r/MTB May 18 '25

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

104 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

172 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 2h ago

Video Pretty exposed trail in Les Terres Noires

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155 Upvotes

Not super technical, but wow, what a line. this is probably the most iconic segment in the region, but there are a dozen trails just as fun, infinite variations and loops possibilities, and the EVO bike park is right there, at the bottom of the hill… this region is a must visit if you’re a bike enthusiast.


r/MTB 2h ago

Video Parts of the Grütsch Trail in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland🇨🇭

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47 Upvotes

r/MTB 7h ago

Video jumping over my friends

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113 Upvotes

i like to be challenged so i asked my friends to laydown and i will jump over him and we just did this for fun😂 i would like to do 2 people laying down so i could have another challenge


r/MTB 10h ago

Video Doesn’t Mars look like a sick place to ride?!?

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162 Upvotes

r/MTB 2h ago

Video One year of MTB progression in 60 seconds

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38 Upvotes

A year of progression on the bike. This is my son’s riding from a year ago compared to now.
Pretty cool to see how much can change in just one year.


r/MTB 4h ago

Discussion Easy/flows trails with nice views

7 Upvotes

Edit: restating that some of this riding will be in the winter (and some in March too)

Ill be bumming around the western US this winter and into spring. What are your most highly recommended trails with great views that's dont require technical skills? Im excited to get back into shape and gain more confidence mountain biking but am looking to ease back into to. Thank you!


r/MTB 5h ago

Discussion Ripton Quatro MTB Pants Rant

9 Upvotes

I am so fed up with shitty mtb pants tearing after one or two rides. Most recent was a pair of Riptons that tore in two spots on my first ride in them after a low speed washout. Ripton markets them as “denim grade durability” but fall apart under the smallest stress test. Ripton offers no crash replacement discount, no repair service, no self repair kits, and will basically tell you to kick rocks because they’re a small business that doesn’t have the resources to offer any of this (but they also just throw thousands of dollars of gear at influencer athletes at events, so…)

In general, I do agree with the idea of repairing over replacing, and I’m learning to sew just so I can mend these pants myself, but holy shit, talk about not standing behind your product in any way.

Basically, these pants have all the disadvantages of exercising in literal denim (hot, not breathable, heavy), without any of the actual durability of denim. They fit nice and look good, but that’s it. Just jeans cosplaying as mtb pants.

Anyone have any better recommendations out there?


r/MTB 4h ago

Discussion Jasper and Banff MTB trip

2 Upvotes

I have a road trip coming up in a few weeks and I’ll be spending about 4 days each in Banff and Jasper. I’m planning to ride roughly 2 days at each and trying to figure out which trails are worth prioritizing.
I’ll have my Stumpjumper with me, but my brother will need to rent a bike.
We’re both comfortable riders. I like technical trails, fast descents, and don’t mind climbing if the ride down is worth it. I’d also love to hit some rides that are unique to the Rockies with great scenery.
If you only had:
2 days in Banff/Canmore
2 days in Jasper
Where would you ride?
We’ll be there in September, so any local tips or seasonal closures worth knowing about would be appreciated.


r/MTB 1d ago

Video Might not be the coolest bike park in the world - but my 6 year old loves having it across the street

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223 Upvotes

r/MTB 15m ago

Discussion What’s this bike worth? Looking at buying it and need advice

Upvotes

I’d post a photo but it’s against the rules. Here’s the spec sheet copied from Facebook:

Description:
Amazing enduro bicycle, sadly too much bike for me to keep in college.
Lots of carbon-Handlebars
Enve m70 Wheels
Raceface 6c Carbon cranks
Xx1 derailer
Stamp platform Pedals
Fox Kashima 36
Float x2 fox kashima
Code brakes
Enve carbon bars.
Loaded stem
Loaded Seat clamp
Size M Specialized Enduro Expert Evo frame- Fit me 5'11" 165 Ibs perfectly

CONS-
Needs new tires. They hold air, just old Dropper seat needs to be bled


r/MTB 29m ago

Suspension Rock shox vivid:

Upvotes

Hey y’all. So I’m trying to set my Rockshox Vivid ultimate air. I am referring to AI because the Serial number is still being uploaded to Rockshox so that is my source. Anyways. I have a turbo levo gen 3 S3 frame. I was advised to use 190 PSI. I started at 50psi and then cycle shock every 50 psi. Eventually I got to 190 psi and when I sate down on the bike it was well over 40 percent sag mark. Is that normal l. I checked the stroke and it’s at 55mm which is correct. I’m so lost 😞 help please


r/MTB 49m ago

WhichBike what's the diffrence between those 2 bikes?

Upvotes

https://99spokes.com/en-EU/bikes/specialized/2026/stumpjumper-15-evo-expert

what diffrence would i feel between those 2 bikes?


r/MTB 58m ago

Video Bike too small?

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Upvotes

r/MTB 2h ago

Discussion Fox transfer elite what the hell

1 Upvotes

Sorry, venting.

Bought this post to replace an OC20. Not a pro, but I have installed three droppers so far in like 20 min each with one even on a bike the manufacturer claims cannot get a dropper in. Was a piece of cake.

Now, 3 hours later, I am halfway but I have never cursed so much. Why the hell did they put such tiny holes for the cabling, why??? And then the screws location - the one that attaches the lever to the ev-style bracket has to be tightened either by one of those long T hex tools or by an angled (standard) hex which is 3mm but at the same time the blue glue makes the turns hard as hell. Torque wrench there? No way. Its really the shittiest dropper I have ever fiddled with, hate it so much I will never buy a Fox piece of crap again even if its celestial in performance.


r/MTB 2h ago

Video Consistency issue with jumps

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0 Upvotes

I feel i’m too far forward on the bike when I land, maybe a loading issue before the jump. Almost there, 6 months of riding experience


r/MTB 2h ago

Gear I built a Karoo extension that estimates sweat loss from a physiological model, not a lookup table (open source)

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/MTB 2h ago

Brakes Formula Cura caliper flexing heavily and leaking between halves — bad casting/structure?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

​I'm having a really strange and dangerous issue with my brand new Formula Cura brakes and wanted to check if anyone has ever encountered something similar.

​When I pull the brake lever, the caliper visually and physically expands/flexes in my hand. Because of this flex, fluid is pushing out right through the seam between the two caliper halves.

​It feels like the structural integrity of the caliper body itself is compromised, or there is a severe material/casting defect preventing it from holding system pressure. The brakes are completely new out of the box.

​Has anyone seen this happen with Formula Curas or other 2-piece calipers before? Is this a known batch defect, or just a rare total failure? I'm already contacting the seller for a warranty replacement, but I'm curious about the root cause.

​Thanks!


r/MTB 12h ago

WhichBike Are hard tails what I'm looking for?

5 Upvotes

I won't go to a mountain just for the sake of riding but I want to travel around wherever I want with a bike and have fun while riding. so it's not just for transportation either. I basically want a playful bike that can go anywhere except mountains. I'd mostly be on paved roads but sometimes with bumps and imperfections. I prioritize stability over speed and also want to jump over obstacles not as showy tricks but as practical and fun riding skills, so it better has its chain stay on the shorter side I guess. done some research and seems like a gravel or a hard tail fits my description. want to ask you guys if you agree and things to look for. I'd appreciate your inputs. thanks in advance!


r/MTB 3h ago

Suspension Monarch plus rc3 service

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I have to do the complete overhaul to a rockshox monarch plus rc3. Since I'm a beginner, could someone tell me which kit I should order and possibly the identification code? Thanks a lot


r/MTB 22h ago

Video Pick a line, any line.

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31 Upvotes

r/MTB 7h ago

Wheels and Tires Tires for forbidden dreadnought

2 Upvotes

Building my enduro/bike park bike. I ride in the front range, white ranch, VC, left hand, apex and will be doing the occasional bike park day at trestle.

Wanting a tire that still allows the bike to be somewhat manageable uphill. Have been looking at Schwalbe Magic Mary, Albert and Romy but unsure what casing i want to go with. I also have conti Kryptotal trail pro 2.6 sitting in my garage that I could use up front. Bike will be MX. I’m familiar with the compounds/casings. But just want to hear some real life feedback on a good combo for what I’m riding. Thanks!


r/MTB 1d ago

Video Back on some Jumps in Squamish

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122 Upvotes

Slippery Salmon is back online but bigger and better. It only took me about ten times to get the starting line.

Lower section coming soon. It has one weird skipper you have to do. Even on the ebike I was running out of energy.


r/MTB 4h ago

Gear Bent hanger?

1 Upvotes

Hi guys. I'm having issues adjusting my Deore Derailleur. I can get it to shift ok in the easy gears by turning the adjuster counterclockwise. But when I shift to the small gears the chain jumps. Conversely, I can get it to shift ok again in the small gears when I turn the adjuster clockwise but then it won't shift to the easy (large) gear at all.

It doesn't look bent to me. Am I missing something?