Top 5 Affordable Mountain Bikes | Sub-$2k Budget Shootout | The Loam Wolf

Over the last decade, we’ve undeniably lost touch with the average consumer, what beginner mountain bikers want and exactly what a budget-friendly dual suspension mountain bike will get you. After receiving lots of messages and inquiries from riders looking to get into the sport or seeking an upgrade to their hardtail with a budget of less than two thousand dollars, we decided it was time to get in touch with our roots. The smiles we had while testing these budget mountain bikes were big and the fun we had reminded us of our teenage years when we’d spend more time trying to make a section of trail, or seeing who could wheelie or manual the longest, or jump the farthest.

In a way, these bikes reminded us that mountain biking can be a simple and fun escape and you don’t need to put yourself into debt to have a really good time on two wheels. In the spirit of stoking out budget-minded riders, we asked each of the brands to donate their test bikes to us so we could give them away to five of our subscribers and they all agreed! It was the icing on the cake and we truly hope these bikes make it into the hands of people who need them and will have an absolute blast riding them!

Below are the five contestants who entered the ring for our bareknuckle trail brawl and we’re pleased to report that all bikes and riders made it out of the ring, albeit with a few scratches and stories, but no worse for wear.