Understanding a company’s past, quality standards, and customer service can influence the decision to buy a new mountain bike. There are so many mountain bike brands to choose from that finding the best one can be difficult.
Mongoose is the best mountain bike brand known for making durable, reliable bikes at an affordable price point for a wide range of cyclists. Ranging from $500-$3000, Its products are equally reliable for entry-level bikers to cross-country bikers.
Having tested many rings and counseled fellow mountain bikers, I review some other brands below as the BEST in the business – from value-oriented companies to carbon-only players; I got it all covered for you.
This Guide Includes
10 Best Mountain Bike Brands
- Mongoose (My Favorite)
- Schwinn
- Specialized
- Hiland
- Huffy
- Santa Cruz
- Trek Bikes
- Pivot Cycles
- Cannondale Cycles
- Giant Bicycles
1. Mongoose
Mongoose is way economical when it comes to buying decent mountain bikes. Therefore, its products are worth trying especially for entry-level and intermediate bikers.
Mongoose Legion BMX Bike Men, women, kid, Adult
Mongoose Status 2.2 Mountain Bike men & women adult
Mongoose Malus Fat Tire MTB men & women adult
Starting from $150, Mongoose offers some of the best MTB bikes that can take quite a lot of abuse. But a pro will tell you that the real value comes in at the higher end, where high performance is more than just bragging rights.
Location: China
Warranty: 5 years
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $150-$3000
Shipping: USA
Whether you are looking for a downhill full suspension or dirt jumper, you will find the best with Mongoose. There are 15+ models being offered by Mongoose on their official website and Amazon.
There are many MTB brands on the market, and if you intend to own a Mongoose bike, you need to know what your intentions are before purchasing it.
Mongoose bikes won’t disappoint if you use them within their design and limitations. Therefore, you should know the limits of the bike you choose and whether you will use it for an active cycling or just commuting.
2. Schwinn
Schwinn is an iconic USA-based mountain bike brand with a long history of making excellent bikes that are perfect for beginners, amateur hobbyists, and casual cyclists.
Schwinn GTX Hybrid Bike Dual Sport Bicycle
Schwinn Volare Hybrid Bike Men & women
Schwinn High Timber MTB Youth/ Adult
Schwinn Mesa Adult Mountain Bike Best Values
If you like to go out for non-commuting activities, such as physical exercise, adventure, or mountain climbing, then Schwinn is the mountain bike brand for you.
Location: Taiwan
Warranty: 5 years limited warranty
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $600-$1600
Shipping: Worldwide
In addition, its mountain bikes are equally reliable when you are going out of the city into rough terrain, ensuring immense excitement, regardless of how tough the track is.
When money isn’t an issue, the premium models – the Mesa 3 and Moab 3 – are highly recommended. They’re well worth the price. It’s packed with premium features to make your road trip as enjoyable as possible.
The Schwinn GTX Hybrid Bike is our favorite value pick because it includes features that are usually reserved for more expensive models.
There are some high-end bikes in the brand’s Signature Series lineup, but most are not.
As a whole, I consider Schwinn very reliable; they manufacture quality bikes in diverse categories. If you are a mountain biker on any level, this brand should be your choice.
3. Specialized
Consumers are most likely to recognize and appreciate Specialized as part of their daily cycling routine as it’s the brand that they can recognize and appreciate. Over the years, this brand has released bikes for every type of rider at every price range, exploding the market in the United States.
Specialized Allez Best Values
From entry-level mountain bikes to gravel, road, and electric bikes, there’s something for everyone in the brand’s expansive collection.
Location: Taiwan
Warranty: 2 years
Assembly: Requires experience
Price Range: $600-$15000
Shipping: USA
As an example, SWAT Technology (“Storage, Water, Air, and Tools”) includes tool and tube storage accessories that are available separately or that come with certain models.
Specialized is about building bikes and gears that solve a problem and fill a gap.
Control and bump absorption are provided by the suspension, which is imbued with their all-new Brain technology, which adjusts the suspension between firm and plush while on the road. For the very best, check out the ‘Stumpjumper’ series.
The brand has always looked toward the future, which is probably why it is still around today.
4. Hiland
Assuming that riders dream of riding a mountain bike, Hiland is yet another great mountain bike brand that is also pocket-friendly. I personally appreciate the fact that this company puts its mind, professionalism, and heart into its engineering process, and I think that is what makes them stand out.
Hiland Adult GAMILLE 300 Men & women
Hiland LION Adult Mountain Bike MEN & WOMEN
Hiland Kids Fat Tire Bike boys & girls
Hiland is known for its balancing power either uphill, downhill, or sprinting around the town. They are easily handled over bumpy roads without losing speed due to their excellent gripping power.
Location: Georgia
Warranty: Limited lifetime
Assembly: 85% assembled with tools
Price Range: $350-$1200
Shipping: USA
All Hiland mountain bikes are built with triangles and a durable lacing system to ensure a comfortable ride that is also efficient and speedy.
In addition to its outstanding performance, trendy look, and affordable price, Hiland is regarded as one of the best mtb bike brands in the world.
You can also choose between different frame materials like aluminum, steel, or titanium. Most mountain bike frames are made to handle rough terrain.
5. Huffy
Huffy is another excellent mountain bike brand, which is great for entry-level mountain bikers at an affordable price. However, if you are a pro, its products leave you wanting more.
Huffy Stone Women Mountain Bike adult
Huffy Kids Hardtail Mountain Bike boys and girls
Huffy is famous among recreational riders and families who want to spend time together on the go occasionally. You can rely on it for its laid-back geometry, catchy look, and inclusive approach to mountain biking.
Location: USA, China
Warranty: Limited lifetime
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $200-$500
Shipping: worldwide
If you only ride a bike on weekends for fun or need a two-wheeler to complete a short commute, a Huffy can be a great choice.
Conversely, if you intend to ride for fitness or as part of a group, its cheap components and relaxed geometry will leave you wanting.
Huffy bikes are available at department stores and on Amazon. This brand will meet your expectations if you prefer comfort over speed and performance.
6. Santa Cruz Bikes
Santa Cruz is one of the best mountain bike brands around. The price is higher than most of the competition, but it is justified. Aluminum and carbon are the primary materials Santa Cruz uses for its bikes, along with Shimano and SRAM components.
Nomad full suspension
A Santa Cruz bike is one of the most lightweight and innovative bikes on the market today. There is no denying the lightweight, stable, and impact-resistant nature of their carbon C and carbon CC bikes.
Location: USA
Warranty: Lifetime on frames
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $2000-$11000
Shipping: worldwide
Although the prices are higher than the competition, it seems that you’re getting a lot of value and unprecedented quality for what you pay.
For almost 30 years, Santa Cruz has perfected its full suspension and hardtail mountain bikes. Offerings for amateurs, enthusiasts, and professionals are plentiful.
Hand-assembled and calibrated, each model is a unique expression of its purpose and personality. The company has always aimed to make bikes that meet the expectations of all riders.
In addition to their excellent construction, the Santa Cruz bikes are also extremely well-designed – you won’t find a single defective part, and the designers are passionate about the sport.
7. Trek Bikes
Trek’s mountain bike lineup offers a wide variety of bikes for every budget, even if the company is best known for its road bikes.
Location: USA
Warranty: Limited lifetime
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $450 – $13000
Shipping: worldwide
Trek is one of the leading mountain bike brands loaded with innovation and technology-oriented gear on the market. The best part is that their bikes are not only limited to just high-end scale but even an entry-level one is equipped with enough groove to tackle any sort of trail.
Trek Top Fuel, as an example, is built to handle fast-paced XC rides over long-range multi-hour terrains.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner with no cycling experience, or you’re a pro cyclist with decades of experience, Trek Bikes has a bike for you.
Choose from 40 unique models!
8. Pivot Cycles
Even though Pivot is relatively new in the game, they have already gained popularity among bike enthusiasts thanks to their high-quality carbon bikes.
With Chris Cocalis as its founder, the popularity of this bike is not surprising.
Location: USA
Warranty: Up to 10 years
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $4000 – $15000
Shipping: worldwide
The Pivot bikes are designed with racing enthusiasts in mind, so they will be race-ready.
The company developed its bikes around the DW-Link suspension system a few years ago. Since then, it has gained a reputation among bike manufacturers in terms of research and development.
Pivot Cycles offers a wide selection of bikes in different sports because it can cater to the needs of a wide variety of riders. They make all of their bicycles from carbon fiber except the Point jump bike, which is made of chrome steel.
Pivot bikes will do everything you expect of them and more if you can afford to buy one.
9. Cannondale Cycles
Cannondale mountain bikes are designed to withstand relatively rough terrain despite their rugged construction. Besides offering excellent performance, these products are also reliable and consistent.
Location: USA
Warranty: 10 year
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $400 – $8000
Shipping: worldwide
Offroad adventurers and competitors can choose from a variety of these mountain bikes.
Cannondale’s suspension forks are unique; they have only one side, making them a little unusual.
All Cannondale mountain bikes are built to perfection, just like the rest of the line. They are intricately crafted to meet the needs of mountain bike enthusiasts.
You can find race XC bikes, gravity bikes, and e-mountain bikes among its mountain bike selections.
There were several frame materials, including steel and titanium, used in the production. Cannondale was among the first companies to use carbon fiber for manufacturing bikes in the history of biking.
It’s definitely weird at first, but many users have said it gives them better cornering precision and better control. Leftys can be attached to nearly any mountain bike, thanks to the numerous adapters available on the market.
10. Giant Bicycles
Giant Bicycle ranks 10 on the list of the best mountain bike brands, which is the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world. With the help of Schwinn, the company produced bikes under private labels and other brand names.
Location: Taiwan
Warranty: Lifetime
Assembly: Easy
Price Range: $500 – $10000
Shipping: worldwide
Geometry is used to experiment and innovate. Trek and Specialized are the two most prominent companies in this industry, but Giant has the production lines that make it “The Best.”
As Giant became more prominent, it signed on new contracts, acquired new battleground regions, and formed joint ventures with European companies, thus opening up access to the European market.
A recent COVID pandemic has boosted demand for giant bikes. The European Union’s largest plant was built by Giant due to global interest, fear of contracting Coronavirus on crowded buses and trains, and a need for outdoor activities.
Giant has a subbrand called Liv that offers products aimed at women who enjoy cycling. A variety of entry-level to specialty bikes, as well as novice and expert models, are available.
The Bottom Line
Different brands offer different products and services. You need to identify your own needs and type of mountain bike you need eventually. Depending on your riding preferences and style, you can find the perfect mountain bike.
Happy Buying!
Tom Fortune has been reviewing cycling products for several years from his home in the French Alps. As a freelance mountain bike wrtier, he mainly reviews mountain bike products but also reviews road cycling products independently.
