Thank god someone made this video! Say it louder for the people in the back!!! Value/bang for your buck! Also hospital bills ain’t cheap! Get a bike you can trust with your life cause weather you like it or not your going to be!
That was my thinking, I rode a 2019 Rockhopper for 2 years with 100mm travel with QR. Then I seen a video review with my exact model and the fork had a sticker that said something like "Bike is not meant for jumps or downhill, can cause injury or death"
Great job explaining what "budget" means and the different price levels of bikes. I think back to my first mtn bike I purchased in 1991, it was a fully rigid steel fork $400. A year later I bought a '93 Giant Cadex hardtail with full Shimano LX for $1200. 4 months later, I had the mtn bike bug and purchased my first full suspension for $1600. It was a '93 GT RTS 2 that I immediately upgraded the fork to a Rockshox Mag 21, replaced the bar, stem, and seat, and also the tires (because Smoke and Dart were all the rage). I took the GT to Moab in '94 and rode the Portal on that bike. My current mtb is a Trek Roscoe 8 that I am slowly upgrading as money allows, and it's all the bike I need. Personally, if all you can afford is a "Walmart" bike, get it, but be aware it's not going to be as reliable and safe as something 3x's that. It's rather funny that my best bike in 1993 (GT RTS 2) cost nearly the same as my current hardtail.
In 2020 I bought my first full suspension mountain bike during the middle of Covid when it was hard to find bikes. I was lucky to find a demo Marin Hawk Hill 1 from a shop in Telluride. Including shipping to my house from the shop it was $1000. I slowly upgraded the components, probably dropped another $1000 over the next couple years. I rode this bike until this last fall when I got a new frame to build up. I progressed a lot as a rider on this bike and even took it to the Snow Summit bike park and Noble Canyon Trail here in San Diego. Despite being a bit heavier than my friend’s nicer bikes, it performed just as well! I might have been slower than my friends uphill, but most of the time I was faster than them on the downhill, and definitely much better at jumps!
@ I bought a used 2022 carbon transition scout off pinkbike that’s in really good shape and has low mileage. I realized I like 27.5” over 29” for the playfulness. Unfortunately it had one of the blown fox float X2 shocks but Fox replaced it with a brand new 2024 version for significantly less than retail. I’ve done some bargain bin scavenging and managed to piece together a nice build for thousands less than a bike of this caliber would normally cost!
You are spot on w this breakdown. Also, bike choice matters a lot on how skilled you are and what terrain you ride. What you should pay for first are the R&D/kinematics and the quality of a frame imo. The rest is just what you hang on the frame. You can buy a lesser frame with $5K of components. Yes, the bike will very capable, but it will have limits to its overall performance. Also, you can buy an expensive frame, like a Santa Cruz w entry level components. It will be capable bc of the frame quality and suspension design, but the components hold it back. I prefer to buy the best frame I can get for the $ w reliable components. Components will fail and will need to be replaced. That is when you upgrade. I bought a 2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct C30 with a full Deore group set, Marzocchi Z2 Bomber 150, Fox DPS, etc... reliable but mid-level components. The bike rocks as is and blows away my 2018 Stumpy w XTR/XT, etc. I bought the Rocky for $2900 at a 40% discount from a MSRP of $4700. I find that a budget bike for what I wanted. I think Rocky will restructure and stay relevant in the mtb industry after the bankruptcy filing a couple of weeks ago. Canadian bike makers are fearing the proposed tariffs and getting their books in order to survive the long haul. I don't think Rocky is insolvent and on its death bed, but they are going to slim down for sure. Probably no UCI Downhill nor EWS pro teams in 2025.
@@JaredHoff They are really top notch quality. Every detail is considered. I am concerned about getting parts like bearings and pivot bolts, if financials are worse than they report. I may stock up. The frame warranty was only 2 years, so that isn't as important to me. They offer a discount frame/swingarm replacement after the 2 years.
You have to factor in with direct to consumer or LBS for purchase. If Siskiu was not a direct to consumer (Bikes online). That T-7 would be $2K+ bike build with what comes on it. Siskiu, YT Industries, Canyon, etc can be had for great prices with value vs components direct to consumers. Be more sold through middleman LBS.
You are spot on how you explain the cost of bikes between cheap, budget, mid level, and expensive. When started mountain bike 15-20yrs ago, a $700 hard tail was expensive. Fast forward to now...I was looking to spend $1200 thinking that I could get a capable mtb. Yes Mount bike is an expensive sport, but people who ride understand the costs. Those who complain about $1500 being budget ain't real Mountain Bikers and should just stick to recreational riding with their Walmart, big box store bikes. I've seen mtb RUclips channel where they take and cheap walmart mongoose bike and add almost $2000 + in upgrades just to make it a capable mountain bike. So at the end of the day...$1500 is budget best bang for your buck, that you'd be looking to spend.
Nice job on this breakdown dude. One thing people have to understand is that this is not a cheap sport to get into. $1500-2500 is budget for this sport. Any cheaper for a new full sus and you are usually going to end up with something that is constantly breaking down. That sucks the fun out of riding
I can’t afford to spend 1500- 2500 out right for a bike but I can spend that kind over a 6 month period building up a bike. I’ve got around 2500 in my ns eccentric build . On my mongoose Canaan elite I’ve got around 2000 in that one but I’ve got a couple upgrades I want to do to that one.
@@thevapingpolisher9717 heck yeah 👍 I think upgrading a budget bike something often overlooked. Yes, you can save up and just buy a bike next year when you have enough to afford a better bike. BUT for most of us, we buy the bike we can afford now and then look for ways to upgrade it over time.
I bought a Giant Talon back in October for $600. I’ve put another $500 into it since then. It’s a nice bike but I quickly realized I wanted more. I went back and forth between a polygon or an Ari. I ultimately decided on the Ari Cascade Peak Pro for $3000.
Re: buying that $10k bike. Lots of people just can't believe that you cannot buy respect. Nobody looks down on a guy on a budget bike...if they are giving it their all.
I've got marlin 7 gen3 since 2023, it's hardtail, 100mm coil rockshox fork, and overall entry level component. It definitely has some limitation, but it's good enough for mellow trail.
The industry for decades pushed $2500 so to me $1500 is reasonable. I totally agree with you on people using Walmart bikes as a starting point, drives me nuts. Good used bike in the $800-1000 can be had if you have someone that can help you get one.
@alonsorivas8648 I think that’s an idea that briefs well but isn’t how most people do it. Most of us get the bike we can afford and slowly upgrade over time. Definitely not the most cost effective way to do it, but it’s what most people do. Or at least that the way I’ve always done it LOL
I call "budget" bikes anything under $500, and up to 1,500 a "value" bike because often the components that come with this level of bike are actually decent and valuable. To me, budget means you're going to keep it stock most likely and you just want something to cruise around the neighborhood on. Value starts to build decent rigs.
@@JojiDreyfus The Siskiu is a great bike. I had the T9 but wanted to try a more “Budget” option for the RUclips channel so I’m sticking with the T7 for now and doing upgrades as I need to.
Each bike i own is a major brand in the industry. However, I purchased pre-owned on a budget and made a project for each one. The industry is getting ridiculously high. Eventually, people are going to stop spending that much money
I people that shocked about a $1500 for a complete full suspension bike are probably not looking at it from a perspective of actual getting into the sport of mountain biking. They’re thinking about a bike the same as tennis racket, a baseball glove and bat and other sporting goods that just collect dust in their garage and not really utilized in the way a serious person would approach a sport. As for the $4K to $8K. You are now seeing Yeti, Pivot, Santa Cruz bikes in this range. Some at 50% off, from reputable retailers like Competitive Cycles and Jensen USA Polygon offers some great value but now you can find deals on boutique brands.
@ I don’t ride a full suspension only hardtail’s , SS Mtb and gravel bikes. I will be buying a new hardtail frame (over $1500) this year for another rigid SS mtb just because I want something that will eventually be used with gears for bikepacking and I want the additional frame mounts. After that I will get a full squishy frame but deciding on how much suspension would be needed for the more extreme trails I frequent. I’ll be posting more videos of my more technical local trails but they’re definitely not full on gap jumps and the rocky steeps of the faster Nor Cal and PNW trails or Utahs black diamond trails.
@JaredHoff thx. I waited the whole time of pandemic chaos and watched others go biking. I used the time to save money and the wishes got bigger and bigger. I decided for an e-mtb, and I think in that case you'd should expend the list caused by other price ranges 😅 thx for your video! Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
@@vicislick6 I wish I had sponsored videos. I spend so much time making these and barely make any money on the RUclips ads. All of the BIG RUclips channels have paid sponsorships. It’s how they can afford to go full time.
How much does a car cost that is capeable to go around a race track without cooking it's brakes? Those are toys, these bikes are toys too. Not your avarege shit box to commute. How much does a pc cost to start play tripple A games? Performance always have a price. Performance doesn't need in your every day life. That's why you can use shit boxes.
@@Manetty6 you make a good point. My friends always tell me that I could have bought a dirt bike for the price of my MTB. But how much would you pay to have the same exact dirt bike that a pro racer like Travis Pastranna raced on? A LOT MORE!!!
@@JaredHoff yes, the motor and the car is the cheapest way them to express thier limited mindset. There's no better or worse. These thing are existing on totaly different plains. Comparing them is nonsense. You can't ride your trails with with your dirt bike or go to a bike park. And you don't go to any dirt track with your bike. Strangely nobody ask why buy a Porsche instead off a big fat tracktor.
Thank god someone made this video! Say it louder for the people in the back!!! Value/bang for your buck! Also hospital bills ain’t cheap! Get a bike you can trust with your life cause weather you like it or not your going to be!
@@thesarge15 thanks for the comment man. I got inspired to make this video but wondered how people would take it.
That was my thinking, I rode a 2019 Rockhopper for 2 years with 100mm travel with QR. Then I seen a video review with my exact model and the fork had a sticker that said something like "Bike is not meant for jumps or downhill, can cause injury or death"
Great job explaining what "budget" means and the different price levels of bikes. I think back to my first mtn bike I purchased in 1991, it was a fully rigid steel fork $400. A year later I bought a '93 Giant Cadex hardtail with full Shimano LX for $1200. 4 months later, I had the mtn bike bug and purchased my first full suspension for $1600. It was a '93 GT RTS 2 that I immediately upgraded the fork to a Rockshox Mag 21, replaced the bar, stem, and seat, and also the tires (because Smoke and Dart were all the rage). I took the GT to Moab in '94 and rode the Portal on that bike. My current mtb is a Trek Roscoe 8 that I am slowly upgrading as money allows, and it's all the bike I need.
Personally, if all you can afford is a "Walmart" bike, get it, but be aware it's not going to be as reliable and safe as something 3x's that.
It's rather funny that my best bike in 1993 (GT RTS 2) cost nearly the same as my current hardtail.
@@johnnydoe66 Roscoe 8 is a great option to upgrade 👍
I think when stuff gets over that 3k mark, is where stuff gets way unreasonable. Diminishing returns kick in fast.
@@coltonowens2742 definitely 👍
Just purchased my T8 last month on sale. Love it! Good Video.
@@JustRideMTB heck yeah. Stoked for you!
In 2020 I bought my first full suspension mountain bike during the middle of Covid when it was hard to find bikes.
I was lucky to find a demo Marin Hawk Hill 1 from a shop in Telluride. Including shipping to my house from the shop it was $1000.
I slowly upgraded the components, probably dropped another $1000 over the next couple years. I rode this bike until this last fall when I got a new frame to build up. I progressed a lot as a rider on this bike and even took it to the Snow Summit bike park and Noble Canyon Trail here in San Diego. Despite being a bit heavier than my friend’s nicer bikes, it performed just as well! I might have been slower than my friends uphill, but most of the time I was faster than them on the downhill, and definitely much better at jumps!
@@skyroach7158 heck yeah man! Love stories like that 👍 What frame did you get?
@ I bought a used 2022 carbon transition scout off pinkbike that’s in really good shape and has low mileage. I realized I like 27.5” over 29” for the playfulness.
Unfortunately it had one of the blown fox float X2 shocks but Fox replaced it with a brand new 2024 version for significantly less than retail. I’ve done some bargain bin scavenging and managed to piece together a nice build for thousands less than a bike of this caliber would normally cost!
@ heck yeah! Stoked for you. That’s a great bike and sounds like you got a great deal
You are spot on w this breakdown. Also, bike choice matters a lot on how skilled you are and what terrain you ride.
What you should pay for first are the R&D/kinematics and the quality of a frame imo. The rest is just what you hang on the frame.
You can buy a lesser frame with $5K of components. Yes, the bike will very capable, but it will have limits to its overall performance. Also, you can buy an expensive frame, like a Santa Cruz w entry level components. It will be capable bc of the frame quality and suspension design, but the components hold it back. I prefer to buy the best frame I can get for the $ w reliable components. Components will fail and will need to be replaced. That is when you upgrade.
I bought a 2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct C30 with a full Deore group set, Marzocchi Z2 Bomber 150, Fox DPS, etc... reliable but mid-level components. The bike rocks as is and blows away my 2018 Stumpy w XTR/XT, etc. I bought the Rocky for $2900 at a 40% discount from a MSRP of $4700. I find that a budget bike for what I wanted.
I think Rocky will restructure and stay relevant in the mtb industry after the bankruptcy filing a couple of weeks ago. Canadian bike makers are fearing the proposed tariffs and getting their books in order to survive the long haul. I don't think Rocky is insolvent and on its death bed, but they are going to slim down for sure. Probably no UCI Downhill nor EWS pro teams in 2025.
@@petedog9581 I always wanted to try a Rocky Mountain MTB
@@JaredHoff They are really top notch quality. Every detail is considered. I am concerned about getting parts like bearings and pivot bolts, if financials are worse than they report.
I may stock up. The frame warranty was only 2 years, so that isn't as important to me. They offer a discount frame/swingarm replacement after the 2 years.
@ I wish everything was lifetime warranty.
@@JaredHoff Pivot, Santa Cruz, and Transition have lifetime frame warranties. Part of why you pay so much.
You have to factor in with direct to consumer or LBS for purchase. If Siskiu was not a direct to consumer (Bikes online). That T-7 would be $2K+ bike build with what comes on it. Siskiu, YT Industries, Canyon, etc can be had for great prices with value vs components direct to consumers. Be more sold through middleman LBS.
@@Mill72 definitely 👍
You are spot on how you explain the cost of bikes between cheap, budget, mid level, and expensive.
When started mountain bike 15-20yrs ago, a $700 hard tail was expensive. Fast forward to now...I was looking to spend $1200 thinking that I could get a capable mtb.
Yes Mount bike is an expensive sport, but people who ride understand the costs.
Those who complain about $1500 being budget ain't real Mountain Bikers and should just stick to recreational riding with their Walmart, big box store bikes.
I've seen mtb RUclips channel where they take and cheap walmart mongoose bike and add almost $2000 + in upgrades just to make it a capable mountain bike.
So at the end of the day...$1500 is budget best bang for your buck, that you'd be looking to spend.
@@gaddobronx6740 ❤️100% 👍
Nice job on this breakdown dude. One thing people have to understand is that this is not a cheap sport to get into. $1500-2500 is budget for this sport. Any cheaper for a new full sus and you are usually going to end up with something that is constantly breaking down. That sucks the fun out of riding
@@tracymcmanus550 Definitely 👍
I fully agree with this price range also in Europe with €... and you can transform this to ebike price by adding 1.000,- $/€
Great video as always .
My last current bike was 4.5k
And another 4k in upgrades .
It's a rocky mountain and the only part stock on it is the crank 😂
@@davidpisoa5288 thanks man! I’ve always been interested in trying a Rocky Mountain. Sounds like you got an amazing MTB
I can’t afford to spend 1500- 2500 out right for a bike but I can spend that kind over a 6 month period building up a bike. I’ve got around 2500 in my ns eccentric build . On my mongoose Canaan elite I’ve got around 2000 in that one but I’ve got a couple upgrades I want to do to that one.
@@thevapingpolisher9717 heck yeah 👍 I think upgrading a budget bike something often overlooked. Yes, you can save up and just buy a bike next year when you have enough to afford a better bike. BUT for most of us, we buy the bike we can afford now and then look for ways to upgrade it over time.
I bought a Giant Talon back in October for $600. I’ve put another $500 into it since then. It’s a nice bike but I quickly realized I wanted more. I went back and forth between a polygon or an Ari. I ultimately decided on the Ari Cascade Peak Pro for $3000.
@@jonbullard7074 nice 👍 I demo’d an ARI once and it ride amazing.
For me a sub 3k CAD full suss is a great deal! A quality bike. 1k for a solid baseline on a hardtail. Thatd be my 2 cents.
@@jerryspeedbumps512 👍
Re: buying that $10k bike. Lots of people just can't believe that you cannot buy respect. Nobody looks down on a guy on a budget bike...if they are giving it their all.
@@onlysendsmtb definitely 👍
I've got marlin 7 gen3 since 2023, it's hardtail, 100mm coil rockshox fork, and overall entry level component. It definitely has some limitation, but it's good enough for mellow trail.
I’ve got a marlin 8 gen 2. Basically the same thing and it’s able to take on some nice single track and small dirt jumps.overall great starter mtb
@@cookiemonster4967 nice 👍
@@Race_box24 heck yeah 👍
The industry for decades pushed $2500 so to me $1500 is reasonable. I totally agree with you on people using Walmart bikes as a starting point, drives me nuts. Good used bike in the $800-1000 can be had if you have someone that can help you get one.
@@SwordFighterPKN for sure 👍
It would be better to acquire a frame and buy used components or new ones within a price range that fits your budget?
@alonsorivas8648 I think that’s an idea that briefs well but isn’t how most people do it. Most of us get the bike we can afford and slowly upgrade over time. Definitely not the most cost effective way to do it, but it’s what most people do. Or at least that the way I’ve always done it LOL
I call "budget" bikes anything under $500, and up to 1,500 a "value" bike because often the components that come with this level of bike are actually decent and valuable. To me, budget means you're going to keep it stock most likely and you just want something to cruise around the neighborhood on. Value starts to build decent rigs.
My first real full sus mtb was a 21 stumpjumper alloy for 2999.00 can. I've probably put 2000 of upgrades on it😂
@@THRENO82 heck yeah 👍
I was gonna buy the same siskiu as my 2 bike. I heard that it can handle more than what it was meant for.
@@JojiDreyfus The Siskiu is a great bike. I had the T9 but wanted to try a more “Budget” option for the RUclips channel so I’m sticking with the T7 for now and doing upgrades as I need to.
The pearl coat on the n9 makes it a high end bike.
@@shanereid5663 it definitely looks high-end. I get compliments on my N9 all the time when riding it.
Each bike i own is a major brand in the industry. However, I purchased pre-owned on a budget and made a project for each one. The industry is getting ridiculously high. Eventually, people are going to stop spending that much money
I people that shocked about a $1500 for a complete full suspension bike are probably not looking at it from a perspective of actual getting into the sport of mountain biking. They’re thinking about a bike the same as tennis racket, a baseball glove and bat and other sporting goods that just collect dust in their garage and not really utilized in the way a serious person would approach a sport.
As for the $4K to $8K. You are now seeing Yeti, Pivot, Santa Cruz bikes in this range. Some at 50% off, from reputable retailers like Competitive Cycles and Jensen USA
Polygon offers some great value but now you can find deals on boutique brands.
@@hardmtnbiker definitely 👍 those 50% off deals are amazing
@ I don’t ride a full suspension only hardtail’s , SS Mtb and gravel bikes. I will be buying a new hardtail frame (over $1500) this year for another rigid SS mtb just because I want something that will eventually be used with gears for bikepacking and I want the additional frame mounts. After that I will get a full squishy frame but deciding on how much suspension would be needed for the more extreme trails I frequent. I’ll be posting more videos of my more technical local trails but they’re definitely not full on gap jumps and the rocky steeps of the faster Nor Cal and PNW trails or Utahs black diamond trails.
Can’t imagine riding these trails in BC on a $500 Walmart bike my safety is worth way more than that!
@@thebdceigal for sure! I wouldn’t ride the trials I ride on a Walmart bike.
I went with a Fezzari I think i paid 2,500 total
@@adventuresofbajaboybajagir3029 nice 👍
Budget bike is not a full squish. It's a hardtail. So I agree with the price that the industry/fans have deemed is too high.
@@CJGrand1 So what’s your budget price for a full suspension?
@@JaredHoff That $1500-2500 range you mention in the video. You really have to do side by side comparisons though.
@ for sure 👍
Any MTB more than 4k is just ridiculous and the people who buy. Bikes for more than that are the ones who wanna flex on the trails
@@topchoice1621 👍👍👍
I think if you do your homework, you can do really good around 2K
@@a.k.vollmer5200 for sure! Especially with sales these days.
I am category ridiculous 😅
@@alcapone4242 heck yeah 👍 stoked for you! I might do the same if I win the lottery or get a lot of money one day
@JaredHoff thx. I waited the whole time of pandemic chaos and watched others go biking. I used the time to save money and the wishes got bigger and bigger. I decided for an e-mtb, and I think in that case you'd should expend the list caused by other price ranges 😅 thx for your video! Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪
“Not Sponsored” lol
@@vicislick6 I wish I had sponsored videos. I spend so much time making these and barely make any money on the RUclips ads.
All of the BIG RUclips channels have paid sponsorships. It’s how they can afford to go full time.
How much does a car cost that is capeable to go around a race track without cooking it's brakes?
Those are toys, these bikes are toys too. Not your avarege shit box to commute.
How much does a pc cost to start play tripple A games?
Performance always have a price. Performance doesn't need in your every day life. That's why you can use shit boxes.
@@Manetty6 you make a good point. My friends always tell me that I could have bought a dirt bike for the price of my MTB. But how much would you pay to have the same exact dirt bike that a pro racer like Travis Pastranna raced on? A LOT MORE!!!
@@JaredHoff yes, the motor and the car is the cheapest way them to express thier limited mindset. There's no better or worse. These thing are existing on totaly different plains.
Comparing them is nonsense.
You can't ride your trails with with your dirt bike or go to a bike park. And you don't go to any dirt track with your bike.
Strangely nobody ask why buy a Porsche instead off a big fat tracktor.
The biggest scam Rockshox flight attendant and fox neo
@@QridesBikes definitely 👍
$1500 is better any new hardtail whit progresive geometry lots of good options
@@pepeanza6187 definitely 👍 Hardtail is a great option for some.