Mountain biking is an expensive sport. If you want to run a marathon, you can buy a pair of running shoes for 100 euros and get started. For a new mountain bike, you need to invest at least 460 euros. That's a lot of money for a bike that represents the cheapest way to get started. The Rockrider St-540 hardtail, our cheapest test bike, has a suspension fork, disc brakes and at least looks like it could be ridden on moderate trails. If you are looking for a full-suspension bike for rougher terrain and more comfort, you should expect to pay at least 1600 euros. Specialised bikes such as race bikes or enduro bikes are only available from 2200 euros. The price differences in the various mountain bike categories are extremely large. How long you have to save up for your first real mountain bike therefore depends first and foremost on one question: Which bike category is right for me?
Hardtail, Marathon-Fully, Trailbike or Enduro. For a beginner, the different categories sound like the names of Bohemian villages. In principle, however, the basic idea behind all mountain bike categories is the same: on a mountain bike, you want to cycle through nature away from road traffic. The fresh air should help you to take your mind off things. The cranking keeps your body fit. Those who indulge in the mixture of mental relaxation and physical exertion in nature are rewarded with happiness hormones. This need can be satisfied with hardtails, the simplest and most affordable type of mountain bike. The affordable entry-level hardtails from our duel on page 50 both cost less than 700 euros. From 1600 euros, you can even expect very good bikes made of carbon in this category.
The race bike, trail bike and enduro categories increase the demands on the sport and therefore the price. In addition to the basic idea described above, race full-suspension bikes are primarily designed to increase comfort on long tours. Trail bikes or all-mountain bikes tame rougher trails with more suspension travel at the front and rear. They are ideal partners for single trail tours or Alpine crossings.
Enduros are downhill machines. Uphill, the generous suspension travel and high weight make you sweat, but downhill they crave speed and fire up the body's own adrenaline production. Depending on what you want to do with the bike, the price of the entry-level bikes also changes.
We tested two representatives of each mountain bike category. In order to find out how much money you have to spend to have fun in the intended area of use, one of the cheapest bikes on the market is always pitted against one in the next higher price category. The question that hovers over all the duels: Is the cheapest bike on the market suitable for igniting a fire of enthusiasm?
The entire article with all the test results including points tables, technical data and grades is available as a PDF in the download area below:
- Hardtail duel: Rockrider ST 540 against Specialised Rockhopper Comp
- Marathon duel: Canyon Lux CF SL 6.0 Pro Race vs Rocky Mountain Element A50
- Trail bike duel: Marin Hawk Hill1 against Giant Trance 3
- Enduro duel: Pulse RS 2 vs YT Capra 27 AL Base
You can find the complete comparison test including all data, points tables and the score overview in BIKE 6/2019. The comparison test costs € 1.99 as a PDF. Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.
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