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Best Trail Bikes Reviewed
If you’re interested in taking up trail mountain biking, you’re in the right place to find the right bike for you.
Our team here at cogmag.com have scoured today’s market to help you find the best trail bike for you. Our team members have reviewed our top 5 trail bikes that we believe will be the perfect fit for any rider!
Mountain biking is one of the most exciting and freeing biking experiences you can get, and there’s a feeling included that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
There’s a reason that mountain biking is becoming more and more popular, and it’s because it’s one of the most thrilling forms of cycling that you can get involved with!
Not only is it a challenging exercise, but it’s a great hobby that you can use to blow off some steam – so long as you’re well-equipped with the right gear!
Of course, you’ll need to know what’s what before you even consider hopping onto a bike, as it’s not as easy as getting on and going! You have to be quick with your reflexes, and you need to be able to make sure you’re steady as you go – but that’s easily sorted with experience!
Your experience and your safety rely a lot on your equipment, which is why it’s so important that you’re choosing the best trail mountain bike you can.
So what’s the difference between the different kinds of trail bikes? Well, there’s a lot to be gained when investing in a good quality bike, and you’ll want to make sure you aren’t settling for the cheapest option.
You have to consider things like the overall weight of the bike, and how that affects how easy and comfortable it is to ride, along with the efficiency of the drivetrain – which can provide a much smoother experience.
That’s only a few things to consider, and if you’ve had no previous experience, then it’s not going to be as obvious – but for those who’ve spent a lot of their time riding, there’s a clear line between great and poor quality.
Let’s get onto the best trail bikes of 2021.
Check Out Our Favorite Trail Bike
Top Trail Bike Comparison Chart
Best Trail Bike
1. SAVADECK DECK300 Trail Bike
SAVADECK DECK300 Trail Bike
Its carbon fiber frame makes it lightweight and easy to control, and the gear shifting is smoother than many other trail bikes. If you’re looking for a reliable purchase, the SAVADECK should be something you’re considering!
It’s not always easy to find the right bike to fit you, but when you have multiple size options, it becomes much easier to get that match that feels just right for you.
Not only do you have the choice of size, but once it arrives, it’s easy to assemble too! You don’t need to mess around with a bike shop if you’re familiar with bikes, and you can get going as soon as possible! While expensive, its smooth-riding allows for it to double as one of the best casual bikes you can get too!
While it’s going to be a great purchase, if you’re only looking to give trail biking a try, you might reconsider when you see the price. It’s not the best entry-level mountain bike, but that’s mainly because of the investment that you’d have to put in.
If you want good quality, you’re going to have to pay good quality fees – which is worth it in this case, although not always affordable!
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2. Schwinn Moab 3 Trail Bike
Schwinn Moab 3 Trail Bike
When you’re making such an investment, you want to know that your money is going towards something that’s not going to let you down, and with the reception that the customers have given it, you know you’re getting your money’s worth.
There are times where it’s fair to question a purchase so large, but it’s fair to say this is a safe purchase.
When it comes to user preference, you’ve got fewer choices than the SAVADECK trail bike, but there’s plenty for those who aren’t too picky. With a choice of small, medium, and large, you can get a bike that’s the right size for you without too much difficulty!
The bike also features a 24-speed drivetrain, allowing for precise shifting – very important when you need to be in full control of your movements!
As far as assembly goes, you don’t have to put in too much work when the bike arrives – most of the intricately assembled pieces come already put together, so you just have to work with the bigger, simpler parts.
Like the SAVADECK bike, you’re still going to be paying a lot of money – but that’s what you should be aiming to do if you want to get the best bike you can! It’s not totally ideal for trying out a sport you may not like, but you should expect the quality of the bike to reflect the amount you pay for it.
3. Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Trail Bike
Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Trail Bike
If you’ve ridden a bike without the full suspension along the bumpy roads, you’ll soon feel the difference – it’s night and day. That said, is that the main appeal to the Schwinn Protocol 1.0?
There are many features that make this a great choice of purchase, but it’s up to the individual whether it’s the best choice or not.
Like the previous Schwinn trail bike, the Protocol 1.0 features a 24-speed drivetrain, which again allows for more precise control over your bike. On top of that, the strong alloy rims allow for a much more durable ride, so you can feel safe in the idea that your bike isn’t going to become damaged while you’re riding down those bumpy and worn trails!
When you’re investing so much into a bike, the last thing you want is to lose it to wear – so durability is an important feature!
Unlike the previous two bikes, you’re spending a lot less money on the Protocol 1.0, but you should consider how that will affect the quality of your experience. You’re not going to be getting more than a thousand dollars worth of trail bike, but you are getting a cheaper window into the sport!
If you’re a beginner, then this might be a great choice for you so that you can test things out without having to invest too much money into it.
4. Mongoose Impasse Trail Bike
Mongoose Impasse Trail Bike
While it doesn’t line up with the quality of some of the previous ones, it’s much cheaper than the rest – and it can still offer you a great experience! If you’re just looking to dip your toes into this sport, then saving money and picking up something cheap is not a bad plan!
That’s just what this is, one of the best entry-level bikes you can buy and should be something you’re considering if trail biking is a new interest to you.
The Mongoose Impasse isn’t missing suspension, and will still do its job to smooth out a lot of the bumps in the trail, but you’re not going to get the full effect of a bike that’s three to four times its price.
You also have a 21-speed drivetrain, meaning that while you’re not going to have as much precision as the more expensive bikes, you’re still getting a lot of control over your bike.
Like mentioned before, the price is much lower than the other options, which can be a good or a bad thing. If you’re new to the sport, then only having to pay out a small amount for something that will let you experience it is great – if you’re already quite adept, and are looking for an upgrade, something from a higher price range might be more suited!
5. SIRDAR S-900 Trail Bike
SIRDAR S-900 Trail Bike
When you’re just starting out, you shouldn’t be thinking about a lot of the features that the more expensive bikes have to offer, as they aren’t usually things you can appreciate before it’s time for you to get an upgrade. A cheaper bike is still great to use, and the S-900 can be the perfect fit for your needs!
Don’t let the low price put you off, as it’s still a great bike that you can get a lot of use out of! While it might not be something you’d be upgrading to – for the price it’s on offer, you can’t argue with the experience that you’ll get in return!
You get to experience the comfortable precision of 27 gears, which is perfect for having even more control over your bike! It also has great shock absorbers, making it a much more comfortable choice for those bumpy and rocky trails – you don’t want to be bouncing all over the place if you’re biking on a trail.
Even if you buy it and decide against using it for trail biking, it might be the best casual bike you’ve ever owned, and that alone makes it worth the investment!
Top Trail Bike Features To Consider
If this is something you’re new to, it might be hard to pick a bike based on the reviews and features alone; and that’s okay!
There’s a lot that goes into a good trail bike, but user preference can vary on each bike! Just because someone prefers one bike over another, doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same for you, so it’s best to know what you’re going to want and need in your ideal bike. So what is it that goes into it?
Suspension
One of the most important features of a trail bike is suspension. The suspension dictates how smooth the bike is to ride when you’re going over any kinds of bumps and inclines, and it’s very important that you get it to your tastes.
Riding a bike with shoddy suspension is going to make your overall experience quite uncomfortable – and while even the best suspension can’t completely erase bumps, it certainly helps.
All bikes have different suspensions, so you should be on the lookout for what each bike offers you. Don’t skip over this when you’re picking out your ideal bike!
Weight
For many reasons, the weight of the bike is important for you to know when you’re making a purchase.
It can depend on the user, but generally, a lighter bike can be much easier to handle, and it means that there’s much less weight going into the wheels and bearings when you take bumps and such.
A lot of the lighter bikes are made from carbon fiber, which helps to make the frame sturdy, yet lightweight.
Shape
The shape of the bike is important, but it’s going to depend heavily on your own preferences. You want to make sure that your bike isn’t going to be too high off of the ground for your preferences, nor do you want it too low!
The wheel size and frame shape can both contribute towards that, but you should make sure that you know what you’re comfortable with before you go making an investment.
Wheel size
While the size of the wheel isn’t going to change how talented you are with your biking, it can certainly help towards making sure your bike is the right shape and size.
You don’t want your bike to be too high up for you because you bought a bike without paying attention to the height! While it’s not so terrible to have a bike with the wrong parts, it’s going to either cost you time or money to send it back or have the wheels replaced!
It’s best to figure out your preference beforehand if you’re in a rush to get out there riding.