Best Mountain Bikes Under $1000: Our Top Picks (2023)

Best Value Mountain Bike

1. Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2

Our Rating

9/10

$999

REI’s in-house bike brand continues to deliver serious performance at a competitive price with the all-mountain DRT 1.2. Perfect for beginners starting on singletrack or veterans getting back into trail riding, the hardtail aluminum bike has 120mm of front travel and 27.5” wheels.

Integrated cabling is a luxurious touch on the otherwise standard 2×9-speed Shimano Altus groupset. I would like to see a 1x drivetrain at this price, knocking the rating down slightly, but the hydraulic disc brakes and knobby WTB Trail Boss 2.4” wide tires recuperate the bike’s trail capabilities. Some riders may like the 2x setup that’s seemingly borrowed from the road cycling world, but I find it a bit of an odd choice— it’s a smart way to increase the gear range, though!

I’m a big fan of the “Moss” colorway that reminds me of a bold beige (if that isn’t an oxymoron) so the bike will still look great caked in mud or covered in dirt. Like many other hardtails at this price range, the DRT 1.2 relies on a SR Suntour XCR 120mm that’ll get the job done. Riders receive a bit more travel than a typical cross-country 100mm setup, too.

The classic DRT 1.2 is being discontinued, however, so REI can make room for its new fleet of in-house bicycles. You can take this opportunity to snag this affordable mountain bike setup for just $699 online! If you ask me, that’s a total steal and a great way to kickstart your mountain bike journey.

RATINGS

Best All-Rounder Mountain Bike

2. Rocky Mountain Fusion 30

Our Rating

8.5/10

$799.94

Let loose on the singletrack routes with the impressive Rocky Mountain Fusion 30. This hardtail XC bike mixes efficiency and capability in an affordable package that punches above its weight. The setup comes tubeless-ready with large 29” wheels to tackle a variety of terrains.

Riders can rely on the 6061 aluminum alloy frame and Suntour XCR 100mm front fork. Rocky Mountain claim that the Fusion is more of a “downcountry” model, meaning it’s rated for terrain a bit rougher than typical cross-country routes. It’s true that the geometry is a bit slacker than the standard XC bike with longer reach and slack head tube, but the 100mm fork will limit the terrain developing riders can attack.

There’s also a mountain-specific MicroSHIFT Advent X 10-speed drivetrain for smooth shifting. The relatively short-travel fork travel docks a point from my rating, but the Clarks M2 2-piston hydraulic disc brakes and grippy WTB Ranger Comp 29×2.4” tires boost confidence on the trails. The 11/48t cassette offers a fairly wide range of gears so you can send it no matter which direction you’re pointing on the mountain. 

The Fusion 30 is available in frame sizes S-XL and colorways that mix black/blue and black/orange. It’s a straight-ahead paint job but I think it looks attractive and fast, matching the sleek frame profile. At just $799, this dependable hardtail is an excellent entry-level option with hints of high-end touches. To start your mountain biking journey, the Fusion 30 will encourage you to develop skills and test your limits.

RATINGS

Best 29er Mountain Bike

4. Specialized Rockhopper Comp

Our Rating

9/10

$1,000

The Specialized Rockhopper Comp is a purebred 29er designed for hard-hitting adventure and fast-rolling singletrack. While other models on this list only pair 29” wheels on the larger frame sizes, this bike is purpose-built to rock the big rims. The Rockhopper Comp comes in right on budget and features a Suntour XCM fork and Stout 29” wheelset.

Previous generations of the Rockhopper used to come with Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes. but they’ve swapped over to SRAM Level hydraulic stoppers which are just as powerful. The important point is that they are hydraulic brakes so you can send bigger descents with confidence, even in wet or muddy conditions.

The hardtail Premium A1 aluminum frame looks great and is available in a variety of stylish colorways. The microSHIFT Advent drivetrain only runs nine gears, but the 11/42t cassette offers an ultra-wide range of cogs for efficient climbing and flat-out speed. At this price, that average groupset is the price you have to pay for the extra performance of the 29” wheels.

Specialized’s Rockhopper model is one of the best known entry-level mountain bikes on the market and has supported beginner riders for many years. It’s a tried and tested machine that’s a perfect bike to really get stuck into off-road riding.

There are four distinct color options— normally a rare privilege— so you can match your bike to your personal style. As this bike has been around the industry for a while, there are deals to be had online!

If 29er is what you want, you can’t go wrong with this trail machine from one of the best mountain bike brands on the market.

RATINGS

Best Mountain Bike for Downhill Riding

5. Marin Bobcat Trail 4

Our Rating

9/10

$748.94

The Marin Bobcat 4 is an aggressive hardtail mountain bike with impressive downhill capabilities for the price. The slack 67° headtube angle and 120mm front fork travel give it superpowers on steep descents, terrain normally beyond the limits of most affordable mountain bikes.

This model comes with a few upgrades over the entry-level Bobcat Trail 3, including a Shimano Altus 2×9 drivetrain and Suntour XCM HLO DS fork. The only other bike on this list with such long front suspension travel is the Co-op DRT 1.2. The previous general of the Bobcat 4 came with a Shimano 2x groupset, so I’m glad to see that Marin got with the trends and made the switch to a 1x setup. That said, I would have appreciated a 10-speed groupset like many of the other models on this list.

If you’re eyeing the Bobcat Trail 4, I recommend purchasing the sand/blue colorway that looks stellar and comes with tan sidewall tires. The light beige frame color and knobby WTB tires with sidewall accents exclaim mountain fun— hey, you’ve got to look good out on the trail too!

The Bobcat Trail 4 is a purebred cross-country bike with a large appetite for singletrack trails and backwoods paths. The larger frame sizes come with 29” wheels and the smaller sizes run agile 27.5” rims. WTB Trail Boss Comp 2.25” tires feature a great tread pattern and tan sidewall. The Bobcat Trail 4 won’t break the bank and is the perfect upgrade to take your downhill skills to the next level.

RATINGS

Best 11-Speed Mountain Bike

6. Kona Blast

Our Rating

9.5/10

$1,049

Legendary mountain-specific bike brand Kona designed the Blast to be the perfect all-rounder hardtail mountain bike for off-road adventures. The component spec level is second to none for the price.

The Blast is outfitted with a RockShox Judy Silver 100mm fork and mountain-specific Shimano Deore 1×11-speed drivetrain. These two high-quality components make this bike worth it, and definitely justify the extra $49 you’ll have to go above the $1,000 budget. Most of the other mountain bikes on this list only have 9 or 10 gears— and some use 2x or 3x groupsets— but this Kona model blasts them out of the water with a premium 11-speed setup.

The Blast is designed for making it up even the steepest of gradients, thanks to its small 28t front chainring and ultra-wide rear cassette. The 11-speed cassette runs 11/51t for a generous spread of gear ratios, the widest in this product roundup. And when it’s time to turn downhill, riders can fit tires up to 2.8” to transform this bike into a plus-sized trail machine. More advanced riders may find the 100mm fork to be a little short, but if that’s happening, you’ll probably be better off with a higher-end mountain bike anyway. 

The nimble 27.5” WTB wheels come with grippy Maxxis Forekaster 2.35” tires to handle any backwoods terrain.  If you’re on the hunt for a 29er instead, check out Kona’s Mahuna mountain bike for all the larger-wheel benefits. The name-brand parts extend to the quality Shimano MT201 hydraulic disc brakes. This bike is $49 over budget, but this deal is too good to pass up.

RATINGS

Best Budget-Friendly Mountain Bike

7. BMC Blast 27

Our Rating

9.5/10

$799

Here we have another rockstar mountain bike named “Blast”, this time from Swiss manufacturer BMC and at a more affordable price than the Kona Blast. The budget-friendly cross-country hardtail features a 100mm Suntour fork and Shimano Deore 1×10-speed drivetrain.

I’ve reviewed this bike before, and I’m always a fan of its quality componentry and killer aesthetics. The design philosophy is similar to the Kona Blast (although the matching name appears to be a coincidence) insofar as nice parts are key to trail performance. The bike also embraces 27.5” instead of large-diameter 29” wheels for a more playful ride feel. The Blast is whippable and nimble around tight corners but may feel a bit lacking over the biggest obstacles.

That said, the BMC Blast is around $250 cheaper than the Kona model so there have to be compromises somewhere— it is swapped the Shimano Deore 11-speed groupset for the 10-speed option and does not have as fancy of a front fork. If you’re trying to keep your budget under the $800 mark, however, this model delivers tons of performance per dollar. 

The Maxxis Ardent Race 2.2” are slightly skinner than other models on this list, but they perform well on XC circuits and lighter terrain. I would have liked to see knobbier tires but that’s a relatively simple and low-cost swap further down the line if that’s what you need. Shimano hydraulic brakes round out the mountain-specific components, making this bike one of the best available for the money.

RATINGS

Best Overall Mountain Bike

8. Trek Marlin 7

Our Rating

9.5/10

$1,029

At the upper end of the Marlin range, the Trek Marlin 7 is a race-worthy hardtail mountain bike rocking a long-cage Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain and RockShox Judy 100mm fork. Size S come with 27.5” wheels and the larger frames have fast-rolling 29” wheels. Smaller frames run a curved top tube to lower the standover height and facilitate mounting the bike.

The Trek brand specializes in making bikes that are innovative and competitively priced. This second generation of the Marlin turns up the dial and delivers plenty of performance for developing riders. The Marlin lineup is extensive so interested riders can check out the various componentry packages to see which one best fits their needs.

The spec package is similar to the Kona Blast— including the RockShox Judy fork and Deore groupset— but the Trek Marlin has one fewer gears at the rear (10). The Bontrager tires are also relatively slick so if you are venturing into zones that are rougher than standard XC territory, you may want to swap them out for some knobbier rubber.

The advanced aluminum frame features internal cable routing for a clean look as well as rack and kickstand mounts if you want to use the Marlin 7 as your daily rider. The Marlin is just barely over budget for this product roundup but I’d dare to say the extra $29 can be well worth it for most mountain bikers. For the price, I would have liked to see a 11-speed groupset, but feel free to browse the entire Marlin lineup to find the perfect bike for your budget.

RATINGS