The Best Mountain Bike Under 1500 USD

Last Updated on November 21, 2022

Many people are now hooked on mountain biking. It doesn’t just bring you from one place to another. But it also keeps you healthy and happy!

You also need not spend a lot when buying a mountain bike. Some might say that these bikes are just around $300 to $500 at most. Well, you can buy these cheap bikes. But you’re compromising quality and safety!

Go for the pricier ones instead, but not the very expensive bikes. To give you a hint, the average price of a decent mountain bike is around $1,500.

So, which one to get?

Here, we’ll tell you the best mountain bike under 1500. We’ll also show you their components, design, and their pros and cons.

Diamondback Overdrive

Diamondback is one of the best bike brands when it comes to quality, style, and value. One good example of this is the Overdrive.

The Overdrive is a cross-country bike that’s designed for leisure. There’s nothing fancy about this because of its affordable price.

In fact, this is the cheapest choice in this review. But don’t take that lightly because this is packed with no-nonsense parts that make sure you have fun on your ride.

This comes with a Suntour XCT fork up front that has a short 80 mm of travel. It’s a coil fork so don’t expect it to be light! It runs on a Shimano Acera and Tourney hybrid 3×8 drivetrain.

That’s a lot of gear ratio, but it’s not very reliable, though. Kenda’s Honey Badger 27.5 x 2.2 tires make up for that. This makes it roll fast on tarmac or offroads.

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Trek Superfly 5

There is no denying that Trek is a big bike brand. And that is because of its reputation for making premium and stylish-looking bikes! Take, for example, the Trek Superfly 5, which is priced at just around $1,300.

This modern cross-country bike is one of the best-looking choices on this list. It’s pretty sleek, comes in bright orange color, and has value components. This is a great choice if you’re looking to cover lots of miles on your bike.

Components

It has a Shimano Deore 2×10 drivetrain. This gives you enough gear ratio to do uphills and shred descents reliably.

It has Bontrager Mustang Elite TLR wheels as well as a RockShox Recon Silver RL 100mm fork and you have one efficient climber! It also has Trek’s stock Bontrager cockpit and wheelset.

Pros

• Accurate shifting
• Fast-rolling
• Branded and reliable durable frame

Cons

• Tires lack grip
• Not for downhill trails

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Schwinn S29

The Schwinn S29 is another choice you might want to choose if you are looking for a mountain bike that’s a bang for the buck.

It is a full-suspension mountain bike that gives you a good feel of what trail bikes should be. It’s the ideal option if you’d want to go out on the trails without breaking your bank.

Highlight features

This bike comes with an aluminum frame with a full-suspension system to help absorb bumps when you’re out on the trails.

It might not be the best when it comes to downhill bikes, but it surely gives you a good insight as to what proper downhill and enduro riding are. It has a front fork and a rear shock to further support vibration absorption.

It also has a 3×7 21-speed drivetrain that gives you a good range when you’re going on high-speed descents and steep uphills.

You’ll also find a front and rear mechanic disc brake system for maximum braking power and maneuverable control. It has alloy rims wrapped with knobby mountain bike stock tires.

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Schwinn High Timber

You might also want the Schwinn High Timber, a hardtail mountain bike with good components that are priced justifiably.

This is a good choice if you want to try out different mountain bike terrain because of its versatile geometry. Take note, though, that this is a bit heavy because its frame is made from steel.

This bike comes with a 21-speed drivetrain that features a twist shifting mechanism. It also has a rear derailleur that provides smooth shifting and a gear variation.

Its cranks are made from alloy which is tolerant of impacts because of its durable and rugged design. You’ll find knobby all-terrain tires wrapped on its alloy wheels. Its seat post also has a quick-release mechanism so you can adjust the sitting height on the fly.

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Trek Roscoe 7

Here’s another candidate from Trek. The Roscoe 7 is the best choice on this list if you’d want a highly-capable bike.

This is categorized as a trail bike because of its aggressive geometry and trail-specific tires. In fact, it’s got wider tires compared to enduro bikes because of its plus-sized variant! It’s what you need if you enjoy the trails.

You can easily do uphills with this one. And then shred the downhill trails afterward! It’s very stable, efficient, and can take a lot of beating from the great outdoors.

This runs on a 12-speed SRAM SX Eagle drivetrain which has reliable shifting. It also helps you climb steep uphills even if you only have one chainring. This is because of its 12 cogs at the back.

Upfront is a RockShox Judy S with 100 mm of travel. Meanwhile, the brakes are from Shimano’s MT200. This has 180 mm and 160 mm rotors at the front and back. And last but not least is its TranzX dropper post with 130 mm of travel.

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Royce Union RHT

The Royce Union RHT is one of the best budget mountain bikes out there because of its lightweight but durable build.

This is a great choice if you are still starting out and want to get a good feel of mountain biking. Although this doesn’t have the premium features you’d expect from a race bike, it still has a decent number of components that will make you enjoy the outdoors.

The Royce Union has an aluminum alloy frame that goes along with an SLX 2×11 drivetrain. This gives you accurate and reliable shifting.

This also has WTB Trail II grips paired with a WTB Volt saddle that gives you comfort on the trails.

It has a Suntour XCT fork with 100 mm of travel, as well as hydraulic disc brakes for strong braking power. It’s got all the things needed to make you go out on the trails with confidence.

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Diamondback Atroz 2

Diamondback makes different kinds of world-class mountain bikes. And the one on their budget full-sus department is the Atroz 2.

This is a full-suspension bike that is ideal for women or smaller riders. This has a versatile geometry that lets it efficiently climb and remain stable on descents and high speeds sections.

It’s also a great choice if you’re looking to start mountain biking with style. It even provides you with additional comfort that you won’t find on hardtail bikes!

This runs on a 9-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain. It isn’t the most reliable. But it’s better than the 2x versions because it only has one stable chainring.

The fork is an SR Suntour XCM with 120 mm of travel. This is paired with an SR Suntour Raidon air shock at the back. Its brakes are Shimano MT200 with massive 180 mm disc rotors.

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Trek X-Caliber 8

This list won’t be complete with the Trek X-Caliber 8. This is Trek’s affordable but premium cross-country bike. It’s ideal for racers and enthusiasts who want to go the extra mile. This is made possible thanks to its modern geometry, enduro-specced components, and lightweight frame.

This race bike comes with a RockShox Judy SL fork upfront with 80 mm travel. SRAM SX Eagle with 12 speeds backs this up and gives it accurate shifting. It’s also durable because it’s made for rough trails. You don’t have to worry if you crash or hit something. It won’t break! This also has Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm and 160 mm rotors.

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Diamondback Lux 3

Then there’s the Diamondback Lux 3. This is an all-out trail bike that can do cross-country rides and shred downhill trails. It’s very nimble thanks to its aggressive and slack geometry. The seat tube angle is also steep which makes climbing easy. Add in the 27.5 wheels and you’ve got a maneuverable bike! This one’s a great choice if you like rough trails. But you also want to cover long distances on the road.

A RockShox Judy Silver TK with 120 mm of air travel graces its front wing. It is then powered by a 12-speed SRAM SX Eagle matched with Shimano M200 hydraulic brakes. The rotors are 180 mm and 160 mm at the back and rear, respectively. Meanwhile, the tires are from Vee Rubber Crown and measure 27.5 x 2.35.

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Raleigh Talus

The Raleigh Talus is what you need if you’re looking for a value-for-money bike. But don’t take this lightly as this one’s packed with solid components! This hardtail bike has a standard geometry ideal for flat trails and slight downhills.

It also has progressive wheel sizing as the small and extra-small sizes are on 27.5 wheels. Meanwhile, sizes medium to extra large are on 29ers. This ensures that you ride on a bike that’s your right size.

This comes with an SR Suntour fork that has 100 mm of coil travel. Its drivetrain is a Shimano 3×7 Acera groupset. It’s a bit clunky at times but it does the job as long as you tune it correctly. This is then coupled with a Tetra M275 hydraulic disc brakes.

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Mongoose Impasse

The Mongoose Impasse managed to make it onto our top list of mountain bikes under $1,500 because of its attractive design and sturdy components.

This is a full-suspension bike that gives you a good understanding of what it is like to go through downhill and enduro trails.

Although this doesn’t provide maximum stability and comfort compared to its premium counterparts, you’ll get a good value for your money here because of its attention to detail and cost-efficiency.

This full-suspension mountain bike has a front fork and rear shock that helps absorb bumps and vibrations on the road.

It maximizes comfort with the help of its alloy wheels. The front wheels have a quick-release mechanism to make adjustments and fixing easier.

It also has a 21-speed rear derailleur drivetrain that is coupled with SRAM twist shifters for an easier and controllable ride.

Another thing we love about this bike is that it already has disc brakes. This is a very important feature to have because it keeps you safe with its maximum braking power.

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Conclusion

Choosing a bike isn’t as simple as it sounds. But the process can be made easier if you know what you’re looking for.

This article aims to do just that because we’ve shown you what the best mountain bike under 1500 should be like.

The bike should be made by a reputable brand. The components should also be reliable and durable. And the geometry and quality of the frame should also be on par with your discipline.

Choose any of the bikes above, and you’ll surely enjoy the trails even more! Ride hard and keep safe.

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