5 Best Full Suspension Mountain Bikes Under $1000

Last updated 28. May 2019

Buying mountain bikes on a tight budget is an area of much debate among cycling enthusiast, with many arguments over exactly what the best full suspension mountain bike under $1000 is.

In recent years the debate has changed a little, however, with some of the top brands producing higher-end full suspension mountain bikes for a relatively small budget, with all the technology and high-quality specifications of more premium bike models in an affordable package.

Below, we’re going to break down the major features of some of the best budget mountain bikes on the market in 2020 to help you buy with confidence.

All of these bikes are great choices, but the list below has been designed to help you to find the perfect bike for your personal needs, giving you full comfort and satisfaction without breaking the bank.

View The Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under 1000 Below

1. Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

The Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike is a lightweight aluminum mountain bike designed for comfort on rough trails. The gear system comes with 24-speed EZ-Fire Shimano trigger shifters and a matching derailleur. This high-end gear technology reduces disruption to your cycling experience by simplifying and smoothing the gear shifting experience, keeping your ride smooth even on more complex trails.

Fully equipped with suspension, the bike front-loads its shock absorbers into the fork, ensuring that the bike absorbs the impact of rough terrain, protecting your arms and shoulders from the strain while allowing you to feel the terrain beneath your wheels and keep full control while riding.

Pros: 
+ Wide range of gear settings
+ Durable aluminum alloy rims
+ Minimal maintenance
+ Lightweight aluminum frame
+ Strong front suspension

Why We Liked It – The light aluminum frame of the Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Men’s Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike keeps it easy to transport and easily offsets the added weight of the high-end suspension system and complex Shimano gear system.


2. Mongoose R2780 Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle

Mongoose R2780 Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle

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Another lightweight aluminum-framed mountain bike, the Mongoose R2780 Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle has a light frame to offset a range of high-end comfort technology, keeping the whole package as light as possible without compromising on features.

Mongoose R2780 comes with a 21 speed Shimano rear derailleur and twist gear shifters, as well as an Element Suspension fork to offer a higher level of shock absorbency, combining to make cycling on rough, difficult terrain and trails far more comfortable and controlled. In addition to this, the bike features quick release wheels, making maintenance far easier, an important feature for a bike which may be facing intense strain during regular use.

Pros:
+ Lightweight aluminum frame
+ High-control fork design
+ Alloy disc brakes
+ Wide gear range
+ Quick-release wheels for easy maintenance

Why We Liked It – The control offered by the Mongoose R2780 Impasse Dual Full Suspension Bicycle is unparalleled, combining fork suspension technology with the premium Shimano gear mechanism. In addition to this, the high-end alloy disc brakes provide fluid control and a short stopping distance.


3. Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

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The Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike is a compact trail bike packed with premium comfort features. Its small 26-inch aluminum frame is lightweight but comes with both front fork suspension to absorb shock and prevent it from impacting your arms and shoulders, and a rear floating beam suspension mechanism packed into a compact space.

This dual suspension design ensures a comfortable ride over difficult, rough surfaces at high speeds by absorbing as much shock as possible. The Kent KZ2600 is equipped with a front wheel disc brake to give full precise stopping control, as well as 21 speed Shimano gear shifters and a rear Tourney derailleur, giving more refined control over gear shifting.

Pros:
+ Alloy wheel rims
+ Wide gear range
+ Lightweight aluminum frame
+ Front disc brake
+ Floating beam suspension mechanism

Why We Liked It – The Kent KZ2600 Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike offers a rear-mounted floating beam suspension system in addition to the more common front fork suspension, combining to give a more premium and effective suspension system than most of the competition.


4. Takara Jiro Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

Prioritizing control, the Takara Jiro Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike’s lightweight aluminum frame is equipped with disc brakes on both front and rear wheels, reducing stopping distances and providing more precise control when stopping.

The gear system attached is made up of Shimano Tourney derailleurs and handlebar shifters, giving a natural and fluid control to gear shifting with minimal interruption even at high speeds, thanks to high-quality components and an intuitive twist mechanism.

This all combines to give a strong sense of control when riding, even on rougher trails, thanks to the extra large tires to reduce impacts and the strong dual suspension systems.

Pros:
+ Front and rear disc brakes
+ Shimano twist shifted gears
+ Lightweight aluminum frame
+ Extra large tires
+ Alloy wheel rims

Why We Liked It – The Takara Jiro Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike gives full control over your riding experience as well as a comprehensive list of comfort features. This is a trail bike for those who want a smooth, comfortable cycling experience even on rough terrains at high speed.


5. Dynacraft Men’s 26″ 21 Speed Mountain Bike

The Dynacraft Men’s 26” 21 Speed Mountain Bike is a great budget option, packing a wide range of higher-end features into a lower priced design. Focused on comfort, the Dynacraft 26” bike has more padding than most competitors on both the seat and the handlebars, ensuring full comfort in any situation. The mountain bike seat can also be easily adjusted with its quick release design, ensuring ideal spacing for users of a wide range of heights.

The gear system is a 21 speed Shimano derailleur mechanism, offering smooth gear shifts, and the wheels are built with alloy rims to keep them straight even through intense use, preventing warping and ensuring your control does not weaken over the course of the bike’s lifespan.

Pros:
+ Wide gear range
+ Padded for comfort
+ Easily adjustable
+ Alloy wheel rims
+ Dual suspension system

Why We Liked It – The number of premium features that the Dynacraft Men’s 26” 21 Speed Mountain Bike manages to pack into such a low priced design is impressive. This is an excellent budget option for those who don’t want to splash out on a higher end bike.


Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under 1000 Buyers Guide

Disc brakes

Disc brakes offer a larger pad than alternatives, giving a larger contact area against the wheels. This enables your bike to stop faster, giving more control and a shorter stopping distance in addition to a smoother slow stop if desired. Disc brakes are often a little more durable, helping them to survive a little longer before replacements are necessary, and therefore reducing the level of maintenance needed to keep your mountain bike running smoothly and comfortably.

Twist gears vs. levers

Being able to change gear easily is particularly important for a mountain bike, as changing terrain requires different gear settings, as does forcing your bike uphill. There are multiple control systems available, however, which can subtly change how your bike handles. Most bikes offer a system of a handlebar mounted gear levers, but some allow you to change gears through twisting the handlebars. The twist gear system is smoother and easier to use at speed, as it is a more intuitive form of gear change, allowing for more control and less cognitive load.

Tire sizes

Different sizes of the wheel are available, and these can affect the experience of riding your bike more than you might expect. Larger wheels smooth out your ride, as they hide the roughness of the terrain, reducing the impact on your body and giving a more comfortable, smooth ride, while smaller wheels allow you to feel the ground beneath your wheels in all its detail and texture. Larger wheels may seem like the obvious choice for comfort, but smaller wheels have their advantages too; they offer a closer sense of contact with the ground, helping you to react to changes more naturally and efficiently.

Alloy wheels

The wheels of your bike take more strain than any other part during a bike ride, being pressed against the ground constantly and striking every bump in the road. This can lead to damage through extensive use, especially with cheaper wheel options.

A slight bend in the wheel rim can radically decrease the level of control you have over your bike in the field, impacting the precision of your steering and the comfort of your ride. Alloy wheels are designed for strength and resilience, however, reducing the chance of such damage and keeping your bike as easy to control as possible throughout its lifespan.

Why full suspension?

Full suspension bikes feature suspension systems at both the front and the rear of the bike, while hardtail models only have a single suspension part mounted in the front fork. This reduces the shock of riding over rough terrain, absorbing impacts from uneven ground. Hardtail mountain bikes tend to be cheaper than full suspension bikes, which is a worthwhile consideration, but affordable full suspension bikes are becoming increasingly affordable and accessible.

As such, there is no great reason to go with a hardtail bike over a full suspension option; the price difference is now relatively insignificant, while the comfort added by the dual suspension design can make a substantial difference to your cycling experience

Conclusion

There are a huge number of affordable full suspension mountain bikes on the market in 2020, as well as a similarly wide range of hardtail bikes for under $1000, but the 5 listed above are some of the very best. All of these are balanced, lightweight, and durable while offering good control and powerful, absorbent suspension.

Your decision on which mountain bike is the right model for you and your personal needs should focus on your personal plans for your mountain bike rather than any perceived objective ranking.

Are you planning on extreme trail cycling or more relaxed riding? What about wild, rocky terrain or just off-road paths? Longer or shorter bike rides? How fast are you planning on going? No matter what your answers are, all of the bikes above are worth considering, and hopefully, this guide will help you to buy with confidence, safe in the knowledge that any of these are good choices no matter what your plans are.

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