Top 3 Entry Level Mountain Bikes

For every one of the high-calibre racing machines bike shops stock, there are countless options for people that just want an everyday leisure bike, whether for the roads, parks, or trails.

This list is all about our top 3 Bang-for-your-buck trail Bikes, the bikes on this list are chosen for their fantastic quality and componentry at outstanding prices, regardless of any current offers/sales. These bikes are some of our top sellers, and for good reason, whether it’s your first bike, or you’re looking at getting into a new discipline, this list is where we think you should start.

THE BIKES

What makes deciding between the bikes tough, is that they all share many similarities, whether it’s components, geometry, or price. If you simply want to know which of these may work best for you and you’re already itching to get one out for a ride, feel free to skip ahead, but stick around if you want to see exactly what sets these bikes apart from the pack, and one-another.

Each of these bikes are for the current year and are the first entry in their respective model-lines

Trek Marlin 4

Initially released under the brand Gary Fisher (which Trek had purchased in 1993), the Marlin was another bike aimed at the entry-level market from the start, claiming the “dirt smart design” is due to trickle down design from its top performance models.

The Marlin was hugely popular as an entry-level trail bike, which is why in 2012, Trek released the newest model under its own brand, where it has remained since.

Specialized Rockhopper

The Rockhopper is as rugged as it sounds, first released in 1985, it’s become the brand’s most reliable steed, loved by veterans and newcomers alike.

While the frame has undergone numerous redesigns in its long and illustrious history, its goal has stayed the same, to be a bomb-proof introduction to the trails for all riders by using trickle-down tech from Specialized’s performance line Mountain Bikes.

Cannondale Trail

The baby of the group, the Trail was initially released in 2010 as Cannondale’s budget trail all-rounder.

While the Trail hasn’t had the time to establish itself as the other models on this list, we’ve found it holds its own against the pack just fine.

SIMILARITIES

Frame

One of the many aspects of the Rockhopper that has contributed to its success, is just how ‘upgradeable’ the frame is, and this is shared between each of the bikes on this list.

All three bikes share their frames across their respective model lineups (although Trek’s highest-spec Marlin has thru axles instead of quick-release), which allows these bikes to form a key part of any stable for many years. Many of Specialized’s Rockhoppers are still sought after for their reliability 40 years on!

Another characteristic that each of these share is the undeniable quality of their manufacturer’s frame construction. All three of the companies featured in this list have proven their skills with Aluminium frames; Specialized with Smartweld, Trek with Invisible Weld Technology, Cannondale with SmartForm, and while these technologies can’t be featured in all of their frames, the results of their innovation is clear in each of them.

Finishing set

The finishing set refers to components such as the saddle, seatpost, stem, and handlebars. On these bikes, the finishing set has little to no difference, so are very easily and inexpensively replaced.

Brakes

Each bike has very similar mechanical (cable-actuated) disc brakes. They are simple to replace, repair, and adjust. They’re all from 3rd party component manufacturers and fit 160mm brake rotors for plenty of stopping power.

DIFFERENCES

An important consideration when it comes to any bike purchase, is the component specification; do the bikes have a wide enough range of gears for your needs? Will it have enough suspension travel for the trails you want to ride? And so on.

Drivetrain

In regards to the drivetrain, the Rockhopper has the most individual gears, but the Marlin 4 is the only bike on the list with a complete Shimano groupset, which can make it easier to replace/repair parts.

Suspension

At this price point, the suspension won’t show any particular differences in ride feel, but for argument’s sake, the Cannondale Trail 8 has the lowest suspension travel. Each of them is coil sprung.

Geometry

Many people would argue there’s no ‘perfect answer’ when it comes to the ideal geometry of one’s bike, but we’ll be comparing the differences between these bikes no matter how small. These bikes are all classed as ‘Cross Country/Trail’ bikes, so keep this in mind when reading this next bit.

The Trek has the shortest wheelbase, lowest handlebar height, slackest seat tube angle, shortest saddle to bars reach, and steepest headtube (the handlebars pivot around this) angle, so relative to the other two in this list, it’s best suited to flatter terrain or pathways. If you’re looking for one of these to be your commuting bike, this one would likely feel happiest on the road.

The Specialized and Cannondale are much more trail-oriented in their geometry, but the Specialized is the middle ground between the two others. Much like the Cannondale, it has a long wheelbase, slack head tube angle, steep seat tube angle, and similar saddle to bar reach. But like the Trek, it has a lower standover height, short head tube, and short chainstays. These factors result in the Specialized handling much like a performance MTB and able to handle rough terrain like a pro.

The Cannondale is the tallest and longest bike of the selection, so some may find it helpful to go down a size when trying it out. It also has the smallest clearance from the ground to the pedals and the longest “trail” so it’s a tad more ‘stable’ to ride.

SUMMARY

We feel all of these bikes are fantastic value for money, although deciding between them can be tough. Everybody fits bikes in slightly different ways, whether you need the bike to be longer to fit your arms, taller to fit your legs, or anything in between, the best way to find out which one of these is for you would be to get them on some test rides! Give us a call and organise your test ride today!

If you ever need more information on any of these bikes, get in touch with your local Bike Shed, in person, online, or over the phone.

Check out all of these bikes and brands at The Bike Shed Bike Show on 23rd March!