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Best Mountain Bikes Under $3000 – Reviews & Buyers Guide

Best Mountain Bikes Under $3000 – Reviews & Buyers Guide

I feel Mountain Biking is probably one of the best disciplines in cycling due to the amount of variety it offers. I love XC, long days out on the bikes going enormous distances, never knowing what’s around the corner. I love Downhill, the thrill of sending it down trails full gas, and understanding the responsibility is on you to manage the proper way down a mountain.

Then there are just the lazy days out with the family taking the kids on a trail and stopping for a picnic. I believe mountain biking is for everyone and should be tried no matter your age or level of ability.

When buying a mountain bike, it can be very challenging to get it right, and there’s a lot of different components and lots of different types of bikes. In this article, the best Mountain bikes under $3000, I want to talk about our top recommendations and why they are great value for money.

BEST OVERALL HARDTAIL

Orbea Alma M51

BEST FULL SUSPENSION

Mondraker FOXY

BEST BUDGET

Diamondback Catch

What do we look for in a full suspension mountain bike?

The combination of parts makes a great mountain bike, so when reviewing these bikes, these are the points I look at when looking for the best bikes on a budget.

Frame Material – Either High End Steel Aluminum or Carbon Frames

Suspension – Hardtail or Full Suspension, Branded

Gearing – Branded High End Gearing

Wheelset – Strong, Light and Durable

Unique Features – Any good points we like about it

This article mainly looks at Cross Country XC, Trail, and All-Mountain machines to fit this budget.

Our Top Picks for Mountain bikes Under $3000

1. Best Overall Hardtail: Orbea Alma M51

Features of the Orbea Alma M51

  • Aluminum Frame
  • RockShox Judy Silver, 100mm
  • SRAM NX Eagle, 12spd
  • 29″ Wheelset
  • OC Mountain Control Dropper Post

Let’s start with this beautiful Orbea Alma M51. This, although just a hardtail bike, has some serious components on it. They have gone back to basics on this Mountain bike and come in with an lightweight carbon frame with classic geometry.

It is made to tackle any XC course fast. Matched with a RockShox Judy fork with 100mm travel for this bike will be agile and playful. The Groupset is the legendary SRAM Eagle 12s with the giant 50 tooth rear cassette.

The hydraulic disc brakes are the Shimano MT201’s. It has 29″ wheels and tires ready to roll over obstacles fast and work well at high speed, you know this will take the bumps well. Equipped with a dropper post as standard, it’s an excellent setup that will be amazing XC or Bikepacking off the beaten track.

Pros and Cons for the Orbea Alma M51

Pros
  • Excellent Components 
  • Rugged Bike
  • Carbon Frame
Cons
  • Limited Travel
Why We Like It

This bike will hit the trails and be a lot of fun, it may not be a full suspension mountain bike, or the best mountain bike available but it will perform well.

2. Diamondback Release 29 1

Features of the Diamondback Release

  • Aluminum Frame with Suntour Edge R
  • Suntour Aion 140mm Fork
  • SRAM Eagle SX
  • 29″
  • TransX Dropper

I’m sure a lot of mountain bikers knew this bike would be on the list. Diamondback has always made an excellent full suspension mountain bike and maybe even some of the best full suspension bikes on the market – so I had to add it to the best bikes under $3000 list.

The Release frame is aluminum, and let’s be fair, it is gorgeous. It comes with the Suntour rear suspension technology giving 130mm travel on the rear, and to match upfront, we have a Suntour Aion offering 140mm travel.

It runs a SRAM 12 Speed Groupset with the famous Eagle cassette. It runs a 29″ Diamondback wheelset, which is already set up tubeless for you. Another additional big bonus is the Dropper Post. It is definitely one of the best full suspension mountain bikes on this list.

Pros and Cons for the Giant Trance 29er 3

Pros
  • Full-Suspension
  • Comes Tubeless
  • Dropper Post
Cons
  • Excellent all-rounder, but it won’t suit all disciplines of Mountain Biking
  • Quite a bit heavier than some of the bikes on this list
Why We Like it

This bike is impressive. I think Diamondback is bringing you an extreme piece of kit here for a meager price. As for a great all-rounder, it owns the market.

3. Rocky Mountain Growler

Features of the Cannondale Trail SE 1

  • Aluminum Frame
  • Suntour Radion Suspension
  • Shimano Deore 12 Speed Gearing 
  • Tubeless 29” Wheelset

Rocky Mountain has made a brilliant bike with the Trail, and it is a great example of an excellent bike a company with a huge mountain bike heritage can produce. The Growler frame is an Aluminum frame ready for some serious XC and Trial riding.

It’s a hardtail bike with a Suntour Radion fork that gives you 140mm travel. The Groupset is the legendary Deore 12 speed. The brakes are 4-piston hydraulic Shimano brakes, and they are incredible.

The Wheelset is WTB ST i30,” and it is tubeless-ready. It comes with huge 2.6″ WTB tires, and this bike is ready for some serious adventure. The Dropper post is also another lovely add on that we like.

Pros and Cons for the Rocky Mountain Growler

Pros
  • Aluminum frame is strong and comfortable 
  • Amazing Shimano Gearing 
  • Suntour Suspension
  • Tubeless Tires
Cons
  • Not the lightest hardtail
Why We Like It

It’s such an excellent all rounder which is going to be a huge amount of fun.

4. Niner Air 9 2-Star  

Features of the Niner Air 9 2-Star

  • Aluminum Frame
  • Marzocchi Bomber Z2 29″, 130mm travel
  • SRAM SX
  • 29″ Tubeless Ready

This XC, Trail, hard tail mountain bike is capable of some rugged paths. If you aren’t familiar with these kinds of bikes, you need to know that Niner makes an excellent mountain bike. They use a lot of aluminum frames, and the Air is a perfect example of what they can do.

This frame is equipped with a Marzocchi Bomber Z2 suspension fork, giving you 130mm travel. The Groupset is the SRAM SX 12 Speed with the SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes, again well equipped here as far as bikes under $3000 go.

The wheelset is Niner’s own, and the wheels come tubeless ready. It also comes with some excellent Schwalbe tires in 2.6″.

Pros and Cons for the Marin Rift Zone 3 Bike

Pros
  • Excellent Suspension Set up
  • SRAM SX Eagle Groupset
  • SRAM Level Piston Brakes
  • Tubeless Ready Wheelset
Cons
  • Not as light as some of its competitors
Why We Like It

An excellent bike and is capable of some incredible mountain biking. I like the fact it runs SRAM SX Eagle. As for the price, this is a superb group set.

5. Best Budget: Diamondback Catch

Diamondback Catch

Features of the Diamondback Catch

  • Aluminum with Suntour Edge R 130mm Rear Shock (Boost)
  • SR Suntour Aion, 130mm Travel
  • SRAM Eagle SX 12s
  • Diamonds own 29″ Tubeless Ready
  • KS EXA Form 900i Internal Dropper

I am a massive fan of Diamondback bikes. Over the years, the brand has changed and advanced into many other cycling disciplines, including mountain biking and road biking. The Catch is a full suspension mountain bike they have produced.

It is an aluminum frame equipped with a rear shock of 130mm and a suspension fork of also 130mm. They use Suntour for the suspension on this model. The gearing is SRAM SX 12s, which is going to get you pretty much up most hills. The wheels are tubeless-ready and come in a 29″. It also comes with a dropper post as standard.

What’s impressive about this bike is that it is one of the most equipped bikes on this list for its price. It’s a great example of an excellent value-for-money trail bike. One thing to mention the components are suitable, but they are basic. For example, the wheelset is diamondback’s own. The suspension, the Suntour fork, isn’t as great as some of the other bikes suspension but that’s why this full suspension mountain bike is less than others on this list as it’s cheaper and still offers a huge amount of performance.

Pros and Cons for the Diamondback Catch

Pros
  • Very Equipped 
  • 130mm Front and Rear Shock
  • Tubeless Ready
Cons
  • Good but basic components 
Why We Like It

This is a fantastic bike and will give the rider a tremendous experience for the money they are spending.

6. Kona Big Honzo DL

Features of the Kona Big Honzo DL

  • Premium Aluminum Frame
  • RockShox 35 TK Silver
  • Shimano Deore 12 Speed
  • WTB i35

Kona makes an incredible bike, and the Big Honzo DL is a serious cross-country monster. The frame is a premium aluminum frame, and it is incredibly light. It’s paired up with a RockShox 35 Silver TK Fork, which is a great balance between dampening and bounce for XC riding.

The groupset is Shimano Deore, and it offers 12 speeds with a huge range for you to pick from. You also have hydraulic brakes for incredible stopping power and an integrated chain suck plate for that washboard gravel.

The wheels are the WTB 35i, and they come with massive 2.8″ WTB Ranger Tires”. It even comes with a TranzX Dropper post too.

Pros and Cons for the Kona Honzo DL

Pros
  • Looks incredible
  • Premium lightweight aluminumframe
  • RockShox suspension
  • Shimano components
  • Excellent and large wheels and tires
Cons
  • Large tires are laggy on light trails
Why We Like It

The Big Honzo DL is just incredible. It’s light and with those giant tires an amazing hardtail for all mountain riding.

7. Best Full Suspension: Mondraker Foxy 29

Features of the Mondraker FOXY 29

  • Lightweight Aluminum Frame
  • Fox Dual Suspension
  • SRAM SX Eagle Groupset
  • MDK-EP1 Wheels and Maxxis Tires

Mondraker are not shy of making legendary bikes and has been in the industry for a long time. The FOXY 29 is a full suspension bike with some serious attitude. The lightweight aluminum frame doesn’t just look amazing, but it performs too. This trail bike is ready to go and just needs a rider.

The suspension is Fox 36 29″ 160mm on the front and Fox Float DPS on the rear. It’s an excellent setup with so much bounce. The groupset is an 12 speed SRAM SX Eagle with hydraulic G2 SRAM brakes. You’re going to have a lot of fun with these components, and they will be easy to maintain.

The 29” wheelset is great, and Maxxis tires give the bike a lot of grip. A great feature of this bike is the dropper they have thrown in is amazing for steep descents.

Pros and Cons for the Mondraker FOXY 29

Pros
  • The frame looks incredible and is very lightweight
  • Great suspension system
  • Tubeless wheelset and Maxxis Tires
Cons
  • Right at the top end of the budget
Why We Like It

The frame and suspension are just incredible, and it ticks every box as far as wheels and gearing goes.

8. Norco Fluid HT 2

Features of the Salsa Rangefinder 29”

  • Aluminum Frame
  • Suntour XCR32 Fork
  • Shimano Deore Groupset
  • Alex DPS Rims

If you head down to the bike park, you will see the name Norco on many bikes. They have a huge range of bikes, and they make a huge value for money product. The Fluid HT 2 is such a great aluminum hardtail and a great bike for beginners and seasoned MTB riders. 

The components are fairly basic, but they perform well. The Suntour XCR32 forks give you 120mm of travel for those XC courses and light trails. The Deore groupset is actually the newer 12-speed groupset and is excellent and gives the bike some serious climbing and descending ability.

The wheels are 29ers from Alex, they are the DP30 TRS, and it’s an excellent wheelset and tubeless ready, and they have paired them with some great Maxxis tires, which are just crying out for a rough trail. You also get a TranzX dropper post too which is a nice touch.

Pros and Cons for the Norco Fluid HT 2

Pros
  • Excellent Price
  • Looks Great
  • Shimano components are amazing
  • Maxxis tires
Cons
  • Forks are quite basic but an easy upgrade
Why We Like It

It’s an absolutely amazing bike for such a little cost, and as far as value for money, it’s incredible.

9. Best Hardtail: The Orbea Laufey H10

Orbea Laufey H10

Features of The Orbea Laufey H10

  • Triple Butted Aluminum Frame
  • Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Forks
  • Shimano SLX/Deore Drivetrain
  • OC1 29” Wheels

This list isn’t complete without an Orbea. Orbea is making some crazy bikes at the minute, and the Laufey is a great example. The frame is triple butted and absolutely solid, but it’s still nimble and agile when ripping down a trail. The forks are the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 giving 140mm travel, and for a hardtail, this bike can perform.

The gearing is the Shimano SLX groupset with a little bit of Deore mixed in. It’s 12 speeds, it’s strong, and it got gears to get over mountains easily. The brakes are also Shimano and work excellently in all conditions well.

We love the Orbea OC1 wheelset because it’s light, strong, and tubeless-ready. The Maxxis mixed tire setup makes this bike feel like it’s on rails. Another great feature is this dropper post which comes as standard.

Pros and Cons for The Orbea Laufey H10

Pros
  • Incredibly strong frame
  • Ready for some serious trails
  • Marzocchi Bomber Z2 Forks
  • Shimano Components
  • Orbea tubeless wheels with Maxxis tires
Cons
  • The frame is heavier than others on this list
Why We Like It

Although it may be a hardtail, the Laufey is not just for cross country. It’s a trail monster ready for some seriously rough trails.

10. Marin El Roy

Marin El Roy

Features of Marin El Roy

  • CroMo Steel Frame (Boost)
  • Marzocchi Z1, 140mm Travel, 44mm Offset
  • Shimano 12s
  • Marin Double-Wall Alloy TR Rims, Shimano Boost Hubs 29″
  • Tubeless Ready

The Marin El Roy is on this list for many reasons, and it has to be understood to be appreciated. It’s nothing close to the full suspension mountain bikes we have on this list. The frame is CroMo steel, so you’re looking at a highly comfortable frame here, although heavier. It’s paired with a set of the Marzocchi Z1 forks, which offer 140mm travel and are excellent.

This setup is going to give you a considerable amount of comfort going up and down trails. The Groupset is the Shimano Deore 12s with MT420 hydraulic disc brakes. It has Tubeless-ready Marin wheels in 29″, which are solid as a wheelset. This bike isn’t about racing through a trail or going into a race. It’s about comfort and enjoying the ride.

It would be the best Bikepacking rig on this list with all the extra bottle cage mounts, and you wouldn’t be worried about strapping bags to it either being Steel. Its uniqueness has given it a place on the best mountain bikes under $3000 list.

Pros and Cons for Marin El Roy

Pros
  • Very Comfortable
  • Indestructible 
  • 140mm Front Fork Travel is Epic
Cons
  • Heavy and basic overall
Why We Like It

This bike isn’t about speed. It’s about adventure, but an adventure to some challenging places. Its Steel frame will offer so much comfort, and very few other hardtail mountain bikes on this list are going to match.

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Mountain Bikes Buying Guide

Mountain Bikes Buying Guide
Image by Simon on Pixabay

There’s a lot to think about with mountain biking when it comes to getting the perfect bike for you. Mountain bikes come in many shapes and sizes, and in this guide, I want to help you make the right choice when you’re spending your hard-earned money.

In this section, I want to speak about the different types of mountain biking, the different components of your mountain bike, and what they will do for you. This information will help you pick the right trail bike for you.

The Different Types of Mountain biking

The Different Types Of Mountain Biking
Image by ermakovasve on Pixabay

Cross Country XC

Cross Country XC Mountain Biking is the lightest form of mountain biking. You will be looking at light Trails, and Fire Road climbs. The best Mountain Bike suited to this would be a Hardtail or a light full suspension. The travel you would expect on your fork would be 130mm or less, and you would focus on your bike being as light as possible.

Trail and All-Mountain

Trail and All-Mountain, you would expect more challenging terrain than Cross Country XC and be looking at much more technical work on the mountain bike. The mountain bike you would need for this could be a hardtail or full suspension and be equipped for technical ups and downs. Your fork travel would roughly be between 130mm and 170mm. Brakes will be bigger on the bikes, and roughly you will be looking at 160mm to 180mm discs.

Enduro

Enduro is an extreme version of Trail and All-Mountain. In this cycling discipline, you will need to be excellent at going downhill fast on technical terrain and uphill quickly on technical terrain. The bikes suited to this will be full suspension, and you would be looking at travels of 170mm or more on forks. The brakes would also be bigger on the bike and come in sizes 180mm plus.

Downhill

Downhill is pretty much what it says on the tin. It’s going downhill and very fast. Downhill courses are made to be highly technical and challenging. They require a well-equipped bike and will have forks that travel up to 200mm and brakes as big as 200mm. It’s an extremely tough sport and full of crashes.

Understanding Mountain bike Components

Understanding Mountain Bike Components
Image by stux on Pixabay

Frame Materials

Frames come in many different materials and sizes. Depending on different shapes and materials, it gives them completely different characteristics. Let’s start by talking about frame materials. The primary materials used are Steel, Aluminium, and Carbon. 

Steel Frames are excellent and, in my opinion, made because they’re comfortable due to the flexibility of Steel. They’re very cheap to produce, and they can take an absolute beating, and if they do break, they can be repaired easily by a welder. They do have some downsides, though. They do rust if not protected and are very heavy. I would highly recommend Steel for a touring bike or a Bikepacking rig, but I wouldn’t take it into a racing situation.

Aluminum Frames are also metal, but they have very different characteristics to Steel. They’re relatively lightweight, cheap to produce. They’re very stiff. They can take a beating but can’t be repaired easily. I am a massive fan of aluminum because it’s light and stiff. It’s swift. This is an ideal material for a race situation. When it comes to suspension mountain bikes at an excellent value for money price, I feel aluminum is the go-to Material.

Carbon Frames are incredibly lightweight, costly to produce, super stiff, and much more fragile, and getting them repaired, although they can be done, I wouldn’t recommend. Carbon is a super material and is very strong, but it is only designed to be strong in certain places, so under the fork’s pressure on the head tube, it will be fine, but crash into the side of your chainstay, then it’s probably going to snap. If you have a very high budget and are an expert rider, I’d recommend taking this into racing situations. If not, insure the bike.

Frame Geometry

Once you have picked a material, you now need to think about geometry. Depending on the purpose of the bike, it will have very different geometry. A racing Enduro bike will be made to be super aggressive to keep you aerodynamic and in a position of control at all times but won’t keep you very comfortable.

This is because the bike is made for short distances and fast racing. Then you have XC bikes. They are made to be much more comfortable and go over much longer distances and less technical terrain. XC Racing will require not just a quick bike but a comfortable one.

Then you have bikes for Ultra distance, Bike packing, and Touring. These bikes don’t need to be fast, light, or aerodynamic these require all the comfort you can get. 

What makes a bike feel aggressive is usually the angle it puts your body into. I find an easy tell is to look at the height of the saddle compared to the height of the handlebars. If the saddle is much higher, that bike will have an aggressive geometry. If the handlebars are near the same height as the saddle, you will find it much more comfortable. This isn’t an exact measure, but it’s an excellent place to start.

Forks and Suspension 

Mountain Bike Forks And Suspension
Image by ProDexorite on Pixabay

When it comes to suspension, it comes down to simply how rough and technical the terrain will be. The more intimidating and more specialized, the more travel I’d recommend getting on your trail bike. Though you have to remember, the more travel you get, the more expensive the bike will be and the heavier.

XC bikes have as little as 90mm travel as the terrain they are designed for 90mm is enough, as your not going to be on anything too technical, and you need to focus on the trail bike being light as possible to keep you going fast.

When it comes to Downhill, where your jumping over Rocks and falling off cliffs, 200mm of travel is required to protect you and help you control the trail bike over the terrain. Although all bikes will go on all trails, you can make it an enjoyable ride or a very difficult one depending on what trail bike you take, so pick your suspension for the riding you are doing.

Groupset and Gearing

When it comes to gearing, most of the groupsets on the market will offer a very similar range to one another. What makes a groupset better than to counterparts is the way it works. The more advanced the Groupset, the quicker it will shift, the less chance you will have of dropping a chain, the more options of gears you will have, the lighter it will be, and in most cases, the more expensive a groupset, the more reliable you will find it.

Wheelsets

Currently, the most common wheel sizes on the market are 29″ as most of these bikes above are, and 27.5″ for smaller sized and more technical bikes. The 29″ wheels will be better at higher speeds and rolling over objects when the 27.5″ wheels will be quicker at accelerating and much more agile on technical terrain.

When it comes to wheels, I look for light, strong, reliable, and tubeless wheels. If they are all of these things, then you are on to a great wheelset. Wheels have come a long way in recent years, and no longer are we looking at wheels that break easily, and their rare spokes will ever need changing.

Accessories

When it comes to Mountain and Bikes in this price range, I tend not to worry too much. Typically you are going to be looking at alloy parts for Stems and Handlebars. Saddles, you will find that most brands will have their saddle, which comes with the bike but being such a personal thing, you are most likely going to change it in the future. Dropper posts are a massive win when it comes to Mountain Bikes. They can help descents and give you a lot of control over the way a bike handles. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best bike under $3000

It really depends on what you want the bike to do as they’re built for different purposes but on this list I think the most equipped is the Santa Cruz Chameleon AL D MX.

Do I need full suspension?

It’s not essential, but on a really bumpy technical trail it’s going to make your riding a lot easier.

Are full suspension bikes heavier than hardtails?

Yes the extra component of the rear shock and the extra support the frame needs can add around 1 to 2 lbs to overall bike weight.

How often should I get my Mountain Bikes serviced?

One a year for light use, but if your out on it a often every few months. Keeping it clean will really help the duration your components will last.

Where is the best place to look for Mountain bike deals online?

Website like the Cycling Hacker are a great place to look as they do the hard work for you.

We Think You’ll Like It:
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Conclusion 

When it comes to getting the right Mountain bike, I would highly recommend having a big think about what you want the bike for first. Then with that information, think about your riding style and the style of frame you will enjoy, then the Forks and suspension system. After that, start looking into the Groupset and Wheelset. Remember, most things on bikes are interchangeable, but if you get it right when you buy the bike the first time, it will save you a lot of money and trouble in the future. Enjoy the bike parks.

Expert Tip

When it comes to getting Mountain Bikes under 3,000, remember a lot of value of the bike sits in the fork, so do a bit of research on the fork and how often it will need to be serviced and keep on top of the maintenance of that because once they have gone past a certain point, they can be costly to repair.

Did You Know?

Mountain bikes have been around since 1890 and were used by Buffalo Soldiers. They were very different from what we have today and didn’t even have brakes. The Sport only became popular in the 1970s.

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Erik

Erik

Erik loves everything about cycling and he rides with a passion. He is an experienced cyclist who competes in races and also likes to do group-rides from time to time. He also enjoys going on long bike rides in the mountains by himself.