Trying to hit the paths and want a brand new mountain bike? We rounded up a few of the finest mountain bike manufacturers to get you began.
Ah, mountain biking. Nothing beats tearing by the timber or conquering a technical descent. However to get began, you want a motorcycle! And with the quite a few choices from the most well-liked mountain bike manufacturers in the marketplace, searching for a brand new bike can rapidly get overwhelming.
We put collectively this information to get began. We’ve seemed on the high options of many main manufacturers and thought of critiques of particular merchandise to check the most well-liked mountain bike manufacturers in the marketplace at the moment.
Standard Mountain Bike Manufacturers of 2020
Specialized
Specialised distributed the primary mass-produced mountain bike, the unique Stumpjumper, again in 1981. It’s nonetheless probably the most related manufacturers in the marketplace at the moment.
Specialised makes all kinds of bikes from snug cruisers to high-end efficiency highway racing bikes. It’s additionally lately expanded to supply main electrical mountain bikes. Specialised now carries a number of fashions of e-bikes to select from. We had an opportunity to take a look at last year’s Turbo Levo and thought it was fairly nice.
Along with e-bikes, Specialised additionally carries an enormous vary of conventional mountain bikes, from light-weight, efficiency-driven cross-country fashions to long-suspension enduro and even downhill bikes. The corporate can also be considerably uncommon in respect to its recognition for each its entry-level bikes, just like the Rockhopper, in addition to its higher-end fashions, akin to a few of its S-Works builds.
In fact, that doesn’t imply it carries the finest of every thing accessible. However if you wish to get a really feel for the kinds of mountain bikes accessible in the marketplace at the moment, Specialised provides a broad choice.
Standard fashions: Turbo Levo, Stumpjumper, and Rockhopper
Headquarters location: Morgan Hill, California
Trek
Trek has been round for over 40 years. Though it bought its begin promoting touring bikes, it has since branched into promoting all kinds of bikes. From easy cross-country bikes to full-suspension downhill bikes, Trek carries a full vary of mountain bikes. It even has its personal electrical mountain bike fashions.
Regardless of this vary of fashions, Trek is probably finest identified for its entry-level, hardtail mountain bikes. Whereas it carries first rate, higher-end path bikes and light-weight racing bikes, its cheaper hardtails are its hottest sellers. These fashions are made for exploring the paths round your own home, however if you wish to begin tackling main technical options, you’ll most likely need to search for an improve.
If you happen to’re trying to get into mountain biking, aren’t able to decide to a costlier mannequin, and need a big service community, Trek could possibly be the best way to go.
Standard fashions: Marlin 5 and Roscoe 8
Headquarters location: Waterloo, Wisconsin
Giant
Large is one other different to Trek and Specialised and fills an identical area of interest. It sells every thing from a light-weight cross-country racing bike to a long-suspension enduro bike.
Amongst this vary of fashions, it additionally sells a number of path bikes that are supposed to be good for many singletrack using. Plus, it makes its personal electrical mountain bike. Due to its vary of choices, it could be value wanting by Large’s fashions to see what kinds of mountain bikes are on the market.
It’s the one model on this checklist that’s based mostly in Taiwan. However whereas many manufacturers construct their frames in Taiwan, Large goals for cost-effective builds. Its costs are sometimes decrease than these of manufacturers like Trek or Specialised. Large additionally manufactures components for a number of different manufacturers.
If you happen to’re in search of an entry-level mountain bike that received’t break the financial institution, undoubtedly try Large.
Standard fashions: Talon and XTC Advanced
Headquarters location: Dajia District, Taiwan
Cannondale
Cannondale is one other model that sells an enormous vary of cycles, however mountain bike riders comprehend it finest for its cross-country fashions. These bikes are constructed for tackling uphills and flats effectively.
They often have steeper geometry (which means their entrance tire is tucked underneath the headset extra) than a path or enduro bike for higher pedaling energy and prioritize being as light-weight as attainable.
Cannondale additionally has a variety of choices, such because the 27.5-plus Bad Habit.
Cannondale is modern and never afraid to strive new issues with its bikes. The model is known for its Lefty fork — an unconventional single-sided fork. It’s one of many crazier sights on the paths today, however many riders love the Lefty. It’s tougher to service than a traditional fork, which is a downside, however many discover that the efficiency is value it.
If you happen to’re in search of a quick cross-country bike outfitted with main tech, try Cannondale.
Standard fashions: Cujo 1 and Scalpal
Headquarters location: Wilton, Connecticut
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is thought for its small line of high-end mountain bikes. It focuses on light-weight carbon fiber or aluminum fashions with a variety of journey (or quantity of suspension).
Though Santa Cruz produces every thing from a gravel bike to a dust leap bike and even an electrical mountain bike, it’s finest identified for its trail-style mountain bikes — these within the midrange between cross-country and enduro.
Nevertheless, it does boast its personal downhill race crew, the Santa Cruz Syndicate, so its longer-travel bikes shouldn’t be ignored. Santa Cruz has a terrific repute amongst mountain bikers, and also you’ll see its bikes all around the trails.
If you happen to’re trying to go quick on a motorcycle that may deal with huge options, it’s seemingly Santa Cruz has you coated.
Standard fashions: Hightower, 5010, and Tallboy
Headquarters location: Santa Cruz, California
Juliana
Juliana is the sister firm to Santa Cruz and sells solely girls’s-specific mountain bikes. The shocks are designed with lighter riders in thoughts, and the frames are provided in measurement XS.
Not like some girls’s-specific bike manufacturers, Juliana’s bikes are available good, impartial colours that aren’t too cutesy. The bikes are high-quality, too, which is to be anticipated from a Santa Cruz offshoot. And although the geometry stems from Santa Cruz fashions, Juliana mountain bikes incorporate girls’s-specific particulars like girls’s saddles and grips.
Juliana at present solely sells 5 fashions, however these 5 cowl a spread of mountain biking wants. If you happen to’re a lighter rider and have a tough time discovering a good-quality mountain bike that matches comfortably, give Juliana a strive.
Standard fashions: Roubion and Furtado
Headquarters location: Santa Cruz, California
Salsa Cycles
Salsa Cycles’ tagline is “journey by bike,” and it’s finest identified for its gravel and bikepacking bikes. Nevertheless, it’s lately begun broadening its lineup of trail-focused mountain bikes, specializing in upgrading to remain aggressive. Salsa tends to be extra area of interest than manufacturers like Trek or Large, with out the value of Pivot or Yeti Cycles.
The whole lot the model does factors towards the expertise you’ve gotten on its bikes — they might not be the lightest or quickest in the marketplace, however Salsa has a detailed eye on how your journey will go.
For instance, each the Horsethief and Spearfish fashions have area for 2 water bottle holders; most full-suspension path bikes barely have room for one. I’ve ridden a few Salsa fashions over time and have discovered them to be snug and plenty of enjoyable.
In order for you a enjoyable day trip on the paths, both on an environment friendly hardtail or a playful full-suspension bike, try Salsa.
Standard fashions: Rustler and Horsethief
Headquarters location: Bloomington, Minnesota
Pivot Cycles
Pivot Cycles is a reasonably new model, based in 2007. Whereas it sells a spread of types, together with gravel, cross-country, downhill, and even an e-bike, it focuses on its path and enduro bikes.
Pivot pays shut consideration to element in its know-how and geometry, which means that its bikes carry out easily and effectively, in line with on-line critiques. It has a few race groups — one for cross-country and one for enduro and downhill — which magnetize riders from all around the world.
Pivot fees lots for its bikes, nevertheless it’s straightforward to see why. If you happen to’re in search of a high-end bike with loads of journey that excels on rocky, technical trails, then Pivot could make the bike for you.
Standard fashions: Firebird and Mach 4 SL
Headquarters location: Tempe, Arizona
Yeti Cycles
Yeti Cycles was established in 1985. Since its inception, Yeti has centered on high-performance bikes. At the moment, it has a powerful deal with enduro racing, with riders like Enduro World Collection Champion Richie Impolite on its crew.
In 2014, Yeti launched the Change Infinity, a rear suspension design meant to present you simpler pedaling energy. We had an opportunity to check a number of of its present fashions, just like the SB100 and the SB130, and thought they carried out tremendous nicely. Nevertheless, Yeti bikes are costly, so this efficiency comes with a hefty price ticket.
Yeti has a super-small lineup of bikes, with solely six fashions in the marketplace at the moment, however that simply means it is aware of what its viewers needs. If you happen to’re in search of a full-suspension path or enduro mountain bike and you’ve got the money to drop, Yeti is well-regarded by high riders.
Standard fashions: SB130 and SB150
Headquarters location: Golden, Colorado
How one can Select a Mountain Bike
There are many elements that go into selecting a mountain bike, and we stroll you thru the process here. To get began in your search, the principle factor you’ll need to deal with is the kind of using you’ll do.
Are you extra all in favour of using steep, technical descents and taking it gradual on the uphills? Or would you like environment friendly pedaling and snappy climbing? Your most popular sort of using will form the quantity of suspension and elegance of mountain bike it’s best to search for.
You’ll additionally need to take into consideration your worth vary. Are you in search of a higher-end mountain bike with the very best componentry? Or are you simply trying to get a really feel for the game earlier than dropping a number of thousand {dollars}? That can affect which manufacturers you lean towards exploring.
When you’ve honed in in your using fashion and price range, you’ll be able to then get into the nitty-gritty particulars concerning the particular person bikes like match, weight, elements, and specs.
Whether or not you’re a newbie rider trying to get began together with your first mountain bike or an knowledgeable rider trying to up your sport with the most recent know-how, investing in a brand new mountain bike from any of those finest mountain bike manufacturers ought to be a step in direction of getting you out in your subsequent nice journey.
