokes that ensure greater durability as well as faster riding.

A Professional Shimano 21-speed free gear system is installed here in this powerful mountain bike. Multiple selections of speed gears ensure that you ride more smoothly on the uphill, downhill, and flat roads.

It is also equipped with front and rear mechanical disc brakes. These disc brakes are very reliable for all-weather stopping power.

For night riding there is a bright LED headlamp and a horn is equipped on this 64lbs electric bike.

You can ride this electric bicycle in any of the 3 working modes as a normal bike, as an assisted bicycle, or as an e-bike.

There is an LED 3-speed smart meter. Using these meter buttons you can choose the E-bike mode for long time travel or choose the bicycle mode for doing exercise; combining all the 3 modes would be a better choice.

This adult electric bicycle arrives 90% assembled.

Key Features

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9. Best Beginner Mountain Bike for Women: Hiland Mountain Bike

Hiland beginner mountain bike is specially designed for women. Its frame is made from aluminum. The 16-inches frame is suitable for a person who is 5 feet 1 inch to 5 feet 9 inches tall and the 16.5-inch frame is suitable for a person who is 5 feet 3 inches to 6 feet tall.

The special upper tube and small frame of this bike are more suitable for female cycling.

This bicycle is equipped with 26-inch wheels and a LOCK-OUT suspension fork that gives a great riding experience on mountain roads, forest ways, and highways.

A 24-speed gear shifter is also equipped on it that can be used for various sections of the ride and give your ride a confidence boost with control.

The brake system of this bike consists of a double-disc brake.

It shipped with 85% pre-assembled with required assembly tools.

Key Features

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10. Best Budget: Dynacraft Magna Front Shock Mountain Bike

The Dynacraft Magna mountain bike features a solid steel frame. The bike is deluxe purple painted. The design of this MTB is finished off with custom graphics with the color of navy blue, silver, and white accents.

This super tough bike is equipped with a sturdy front shock to absorb the bumps and ensure smooth riding.

This mountain bike comes with 18-speed index shifter gears giving enough choice to change the speed. The front and rear twist grip shifters are smooth and easy to use offering 3 speeds in the front and 6 speeds in the back.

With front and rear linear-pull brakes stopping is safe, instant, and dependable. For the smaller hands, front and rear levers are easily adjustable to accommodate.

There are front and rear linear-pull brakes installed here on this bike to make stopping solid, dependable, and safe.

It has a super padded seat with a quick-adjust seat post clamp to fit the rider to the bike easily.

Key Features

CLICK HERE TO BUY FROM AMAZON

Analysis and Test Results

Price vs. Performance

When buying a product, who doesn’t want to justify its price vs. its performance? When it’s a bicycle, the wish is more as this is one of the products someone is not going to buy every month.

Also, the price of the bikes is not so low that the performance can be ignored. Every person can’t buy the bikes one by one and test them to know about their performance.

Below, with the help of our expert team members, we have tested and prepared this test analysis report for our readers who have a shortage of time combining all the important things to consider.

This data chart of price vs. performance is based on the average of the markings of design, weight, frame material, brake type, and gear count.

Design

At the beginner level, the design of the bike doesn’t mean fact so much. The beginners at the first stage will not be able to determine the difference between the designs and their comfort.

With any design to learn riding is possible, but at the very beginning level, we prefer the full suspension ones.

The full suspension bikes have more resistance and balance than the hardtails and fat bikes. As beginners face a problem with balancing full suspensions are the best choice.

In this data chart below the full suspension, bikes have more markings keeping the rider’s needs in mind. Then the hardtails and the fat bikes.

Weight

Weight is the biggest issue with mountain bikes. Of all bikes, these mountain bikes must have been light in weight as they had to cross through bumpy hard trails.

The more the weight of the bike, the more difficult it becomes to handle and ride in the terrain. When giving marks to the bike, they got their rank, considering from the lightest to the heaviest.

The lightest ones got more marks than are right, but one thing is, the other ones got fewer marks because of reason. According to their type, all the designs are not the same materials and components.

According to the type, the weight of the bikes varies.

Frame Material

Mountain bikes can be found nowadays made with different materials like Aluminum, high-tensile steel, normal steel, and carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber ones are the lightest and most durable. They are high priced also. At the beginner level, it is too much to have carbon fiber bikes.

We preferred the Aluminum ones as they are lightweight, durable, and available at affordable prices. Aluminum-made bikes got the best marking on our chart, keeping every aspect in mind.

Then the carbon fiber ones and after the steel-made ones as the steel-made ones are the heaviest of all.

Brake Type

No matter what the level of the rider is. In mountain bikes, the dual disk brakes suit much. Disk brakes make the bike easily stoppable in any condition and circumstance.

And for the beginner’s disk brakes are the most reliable and perfect. The beginners have to face harder conditions as they are just learning.

Almost all the bikes we have listed have dual disk brakes as they are the chosen ones for amateur riders. All of them had the same markings.

That may feel annoying to you, but it was important to mark them as they affect the average result of price vs. performance.

Gear Count

Beginners should have less geared bikes. During mountain biking to know, smooth shifting is very important.

From all the forms of biking, mountain bikers need to know the smoothest shifting as they have to shift the gears depending on the terrain.

At the beginning level, it becomes harder for the riders to understand the gear shifting if the gear count is more in number, so less geared ones are preferred.

Here on our chart below, the bikes got the marking according to their gear count low to high.

Buying Guide

Beginner-level MTBs shouldn’t be judged by their components but by their strength and stability. At the level of the beginning, MTBs and their riders have to go through a hard time.

So, the bike must have to be stronger. Then some other important things that have to be eye on are the frame size, braking, suspension, gearing, tires, and all.

Below here you will get to know some incredible tips about buying a beginner-level MTB and some essential tips to make your Mountain Bike ride successful.

Let’s know the things important to buy a beginner MTB.

Choosing the type

MTBs come in two different types, mostly for the beginners. One is full suspension other is a hardtail.

Full suspensions are the ones with dual suspensions on the front and back. Hardtails are the ones that only have the front fork suspensions.

At the amateur level, it is good to go for the full suspensions as they are easy to balance and control on hard tracks. Also, they are considerably comfortable.

On the other hand, the hardtails are less comfortable and sometimes hard to control a hard surface. One thing is, because of having fewer components hardtails costs less than the full suspensions.

Check for the frame material.

Three frame materials are common for MTB frames Aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber. Earlier bikes were all made of steel.

Nowadays, aluminum and carbon fiber are the trends. Steel framed bikes were heavier and not perfect for MTBs. They are hard to carry and not ideal for beginners, although they are less pricey.

Beginner-level bikes don’t come with carbon fiber, mostly the pro-level bikes are the carbon fiber ones, and they are the costliest that everyone couldn’t afford.

So, Aluminum bikes would be the best choice for beginners. They come with sustainable weight, affordable prices, and mentionable strength.

Also, check for the right frame size.

Go for the disc brakes.

Like other bikes, MTBs also come with both disc and rim brakes. But, at the level of beginner, it’s better to go for the disk brakes.

Anything can happen on inexperienced hands. So, you have to be ready for any situation. And in that situation, the bike must need to be stopped.

Rim brakes don’t do so well for immediate stopping. Disk brakes are better in performance in this matter.

So, it’s wiser to go for the disk brakes.

Have the tire right-sized

When you are a beginner, the right size of your bike’s tire is significant. According to your height, the size of the tire is measured.

27 and 29er tires are now the most famous. As an amateur, it would be a better choice to go for the 27-inch tires. So, you can keep your foot comfortably on the surface.

It will also help you to resist unwanted falling.

Choose less gears

Bikes are available in different gearing options. During mountain biking, shifting the gears at the right moment is important.

But, in the very beginning, more gear can create a confusing situation for you. It’s better to have a bike with less numbers of equipment.

So, you will not get confused and will be able to learn to shift correctly.

These were some tips for you to choose your first MTB. I hope this will be helpful for you to get you your desired one. Now some useful directions by our expert to be a proper MTB rider.

To learn MTB riding better

Experts’ advice is always a better solution when trying something new. When the job is as risky as mountain biking, taking advice would be a better option. Let’s proceed in steps:

1.   Keep your body calm

First of all, keep your body free from any stress when riding. Keep your back straight and let the bike do its job. Be relaxed on curved tracks. The bike will automatically pass over it.

You may feel some hard shock while doing this; don’t let anxiety take control over you. Let the suspensions do their work and observe the shocks.

2.   Don’t lose control of the steering

In mountain biking, many of the hard terrains you have to face. Severe shocks will go over the vehicle, but always keep in mind that, don’t ever lose your control over the steering.

Keep your hands straight and move the steering in the right direction.

3.   Keep yourself balanced

Yes, whatever happens, keep yourself balanced on the bike. You don’t have the opportunity to sit all the time when riding mountain bikes like road biking.

So, keep yourself balanced and try to stand up when it needs to be to release the pressure from the bike.

4.   Work with both brakes

When riding, it is vital to keep control over the brakes integrated. Working with both brakes is very necessary.

Whenever riding, try to work with both front and rear brakes. So, you could get better control.

5.   Play with gears

MTB riding needs most of the shifting of gears. Many kinds of terrains the rider can face during mountain biking. So, smooth shifting is important.

Normally, no one will be able to shift smoothly in a day. But, keep trying and always keep the gears shifting as it needs to be. Then, things will get easier later for you.

6.   Ride in the group

Always try to ride in a group when you are in the row of newbies. At the beginning level, an incident can happen at any moment, and most importantly, mountain biking tends to be practiced in remote areas.

So, always try to have someone with you so you can find help at any moment if anything unwanted happens.

Why  you should trust us

First of all, our main focus of writing is to help our readers by giving them some useful suggestions to make their buying decision quickly.

Making a useful list of suggestions is not as easy a task as it looks. We maintain a team of experts on bikes to make things happen.

Steve J. Robin is the man who leads the team of experts. He is not only a bike expert by name but by his work. He is a passionate MTB rider and stuntman.

Steve, with his team of five, makes the list of products to suggest. They test the products; they research the products, and they review the products.

One thing is, like when it is a product like a mountain bike, it is always not possible to buy them at once. So, from time to time, the team members buy them one by one.

Some of them directly buy and test, and others check on the stores for justification and test riding.

Our team members are so stubborn that they are not satisfied with their test results, so they also go for online buyers’ reviews and YouTube videos on the products.