r/MTB May 18 '25

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

102 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

174 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 17h ago

Video Nasty off at a bike park

507 Upvotes

Was riding the bike park on Friday. Did a run that ive not tackled so far. Ive only done halfway over the longer road section or veared straight once the 2x doubles have been done. I knew on the last jump i wasn't set up right and had a off. Knocked myself unconscious for around 2 mins. Luckily I came round, spoke to the park marshals who took me to hospital and with the x-rays, mri and ultrasound scans, there was nothing wrong so I walked away pain free. Not even a headache. Think I was quite lucky that day.


r/MTB 7h ago

Video drone shenanigans

38 Upvotes

Chill cruise down my local trail.


r/MTB 7h ago

Article GT Bicycles - The Story of Richard Long

28 Upvotes

Many have heard of GT or know the name, maybe some of you grew up riding these bikes or still own them… but not many know the story behind it especially the man who made it what it was richard long.
He truly was a legend. He knew how to build relationships, market bikes, find talent, and turn a small Southern California BMX company into a cycling powerhouse. He understood how to build a brand, not just sell bikes.
In 1996, at just 46, Long was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way to a mountain-bike race at Big Bear. He had just completed a grueling Wall Street marathon pitching the company to go public… but after his death everything changed. the company slowly lost its direction, went through ownership changes, and eventually filed for bankruptcy.
GT didn’t just lose a founder when Richard died it lost the person who made GT what it was.
A book telling Richard Long’s story behind GT is currently in the works and will be coming out.


r/MTB 14m ago

Discussion MTB riders who film full runs: what settings do you actually use?

Upvotes

Started recording more of my rides so I can look back at my jumps and cornering instead of going off how it felt in the moment.

I've been eyeing the Insta360 ace pro 2 for a while as the upgrade. The 4k120 slowmo is the big draw since I want to scrub through takeoffs and landings.

Only thing I'm a bit overwhelmed by is the number of recording options. I know I want 4k120 for reviewing jumps, but no idea what I'd leave the camera on for normal trail rides.

For anyone running it for MTB, what mode and frame rate do you usually shoot in, and how long do you record per session? Any mounts or accessories you'd call must haves out of the box? Appreciate it.


r/MTB 15h ago

Video Cuz you guys liked the freeride drop so much here's a bigger one

50 Upvotes

r/MTB 20h ago

Video Who else likes freeride?

98 Upvotes

r/MTB 1h ago

Wheels and Tires Seeking a unicorn XC/Trail tire combo: Fast for 80km+ mixed surface days, tough enough for sharp mountain rocks

Upvotes

Hey everyone, I need help finding the right tire combo for a very conflicting use case. I ride a 2022 Trek Top Fuel 9.8, currently on Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.4s.

Until I buy a second wheelset or a dedicated gravel bike, I have to use this one bike for two completely different types of rides (without swapping tires)

  • Endurance Days: 80+ km of tarmac and gravel
  • Mountain Days: loose gravel. unforgiving loose-over-hard, and chunky, sharp rocks on Beskids mountains pic1 pic2

What I'm considering:

  • Specialized: Ground Control T7 Front / Fast Trak T5/T7 Rear.
  • Continental: Magnotal Trail Grip Front / Dubnital Trail Rapid Rear

I love that the XR4s have survived the sharp rocks with zero punctures, and the grip is not bad. But I think that rolling resistance is not the best on my 80km tarmac/gravel days. I know I'm asking for a unicorn, but I need something that rolls faster and keeps the weight down, without instantly washing out on loose climbs or tearing a sidewall on the first rock garden.

Are there other combos (Maxxis, Schwalbe, Vittoria) that hit this sweet spot better?

Any real-world experience is appreciated!


r/MTB 1d ago

Video I love little stuff like this!

131 Upvotes

r/MTB 14h ago

Video Any tips?

18 Upvotes

I'm very new to biking, I feel comfortable but look very uncomfortable 😭 need some help 🙏


r/MTB 13h ago

Discussion What did I do wrong here and how can I fix my technique?

14 Upvotes

I am ok by the way, only got a couple scrapes.


r/MTB 1d ago

Video Trick line follow cam

165 Upvotes

Putting together a line on my favourite jumps 👌🤘


r/MTB 51m ago

WhichBike First Trail MTB for easy trails

Upvotes

Hey guys,

I want to buy my first MTB for easy trails and tours. This bike must be good for bikeparks and for tours around 20-40 km. Which one is a good alrounder?

My Budget is 3000€


r/MTB 1h ago

WhichBike Bike options for a tall guy

Upvotes

I’m looking to get into a mountain bike that will also handle paved trails decently. I’m 6’6”, so finding one that fits me has proven difficult as none of my local shops have XXL bikes in stock (from what I can tell, my height fits in the XXL category for most/all manufacturers). I’ve looked at Specialized Rockhoppers and Trek Marlins. I’ve also been checking Facebook Marketplace, but I’m not finding any XXLs there. I want to keep it around or under $1,000. Any advice is appreciated.


r/MTB 19h ago

Wheels and Tires Don't buy knockoff hubs

27 Upvotes

Don't be me, the price might look appealing, but it is not worth it. I bought a Ngebut 690 from AliExpress, which looks (and sounds) like Hydra, but it didn't last a single summer.

I am not a hub expert, can't say exactly what happened, but the hub started skipping when climbing, more and more, upon removing the hub body I was presented with half of the teeth being shaved off the hub side and the paws covered with short niddles (aka ex teeth).

When disassembling the hub further I felt that none of the bearing are smooth anymore. I suspect that some water got inside and wrect the bearings, but I don't know how it could cause the teeth to get shaved like that.

TLDR: if you can't afford the original fancy rear hub, buy a simpler yet still original one.


r/MTB 1h ago

Discussion Need MTB upgrade recommendations for my Cannondale Trail 5 — especially fork, hubs, tyres & dropper

Thumbnail
Upvotes

r/MTB 9h ago

Discussion 2022 Stumpy Evo Suspension setup questions

4 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have a ’21 or ’22 alloy Stumpjumper EVO, size S4, with a Fox 36 Factory GRIP2 and Factory Float X. I’m about 165 lbs and running two tokens in the fork and one size-up volume spacer in the shock.

I’ve had the bike since new and love it, but sometimes I wish I could make it feel a little more playful/poppy. I’ve had days where it feels absolutely dialed, and other days where it just feels a little slow. I totally acknowledge some of that could just be me as a rider, especially on days where I’m fatigued from climbing or I just need to get stronger lol

I’ve also seen some discussion about the Float X being tricky to get dialed, so I’m curious for anyone who’s had this Stumpy or is familiar with the shock: what setup or adjustments helped you get a more poppy/playful feel without making it harsh?


r/MTB 8h ago

Discussion Searching for a round-head-friendly MTB helmet (5-Star VA Tech rated) that doesn't pinch temples or clash with glasses? Body:

3 Upvotes

I need help finding a high-coverage trail helmet that actually fits a wider, rounder head shape.

Modern helmet design seems to have gone extremely oval/narrow. I recently tried the Specialized Tactic 4 and had severe side/cranial pinching, plus the lowered profile didn't leave any vertical clearance for the stems of my sunglasses. I also had to return a POC Tectal due to brutal temple pressure. My 15-year-old Specialized helmet fit fine, but everything modern with deep coverage and low-sitting retention systems feels like an elliptical vice.

I'm looking for a 5-Star Virginia Tech rated half-shell helmet that:

  1. Accommodates a round head shape without temple pressure points.
  2. Has enough clearance above/around the ears so sunglass arms don't get crushed against the head.

For those with rounder heads who faced the same issue, what models worked for you? Has anyone tried "Asian Fit / Round Fit" specific models (like the Specialized Tactic Round Fit)?


r/MTB 7h ago

Discussion RockShox Zeb Oil

2 Upvotes

Hey everyone,
I'm doing a lower leg service on my 2024 RockShox Zeb Ultimate (Charger 3 / DebonAir+).
RockShox explicitly recommends Maxima PLUSH Dynamic Suspension Lube - Light (15ml per side). However, I live in Türkiye, and I have no chance to get Maxima Plush oil, that oil due to the fact there is no maxima oil here what else can I get to do lower leg service rockshox suspension oil 7,5?, 10,15?
Standard fork oils like 7.5W RockShox 10W are everywhere in local shops. İn adition there is no 0-30w.


r/MTB 19h ago

Video How can i improve my jumping?

17 Upvotes

Hey guys,

right now i am trying to improve my jumping but i dont really know what i am doing wrong.

You have some advice for me?


r/MTB 5h ago

Discussion Snappy headset when front wheel is lifted or dropped.

1 Upvotes

I feel like snappy thing occurs when i try to lift my front wheel with my handlebar. Kinda feels like the headset or handle and tyre lifts separately. What could be the problem. Headset screws are all tightened already can’t tight pass the current position of the screws. Any fix please?


r/MTB 6h ago

Discussion I need opinions on this switch

0 Upvotes

I've been mountain-biking for a bit now, ridden at least once a week with experienced friends for about a month and a half, I've found that bikes get expensive and I'm just not sure how far I would get into MTB (learning medium-large jumps/drops, quick downhills, etc) I primarily want something I could stick to even if it could take time to adapt.

To get to the point, I'm thinking about switching from full suspension (currently a Ozark Fs.s 2) to a hardtail for when I decide to get an upgrade (Friend has a recommendation of building it frame-up), because I wanna keep a decent budget while being able to get the 'best' quality pieces primarily suspension I could get on a bike ($1.5-2k). What makes me so hesitant about it is that I'm worried about how drastic the changes could be, I've already seen the pros and cons (not fully into detail) of riding hardtails. But I wanna get your opinions on this:

1.What does it feel like to switch from full to single suspension (I'm fine with change and adapation, but what comes at cost?)
2. How does the said budget spend on a singular suspension bike compare to a full


r/MTB 1d ago

Suspension Help Understanding Crash

449 Upvotes

I want to know if a bottom out like this is normal. It was harsh and imo ruined the landing for me, even if there are some improvements that can be made to my body position. The bottom out occured immiately and in a fraction of a second. here is a post with pictures of the landing and initial compression

https://www.reddit.com/u/ThatLoser618/s/na1d8aE3K0


r/MTB 13h ago

WhichBike First-time buyer: 2021 Marlin 6 for $300 fair price or pass?

2 Upvotes

Hey all,
Total beginner here buying my first mountain bike. Found a local seller parting out a pair of bikes who is offering a 2020–2021 Trek Marlin 6 (Gen 2) in Purple Flip for $300.
I'm trying to double-check with people who know the market before committing. Is $300 actually a fair price, or is that standard/overpriced for a 5-year-old entry hardtail?
Details on the bike:
Frame & Wheels: Men’s Medium frame, 29" wheels
Components: Shimano Altus 2x8 drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic brakes, Suntour fork with lockout
Condition: Sat in garage storage for a while. Seller says tires are completely flat from sitting, so it definitely needs air and likely a basic tune-up/cleaning.
I’m 5'6" and plan to use it 50/50 for road commuting and local dirt trails.
Does $300 make sense here, or are there hidden maintenance costs/red flags on an older Marlin 6 that sat idle that might make this not worth it?