Budget Bike Group Review - MTB's Under $2,500 #mtb

#loamwolf #mountainbike
Are you in the market for an affordable dual suspension mountain bike? Check out our group test to see which budget MTB impressed us.

For this year’s Budget Bike Roundup, we set out to test five full suspension mountain bikes for under $2,500. That's $500 off the price of last year's Best Budget MTB Shootout! At the end of testing, we feel confident that we’ve found a few bikes that deliver incredibly high bang for minimal buck.

Full, written roundup can be found here:

Individual Bike Write-ups:

Get your Loam Wolf gear here:
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#mountainbiking #mtb #enduromtb #polygon #trekbikes #aribikes #marinbikes

00:00 Introduction
01:51 Trek Fuel EX
06:59 Marin Rift Zone
11:52 GT Sensor
17:08 Polygon Colossus
20:52 Ari Cascade Peak
25:41 Final Thoughts

[echobenav]

Would be great to see you guys do a "first mountain bike roundup". Maybe hardtails under a grand? $2500 is a lot of money to start into a sport.

[JaredHoff]

Love the bike line up guys. These are the bikes a lot of riders should be looking at. You can always do some upgrades overtime to turn one of these into a custom dream bike 🤘

[IIISentorIII]

In Switzerland, Specialized is selling the Carbon Stumpjumper Comp for 2500chf ( 2700$). 😊

[sjones]

Keep up the good work Loam Wolf!!! Last years video played a huge role in what I bought in 2023. You guys rock!!!

[trailblazeratv]

There Giant Trance was recently on sale too. Maestro is a great suspension platform imo

[manfredstrappen]

Ended up with the Marin after seeing it’s usually the winner in these price point comparisons.

[likeaboss]

Not surprised that the marin won, everyone i have talked to who has one, loves theirs. I’d love to get my hands on one and give it a proper thrashing. Looking forward to seeing you guys review the new alpine!

[ogmr.c]

How does the 2022-2024 giant stance 1, 2 29er compare with these bikes. Thank You in advance.

[AliasHSW]

Tifosi is great bang for the buck. My kids don the Leatt Enduro full face helmet. It tick all the boxes, especially with the fidlock strap

[curtrobertson]

For a few hundred more I’d look at the ibis Ripley AF or Ripmo Af

[dannyv]

Sad that Vitus went out of business. Vitus Mythique was one of the mtb to top the Marin Rift Zone.

[Aredub-fxwr]

Yt clearance is the place to go
Got a YT Jeffsy core 2 for 1500

[KineticsReborn]

Did you guys find the rear triangle of the ari to flex and have the tire rub the seat stay like 99 spokes?

I really desperately want the Ari Cascade Peak however I'm 240 lb full kit in don't want to be dealing with flex issues

[tjabaley]

Excellent commentary and discussion. Well done. If you cant have fun on these bikes you cant have fun. Id take the Marin.

[jasonlindquistmedia]

great review, I ended up gettin a Ibis ripmo af last aug. best $3k ive spent

[jokermtb]

The previous generation, but very similar GT Sensor, I threw a rockshox deluxe shock and a rockshox revelation 140 (modded with a pike ultimate rc2 damper), saint brakes (second hand), pnw loam dropper and some hunt enduro wide wheels and made this bike a true ‘budget’ ripper….

[mrvwbug]

Out of this bunch, if I were buying for myself, the Polygon. Can't beat that for a budget big bike. If I were going to recommend to a new rider, the Marin. Maybe the Ari to a rider who is willing to deal with the DVO money pit or drop money on new suspension within a year.

[petedog]

2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct C30 w full Deore group set, WTB wheels, Maxxis DHF/DHR, Marzocchi Z2 Rail 150mm, Fox DPS 140mm, Ride9, etc... $2800 USA.

[qwertyazerty]

I am looking for my first full sus rig and I am leaning towards xc as efficient climbing is my thing. Recently I rented out the marin rift zone 1 for a full day ride and this bike is totatly not for climbing. For starters it weighs a ton. With rockshox reckon fork and an xfusion damper it weighs way over 15 kg. then there's the slack geometry which makes you almost slide off of the saddle on steep hills and puts you in a somewhat awkward upright position with your arms close to you. I am more accustomed to a streched out xc position. Then there's the damper which lacks a quick cable actuated lockout for efficient pedalling. Sure, having it open makes this bike ride like a tank though technical uphill sections like big rock gardens or roots not requring good handling skills. you can just power pedal through the obstacles and it will handle it.l, especiallt given the fact that the steering is sluggish thansk to the slack HTA and wide bars. But on the longer run, this bike is just exhausting on uphills. It can get you to the top of the trail course, but riding all day uphill is a no no for this bike. On downhill it's super plush and I think this what is it for solely. I can't say this bike, as a trail type bike is an all rounder. I got hooked on orbea oiz h30.

Ps. If all the tested bikes (and trail bikes in general), except for the pygon are good all rounders, why won't you show how good are they at climbing. The whole coverage is showing them going downhill. To me an all rounder means that a bike is equally good at climbing as with descending and for sure I can't say this about the marin.

[seriousmechanicing]

Picked up a Devinci Marshall for $1800 recently. Sweet to have extra cash for upgrades. Very happy so far!