Best Brands of Mountain Bikes

Remember when you were a kid jumping off curbs and plowing through puddles on your bike? How sweet was that And now things are even better. You can really get dirty, hit some serious jumps, and bomb down hills your mom never would have let you attempt back then.

Of course all that modern requires that you have a ride that is up to the challenge. Mountain bikes today are amazingly well engineered. They are so much lighter, stronger, and smoother than ever before so when you get a good mountain bike, your ride works for you instead of against you.

Deciding which bike to get isn't necessarily an easy decision. There are a lot of quality brands out there and you'll need to find something that fits your budget. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is get out and test drive a variety of models so I can't recommend that you use this list of best mountain bike brands as the ultimate authority on what to buy. Instead, use it as a good starting point that will end with you having great toy you can use to tear up the trails.

Don't agree with the list? Vote for an existing item you think should be ranked higher or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on or create your own version of this list.

The Top Ten

1
Giant

Excelent, but very expensive once I grow up ill get Glory DH, I swear!

Giant is my favorite bike maker because of its low cost and high quality.
I want to use giant forever.
Please vote giant.
If you are beginner, you should buy giant.

I'm sixty five years old but still enjoyed riding my Giant mtb, its very sturdy thanks to the asean craftmen who build it.

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2Specialized

Invested in a StumpJumper 13 years ago, put billions of miles on it, and it still feels like new every time I ride it. Thanks to Specialized for making such a killer bike.

dallinatkinson

I have an sx trail 2 which is perfect for riding the north shore. Can take 10 foot drops, but still keep it together on hairpins. The perfect Whistler bike.

I've had four Specialized, and think they're the best combination of technology and performance. They're not cheap, but I think they lead the pack.

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3Trek

I'm 6'5" and 310 lbs. After snapping the frame of a Cannondale then ruining the fork suspension on a Giant, I took the advice of my buddy at Bicycles Unlimited and gave Trek a try - that was seven years ago and it's still going strong, having only replaced the tires, brake pads, and a brake cable. With no disrespect to any other brands, Trek is the best brand to me.

Ridden Giant's, Kona's, Specialized's and Gary Fisher's, but you just can't beat Trek. I'm a 13 year old kid and own a Trek 3700 hard tail and a Fuel EX 8. Fuel EX 8 is an amazing bike.

I have had four Treks so far, and all my family members also got Treks, and got some friends into Trek. Beaten, roughed up, they just take everything and still roll true. Also have a Marine Nail Trail 29er, a good one, but far from Trek.

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4GT

I love my GT Avalanche 3. Perfect smooth ride with flawless gear shifts. The frame is great and holds up to moderate trails. I think I'm going to stay with GT for a long time.

I own an avalanche 1.o and I love it! The frame is fantastic and the components are durable. I bought the bike in 2007 and I only upgrade the derailleur to XT shadow! I am thinking to buy a gt carbon FS next year! :)

I love my GT Fury Carbon. When I use it, it makes m feel like I'm flying because of the suspensions in the back and in the front. Its a 10-speed type of mountain bike.

5Cannondale

I love my lefty! Smooth ride, easy downhill, quick change with front shocks.

I have cannondale SL3.

I just love my bike, gear shifting is effortless. The best part is that you get both derailers of Sram X5 at such low cost.

6Merida

I have bought 3 merida bicycles till now and I only have to say that this brand is awesome... You pay the money but you get the quality and equipment, not the name... For example if you choose between the best 2-3 brands and merida, for same price bicycle,... With merida you will get better equipment for sure

Previously I was a big bike rider(bikers)... Sportbike & easy rider.. One of my buddy introduce me to the cycling arena.. I start jump out when my 1st bike MERIDA MATT 40 finally climbing up from Simpang Pulai to Tanah Rata Uphill Cameron highland (Malaysia).. Tremendously without hesitation 90km uphill seems very smooth with my merida... Thanks for the design.. If any info sharing please mail me at muhamadhelmy80@hotmail. Com

VERY GOOD, GREAT QUALITY, SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST BICYCLES I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. I OWN ONE SINCE 2009. MERIDA MATTS 40D

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7Gary Fisher

Giant is cheap Asian crap made in a sweat shop by 11 year old laborers. Please buy a quality American Make that supports our Economy. Be cheap with your underwear and your hair plugs. INVEST in your bike.

8Kona

Amazing Mountain Bikes situated in Washington and British Columbia. Their bikes very in all features and are considered on of the best.

Great bikes, lots of fitment options, and they're built beautifully. I started off with a Giant Rainier (which I really liked), but when I graduated to a Kona Kahuna, the difference in both weight and usability was palpable. But... Buying a bike is a lot like buying a suit - it's not just about fashion, it's about the quality of the material, the quality of the accoutrements (i.E. the componentry), and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the fit.

I have a major one, it's actually a cross bike, but it came perfectly set up and it just fits, like nothing else I had test ridden... and the light as a feather thing helps when I carry it up the stairs... Also, it's tough..

9Marin
10Yeti

I ride professionally and yeti is definitely my favourite brand of bike. All of there bikes are amazing.

The Contenders

11K2
12Scott

Great bikes, reliable, well done and detailed at its finest.
Huge range to choose from road, to kids, womens, dh, all mountain, trail, xc and a few more varieties to choose from.

Fully recomended and exclusive

What to say about the company that makes 899 grams frame?

13Kranked
14Apollo
15Santa Cruz

Top 10 here reflect mainstream--e.G. ignorant--perspective. Nearly all serious mountain bikers would put Santa Cruz near the top (if not the top), while Marin and Kona make very mediocre product, to say nothing of the industry giants who put out a lot of crap, besides their top of the line bikes.

Top 10 4 sure always pushing the design, looks and function. Have some of the best riders in the world riding there bikes and there bikes ride like no other

They should be in the top 5 and they aren't even on the list! Some of the best quality bikes and designs you can get.

16Cube

Great bikes, reasonably priced, cool colors, and they look amazing, have good quality parts, you get the most for your money.

17Norco

Had a Norco BMX bike when I was young and loved it. Then bought a Norco mountain bike 2 years ago and feel the same, rides smooth and rips through trails, also ride it to and from work everyday so it gets a lot of miles on it and I ride pretty hard and still rides like its brand new,

How is this not on here already?
I have had a kona bike snapped the frame after about 2 weeks. I'm only 90 pounds! My norco still hold up after years after years of use

18Sobim
19Polygon
20Kuota
21Rockrider
22Hero
23Schwinn
24Jamis

Awesome bike, good overall performance and stability. I use mine for off road and on road riding, can handle any amount of extreme riding but that's just me. It's also a very beautiful bike and light weight and very comfortable. JC

25Vision

I had a vision AT-5089 hardtail and is and amazing bike, four years of hard beating over the rocky terrain in my city (monterrey N.L. mexico)and still going uphill and downhill like new if you can reach one get it.

Very nice rims and frames, got an MTB street for me and its awesome

26Stevens
27Boardman Bikes
28Atlas
29Rog Ljubljana
30Capriolo
31Corratec

So cheap but very high quality and very light weight

32Mongoose
33Shimano
34Iron Horse

Very beautiful design and color combining, light weight and cheap. Have strong frame structure, can go all type of trail. If you buy this bike and another bike with same price, you will know the iron horse item is super quality. I have seven mtb, one of it is iron horse, another like giant, merida, norco that more expensive than iron horse but from all I choose iron horse because more comfortable, and very straching design. And another reason is, if we talk with our friend or anyone about mtb, we just need say IRON HORSE and your partner will automatically know the aroma of iron horse. Seriously cheap, from another mtb brand.

35Concept
36Magna

Excitor is the best... I have one and it's got extreme springs for maximum comfort in riding, I can ride that bike all day over the roughest terrain and it holds up awesomely!

37Zoom
38Niner Bikes
39Turner
40Carrera

Awesome bike, that has good overall performance and stability. Good for off road and trail riding, can handle a good amount of stick from me.

41Unis Saraevo
42FBP Partizan
43Canyon

Best STW-ratio of any frame (including Trek, Specialized and Cannondale), excellent value, consistent quality components throughout, anodized frames, great geometry. To sum up, the best bikes in class.

44YT Industries
45Huffy
46Olympia Cicli
47Saracen
48Mob
49On One
50Redline
51Ryder
52Hercules
53Dunlop
54NS Bikes
55Haro

If you can find one buy it! Best mountain bike of all time! Bang for the buck, one of the best frames out there, high end parts, unbreakable!

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