The smartest first mountain bike for most riders is a 130–140mm-travel hardtail with a 1×12 drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and 29” wheels — expect to pay $1,200–$2,000 new. Full-suspension makes sense once you’re riding 6–10 hours a week on real trail systems and want to descend faster; budget $2,500–$4,500 for a competent first full-suspension trail bike. Below are our MTB-specific buying guides and comparisons.

Buying advice

• Used bike buying guide
• How much should you spend on a bike?
• Cycling on a budget
• All buyers guides

MTB context and discipline

• Mountain biking parent hub
• What is enduro mountain biking?
• Clipless vs flats for MTB