If you are into mountain biking and are looking for best cheap mountain bikes for fun outdoor exercise this Budget Buyer’s Guide with full reviews of the Top 12 Best Cheap Mountain Bikes under 500 will be a resourceful and great place to start.
Cycling is a great way to get into some exercise while enjoying being outside then finding a good mountain bike can allow you to increase your fitness while allowing you to spend some quality time off the beaten path.
Whether you are new to trail riding or simply haven’t been riding for a few years, starting out with any one of these cheap mountain bikes will allow you to ease into the hobby without breaking the bank.
Here is a look at the 12 Best cheap mountain bikes that are available today.
12 Best Cheap Mountain Bikes under 500
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The first mountain bike on this is we identified is the .
This bike comes in your choice of red and blue with black accents giving this bike an incredibly high quality look.
It is available in two different sizes: small (16), medium (18 inches) or large (20 inches) and weighs about 35 pounds when fully assembled. It also comes in different Overdrive styles: 27.5, 29-2 and Overdrive 29er.
Although this bike is priced cheaply for a mountain bike it has plenty of feature that you would expect to find in a more expensive bike making it a excellent bargain.
Features of the Diamond Overdrive Hardtail Mountain Bike
27.5 inch wheels for easy roll well over obstacles
Quick handling
Powerful Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes
SR Suntour XCT 27 Coil Spring fork ideal for better controls on bumpy terrains
Diamondback Blanchard 25 wheels
29” wheels for better traction and stable rides
Adjustable seats
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What the Reviews Have to Say
Most of the reviews we got about the described as being are exceptionally good.
Users like that this hardtail mountain bike has an excellent finish and graphics and most of all enjoyed its bargain price. They also find it to be easy to assemble and the directions are for this bike is good. Riders also state that the bike has a solid frame and is great for cross-country riding.
While most people who purchased this bike are thrilled with their purchase, a few users found this bike had a few negatives. Minor complaints include that they find the seat uncomfortable and there this bike does not come with a kickstand. More serious complaints are complaints regarding the quality of the pedals and that some users found that after only a few rides the frames bend.
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Next on this list is the which comes in your choice of denim blue or charcoal with complimentary accents.
It is a nice looking bike with a quality finish that is appropriated for children about 13 years old and who stand a minimum of 5 feet tall.
If you are in the market for a mountain bike for your kids there is no way you would miss out on this incredibly low priced bike! You are getting alot more for what you are paying for this bike and the kids will enjoy this as a gift forever and give them great fun exercise!
Let’s check its features.
Features of the Summit Ridge
17 inch frame
Weighs between 42 and 43 pounds
Durable steel frame (limited lifetime warranty)
Kolo 1200 suspension fork handles makes going over bumps and dips smoother
SHIMANO TZ-31 rear derailleur with the micro-shift twist shifter: great for uphill or downhill riding and acceleration
26” X 1.95” Knobby tires
Linear pull handbrakes
Padded ATB adjustable saddle
Slight rise handlebar
ATB-type resin pedals
3 piece Kolo crank
Alloy wheel
Kickstand
What the Reviews Say
Honest reviews for the Summit Ridge are good, but not great. While the vast majority of users really liked this bike others seemed to have some very real complaints.
Users felt that the is easy to assemble and like that it comes with all the tools needed to put this bike together. They find it to be quite solidly built and provide a smooth ride that is both reliable and durable.
Since this bike is sized for children they also find that this bike is easy to handle. And yes they love the price.
Complaints regarding the Summit Ridge include the fact that like most bikes the seat of this bike is incredibly uncomfortable, the gearshift also seems weak and the handlebars keep coming loose no matter how many times you try to tighten them.
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Schwinn is one of the most recognized and biggest names in the biking world known forexcellent quality indoor exercise bikes and outdoor road bikes and mountain bikes – and the the is one of the best cheap mountain bikes you will get made by Schwinn.
This bike comes in a beautiful matte gray and neon green making for a sharp looking outdoor bike that is sure to get a lot of attention.
While this bike is considered to be inexpensive it does have some amazing features that are a little better than the standard features you find on some cheap bikes.
Features of The Schwinn Traxion
18 inch Aluminum Dual Suspension Frame
29 inch Wheels
Mechanical Disc Brakes
24 Speed Shimano DriveTrain
24 EZ fire trigger shifters
Front and rear Shimano deraillleurs
Front and rear mechanical disc brakes
Extra wide double wall alloy rims
25 inch wide knobby tires makes trail riding smoother and more comfortable
Schwinn alloy cranks
Best suited for riders 5’10” and taller
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What The Reviews Say
Reviews for the are good with the vast majority of reviewers stating that they were glad that they purchased this bike. They had a lot of features that they really liked about this bike. They love the color and found the bike easy to assemble. User also find the shocks to be exceptionally good and that it goes over rocks on trails pretty easily.
The heavy-duty frame, and the quick release brakes and smooth shifting gears were other features that users were impressed about. They also like the fact that for a lower priced van this van has a kickstand.
There are a few scattered complaints regarding this mountain bike. While almost everyone agrees that the seat is uncomfortable a few other people did complain about pedals falling off and one person found that the front tire slides when you stop suddenly.
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The is a sharp looking mountain bike that comes in your choice of either black with red trim or Teal with green trim and a unique unisex bike made for both men and women.
Just by looking at the ratings on reviews for this bike it is easy to tell that it is definitely one of the best cheap mountain bikes that you can buy.
While this bike is not meant for steep mountain ascents and descents it is great for novice trail riding and will get out in the fresh air and alot of fun exercise.
Features of the Mongoose Status Mountain Bike
Sturdy Aluminum BTB 18 inch frame and Hydra formed tubing
Powerful suspension fork
21 speeds with a Shimano rear derailleur for a smooth ride
Front and rear V brakes for quick stops on the trail
Light durable alloy rims and 26 inchX2.25 inch tires makes rolling over rough patches on a trail easy.
Riser handlebars with colored end plugs
Bike weighs 46.7 pounds
Kick stand
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What the Reviews Have to Say
Reviews for the are quite good and the vast majority of users really like this bike and find it easy to assemble with good suspension. They say it does well on trails especially on novice to medium rough trails. They also like that riding this bike is smooth and the fact that it comes with a kickstand.
Negative reviews for this bike include complaints regarding the seat, and some assorted problems that are seem to be one off. Some users also complain that once assembled the bike needs a lot of adjustments.
But overall this is another decently priced bike for the price that we recommend with its 4/5 Amazon rating.
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The is an attractive looking slate gray very affordable mountain bike with bright blue trim that actually sells for more than reasonable price. While some adults have bought this bike for themselves, many also purchased this mountain bike for their kids.
The price of this bike alone would put it in a category as one the best cheap mountain bikes on the market. However, the features of this bike are pretty much standard and while not the best they are extremely useful.
Features of the Kent KZ2600
26 inch full suspension and 6061 aluminum MTB frame
Suspension fork 65mm travel
Shimano 21 speed shifters with rear tourney derailleur
Front disc brakes and Linear pull rear brakes
Alloy rear wheel
This bike is lightweight weighing in at around 22 pounds
Quick Release seat post clamp
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What the Reviews Have to Say
Checking available reviews of the they range within average, which is what one would expect from a basic mountain bike at this price point. But there are more good reviews than bad and reviewers who like this bike find this bike easy to assemble and great looking.
They like that the bike is lighter than many mountain bikes and find that it rides well. Many users of this bike are pre-teens and teenagers. Users also like that this bike sells for an extremely good price.
There are also several negative reviews with users finding that this bike has a very uncomfortable seat and small pedals.
In addition, there are all sorts of different reviews including several users finding this bike to arrive with punctured tubes and bent rims and a number of other problems. They also find customer service poor.
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The Mongoose Impasse may not be one of the best cheap mountain bikes on the market, but it does have alot fans.
The is extremely handsome looking with a beautiful silver with black trim, which gives it a more expensive look and is sure attract a lot of attention.
And though reviews for this bike are not quite as good as the bike itself looks it does have nice features that make it worth considering for those of you who are on a budget.
Features of the Mongoose Impasse
This bike comes with an 18-inch aluminum suspension frame.
It comes with 29 inch wheels
It has an element suspension fork
21 Speed Shimano rear derailleur
SRAM twist shifters
Alloy wheels quick release front
Alloy front and rear disc brakes
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What the Reviews Have to Say
When you look at user reviews for the Mongoose Impasse they run between average and good. The bike does have several fans that really like this bike and find several features on this bike that they really like.
Most users find that the is easy to assemble and tweak so that everything works, as it should. Once assembled they find the bike to be nice looking and good on local park trails. It has good brakes and smooth shifting.
There are a good number of complaints about this bike most them are regarding a lot of various problems with one or two complaints about issue listed. Others find that this bike came with missing parts, which they found frustrating.
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The comes in your choice of either red with white trim or red with blue trim with a good quality finish.
While Schwinn has also been known for its high quality bikes, the Schwinn Protocol is not one of the best cheap mountain bikes on the market. This bike has pretty much basic features, which is to be expected for a mountain bike in the lower price range.
Features of The Schwinn Protocol
Schwinn full aluminum suspension frame with front suspension fork for reliable riding
26 inch wheels
Front disc brake
Rear alloy V-brake for all condition stopping
Light and strong alloy rims
Schwinn alloy crank
Shimano EZ-fire shifters
43 pound bike
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What the Reviews Say
The gets only a little better than average in terms of reviews. However, there are some users do like this bike and feel that it is an excellent choice.
Users do feel that the suspension on the Protocol provides a smoother ride over bumpy roads and they feel it does well on lighter trails. They also like the larger tires on this bike.
There is quite a number of negative reviews for the Schwinn Protocol including the fact that this bike is quite heavy and is made using some really poor materials, Many find the fork construction exceptionally poor and pretty easy to bend even on fairly easy trails.
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The is a great looking bike that comes in your choice of gloss black and red or matte black and blue.
The black and red bike does sell slightly more more than the black and blue bike with the price of this bike the difference really shouldn’t be a budget breaker – its just a personal preference than any other difference.
While this bike only gets slightly better than average reviews, there are several users who feel that this is one of the best cheap mountain bikes that presents more value than it costs.
Features
Aluminum frame
29 inch tires
Mechanical disc brakes on both the front and the rear
21 speed drive train with speed trigger shifting
SRAM 3.0 rear derailleur
Extra wide double all alloy rims
1 inch wide knobby tires
Quick release seat
Suntour 3 piece alloy cranks
Best suited for riders between the height of 5’9” and 6’2”
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What the Reviews Have to Say
When you check available reviews for the you find that they are just a little above average. However there are some users who feel this is an excellent bike for the price and find plenty of features that they really like.
Users feel that this bike is easy to assemble and like its lightweight design. It also gets great compliments for good suspension making for a more comfortable ride. It is also easy to switch gears and comes with a really good warranty from the company itself.
Negative reviews include complaints regarding the poor seat, stripped pedals and impromptu welding of the front fork. One user also complained that the steel parts on this bike rusted within a year. Other complaints have run the gambit across every feature of this bike. This may be a quality control issue.
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The is another nice looking bike from a reputable bike brand known for its quality bikes.
This bike gets reviews and deserves to be seen as one of the best cheap mountain bikes on today’s market.
This bike has better than standard features and is one of the best cheap mountain bikes on today’s market. Although this bike is not made with the highest-grade materials they work well for this bike overall.
Features of The Schwinn Bonafide Men’s Mountain Bike
17 inch sturdy aluminum frame
24 speed Shimano EZ fire trigger shifters
Front and rear Shimano derailleurs
Schwinn suspension fork
29 inch tires
Front and rear mechanical brakes
Schwinn durable alloy cranks
Double wall alloy rims with 2.25 wide knobby mountain tires
Comes with 5 year warranty
71 inches X 26 inches X 44 inches
39 pounds
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What the Reviews Say
Users who have reviewed the find it to be a very good with a large majority of users finding that this bike meets all of their needs. The impressive look and ease of assembly is another thing users liked.
They state that this is a great entry-level mountain bike that shifts smoothly and has excellent brakes. They also like that the bike is sturdy and they get smooth rides on trails although most agree that this bike is not dedicated steep climbs and descents.
Some people have experienced some problems with the bike including the standard hard seat, broken axles and broken chains. However, overall the good reviews far outweigh the bad.
10. Kent T-29 Men’s Mountain Bike
Another excellent bike we reviewed and added onto our list of the the Top 12 Best Cheap Mountain Bikes under 500 is the Kent T-29 Men’s Mountain Bike.
This magnificent looking bike that sells for an incredibly low price! And though this bike only gets average ratings the actual written reviews seem to reveal this bike may be better quality than what the ratings would indicate.
This Kent T-29 bike has the standard features that seem to be just what many people are looking for.
Features of the Kent T-29
6061 heat treated aluminum frame
Shimano RS25 Shifters
TZ31 derailleur and precise crisp drive train
Lightweight alloy 29 inch rims
20 X 21. Inch all terrain knobby tires
170mm crank set with 28, 38, 48 tooth rings made from steel
58 inch X 29 inch X 7.5 inch
41 pounds
What the Reviews Say
Reviews for this bike are mixed which with some users seeming to expect unrealistically more from a $250.
However those users really like the Kent T-29 Men’s Mountain Bike find that it works well for them and well worth its budget price. Overall, most people feel this bike is designed for taller men, but is easy to assemble and well engineered. They also find that this bike is sturdy and has a good shifter and sells for excellent price.
Negative reviews include the fact that this bike is heavy and there seems to be used that find a variety of defective parts including defective inner tubes, brakes, tires and seats.
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The is an amazing cheaply priced mountain bike that people purchased to use as both a road bike and trail bike.
It is a nice looking bike that comes in an array of colors and is designed for those who are beginner or occasional trail riders and has earned itself a solid 4.1/5 Amazon product rating from users due to it excellent features. It comes in 15 inch, 17 inch, 19 inch and 21 inch sizes making it ideal for different riders.
So let’s explore some of its specs and features.
Features of the 2021 Gravity FSX 1.0 Mountain Bike
Aluminum Frame
Tektro Novela disc brakes
Shimano shifters
24 speed
Front and rear adjustable suspension
Comes in sizes 15 inch, 17 inch, 19 inch and 21 inch
Variety of colors including black, gray, white, yellow and more
Suntour fork
Triple alloy crankshaft
Shimano front and rear derailleurs
Black 26X2.1 tires
What the Reviews Have to Say
This mountain bike gets good reviews with a majority of the people who purchased this bike finding a lot of features that they really liked. Most found the to be fairly easy to assemble, well built, and fun to ride.
They like the full suspension and state that this bike gives them a smooth ride. They feel it is good on beginning level mountain trails and they love the price.
Most of the negative reviews for this bike are centered around the uncomfortable seat and the tires that aren’t the best.
So if you are looking for one the best cheap mountain bikes under 500 bucks you have to consider this bike.
This bike is foldable making it possible to easily fit into the trunk of most larger cars so you don’t have to attach a bike rack to your car when traveling with this bike.
Features of Xspec
26 inch bike
21 speed
Available in two colors: black or white
Made from high tensile steel foldable frame that allows this bike to be folded flat
Shimano derailleurs and shifters
Alloy double wall rims
26 inch diamond wheels
5 inch handlebars
Both front and rear shock absorbers
Maximum user weight 220 pounds
Accommodates heights between 5’3” and 6′
What the Reviews Have to Say
Most reviews for the Xspec 21-Speed Folding Mountain Bike are good with the majority of users who purchased this bike more than satisfied with their purchase. They say that this bike not only looks good, but is strong and sturdy and easy to fold.
Its riders also find that the Mountain bike is fun to ride and rides smoothly and also state that once you get used to shifting the gears that the bike shifts easily from one gear into another. They also like the kickstand.
Those users who did not like this bike had various complaints the most common of which is the uncomfortable seat, cheap pedals and receiving the bike with bent parts (which could be a shipping issue rather than a problem with bike.)
So at about $250 this bike is hard bargain to pass on.
Conclusion
For those of you who are looking to get a bit of exercise in the fresh air while spending a little bit of time on some beautiful park or country trails then you may want to consider choosing anyone one of these really affordable Top 12 Best Cheap Mountain Bikes under 500.
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