Best Mountain Bikes Under 600

Mountain biking is becoming more popular nowadays. Many brands are trying to reach the demand for bike lovers with affordable, high-quality mountain bikes. If you have no idea about mountain bikes, you're gonna have a basic idea about the best mountain bike brands out there and what to look for before buying a mountain bike. Whether you are a road biker trying out mountain biking for the first, we're going to discuss many important things about the best mountain bikes under 600 and answer some possible questions that may pop in your head.

If you already have a mountain bike, we have many informative things for you to decide whether you should upgrade or not and show you a possible alternative for a better riding experience.

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8 Best Mountain Bikes Under 600

01. Schwinn Traxion Mountain Bike

The tire size and speed capacity are the two attractive features of the Schwinn Traxion mountain bike, making it the best 600 dollar mountain bike. The diameter of its knobby wheels 29 inches with a thickness of 2.25 inches. The big tires ensure more stability and increase the swiftness of the bike. Also, the extra width and double-wall alloy rims make the bike more tolerant to stress, especially on bumpy roads.

It also implies that you'll have a high grip on the ground. And small holes won't affect your riding. As the entry-level 29er hardtail bike features a full-suspension frame, it absorbs the effect of a sudden turn into a bump, root, or ridge.

You can climb on or off this bike without any stress. The reason behind this comfort is the progressively designed frame. Also, the stand-over height of 32 inches matches the inseam length of most riders. You can easily adjust the seat post if you need extra height. The adjusting mechanism is fast and easy because of the quick release clamp feature.

It has a 24-speed capacity featuring Shimano EZ fire triggers, which are usually commonly seen on expensive bikes. To the delight of avid bikers who want affordable mountain bikes, it comes with a manageable cost. The front and rear derailleurs contain Shimano parts too. As the shifters and Shimano derailleurs match, you'll get smooth output because of the ease of shifting gears.

02. Mongoose Dolomite Fat Tire Mountain Bike

If you're not a fan of bikes' complicated crankset, the Mongoose Dolomite Fat tire will give a simple but efficient design. With its simple structure, you can easily ride any off-road trail like snow, mud, dirt, and city roads, earning it a place among the best mountain bikes under 600.

The most distinctive feature is the supersized knobby tires measuring 26 x 4 inches. Also, the extra-large wheels, which employ a steel frame, is another cool feature. These two features not only promises a stable and comfortable ride but also gives more control in detouring.

This bike provides reliable gearing as a single chainring crank is coupled with a 7-speed Shimano rear derailleur. Though it doesn't give you very high speed, you can easily climb hilly ground because of the gearing.

Its rims bring down the weight to 52lbs as they are made of a light, sturdy alloy. On the other hand, you'll get reliable shifting from one gear to the next with no accidental shifts in grip shifters because of the twist-shift design.

The 17-inch frame offers a comfortable riding position to riders of 5.3 to 6 inches. And you can easily fine-tune the height of the threadless headset to get a more comfortable position.

As its front and rear wheels use disc brakes, you can stop at short notice while enjoying a safe ride. Also, it features beach cruiser pedals to increase your safety. Hence, once you put your feet to the pedal, you will feel safe and comfortable as there is almost no chance of slipping off.

03. Huffy Hardtail Mountain Bike

Do you often suffer strain on the back and shoulder after bike riding?

Not every one of us can build tolerance for prolonged bent posture stress. Maybe you'll get used to it over the years. However, if you're a beginner, you probably would prefer an upright riding position. And this is where Huffy Hardtail Mountain Biker becomes the right choice for you. If you also keen on buying the best hardtail mountain bike under 600, you should look no further and buy this bike.

This cheap hardtail mountain bike has a slight rise in the handlebar. As a result, you can have a comfortable upright posture. Its frame is made of steel material, which is the reason for its weight of around 42.7lbs.

The drivetrain uses a three-piece K crankset, indexed SHIMANO TZ-31 rear derailleur, and a micro shift twist shifter. These components make the gear-shifting a lot easier. Also, you can easily ride uphill, downhill, and accelerate on the plain grounds.

It uses Kolo 1200 suspension fork to minimizer the discomfort further. This mountain bike hardtail suspension fork holds the large 26 x 1.95 knobby tires. This combination provides a comfortable ride over dips, jumps, wet and dry grounds. You can ride on paved, gravel, or dirt road easily with this bike.

Huffy hardtail mountain bike accommodates the height of different riders with its availability of different frame sizes. And also, you can fine-tune the seat height because of its quick-release feature on the seat post.

Final Things

With a little bit of time, you can assemble this reasonably priced mountain bike. You only need to add the seat, front-wheel, pedals, and handlebar. There are packages of complete assembly tools available to make your assembling easier. This bike will always have a place among the best hardtail mountain bikes because of its affordability and efficient features.

04. Merax 26″ Mountain Bicycle with Suspension Fork 24-Speed

The main three qualities of Merax 26″ Mountain Bicycle is its speed, stability, and high weight capacity. Because of these qualities, it can easily blend with almost any road trail topography.

This mountain bike depends on Shimano parts for its reliability. It has Shimano FD-TY500 as the front derailleur, and Shimano RD-TY300 at the rear, both of these parts make sure consistent shifting of gears.

This mountain bike weighs 40lbs, making it very light. It uses a pair of 26-inch wheels and a suspension fork to provide a smooth ride over roots, gravel, and small bumps.

If you wish to modify your seating height by an inch or two, this bike has a quick to adjust seat post. The quick-release clamp of this bike allows tweaking the seating position for achieving a comfortable seating posture.

It uses dual disc brakes to enable your ability to stop abruptly. Also, the large pedals provide comfort for your feet while riding.

05. Schwinn Bonafide Mountain Bike

The primary goal of the overall design of the Schwinn Bonafide is to adapt to rough trails. The bike won't disappoint you when you take it in a jugged or long winding trail.

Its entire frame is made of lightweight aluminum tubing. Besides, the front fork has a 120mm travel Schwinn suspension. If you hit a bump or pothole by accident, the vibrations won't give any discomfort. This bike has strength even though it is lightweight. It has large 29 x 2.25 inches knobby tires, which enhance stability and improve damping ability. The big tires are attached with light double alloy rims. The overall combination adds significant strength and durability to the wheels. 

In addition, this mountain bike has a wide range of gears. With its 24-speed capacity and Shimano drivetrain, you can accelerate on plains, downhill, and climb hills with ease.

This bicycle promises steady gearing and doesn't need frequent maintenance because of its durable Schwinn crank. Also, it has a stand-over height of up to 33 inches and a maximum weight capacity of 250lbs.

This bike is the best bike for mountains when you need a lightweight structure.

06. Raleigh Mountain Bikes Tokul 2

The design of Raleigh Bikes Tokul 2 is simple but proves efficient while riding in rocky or rough terrain. The saddle and handlebar positioning will give you a slightly relaxed riding posture where you don't have to bend excessively. Also, you can change the height of the seat post if you need it.

It has four frame sizes ranges from small to extra large size. Anyone have a height of 5.4 to 6.4 feet can choose from these sizes. It uses SP Suntour XCR 120mm travel suspension to provide smooth rides against any shock. Its suspension fork is attached with 27.5 x 2.2 inches wide wheels to increase stability. And the wide tires won't let you feel any discomfort while riding over small pebbles and holes.

The drivetrain has a single-ring crankset, and the rear cogset features Shimano Alivio, 9-speed ability with a shifter of Shimano Altus 1×9 speed. With the combination of these parts, the bike gives a very impressive and reliable performance.

07. Gravity FSX 1.0 Dual Full Suspension Mountain Bike

If you want to try out a mountain for the first time, you should start with an affordable bike like Gravity FSX as it is the best mountain bike under 400. Its hydroformed aluminum frame can easily withstand any abuse of a beginner rider.

The dual suspensions, 80mm travel ability of the bike can easily overcome the discomfort of small rocks, bumps, or gravel on your road. Also, the bike has shock absorbers with adjustment preset ability.

The 26 x 2.1 inches tires provide a good grip on the ground, while the lightweight double-wall rims easily withstand any regular road trailing.

Because of its Shimano parts, this bike provides good gear-shifting support for every terrain. Besides, its alloy triple crankset and 8-speed mega-range cassette provide a 24-speed capacity. Changing the wheels is easier due to the addition of quick-release front and rear wheels. Also, the quick release clamp provides a seat adjustment for better posture.

08. Schwinn High Timber 27.5″ Wheel Mountain Bicycle

The Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bicycle is a wonderfully designed bike that is also one of the most affordable mountain bikes out there. Its medium-sized alloy frame is 18 inches above the ground, which fits almost all riders. It's regarded as one of the best mountain bikes for beginners for the convenience of its size and other efficient features.

Its sturdy steel construction and black finishing with yellow branding give off a cool and durable vibe. Its top-notch SunTour suspension fork ensures the bike can withstand bumpy rides, absorbing most of the shock.

Its large 27.6-inch wheel makes the bike lighter and easier to accelerate. Moreover, it has SRAM gripped gears, offering 21 gears, which is more than enough to do casual rounds in the neighborhood.

Also, the seat is enhanced with quality cushioning is very comfortable, which not many expensive models can match. The seat is also able to absorb all the bumps and shocks along your way while leaving you with more thrill out of your ride. It has a set of Alloy V type brakes, which is pretty reliable but not 100% suited for all weather.

Buying Guide for the Best Mountain Bikes Under 600

Size of Bike

Getting the right mountain bike size is the first thing you should ensure while buying a bike. Manufactures always try to make different frame sizes that can fit riders of all heights. If you don't know what size suits you, go to a bike shop and hop on a bike. Also, you can ask a local biker seller for help.

Suspension Types of Mountain Bike

There are usually three suspension types seen in the best mountain bikes under 600.

Rigid mountain bikes don't have any suspension. They are less expensive and easy to maintain. However, most riders like bikes with suspension because of the comfort.

Hardtail mountain bikes only have a suspension fork in the front to absorb the impact on the front wheel, but the rear has no suspension fork.

The full suspension mountain bike has suspension forks in both front and rear to absorb the trail's shock of impacts. These bikes provide better power transfer and more efficient climbing, but they are also expensive.

Frame Design and Frame material for Mountain Bike

Mountain bike frames are usually made with different materials like aluminum, carbon, steel, or a combination of any of these materials. Each frame is unique when it comes to comfort, weight, cost, and other aspects. If you want a lightweight bike, go for an aluminum material frame, which is also the most common material used in mountain bike frames. Good mountain bikes always have a durable and high-quality frame that provides a good service for years.

High-end mountain bikes use carbon fiber in frames, while most entry-level bikes use a steel frame. Titanium is also used, but it increases the price a lot because of its rarity.

Brake Style of the Best Mountain Bikes Under 600

Mountain bikes usually have two types of brakes, disc brakes, and rim brakes.

Disc brakes have two versions, hydraulic and cable activated. These brakes are more consistent in all conditions and much cheaper to replace but more expensive to service.

Rim brakes are economical with easy to replaceable worn pads, but they require more finger effort and less efficient in wet or muddy conditions.

Gears Of Mountain Bike

Your fitness level and the terrain you want to ride are the two primary things to consider while you choose the right gears.

If you want to ride lots of steep hills where climbing is challenging, you should opt for more gears. If you either a strong mountain biker or only going to ride flat terrain, you don't need many low gears to ride over the hill, so you can choose bikes with fewer gears.

Mountain bikes traditionally have two or three chainrings to offer a variety of easy gears for climbing. However, mountain bikes with single chainrings with a wide-range cassette with 9, 10, or 11 cogs are also becoming popular nowadays. Single chainring bikes are lighter and simpler because one shifter can move through the gears on the cassette, and they also provide most of the gears you may require.

Wheels

The wheels of the best Mountain bike under 600 usually range from 26 to 29 inches. Larger bike wheels give you better momentum, which is especially needed on rough terrains. However, larger wheels increase the bike's weight, which makes it to maneuver in tight or twisting spaces compared to smaller wheels.

FAQ

01. Is it cheaper to buy or build a mountain bike?

Building a mountain bike is cheaper than buying one is correct for the most part. However, manufacturers usually have deals with component provides, allowing them to buy a large number of components at a lower price. When you buy each component from a store,  you won't get the same price as bike manufacturers.

If you see a mountain bike specification and try to build according to that, it may cost you more to build than buying one. You can always save money by choosing cheaper frames.

02. Are Mountain Bikes Worth It?

You need to pay more money for high-quality mountain bikes because of components that are absent in road bikes, a front shock, and a rear suspension system. These components increase comfort and provide more control. Overall, mountain bikes give the absolute best performance you could possibly imagine. Therefore, mountain bikes are worth it for those who want a superior bike riding experience.

03. How To Measure A Mountain Bike Frame?

First,  the top of the seat tube, where the seat clamp holds the seat post. Then, Identify the center of the bottom bracket which holds the crank arms together. After that, Measure the distance between the two points, which is the length of the seat tube. Then, Record your measurement in both centimeters (cm) and inches (to the nearest half-inch). Lastly, Select your bike size from the drop-down on the right to see a rider height chart.

04. Can You Put Road Tires On A Mountain Bike?

Yes, you can put road tires on a mountain bike.

Road tires are usually much thinner than mountain bike tires, and also their rims are smaller. Mountain bike clusters are also wider and larger than their road counterparts. So, if you want to put thin road tires on a mountain bike, you need to change the mountain bike wheel.

Another inexpensive option is to buy some fat road tires. You don't need to need to replace the whole bike wheel this time.

Conclusion

If you have no previous experience with a mountain bike, finding the right mountain is not going to be a near possible task, but you may need to have thorough research. Don't just read specifications from amazon; try to understand what each part of the bike contributes to the riding experience. While you are looking for the best mountain bikes under 600 USD, make sure the bike suits your fundamental riding requirement, and then look for the cool features.