Are you looking for the best mountain bikes under 1500? Then you’ve come to the right place! The good news is it’s not hard to find a decent quality bike at this price range and this even goes for single-track bikes.
The mountain bike manufacturing industry is so competitive that it’s relatively easy nowadays to find a good quality mountain bike for under $1,500.
This includes cross-country bikes that are designed to get you through more technical trails and hilly terrain and all-mountain bikes that come with features like 27-wheel drive and the ability to carry you through the most grueling single-track points.
Best Mountain Bikes Under 1500 Dollars
Basically, it’s not at all difficult to find a good quality bike no matter what your budget is. This is especially true for mountain bikes, which come in a variety of styles and designs.
Read on as we review mountain bikes under 1500. We’ll provide you with all the information you need to make a truly informed decision.
1. Schwinn Traxion Mountain Bike
The Schwinn Traxion is one of the best hardtail mountain bikes under 1500. Why? Because it’s constructed from a durable yet lightweight dual suspension aluminum frame, a shock-absorbing front suspension fork, and 24-speed Shimano derailleurs and EX-Fire trigger shifters.
This means that you’ll be able to shift between gears as smoothly as though you were riding through smooth tar, even when you’re actually traveling through a challenging trail.
Other features included in this mountain bike are the 29-inch wheels which as you know are perfect for tackling those rough trails, but they can be a challenge when trying to navigate tight spots. But, obstacles won’t be an issue for you so this is a small price to pay for the speed that this provides. Besides, the wheels are also kitted out with long-lasting double-wall alloy rims.
You’ll be glad to know that this bike has mechanical disc brakes both in front and at the back and although it weighs almost 50 pounds, it’s understandable when you consider just how large the wheels are.
2. Merax 26″ Mountain Bicycle
For anyone who’s shopping on a budget, the Merax 26-inch mountain bike is the best $1500 mountain bike. It comes with all the features you need to start mountain biking but without the price tag.
This includes a suspended fork with a travel capacity of up to 80mm, a comfortable and durable aluminum frame, and shock absorbent features.
The drivetrain and the derailleurs are the best on the market, as they’re manufactured by Shimano while providing you with 21-speed gear.
But, what really impressed us with this bike is the fact that it comes with a high-quality feature as the Merax Finiss mechanical disc brakes. We didn’t expect this one at this price tag but that’s why we had to feature this bike on this review list.
Now, it’s worth noting that this bike isn’t exactly designed for championship racing or that type of activity, it’s still a solid option for recreational riders.
3. SAVADECK DECK300 Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike
This carbon fiber mountain bike from SAVADECK is known as model DECK300 and it’s definitely built to last. Only quality materials have been used to construct it, and it comes in up to six colors. This includes black/yellow, black/white, black/red, black/orange, black/grey, and black/green.
However, what makes this bike a worthy contender to be on this list is the fact that it’s so easy to assemble. In fact, the company hand-makes all of the components and puts most of them together for you so that you only need to do a little bit of work to install them. In terms of dimensions, you’re looking at 27.5 to 29-inch wheels, while the frame is available in sizes 15.5, 17, and 19 inches.
It’s worth noting that this is a carbon fiber bike whose frame is constructed from proprietary TORAY T800 carbon fiber. This material is durable as it’s lightweight, and it comes with great features that make this a wonderful bike. This includes aerodynamic contouring and torsion rigidity that helps you to maintain a strong grip on the bike while making sharp turns.
Also included in this bike’s specs is a shift lever with SHIMANO DEORE M6000 Speed Control as well as a front and back derailleur which makes it that much easier to shift gears smoothly and effortlessly.
Then you have the Michelin Country Race MTB tire, which is probably our favorite feature on this bike, and that’s saying a lot. But, you’ll understand once you consider that this tire has the ability to accelerate your speed regardless of the terrain, due to low rolling resistance and rugged construction.
4. Diamondback Bicycles Overdrive Hardtail Bike
If there’s one thing we can say about this bike it’s that it offers great value for money and it comes with a slew of great features. It’s also well-designed and easy to use.
Included in these features is a lightweight frame made from aluminum, a 24-speed Shimano Acera back derailleur, as well as a front Shimano TX50 front derailleur. This is in addition to an SR Suntour fork which has an 80mm travel capacity that makes for a smooth, and light ride.
However, these features pale in comparison to the mechanical disc brakes which can really come in handy when cycling through hilly or rocky terrain. It’s definitely one of the very best mountain bikes under $1500.
5. Diamondback Bicycles Hardtail Mountain Bike
Diamondback Bicycles has been around for a long time and has released many different bikes in that time.
This particular model is an improvement on one of their earlier rigs and comes with considerable upgrades including a boot axle spacing, longer reach, and a slack head angle.
It’s also budget-friendly and perfect for beginners. Keep in mind that this bike is particularly designed for hardcore hardtail applications which means it’ll keep you steady when turning corners but it can still push you when going down hilly terrain.
This is a rather comfortable bike that comes with a shock-absorbing chainstay and grip-friendly tires. Lastly, this bike is suitable for different types of terrain so you can take it on all kinds of different adventures and trails.
How to Get the Best Mountain Bikes Under 1500
Whether you’re looking for the best hardtail under 1500 or the best full suspension mountain bikes under 1500, you won’t get far without knowing what you’re looking for.
Here are a few helpful pointers on the features that you should look for in a good quality bike at this or any other price point:
Suspension
It’s much easier to find a budget-friendly hardtail bike than it is to find a great full-suspension rig at this price point.
That’s because full-suspension bike manufacturers tend to use low-quality suspension linkage design in an effort to reduce production costs which ends up producing a cheap bike that doesn’t offer good value for money. There’s also the issue of using poor-quality components.
However, when it comes to suspension it all comes down to your needs including the terrain that you cycle through as well as your riding style.
Frame Geometry
Mountain bikes for big guys are similar to fat-tire bikes and are available in a wide range of different frame sizes. This is to cater to the different riding styles that most cyclists have.
For example, a more upright frame is suitable for beginners because it offers a short reach and steep angles. On the other hand, an experienced biker won’t mind a rig that offers an aggressive ride with a back-wheel bias.
Size of Wheels
There’s no shortage of information available out there on the different bike wheel sizes at your disposal, each one touting the benefits of that size over another. But, as with anything, you should look out for number 1 to determine what size works best for you.
With that said, there’s no denying the merits of certain wheel sizes. When reviewing all of these different bikes, you’ll notice that we’ve had a preference for traditional 29-inch MTB tires also known as 650B tires.
But, some people do prefer mid-fat wheels also known as B-Plus or 650B rim tires that come with XXL treads. You’re really spoilt for choice here.
Brakes
Brakes are a no-brainer and you want good quality ones that won’t let you down when you need them.
Good brakes will always come in handy when going through rocky terrain or hitting tight corners while allowing you to slow down when you need to. For best results, hydraulic disc brakes come highly recommended.
Gears
For the most part, bikes often come with only one or two chainrings that are located at the front. This is in addition to about 8 to 12 back cogs whose dimensions are shown as an x and two numbers.
Now, the first numeral is there to tell you how many chainrings are present on the bike while the second number represents the cogs. For best results, it’s recommended to stick with a bike that has dimensions of 1×11 or 1×12.
The more cogs you have, the better because it means that you can choose between a wide variety of gears while keeping a low profile. This is completely different from what happens with fixed gear bikes that don’t have a freewheel mechanism.
The good news is that you can get all the range you need with a 1×11 setup without spending all that extra cash on a 1×12 bike.
Comfort
Like most people, comfort is probably an important factor to you. If that’s the case, then you should opt for a shock-absorbing full suspension bike.
These bikes allow you to ride for several hours without getting tired. But, you can always make your bike even more comfortable by installing better pedals, seats, and tires.
Extra Accessories
The great thing about buying a budget-friendly bike is that it saves you money so that you can invest in good-quality accessories that’ll help you upgrade the bike.
This includes a good quality MTB helmet to keep your head safe from potential collisions and/or falls, a more comfortable seat, and customized tires that are designed to handle the rigors of your specific terrain.
We also recommend you get a watch for mountain biking to keep track of everything and a hydration pack for mountain biking to keep hydrated.
Conclusion
We’ve come to the end of our short guide and we hope that it has been truly helpful to you. Now, to top things off, we’re going to give you our recommendation based on the testing we’ve done on these bikes.
Drumroll please… and the award for the best mountain bikes under 1500 is… the Merax 26″ Mountain Bicycle! We chose this bike as our top option because it’s budget-friendly, thoughtfully designed, and easy to assemble.
Also, it comes with great features like a durable aluminum frame and sturdy mechanical disc brakes. It’s safe, comfortable, and easy to ride.