April 2024

Mountain Bikes: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of mountain bikes rankings posted by key online experts, as of April 2024.

Summary

On 9 Apr 2024, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 84 mountain bike endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

74 mountain bikes were endorsed in total, only 8 made it into this month's ranking. (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included)

As of 9 Apr 2024, REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed mountain bike with 3 expert endorsements. 2 experts out of 3 recommended it as the '#1 mountain bike' this month.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking mountain bikes start at $189 (Huffy Stone Mountain) and go up to $700 (Diamondback Hook). Median mountain bike costs $462.12 (Schwinn High Timber ALX).
$189
$700

At a glance - April Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Mountain Bike
OutdoorGearLab
Verywell Fit
Outside
Runner's World
Cyclists Hub
Switchback Travel
Bike Perfect
The Strategist
Bikexchange
Bicycle Guider
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
7
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-
-
1
2
- 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.
3
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-
-
-
-
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1
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3
- Check price
Yeti SB130
The Yeti SB130 is a high-performance mountain bike with a carbon fiber frame, exceptional suspension system, and durable components, making it a versatile and capable choice for experienced riders tackling a variety of trails.
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1
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3
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4
- 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.
9
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3
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5
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5
- 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
2
12
- 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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13
- Check price
Specialized Chisel Comp
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7
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9
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14
- Check price
Cannondale Habit 4
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8
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12
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We ranked REI Co-op Cycles DRT 1.1 #1 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 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.
Critic endorsements:
Cyclists Hub

Best Budget Beginner Mountain Bike

Go to ranking

Switchback Travel

Top Entry-Level Trail Bike for Beginners

Budget-friendly price but includes nice upgrades like hydraulic disc brakes.

Far less trail-worthy as the other options on the list.

Go to ranking

Bicycle Guider

Slightly Over $500. Clear Winner With Discs And Multiple Sizes

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We ranked Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp #2 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Comp as #1.
Critic endorsements:
OutdoorGearLab

Best Aggressive Trail Bike

Stable and confident descender
Highly adjustable geometry
Adaptable for terrain or riding style
Plush FSR suspension
Increased SWAT storage

May be too much bike for mellow trails
Moderate weight
Fox 36 Rhythm fork

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The Strategist

Best overall mountain bike

Go to ranking

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 April 2024 ranking

We ranked Yeti SB130 #3 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Yeti SB130 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Switchback Travel

Best Overall Trail Mountain Bike

Premium construction
aggressive geometry
superb up- and downhill performance.

Expensive

Go to ranking

The Strategist

Best mountain bikes for aggressive riding

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We ranked Specialized Turbo Levo Comp #4 in April 2024 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
OutdoorGearLab

Best Electric Mountain Bike / Editors' Choice

Powerful motor
Versatile, highly adjustable geometry
700Wh battery-great range

No longer winning the battery wars
No digital display on lower-end models
Should come with tougher casing tires

Go to ranking

Switchback Travel

Best E-Mountain Trail Bike

Well-rounded e-bike with a strong
long-lasting battery and refined downhill performance.

Heavy, expensive
many trail systems don’t allow e-bikes (yet)

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The Strategist

Best mountain bike with electric assist

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We ranked Cannondale Trail 8 #5 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Bikexchange

Go to ranking

Bicycle Guider

2nd Plance: Runner up!

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We ranked Santa Cruz Chameleon #6 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
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

You'll pay a bit more for the Santa Cruz name compared to similar hardtail bikes

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Bikexchange

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We ranked Specialized Chisel Comp #7 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Bike Perfect

The best beginner MTB for XC speed

Quality alloy XC frame
Solid spec list

Conservative geometry

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Bikexchange

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We ranked Cannondale Habit 4 #8 in April 2024 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best mountain bikes” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Bike Perfect

The best beginner MTB for suspension

Size-specific geometry
Balanced, agility-biased handling
Rock-solid lifetime warrantied frame

Relatively weighty
Offset frame makes some upgrades more complicated

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Bikexchange

Go to ranking