Are you looking for a good mountain bike that features a full-suspension system for maximum shock absorption but don’t know which to buy? We’ve found five great bikes that will start you on your quest for the best option for you.
Best Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes: Reviews
Diamondback Bicycles Mountain Bike
The Diamondback Bicycles Mountain Bike is a great one to consider if you’re looking for a top-quality full-suspension mountain bike with all of the bells and whistles you want and need in a mountain bike, and you aren’t too constrained by a tight budget, the
Review
What really stands out about the Diamondback Bicycles Mountain Bike is how well it performs in shock and impact absorption. It features a Fox Float DPS EVOL LV rear shock with a level link design in the frame that effectively allows for 130 mm of travel to absorb the bumps and keep your backside pain-free.
Moreover, you also get a Fox Rhythm 34 fork with a whopping 150 mm of travel, which protects you from impact. You won’t find a full-suspension mountain bike much better than this in quality and shock dampening.
The Diamondback Bicycles Mountain Bike features high-quality Shimano SLX drivetrain components, some of the most durable and user-friendly drivetrain components. Keep in mind that this bike features 12 speeds, which should be sufficient for mountain biking. Due to the high-quality shifter and rear derailleur, shifting is smooth, fast, and reliable.
What you may also like is how it features really high-quality hydraulic disc brakes to provide you with incredible stopping power. Moreover, the 28R wheels are great because they allow for tubeless riding if you want to; the 27.5-inch wheels are perfect for maintaining both speed and control on a mountainside. The high-traction tires make a huge difference.
The 6061 T-6 aluminum frame also stands out. This is a very lightweight frame that is quite durable. Remember, this is not regular aluminum, as it is designed specifically for lightweight durability.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Extremely durable
- Fantastic front and rear suspension
- Quality hydraulic disc brakes
- Wheels allow for tubeless use
- High-traction tires
- Great drivetrain and shifters
Cons
- Very expensive
- Assembly takes a bit of work
Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike
Mongoose makes mountain bikes for women too, and if you’re a woman who loves mountain biking and want a full-suspension mountain bike with some really nice features, this Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike could be a good option for you.
Review
The Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike features a good suspension coil in the frame to keep the rear impact-free and those bumps and impacts from being transferred to your backside and body; it also features a reliable and robust front suspension fork.
However, the suspension here is not the highest quality, but it’s more than good enough, and it gets the job done. There is not much to complain about considering this bike’s low cost.
The Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike comes with 26-inch alloy rims, both durable and lightweight. When you combine them with high-traction tire tread, they allow you to easily roll over anything that stands in your way.
You may appreciate the aluminum MTB frame with hydroformed tubing, which provides an exceptionally lightweight design and a decent amount of durability. Keep in mind that this bike features 21 speeds with a reasonably good drivetrain for easy, smooth, and reliable shifting.
The Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike has front and rear V-brakes. They aren’t quite as good as disc brakes, but they still work just fine. All in all, considering the bike’s affordable price, we think that it is a great option.
Pros
- Quality front and rear suspension
- Decent brakes for the price
- Very lightweight
- Reliable shifting – 21 speeds
Cons
- Pedals are placed awkwardly
Vilano Mountain Bike
If you are looking for a fantastic mountain bike that is durable, user-friendly and absorbs impacts like nothing else, and you’ve got money to spend, the Vilano Mountain Bike should be a prime candidate.
Review
One of the most impressive features of the Vilano Mountain Bike is the suspension. This bike features an extremely durable, high-quality, and far-traveling in-frame suspension coil to help keep your backside from absorbing too much impact.
You get a high-quality Taiwan ZOOM front fork with plenty of travel. When it comes to absorbing impact and keeping you comfortable, this is a prime mountain bike to keep in mind.
We also like that the Vilano Mountain Bike is made with a super durable and impact-resistant Vilano steel frame. Yes, steel is a bit heavier than aluminum, but that said, it’s also much more durable, not to mention that steel has some flex. This means the frame can also help dampen impacts from bumpy roads. Also worth mentioning is that the frame comes with a full lifetime warranty.
The Vilano Mountain Bike features 21 speeds with a Shimano drivetrain and related components. Shimano components are always high quality, and in this case, they allow for smooth and reliable shifting.
Also worth mentioning are the 26-inch Kenda tires with a fantastic tread pattern for grip on even the roughest terrains. The tires and the high-quality wheels are both lightweight and extremely durable. The Vilano Mountain Bike has durable disc brakes to provide you with excellent stopping power. This bike also comes with the pedals and kickstand included.
Pros
- Frame has some flex
- Excellent dual suspension system
- High-quality disc brakes
- Wheels and tires are perfect for rough terrain
- Quality Shimano drivetrain components
- Nice handlebar grips
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Crank bearings can be a little tight
OBK Folding Mountain Bike
Yes, you read that right. This is a folding mountain bike, one of the most unique bikes we have ever seen. It’s a really neat bike, and the fact that it can fold in half is enough to put it on our list.
Review
The OBK Folding Mountain Bike features a durable steel frame. We like steel frames on mountain bikes; although they might be a bit heavy, they’re also more durable. The really interesting part here is, of course, that this bike can fold in half.
It has a unique locking hinge in the middle of the frame that folds in half for easy transportation and storage. It’s convenient in this sense, but keep in mind that this can be a considered an area of weakness – a part of the bike that could break.
The OBK Folding Mountain Bike features full front and rear suspension, a relatively high-quality suspension system that can absorb a good deal of impact no matter the terrain. It’s not the most shock-absorbing suspension system, but it gets the job done.
This mountain bike comes with three-spoke mag wheels with durable yet lightweight rims. The tires are 26 inches, which is a good size for any mountain bike, not to mention that they feature a tread pattern designed for maximum traction on the mountainside. This is a 21-speed bike with Shimano shifting components.
The OBK Folding Mountain Bike features fairly good disc brakes to keep you safe and in control. What is surprising about this mountain bike is that it’s not very expensive, which is excellent considering the features and overall level of quality.
Pros
- Very convenient in terms of portability
- Durable steel frame
- Quality disc brakes
- Quality Shimano drivetrain
- Awesome three-spoke mag wheels
- Tires are ideal for rough terrain
Cons
The folding hinge is a definite weak point
eAhora Electric Mountain Bicycle
This is another unique option for you to consider, a mountain bike that features an electric motor to help make riding easier and other significant aspects.
Review
Yes, this is an electric mountain bike with a 500W electric motor capable of going up to 80 miles on a single charge. You can set the motor to various modes, including electric mode, E-PAS mode, and sport mode, each of which features slightly different performance and mileage. What’s also cool is how pedaling, and tire motion actually helps to recharge the battery. This is pretty cool, although the motor does add a significant amount of weight to the bike.
The eAhora Electric Mountain Bicycle features a lightweight aluminum frame to allow for further travel and easier riding. It’s not quite as durable as a steel frame, but it is durable enough for basic use, with the main point being that it is very lightweight.
Next, the eAhora Electric Mountain Bicycle features a full front and rear suspension system with a high-quality fork and top-notch in-frame suspension to absorb as much impact as possible. Moreover, this bike features nine speeds with a quality Shimano drivetrain and shifter, which allows for smooth and reliable shifting.
This bike comes with disc brakes to provide you with excellent stopping power. Keep in mind that it has relatively large 27.5-inch tires, as well as a tread pattern that provides you with maximum traction on all surfaces.
Pros
- Electric motor
- Lightweight frame
- Fairly durable
- Nice disc brakes
- Quality Shimano shifting components
- Full-suspension for excellent impact absorption
- Good tires for the mountainside
Cons
- Very heavy
- The motor is not great for going uphill
Buyer’s Guide
Before you go shopping for a full-suspension mountain bike, take a look at the following factors so you can make the best possible purchase and get the most out of your money.
Geometry
You want to look for a mountain bike that has ideal frame geometry. This means that you should look for a relatively long top tube combined with a somewhat slack head angle, as well as a shorter chainstay. You should also look for low bottom brackets combined with a higher stack. All of these factors will optimize your position on the bike for easy and comfortable riding.
Weight
You also want to look for a relatively lightweight mountain bike if possible. That said, aluminum is the lightest material you can go for, but it’s not nearly as durable or flexible as steel. Although steel is the heavier of the two, when it comes to a mountain bike that needs to handle a ton of punishment, steel is what you want.
Fork and Rear Shock
There are many variations to consider, but something you should look for is how far the individual suspension systems can travel – whether the rear in-frame coil or the fork. Look for at least 100 mm of travel for both. Moreover, if you can find a rear shock that you can lock out, that would also be beneficial.
Saddle and Handlebars
You’re going to be spending a lot of time standing up on your mountain bike; the saddle is not overly important. But that said, something ergonomic with a decent amount of padding never hurts. In terms of the handlebars, either flat or riser handlebars tend to be best for mountain bikes.
Conclusion
Although the folding and the electric mountain bikes we looked at are unique, we recommend the Diamondback Bicycles Mountain Bike. It’s just a total beast!