If you're after a cheap bike and want to find the best mountain bikes for under £500 available now then look no further. It’s totally possible to get a bike that’s up to the task of proper off-road riding without breaking the bank, but there’s a big difference in how durable and enjoyable the best on the market are compared to the also-rans. Happily, we test hundreds of bikes every year, so we’re ideally placed to let you know which cut the mustard.
What should I look for?
The heart of any bike is the frame. At this sort of money you’ll generally want to be looking for a frame made of aluminium rather than heavier and cheaper steel.
The next thing you need to think about is the kit that makes it stop and go. The number of gears the bike has isn’t the be all and end all, but a higher number of gears often means smaller steps between shifts and a wider total range, which can be really important when you’re hauling up a big hill. At £500 or under, having nine gears at the back paired to a crank with three rings up front is ideal, but cheaper bikes may have just eight at the rear.
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Getting going is useless unless you can stop and happily most bikes at this price now come with motorcycle-style disc brakes, which offer much better all-conditions performance than brakes that use the rim of the wheel to stop. Brakes that use hydraulic fluid rather than cables are a big plus as they require less maintenance and give more consistent bite.
When it comes to tyres, it’s worth deciding just how much time you’re likely to be spending actually riding the bike off-road. If you just fancy a bike for getting to work or very occasional off-road use but don’t fancy the looks or riding position of road or hybrid-style bikes then a mountain bike is a good choice, but knobbly, proper off-road tyres will make the going hard. It’s worth asking if the shop doesn’t mind switching the tyres to slicks or hybrid tyres that have a mix of knobbly tread for cornering grip on the edge and a flatter centre for pedalling speed.
Suspension forks are a big plus when it comes to control and comfort off-road, but because many forks can cost £500 (or double that) just on their own, the units fitted at this price can vary wildly in performance and longevity, as well as the adjustment control on offer. While it seems like a downgrade, a rigid (non suspension) fork can be a good choice on a lower priced bike as the money saved can be used on other areas of the bike that may have a bigger impact on performance.
What should I avoid?
Okay, show me what’s best!
The best mountain bikes under £500
Calibre Two.Two
13 Incline Alpha
Carrera Kraken
Saracen Tufftrax Comp Disc
Specialized Pitch
Saracen Mantra (2014 edition)
Merida Big.Nine 40
VooDoo Aizan
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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