Best Mountain Bikes Under $500 of 2022 – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews
In A Hurry? Check The 7 Winners By User
In A Hurry? Check The Winners by Category
Hardtail
Tommaso Gran Sasso
Full Suspension
Gravity FSX 1.0
Folding
EUROBIKE G4
E-MTB
Sheepfun EMTB
For Youth
Diamondback Lustre
For Kids
Raleigh Lily
Fat MTB
GMC Yukon
It’s the age of mountain bikes. Everyone, from male to female, kids to adults, wants to ride a mountain bike. And there is nothing wrong with wanting your mountain bike. These bikes are great for every type of road, be it bumpy off-trail terrains or plain neighborhood roads.
But before buying a bike for yourself or your loved ones, you have to know the best options available in the market at an affordable price. Here, I have listed top 10 best mountain bikes under 500 dollars, so that you can make your decisions easily.
31
RESEARCHED SOURCES
151
REVIEWS CONSIDERED
33
HOURS RESEARCHING
84
PRODUCTS COMPARED
Last Updated: 25 Apr 2024
By Zachary Anderson: We have updated the article to give the most accurate information regarding mtb under $500 for the user who are looking for. Some of the listed bikes have replaced with new one to assist individuals in finding the correct one currently available online.
Top Rated Mountain Bikes below $500 Comparison
Image | Bike Name | Type | Best For | Wheel | View On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Tommaso Gran Sasso | Hardtail | MEN | 29 Inch | |
 | Iron Horse Sinister 6.2 | Full Suspension | MEN | 29 Inch | |
 | Gravity FSX 1.0 | Full Suspension | WOMEN | 26 Inch | |
 | Raleigh Ziva | Hardtail | WOMEN | 27.5 Inch | |
 | Diamondback Line | Youth Bike | BOYS | 24 Inch | |
 | Diamondback Lustre | Youth Bike | GIRLS | 24 Inch | |
 | Raleigh Lily | Kids Bike | KIDS | 20 Inch | |
 | Sheepfun EMTB | EMTB | UNISEX | 26 Inch | |
 | EUROBIKE G4 | Folding | UNISEX | 26 Inch | |
 | GMC Yukon | Fat Bike | UNISEX | 26 Inch |
Best Mountain Bikes Under 500 Dollars – Reviews
You must agree with me that, finding a good mountain bike isn’t an easy task. To help my visitors on choosing the best one I have spent countless hours on researching & made a list of best mountain bikes under 500 dollars.
The list includes all type of bikes for a variety of Audience. From Kids to Adults biker everyone can choose their first bike from this list. Also I have added both type of mountain bikes. So you can choose between both Full Suspension & Hardtail bikes from this list.
Listed product price were under $500 at the time of writing this article
Hardtail Mountain Bikes under $500
1. Tommaso Gran Sasso
Here is listed the first bike in hardtail category for Men’s.
Tommaso is direct to the consumer brand and you can get a great, performance-packed mountain bike, the Gran Sasso 29er, just spending under $600 Dollars. This feature-filled bicycle was specially designed for male riders who want a new bike for the purpose of heavy mountain riding as well as light trail ridings.
Tommaso bikes are known for their amazing built quality and the Gran Sasso is no exception. The frame of this mountain bike was constructed from the premium quality butted aluminum alloy that is not only strong and durable but also makes the price of the bike very much affordable. Moreover, this frame provides super comfort to the rider’s body.
The new Tommaso 2018 Gran Sasso bicycle comes with very wide wheels of 29 inches decked with super gripe tires. With these wide wheels, you can smoothly roll over rocks and roots without any impact and shock on your body. Furthermore, this combination of wheels and tires makes uphill riding easy and much comfortable.
To make sure that the bike delivers top-notch riding performance, Tommaso installed 24 speed full Shimano drivetrain to its 2018 Gran Sasso 29er mountain bike. This drivetrain not only provides the rider with a wide range of gears to choose from but also ensures effortless climbing through the mountain trails. Additionally, the Shimano shifter makes gear changing very much easy.
What We Liked
Bikes that are relatively inexpensive tend to break down easily and quickly. But that’s not the case with this Tommaso Gran Sasso 29er Mountain Bike. Even though it is a budget-friendly mountain bike, it has a superior build quality and ensures high-end performances.
2. Raleigh Ziva
The Ziva Women’s mountain bike from Raleigh Bikes is considered one of the best cross country hardtail mountain bikes for women’s just under 500 dollars. This bike can cruise the trail with reliability as it comes with some quality components like drivetrain Shimano. As this bike was specially designed for women, it has a very stylish design that is sure to attract any women with taste and comes in many different colour options to choose from.
Why this bike is suitable for women?
The Ziva bike delivers excellent comfort and safety for petite women’s body. Equipped with Women-Specific brake levers, grips, & saddle offers more fun when riding in trail area. It has a frame that is made of aluminium alloy.
Aluminium is lightweight and therefore the bike is easy to control. This cushy saddle that is adjustable and very pleasant to sit on. It also offers a women’s specific upright geometry. This specific geometry ensures that a woman’s body is comfortable and doesn’t hurt at all while riding a bike. Moreover, this bicycle comes in many sizes to accommodate different size women.
There’s more.
The frame of Ziva is equipped with a squishy 100mm suspension fork and 27.5 inches wide Kenda Slant Six tires. The fork and tires together keep the bike steady and stable on unfavorable roads. And also saves the delicate women’s body from bumps and shocks of various terrains. Additionally, these Kenda tires make controlling the bike easy and ensure that every turn of the bike is more precise.
Raleigh Bikes incorporated 24 speeds Shimano trigger gear shifter in its Ziva bicycle. This shifter enables you to gain preferred speed by changing through gears very much easily and swiftly.
And to control such speed and have better-stopping power, this bike includes front and rear handbrakes that are adjustable and stops the bike immediately avoiding any misfortune events.
What We Liked
The Ziva womens mountain bike from Raleigh Bikes is a great women’s bicycle. It matches a woman’s style as well as performs extremely well. This bike is also comfortable for delicate women’s body type. Therefore, if you are considering buying a new bike, the Eva 2 would be great choice at a very budget-friendly price range.
3. Raleigh Talus 2
If you don’t like Diamondback overdrive then you can check Raleigh Talus 2 mountain bike for men.
This bike was specially made for men riding effortlessly on the pavement and light dirt trails. Raleigh Bikes claims that the Talus 2 bike delivers real fun on just two wheels. Mens enjoys riding this bike on off-trail roads.
But are the claims true?
Like other mountain bikes, the Talus 2 is also made from AL-6061 custom butted aluminium frame with formed tubes. Aluminium is used because it is affordable, very strong yet extremely lightweight. Lightweight frame means the bike is portable and easy to manoeuvre. Moreover, a frame made from aluminium alloy also lasts for a long time and do not rust easily.
This aluminium frame features an upright geometry for a very comfortable riding position and is easy on back and neck. Additionally, the front suspension of this bike provides bump resistance and riders can ride on rocky trails with any shock and impact on their body.
The Talus 2 includes large 27.5 inches wheels and wide 2 inches tires that help the rider to easily roll over on any kinds of terrains with confidence and efficiency. These wheels are strong and you can depend upon them on unfavourable conditions. And they surely won’t let you down.
To ensure high performance, the Talus 2 incorporates Shimano EZ-Fire 21-speed gear shifter. This provides a wide range of smooth gear change and gains suitable speed. To control speed and assure safety, this bicycle comes with V-brakes. These brakes are super easy to use and deliver incredible stopping power to the ride.
What We Liked
If you are looking to buy a new bike for men, then the Raleigh Bikes Talus 2 Mountain Bike is just the bike for you. It is reliable and lightweight. This solid built bicycle has some great features which are rare for a bike of such an affordable price.
Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $500
4. Iron Horse Sinister 6.2
Now it’s time for you to buy a new mountain bike and upgrade your riding experience. The 29″ Men’s Sinister 6.2 Mountain Bike from Iron Horse is just the bicycle you would want to buy. This bike is designed for adult men and offers excellent performance.
Not only this bike has great performance, it also has an unique stylish masculine design. You can use this bike to ride on off the trail roads as well as commuting throughout the city. It is good in every kind of terrain.
Iron Horse used sturdy aluminium alloy to construct the frame of this Sinister 6.2 bike. Aluminium is lightweight and therefore, the bike is very portable. You can carry it anywhere with ease. Moreover, aluminium doesn’t rust easily, which makes the bike durable.
The frame is styled with a comfortable seat post and has locks on handlebars grip. The distance and fitting of seat post and handles provide a comfortable riding position that doesn’t take a toll on your body while riding.
Wait! There’s more.
The full suspension frame features suspension fork from SR Suntour and very wide wheels. This two combined help to roll the bike on any roads without any shock and impact.
The Sinister 6.2 offers a wide range of gear change through its Shimano 24 speed trigger shifters and rear derailleur. This gear shifter ensures fast and accurate shifting between gears without much effort. Additionally, this bike includes both front and rear hydraulic disc brakes that provide extraordinary stopping power on any surface, including wet and muddy roads.
What We Liked
As I said, the Iron Horse 29″ Men’s Sinister 6.2 is an excellent bike for men to ride. It is a super performance-packed bike with little flaws. The flaws make it more alluring. Besides, this is a great full suspension mountain bike just under $500. Therefore, it’s worth buying the Sinister 6.2.
5. Gravity FSX 1.0
As we concerned, Ladies always want comfortable ride. That’s why we have listed Gravity FSX 1.0 full suspension bike for women.
The new FSX 1.0 Dual Full Suspension Mountain Bike from Gravity is one feature filled bicycle that not only delivers top-notch performances but also is surprisingly cheap in price which is a rare combination to find. This entry level mountain bike is suitable for both trail riding and all-mountain riding and you can even ride through city roads or neighborhood with this fantastic piece.
There might be a misconception that inexpensive bikes are cheaply made that could break off anytime. But that’s not the case with new Gravity FSX 1.0 mountain bike. This most important part, the frame of this bicycle is constructed with high-quality hydroformed aluminum alloy with flawless welding points and is extremely lightweight and hence very easy to maneuver and control. Furthermore, this frame also ensures the durability of the bikes as aluminum is a solid and sturdy material.
One feature that you will absolutely love about this bike is the super suspension system. The FSX 1.0 comes with both front and rear suspension forks attached to its 26 inches wide wheels. These Suntour forks and wheels combined together rolls over on the terrain smoothly and absorb any shocks and impacts of the road making sure that you have a very comfortable riding experience.
This Gravity bike is a top speed mountain bicycle with 24-speed Shimano EF51 shifters that provides the rider with a wide variety of gears to choose from. Moreover, shifting between gears and gaining top speed is extremely easy and swift with this shifter.
What We Liked
The Gravity FSX 1.0 is the cheapest full suspension mountain bike for you if you want something alluring, full of performances and that is super inexpensive comparing to the benefits it provides. This bike will fulfill all your riding requirements without costing big bucks.
Electric Mountain Bike
6. Sheepfun Foldable E-MTB
Looking something different to buy? Want your new bike that is unique? Then your search is over. Sheepfun brings you the exact bike you are looking for at a very cheap price tag. The 250W Folding Electric Mountain Bike from Sheepfun is ideal for off-road riding, travelling as well as commuting through the neighbourhood.
But what is so unique about this bike?
As the name suggests, this bike is a folding bike. The Aluminum constructed frame with alloy hub makes the bike easy to fold and store in a very small place. The frame is also very much strong and study as iron is a strong metal. Moreover, as the bike is foldable, it takes a little space in your car and can be easily carried around.
Furthermore, the bike frame folds using a 2 part locking mechanism that makes sure that catch safety of this e-bike remains locked while in use. The catch safety can be unlocked one-handedly for an effortless folding system.
The seat saddle of the e-bike can be adjusted according to the rider’s height. That means, though the bike comes in one size, it can fit riders of all height and size.
That’s not all.
The e-bike includes a powerful motor of 250W that is accompanied by a powerful battery. The 36V 8AH lithium battery recharges quickly and can go up to 25-50 km with pedal assist. You can still ride your bike with ease and comfort even after the battery is out of charge. This bike comes with a UL approved charger.
Additionally, to ensure maximum safety measures, Sheepfun added both front and rear brakes to this bike. Both the brakes help the bike to have a reliable and very much controlled stopping.
What We Liked
The Sheepfun 20″ 250W Folding Electric Mountain Bike might be an excellent choice if you are looking for a bike that features both powerful motor and powerful battery at a reasonable price range. The frame is strong and sturdy and you can ride this bike to anywhere.
Fat Tire Mountain Bike
7. GMC Yukon Fat
Another special mountain bike with Fat tire for heavy weight riders.
Looking for an entry level fat tire mountain bike that will make your beginning biking experience pleasant? Then look no more. The GMC Yukon Fat is a perfect mountain bike for beginners. This bike is intended for both men and women.
But why is it perfect for beginning riding?
The whole bike is constructed around a frame that is hand-crafted using lightweight aluminium. Though aluminium is lightweight, it is extremely strong and durable. You don’t want your bike to fell-apart just after a couple of use. The lightweight also adds to the bike’s portability.
That’s not all.
The GMC Yukon is called a fat bike because it features super wide 26” x 4” tires on 4 inches wide aluminium rims. These tires are the most remarkable features of this bike as they enable you to ride on any off-road terrain as well as rough terrains. Be it on snow, mud or even on sand, the bike will roll effortlessly without causing any problem.
Additionally, the wide rims of these tires are shaped in such a way that they provide optimum strength to the wheels. Because of these extreme wide tires, the bike can accommodate up to 300 pounds comfortably. So if you are a plus size or you want to carry things with you for your journey, you can comfortably do that with slowing down the bike.
There is more.
Yukon designed the wide tires in such a way that they can contain a handsome amount of air so that the wheels remain safe from impacts and other rough obstacles.
Moreover, the GMC Yukon Fat Bike incorporates 7-speed gear shifter and 14-34 gear cassettes both from Shimano brand. These provide a wide range of gear shifting options to the bike even on a steeper trail.
What We Liked
The GMC Yukon Fat Bike is a strong contender in the Fat Mountain bike market. This bike is budget friendly yet this is super performance-packed. All the parts are well made and from world-class brands. Therefore, if you want to begin your riding journey, the Yukon Fat Bike is a must buy as it was specially designed for beginners.
Folding Mountain Bike
8. EUROBIKE G4
Like regular mountain bike this bike has all features. But It has folding facility in addition.
Folding bikes are in craze lately because they take up a little space of your garage and can be easily carried around in your car or truck. The G4 Folding Mountain Bike from EUROBIKE perfectly combines high-end performance with a budget-friendly price range. This G4 is considered as one of the best folding mountain bikes under $500 for obvious reasons. It is lightweight and very much easy to move around.
What are the reasons to consider the G4 as one of the best mountain bikes?
Unlike most other mountain bikes, the EUROBIKE G4 is made around a 16-inch frame that is made from high carbon steel. And the stem is made from forged aluminium that assures stiffness and maximum durability. The frame is styled with 26 inches wheels and super comfortable saddle. The frame was designed in a way that it can fit riders from 5.4 inches to 5.8 inches tall.
Moreover, the bike comes 85% installed. You have to put on the wheels, seat, handlebars and pedals and your bike is ready to roll.
The most exciting part of this folding bike is the rims of its tires. The tires include only 3 spoke fashion rims made from sturdy magnesium alloy. These rims made the tires lightweight and extremely easy to control.
The tires also provide dual suspension mechanism to the bike. Dual suspension explains that the tires are always in contact with the road for better traction and saves the rider from any shock and bump.
Moreover, as the EUROBIKE G4 is super easy to control and increase speed quickly, the need for a good pair of brakes was inevitable. That’s why this bike incorporates a Mechanical disc brake from TAIWAN BOLI. This brake has excellent stopping power and can stop any moment you press the brakes.
What We Liked
If you want your mountain bike to be an exceptional one then the EUROBIKE G4 Folding Mountain Bike might be a better choice for you. It has super performance, and most importantly, its super wide tires incorporate just three spokes. Three spokes tires are rare to be seen and you can be a proud of one just spending under 500 bucks.
Youth Mountain Bikes
9. Diamondback Line 24″
Want to buy a new bike for your junior? The Line 24 Complete Pavement Bike from Diamondback Bicycles is a perfect choice for you to buy. This bicycle was made especially for young who are too young to handle an adult’s bike. This is a junior version of Diamondback’s do-anything hardtail mountain bike. This bike can be used both as off-road ride and commuter bike.
As its adult version, the Line 24 is also made from 6061 aluminium alloy with hydroformed tubes. Aluminium made the frame light and portable. Your junior can carry it practically anywhere they want. Moreover, this alloy is long lasting and doesn’t breaks-off easily. The frame is designed to fit children aged 8-12 years or has a height of 53 to 62 inches.
What else?
The frame is equipped with 24″ wheels and 2.35 inches wide Kenda tires that help to keep the bike stable on any terrains. The front suspension also helps the rider to avoid any bump and impact of the roads. Additionally, the 8-speed gear shifters enable to change gears swiftly and gain speed effortlessly in a shorter period.
Is it safe for such young ?
The Line 24 Complete Pavement bike features front and rear mechanical hydraulic disc brakes that stop the bike in a blink of the eye, no matter what surface the bike is on. These brakes also include adjustable reach levers that are perfect for young growing hands.
What We Liked
The Diamondback Line 24 Complete Pavement Bike is a big thing in a small package. The bike has all the cool features of an adult’s bike packed in a junior’s bike. This bike would be a great addition to your garage for your junior. And that too in a very affordable price tag.
10. Diamondback Lustre 24″
Diamondback doesn’t only produce bicycles for younger boys; they also have a beautiful bike for young little girls. And that is the Diamondback Lustre 24 Complete Pavement Bike. You can buy this bike for your young girl to ride around the neighbourhood with her friends or go for a small off the trail road riding. Well, there is nothing that makes a young girl super happy and excited than a brand new gift.
Like many other Diamondback bicycles, the Lustre 24 Complete Pavement Bike also has a frame that is made with 6061 heat treated aluminium alloy. Aluminium makes the bike super lightweight. As young girls are petite, a lightweight bike is an added advantage for them. The frame features a replaceable derailleur hanger that ensures the bike’s durability.
Moreover, the Lustre 24 contains a suspension fork and Shimano Revo Grip 21-speed gear shifters. The gear shifters offer a wide range of gear change and enable the little girl to reach desired speed with ease. And the suspension fork makes sure that the bike rolls smoothly, without any impact or shock, on any terrains.
As I said, young girls are petite and safety is a priority for them. Keeping that in mind, Diamondback incorporated linear rim pull brakes to the Lustre 24 bicycle. This brake is simple to use yet very much strong and effective. The bike comes to a swift halt as soon as someone presses the brake.
What We Liked
Make your young girl happy as well as fit by buying her this pretty Lustre 24 Complete Pavement Bike from Diamondback. This bike won’t cut your pocket much as it is one of the best bikes for young girls under $500. Although, the Lustre 24 is meant for young , it delivers all the great performances of an adult’s Diamondback bicycle.
Kids Mountain Bike
11. Raleigh Lily 20″
Searching for the first mountain bike for your kid? Your search is over then. The Lily 20 Complete Bike from Raleigh is the bicycle you would want to buy for your kid. The cycle comes in different eye-catching colours that would bring instant joy to your little one. Kids aged from 4 to 9 years old and have a height of 44 to 55 inches can easily ride this bike without any extra support from you.
But what is so special about this bike?
The Lily 20 is constructed with a low standover frame made from strong yet lightweight aluminium alloy. The low standover height makes getting on and getting off the bike easy. And, as the bicycle is super lightweight, a little girl can move and control it effortlessly.
Additionally, the bike frame is equipped with 20-inch wheels with a 20 inches rigid 6061 aluminium fork. We all know how fast kids grow up and the wide wheelset helps to keep the bicycle frame size perfect for growing kids. Moreover, the wheels along with the fork deliver great suspension and save your little princess from shock and bumps.
What about safety?
As the Lily 20 incorporates 6-speed twist gear shifter from world-class brand Shimano, it is very easy to change between gears and gain speed. Speed may cause unfortunate events sometimes. Keeping that in mind, Raleigh also included front and rear alloy V-brakes to the Lily 20 bicycle. These hand brakes help to control speed and provide immense stopping power. These brakes also offer more control over the bike.
What We Liked
The Lily 20 Complete Bike from Raleigh will be a little piece of happiness for your young girl. This bike will make the little girl interested to ride and become a bike enthusiast. The Lily 20 provides great performance within a cheap price tag. It is considered as one of the best mountain bikes for kids and you can buy this bicycle without any hesitation.
Conclusion
This list of best mountain bikes under 500 dollars reviews should have given you a far better idea about which mountain bike to buy for your or your loved ones. All these bikes provide great performance at a very budget-friendly price range. So, good luck and advance congratulations on purchasing a new mountain bicycle.
Top Mountain Bike Under $500 Navigation
