Mid-range mountain bikes: This is how much a hardtail costs without compromising on quality

For real mountain biking enjoyment, you need good kit. Even the prices for hardtails can easily reach five-figure sums at the top end. However, a bike with a rigid rear end and a price tag of over 10,000 euros is definitely not for the masses. Even at the very bottom end of the price scale, many prospective buyers turn their noses up at them: too cheaply specced, too heavy. That’s why experienced mountain bikers often go for something right in the middle.

With mid-range bikes, there’s hardly any need to compromise on riding performance, yet they don’t soar into price brackets beyond the realm of reason. We’ve combed through the ranges of specialist retailers’ brands – Cube, Giant, Merida, Mondraker, Orbea, Santa Cruz, Scott, Specialized and Trek – as well as direct-to-consumer brands such as Canyon, Propain, Radon and YT, to track down exactly these kinds of deals. One thing that stands out is that more and more hardtail mountain bikes are disappearing from the market. As fewer and fewer Germans are buying classic hardtails, some of these are actually more expensive than their discounted motorised counterparts, which feature comparable carbon frames and identical specifications. The principle of supply and demand applies.

Conclusion

Partly due to the lack of demand, mid-range hardtails have now become really expensive. For 4,000 euros, customers still have to compromise on spec when buying from specialist retailers. With direct-to-consumer brands, however, current discounts mean they can get a bike that meets all their needs for as little as 3,000 euros. I really hope that the hardtail makes a comeback and that prices fall again. - Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor

The happy medium: mid-range mountain bikes

When it comes to hardtail mountain bikes, the price-to-performance ratio follows a downward curve. The more expensive a product is, the smaller the gain in performance tends to be. Mid-range bikes often fall precisely where this curve begins to dip most sharply. They deliver everything needed for mountain biking fun, satisfy even the most demanding riders and can therefore keep their owners happy for years to come. Cyclists who love their hobby, ride a lot and know their stuff often opt for mid-range models. In our experience from testing, such bikes are no longer exactly cheap, but they really deliver in practice and are only surpassed by their high-end counterparts in very few respects.

On the market, customers can choose between mountain bikes from specialist retailers and those from mail-order companies. The former are characterised by a network of dealers where various models can be test-ridden and personalised advice is available in-store. Direct mail-order retailers bypass the mark-ups of intermediaries and sell online directly from their own factories. As a result, bikes from mail-order retailers are usually cheaper, but may come with a slight lack of after-sales service.

The facilities

Mid-range hardtails usually feature carbon frames. Often, these are now indistinguishable from the top-of-the-range models in the product range. The prices of mountain bikes are determined primarily – though not exclusively – by their specifications. The following criteria define the specifications of a mid-range bike:

• Chassis: The performance of suspension forks and shock absorbers is largely determined by the damping technology used. In the mid-range category, for example, you’ll find RockShox models with the Select+ designation and Fox Performance Elite components. Their performance is only marginally inferior to that of the top-of-the-range models.
• Circuit: Mid-range drivetrains nowadays usually shift gears wirelessly via radio signals. These systems offer fast and smooth operation with a wide range of options. Examples of mid-range drivetrains include Shimano’s XT Di2 and SRAM’s GX Eagle AXS transmission.
• Wheels and tyres: Rim widths of 30 millimetres have become the norm on high-quality bikes across all disciplines. Some manufacturers are already opting for carbon in the mid-price range. Mid-range hardtails shouldn’t have to compromise on tyres. For example, they should be fitted with folding tyres from Maxxis or Schwalbe tyres from the Addix Super range.

This is how much a top-quality hardtail costs in specialist shops

As examples of bikes from specialist retailers, we have compared the ranges offered by Cube, Giant, Merida, Mondraker, Orbea, Santa Cruz, Scott, Specialized and Trek. It should be noted that some brands have significantly reduced their hardtail ranges over the last few years. There is often a large price difference between entry-level and top-of-the-range models, whilst the mid-range segment remains partly unfilled. The trendy gravel bike category, in particular, is eating into the hardtail market. Anyone looking to find a hardtail with mid-range spec at a specialist retailer will have to look very carefully.

At Cube, there’s a 2,000-euro gap between the most expensive Reaction model and the cheapest Phenix model. The cheaper option is already well-equipped, but cuts corners on the fork, whilst the more expensive choice features exclusively high-end components. The price difference is even greater at Scott. The Swiss brand’s mid-range carbon hardtail is a full 3,700 euros cheaper than the model with high-end parts, but cuts corners on the fork. The same picture emerges with Orbea: if you want the Select+ fork, you’ll have to spend an extra 1,500 euros in this case. Bulls and Mondraker riders have to put up with compromises when it comes to the drivetrain.

At Trek, only the most expensive carbon hardtail comes with mid-range spec, though the bike is fitted with a lower-quality fork. Giant and Specialized do not currently have any high-quality MTB hardtails in their range. The hardtails from Merida and Santa Cruz come with no compromises on spec – though at a price at which you could already get a high-end spec from a brand such as Cube.

This is how much a decent hardtail costs when bought online

In this comparison, Canyon, Propain, Radon and YT represent the mail-order sector. Here, too, hardtail models have gradually disappeared from the range over the years. Propain and YT can only offer dirt bikes with a rigid rear end, which have a very narrow range of use and are therefore not suitable for our comparison. Canyon and Radon currently offer uncompromising mid-range specifications at a reduced price of under 3,000 euros. Much like the specialist retail brands, Rose cuts costs on the fork.

What do you think: do you also prefer to snap up mid-range mountain bikes? Let us know what you think in the comments!