Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike

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Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike

If you are ready to conquer every trail around you, you might need the right mountain bike to get you started. Full suspension mountain bikes are a little more expensive, but they have the best downhill and shock performance of the two types. The best beginner full suspension mountain bike can help you conquer any trail you choose. The Diamondback Bicycles Catch 2 is one of the best bikes on the market today, regardless of your preferred frame type.

While there are a variety of different bikes to choose from, you often find yourself strapped to a tight budget. However, there are a few budget options that should be best for beginners. We have done some research, finding some of the latest full-suspension bikes for beginners, while adding a small buyer’s guide that will help you in making the right decision.

Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike

The 3 Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Compared

Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain BikeDiamondback Bicycles Catch 2 (Top Pick)Mongoose Major Mountain Bike (Best Beginner)Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (Best Value)
Bike Size27.5-inches26-inches26-inches
Frame MaterialCarbon FiberAluminumAluminum
Price$$$$$$$$$
Our Rating★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

 

Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike On The Market Today

Full suspension mountain bikes are often packed with detailed features, which can be in the form of upgrades and other accessories. However, the bikes are often more interesting and if you don’t have any advanced knowledge, the top bikes are what you need to look at to get an idea of what you can buy as a beginner:

Top Pick: Diamondback Bicycles Catch 2

If you are willing to spend a couple more bucks on your bike than the average rider, the Diamondback Bicycles Catch 2 is by far one of the best options on the market today. The bike features a full-suspension design and a level-link rear suspension. Additionally, the carbon fiber frame makes it durable lightweight.

What We Like

  • Drivetrain: It is hard to compare the drivetrain to other bikes due to it featuring a top of the range Shimano drivetrain.
  • Hydraulic Disc Brakes: If you have issues with slipping and sliding, the hydraulic disc brakes are the perfect option for stopping power.
  • Frame: As mentioned, the bike features one of the best carbon fiber frames on the market today, balancing weight and durability.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Price: The biggest downside to the bike is the frame. Unfortunately, you might need to go above your budget for the bike.

Best Entry-Level Mountain Bike: Mongoose Major Mountain Bike

The Mongoose Major Mountain Bike is one of the newer bikes on the market today. Unfortunately, the bike is untested, but it still features an 18-speed drivetrain and front disc brakes. The bike frame and fork are constructed from durable aluminum, making the bike lightweight and easier to ride regardless of your expertise.

What We Like

  • Lightweight: Since the bike is lightweight, it is much better around trails and could be easier for beginners to handle.
  • Versatile Drivetrain: The drivetrain is one of the most important aspects of any bike. Here, you have an 18-speed drivetrain.
  • Adjustability: Since you don’t need to put a lot of effort into making adjustments, these can be made on the fly to save you some time.

What We Didn’t Like

  • New Bike: Unfortunately, the bike is still a bit new on the market, which means it hasn’t been tested.

Best Mountain Bike For Advanced Riders: Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

In the world of cycling, Schwinn is an affordable brand that offers a couple of great bikes. The Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike is a top of the range mountain bike made from solid aluminum. It features front and back disc brakes that will give you peace of mind, while the suspension requires little to no maintenance.

What We Like

  • Comfortable Ride: The bike features one of the most comfortable suspension designs that should make the ride comfortable for all riders.
  • Disc Brakes: If you are looking for excellent stopping power, you can hardly ever go wrong with some of the top disc brakes.
  • Drivetrain: Compared to many of the other brands, this bike features a 24-speed Shimano drivetrain.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Tire Weight: Unfortunately, the tire weight is a bit heavy, which means you could have issues when jumping obstacles.

Top Foldable Mountain Bike: HDGTSA Adult Mountain Bikes

If you are looking for something affordable, the HDGTSA Adult Mountain Bike is one of the cheapest on the market today. It is constructed from carbon steel for the frame while featuring a foldable design. According to the manufacturer, the bike should be ready to fold within 15-seconds of starting.

What We Like

  • Foldable: The bike can be folded in merely seconds, reducing the need for you to have a lot of storage space available.
  • Durable: Since carbon steel is used for the frame, you can be sure that it is one of the most durable options.
  • Price: The most impressive feature by far is the price. This is one of the most affordable options on the market today.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Bulky Brake: The steel V-Brake is one of the most affordable options on the market, but not the best in wet weather.

Best Bike For Women: KKLTDI Full Suspension Mountain Bike

As a female rider, you might often feel a bit left behind. However, there are numerous mountain bikes for every woman to enjoy. The KKLTDI Full Suspension Mountain Bike features a unisex design, which makes it perfect for almost any rider. One of the best features is the overall design, which is stylish compared to some of the others.

What We Like

  • Fully Adjustable: One of the best features is that the handlebars and the seats can be fully adjusted to meet your needs.
  • Unisex: Whether you are male or female, the bike should provide something for everyone in the market for a new bike.
  • Disc Brakes: The bike might be a bit expensive, but this is also due to the quality of brakes that have been added.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Untested: Since the bike is relatively new, it is too early to compare it to the best mountain bikes on the market today.

Best Trail Mountain Bike: TOPYL Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Trail riding is vitally important for many riders. If you cannot compete, the best thing to do is to take the bike down to your local park and take on one of the trails. The TOPYL Full Suspension Mountain Bike is one of the top full suspension mountain bikes due to the suspension that allows the rider to navigate all obstacles.

What We Like

  • Carbon Steel Frame: Since you will be doing trails and obstacles, the carbon steel frame offers durability to absorb all the impact.
  • Brakes: Once again, we have a couple of disc brakes that will offer decent stopping power in all conditions.
  • Adjustability: The bike can be adjusted at the front and back, Riders have the option of adjusting the handlebars and seat.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Size: One of the biggest issues could be the size since the bike is quite small and 6-foot riders can find it uncomfortable

Best High-End Bike: Diamondback Bicycles Atroz Full Suspension Mountain Bike

If you want one of the best bikes on the market today, you can hardly go wrong with the Diamondback Bicycles Atroz Full Suspension Mountain Bike. It is one of the most effective options when it comes to trail riding while offering you a reliable brand paired with SRAM for the derailleur and drivetrain for smooth gear transitions.

What We Like

  • Hand-crafted: One of the biggest benefits is that the bike is hand-crafted, making it much more reliable for any rider.
  • Disc Brakes: The bike features Shimano disc brakes, which are considered some of the very best in wet and dry conditions.
  • Durability: One of the best features is the durability aspect of these bikes. It features a full aluminum frame.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Price: Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive options on the market today and might be hard to find

Best Mountain Bike For Kids: 20″ Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Boys’ Mountain Bike

When you buy a bike for your kids, you rarely want to overspend on the bike. Fortunately, the 20″ Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Boys’ Mountain Bike is one of the most affordable options on the market today, while offering you a full aluminum frame and full aluminum suspension. The bike is just over 20-inches for all teens and kids.

What We Like

  • Ergonomic: The comfort factor is perfect for children that are just starting in the world of cycling.
  • No Assembly: Almost all the components of the bike are already integrated, making it partially assembled
  • Affordable: Compared to some of the high-end bikes, this one is one of the most affordable on the market today.

What We Didn’t Like

  • Needs eventual replacement: Unfortunately, children might grow out of the bike quite rapidly, which means you need to replace it.

Key Features To Consider When Buying The Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Aside from the suspension, there are not many different features that come to mind. Most of the features are the same as the top hardtail mountain bikes. However, we have used the following features to choose the above-mentioned options:

Frame Materials

As you might have noticed, most of the bikes on the list are constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum. Aluminum is an affordable material, but still durable. Alternatively, you can choose steel for a cheaper price. However, it does not help when you make jumps or dodge obstacles on trails. Carbon fiber is a bit expensive for most beginners.

Comfort

If the bike itself is ergonomic is design, you can adjust it to find the best comfort. However, not all bikes are ergonomic, which means you need to look out for adjustability. While cycling is one of the best ways to increase fitness and lose weight, it might not be as comfortable if you don’t feel comfortable riding the bike.

Size

With hardtail bikes, one can often overlook the size a bit. However, we don’t recommend that you do that with your full-suspension mountain bikes. The size is often indicated in the form of inches, which indicates the size of the wheels. You must find the most comfortable size for your needs.

Wrap-Up

As a beginner, buying a new bike can often be daunting, but when you know what you want, it is much easier to find the bike you like. The Best Beginner Full Suspension Mountain Bike will make trail riding much more fun and absorb most of the shocks from mountains. We would recommend all of these bikes but bear in mind that some of them might often be unavailable. In such a case, we recommend any of the other bikes on the list as alternatives to your favorites.

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AUTHOR

Jean is an experienced writer with passion for different types of cycling including mountain, road and BMX biking.

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