BEIOU Carbon Fiber Mountain Bike Hardtail

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”500″ identifier=”B01FJF1FHM” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51PM7oI0dtL.jpg” tag=”activexsports-20″ width=”500″]The winner of our editor’s choice award goes to  the BEIOU Carbon Fiber Hardtail Mountain Bike. 

Upon close inspection of this bike every component of the bike has the same quality carbon components as other big bike brands such as Giant/Trek along with added Shimano components.

In basic terms you get the same exact quality but without the massive brand markup price. BEIOU  are sourcing the same components and manufacturing but delivering it at a fraction of the cost you would usually pay.

The Shimano Deore is an absolute joy to ride the hydraulic disc brakes work perfectly. To assemble this bike you simply put on the handle bar, seat and front tire and you’re done!

If you’re not comfortable putting those 3 things together you can just take it to a bike shop and they can do it for around $60-80 typically. Customer Service is surprisingly responsive users have reported emails beinh replied in withing the hour. 

Most biking enthusiasts feel extremely threatened by a bike like this, people who spend 3k-5k on an a carbon mountain bike really want to feel that there’s some kind of hidden quality or superiority behind the cost and honestly, there’s not.

Don’t get me wrong the higher end bikes are good but we are always happy when we find a bike with expensive components at an affordable price. 

BEIOU use the same quality carbon, the same sourced manufacturing and the same top of the line Shimano components and deliver all of this for  a fraction of the cost through Amazon. be sure to check customer reviews and the latest price on Amazon they sometime do discounts as well. 

Pros

Quality Shimano components for an a affordable price

Very easy to assemble literally about 3 parts to fix 

Excellent customer service from BEIOU

Cons

Shipping can take long as its shipped from China

Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bikes

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”445″ identifier=”B01NC3372D” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51W2eLLCsrL.jpg” tag=”activexsports-20″ width=”500″]If you are looking to get a good quality mountain bike that is  very budget friendly (around the $200 mark) then, the Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike is the one you want.

The first thing you notice about the bike is  that the designers really thought about meeting the minimum requirements of professionals and beginners alike. Let’s have a look at the reason that led us to that conclusion.

For starters, it has a sleek frame that is 18 inches in measurement. Additionally the frame is crafted from alloyed materials, which increases durability and comfort. The adjustable seat also goes a long way in ensuring comfort.

Then, of course, the bike has 27.5-inch wheels, which is the industry standard, and the reason for this is that gives you more control and precision. Also included is the  Alloy V brakes, a front suspension fork, and SRAM gripped gears.

You will find it easy to assemble even though it is heavy. It is available in black and white, so you can choose which you like better.

Pros

The rims are double-walled which makes them stronger and more stable.

The bike comes with 27.5 inch size that is has several advantages such as more control and stability

Schwinn alloy crank offers optimal gearing and less maintenance on your end

Cons

The handlebars are positioned so low which makes it uncomfortable

Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”417″ identifier=”B00J7J40TM” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51LrPfKCnvL.jpg” tag=”activexsports-20″ width=”500″]

Through lots of research we have found this to be the one of the best mountain bike with fat tires under $1000 . It is known as one of the most enjoyable fat bikes on the market.

 It is also known for a really great beach cruiser, with it being able to clear paths which means you can easily ride on any terrain you  want to.

The Mongoose Dolomite is built on a steel Mountain Bike frame with  its cruiser stylings and geometry. It has 4 inch thick tires and offers seven different speeds with a Shimano rear derailleur, however this can be upgraded because of the frame’s design.

With front and rear disc brakes and a 3 piece crank,  this bikes offers more than enough of control. In the design stage of this bike comfort was really though of, it is easily one of the meatier bikes with the ability to offer heavier riders with enough comfort.

With the bike being able to take more than 350 pound rider, at heights of up to 6 inches and more, it is a great bike for big guys. Weighing at about 48lbs, it provides bigger pedals to help with a bit of extra power.

But by simply just swapping out the wheels, you can reduce this bike to around 38lbs!

In summary, this bike was  designed to mimic cruisers, It has a frame large enough to accommodate a swap to bigger tires, meaning you can make it a four-season ride if you want to.

Pros

Can swap the wheels out to reduce 10lbs of the bike weight

Can accommodate riders up 350 lbs and riders of 6ft tall

Shimano rear derailleur with seven speeds to easily climb up steep gradients.

Cons

Not good for racking or transports 

Schwinn Protocol 1.0 

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”457″ identifier=”B001IANSJ6″ locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51b05vdwScL.jpg” tag=”activexsports-20″ width=”500″]The Schwinn Protocol 1.0 is another great example of a quality affordable mountain bike. It features an aluminum dual suspension frame, which translates to having the bike become lightweight while also absorbing the bumps and ruts that you encounter on your trail.

Similarly the front fork absorbs all the thumps up front, so your arms and shoulders don’t have to go through that. There are 24 speeds with Shimano EZ-Fire shifters and a Shimano Altus rear derailleur.

The amount of different speeds will help you climb the very steep hills and the toughest trails and the renowned “Schwinn” brand means that the engineering was done right. The Promax front disc brake and rear alloy linear pull brake gives tremendous stopping power ensuring you will come to a complete stop after blazing at high speeds.

The three piece cranks and double walled alloy rims are light but strong which means that you have a quality bike that was built for mountain biker that  performs well on the mountain trails.

Pros

24-speed Shimano EZ-Fire trigger shifters

Easy to assemble 

Very lightweight frame

Cons

Some fine-tuning is necessary

No place to hold a hand pump or a water bottle

 Gravity FSX 1.0 Dual Full Suspension Mountain Bike

[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”300″ identifier=”B0147MDLYI” locale=”US” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZLM4tR%2B7L.jpg” tag=”activexsports-20″ width=”500″]This last entry is the best mountain bike under $500, creating a  good quality bike this good for such a low price requires absolute attention to detail towards every part, otherwise it’s all in vain. The Gravity FSX 1.0 does all of that, and much more.

The FSX 1.0 is a full suspension bike, which is made possible by its hydroformed aluminum alloy frame. The frame has immaculate welding points, and  the clever design makes sure there is reinforcement and strength in all the areas that receive the most stress and impact on the ride.

Even with the dual suspension and added frame reinforcement, the bike stays around the 26 lbs range. We know this may not be considered light weight when compared to some other bikes, the 26 lbs is still quite impressive for a full suspension bike, regardless of how much it is.

The FSX 1.0’s suspension has Suntour shocks for both the fork and the rear, which a great to see this on entry level mountain bikes.  

The bikes seatpost is also made from the same aluminum alloy as the frame, which holds a very comfortable saddle that is actually one of the standout points of this bike. It makes flatter sections and casual riding all  that much more comfortable and fun.

As for the gear system, it is entirely comprised of certified shimano parts, which notably includes the ultra-light and responsive Shimano EFT shifters.

The Suntour components make up the crank and cassette. All of these combine to give a quick and efficient shift system that gives you total control over the bike’s 24 total gears.

Quality disc brakes are a rarity for this price range, but the FSX 1.0 goes against  the grain with that as well. Tektro Novela disc brakes give you all the stopping power needed.

All of this results in a highly impressive bike that performs way above its price range. We really aren’t sure how you get all this for under $500.

Pros

Dual full suspension

Dual mechanical disk brakes

 Quality Suntour shocks very good for an entry-level full suspension bike

Cons

Rear suspension could be better