January 2025
Mountain Bikes: MetaRanking
This page highlights the aggregate summary of mountain bikes rankings posted by key online experts, as of January 2025.
Summary
On 11 Jan 2025, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 77 mountain bike endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.
67 mountain bikes were endorsed in total, only 9 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)
As of 11 Jan 2025, REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed mountain bike with 2 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 2 recommended it as the '#1 mountain bike' this month.
Brand breakdown
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Specialized: 4 mountain bikes
(#1 is Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp)
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Cannondale: 3 mountain bikes
(#1 is Cannondale Trail 8)
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Mongoose: 3 mountain bikes
(#1 is Mongoose Colton)
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Schwinn: 3 mountain bikes
(#1 is Schwinn Mesa)
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Santa Cruz: 2 mountain bikes
(#1 is Santa Cruz Hightower S)
Price breakdown
At a glance - January Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Mountain Bike |
OutdoorGearLab
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Verywell Fit
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Bike Perfect
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Switchback Travel
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Cyclists Hub
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Runner's World
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Outside
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The Strategist
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Bikexchange
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Bicycle Guider
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1
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+1 | Check price |
REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1
The REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 mountain bike is a reliable and durable option for recreational riders who want an affordable bike for off-road adventures, offering a lightweight frame, powerful brakes, and a good range of gears.
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1
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1
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2
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-1 | Check price |
Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp
The Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp is a high-quality and durable mountain bike that excels in aggressive trail riding and enduro racing, offering a smooth and controlled ride with powerful components and a strong carbon fiber frame.
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1
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1
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3
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- | Check price |
Specialized Turbo Levo Comp
The Specialized Turbo Levo Comp is a durable and reliable electric mountain bike with high-performance capabilities, although there have been some recent reliability issues with the motor.
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9
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5
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4
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4
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- | Check price |
Cannondale Trail 8
The Cannondale Trail 8 is an entry-level mountain bike praised for its lightweight and durable frame, comfortable suspension, reliable components, and versatility for beginner and intermediate riders.
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4
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2
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11
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- | Check price |
Santa Cruz Chameleon
The Santa Cruz Chameleon is a highly regarded hardtail mountain bike known for its durability, versatility, and ability to handle various riding styles and terrains.
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8
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2
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12
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- | Check price |
Giant Talon 2
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6
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6
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13
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- | Check price |
Specialized Chisel Comp
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4
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9
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14
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- | Check price |
Rocky Mountain Growler 20
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6
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7
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15
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- | Check price |
Cannondale Habit 4
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5
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12
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We ranked REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 #1 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 as #1.
We ranked Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp #2 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp as #1.
OutdoorGearLab
Best Overall Trail Bike / Editor's Choice
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Adjustable headtube and bb height
New SWAT box
GENIE Shock technology
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Incremental upgrade from Stumpjumper EVO
Rear brake is too large
Hefty for a carbon trail bike
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Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend mountain bikes.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of mountain bikes, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for January 2025 ranking
OutdoorGearLab
Verywell Fit
Bike Perfect
Switchback Travel
Cyclists Hub
Runner's World
Outside
The Strategist
Bikexchange
Bicycle Guider
We ranked Specialized Turbo Levo Comp #3 in January 2025 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
OutdoorGearLab
Best Electric Mountain Bike / Editors' Choice
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Powerful motor
Versatile, highly adjustable geometry
700Wh battery-great range
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No longer winning the battery wars
No digital display on lower-end models
Should come with tougher casing tires
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Switchback Travel
Best E-Mountain Trail Bike
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Well-rounded e-bike with a strong
long-lasting battery and refined downhill performance.
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Heavy, expensive
many trail systems don’t allow e-bikes (yet)
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We ranked Cannondale Trail 8 #4 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
We ranked Santa Cruz Chameleon #5 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Runner's World
Mixed Wheel aka "Mullet" Hardtail
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Comes stock with a dropper post and Maxxis tubeless tires
Great option for trail riding or bikepacking adventures with room for customizations
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You'll pay a bit more for the Santa Cruz name compared to similar hardtail bikes
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We ranked Giant Talon 2 #6 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
We ranked Specialized Chisel Comp #7 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Bike Perfect
The best beginner MTB for XC speed
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Quality alloy XC frame
Solid spec list
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Conservative geometry
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We ranked Rocky Mountain Growler 20 #8 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Runner's World
Budget-Friendly Hardtail
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Smooth downhill handling in varied terrain
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1x10 drivetrain can make steep climbs a bit more challenging
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We ranked Cannondale Habit 4 #9 in January 2025 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Bike Perfect
The best beginner MTB for suspension
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Size-specific geometry
Balanced, agility-biased handling
Rock-solid lifetime warrantied frame
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Relatively weighty
Offset frame makes some upgrades more complicated
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