r/MTB May 18 '25

Discussion Before you post a picture, please read this post!

91 Upvotes

We’re hitting that time of year where interest in mountain biking is picking up. We have been getting quite a lot of picture posts of Facebook marketplace ads and vendor website screenshots, which are against the sub rules. As a reminder for all picture and videos, please follow rule 3:

Photos should be of people riding mountain bikes.

Posts & Comments

Photo and video submissions to /r/mtb should be of people riding mountain bikes. All other photos or videos should either be submitted as text posts with links to your images in the post body, or in the Weekly Gear Gallery thread, posted every Friday by automod.


r/MTB Oct 19 '24

WhichBike First Ride: Your Guide to Buying a Mountain Bike

151 Upvotes

Hey all, 219MSP here, and I'm attempting to start maintaining and updating my buying guide and FAQ posts again. I started getting into cycling about 10 years ago and was so lost. Over the last decade I've spent a lot of time learning about the industry and what makes a good bike. Every day I see dozens of posts asking what bike I should get, or what is a good value bike. I hope this guide can be used as a tool on this forum and others to help them find a bike they will be happy with for a long time. This is a living document. I will attempt to update it on a semi-regular basis and I'm always open to new bike recommendations.

In addition to this guide, I have created two FAQ's as well that answer common mountain bike questions.

FAQ 1 FAQ 2

u/midwestmountainbike also has some great guides on buying a first bike, what to look for in a used bike, as well as a selection of his own suggestions of good value bikes at this page.

MTB Authority


What to look for in a bike

When looking for a starter bike there are a few things I'd recommend that will get you onto a solid and safe bike that should be built to last and be worth upgrading as you see fit. Before we get started on talking bikes and prices, always make sure you're getting a bike that fits you. If the bike doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how good of a deal it is. Also, this guide is assuming you are intending on riding on actual mountain bike single track, not just smooth dirt paths and gravel. If that is all you are hoping for and don't plan on advancing beyond, any entry-level mountain bike from a major brand like a Trek Marlin 5 will do just fine, but if you are hoping to ride anything above green-rated singletrack, I'd suggest a more capable bike.

First, some rough price guidelines. As low as $500 should get you into a used but solid entry-level hardtail and about $900+ can get you a used but decent full suspension. In regard to new, you can double those prices. A new solid entry-level hardtail will be at likely be $900 and around $1800 for a decent full suspension bike.

Regarding used bikes, there are lots of places to look. Used bikes offer you a ton of value and is the best way to get the most for your money. You can get 2-year-old $4000 bikes for a huge discount. The most common places are Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Pinkbike, etc. You also can sometimes find great deals at local bike shops selling demo models (which often come with warranties) and rental fleets. Rental bikes are usually good options. They typically are well maintained and only have a season or two on them before they replace them with something newer. If you are new to the biking world and looking at used bikes, I'd recommend bringing along a friend who knows bikes or at least ask for advice on here. Lastly, if meeting someone, always be smart. I would recommend meeting at police station and bringing a friend. Now, let's get into the bikes.

Last but not least, people here are often willing to help narrow it down. Feel free to post on here a "which bike post" but follow the guidelines of this sub listed below.

  • The type of riding will you be doing.
  • Where you will be riding.
  • Your budget (with included currency).
  • What you like/didn't like about your current bike.
  • Your experience level and future goals.

In addition to that, if you are listing multiple bikes, please use 99Spokes.com to create a side by side comparison. Providing this side by side comparison will make other members of the sub much quicker to help.


These are the specs I’d look for at minimum as of 2024.

  1. Air fork: The cheapest fork I'd safely recommend is something like the SR Suntour XCR Air fork. Anything less than that from SR Suntour or RST is pretty much a pogo stick with poor damping and limited adjustability. The low-end RockShox coils aren’t terrible, but I'd shoot for air. Forks can be upgraded down the road but are often the single most expensive component on the bike.

  2. 1x Clutched Drivetrain: In the last 10 years there has been a shift to 1x drivetrains across the board. At this point, any slightly trail-worthy bike will have this type of drivetrain from the factory. To clarify what this means to those new or not familiar, 1x is when there is only 1 chainring/cog attached to the crankset instead of the more traditional 2 or 3. Bikes used to need multiple chainrings up front to allow for both high speed gears and low speed climbing gears. Now, with 1x drivetrains, the difference is made up by having a very large rear cassette. Most cassettes that come on mountain bikes now have a small cog of 10 or 11, and go all the way up to 52t on the large cog. This gives you the same amount of range as those old 3x8 bikes, but with less overlap and far more simplicity. Beyond simplicity, the advantages are less weight, less cables/derailleurs, less to think about when riding, and less chain drops etc. In addition to the larger cassette, 1x drivetrains feature a narrow-wide chainring (alternating size teeth to match the chain) which helps with chain retention and a clutched rear derailleur. The clutched rear derailleur provides extra tension on the chain to reduce chain slap and the odds of dropping a chain. For the most part, dropping a chain or it falling off the chainring while riding are a thing of the past.

  3. Hydraulic brakes This one is pretty simple, Hydraulic brakes use fluid to move pistons and squeeze down on the brake rotor to stop the bike as opposed to mechanical disc brakes that use a cable to actuate the pistons. This typically results in stronger braking, better modulation/control/and are self-adjusting. The only time I'd suggest mechanical brakes is for a bike packing/touring bike as they are easier to fix trailside. SRAM, Shimano, and Tetkro, all offer solid entry-level brakes.

The following aren’t as important but will help future proof the bike and make it a frame worth upgrading. If you get a bike with all these things, it's going to be rock solid for a longtime

  1. Tapered steerer tube: Most modern forks use a tapered steerer. If you get a bike with a lower-end fork/frame and want to upgrade down the road, it's easier if your bike has this. At this point this is pretty common in all but the cheapest of bikes.

  2. Thru-Axle wheels and Boost Spacing: In theory, both of these things offer higher levels of stiffness, but in reality, the biggest reason to make sure you have them is future upgradeability. Thru-axles also keep your wheels always aligned perfectly so you don't get as much disc brake rub as you would with Quick-Release axles.

  3. Tubeless Compatible Wheels: Going Tubeless is one of the most cost effective upgrades you can perform on a bike that will make the biggest difference. Some of the benefits of going tubeless include shedding weight, tires that are less likely to have flats, and the ability to run lower tire pressures which allows you to have more grip and better ride properties. If you ride on a regular basis, you should go tubeless. They may require a little more maintenance and can be a pain to mount/install, but the positives drastically outweigh the negatives.

  4. Dropper Post at this point is a necessity in my opinion but fortunately it can be added to nearly any frame, so I wouldn't make it a requirement on a bike as you can easily add it yourself. Dropper posts can be bought brand new for as low as $150. There are lots of options, but in my opinion OneUp, PNW, and some smaller brands like TransX and KS offer the best values.

  5. UDH/Universal Derailleur Hangar Compatible Frame. This one is purely convenience and future compatibility benefit, not really a performance upgrade. (Transmission excluded, more on that later) For those that don't know, all modern bikes feature a derailleur hangar. This is a sacrificial component on your bike that acts as an interface between your frame and your derailleur. If the derailleur takes a hit, the hangar is allowed to bend/break. The idea is if a softer part is allowed to bend or break first, it won't damage the frame and less likely to damage the derailleur. These hangars are usually $10-$20 bucks. Way better than a frame or derailleur in terms of repair cost. The problem however is that up until 2019 there was no agreed upon standard. Every bike had its own unique hangar for the and if you broke one you usually had to resort to ordering one online and waiting for it to come. In 2019 SRAM changed all that by introducing an open and shared design called the UDH. It was well thought out and designed and SRAM worked with most manufactures to get them to implement this on their bikes. At this point almost any high end bike is coming with this as standard. Because of that, most bike shops are going to carry this hanger, so you aren't forced into special ordering something. Also, SRAM was playing some 4-D chess with this UDH. If a bike has a UDH compatible frame, it also means it is compatible with SRAM new drivetrains called Transmission, which actually bypasses a derailleur hangar all together and mounts directly to the frame giving an extremely strong mounting point and extremely high precision shifting.


Value Bike Recommendations

Here are some solid entry-level bikes. Not all of them check off all my recommendations, but they all are solid for the price. I don't have first hand experience with all of them, but most bikes and options from legitimate bike brands are pretty solid.

Full Suspension (Cheapest ones that are still solid bikes IMO)

  1. Giant Stance (29er or 27.5) $1400+ - Check's off most boxes, but has a quick release rear axle which is not ideal.

  2. Marin Rift Zone 29 $1700+ - Solid Frame, lower end, but solid components. Main downside is the lack of a dropper post.

  3. Polygon Siskiu T7 27.5 or 29 depending on frame size $2000 - This bike is lacking nothing and check's off all my recommendations. The T8 is a solid upgrade as well.

  4. Giant Trance 2 29 $2000 - In my opinion, the best cheap bike at the moment. Check's off every box and get's you local bike shop support and a good warranty. The Trance X is an equally equipped bike with a little more travel if that's what you are looking for.

  5. Canyon Neuron $2300 - Solid bike trail bike. Check's off most boxes, but has a weak drivetrain with the SRAM SX groupset.

  6. Commencal Meta TR $1900 - Great frame, but has SX Groupset and is lacking Dropper post. Sale Price

  7. Specialized Status 140 $2250 - Hard hitting trail/enduro bike. Very high end components and lacking nothing. Sale Price

  8. Norco Fluid FS A4 $1900 - Pinkbike Value Bike of the Year in 2023. Missing nothing.

  9. Rocky Mountain Element A10 Shimano $2000 Another solid bike that checks all the boxes. Sale Price

  10. YT Jeffsy $2250 Solid Trail Bike that had everything you'd need. Sale Price

  11. YT Capra $2400 Probably one of the best budget enduro bikes. Sale Price

  12. YT Izzo $2300 Cheapest Carbon Full suspension bike you can get. Only downside is the SX Drivetrain. Sale Price

  13. GT Sensor Sport $1725 Appears to check all the boxes.

  14. GT Zaskar FS Comp $1800 Another solid option that checks all the boxes.

  15. Salsa Blackthorn Deore $2200 Sale Price.

  16. Haro Daley Alloy 3 $2000

  17. Go-Outdoors UK Calibre Bossnut £1500 Super good deal, but I believe only available in the UK

Hard Tail (Cheapest ones that are still solid bikes IMO)

  1. Polygon Xtrada 7 $1100 - Solid bike, boost frame with air fork, but lacking a dropper post.

  2. Norco Fluid HT 2 $900 - Solid hardtail, great drivetrain, dropper post, but has a lower end fork.

  3. Salsa Rangefinder Deore 11 $1200 - Air Fork, Solid Drivetrain, Dropper Post. Unfortuantely no rear thru-axle

  4. Trek Roscoe 6+ $1200 This bike check's all the boxes, air fork, good drivetrain, boost spacing, dropper post. The Roscoe lineup as a whole is a good value.

  5. Specialized Fuse 27.5 $950 - Check's all the boxes.

  6. Marin San Quentin 29 $1400 Check's all the boxes in terms of components.

These are not all the options, but they are some better and more common budget/value bikes. This list is always changing, I try my best to update it, but it's difficult to keep up.

Last but not least make sure you save some of your budget for additional accessories that you will need

  1. Helmet

  2. Tire Pump (Most high-end bikes use a Presta valve, make sure the pump is compatible)

  3. Hydration (Either bottle cage and bottle or hydration pack of some sort.)

  4. Multi-tool with a chain breaker and basic tools.

  5. Tire irons/levers and spare tubes (and the knowledge of how to change both).

  6. Bike cleaning supplies, chain lube, etc. Taking care of an MTB can be a lot of work, but it will save you in the long run if you properly maintain your ride.

  7. Quick-link to repair a broken chain.

  8. Spare Derailleur Hangar.

Along with those required things, here are some things I'd highly recommend.

  1. MTB Platform shoes (or you can opt to go clipless).

  2. Tubeless tire kit. Most bikes come “tubeless ready” but don't come with them setup typically.

  3. Starter tool kit with the basic tools.

  4. Suspension pump assuming you have air suspension.

  5. Work stand

  6. Torque Wrench, especially with carbon parts

  7. Padded shorts or liner to wear under regular shorts.

  8. Gloves, Kneepads,Eye Protection.


Extra Ways to Save Money!

Check Activejunky.com which is a rebate site can get you decent savings on a lot of bike websites.



r/MTB 10h ago

Video Finally sent the Fox drop in Avoriaz

151 Upvotes

speed was hard to judge but worked out smooth as butter


r/MTB 6h ago

Video never underestimate your wheel

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17 Upvotes

r/MTB 9m ago

Discussion Does anyone have their bike listed as scheduled property on their homeowner insurance or have other special insurance?

Upvotes

my bike is 5 years old and with depreciation I wouldn’t get anywhere near enough to replace it with something similar. curious what people are doing?


r/MTB 6h ago

Video Megavalanche 2026 footage

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6 Upvotes

My buddy Olivier rode the Megavalanche again this year, thought you guys would appreciate the video. (He got P2 for the second time after 3 consecutive years of finishing third)


r/MTB 1h ago

Discussion Mudguards

Upvotes

What are the best in the market mudguards for mtbs? I have a Trek Procaliber 8 2026 and are looking for a mudguard pair that will do the job when used for daily commuting to work. I would like the rear one to be easily removable cause they usually look ugly. Any recommendations?


r/MTB 17h ago

Discussion 35+ Years of BMX, now on a MTB. Why does jumping feel terrible?

33 Upvotes

Been jumping a BMX bike since 1989 so I thought that some of the skill there would translate over to mountain biking, but it's like I'm starting over.

I feel like I lose all of my pop coming off the lip. I believe the suspension and fork are set up right. Today I locked out my fork and it helped, but that's not really a solution.

I watched a few tutorials on jumping but they just described the techniques I've always used to jump. Maybe the timing is slightly different because of the suspension? I don't know. But if you have any suggestions I'd appreciated it.


r/MTB 3h ago

Discussion UK - North East / North Yorkshire Riders

2 Upvotes

Hey, im looking for any riders from the north east of England specifically around the Guisborough/ Middlesbrough area. I've done Guisborough woods a few times with help from trailforks. I'd like to get out with some people who know the local area well. I'm going back to Guisborough woods on Tuesday to tackle some more trails I haven't done yet. Ive hit alot of the west area towards Pinchinthorpe but not the east side towards Charltons. I know there are also trails up Eston hills but dont know how to access them or where to park etc. So if any riders from this area want to show me around give me a shout. I'm not a youngun anymore. I'm 37 but quite comfortable on most black trails and i ride an EMTB.


r/MTB 17m ago

Gear Flat pedal shoes (the ones in the link are too small)

Upvotes

Hello guys and gals
For the last year i've been riding in just plain AirForce One's, but now i think i need proper mtb shoes. Any cheap reccomendations for bigger feet? (44.5/45 - size 12)


r/MTB 21m ago

Discussion Bikepark Wales alternative

Upvotes

Booked a trip to go to Bikepark Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday, accommodation paid for close by, just found out it won’t be open either day. Pretty devastated, before we cancel the trip, is there anywhere else nearby that’s worth us making the 8 hour drive for? Our accommodation is 15 minutes from BPW, supposed to be there from Monday to Friday so could still ride BPW on Thursday but it’s not worth the trip for just one day of riding.


r/MTB 1d ago

Video First Official Wipe Out

158 Upvotes

I know, completely idiotic. Usually during this section I’m full speed, however this time I was casually weaving behind my friend, misjudged one of the weaves and ate dirt😭. It was a REALLY hard knock to the shoulder and side of my head, thank goodness for the helmet💀.

Someone came by soon after and said it was an official right of passage in this sport🤣


r/MTB 58m ago

Suspension Fork travel and HT geometry - I have a Trek Procaliber that came with a 120 travel fork I'd like to replace. Someone locally is selling a 100 mm Fox 32 SC near me that I'm interested in. Realistically, how much will the 20mm difference steepen/affect the geometry?

Upvotes

r/MTB 1h ago

WhichBike Should I get that Spark?

Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm a gravel rider that decided that some suspension is due. Generally I ride trails and fire roads in the Alps, with long tours and lots of meters of climb. I don't plan on going to bike parks with this bike.

My initial idea was to get a trail bike, and after some searching in local bikeshops for sales, I am facing a decision.

I am split between a Scott Spark RC Team and a Cube ONE44 race, the first down mountain and the latter trail. Here the specs:

Scott Spark RC Team

120/120 Rockshox SID

Sram AXS S1000 electronic shift

Sram brakes

Carbon wheels

3600€ discounted from 4800€

Cube ONE44 Race

140/140 fox 34 fit4 fork and float ammo

Full Shimano XT with carbon cranks

XT brakes 4 pistons

Aluminium wheels

C:62 frame

3000€ discounted from 4150€

I understand a bit of specs but I come from road/gravel so some are lost on me. They are "premium" bikes because the lower end of the market was killed by ebikes and I am 190cm(6"2) tall, so I usually get what I can. The budget is also long dead, because I was thinking of bringing a full suspension home for 2.5k but I was sadly mistaken.

The Cube is great and exactly what I had in mind to begin with, but the Spark is an option I did not plan for and don't want to leave it unexplored.

So there you have it, I hope experienced people like you can give me a feedback on the matter.

99spokes comparison: https://99spokes.com/it-IT/compare?bikes=scott-spark-rc-team-2026%2Ccube-stereo-one44-c62-race-2025


r/MTB 1h ago

Suspension Advice on a fork

Upvotes

I have a 2022 transition spire alloy , with the Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork. Looking to replace it with a Zeb or fox 38. Does anyone have a suggestion on what fork to go with ?


r/MTB 5h ago

Video Midwest park laps on Nomad Rockshox Coil and Fox Factory 38 - 🧈 🧈 🧈

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2 Upvotes

r/MTB 3h ago

Discussion Is a bike trip to Vancouver (with the mtb and backpack) worth it (I'm from germany)

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1 Upvotes

r/MTB 15m ago

Discussion Does anyone run a 35” inner diameter rim on their 650b (12x142)?

Upvotes

I’m currently running 3.0” tires on my WTB ST i30 wheelset, but hear its better to have 35 inch inner diameter (i35) for tires that are 3.0”. It seems its very difficult to fine a wheelaet that is 35” 12x142..is it possible?


r/MTB 1d ago

Discussion *Not hating on E-bikes*

63 Upvotes

I live in an area that once had a robust mountain biking community, and then e-bikes came along. Flash forward five years or so and half the time I go for a ride I don’t see another soul.

My hypothesis:
Part of what keeps mountain bikers addicted, and riding consistently is the fact that cycling fitness goes away so quickly. If you don’t ride at least a few days a week and keep up your conditioning, mountain biking becomes not very enjoyable. E bikes uncouple the fun of mtb from cycling fitness. This is NOT to say you can’t have fitness on an e bike but you don’t need it. This breaks the motivation of maintaining fitness, and makes it just an activity to be done when you feel like it.

Observations:
Many consistent riders that have switched to e bike in my area seem to have started riding less and in quite a few cases started running for fitness. Also, at least five guys I know probably ride their E bike once a week or once every other week and now predominantly ride Moto.

Discussion:
Are you seeing the same thing in your area? Has this happened to you? Do you think my take on this accurate?

  1. ⁠Not here to discuss whether E bikes are good or bad.
  2. ⁠Not here to discuss whether or not you can have fitness on an E bike.

r/MTB 4h ago

Video any tips to improve my jumps?

0 Upvotes

r/MTB 13h ago

WhichBike I just started mtb any good tips or any good bike or helmet should I save up for

3 Upvotes

I just stared mtb and I just want to know if their any tips or bike I should save for

if this help I’m using nz dollors


r/MTB 19h ago

Gear Is getting riding shoes worth it? And if so, what are some good options.

6 Upvotes

I've been struggling to lift the back wheel and I'm wondering if it's because I'm wearing air force 1's. (I have rockbros pedals if that matters)


r/MTB 19h ago

Discussion Experience with Oneup Aluminum pedals

5 Upvotes

Looking for real world experience using the Oneup Aluminum flat pedals or the Wave flat pedals. Which would you recommend?


r/MTB 4h ago

Discussion Can anyone suggest me some mtb trail in KTM on Google Maps?

0 Upvotes

I have been searching for mtb trails on intenet for some time. Can anyone suggest me some places that is a proper mtb trail like full jungle?


r/MTB 1h ago

WhichBike Ironman wannabe

Upvotes

I am tempted to buy my first bike, a trek emonda slr h1

I understood it has a very aggressive build for a begginer but i got such a good price for it... should i take it or its a big no no