Many people consider a good mountain bike more of an investment than a simple everyday purchase. Why? Because a mountain bike has numerous benefits over your typical road or hardtail bike.
A full-suspension mountain bike can offer excellent efficiency, easy pedal movement, and way more control than those without full suspension. The efficiency of these bikes means more shock absorption and last bumpiness when you’re riding over uneven services.
So if you’re someone who likes to go riding on gravel or rough terrain, a full-suspension mountain bike is perfect for you. These bikes can cost a pretty penny, so it’s helpful to first create a budget for your bike purchase before heading out to the store or online to find your dream bike.
In this article, we will cover some of the best mountain bikes that you can get for under $2,500. If you’re looking for a bike that is easy to control, offers a relaxing ride, or reduces rider fatigue, you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, we’ll cover bikes that allow you to pedal faster and longer, have excellent traction, and have maximum overall comfort.
But first, let’s discuss some of the benefits of a mountain bike that has full suspension.
Why Full-suspension Matters
Whether you’re an experienced or beginner rider, you’re likely to feel the benefits of a full-suspension mountain bike as soon as you begin to pedal. Why? Because the suspension rigs in these bikes distinctively set them apart from other types of bicycles–meaning they require less pedaling work.
Maximum Control
Full-suspension bikes have a suspension fork on the front of the bike as well as rear shock absorbers on the tail end. With this type of design, the bicycle has an easier time handling rough terrain. This translates into you having to exert way less force to control the handlebars, making the bike easier to control.
More Comfortable Riding
Whether you’re riding your bike through a forest, preserve up a mountain, or along a city street, objects such as potholes, bumps, tree roots, and fallen leaves can be quite nuisances.
This can make for a bumpy and uncomfortable ride without shock absorbers, especially for your rear end and lower back. With a full-suspension mountain bike, it’ll feel like you’re almost floating over these rough areas, and your ride will feel a lot smoother.
Excellent Traction
The rear end suspension on a mountain bike helps the rear wheels will stay glued to the pavement. So those rough rides on wet dirt, gravel, or grass will be less slip-prone than if you were on a bike without full suspension.
This also means that sudden or fast braking will be better absorbed, allowing you to stay more balanced while you guide the bike over slippery areas.
Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $2500
The following bikes are budget-friendly and maximize comfort, control, and traction.
Comparison Chart
Bulls Bikes Wild One: $1700
The Bulls Bikes brand is known for its affordability and line of quality mountain bikes. This specific model comes equipped with state-of-the-art shocks and air springs.
It also has an awesome set of Tektro HD-M285 brakes for easy and controlled stopping, especially on slippery or wet to rain. Overall, you will find that this bike is easy to ride and comfortable for bumpy paths.
So if you’re looking for a bike that’s affordable and easy to ride, you may want to take this one and added to your top five list.
Giant Stance 29: $1,300-$2,100
The Gian Stance 29 model has been recently designed and is a full-suspension mountain bike that is super impressive. It has a well-balanced rear suspension and is equipped with 29-inch wheels, a 12-speed drivetrain, and easy-gripping tires. This bike is both ergonomic and comfortable, making for an excellent ride and all types of terrain. It comes equipped with excellent rear suspension, making for more control over bumpy gravel or uneven, dirt roads.
Diamondback Atroz: $1,000-$1,500
This affordable mountain bike from Atroz operates on a 120mm air-sprung suspension on both the front and back ends. It’s equipped with 27.5-inch wheels and is impressive when it comes to durability, control, and overall comfort.
It has an easy-to-operate, 9-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and sealed cartridge bearings for smooth and reliable performance. There’s no doubt that this mountain bike definitely gives consumers a bang for their buck. Usually, these features and components are found on bikes over $2,500 and up to the $8,000 range.
Marin Hawk Hill: $1,499
The Hawk Hill model is fairly recent, but it’s earning a reputation for its dependability and interesting specs. It operates on 27.5-inch wheels and has an impressive set of Shimano BR-M315 hydraulic disc brakes for easy stopping.
It’s also equipped with a 120mm front and rear suspension. Its quality suspension also includes an X Fusion rear shock and a RockShox Recon Silver RL fork.
The drivetrain features a clutch-style rear gear shift. If you want a bike that is fun to ride and comes with all the bells and whistles of a more expensive model, here’s one to take a look at.
Jamis Dakar XC: $1,450
The Jamis Dakar XC is another best value mountain bike to consider. It has full suspension and 27.5-inch wheels, which fit comfortably on a solid aluminum frame.
Built with a Shimano Deore drivetrain and a set of matching M365 hydraulic brakes, this bike is sure to guarantee both comfort and practicality as you go over rough terrain. Its 90 and 200mm front and rear suspension include air shocks and coil springs for a smooth ride with amazing traction.
Commencal Meta AM V3 Origin 650b: $1,750
And, of course, no full-suspension mountain bike roundup would be complete without including the surprisingly affordable Commencal Meta AM Origin. This mountain bike has a V3 suspension design and comes in seven different customizable models.
It has a 150mm rear suspension with a matching 160 mm front travel suspension for excellent comfort and perfect balance. This specific model includes 27.5-inch tires and Avid DB1 disc brakes for awesome track and control. The RockShox Yari fork and shocks on this bike alone make it well worth the price.
Wrapping Up
A mountain bike with full suspension has easy control and unbelievable comfort, especially compared to hardtail bikes, which may feel bumpier and promote your rider fatigue.
If you’re looking for a mountain bike under $2,500, they are out there, but you may have to do a bit of searching. Hopefully, this list will provide you with a great place to start and a few features to take into consideration.
If you want something that provides a comfortable and easy ride in rough areas, a solid mountain bike can make this possible.
