How Much Is a Mountain Bike?: Average Cost (With 7 Examples)
Are you trying to save up for a mountain bike? You’ll want to know the average cost and have examples to check out. That way, you can feel more confident that you’re getting a fair deal with your purchase.
On average, a mountain bike costs between $300 and $3,000, with most decent bikes costing more than $400. However, you’ll find many that are much more expensive than that. Since this range is so wide, you need to make a budget you can stick to before you start shopping for your new bike.
In this article, I’ll cover the average cost of mountain bikes so you can know what to expect before you shop. You’ll want to understand how the different features of a bike impact price, so I made sure to include that along with seven good examples.
Features That Affect the Cost of a Mountain Bike
If you research a specific brand of mountain bikes, you’ll probably notice that most offer costly and cheap options. There are different reasons for this, although it mostly depends on what materials and gear are in the bike.
Frame Material and Construction
First, companies offer mountain bikes with different frames. The more expensive ones are made from stronger materials using more difficult forming methods.
Although aluminum and steel are more affordable, they’re not as strong as carbon fiber. Titanium is the most expensive frame material for a mountain bike, but it’s by far the strongest. So, the material you choose for the frame dramatically impacts the final cost.
For example, an aluminum bike might cost you a few hundred dollars. In contrast, a titanium one probably costs a few thousand.
Wheel Size and Thickness
Wheels are also essential to consider on a mountain bike. The larger the wheel, the more it will cost you. Mountain bikes have thicker wheels than other bikes to allow you to travel over uneven terrain easily. However, that makes them pricier by default. If you choose a bike with the thickest wheels the brand offers, it won’t be cheap.
Gear Shifter Type
Lastly, the shifter (the controls that change the gear on the bike) can affect the final cost. There are a few main types to consider:
- Trigger or common shifters
- Twist shifters
- Brifters or brake shifters
- Electric shifters
The electric shifter typically costs more than the other types, with the trigger shifters being the lowest cost. However, you’ll want to try to choose the one that feels the most comfortable for you.
Most trigger and twist shifters are “twins,” so they’re on both handles. Electric shifters are usually only on one side of the bike. I recommend seeing them in person since it makes it easier to determine what you like best.
This short YouTube video discusses these standard shifters in detail:
Average Mountain Bike Cost: 7 Examples
The above factors can impact the cost of your bike. Let’s review some examples to see how much your bike might be. I’ve organized these mountain bikes from least to most expensive.
1. Trek 820 Mountain Bike
The Trek 820 mountain bike is currently the most affordable option that this brand has to offer. I’d say that it’s best for beginners looking for their first bike. You get outstanding durability for the price, and it’s perfect for gliding over trails, gravel, and uneven pavement.
However, the 26-inch wheels aren’t as suitable for very rough terrain as the other examples you’ll find here. The company recommends taking it on “light terrain” and says it can handle pavement riddled with potholes well.
It has a steel frame, a 21-speed Shimano shifter, and alloy wheels, adding up to about $400 to $500. It’s an outstanding bike that’s good for going off the beaten path. That said, finding a good mountain bike for much cheaper than this will be challenging.
Overall, the Trek 820 is a great example of an affordable mountain bike. You get good quality and reliability for the price.
2. Schwinn Bonafide Mountain Bike
Next is the Schwinn Bonafide, which is priced slightly more than the Trek 820, often priced between $500 and $600. It includes 29-inch wheels, an aluminum frame, and 24-speed trigger shifters.
Schwinn makes good entry-level bikes, although they will suffer a lot of wear and tear on rough terrain that expert cyclists travel on. You may want to check out other options if you know you’ll ride your new bike frequently since you’ll need one that’s more durable.
Since the wheels are slightly larger than the Trek 820s and come with double-walled alloy rims, they can handle rougher terrain. You’ll keep your speed up more once you get rolling, although it gets a little more difficult with heavier wheels. You’ll have better traction on uneven terrain since the wheels are thicker.
In short, the Schwinn Bonafide (available on Amazon.com) is a step up from the Trek 820. You can shift through more gear speeds and receive better wheels, allowing you to travel over rougher terrain.
3. Giant Talon 1 Mountain Bike
The Talon 1 from Giant jumps in price, going from about $900 to $1,000. This mountain bike is highly rated and comes with good specs, so many cyclists feel it’s of fantastic quality for the price.
You receive an ALUXX-grade aluminum frame, which takes advanced welding methods to form, offering you a durable, lightweight bike. You also have the choice between 27.5 and 29-inch tires, depending on the size of the bike frame that you choose. If you pick the 29-inch wheels, the bike will cost more but offer more traction. Finally, the bike uses Shimano Deore M4100 shifters that offer ten different speeds.
It’s another solid entry-level bike perfect for giving you a smooth ride. You can use it for cross country, although you may want to choose a more expensive one for intense terrain.
This model is in the middle price range for a high-quality mountain bike.
4. Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 Mountain Bike
The Overdrive 29 2 starts at around $1,000, so it’s slightly pricer than the Talon 1. It features an aluminum hardtail frame, a Shimano Altus Rapid FirePlus shifter, and thick 29-inch wheels. You receive tons of traction from the wheels, giving you complete control over the bumpiest terrains.
The feature that makes this bike more expensive on average would have to be the top-notch shifter that comes with it. This model is made for quick shifting, allowing you to shift down three gears in a single movement. It’s beneficial when traveling on variable terrain that switches between uphill and downhill slopes.
This bike is perfect for cross-country travel, even in harsh or rocky terrain, since the wheels and frame can manage more shock than cheaper options. Overall, it’s the perfect example of what you get for a mountain bike at this price.
5. Giant Trance Mountain Bike
You might’ve noticed that this isn’t the only Giant bike on this list. The mountain bike company is one of the world’s largest bicycle manufacturers in the U.S., second only to Trek. These names pop up repeatedly as you research mountain bikes, so they’re important to discuss here. Giant has a wide selection of mountain bikes with very different prices too.
This Giant mountain bike model usually costs between $2,000 and $2,500. The company says that this bike thrives even in the most difficult terrain using an ALUXX-grade aluminum frame that comes fitted with shock absorbers. You can easily ride it through huge bumps without any problems, making it great for going off the trail.
The bike also has 27.5-inch wheels and a Shimano Deore shifter, with 12 speeds for you to alternate between. It’s also weighted at the front, so you don’t have to worry about tipping when traveling up a steep slope. These features work together to create an incredibly responsive and stable bike.
6. Santa Cruz Tallboy Mountain Bike
You can expect the Santa Cruz Tallboy to be between $3,500 and $3,800. It’s pricey, but it’s a high-quality bike with more durability and climbing power. You get support on all types of terrain and keep control of the bike when going down hills due to the suspension and wheels.
This mountain bike uses carbon fiber to make the frame, which is an upgrade from aluminum and steel. However, you will need to pay a lot more for it. If you like the design of this carbon bike, the company also makes it in aluminum at a lower price.
The main features include a carbon frame, 29-inch wheels, and an SRAM NX Eagle, Shimano XT M8100, or SRAM GX AXS Controller shifter. You have some control over what shifter you get, so you can choose one to adjust the price.
Overall, the Tallboy has excellent performance and will last a very long time. It’s a good example of a carbon fiber frame within this price range.
7. Lynskey PRO 29 Hardtail Mountain Bike
Lastly, I wanted to discuss what you might get with a titanium mountain bike. This particular model is about $6,000, but you might be able to get it on sale for a thousand less. Most of this bike’s cost comes from the frame, which is over $2,000 by itself. However, this bike will last forever, so it’s worth it for most cyclists to consider.
The frame is heavier, so it takes more work to build momentum. However, you can quickly shift gears and use its climbing power. Lynskey is best known for its titanium frames that have professional geometry. That means they consider all the angles on the frame to give you the most control and stability possible.
The company makes this model with professional cyclists in mind, giving you a reliable design that can carry you through intense terrain. The wheels are 29-inches and are wide to provide you with more traction, and you also receive an SRAM GX Eagle AXS trigger shifter.
It’s worth mentioning that Lynskey is a family-owned and operated bicycle manufacturer, so all the parts are custom-made. You end up paying significantly more, but you’ll know that the bike has all the features you want, and the welding work came from a pro with solid attention to detail.
Most people won’t need a bike this expensive unless they’re professional cyclists who enter cross-country races. Still, it’s a great example of a premium, custom model that will last you decades.
Why Are Mountain Bikes So Expensive?
You can find bikes with a price tag up to $13,000, although they’re less common. Shopping for mountain bikes can be stressful since they’re pretty pricey, but why do they cost so much?
Mountain bikes are so expensive because of their frame. They use high-quality parts that take a lot of wear from bumpy terrain. They’ll come apart if they can’t handle shock from uneven ground. The frame is the costliest part, and its price depends on its material and manufacturing process.
You also want a mountain bike to be lightweight, easy to maneuver, and durable. The strongest metals are too heavy and dense, so companies must design them with the best geometry. Otherwise, they become cumbersome on the trail. Manipulating these materials takes a lot of effort, making them pricey.
Professional mountain bikes are the most expensive because the manufacturers work on perfecting all aspects of their design. Experts will tell you there’s a huge difference in control and climbing power when comparing a $200 bike with a $2,000 one.
It’s worth mentioning that brand name matters too. A well-known, name-brand bicycle will cost more than the competition, even if the bikes are similar. However, this is common among all products today. You’re essentially paying more for the familiar marketing.
In short, the technology in mountain bikes enhances their performance. You’ll need to pay more for these more detailed designs, making mountain bikes much more expensive than other kinds of bikes.
How To Save Money on Your Mountain Bike
Luckily, you can save a bit of money on your mountain bike. You’ll want to shop for a new one during the fall and winter since manufacturers are more likely to put them on sale during this time to make more room for their more recent models. Used ones are another option to consider.
You also might want to consider making your own mountain bike from various parts. You can find cost-efficient, quality frames to which you add the rest of the gear. Many pro cyclists prefer this method since they can completely customize the bike to fit their needs. You’ll likely spend less putting the bike together than buying everything at once.
It’s also essential to research your options so you know you’re getting a good deal at the time. Many cyclists recommend not buying from ads because the prices are often much higher.
Although that might mean you need to wait longer to have a completed bike to ride, you might save a few thousand dollars.
Is a $1000 Mountain Bike Worth It?
A $1000 mountain bike is worth it. These bikes come with better materials, designs, and construction than cheaper bikes. While you can find decent bikes for around $400, a $1,000 bike will last and offer the best performance.
However, you’ll also want to consider if it’s worth it for you to spend that much. If you don’t take your bike on the hardest trails, you can probably get away with a cheaper bike. Most cyclists who choose $1000 bikes use them frequently and want them to handle the wear and tear of tricky ground well.
If you don’t buy a good mountain bike, you risk it breaking somewhere while you’re on the trail. Depending on where you are when it breaks, it could be dangerous, especially if it happens while you’re on a slope. Plus, you’ll have to walk back without your bike. Cheaper models are much more likely to take damage than pricey ones, so they break more frequently while cyclists are out on rugged trails.
Overall, any mountain bike could be worth it. It depends on how much you can spend comfortably and how often you plan to use the bike. If you know you’ll use it frequently, it’s worth trying to get a more expensive model for its longer lifespan.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, you can expect a mountain bike to have a price between $300 and $3000, although you’ll find quality bikes at the high end of that range. Several reasons a brand might offer bikes with vastly different price points, including materials used, wheel size, and the shifter. Most decent bikes start between $400 and $800.
You want to ensure you get a long-lasting bike that’s not too expensive for you. Plus, it’s always good to familiarize yourself with these prices so you don’t get sticker shock when you buy your first mountain bike.
