Best Mountain Bikes Under 200 – Beginners Bike Guide

Mountain Bikes Under-200 Comparison

Best Mountains Bikes Under - 200 Reviews

If you are looking for quality and reliable mountain bikes, read my reviews of the best mountain bikes under 200 that bikers and outdoor lovers appreciate. Whether you are choosing a mountain bikes for rough biking, normal biking or recreational biking, I'm sure you will end up with one after going through the reviews.

01. Akonza Cobra Mountain Road Bicycle

The beginners always ask,“Which bike should I buy?”And people recommend the traditional bikes most of the time.But, before suggesting someone, we should listen to his requirements. He may need something special!

Well, if you are a beginner rider and need an entry-level mountain bike, you can easily go for Akonza Cobra Mountain Road Bicycle. This bike is designed to be the most economical and full-featured bike for the beginners.

Though it is designed for the beginners, it doesn’t mean that this bike is good only for the flat surfaces. Actually, this bike works great in the beaked hills too!

The manufacturer company uses high-grade rubber gripped handles bars in this bike. Even the seat is made by the natural contours of the human body. It provides a better riding experience to the rider.

Further, this Akonza Cobra comes with anti-skid tires. This tire ensures that your bicycle will be still and steady on the slippery surface too! Even, there is nylon made pedals in this bike which adds security while riding.

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Final Verdict

​​Finding a bike for the entry level bikers isn’t an easy choice. But thanks to Akonza to making this task easier. This Cobra with front and rear suspensions &7-rapid fire derailleur’s must be a good choice for beginners.

02. Merax Mountain Bike 

Don’t say that you didn’t dream about conquering the Mount Everest! It is a dream of almost every adventure enthusiast. Instead of the icy mountains, if you want to conquer a rugged mountain, you will need a mountain bike. If you are looking for a sturdy yet low-cost full suspension mountain bike, this bike will be a worthy choice.

This bike offers the smoothest ride with increased control because of the dual suspension design and aluminum frame. As this bike is a full suspension bike, it can handle rugged surface area very well.

Another good thing about this mountain bike is that you can assemble this bike pretty easily. In fact, it will be delivered to your hand almost 85% assembled. But if you are thinking about detaching the wheels, you can do it within seconds without any help of expertise! This bike is also offering you 21 speeds which will give you a range of options to surf the hills!

Another feature I like about this bike is the overall visual design. The manufacturer company made itin three different color combinations. This bike is available at Red and Black & Green.

However, it has a simple drawback too. This bike is only available as a 26-inch wheeler. It will be the best fit for 5 ½ to 6 feet heighted people. If you are shorter than this, I don’t think that this bike will be a wise choice for you. Further, it has a maximum weight limit of 330 lbs (approximately 150kg).

With the budget range of under $200, this might be the best choice as your adventure partner. This bike is definitely the best value for your money with other aesthetic and technical benefits.

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Final Verdict

​​The lightweight 6061 heat treated alloy frame makes this bike a suitable fit for both the experienced and novice bikers. Such a well-designed and perfectly manufactured bike will fulfill your riding needs for sure!

03. Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bikes, Multiple Sizes, Multiple Colors

Final Verdict

Schwinn High Timber Mountain Bike is calculated to be fully featured and provides the best experience. It is user friendly and economically entry leveled Mountain bike. It will satisfy all your needs to cover off road trails like single track, back country roads, fire roads, cross country, trail riding and many more.

04. Generic 26 inch Hyper Havoc Full Suspension Men's Mountain Bike

Design:

​The Havoc full suspension 26" men's mountain bike is lightweight. Its front and rear suspension gives provide smooth rides. Its speed is 21; it also has a comfortable Shimano twist shifter along with Shimano rear derailleur. Gears can be changed easily. It has three piece, standard pedals, and high performance crank and is also equipped with a plush MTB seat, providing you ultimate comfort during long trip rides. The bike’s dimensions are of 52.4 x 7.5 x 27.2 inches. The bike is made & designed by Hyper Bicycles, established by former BMX pro Clay Goldsmid; providing hyper graphics which are authentic.

Frame Material:

​The bike has an aluminium frame, giving you a very lightweight feeling, while riding. Handle bars are standard. The rims are of 26 inches, with 21 speeds twist grip.

Suspension Fork:

​The Mountain bike has full suspension with fork. Its smooth fork material absorbs shock from rough trails and enables you to ride easily and handle your bike well. It enables switching flawlessly from a rocky mountain trail to an easy outdoor ride. The suspension fork is adjustable so that you can adjust it according to your requirements.

Wheels:

​The wheels are of 26 inches. The bike’s large wheels allow it to roll over stones and mountainous pathways.

Front and rear brakes: 

It also has front and rear Shimano pull braking system. The hard pull brakes for good riding control. Also its 21 Speed Shimano gearing, allows smooth, fast and accurate hand grip shifting.

Final Verdict

There are very few bikes you can have fun at such a reasonable price. It has been resourcefully designed to meet the needs of a large variety of riders. You can upgrade and customize this Generic 26" Hyper Havoc Full suspension Mountain Bike according to your preferences. The bike provides its riders durability and comfort. The suspension Hyper Havoc bike contains a padded gel seat; this provides an increased comfort and a rugged frame for good durability

05. Mongoose Status 2.2 Women's 26 inch Wheel Mountain Bike

Design: 

Mongoose status 2.2 is a women’s full suspension bike. It contains a lightweight aluminum frame, 4 bar linkage, alloy rims, its speed is 21 with a Shimano rear derailleur, making smooth gear changes every ride; has linear pull brakes, front shock and SRAM shifters. It has riser handlebar with colored end plugs, this helps to complete the MTB look. It has Front and rear v brakes to enable quick stopping. Dimensions of the bike are 68 inches by 23 inches by 41 inches and the chain is KMZ Z51.

Frame material:  

The bike is made up of aluminum MTB frame with hydro formed tubing aluminium frame makes the bike lightweight and durable so that I can support you riding on all sorts of terrain. The frame is of 16-18 inches. It also has height adjustment features, so that people of all heights and sizes can ride is comfortably.

Suspension frame: 

The bike is a front element full suspension type rig. The front fork is equipped with an element suspension component to smooth out any bumps, humps, cracks etc on your path. This feature is also present on the rear shock mechanism where it will absorb any vibrations that come from rocky, harsh tough mountainous terrains. It also helps provide maximum control of the bike while riding.

Wheels: 

The wheels are of 26 inches and of alloy material. The bike has a free wheel hub so that you can pedal backwards without any difficulties. The pedals are made of plastic.

Shifters: 

The speed control of the bike is provided by a rear derailleur of Shimano brand and SRAM twist shifters. This combination helps to perform a gear change smoothly without nags, and it is also adaptable changing conditions on the road. The durability of the shifters is of high quality.

Final Verdict

Mongoose status 2.2 is a women’s full suspension bike is a very good choice for women who love travelling and also those who love occasional riding. Its excellent durable features, smart speed controlling and height controlling features are very handy and well praised. It has good reviews and highly recommended by its riders.

06. Mongoose Status 2.2 Mountain Bike 26" Wheel Men's bicycle

Is there anything yet that has not already been said? Yes, that’s the Mongoose Mountain Bike. These bikes are already well known for specific color combinations and distinctive styling. Today we will talk about a remarkable bike from Mongoose. Under the budget of $200, probably this Mongoose Status 2.2 Mountain Bike is an excellent choice for every biker. Mongoose always tries to include the latest and fittest technology with style, performance and blend of quality.

It is fairly uncommon to find out a 26-inch wheel size mountain bike that is specially made for men. These jumbo sized wheels help you to pass longer distance with a minimal effort to pedal. It leaves you some extra energy after completing a long ride.

The secret behind making these bikes lightweight yet sturdy is the Aluminum. Aluminum is widely popular because of its durability. Additionally, it also increases the portability that comes in handy during storage. Though it is a lightweight bike, it can dispute up to 330 lbs despite its small structure and frame.

Mongoose includes suspension forks on both rear and front wheels. These forks are extremely important while surfing the rough surface of the mountains.

Along with all of these features, the speed is another blessing. This Mongoose Status 2.2 contains 21-speed gear shifts from Shimano. Further, it is easier to shift gear depends on the terrain.

This bike has not only the most significant speed but also a great stopping power when needed. The brake is quite useful even when you are under a free roll. It gives you ultimate control on the road without sacrificing the safety.

With the greatest build quality, big wheel and ultimate control over the bike, it becomes a perfect package of the best mountain bike under $200.

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Summary: A bike from Mongoose with 21-speed gear shifts must be a blessing for the riders. If you want a sturdy yet lightweight bike, you should take a good look at this bike.

07. Stowabike 26" MTB V2 Folding Bike

Mountain bikes are amazing. No doubts about that. But the problem arises while you think about transportation! 

You may want to hike on the beautiful mountains of Colorado. But if you don’t live there, you have to take the bike there. To do this, most of the people prefer the back-part of their truck or car.

But, the bike is not the only thing that you may need while traveling to Colorado. You must carry out other required stuff. That means you must need a big car. Most likely, there is a slight possibility that your bike might be damaged under that stuff!

So, what should you do?

The solution is the folding bikes! If you love to travel a lot with your bike, the folding bikes will be a great fit for you.

It is not a common task to find out a mountain bike that can satisfy all of your biking needs. To become a perfect bike, it must stand out from the crowd as well as style is concerned at an affordable price!

By considering all of these facts, the Stowabike 26" MTB V2 Folding Dual Suspension 18 Speed Shimano Gears Mountain Bike looks like a perfect one. We have done a thorough review to find out what makes it as the best one. Let me show you what we’ve got!

If you are not a craving biker and you just use your bicycle to move around, then this 26" Stowabike is for you.Once you start to use it, you will forget that it’s just a foldable machine. This bike doesn’t feel frail like the other foldable bike.

This Stowabike 26″ folding bike will provide the satisfaction of having both a folding bike and a mountain bike. The best part of this bike is its compatibility with small places. It is a good fit for the tight spaces. The new addition of this bike is the spring shock system. It helps you to avoid absorbing tremors from obstacles.

This bike comes with high-quality components. A dual suspension system from Shimanto is a perfect example for greater performance and gorgeous outlook.The tough exterior not only built for long-lasting but to fold too.

That’s right! You can travel anywhere you want with this bike. Further, it also fits from the small space in your garage to the trunk of your car.So, why don’t you grab one right now?

Highlighted Features:

Summary: Foldable mountain bikes are always on the centers of biker’s devotion. And when a foldable mountain bike comes with 18-speed Shimano gear and the zoom steel suspension fork, you can definitely choose this one.

08. Dynacraft Power Climber 26" Ladies 21S Bike

Recently I asked a female rider about her riding experience. And she described an overall scenario of the difficulties of riding a general bike. Surprisingly, I noticed that riding a general bike is as painful as hell for the women.

Just like the people, I also thought that there are no differences between men and women bikes. But the reality is there are plenty of differences.  The main reason is the differences between the height and body shape of man and woman.

So, I start analyzing the spec sheets and geometry charts of mountain bikes. After analyzing countless specified bikes, I have found out the best mountain bikes for women. And that is Dynacraft Power Climber 26" Ladies 21S Bike.

Well, it’s not easy to find the best one among tons of mountain bikes. So, why I choose this Dynacraft Power Climber as the best one?

The body of this bike is Aluminum made and very lightweight. This lightweight body provides very smooth transitions on a rough surface. While talking about the body, it is mandatory to mention its brakes. This bike comes with steel front and rear V-brakes. It allows you to stop wherever you want.

The 26 inches wheel of Dynacraft power climber contains a perfect set of wheels for the adventure enthusiasts! It’s padded saddle, and front fork suspension ensures that you will enjoy a very comfortable ride with this Dynacraft bike. The padded saddle seat offers comfort while riding on bumpy roads.

The wheels included 21-speed index derailleur with Shimano grip Shifters to provide the best riding experience on mountains.

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Summary: This bike is a complete package of quality for the lady bikers. If you searching a lightweight and almost perfect bike for your needs, you must consider this Dynacraft Power!

09. Mongoose Cache 26" Men's Mountain Bike

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Summary: This Mongoose Cache is a lightweight aluminum-made bike. Along with the 21 speed Shimano rear derailleur with SRAM twist shifter, this bike is unbeatable on its point.

10. Roadmaster 26" Men's Granite Peak Men's Bike

Highlighted Features:

Summary: The geometrically perfect frame isn’t a common thing for the mountain bikes. Along with the other facilities, this one wins my heart from the very beginning.

11. Northwoods Aluminum Full Suspension Mountain Bike

Highlighted Features:

Summary: while buying a mountain bike for the teenagers, you have to consider hundreds of things. But, thanks to North Woods for combining all of those required functions on a single bike. This bike is a perfect beast for your beloved teenagers.

How To Choose The Best Mountain Bike Under 200 Dollars

Each bike has a special feature that makes it different from the rest. Pick one that has all the features you want so that it satisfies your needs. Do not be convinced to buy what you think will not suit. After all, you are the buyer.

01. Style/Design

Mountain Bicycle design refers to the creativity and buildup of two wheels, human driven, pedal paddled vehicles, and their use for various aspects and necessities of our daily lives. Bikes can take on a variety of frame and suspension geometries, can be structured from different materials such as aluminium, bamboo and carbon fiber and can also include hybrid and electric versions. Each of the bikes are designed with good suspension systems, front and rear braking features, grip shift shifters and much more; all to provide riders a very healthy and exciting riding experience.

02. Frame Material

Frame material is made of aluminium, steel, titanium or carbon. Steel frames are used in many bikes. The walls are thinner in the center of the bike frame. Steel is the least expensive frame material among all. Aluminium frames are larger in diameter, but more rigid and sturdier than steel. It provides a lighter and stiffer frame, providing efficient ride. Titanium frame has one of the highest strength to weight ratios. Titanium frames can flex and maintain its shape very well, thus it is used as a shock absorber on some bikes.  Carbon fiber frames are tough and exceptionally lightweight. Carbon fibers are made up of a bunch of knitted carbon fibers attached together with glue. The material is also resistant to corrosion and can be molded into any specific shape.

03. Gears & Shifters 

When riding a bike, your body can produce so much power before you lose energy.  Gears on a bicycle help you ride more efficiently and unfailingly so you can sustain much of your energy for more time. Gear shifters are an important part of your bicycle enabling you to increase o r and decrease the range of gears to the demands of terrain, speed etc. There are many types of gear shifters: indexed shifters, friction shifters, and MTB and road shifters. MTB shifters are mostly found on mountain bikes. These shifters can be activated by thumb and fore finger. These provide the best control when riding rough mountainous terrain.

04. Geometry

Bike geometry is accountable for how a bicycle looks, feels, rides, and handles. It is also the collection of key measurements that define a particular bicycle of motor cycle configuration. The geometry of the rider and his location is in direct proportion to the geometry of the bicycle. The geometry of the bicycle determines the length and angles that, defines its full suspension fork and frame. A bicycle which is too large compared to the size of the rider is not appropriate and would also place the rider in dangerous situations. Rider and bike geometry must be equivalent and in good proportions to make an enjoyable riding experience, without keeping in mind the age or gender of the rider.

05. Suspension

Suspensions are the system of systems which prevent the rider to feel impacts from any kind of rough terrain while riding. Suspension systems absorb the impact of the rough path and insulate it, preventing the force to reach the rider and keep him safe and comfortable. Mountain bikes are classified into three categories: rigid, hard tail, and full. Rigid bikes are the most common type; rigid ones have no suspension or shock absorbing qualities. Hard tail bikes have suspension on their front wheel tires only. They do not have rear suspension on rear wheel tires. Full suspension mountain bicycles have both front and rear suspensions. Full suspension bicycles have the feature which can help to lock out the rear suspension for better climbing

06. Brakes

There are different types of brakes present on mountain bicycles: Generally use  Disc and Rim. Disc brakes have long replaced rim brakes on most models with except entry level bikes. Disc brakes hold firmly onto a brake rotor mounted to the wheel hub of bike. It is available in two versions: hydraulic and cable activated. Hydraulic is often the preferred version as it has less finger effort and powerful stopping ability. Wireless, rim brakes hold tightly on the wheel rims with cable activation from the rider. They are cheaper than disc brakes, and are easily adjustable. Rim brakes have less stopping power in wet or muddy conditions.

07. Wheel & Tire   

Wheels help to support the tires and are an important part of bikes. Mountain bicycle wheel sizes are 26, 27.5, or 29 inches. The 27.5-inch wheel sizes provide a comfortable ride on the roughest terrain.  The 29 inch wheels are faster but require more effort and energy to roll. These wheels are chosen for cars which travel long distances. The latest wheels is the 650B (27.5-inch) tire which divides the difference between the 26 inch and 29 inch wheel size.

Choosing the right tire will increase your riding comfort and experience. Mountain bikes have tires with widths ranging from 2.25- 2.4 inches. Mountain bike tires are of 2 types. They are either ‘clincher’ or 'tubeless. Clincher tires require a tube to hold air and inflate it. Clincher tires require no internal tube; they rely on firm tolerances and air pressure to produce an airtight seal.  Wider tires will ultimately have better traction. Tubeless tires are your best bet for all types of mountain bike riding.

08. Size Select

When buying a bicycle, the correct size is the most important factor when it comes to comfort & efficiency. A bike that is too small will be frustrating to ride and uncomfortable.. A bike that is too big is also uncomfortable and dangerous for the rider as well, as it gets tough to control larger sized bikes.

09. Weight

The weight of mountain bicycles range from 30 to 38 pounds. The weight of the bikes varies depending on bike composition and frame material. Alloy and aluminum frames are lighter; Mountain bikes which have full suspension have added weight on them, this they can travel longer distances and roll over tough mountainous path and terrain. in general, a bike will be about the perfect size fit if the top tube (the bar that goes between the seat and the handlebar) leaves 2-3 fingers of space below your groin as you straddle your bike with your feet flat on the floor. You should know mountain bikes are a bit smaller than normal bikes, so that you can control and rider better on rough paths.

10. Budget

Budget of your mountain bike depends and varies on the type of bike, the brand of the bike, the material being used on the frame and fork. Sometimes it also depends on the condition of the bike. Bicycles of good and prestigious brands may be a bit costly, as they use high quality materials to make their product and design them better. But it is not the case that always a good brand is the sole identity of a quality mountain bike. Mountain bikes constructed by good companies and normal brands are very good too. These bikes have all proper features needed for riding and are also affordable and can be obtained by average people within their desired budgets.

Final Words

I have been riding for more than ten years, and I can assure you that owning some mountain bikes is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Find out what you need so that you choose the type of bike that will match your requirements.

Do not be in a rush since there are thousands of bike designs and you might end up mixing up yourself.

Talking from experience, mountain bikes are fun and smooth to ride off the tarmac. I would suggest you get yourself one or even more if you love to explore a terrain that looks difficult to ride through.

I was a little scared first time I went mountain riding with my friends, but I can assure you it is safe if you have the riding skills. Don't be surprised to be an expect within a very a short period. You can try out any of these great and affordable bikes for the most fun of the experience.