Best Mountain Bike Under 1500

Best Mountain Bike Under 1500: The best mountain bikes you can buy from Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Giant (and more) for under $1,500

Trail ready and well specced hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes at an attainable price.

QUICK ANSWER: BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE UNDER 1500

• Trek X-Caliber 9
• Marin Hawk Hill
• Specialized Fuse Comp 6 Fattie
• Cannondale Scarlet 1
• Steppenwolf Tundra Carbon Pro
• Diamond Back Overdrive
• Giant Stance 2

Best Mountain Bike Under 1500

Mountain bike design continues to develop at a rapid pace and today for $1,500 dollars (∼ 1,100 British pounds) or less you can get yourself a trail-ready mountain bike capable of handling any trail you throw at it and providing hours of endless fun!

If you are reading this article then you are probably trying to figure out “what is the best mountain bike under 1500?”  Of course what is perfect for one person may not necessarily be the same for another and so in this review we have selected a diverse range of mountain bikes under 1500, ranging from full suspension to lean cross-country racing machines and everything in between.

1. Trek X-Caliber 9 Cross-Country Mountain Bike

Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under 1500

Trek have an impressive cross-country (XC) race pedigree and the Caliper 9 has lived up to that reputation with flying colours.  It climbs like a mountain goat and is fast and responsive on the downhills too.

The combination of Bontrager wheels, cockpit and saddle are complemented by plush RockShox Recon RL forks and a Shimano 2 x 11 drivetrain which performed really well even in wet and muddy conditions.

The wheelset is tubeless ready and should be the first upgrade you make when you purchase the bike to fully appreciate it’s capablities (and also shed a few grams for the weigh weenies out there).

We have tested many XC bikes in this price range and none have come close to the Trek X-Caliber 9 as a race-ready package that offers exceptional performance and value for money.

Review Score: 4.9/5

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• Frame: Alpha Gold Aluminum
• Fork: RockShox Recon RL, 100mm
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT/SLX
• Wheel Size: 27.5″ (for 15.5″ frame) or 29″ (for all other frame sizes)
• Wheels: WTB STX i35TCS, 32h, 35mm inner, tubeless ready
• Tires: Bontrager XR2 Team Issue, Tubeless Ready, 120 tpi, aramid bead, 29 x 2.20˝
• Brakes: Shimano M425 hydraulic disc
• Weight: 27.8 lbs
• Price: $1,579 (you can find it for under 1500 if you search carefully or use first time buyer discounts on websites)

 2. Marin Hawk Hill Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under 1500

Marin have done an outstanding job of creating a high-performing full suspension mountain bike for under 1500 with their Hawk Hill.

They have achieved this by carefully and cleverly combining their own in-house components (e.g. wheelset and crankset) with a Shimano drivetrain and disc brakes, Shwalbe tires and Rockshox Recon forks all of which performed adequately during testing.

These components are built around a stiff frame with great progressive geometry and air suspension, all of which lends itself perfectly to future upgrades as your riding skills (and budget) grow. The first upgrade on our list would be a dropper post which, fortunately, the Hawk Hill is designed for.

Performance wise, the Hawk Hill is no slouch and we put it through it’s paces during testing on a variety of XC and downhill rides.  Some of the things we really liked were the progressive geometry, 780 mm handlebar with 60 mm stem, 135mm QR hub with adaptors to fit 142mm dropouts and the air suspension which can be easily adjusted to suit any rider’s weight and riding style.

Building a great full suspension mountain bike for under $1,500 is no easy task, and the team at Marin have hit a home run with the Hawk Hill.

Review Score: 4.8/5

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• Frame: 6061 Aluminium
• Fork: RockShox Recon Silver RL
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore with Marin Crankset
• Wheel Size: 27.5″
• Wheels: Marin
• Tires: Schwalbe Hans Dampf, Performance Line, 27.5″x2.35″
• Brakes: Shimano BR-M315 Hydraulic Disc, 160/180 mm Rotors
• Weight: N/A
• Price: $1,499.99

3. Specialized Fuse Comp 6 Fattie/29

Best Fat Tire Mountain Bike Under 1500

The fat tire revolution continues to gain traction and in the under 1500 category the Specialized Fuse Comp 6  Fattie is a clear winner. Built from M4 aluminium with smooth welds, the frame is lightweight and thanks to the slack geometry it is equally at home climbing and descending.

But what makes this fattie stand out above others?  Well, for starters there is the unique diamond chainstay design which cleverly achieves the necessary clearance for the fat wheels/tires while still preserving the short chainstay design which makes for a lively and responsive ride.  Another unique feature about this mtb is the flexibility to switch out the 27.5+ wheelset for a 29 inch one.

It comes with a dropper post fitted as standard, and the 1 x 11 drivetrain with SRAM NX 11-speed rear derailleur provides crisp, reliable gear changes even when hammering it off-road.

Up-front the air-sprung Manitou machete fork provides up to 120 mm of plush travel which can be dialed in using the adjustable rebound.  Paired with the 27.5 inch by 3″ fat tires the Specialized Fuse Comp 6 Fattie is confidence inspiring and heaps of fun to ride.

Review Score: 4.7/5

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• Frame: M4 Aluminum with Smooth Welds
• Fork: Manitou Machete, 110x15mm thru-axle, 100/120mm of travel
• Drivetrain: SRAM
• Wheel Size: 27.5+
• Wheels: Specialized
• Tires: Specialized [F] Purgatory [R] Ground Control, 27.5″ x 3″
• Brakes: Tektro HD-M735, hydraulic disc
• Weight: N/A
• Price: $1,500

4. Cannondale Scarlet 1 27.5+ Women’s Bike

Best Women’s Mountain Bike Under 1500

Finding a decent women’s specific mountain bike for under 1500 is challenging to say the least.  So we were delighted to see that Cannondale have re-introduced their Scarlet range after discontinuing it in 2014 (much to the disappointment of female riders around the world!).

The Scarlet 1 is a well-specced female specific hardtail fitted with WTB 2.8 inch tires providing a very smooth ride and lots of extra grip for tricky terrain.

While the fat tires (a.k.a. 27.5+) have their share of lovers and haters we felt that they were a positive addition to the Scarlet because they gave extra comfort and confidence when riding and pushing yourself to the limits on the trail.

Other neat design features which help inspire confidence when riding the Scarlet 1 include trail geometry, a dropper seatpost fitted as standard (nice touch!) and a low stand-over height all of which contributes to a stable feel.

Despite it’s $1,500 price tag and Cannondale name tag, the Scarlet also comes equipped with a 1 x 11 drivetrain, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and a 110 by 15 mm thru-axle front hub.

Review Score: 4.6/5

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• Frame: SmartForm C2 alloy
• Fork: RockShox Judy Gold, 120mm
• Drivetrain: FSA/Shimano
• Wheel Size: 27.5″
• Wheels: WTB STX i35TCS, 32h, 35mm inner, tubeless ready
• Tires: WTB Ranger Comp, DNA Compound
• Brakes: Shimano M425 hydraulic disc, 180/160mm
• Weight: 30.6 lbs
• Price: $1,500

5. Steppenwolf Men’s Tundra Carbon Pro Hardtail Mountain Bike

Best Carbon Mountain Bike Under 1500

Steppenwolf is a German family manufacturer with a 20 year history of producing high quality bikes and the Tundra Carbon Pro is no exception!

This is a great entry level carbon hardtail mtb which comes equipped with well specced components including Rockshox SID forks, DT Swiss Wheels and a Shimano Deore XT drivetrain – all of which combine to make this bike exceptional value for money with lots of potential to upgrade in the future to make the Tundra race-ready.

We REALLY enjoyed testing the Tundra and found it to be very lively off-road thanks to its lightweight frame, steep steering angle and realtively short chainstays.  In fact we often felt that we were riding a 27.5″ wheel bike when maneouvering through tight switchbacks while still enjoying the superior rolling benefits of the 29″ wheel size on the flatter and straight sections of the track.

If there was one thing which we didn’t like about the Tundra Carbon Pro it would be the 3 x 10 drivetrain setup which we felt is a little “old school” and cumbersome.  It’s worth noting that the higher specced “Race” version comes equipped with a 2 x 10 Sram X0 drivetrain which, for another $400, would be a very worthwhile upgrade.

Review Score: 4.5/5

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• Frame: High-performance carbon composite frame
• Fork: RockShox SID RLT 100 mm with remote
• Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT with FSA Afterburner crankset
• Wheel Size: 29″
• Wheels: DT Swiss X 1900 Spline wheels
• Tires: Schwalbe Rocket Ron 29 x 2.25 inch Evo
• Brakes: Avid Elixir 5 180/160 mm disc brakes
• Weight: Approx. 23 lbs
• Price: $1,399

6. Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 Hardtail Mountain Bike

We have been riding Diamondback mountain bikes for over 25 years now (yikes!) and continue to be impressed with the consistent quality of bicycles they produce.  The Diamondback Overdrive 29 2 is a sturdy hardtail that would be well suited to a heavier rider who is looking for a stiff, reliable frame and components.

The frame is hand-built from 6061 aluminium and together with the rear thru-axle it makes for a rigid ride with minimal flex.  Combine that with the stiff, plush RockShox Reba RL fork and the ample stopping power provided by the Shimano MT 500 hydraulic disc brakes and you find yourself feeling confident and adventurous when biking off-road.

Two other notable features of the Overdrive 29 are the tubeless ready Blanchard wheelset and the SRAM 1 x 11 drivetrain which removes unnecessary clutter (and weight).  During testing we did in fact modify the bike into tubeless mode and we found, as expected, that we could run the tires at lower pressures for added comfort and grip, without running the risk of a puncture.

Overall, this is a sturdy and reliable bike which is ideally suited to heavier and/or more aggressive riders.  At 29.5 lbs we felt the Diamondback was a little on the heavy end of the scale for a hardtail, but as we mentioned this was more than made up for in terms of the solid ride it offers.

Review Score: 4.2/5

Buy now on Amazon | REI

• Frame: Hand-built 6061 Aluminium
• Fork: RockShox Reba RL 100mm travel
• Drivetrain: SRAM GX with SRAM NX Crankset
• Wheel Size: 29″
• Wheels: Blanchard 25 tubeless ready
• Tires: WTB Nine Line 29 x 2.25 inch
• Brakes: Shimano MT500 hydraulic disc
• Weight: Approx. 29.5 lbs
• Price: $1,400

7. Giant Stance 2 Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Giant is another stellar brand who have consistently produced quality bikes at a great price point.  The Stance 2 is a simplified version of the more expensive Giant Trance range, they have reduced costs by simplifying the frame design to a single rear pivot and relying on chainstay flex to compensate for the lack of pivots.

While this is a good-performing all rounder bike we felt that it if you are looking for a full suspension mountain bike for around $1,500 you would be better off to choose the Marin Hawk Hill (see review above) or fork out the extra cash to buy a Giant Trance 3 which offers a far superior frame and ride.

Over time then you could gradually upgrade the components on the Trance 3 as they wear out or your budget allows.

Review Score: 4.0/5

Buy now from Giant Bicycles

• Frame: ALUXX-grade aluminum
• Fork: SR Suntour Axon RL-R, OverDrive, 120mm travel
• Drivetrain: Shimano / FSA 2 x 9 Drivetrain
• Wheel Size: 27.5″ (for 15.5″ frame) or 29″ (for all other frame sizes)
• Wheels: Giant
• Tires: Maxxis Ardent; Tubeless
• Brakes: Shimano M315 hydraulic disc, [F] 180mm, [R] 160mm
• Weight: N/A
• Price: $1,530 (you can find this mountain bike for under 1500)

Verdict

In this review of the Best Mountain Bike Under 1500 we have looked at some of the best mountain bikes on the market, including their design, components, and unique features to help you find the best bike for your needs and riding style.

Here’s the summary of the best mountain bikes under 1500, by category:

Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under 1500 – if you are looking for a full susser then the Marin Hawk Hill offers both exceptional value and ride quality at this price point.  The Giant Stance 2 is also a worthy contender although the single pivot rear suspension system left it lagging behind the Marin in our view.

Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under 1500 – this category was the most competitive and there were several exceptional choices.  In a closely fought battle, the Trek X-Caliber 9 emerged as the winner.  Other worthy contenders were the Steppenwolf Carbon Tundra, let down only by the choice of a somewhat outdated 3 x 10 drivetrain, and the DiamondBack OverDrive would make an exceelent choice for heavier or more aggressive riders.

Best Women’s Mountain Bike Under 1500 – we were excited to see the return of the women’s Cannondale Scarlet 1 27.5+ after the line was discontinued in 2014.  The Scarlet offers the perfect blend of good frame geometry and components to inspire confidence in anyone who rides it.

Best Fattie Mountain Bike Under 1500 – a relatively new but growing category which has caused divided opinions amongst bikers.  We found the unique diamond stays, slack geometry and 3 inch tires of the Specialized Fuse Comp 6 Fattie made for lots of fun out on the trail, bringing a whole new dimension to riding.