TOP 10 BEST BUDGET HARDTAIL MOUNTAIN BIKES IN 2024

Welcome to my budget hardtail mountain bike buyer's guide for 2024. In this video, we go over my top 10 best value budget hardtails under $700 US, along with some great honorable mentions. All this info is intended for a beginner mountain biker or someone wanting a great budget MTB as a second bike to ride tamer trails. These are my recommendations and hopefully after watching this, you can make an educated purchase decision and get the most bike for your money. #mtb #bike #budgethardtails

Check out The Bikes!
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- Kent Trouvaille 29”
- Ozark Trail Ridge 29”
- Norco Storm 5
- Norco Storm 4
- Marin Bolinas Ridge
- Kona Lanai
- Kona Lava Dome
- Giant Talon 4
- Polygon Xtrada 5
- Marin Bobcat Trail 3
- Norco Storm 2
- Polygon Xtrada 6

Sale Prices may not last forever...
I'll do my best to update prices in the comments.

What I’m Looking for…
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-Wheel size - 27.5” or 29”
-100mm to 140mm of front suspension travel
-1X Drivetrain with good gear ratio
-Hydraulic Brakes
-Modern XC Geometry
-Frame that can take some abuse

Chapters
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00:00 Intro
00:54 What I'm looking for
01:51 Kent Trouvaille 29"
04:15 Ozark Trail Ridge 29"
05:52 Norco Storm 5
06:24 Norco Storm 4
07:45 Marin Bolinas Ridge
09:02 Kona Lanai
10:40 Giant Talon 4
12:04 Polygon Xtrada 5
13:29 Marin Bobcat Trail 3
14:27 Norco Storm 2
15:47 Polygon Xtrada 6
17:18 Wanna See More Bikes?

Check out the BIKES I Ride...
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[TopToBottomMTB]

💥 Heads UP!! 💥
Massive SALE on NOW👇🏻
If you’re in the market for a new bike, NOW is the time!

[EFwildtrak]

When I search for a budget bike video, this is what I’m looking for. Not a “budget bike” for $1, 500, but some below $700 to just get into the sport if you don’t have that much money to spend. Great video!

[AY-mzgj]

So far, this is the BEST video I have found to get my first mountain bike, in my opinion no other video gets you explained for a beginner and plus great edited.
And it is on a BUDGET!!
Great video man, keep it up!!

[Epicfunk]

I really like my Giant Talon! I've had it for 3 years now and it hasn't let me down.

[cameronwheler]

FYI, the Kent seatpost diameter is 30.4mm, which - yes - you won't find a dropper for. However Cane Creek and numerous chinese knock off brands make an adapter that will convert 30.4 > 28.6 or 27.2, for which there are loads of options.

[waiata]

Wanting to get into mountain biking I have looked at a hundred entry level MTB videos and this is by far the best on youtube. Thanks mate.

[nascarisawesome]

8:49 As someone who sells bikes for a living, it's better to have external cable routing for mountain bikes, especially lower end. There's literally no downside. It's cheaper, easier to fix the crappy parts that come on them, and easy to upgrade or remove.

[bonkasaurus_wrecks]

You can have a dropper and a front derailleur at the same time. There's a different lever that's placed on top of the bars to not interfere with the shifter.

[mosquitofleetfishing]

I would say the Polygon XTrada 6 becomes a mid level hardtail with just a little bit of upgrading. Some good used parts make a huge difference

[aaronbehindbars]

The Ozark Trail Ridge is now available in a small frame (15") and newer production bikes now have a Microshift Acolyte shifter/derailleur (with clutch). The front brake rotor is now 180mm.

[seanfellows]

So I pulled the trigger and ordered the Kona Lava dome after watching this video. Can’t wait to go riding with the kids. Been struggling on the big box bike I’ve had.

[jamesmclellan]

I got the Polygon Xtrada 6 at the beginning of this year. (I upgraded from Giant Talon 4). Everything about the bike is great for the trails I like to ride. It is a very grounded, stable bike and definitely worth the money. I think I got it on sale for $699 or something. Bikes Online actually forgot the box with the QR skewer and pedals, but I sent one email, and they sent all the stuff I was missing and more in about 2 days. One thing you left out from the video, which is a weird detail, is that this fork actually has rebound dampening! On a coil fork, which is really weird, but there is a very noticeable difference between min and max. All I need for it now is a dropper post, which is 27.2mm. All in all would recommend getting this bike 👍👍

[devinbyrnes]

External cable routing is the best option if you are going to work on your bike yourself. Especially with hydraulic brakes. Internal cable roughing is a gimmick that makes your bike worse. Only exception is if you put the bike on chairlifts. Then getting the cables out of the way is good for durability.

[lerogers]

Great video for someone like me new to mountain biking. I got sticker shock when I learned how much a good bike costs... so I purchased a used 2012 Kona Mahuna during the pandemic from a used bike shop in Virginia that was in like new condition. I couldn't believe how mint condition it looked for its age and it had decent components. I don't even think the previous owner rode it much I had been searching EVERYWHERE for a quality bike! It was my first quality mountain bike after trying two from Amazon that were pure garbage. It was also my first time experiencing hydraulic brakes and trigger shifters... I was totally hooked! I had started watching every YouTube video I could find about how to find and maintain a quality bike including the Berm Peak channel. I was not going to make the Amazon mistake a third time. That 2012 Kona rode better and felt smoother than a brand new Trek X Caliber 8 that I tried a few weeks ago. I was able to sell my old Kona in less than a week and I purchased a brand new Kona Mahuna with Shimano components two weeks ago in gloss plum (purple) that is absolutely stunning when it comes to frame design and color.

[ronlawsonjr_carnivoretrip]

Thanks for the information. I’m going to be new to MTB and I am currently waiting on my Kona Lanai. Let’s go!!

[JA-gxhb]

Just bought an Ozark Trail for my 13 year old. I was feeling kind of guilty for getting such a cheap bike, but there was a lot that I liked about it. Anyway, I feel better about the purchase after seeing this. Great job on the video.

[Liam-ubgj]

Finally a video that’s not 1500 or 2k for a “budget” bike 🙏🏼. Thank you for the video

[rednroll]

Most of these were still over my budget for a 50+ yo just trying to get some exercise in a capable MTB. Using your checklist I settled on the Hiland Conqueror 29in MTB for $320. Aluminum frame, 29in wheels, Logan Hydraulic brakes, Shimano 16 speed transmission. Had it for a month and love it so far. Would love to see someone who understands more about MTBs review it.

[PashFN]

Pride marvel 9.3 for 530$:
1) Microshift Advent rear derailleur and 2×9 shift levers
2) Oil-spring Suntour xct fork with lockout
3) Hydraulic Sram level brakes with front rotor 180 and rear 160
4)29" wheels

[LongerRider]

I was bikepacking and currently stranded this is actually kind helpful