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 |
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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 |
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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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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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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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11
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- | Check price |
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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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6
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6
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13
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4
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9
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14
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6
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7
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15
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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
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










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
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
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
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 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
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
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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