Best Mountain Bikes Under $300

Mountain bikes are one the best investments you can make for yourself and your family. They are fun to ride and offer a great way of exploring your surroundings. However, not everyone can afford an expensive mountain bike. If you are looking for the best mountain bikes under $300, you have come to the right place.

We have compiled a list of the best mountain bikes under $300 so that you can get the best bang for your bucks.

List of the Best Mountain Bikes Under $300

Bike NamePriceWheel SizeSuspensionFrameGears
Xspec Folding Mountain Bike$30026 inchesFull SuspensionSteel21
Roadmaster Navy 26” Granite MTB$24526 inchesHardtailSteel18
Merax Mountain Bike 26”$25026 inchesFrontAluminum24
Mongoose Mech MTB $19024 inches and 26 inchesFrontAluminum21
Huffy Mountain Bike$24024 inchesHardtailAluminum21
Schwinn High Timber $27026 inchesFrontSteel21
Vilano Ridge 1.0 $30026 inchesForkAluminum21
Titan MTB Pathfinder Elite$27026 inchesFullAluminum21
Mongoose Stasis Expert$23026 inchesFrontAluminum24

Xspec Folding Mountain Bike

The Xpsec Folding Mountain bike is a great choice for people looking to buy a mountain biker under $300. It has a wheel size of 26 inches which is very versatile. The bike has a full suspension system. This means that with suspension in the front and the back, it will provide a comfortable ride and reduce bumps to a minimum. On the mountain bike, we usually go to rough trails and the rocky trail with bumps can be uncomfortable. A good suspension system helps avoid those bumps.

The other good thing about this bike is that it is made of steel. Steel is very durable and sturdy. This will make the bike last comfortably on rough trails. Lastly, the bike has 21 gears. This is a good number of gears on a bike. Low gears help to climb steep hills and also control on declines. With all these features, Xspec Folding bike is our choice for the best mountain bike under $300.

What We LikeWhat We Don’t Like
Full SuspensionSteel may feel heavy to some cyclists
26 inch wheel size is versatile
Folding ability

Roadmaster Navy Granite Mountain Bike

The Roadmaster Navy 26” Granite MTB is a great mountain bike you can get under $300. It comes with 26 inch wheel size, which is ideal for most people on a mountain bike. Even though it is made of steel, it is lightweight. The bike has 18 gears, which are more than enough for beginners. It comes with rim brakes. Surprisingly, the rim brakes provide good traction while stopping and the bike does not seem to slip at all.

What We LikeWhat We Don’t Like
26 inch wheel size is versatile18 gears may not be enough for experienced bikers
Great price pointRim brakes
Can go on different terrains

Merax Mountain Bike

The Merax Mountain Bike comes with 26 inch wheel size and has 24 speed options. The high number of gears really help control the bike on inclines and declines. The bike also has a dual disc brake, which of top notch quality.

The frame is made of aluminum. Aluminum may not be as sturdy as steel but is durable enough for most people. The lightweight of aluminum shines though and makes the bike easy to control. Merax Mountain Bike comes with front suspension.

For most routes, front suspension should do the job but if you are heading to rougher trails, then you may struggle with just the front suspension. Overall its a good mountain bike under $300.

What We LikeWhat We Don’t Like
26 inch wheel size is versatileLack of full suspension
Aluminum is lightweight
Dual disc brake
24 gears

Mongoose Mech MTB

We at The Bike Guider love Mongoose bikes. The Mongoose Mech mountain bike is no exception. It provides great value for money.

It comes in two wheel sizes, the 24 inch and the 26 inch size. So if you are on the shorter side or are looking to buy a mountain bike for kids, you may very well go for the 24 inch. The aluminum frame is lightweight and a pleasure to ride. The bike comes with 21 gears.

This much number of gears are great for beginners and provide a good balance between features and price. You can take the bike to pretty much all trails, though avoid off road. This is because of the suspension considering it as mountain bike under $300. This mountain bike comes with front suspension only. It will be good for most trails however, especially considering the price.

What We LikeWhat We Don’t Like
Option to choose 24″ or 26″ sizeFront suspension only
Can cater to short people, women, and kids
Aluminum is lightweight

Schwinn High Timber

The Schwinn High Timber mountain bike is a great choice for women and kids. It is made of steel and is very durable. The bike is sturdy to go on all types of trails. It comes with 21 gears, which are pretty much standard in this price range. You can easily cover most tracks with these gears. Schwinn High Timber mountain bike comes with front suspension only. On gentle terrains, it will work well. For most casual bikers, especially women and children, Schwinn High Timber mountain bike is an excellent choice under $300.

What We LikeWhat We Don’t Like
DurableFront suspension only
21 gears
26 inch wheel size is versatile

What Makes Mountain Bikes So Special?

Mountain bikes are very popular among people of all ages. Be it kids or adults, everyone can be seen riding around on a mountain bike. So what makes mountain bike so special? Well, to put it simply, it is a versatile bike which can be used to bike on a number of terrains.

Mountain bikes are best suited to rough trails which have rocks and loose sand. This is because the tires on mountain bikes are fat and offer very good grip on such surfaces. Mountain bikes also have a number of low gears which allow them to climb steep hills and inclines with relative ease.

If you are a casual rider, you can even commute on the mountain bike. The speed of the mountain bike on a road is relatively lesser than a road bike, but if speed is not an issue, you can ride the mountain bike pretty much everywhere especially when you can get it under $300. You can take it out on trails, forests, national parks etc. You can also go with friends and family on a picnic trip in the nature. There are just so many things you can do on the mountain bike. The possibilities are just endless.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Mountain Bike under $300

Buying a mountain bike may seem a bit overwhelming given the massive options available in the marketplace. However, with the following factors, you will be able to narrow down your research to the bikes that best meet your requirements.

Wheel Size

The first thing to consider is the wheel size. When you walk in a shop, you are bombarded with options like 26″, 27.5″, 29″ and so on. As a newbie, it can be a bit overwhelming. For most people, 26 inch wheel size is ideal. It is the most versatile. If you are tall, then you can go for the 27.5″ or 29″.

Having a bigger wheel size may make it a bit difficult to control it. However, once you are able to adjust, you can ride at higher speeds than other wheel sizes. In our experience however, most people should go for the 26 inch wheel size as it is the most versatile.

You can read more about 26 inch wheel size here.

Gears

Mountain bikes come in a number of gears, all the way from one till thirty. Usually, the more the number of gears, the more expensive the bike is. Choosing the number of gears depends on your goal. If you plan on climbing hills on the bike and riding on inclines and declines, then it is best to opt for a mountain bike which has the most number of gears. If your cycling route includes mostly flat areas, then you can save money and go for lesser number of gears.

Suspension

What makes mountain bike different from other bikes is that it is useful in off road biking and trails. This is because of the suspension in mountain bikes, which make the cycling trip less bumpy. The suspension absorbs most of the bumps and shocks and make the bike trip enjoyable.

This is why if you plan on going on off road, opt for a mountain bike with good quality suspension as it will really make your journey bearable.

However, if you are a casual biker and looking to bike around your surroundings, you may opt for a simple suspension system which will save you cost. Also you will see most mountain bikes under $300 have average suspension and can’t obviously be compared with bikes with price tags of $3000.

Frame Size and Material

Just like wheel size, frame size is also important to consider. As a rule, wheel size is mostly used to find sizes in kids’ bikes. For adults, however, frame size is preferred in determining the right size. The frame material also matters a lot. Aluminum and steel frames are preferred in mountain bikes. Aluminum is lightweight and graceful while steel is durable and sturdy.

Tires

Mountain bikes come with fat tires. These tires are best suited to providing maximum grip in loose trails. Most people take mountain bikes out on trails or parks where there is no road but just a dirt track. For such surfaces, fat tires work best as they are grippy and help you avoid slipping. Skinny tires, like those in road bikes, will also get damaged easily on the rocks. However, the fat tires do compromise on speed. Therefore, consider the type of terrain you will be cycling on to see which tires will work best for you.

Brakes

For any bike, and mountain bikes are no exception, brakes are very important. Quality brakes allow you to stop smoothly without slipping. Rim brakes are common and inexpensive option. Disc brakes are modern and more reliable than rim bikes. Disc brakes are very reliable in stopping without slipping and is the preferred choice for most people.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How much is a good entry level mountain bike?

You can find a good entry level mountain bike between $200 to $500. It all depends on your budget and what you are looking for in your bike. If you have a budget of $300, you can easily get a good mountain bike listed above.

Can I use MTB on road?

Yes absolutely, you can use mountain bike on the road. Many people prefer to keep just one bike and that bike is the mountain bike. With the mountain bike, you have the option of going on trails or off road whenever you want. On the road, mountain bike will have lesser speed than road bikes and hybrid bikes.

Why are mountain bikes so expensive?

Many people think mountain bikes are expensive but that is not the case. You can get a good entry level mountain bike under $300. If you are a professional, then yes, you will have to spend some more money to get a bike that can meet your goals and expectations.

How do I choose a beginner mountain bike?

There are a few factors to consider which we have mentioned above in the article. In short, you need to determine your goals and why you need a mountain bike. Once you know that, you can pick the wheel size, tires, frame, gears and suspension according to your needs.

Is full suspension or hardtail better?

A full suspension mountain bike will offer the most comfort on rough trails. It will be able to absorb the bumps and shocks better. However, full suspension is more expensive than hardtail suspension. For most people, hardtail suspension is a good option. If your cycling route involves gentle trails, you don’t need a full suspension and you can save your money by picking hardtail suspension.