Best Value Entry Level Hardtail Mountain Bikes in 2024 

Heck yea! That's sounds like a sick bike. I really like the look of that frame too.

Heck yea! If you got questions, let me know. Most the local bike shops will have good budget options. Daves Bike Shop, Elite Cycling, Bike Stop. They will have good entry level hardtails and treat you right.

Hell yea!

Yes, exactly! That's the negative to many of those bikes. I imagine that wheel situation was frustrating. Cool little solution you found.

Do it!!!

Talon 2 are all 2x drive trains, I have never seen a x1 version on any retailer that sells giant bicycles. Talon 1 and 0 have x1. Only thing is you can get a better bike than the talon 0(the highest version of the talon) at the talon 2's price point. There is however one problem, no dropper and still quick release. to be honest green/blu XC trails i dont think you need anything more than QR. you only start seeing thru axle with boost on bikes about above the 1000$ mark which is around the starting point for trail bikes. Giant bicycles just aren't great value . at the talon 0's price you can get a serious XC bike with thru axle and boost hub's or a entry trail bike. this is true even though the talon 0 is on special...

Hell yea!

If I'm seriously sending it, I don't want QR, but that's just me. Like I said in the end, it's probably fine for ppl just riding mellow trails. I didn't have dropper when I first got the stache and I knew the first thing it needed was a dropper. Just my opinions

I will buy a bike, and I will ride with you

QR is tough with disc brakes because the alignment is not as precise as it is with TA. For that reason, I think it's worth it to go with TA. As far as a dropper post, it's very helpful for a shorter rider. It was a game changer for my wife. I also use my dropper a ton when I'm hauling my son around with the Kids Ride Shotgun seat. I rarely use it when I'm actually on MTB trails.

@@mikediederich579 Toxis is an old head. Afraid of new technology!

I agree that for easier trails, QR is capable enough. I have taken my cheap ass mtb down decents where i though i would meet the lord, but still alive and bike is still running. ( I would not recommend doing what i did thou☠😰) However QR is not as forgiving as thru axle, for really hectic trails you want something robust. As for the dropper, i havent even used that uet although my next bike will have it as i want to try harder trails

Thank you. I know a little about Fuji but not Sava. Fuji makes nice bikes that are good value. I've never looked at their mountain bikes, though. Their gravel bikes are good value.

@@TysRides thank you so much.

@brentkasl6510 unfortunately, you might not be able to if you can't find the same bike in a shop.

You can upgrade the fork to one with a thru axle if the you have does not come with one but for the rear I am not sure you can.

Any of these bikes would be fine as long as the bike fits.

I agree completely.

Eh ,it's really about perception of one being more figure proof Bolt on axle, QR, TA, they'll all let you do the same thing .

@@sanyanation1337 I missed that one. Sounds like a pretty good one for the money.

I'd have to agree. Prices are for sure coming down but still up there. That Norco for $900 is a pretty sweet bike. Look on Facebook market place and Pink Bike for nice used stuff. You'll find something.

With that budget, one option may be to get a GT Aggressor Pro and slowly add the upgrades or you can get something like a Schwinn Axum DP and again, slowly do the upgrades as you're able to. I ride an Axum DP that still has the stock wheels frame and dropper. I replaced the fork with a Manitou Air Fork ($300), changed the 8 speed derailleur with an 8 speed Microshift Acolyte ($37 which has a Spring Lock/Clutch), and replaced the cable actuated brakes with hydraulic Shimano MT 200's ($50). there are cheaper Air Forks that will do the job also like the Suntour Epixon that can be found for about $179. I saw a Royce Union bike for bout $379 that already had hydraulic brakes, clutch derailleur (11 speed I believe). All it needed was an Air Fork and dropper. It was a 2 X 11 but with that 11 speed cassette, easy to upgrade to a 1X.

@@LebronPhoto1 buying a frame thats incapable of fitting a tapered fork is a bad buy, and the geo of the GT is very XC with HTA..way better buys these days Kent trouvaille rollback 299 Ozark trail ridge 399 Giordano valor 460? Giordano intrepid 527 And something with tru rear axle, Poseidon norton 699

@@PghMtbRides those are all good choices but again, it depends on the rider and in what or how hard they ride or plan on riding in the future. Not everyone is going down double black diamonds. Some are just riding cross country.

@@LebronPhoto1 none od tbose are double black diamond, Just trail geo with XC travel fork...bjt can easily upgrade to 140mm . Its just getting hard to find straight steer tube forks Gt aggressor pro is expensive for what it is, can get better for the $$ is all I'm saying

Ah, fair enough. It's good to know there are some options out there for wheel upgrades. I know I'm feeling much better about getting rowdy with a thru axle, though. Thanks for the comment! It could help some ppl.

I wish I could. I'm honestly not aware of that bike.

@@TysRides Can you please search it??

I'm not sure it's necessarily a bad thing. Could just make it difficult if you ever wanted to upgrade the wheels. Most wheels are thru axle now adays.

And I'm sure the bike performs great! It seems my QR vs. TA comments have started a few conversations. Again, QR is probably fine and will get the job done, but it could limit ppl a some if wanting to upgrade.

Yea, maybe so. I will be completely honest, I don't have any experience with QR on a mountain. Only thru axles. I guess I should have mentioned that. With the QR bikes, finding decent wheel upgrades could be problematic, though.

I've had QR axles on my mtb. They are noticably more flexy than thru axles.

I've never had problems with rear QR but my front QR has given me issues multiple times. I think there's just too much flex in these small forks and it eventually works loose.

You mad bro?

That's like saying there is nothing wrong with a rigid 26er because it was the standard in 1982.

I'd take either!

@@TysRides damn, I'm literally fighting vs myself regarding a choice between these two.

@@dejnou6012 are they both available? Like both in stock?

It looks like the Polygon is a little cheaper. But I do like that the marin uses a 1x drivetrain. I like 1x for mtb.

@@TysRides both Polygon Xtrada 6 and Marin Bobcat Trail 5 are 1x11 versions. Marin has a slightly better tires. My brain is saying Marin but my hearth Polygon

I was a Dyno guy. Me and all my neighborhood cronies had Dynos, and for whatever reason, there was this stigma that GT was shit.

@TysRides that's funny cause Dyno was made by GT. Not sure when all that changed. I was a 90s kid

@TypicalGuy84 could have been. I didn't know what the hell was going on lol. I was like 12. I should research these old BMX brands and make a video.

@TysRides I haven't seen much on BMX, but again, I'm not really in that scene anymore. Would be an interesting segment, even a series. You could break down the history of all those brands

@@TypicalGuy84 we're on to something here...

My bad. I got a local shop here in KC that deals Norco. At least they did a few years ago.

That wasn't my experience. I'm in Arizona and had no problem getting one shipped here. After purchasing it online, they even gave me choices of which bike shop to pick it up from.

Yes, I wrestled in HS and have been a HS coach for 12 years.

I believe not as strong and limiting when wanting to upgrade wheels. Most nice wheels are thru axle.

Nothing

@@TysRides What is nice?

Nothing wrong with QR, been used for ages.

Love me some Kona and Giant! Great bang for the buck. But there are so many budget options it's hard to just pick a handful. I've included Kona and Giant in many of my other videos.

Yeh but you get 27% more.... Value!

Gt aggressor pro can be out on that list now since Dicks upped the price to 800 lmao..all while still having 3x8 and straight steer head tube, 80mm fork and really old school XC geo

​@@PghMtbRidesprobably yes But its still a crappy bike if you really want to learn how to hit the trails properly and have a really comfortable geomtry and long travel If u want a bike just for basic riding with the family get a cheaper one

Based on the specs you just mentioned, it sounds like that is a great value.

@@TysRides sure is,i have it and runs like a charm

@@justandrew231 with a fork upgrade its legit fine.. but theres so many 400-700 budget bikes out now that have actual trail geometry, with trail ready components like the kent trouvaille and Enclave Giordano valor and Intrepid, Ozark trail ridge, Poseidon norton And these bikes will take a long travel fork well(specifically the Poseidon 170mm yari)

For sure. Could just limit someone if they wanted to upgrade wheels at some point.