Updated April 10, 2021
It’s quite possible to spend a boatload of money on a mountain bike and still come away with one that leaves something to be desired. There are models, however, to be had at reasonable prices that really give you bang for the buck with performance features and quality components.
Here the aim is to point you toward such bikes that won’t require more than $1,000 of your hard-earned money. Top models in several categories have been selected as an introduction. Each is presented in a comparison table followed by descriptions, important features, photos, videos, and a fundamental buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more information on bikes, please check these reviews:
Women’s Mountain Bikes Women’s Mountain Bikes BMX Bikes Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
Best Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 of 2021
- Diamondback Atroz 2 Full Suspension Mountain Bike
- Raleigh Tokul 1 Hardtail Mountain Bike
- SAVADECK DECK300 Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike
- Diamondback El Oso Uno Steel Fat Bike
- Mongoose Tyax Expert Mountain Bike
- Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 Hardtail Mountain Bike
Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Comparison Table
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Gears | Suspension | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Diamondback Atroz 2 Full Suspension Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 1 x 9 | Full | 4.6 | $$ |
  | Raleigh Tokul 1 Hardtail Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 1 x 11 | Hardtail | 4.5 | $$ |
  | SAVADECK DECK300 Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike | Carbon Fiber | 3 x 10 | Hardtail | 4.5 | $$ |
  | Diamondback El Oso Uno Steel Fat Bike | Steel | 2 x 9 | Rigid | 4.4 | $ |
  | Mongoose Tyax Expert Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 3 x 9 | Hardtail | 4.3 | $ |
  | Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 Hardtail Mountain Bike | Aluminum | 1 x 11 | Hardtail | 4.7 | $$ |
| Photo | Bike | Frame | Drive Train | Suspension | Rating | Price |
Diamondback Atroz 2 Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Full Suspension Control & Comfort
The Diamondback Atroz 2 has the control and comfort afforded by full suspension, yet still fits into the price requirement of this review.
It comes in 3 frame sizes to suit a range of riders with fairly wide 27.5 x 2.35-inch tires to help you conquer rugged trail conditions.
The package includes a quality 9 speed Shimano Acera drivetrain and shifters along with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for premium level stopping power.
Available in an eye-catching satin blue color, your satisfaction is ensured by a substantial warranty.
- Sizes: S – 16-inch, M – 18-inch, L – 20-inch (for riders 5’4” to 6’1”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 aluminum
- Suspension: full, front – SR Suntour XCM 120mm Travel, rear – SR Suntour Raidon-R Air Shock
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.35-inch WTB Vigilante
- Rims: double-wall alloy, 32 hole
- Gears: 9 speed Shimano Acera derailleur and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
- Color: satin blue
- Warranty: 5-year warranty on the front triangle, 1-year warranty on the swingarm
- Price: $$
Raleigh Tokul 1 Hardtail Mountain Bike
Good for Technical Trails
The Raleigh Tokul 1 Hardtail Mountain Bike is a hardtail that has a rugged lightweight 6061 aluminum frame designed with trail geometry and a quality front suspension great for technical trails.
Available in 4 sizes to suit a wide range of riders, it comes with an 11 speed SRAM drivetrain and has wide 27.5-inch x 2.6-inch Vee Crown Gem tires and an SR Suntour fork with 130mm of travel to take you comfortably over the bumps and provide traction.
Tektro hydraulic brakes deliver precise stopping capability.
The pricing comes in right around the limit imposed by the title of this review.
Ask for details concerning the frame warranty.
- Sizes: S – 15-inch, M – 17-inch, L – 19-inch, XL – 21-inch (for riders 5’4” to 6’4”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 heat-treated aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, SR Suntour XCR 34 coil spring – 130mm travel
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.6-inch
- Rims: double-wall alloy
- Gears: 11 speed SRAM NX drivetrain and trigger shifter
- Brakes: front and rear Tektro M275 hydraulic disc brakes
- Front and rear through axles
- Color: dark grey
- Warranty: frame warranty, 30-day returns
- Price: $$
View More From Raleigh Bicycles
SAVADECK DECK300 Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike
Bargain-Priced Carbon Fiber Adventure Bike
The SAVADECK DECK300 Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike comes in 3 frame and 3 wheel-size combinations to suit a range of men and women.
Made of lightweight and durable T800 carbon fiber it has a 3 x 10 Shimano drivetrain for plenty of gearing options on your next adventure ride.
It’s a hardtail design with SR Suntour hydraulic front suspension to absorb the bumps and Shimano mechanical disc brakes for stopping power.
Available in a range of colors, the pricing is excellent for a carbon fiber bike with so much to offer.
- Sizes: 15.5-inch, 17-inch, 19-inch (for men and women)
- Frame/Fork Material: T800 carbon fiber
- Suspension: hardtail, SR Suntour hydraulic fork – 100mm travel
- Tires: 26-inch, 27.5-inch, 29-inch
- Rims: double-wall alloy
- Gears: 30 speed Shimano front and rear derailleurs and shift lever
- Brakes: front and rear Shimano mechanical disc brakes
- Leather saddle with memory foam
- Color: black/blue, green, white
- Price: $$
Diamondback El Oso Uno Steel Fat Bike
Durable Steel Fat Bike
Here’s the Diamondback El Oso Uno, a rigid suspension steel-framed fat bike for a change of pace from the other hardtail, full suspension, and lightweight MTBs reviewed.
A little heavy, it nonetheless provides excellent traction on a variety of surfaces and is comparatively much more capable on softer ones like sand and mud.
The low-inflation wide tires deliver a pretty smooth ride over bumps even without any suspension.
Performance is enhanced by a quality 2 x 9 Shimano drivetrain and Tektro Novella mechanical disc brakes, and it comes in 3 sizes to fit riders from 5‘4” to 6’1”.
Pricing is quite reasonable and the durability of the frame is assured with a limited lifetime warranty.
- Sizes: S – 16-inch, M – 18-inch, L – 20-inch (for riders 5’4” to 6’1”)
- Frame/Fork Material: heat-treated steel
- Suspension: rigid (none)
- Tires: 26-inch x 4-inch Chaoyang Cruiser tires
- Rims: single-wall alloy
- Gears: 18 speed Shimano drivetrain and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Tektro Novella mechanical disc brakes
- Color: black
- Warranty: limited lifetime on the frame
- Price: $
Mongoose Tyax Expert Mountain Bike
Reasonably Priced Hardtail Trail Bike
The Mongoose Tyax Expert Mountain Bike is a hardtail cross-country MTB with a durable lightweight aluminum frame.
The 27 speed Shimano drivetrain offers versatility and the Suntour air suspension front fork with 100mm travel smooths out the ride.
It has hydraulic disc brakes for precision stopping and 3 frame sizes to suit a range of body sizes to go with the 27.5-inch wheels.
Mongoose also makes a 29-inch version.
For this very reasonable price, it has a lot to offer.
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Frame/Fork Material: Mongoose XC aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, SR Suntour XCR air suspension fork with 100mm travel, lockout, and rebound adjust
- Tires: 27.5-inch x 2.1-inch Kenda Small Block Eight tires
- Rims: double-wall alloy with 32 holes
- Gears: 27 speed Shimano drivetrain and trigger shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Hayes Dyno hydraulic disc brakes
- Color: black
- Price: $
Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 Hardtail Mountain Bike
29er Hardtail Cross-Country MTB
Diamondback refers to the Overdrive 29 2 Hardtail Mountain Bike as the classic 29er hardtail.
As the middle-level model in their line, it is priced to meet our $1,000 cut-off and has a nice package of quality components.
The frame is made of lightweight and durable high-quality 6061 aluminum that is combined with a Rockshox front suspension with 100mm travel to cushion the ride.
The 11 speed SRAM drivetrain and shifters will effectively get you up and down over the trail and the 29er tires make the rocks and logs encountered easier to cross, while Shimano hydraulic brakes provide crisp stopping power.
The Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 comes in 4 frame sizes from 16 to 22 inches for unisex riders from 5‘4” to 6’4” and is backed by a limited lifetime warranty on the frame.
- Sizes: S – 16-inch, M – 18-inch, L – 20-inch XL – 22-inch (for riders 5’4” to 6’4”)
- Frame/Fork Material: 6061 T6 aluminum
- Suspension: hardtail, Rockshox Reba RL, 100mm travel
- Tires: 29-inch x 2.1-inch Vee Rubber Mission
- Rims: double-wall alloy, 32 hole
- Gears: 11 speed SRAM GX derailleur and shifters
- Brakes: front and rear Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
- Color: red gloss
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty on the frame
- Price: $$
Mountain Bikes Under $1,000 Buying Guide
Frame Materials
For bikes $1,000 and below in price aluminum and steel are usually employed in the frame but occasionally it is possible to find carbon fiber, as well.
- Aluminum is lightweight, cheap, and easy to manufacture. The downside is that it is fairly rigid and doesn’t absorb bumps well so that the ride feels a little harsher. It also fatigues faster than carbon fiber or steel and the welds may crack over time.
- Steel is the heaviest by far of the three and more expensive than aluminum but is quite durable over a long period of time and tough.
- Carbon fiber is the lightest and the best quality versions quite durable. Unfortunately, it is usually much more expensive and rarely appears on models under $1,000, although the SAVADECK DECK300 bike reviewed above is an exception to that.
Suspension
Most mountain bikes under $1,000 will have suspension on the front fork equipped to smooth out your ride on moderately bumpy trails. You can expect for the price that the suspension may offer up to around 120mm of travel. (Travel refers to the distance that the suspension moves when absorbing shock). For seriously bumpy technical riding you will need more. Bikes with front suspension only are called hardtails.
When there is a rear shock absorber as well the bike is said to be a full-suspension bike. Not many bikes in this price range are equipped with rear shock absorption and when they are it usually involves other components that are downgraded to meet the price point. In this review, one full-suspension model is included, the Diamondback Atroz 2 Full Suspension Mountain Bike.
A bike that has no front or rear suspension is referred to as rigid. Fat bikes are often designed that way. They can get away without shock absorbers due to the width and low-inflation pressures of the tires that have shock absorption qualities built-in. Bike Suspension Basics
Wheel Size
Choosing a bike with a wheel size suitable for you should be based mainly on the type of riding you plan to do and secondarily on your size.
- 29-inch wheels are effective for cross-country riding and can deliver good performance for uphill and downhill activities but won’t be as maneuverable as smaller wheels. Taller riders often find the fit more comfortable.
- 27.5-inch wheels are more maneuverable and suitable for more technical narrower trails. Similarly, smaller riders will find it easier to use than a 29er.
- 26-inch wheels are the old mountain bike standard that has mostly gone by the wayside now that the larger tires have become more popular due to improvement in stability, traction, and rollover. They are still the size used for fat bikes which can benefit from the maneuverability afforded. A few other models do still offer 26-inch versions like the SAVADECK DECK300 which is aimed at smaller riders.
Brakes
Disc brakes are the standard on mountain bikes in this $1,000 price range. They provide much better-stopping power than the old linear-pull brakes that are still found on many cheaper models. Disc brakes come in two versions.
Of the two, mechanical disc brakes are less expensive but reliable. Hydraulic disc brakes have more control and sensitivity and require less adjustment for pad wear but are more expensive. Mechanical Versus Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Drivetrain/Gears
The drivetrain is the complete mechanism that you use to move forward when you pedal. It will have one or more chainrings or gears in the front and a cassette of cogs or gears in the back. In the specifications when you see an indication of 1 x 11, that means there is one chainring in the front and 11 cogs in the rear for a total of 11 gears. If those numbers are 3 x 8, that means there are 3 chainrings and 8 cogs for a total of 24 possible gear combinations. Tips for Using Bike Gears
For more information on bikes, please check these reviews:
Women’s Mountain Bikes Women’s Mountain Bikes BMX Bikes Budget Mountain Bikes Fat Bikes Single Speed Bikes Beach Cruisers
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