The best mountain bikes under £2,000 / $2,500 in 2023 | Top-rated hardtail and full-suspension MTBs

There’s a staggering array of great mountain bikes available under £2,000. Luckily, BikeRadar has done the heavy lifting for you and put together the very best mountain bikes under £2,000 (that’s around $2,500) in 2023.

Between £1,000 and £2,000 is the point that full-suspension mountain bikes begin to make more sense, with decent builds that have few compromises.

If you’re looking to buy a hardtail in this price range, you’ll also have a hard time buying a bad one. This price bracket is a popular one for enthusiast cyclists, which has made for an incredibly competitive market, forcing brands to spec bikes with increasingly high-quality builds, including more expensive mountain bike groupsets.

If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, be sure to check out our guides to the best mountain bikes under £1,000, £750 and £500.

If you’re feeling a little more flush, our guides to the best mountain bikes under £3,000 and the best trail bike should do the trick.

Lastly, for a more overall guide, check out our guide on how to choose the right mountain bike for you.

The best mountain bikes under £2,000 / $2,500, as rated by our expert testers

Boardman MTR 8.9

• £1,750 as tested
• Rapid acceleration
• Supportive suspension
• Extreme riding exposes the bike’s limits

The Boardman MTR 8.9 is the less expensive version of the MTR 9.0. It has the same alloy frame, geometry and suspension as its pricier sibling but with a more affordable SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain.

The bike is comfortable and has a relaxed riding position. However, the seat-tube angle does feel too relaxed when climbing steep gradients.

The rear suspension doesn’t bob too much under pedalling, rewarding your input with quick acceleration. It still has enough give, absorbing small bumps. The RockShox 35 Gold RL front fork also does a good job at absorbing bumps, even on steep climbs.

Despite only having an 11-50t cassette and 32t front chainring, the bike doesn’t feel lacking in gears, thanks to its low weight and snappy suspension.

The inclusion of a dropper post enhances the bike’s ride and improves flow on trail centre loops, for which it is well-suited.

On descents, the SRAM Guide T brakes can feel wooden and the bike is a little noisy. But despite these issues, the MTR 8.9 is a fun bike to ride. It’s ripe for upgrades and we’d choose to turn it into a light and fast mile-munching machine.

• Read the full Boardman MTR 8.9 review

Canyon Stoic 4

• Buy direct from Canyon

• £1,639 / $1,799 / AU$2,649 / €1,699 as tested
• Gravity-capable all-rounder
• Well considered spec
• Modern geometry

Canyon says the Stoic 4 is “the best Enduro hardtail”, and it is true that the bike can fly down descents like a full-suspension bike – as long as things don’t get too rough – while retaining that hardtail simplicity.

It achieves this thanks to a solid rear end that can gain speed from every rise and fall in the trail as well as the modern, slack geometry.

The long wheelbase helps spit you out of turns perfectly and you can maintain control over rocks and roots. The dropper post also opens up plenty of room for you to move around.

This aluminium bike might be aimed at descending, but it won’t make getting to the top of a trail a drag because it ascends surprisingly fast considering its burly 14.86kg weight and gnarly tyres.

With a 140mm travel RockShox fork and SRAM groupset, the Stoic has a great spec for the price, although there are also two less costly versions of the Stoic in Canyon’s lineup, starting from £799.

• Read our full Canyon Stoic 4 review

Kona Kahuna

• £1,199 / $1,499 as tested
• Balanced, intuitive ride
• Excellent drivetrain and brakes
• More traditional geometry

The Kona Kahuna hardtail mountain bike has been around for decades, with the brand continually refining the bike.

The latest version sees Kona move toward cross-country and trail bike efficiency with superb ride quality. The shape of the bike means you can still take on rough terrain with the aluminium frame smoothing out bumps.

But be warned – experienced riders may find the Kahuna’s limits fairly quickly and it’s not particularly suited to aggressive downhill riding.

The spec is admirable considering the price. The 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain performs almost as well as the brand’s XT groupset found on bikes costing up to £10,000. The Shimano MT410 brakes have loads of power and the long levers give plenty of hand positions.

The 100mm RockShox Recon Silver RL front fork does, though, move through its travel quickly, and it would be nice to see a dropper post fitted to the bike.

• Read our full Kona Kahuna review

Merida Big. Trail 500

• £1,350 / AU$1,849 as tested
• Impressive going downhill and calm handling
• Balance of Merida parts and branded parts
• Make sure you pick the right size

Compared to bikes at the leading edge of the sport, the Merida Big. Trail 500’s geometry is relatively short. This means on paper it doesn’t have the stability of bikes with a longer wheelbase.

But the Merida has a shorter seat tube than many other bikes, allowing riders to size up without worrying about standover height, unlocking a longer reach and a more stable wheelbase.

With this in mind, the Big. Trail 500 is a comfortable climber. The longer reach in testing meant there was plenty of room to move around and the steep seat tube improved comfort, made pedalling easier and reduced front wheel lift.

When it comes to descents, the Recon fork has plenty of mid-stroke and low-speed compression helping you go fast and amplifying the aluminium frame’s calm feel.

The mix of Merida’s own-brand kit, including a dropper post, and branded kit from Shimano keeps the bike’s price down but this doesn’t stop it from being one of the most capable bikes for under £2,000.

• Read our full Merida Big. Trail 500 review

Vitus Mythique 29 VRS

• £1,450 / $1,800 / AU$2,500 / €1,700 as tested
• Great, grippy Schwalbe rubber
• SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain impressed
• Some geometry updates would be nice to see

If you’ve got your heart set on Vitus’s Mythique, it’s well worth spending the extra cash to upgrade to the VRS model from the VR, which we also reviewed.

It’s decked out in impressive kit, headlined by Schwalbe’s ADDIX Soft compound Magic Mary and Hans Dampf combination. Complementing the tyres is SRAM’s 12-speed SX Eagle drivetrain and Shimano’s top-performing MT-401 brakes.

While we thought the X-Fusion Sweep RC fork could have performed better, it was a marked improvement over the RC32 fitted to the VR version.

• Read our full Vitus Mythique VRS trail bike review

Boardman MTR 8.6

• £1,150 as tested
• Possibly the most affordable ‘proper’ suspension bike on the market
• Geometry, suspension and tyres help you ride fast
• Investing some extra money in a shock tune would improve the ride

At £1,150, the full-suspension Boardman MTR 8.6 is great value for money. In fact, it’s possibly the best-value full-suspension bike currently available.

The bike has 140mm of travel in the fork and 145 of rear travel controlled by an air-sprung RockShox damper. Elsewhere it has Maxxis Minion tyres and an up-to-date 1x drivetrain.

The MTR is a weighty bike which means it can take some time to reach speed on the flat. Despite its weight, the bike does well on all but the steepest climbs. Point the bike downhill and it feels calm. You may wish the Suntour brakes had a little more power, though.

• Read our full Boardman MTR 8.6 review

Boardman MTR 9.0

• £2,000 as tested
• Shimano SLX drivetrain and brakes
• Full suspension with RockShox fork and rear shock
• Rides with confidence and one to consider for gravity riding

The MTR 9.0 is the flagship bike in Boardman’s MTR series, with a 6066 alloy frame that has smoothed welds, RockShox suspension front and back and a groupset that is mostly Shimano SLX.

The full-suspension bike has four-pot brakes that help its overall feeling of stability on descents, and the tyres provide plenty of grip.

Despite its emphasis on descending it climbs reasonably well, aided by the 10-51t cassette and steep seat-tube angle.

The bike has a dropper seat post, which is welcome on a bike like this, but one small annoyance is that the lever isn’t particularly good.

Overall, the bike rides with more confidence than you would expect from the price. There are small niggles – like that dropper lever – but none that would cost much to change.

• Read our full Boardman MTR 9.0 review

GT Zaskar LT Elite

• £1,350 / $1,700 as tested
• Suntour Zeron fork works well
• Good tyre grip
• Noisy

The GT Zaskar was the go-to hardtail for aggressive riding in the 1990s and this new version has the same silhouette as its ’90s counterpart.

However, the new Zaskar comes with bigger wheels than its predecessor, a stretched-out frame and a relaxed head angle, creating a bang-up-to-date ride feel and smooth handling.

As a result, the Zaskar is extremely fun to ride and it ticks off hard trails and steep sections with confidence.

The WTB Trail Boss tyres and SR Suntour fork help with its downhill performance and the inclusion of a dropper post enables you to take on tricky trails.

The Zaskar would have scored higher if it wasn’t for a couple of minor gripes. The frame is noisy due to chain slap and the internal cable routing. It is also 2kg heavier than some competitors.

• Read our full GT Zaskar LT Elite review

Marin Rift Zone 29 1

• £1,655 / $1,899 / AU$2,499 / €1,899  as tested
• Highly capable on descents
• Great suspension and mix of drivetrain components
• Could do with some immediate upgrades

The Rift Zone 29 sits on the trail bike end of Marin’s full-suspension range, but its progressive geometry makes it highly capable on descents and more akin to an enduro bike.

The stable riding position makes it possible to attack trails and the bike comes alive at higher speeds. Its downhill performance is helped by the supple front fork, although it can feel noodly on gnarlier trails.

The lack of a dropper post holds the bike back when descending and would be an upgrade worth making.

When it comes to climbing, the bike feels controlled and comfortable but its upright position won’t suit riders looking to race up climbs.

The Vee Tire tyres need instantly upgrading in the eyes of our reviewer. But make this change and add a dropper post and you’ll have a truly great descender.

• Read our full Marin Rift Zone 29 1 review

Orbea Onna 10

• £1,099 / €1,099 as tested
• Great geometry with a cross-country focus
• Impressive spec for the price
• Versatile

The Orbea Onna 10 has a silhouette similar to the best cross-country bikes but costs far less. Intended for urban and light trail use, the Onna 10 is a versatile machine that feels more responsive than other bikes at this price point.

The bike’s steep seat tube angle makes it great for climbing and while it’s not designed for gnarly descents, the bike composes itself well when pointed down a trail. It’s worth noting, however, that the RockShox Judy fork does limit the bike’s descending performance.

You can add a rack to the Onna 10 making it a good commuter bike.

• Read our full Orbea Onna 10 review

Radon Cragger 8.0

• £1,847 / €1,950 as tested
• Fast uphill and downhill
• Excellent spec throughout
• Long seat tube reduces the standover height

Radon’s direct-to-consumer model has enabled it to spec the Cragger with components that exceed the bike’s price, including the 12x SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain.

The Cragger has relatively progressive geometry and is a charging descender. It’s not the smoothest downhill, but it’s capable and confident with the 29in wheels rolling quickly over harsh terrain and the DVO Sapphire front fork doing a fantastic job.

The long top and seat tubes give the bike a stretched-out feel that’s great for hard efforts uphill but doesn’t lend itself to more genteel climbing.

The slender aluminium tubing and smoothed welds give the impression the Cragger might be carbon fibre, and cables can be routed internally for maximum neatness.

• Read our full Radon Cragger 8.0 review

Sonder Signal ST NX

• £1,599/ $2,297 / AU$2,914 / €1,799 as tested
• Great geometry
• Short travel dropper
• SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain
• Small rotors hold it back

The Sonder Signal ST NX sticks to the British brand’s goal of delivering good value for money, high performing steel bikes.

The steel frame gives the bike a weighty feel but once you’re riding, the Signal has a comfy climbing position, spinning up fire trails and over steep, technical sections. It’s not the fastest up climbs, but a bike like this is never really intended to be.

Once you point the bike downhill, the geometry and tyres come together to form a highly competent trail machine that gets over rough terrain with ease and urges you to go faster.

Sonder has clearly prioritised certain aspects of the bike to give the optimal ride for the money, with a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain and a RockShox fork.

It would be good though if it had been specced with larger rotors to really unlock the bike’s descending prowess.

• Read our full Sonder Signal ST NX review

Specialized Fuse 27.5 (2021)

• £1,149/ $1,500 / AU$2,000 as tested
• Comfortable contact points
• Impressive RockShox fork
• Low front end limits descending capability
• Comes with 27.5in wheels but can be used with 29in

The Specialized Fuse 27.5 combines plus-size tyres, a 1 x11 drivetrain, a dropper post and an aluminium frame with modern geometry.

The generous top tube length gives the Fuse a comfy seated climbing position and the oversize tyres provide plenty of grip. Out of the saddle on steep inclines, the low front end makes climbing difficult, but the large range of gears does compensate for this.

The low front also impacts descending, pitching your weight forward on steeper sections and making it harder to balance. On the other hand, the Fuse feels particularly calm on flowing bike park descents.

The dropper post does help with descending, as does the supple RockShox fork.

Different wheel sizes suit different styles of riding, and on the Fuse you can switch the 27.5in wheels out for larger 29er wheels, which might make sense because this bike is most at home cruising on less technical trails.

• Read our full Specialized Fuse 27.5 (2021) review

Vitus Mythique 29 VRX

• £1,800 / $2,200 / AU$3,300 / €2,550 as tested
• Excellent components
• Well-balanced on most trails
• Geometry means a compromised ride up and down hill

The Vitus Mythique 29 VRX is a good all-rounder elevated by an impressive spec. It features a mix of Shimano 12-speed Deore components, an air-sprung Marzocchi Bomber Z2 front fork and a RockShox Monarch R shock with 140mm of travel.

Downhill, the suspension provides plenty of support with loads of pop. The bike responds well to quick changes in direction and is a blast to ride as result. It isn’t quite as stable as others on high-speed straights. A longer reach and slacker head angle would help counteract this.

The Mythique’s ride uphill could be improved by adjustments to the geometry, too. The kink in the seat tube means the higher the saddle, the slacker the seat-tube angle. The seated pedalling position is further back than some other bikes and this makes climbing steep climbs tricky.

Despite these setbacks, the bike strikes an impressive balance between weight, stiffness and comfort. It’s a great package for anyone looking to ride around trail centres.

Vitus has released a new version of the Mythique, so stay tuned for a review.

• Read our full Vitus Mythique 29 VRX review

Vitus Sentier 29 VRX

• £1,600 / $2,000 / AU$3,000 / €1,800 as tested
• XC-orientated hardtail
• Fluid descender
• Top-spec parts for the price

Vitus is owned by retail giants, Chain Reaction Cycles/Wiggle, and thanks to its massive buying power, the Sentier is kitted out with some top-end components.

The aluminium frame is covered in Shimano XT and SLX parts that work faultlessly. Up front there is a Fox Rhythm 34 fork and the 29in wheels are WTB rims on Vitus hubs that come set up tubeless.

The relatively short top tube gives the Sentier a comfortable climbing position and over rougher terrain it works well to smooth out bumps.

Occasionally, sharp edges kicked the rear wheel up but this compliance doesn’t translate to a feeling of vagueness when hurtling along.

On descents, the Sentier is forgiving but a longer reach and a slacker head angle would bring some extra stability and help with steeper drops.

Overall, the geometry could be tweaked but the ride and the bargain price make it hard to fault this bike.

• Read our full Vitus Sentier VRX review

Also consider…

The following bikes scored fewer than four out of five stars but are also solid performers and worthy of consideration.

Ragley Piglet

• £1,800 as tested
• Supportive Fox Float Rhythm 34 fork
• Grippy tyres and decent components overall
• Stack height is low
• Read our full Ragley Piglet review

Trek Roscoe 7

• £1,400 / $1,730 / AU$2,200 / €1,549 as tested
• Shimano Deore works well
• Lots of frame sizes
• Weak brakes and vague-feeling wide tyres
• Read our full Trek Roscoe 7 review

Vitus Mythique VR

• £1,249 as tested
• Supple yet supportive suspension
• Great-feeling frame with good tyres and brakes
• Under-damped fork lets the ride down
• Geometry could do with some alterations
• Read our full Vitus Mythique VR trail bike review

Norco Fluid FS 3

• £1,395 / $1,799 / AU$2,299 / €1,799 as tested
• A well-proportioned frame
• Suspension that resists pedal bob
• Impressive SRAM Eagle drivetrain
• Could do with a fork upgrade and feels a bit sluggish to get up to speed
• Read our full Norco Fluid FS 3 trail bike review

Sonder Frontier NX Eagle

• £1,199 as tested
• Decent value
• SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain
• Less damped than others
• Read our full Sonder Frontier NX Eagle review