Discover the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $1000

Finding the best full-suspension mountain bikes under $1000 can be tricky, as so many brands claim to sell the highest-quality models. Ensure that you choose full suspension bikes with plenty of components to improve the suspension system for your comfort. This includes a lightweight, yet durable frame, and plenty of protective elements to cushion vibrations and bumps in the road.

We declare the Diamondback Bicycles Full Suspension Mountain Bike as the best option. This model features an aluminum frame and a nine-speed drivetrain to help you get up and down hills when you need the support.

IMAGE	PRODUCT	DETAILS	rating	price
Best Overall	Diamondback Bicycles Full Suspension Mountain Bike	Frame Materials: Aluminum Speed: 9 Brake: Hydraulic Disc Brakes	10	Check Today Price
Best Runner-Up	Schwinn Protocol 2.7 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike	Frame Materials: Aluminum Speed: 21 Brake: Mechanical brakes	10	Check Today Price
	DiamondBack Atroz 1	Frame Materials: Aluminum Speed: 18 Brake: Mechanical Disc brakes	9	Check Today Price
	Merax FT323 Mountain Bike	Frame Materials: Aluminum Speed: 21 Brake: Mechanical Disc brakes	9	Check Today Price
	Eurobike Mountain Bike	Frame Materials: Aluminum Speed: 21 Brake: Mechanical Disc brakes	9	Check Today Price

Discover the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $1000

We’ve searched the Internet and researched the best full suspension mountain bikes to collate a selection of the top five available to buy right now. We produced this list based on: frame material, speeds, brakes, and other factors, such as the size of the wheels.

Diamondback Bicycles Full Suspension Mountain Bike—Best Overall

This Diamondback model is the best full suspension mountain bike under $1000 that you can buy right now. Firstly, it features a hand-built, four-inch travel aluminum alloy frame that enables you to travel far and fast without the frame’s material weighing you down. Not to mention that aluminum is an ideal material for durability and preventing rust from forming.

Experienced and beginner cyclists can ride this mountain bike. In particular, it features an optimized single pivot with sealed cartridge bearings for a smooth, durable performance with every ride. This particular feature prevents any jolts and ensures that your ride is comfortable and easy.

Also, this full-suspension bike comes with a Shimano nine-speed drivetrain that allows you to tailor the bike to your riding preferences and environmental conditions. In fact, this particular model by Diamondback Bicycles is suitable for riding up and downhills. The various speed settings allow you to adjust the gears so you can cycle uphill easily and head back downhill easily.

We love that this features Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. The most significant advantage of this type of brake is that they automatically self-adjust as they wear down, resulting in less maintenance for you. Hydraulic disc brakes are also smooth and responsive during use, so they provide you with more stopping power with less force.

Finally, this mountain bike features 27.5-inch wheels that provide quick handling, as well as excellent traction when you’re riding in an array of road conditions. Also, the wheels of this full suspension bike are suitable for riders below 5’6″, which larger wheels aren’t—such as 29-inch ones.

Schwinn Protocol 2.7 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike—Best Runner-Up

When considering the best full suspension mountain bikes under $1000 in 2020, this Schwinn Protocol model makes an excellent contender. It comes equipped with a full-suspension frame that makes your rides less bumpy than before. So your ride will be a lot smoother, enabling you to power forth. Plus, the alloy cranks of full suspension bikes are a great addition to the bike, making it much more lightweight while helping you to maintain a balance.

The Schwinn Protocol 2.7 can tackle rocky trails without you feeling much fatigue during your routes. Therefore, you’ll be able to enjoy your time amongst the scenic trails while enjoying a thorough workout. Furthermore, the aluminum suspension system makes this full suspension mountain bike highly durable—despite the rough terrain.

Another top feature of this mountain bike is the 21-speed Shimano EZ-Fire trigger shifters that deliver power and speed you need for your cycles. This feature helps these full suspension bikes to maintain agile and provides easy gear shifts. Therefore, you’ll experience a much smoother and safer riding experience. Plus, both the front and rear brakes are disc brakes, which provide strong friction while bringing the bike to a stop, whenever you need it.

Finally, the wide tires of full suspension bikes provide further suspension, adding to the overall comfort. These tires are 2.25 inches wide, enabling you to ride in wet and snowy conditions with ease. These tires also provide a firm grip on the most technical terrain.

Diamondback Atroz 1—Best for Steep Hills

The Atroz 1 mountain bike is a great choice for riding steep hills. In fact, this bicycle has a minimum combined ratio of 32-24, so doing so will be a breeze. Plus, with this maximum gear ratio, you’ll also be able to get plenty of speed on flat ground, which also makes this mountain bike a great option for cruising around the city.

You’ll receive a total of 24 gears, which ensures that you’ll always have a gear to choose from, depending on your riding style as well as environmental conditions. Plus, you can easily maintain a high-pedaling cadence and ensure that you don’t struggle to cycle—even when you’re riding up steep hills or on tough terrain.

The Atroz 1 can be pushed to high limits, thanks to the aluminum frame that provides plenty of durability and suspension. This aluminum frame is compatible with 27.5-inch tires and four inches of travel. This full suspension bike also comes equipped with a single pivot, which means that this model has been optimized for stability, allowing you to stay on track on off-road trails.

Another top highlight of this mountain bike is the aggressive geometry that means it always feels more comfortable when riding at full speeds downhill on rough terrain, compared to flat surfaces in a neighborhood.

Finally, this full suspension mountain bike comes equipped with rubber tires, which are specifically designed for cross-country riding with maximum traction. Plus, these tires can handle tight turns, so there will never be an issue that it’s not cut out for off-road trails.

Merax FT323 Mountain Bike—Best for Speed

This Merax model allows you to enjoy a smooth riding experience, regardless of the surfaces you’re riding on. The dual-suspension design smooths out any bumps while you’re biking and increases your control, so you never feel unsafe.

It’s fitted with Shimano 21-speed derailleurs and shifters for reliable and smooth gear shifting. This number of gears makes the mountain bike versatile and easy to customize to your riding style and environment. 

To enhance your riding experience and prevent any vibrations and shocks, the Merax FT323 features full suspension forks. This feature absorbs any shocks in the bike’s way, helping you to feel more secure and comfortable along your routes. 

The bike’s tires contribute to speed. The 26-inch tires are small and lightweight, making the bike more agile, as well as faster to get up to speed on smoother surfaces. Plus, the smaller size means that the wheel can be stronger, which is important for downhill riders who enjoy an adventurous ride.

There are some high-quality features throughout this full suspension bike, including the high-grade rubber-gripped handlebars. This allows you to maintain a thorough grip on the bike, without any discomfort, helping you to keep in control—even around tight corners. Plus, the bicycle seat is designed to naturally contour your body for a natural fit when you ride.

Eurobike Mountain Bike—Best for Comfort

Finally, for this article on the best full suspension mountain bikes, we’re excited to present the Eurobike model. This is one of the best mountain bikes that features rims that are made out of aluminum, helping the tires to last longer as well as reducing any impacts and impacts on the bike from riding over bumps.

Also, with 21 speeds on offer, you’ll never feel restricted or out of options with this mountain bike. In fact, this large variety enables you to ride up and down hills safely.

For optimum comfort, the Eurobike features a padded seat that allows you to enjoy a cushioned ride, even when you’re cycling at top speeds or for long-distance journeys. Plus, the gripped handlebars allow you to steer well, plus receive better traction as you travel on tough terrain.

Buying Guide

Not sure which of the above mountain bikes would be right for you? In this case, we’ve created a buying guide for full suspension bikes with the top five features you should consider to narrow down your search. Bear in mind that every cyclist has different preferences, experiences, and may ride under different conditions, so select your options according to your lifestyle.

Wheel Size

First, we suggest looking at the wheel size you need from your mountain bike. Your decision should depend on several factors, including your height, speed you’re looking to attain while riding, and the riding conditions you’ll be exposed to.

For example, 26-inch wheels are best for those under 5’6″ since they’re designed for smaller bikes. This size is perfect if you want to use your mountain bike for commuting. In particular, 26-inch wheels can allow you to fully pack your racks on your bike without it massively affecting your steering and handling.

Next, 27.5-inch wheels are becoming increasingly popular for full suspension mountain bikes. This wheel size provides plenty of options, such as being available as a fat tire to improve your comfort and cushioning when riding on bumpy surfaces and in rain and snow.

Also, this wheel size offers more speed than smaller options, allowing you to travel faster—even on off-road trails. You’ll also notice that a larger wheel provides more traction due to the larger contact patch. This provides a huge advantage for maintaining a steady grip on rugged trails.

Finally, you’ll also find full-suspension mountain bikes with 29-inch wheels. The biggest reason cyclists opt for this size is because 29-inch wheels offer less rolling resistance. This means that once you pick up speed, the full suspension bike maintains this maximum speed easier than other wheel sizes. 

Furthermore, 29-inch wheels provide a better obstacle rollover. This means that if an obstacle hits a larger wheel of your suspension mountain bike, it’ll be easier to roll over, with less bumps and vibrations being sent through the frame. So, if you’re tall and spend a lot of time flying over rocks and riding on off-road trails, this wheel size is a must have.

More: Trek Marlin 7 Review: Is it A Good Bike?

Gears

Next, you might be wondering how many gears you need on a mountain bike and the difference between the number of speeds you receive. Generally speaking, the smoother the pavements, the fewer gears you’ll need, and the rougher and more difficult the terrain, we recommend more gears.

However, that doesn’t mean you should rush out and purchase a mountain bike with 11+ gears, because the more gears you have, the more chainrings required, and the heavier the bike will be. Instead, try to reduce the number of gears to what you truly need to keep your mountain bike as lightweight as possible.

Mountain bikes with multiple gears offer more versatility compared to the ones that only feature a few. This is purely because you’ll be able to ride up and down hills without any falls or difficulties. Let’s say you only have one gear on your bike. This would allow you to ride on smooth terrain, but you wouldn’t be able to get your bike up a steep hill, compared to a mountain bike with at least nine speeds.

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Bike Suspension

All of the above mountain bikes come with a full suspension system as opposed to a system on hardtail mountain bikes. There are numerous benefits to purchasing a bike with a full suspension system, such as being a more comfortable ride. 

In particular, this type of suspension soaks up most of the jarring bumps that would ordinarily be sent to your body, if the hardtail mountain bike didn’t protect you. Instead, this suspension system reduces fatigue and enables you to ride faster and farther with greater comfort.

If you need speed, a full-suspension mountain bike is the perfect match for you. This is because the suspension system performs such a good job of absorbing bumps that you can carry more speed through technical trails than you’d be able to on hardtail bikes.

Also, if you find that you mostly ride technical trails, a full suspension system is a must-have for you and not a hardtail mountain bike. It’s engineered for riding over roots, across gravel, over rocks, and more. By handling this type of terrain, you won’t feel limited to the types of trails and conditions you can ride it. Alternatively, a hardtail suspension system doesn’t offer this level of traction and handling, which can leave you feeling more of the impact on rough terrains.

One pitfall of this suspension type is the additional price you’ll pay. For all of the above features, the bike must feature a suspension system on the front and rear, which involves extra materials and manpower. Also, these additional components add weight to the bike, which can make mountain biking tougher as well as reduce your maximum speed.

More: Schwinn Sidewinder Review: Is It A Good Entry Bike?

Brake Type

Mountain bikes come with one of two brake types: hydraulic or mechanical-disc brakes. Deciding on the right brake type for you might be a complex job, but it requires knowing your budget in advance, how you like to ride, and where you’ll typically cycle. 

Mechanical Disc Brakes

First, let’s take a look at some of the highlights of mechanical brakes. This type of braking system operates by applying friction on the rotor, rather than the rim, which then brings the bike to a stop. The setup is fairly simple and includes a brake lever, cable, and the disc brake.

The simplicity of mechanical brakes makes them easy to use and inexpensive to replace. Plus, there’s virtually no maintenance involved, making them an ideal choice if you’re a beginner cyclist. 

However, this type of braking system is heavier than Shimano or Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which contributes to the bike’s overall weight and can reduce your maximum speed. Plus, they can become damaged easily and demand a lot of repairs. You’ll also need to apply quite a lot of pressure to bring the bike to a stop, which isn’t ideal for those lacking strength. 

Finally, they’re not as responsive or sensitive as hydraulic brakes, so you can’t rely on this brake type bringing you to an immediate stop in an emergency.

Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Alternatively, hydraulic disc brakes are an upgrade from mechanical disc brakes and considered the top-tier version. They’re a more efficient option and provide you with full control of your bike when you want to bring it to a stop.

Hydraulic brakes are smooth and responsive, so they provide you with excellent stopping power without much force, making them more suitable for a range of cyclists. Plus, they provide you with more control, so you remain stable and safe on your bike with less pressure from the brake levers.

However, you should bear in mind that these extra benefits will increase the bike’s overall cost, making this brake system unideal for those on a budget. Also, some riders find them a deal-breaker because they’re complex to operate and sometimes difficult to adjust.

More: Diamondback Atroz 3 Review: is It Good Entry-Level Mountain bike

Bike Frame Materials

Finally, you should consider the bike frame materials carefully. With a large variety to choose from, making the decision can be complex, but it’s not impossible to discover the best one for your goal. Below are our top recommendations for frame materials, as well as reasons to consider each.

Aluminum

This is the most common frame material for mountain bikes because it’s packed with numerous benefits. For example, it’s lightweight, which means that you don’t have to put in more work when riding to make up for the excess weight. Not to mention that you can reach top speeds easier than a heavier material.

This material is also rust-resistant and durable, so you can ride your mountain bike in the rain, without any concerns that it’ll deter. In fact, you can own an aluminum bike if you live near open water, without any issues of longevity.

Aluminum is also an ideal material for absorbing shocks and vibrations, offering a smoother and more comfortable ride overall. This helps to make your mountain biking more enjoyable. Also, this material is flexible, which means that it bounces slightly with the bumps, rather than remaining completely stable. The benefit of this is that you don’t then absorb any impact.

Finally, this material is an ideal option if you plan on riding on off-road trails with technical grounds more than smooth pavements. Aluminum is engineered for durability and to absorb shocks as opposed to having its primary benefit in speed.

Carbon Fiber

Another top frame material that best mountain bikes use is carbon fiber. This material is one of the most expensive, which is why none of the above bikes under $1000 feature a carbon fiber frame. The greatest benefit of this material is that this material is much lighter than aluminum, helping you to ride faster and farther with the same amount of effort.

This lighter weight doesn’t mean that the bike is less durable. However, most cyclists are concerned about carbon fiber’s longevity. In particular, it can’t be repaired, much like a car involved in a collision. This means that it’ll crumble if involved indirect impact, which means you’ll need to purchase an entirely new bicycle.

Carbon fiber is also more expensive than aluminum, which increases the overall cost of the mountain bike. This isn’t ideal for those on a budget or beginner cyclists. However, there are many possibilities with the design of a carbon fiber bike, so you’re more likely to have a mountain bike that’s ergonomical and aerodynamic. 

Finally, many cyclists opt for a carbon fiber frame because it’s lightweight and favors those looking for speed. In fact, you can carry a bike with this material over your shoulders, which is ideal for lifting the bike into a car or on public transportation without any issues. However, it’s not the most preferred material for off-road trails. 

More: Discover the Best Hardtail Mountain Bike Under $1000

The Best Runners Up

We hope you enjoyed this full suspension mountain bike under 1000 review. Aside from the Diamondback Bicycles being our top pick, we declare the Schwinn Protocol 2.7 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike as the second-best full suspension bike.

This bike provides a smooth riding experience, preventing any bumps and vibrations. This benefit also enables you to tackle rocky trails without feeling fatigue during your cycles. In fact, the aluminum frame of this full suspension bikealso provides some relief from shocks and impacts.

Alternatively, we’d also suggest the Diamondback Atroz mountain bike. This particular model is ideal for steep hills and excels in the toughest conditions. Plus, with a wide range of gears to choose from, you’ll be able to tailor the bike to your riding style and environmental conditions. You can ride up steep hills and on tough terrain without any struggles. All the while, the aluminum frame will help to reduce any vibrations and impact, providing a smooth mountain biking overall.