In this article, learn more about the importance of finding a good mountain bike. We chose the $300 price point, best mountain bikes under 300, because the average biker may afford bikes under $300. Check out our guide for high performance mountain bikes over $1000.
If you are new to mountain bikes, it’s vitally important that you find a good beginner road bike to introduce you to the sport. However, don’t get us wrong. You can spend over $1000 or more to get professional mountain bikes with suspension. If you are looking for an affordable starter mountain bike, this 2021 guide is for you. Also if this is your first mountain bike, you may want to choose a less expensive one before upgrading to a more professional bike.
Only if you are a mountain biker, in our opinion, you should invest in a more expensive bike. In this article, we will present 20 of the best mountain bike reviews under $300. At $300 the essence of what you are looking for is:
- A strong, solid frame
- Efficient brakes – you do want to be able to stop, don’t you?
- Gears that are low enough and shift well
- Tires that have a good grip and seats that are comfortable
- A good quality assembly
We’ll speak more about what to look for in our buying guide, but these are the basics to look for.
List of Best Mountain Bikes Under 300 in 2021
Best Bike for Around $100
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Roadmaster – 26 Inches Granite Peak Men’s Mountain Bike, is one of the best bicycles on Amazon at under $150 and the best value for money, the Roadmaster Granite Peak is Amazon’s #1 rated mountain bike. The Roadmaster is one of the best discount mountain bikes out there for smooth gear shifting.
The Roadmaster is an 18-gear mountain bike that will adjust to riders from 5 feet 4 to 6-foot inches with a tool-free adjustable seat position. And the front and rear linear-pull brakes stop on a dime.
Yes, as most discount bikes at this price range are, the frame is steel, which makes it a little heavy, but nothing noticeable. This is a hardtail suspension bike. A hardtail uses the front suspension fork to absorb bumps and obstacles.
The pros of the Roadmaster
- Quick and easy gear shifting for every terrain and speed
- Impressionably strong biting grip on the ground. Really good brakes.
- Soft anti-slip grip handle
- Easy assembly. Comes 80 percent assembled
The cons of the Roadmaster
- Seat is rather narrow and uncomfortable. Definitely consider purchasing a new seat for it.
Best Mountain Bike for Around $150
Hyper Shocker 26″ 18-Speed Men’s Bike, Model OPP-152601, This is a very decent mountain bike for $150. If you are looking for a budget mountain bike, then consider the Hyper Shoker.
Perhaps this is not the best buy for some adults. But for kids that are growing and really won’t be taking their bike out on the trails, you just can’t beat the price.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Well made frame
- Excellent handling
- Nimble tires
- Decent Suspension
- Quite a sleek design
Cons:
More than one customer said they had to spend significant time making adjustments to the chain, and the gears tend to become sticky as well.
For a basic kid’s bike for the streets, the Hyper Shocker is not a bad kid’s bike providing they restrict themselves to the streets. In our opinion, this is probably not a trail bike.
Best Bike for $250
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Genesis 29″ Incline Men’s Mountain Bike is One of the best bikes you can find for $250 for tall riders. Step up to an aluminum frame with the Genesis 29 inch incline.
With its 21 inch drivetrain and Linear Pull, Disc brakes, this is the first of our Mountain Bikes that we would say go ahead and take it out on the trail. For tall teenage boys in particular, who have difficulty finding a bike to fit their frame, the Genesis Incline is a great bike that tends to do well on most trail environments.
The look is sleek and it definitely has a slight incline from back to front. With its four-bar linkage suspension frame and Spring-loaded suspension fork, together with 29-inch tires. the Genesis Incline is definitely a step up and provides a very comfortable ride.
Pros
- Very reasonable price
- Light and Responsive Aluuminum Frame
- 21 gears
Cons
- Difficult to put together.
- You will want to take it to a bicycle shop rather than doing it yourself.
Best Transition Mountain Bike
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The Kent Hawkeye is an aluminum frame bike with disc brakes for under $300. In the best value for money snd the lightest affordable mountain bike it doesn’t get much better than the Kent Hawkeye.
With 21 gears, Shimano shifters, and dual disc brakes, the Kent Hawkeye will take on the vast majority of trails, will stop on a dime when required, and is light and agile.
Designed for taller riders, at 37 pounds, it is indeed a light bike. The Kent Hawkey features a front, hardtail suspension system and does well on hopping curbs as well as trails.
Those who have bought the Kent Hawkeye seem generally impressed but harder riders consider replacing the front fork. Is this among the best Bicycles on Amazon and the best value for the money? We say yes, and if you are considering a discount Mountain Bike you should definitely consider Kent Hawkeye.
Note however that the Kent Hawkeye is not the easiest bicycle to put together and fine-tune, so follow our advice and take it to a pro bike shop for assembly.
Pros
- Lightweight at only 37 pounds
- Aluminum frame
- 21 gears
- Comes with rare disc brakes at this price range
Cons
- You likely will need a pro to put it together and to fine-tune the performance.
Best Aluminum Frame with Front Suspension Bike
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This is another good bike that fits this category. A great bike for teens and adults. The assembly is easy. As a matter of fact most part are already assembled.
What distinguishes the Mongoose is the full suspension frame which does a lot to smooth out the bumps and grinds of the trail. And generally, bikes with full suspension costs more money.
About the only knock on the Mongoose is that full-suspension frames take a lot more fine-tuning, so you can expect to take your bike to the bike shop more often.
However, most people believe it is worth it for the ride the suspension provides.
Pros
- Lightweight but strong alumuminum
- 21, smooth gears
- Great ride with the full suspension frame.
Cons
- Assembly is complicated.
- Definitely take it to a bike shop to be assembled
- Requires lots of fine tuning every few months
Again a good local bike shop is your friend.
Best Mountain Bike for Girls 4-9 years old
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Weighing in at around 28 lbs, this is a solid girl’s bike for girls up to around age nine. The bike has a very to use 6-speed shifter and is made out of a solid steel frame.
As kid’s bikes go, this is one of the better ones as the frame is solid and for young ones learning to shift gears, the 6-speed shifter is perfect.
Pros
- Very strong, reinforced steel frame.
- Easy to use shifters
- 6 Speeds
Cons
- Takes time to assemble
- Though almost all the tools come with it for assembly, you are definitely better off having it assembled at a bike shop.
Best Starter Bike to Learn Shifting Gears
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This is a 24-inch, cross country mountain bike with a rigid suspension and 7 gears. It has linear-pull brakes.
Many people buy the Kent 2400 Mountain Bike for their kids as they learn to shift the seven gears effortlessly on their journeys.
Kents are basic, good quality bikes, with a solid, light but strong aluminum frame. Being aluminum, they are much easier for petite adults and teenage girls to maneuver.
And don’t disregard this bike because it has a rigid suspension system. Rigids are increasingly more popular for bikepacking, which involves strapping camping gear, food, and supplies directly to the frame of a mountain bike for off-road exploring. If you will not be off-roading on steep trails, this is a great cross-country bike.
Pros
- Very decent price
- Aluminum Frame
- 24 inch frame is ideal for most women and teenagers
Cons
- Not a bike for steep trails
Best Pink Trail Women’s Mountain Bike
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One of the best women’s mountain bike under 300, what makes this $200 bike one of the best Bicycles on Amazon is that it fits in as the most affordable full suspension mountain bike.
It is extremely hard to find a best mountain bikes under $300 that has a full suspension. The trail ride is so much more comfortable with a bike that has suspension on both the front and the rear of the bike.
Priced at well under $300, this bike is definitely one of the best value for money on Amazon. Huffy bikes are made of solid steel, have an 18-speed index shifter, and are equipped with a Shimano Rear Derailleur.
With a suspension, this smooth, as your experience develops you’ll possibly try a few trails that might be out of your league otherwise for a $200 bike or under.
Sure it’s a beginner road bike, but at this price point, you get a lot of value. In fact, we would definitely consider the Huffy as our champ for the best mountain bikes for women.
Another thing about Huffy bikes is that they are very easy to assemble. This is one of the few bikes where the assembly is so easy that you only rarely do you need to take it to a bike shop. Most of the bike comes preassembled and it is easy to sort out the rest.
Pros
- Great price per value ratio.
- Smooth front and back suspension
- Extrmely easy to put together
Cons
- A lot of trail snobs will peg you as a newbie on the trails, but who cares.
Trail riding isn’t a fashion show. No extra points come in spending hundreds of dollars for a more expensive trail bike.
Best Affordable Full Suspension Mountain Bike
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The Mongoose 27.5 Ledge Mountain Bike ticks off a number of categories: best mountain bikes under 300, mens mountain bikes under 300, and best affordable full suspension mountain bike.
What makes the Mongoose best among so many categories? Let’s start with the price. For around $200, you get one of the best trail bike under 300, one of best value for money.
For under $200 you get a solid, all-aluminum frame, 21 speeds, a rear Shimano derailleur, and a full suspension frame. Pretty sweet for $185.
The Mongoose is certainly one of the most affordable full suspension mountain bike setups on the market.
In our mountain bike reviews under 300, people mentioned time and time again how pleasant it was to ride on a full suspension mountain bike.
Incidentally, Amazon customers seem to agree with our assessment as this being one of the best mountain bikes as they are listed at #10 among best mountain bikes.
Pros
- Solid value. One of the best we have seen in an under $200 bike.
- Very easy to assemble
- Most people can assemble this bike in under 30 minutes.
- Easy to find replacement parts
- Great suspension system
- Your body will thank you for buying a bike with one of the best suspension systems in the under $300 market.
- One of best mountain bikes under 300.
Cons
- Small bike.
- Not intended for those weighing over 190 pounds or for tall riders.
Best Entry Level Mountain Bike
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One of the best bikes if you want dual disc brakes, 21 speeds, a Shimano rear derailleur, and wide tires.
This bike definitely ticks off the categories of better mens mountain bikes under $300 and best trail bike under $300 and entry level full suspension mountain bike reviews. Huffy is a well-known brand, and if you are going to buy a discount bike, Huffy makes it relatively easy to choose this Men’s 26-inch bike. The dual suspension ride on this Huffy Oxide bike is one of the best in the business for discount mountain bikes, and combined with the sharp, duel disc brakes, makes this a real competitor.
Our mountain bike reviews under 300 consistently mention that the Huffy Oxide provides one of the best suspensions in the business for an under $300 bike. The Huffy Oxide certainly deserves a position on our best affordable full suspension mountain bike list. And as far as the disc brakes go, disc brakes are one of the best features you can find in a discount bike. Besides being able to stop super quickly, we can also add maneuverability to our list of best features.
Huffy has taken advantage of the fact that disc brakes allow for wider tires, which are really appreciated on trails for stability. Put it all together, and at this price point, the Huffy Oxide is one of the best value for money and one of the best bicycles on Amazon at this price point.
Pros
- Very decent price point
- One of the best suspension systems in this price range
- Dual disc brakes for superior stopping power
- 21 smooth gears
- Superior fat tire technology for the best handling.
Cons
- Disc brakes are bettter for stopping however they require more maintenance.
Best Started Red Bike for Teens
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Dynacraft Gauntlet RED Bike, is one of the best bicycles on Amazon as a starter bike for a teenager. Part of our entry level full suspension mountain bike reviews, this is an entry-level bike priced at around $150 but has the definite looks of a bike that is much more expensive.
As we said, it is one of the best bikes for teenagers or small adults, so don’t buy this if you are 6 foot 2 inches or so. The steel frame will be simply too small. Is this the best bike you can buy? No, but at $150 it is well worth the money. One of the best features about this bike is its sleek, aerodynamic looks. It just looks fast standing still, and the paint job is outstanding.
Another of the best features is that this bike comes 90 percent preassembled. Most people can put it together in 20 minutes or less. This makes the Dynacraft ideal as a gift, because you don’t want to keep a teen or pre-teen waiting.
With 18 speeds, a Shimano rear derailleur, and a dual suspension frame, the Dynamo may be just what the doctor ordered for your teenager.
Pros
- Very decent price
- Nice Suspension
- Best bike we have found for a teenager
- 18 smooth gears
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Not for adults
- If you are a super large teenager or an adult over 5 feet five or so, there are better bikes for you.
Best Budget Mountain Bike for Tall Men
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Although this bike has ranked #38 in Mountain Bikes in Amazon, we decided to include it in our top 20 bikes of 2021.
At around $150 or so, the Kent DS Flexor Mountain bike may qualify as one of the best values for money. And it may qualify as best discount bike under $200.
This is a big best suited for tall men and best suited for athletic men. As a 29 inch bike, the recommendation for tall men is obvious but what about the athletic part. Well, the bike is on the heavy side and if you are not athletic you may have difficulty wielding it, especially on narrow trails.
The best part of the bike is the dual suspension. Meanwhile, overwhelmingly, the worst part is the seat. The words Chinese Torture Treatment come to mind. Ride this thing for 3 hours and you’ll definitely be heading to a local bicycle shop for a new seat.
The Kent has 21 gears with a Shimano rear derailleur and a dual-suspension frame.
Pros
- Very decent price
- Sleek design
- 21 Gears
Cons
- Lose the seat as soon as possible
- Best for tall people
Best Mountain Bike for 5 foot tall
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The Hyper Havoc 26 inch mountain bike is best suited for those from 5 foot 2 to 5 foot 10 inches in height. At a price of around $150, this is a best fit for those parents on a budget that want to buy their teens or pre-teens a cool looking mountain bike.
This is an aluminum frame, full suspension mountain bike that provides decent performance at a budget price.
The Hyper Havoc weighs in at around 36 pounds, which is certainly manageable for most teens and kids.
Pros of the Hyper Havoc:
- All alumuninum frame
- 21 gears with Shimado shifter
- Full suspension frame
Cons:
- Assembly is easy but you are better off taking it to a bike shop to get it tuned up.
One of the best bikes to purchase if your kids are growing like a weed and will outgrow the bike within a year.
Best Multi-Purpose Bike for Women
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We’d certainly include the Genesis Whirlwind in our list of best mountain bikes under 300.
This is the best bike to consider if your wife or girlfriend wants to get into mountain biking but needs plenty of practice first before she heads to the trails. In fact, this may be the best bike under $150 on the market.
Why is the Genesis Whirlwind a best buy? For one thing, the frame is made out of high-grade tubular aluminum. Just looking at it, the Genesis Whirlwind looks like a sleek and aggressive bike. In addition, the Whirlwind provides 21 easy-shifting gears with a Shimano drivetrain.Next, the Genesis whirlwind provides disc brakes for the front of the bicycle and rear linear handbrakes.
Finally, the bike comes with an overstuffed saddle. This is one strong bike for around $150, and to prove it, the bike is rated for women up to 275 pounds.
Pros
- Great price
- Aircraft grade alumunium
- Great styling
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Probably not as good as other bikes for seriour trail riders.
Budget Mountain Bike for 6 feet and up
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Another good mountain bikes under# 300 is the Mongoose runs around $200 which is a darn good price. Designed for riders 6 feet and up, if you are a tall man (or woman) and don’t want to shell out a lot of money on a bike, consider the Mongoose Excursion.
It has a steel, rigid frame with front suspension absorber, and offers 21 gears powered by Shimano. Is this the best bike to buy? No if you are serious about being on the open trails, but for $200 it’s a great sports bike.
Pros
- 21 gears powered by Shimano
- Decent suspension
- Great price
Cons
- Some reviews around the web indicate quality issues
Best 26-inch Mountain Bike
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For around $250, this 26-inch mountain bike offers a lot. It has 21 speed, and double disc brake and a comfortable seat
Pros
- Easy assembly.
Cons
- Small
- Shift System needs some mprovements
Best Overall Bargain Bike Under $300
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At just a shade under $300, the Huffy Hardtail is considered by Amazon buyers to be one of the best overall bargains available.
The Huffy Texton, featured has a lightweight aluminum frame and features 21, Shimano powered gears. This is a definite Amazon favorite and has over 500 reviews. The Texton features wide, knobby tires for maximum traction.
Pros
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Light aluminum frame for maximum manevering.
- Actually has a frame warranty
Cons
- Assembly not easy
Best 21 Speeds Mountain Bike for around $300
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What more can we say. Hiland makes great bikes that look good for around $300. There are however problems. Hiland has unique, proprietary valve stems so that most people find they need to swap the tires out. Those that do wind up with a quite decent, Taiwanese bike direct from the manufacturer.
Pros
- 21 speeds, Shimano shifter
- Nice looking design
- Discount price
Cons
- Supposedly the manufacturer has changed the vale stems, but change them out yourself for a few dollars more.
Best Affordable Junior Mountain Bike
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A 21 gear junior mountain bike with a Shimano power train, the Van P is not a well-known brand except at box stores and even then, there are not many reviews available to make a comparison. For juniors, the Van P, at around $180 is a brand to consider.
They come with 21 gears and are made of an aluminum frame with front suspension technology. Van P bikes are sleek looking, which is what seems to matter most to juniors.The bikes come in 9 different styles, so if you don’t like one, try another.
Pros
- Aluminium frames
- Expressly designed for junior riders
Mountain Bike Buying Guide
We have narrowed down the different style of Mountain Bikes into a number of different categories. The first is the various categories of mountain bikes: ie,
Park Bikes
Good for more serious dowhill terrairs and rocky surfacesd
All-Around Mountain Bike
Generally most people’s choice in a versatile mountain bike.
Fat Bicycles
Often receommended for beginners, the wide fat tires are perfect for newbies on the trail as fat tires provide more control.
Cross-Country Bicycles
Great for those who want to quick climbing power and going at top speed over trails
Trail Bicycles
A mountain bike with a lower suspension travel, trail bicycles are the 2nd most common type of mountain bikes.
Mountain bike gears
Mountain bikes can vary from one to as many as 30 gears. The more gears, generally the more versatile your mountain bike will be. Know the terrain you will likely take your mountain bike on. The steeper the terrain, the more gears. Most people choose mountain bikes with 18 to 21 gears unless they are particularly physically fit.
Mountain bike frames
The majority of bikes in this category will either be made of steel or aluminum. Steel is very strong but tends to be heavy, giving you less control over the bike. But both steel or aluminum are quality materials for a trail bike. Some manufacturers offer metal alloys of steel and aluminum, which tend to be more expensive, but definitely lighter. You will rarely find carbon fiber and titanium bike frames in the under $300 category.
Mountain Bike Suspensions
Mountain Bikes fall into several different suspension types. The first is a full bike suspension. There are both front and rear shock-absorbing features with a full-suspension mountain bike. This is probably the best suspension system to buy for trails, however full sespension systems tend to be more expensive. Hardtail bike suspensions rely on all the shock-absorbing taking place on the front fork. Not only are these bike suspension systems cheaper, but they are more common. They also require less maintenance. Final there are rigid suspensions, which are cheaper yet, but have neither shock-absorbing systems on either the front or the rear of the bike.
Bicycle brake mechanism
Almost all of the bicycles in our best mountain bikes under $300 come with rim brakes. Two brake pads clench onto the rim of the bike’s tires. Disc brakes are the second option. Disc brakes work by gripping on the brake rotor that is attached to the wheel hub Disc brakes provide superior stopping power but are rarely found in discount mountain bikes.
Bike Wheels
Bike wheels for mountain bikes come in 24, 26, 27,5, and 29-inch wheels. Generally, the larger the wheels, the more distance you can cover after you have reached maximum velocity.
Your height and weight
Be sure to purchase a bicycle frame that matches your height and weight. If you are particularly heavy, then purchase a fat tire type bicycle for the most control. Meanwhile, the frame of your bicycle should fit your body length. If you are particularly tall you will want a 29-inch frame, while if you a short man or woman, a 24-inch frame may be more suitable for you.
The bicycle seat
We have rarely, even in $1,000 plus mountain bikes found a seat that was comfortable, let alone in a bike under $300. Do yourself a real favor and replace your seat with a custom seat as soon as possible. Trust us, your body will thank you for it.
Assembly
Finally, concerning assembly, even if you didn’t buy your bicycle there, we can’t emphasize what a wise move it is to take your bike to a bike shop to be assembled. A bike shop can make quick work of all those bits and pieces that come in the box and will have the necessary spare parts in case something is missing.