Best £500 Mountain Bikes

Although cheap mountain bikes fail to perform well in many areas, a fantastic mountain bike can still be purchased for around the £500 mark, the world’s leading bike manufacturers such as Scott, Cannondale and Giant - all now make great entry level hardtail mountain bikes, which use good quality components, frames and suspension to provide good off road performance.

All of the bikes at this price point use hydraulic disc brakes, suspension forks with travel designed for cross country riding, and frames which have been manfuactured with high quality alloy, providing the perfect mix of toughness and lightweight performance.

Although some may be tempted to stretch the budget to try and afford an entry level full suspension bike, we would always recommend choosing a hardtail bike on a lower budget - they are cheaper to buy and maintain, whilst still enjoying the trickle down technology used on the most expensive mountain bike models.

GT Aggressor Sport

This GT is marketed as the do it all mountain bike, use it for commuting, take it off road, use it to nip the shops - it features a friendly geometry which makes it easy to jump on everyday. Aluminium frame, floating seat stay and 75mm of suspension travel make this bike a comfortable and reliable option.

GT Aggressor Expert

Another bike from the Aggressor family is the GT Aggressor Expert, this bike has upgraded forks and components compared to other models - making it better at everything from the daily commute, to off road riding. Again, this bike has a lightweight alloy frame and disc brakes for stopping power.

Cannondale Trail 7 Mountain Bike

The Trail 7 boasts a beautifully designed alloy frame, which has components tough enough for any mountain biking task. With a geometry suited to the daily commute, as well as off road use - this is the perfect entry level bike for those looking to enjoy the quality and performance of such a well known mountain bike brand.

Scott Aspect 970 Hardtail

Designed with value in mind, this bike delivers everything required for off road performance. Syncros components alongside 100mm suspension forks and disc brakes - means this bike performs incredibly well, it’s lightweight and provides great pedalling efficiency.