If you are a true mountain biking enthusiast, this article on the best full suspension mountain bike under $1000 is for you.
But first things first … what is a full suspension mountain bike?
You have two choices when choosing a mountain bike. One, you can go for a hardtail mountain bike or two; you can choose a pro or entry-level full suspension mountain bike.
A full suspension mountain bike has a rear shock, which is not the case with hard tail bikes as most of them come with just the front suspension fork.
A full suspension mountain bicycle is going to cost you more money than the hardtail one. However, here, we bring you a collection of the best value full suspension mountain bikes that need not cost you more than $1000.
If you will be riding some tough terrains strewn with rocks, roots and stumps, you definitely need one of the full suspension mountain bikes for sale. The full suspension features give the bike better handling, traction and performance on the tough terrains.
The best full suspension mountain bikes below $1,000
There are so many mountain bikes in the market, both in the hard tail as well as in the full suspension category.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Schwinn Protocol 1.0 Mens and Womesn Mountain Bike, 26-Inch Wheels, 24-Speed Drivetrain, Lightweight Aluminum Frame, Full Suspension, Red/Blue | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Mongoose Status 2.2 Womens Mountain Bike, 26-Inch Wheels, 21-Speed Shifters, Aluminum Frame, Dual Suspension, Teal | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Nobuddy Mountain Bike Folding Bikes, 27-Speed Double Disc Brake Full Suspension Bicycle, 26 Inch Off-Road Variable Speed Bikes for Men and Women/Black | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | LISUEYNE Mountain Bike,21-Speed Olympic Mountain Bike,24" Folding Mountain Bike for Adults,Folding Bike Non-Slip Bicycles,Dual Disc Brakes | Prime | Buy Now |
Therefore, buying the best cheap full suspension mountain bike for the first time can be a bit hard. Read the pros and cons below to help you make up your mind.
1. Schwinn Protocol 1.0: Cheap Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Schwinn is the brand name of choice for indoor as well as outdoor bikes. They have been making bikes to meet many types of needs since 1895. The quality of their bikes gets better with time, as you will see in the Schwinn Protocol 1.0.
Design and Build Quality
This is a lightweight bike since it weighs 21KG only. Therefore, it should be easy to carry or push when you need to. In addition, the aluminum frame is also light in weight. It does not corrode so you can use it outdoors in all types of weather without worrying about its condition.
Speed and braking
This bike has a 24-speed derailleur with smooth shifters. You need smooth shifting from one gear to another on the trails. With such a wide range of speed, you can drive your bike anywhere including in the city, on the road and on the trails.
Good speed needs good stopping power. In the Schwinn Protocol 1.0, there are front and rear mechanical disc brakes. When you pull the brakes, the bike stops immediately. In all road conditions, these brakes provide the amount of stopping power that you need.
Other important features
The rims of the bike are made of lightweight alloy. They support 26-inch wheels. In addition, the saddles and handlebars are adjustable both by height and by angle. Therefore, you will be able to find a perfect riding spot for maximum leverage.
Since this is a size 26 mountain bike, it fits riders who are in the height range of 162 to 188 cm. Overall, this is a low maintenance bike.
Additionally, it comes with good wide tires that perform well in any kind of conditions.
Pros
- It is easy to install right out of the box
- Comes installed with a kickstand
- Feels comfortable on rough roads
Cons
- Some users say that the rear shock is not much good and needs to be replaced with a better one
2. Mongoose Status 2.2 Women’s Mountain Bike
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This is one of the cheapest full suspension mountain bike for beginners. However, in this case, it’s a women’s version so you might look for a men’s Mongoose mountain bike if that is what you need.
Design and Build Quality
The frame of this full suspension women’s mountain bike is made of aluminum alloy. It is light in weight so it should be easy to push or even carry when you need to.
The color of the frame is teal and the black rims and tires complete the good look. The wheel size is 26 inches.
Speed, braking and performance
The Mongoose mountain bike with full suspension comes with black rims and the tires have good sizing. Therefore, you can ride through snow, dirt, sand on the beach and on mountain trails easily.
The bike comes with a 21-speed derailleur, which is surprising because the bike retails at an affordable price. In addition, compared to the men’s Mongoose mountain bike, which comes with a 7-speed derailleur, this one is miles ahead. This bike should be able to get you through mountains, tracks and roads without slowing you down.
The braking power comes from two disc brakes in the front and in the back. When you know that you have instant stopping power, you can ride fast without worrying.
Other features
The rear shock absorbs most of the bumps that you experience on rocky and bumpy mountain trails. The weight of the bike is 44 pounds, which is light for a mountain bike. The saddle is narrow, not very comfortable but then, for a mountain bike, it is never about comfort but functionality.
Pros
- The price is so affordable
- Assemblage takes such a short time
- The rear shock absorber makes your ride comfortable
Cons
- The tires it comes with might need to be replaced sooner than usual
3. Nobuddy Mountain Bike
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The price that you will pay for this bike is well below $1000 yet it comes with many admirable features.
Design and build quality
By design, this is a foldable bike. Therefore, you can reduce its size considerably to make it easier to store or to carry.
The bike is made of a high quality carbon steel frame. It is light in weight and at the same time, it has a weight rating of 150KG/330 pounds, which is quite high.
Adjustability
The good thing with the Nobuddy bike is that it allows many adjustments. Therefore, you can find your sweetest riding spot.
You can adjust the height of the saddle as well as the handlebars.
Speed and braking
For speed, this full suspension bike comes with a total of 27 gears and 9 flywheels for positioning. Variable speed is good for different terrains and you can shift through different speeds when the bike is in motion.
The rear and front brakes come in doubles to increase the stopping power. Moreover, this bike comes with double shock absorbers, which absorb the jarring impact and shock from rough terrains. You do need some comfort even when you are on the saddle.
Convenient Features
There are so many. For instance, the bike comes with thick, wide tires which are better for cornering safety.
The wheel frame has been made with alloy material so it is light in weight and super strong at the same time.
Apart from that, the bike also comes with rear and front mudguards. These protect you from the dirty water and mud that the wheels will whip up when you are riding in nasty weather.
Pros
- Extra thick wheels for beach, park and regular terrain riding
- Simple to drive this bike even for a beginner
- Built with high quality and lightweight material
4. XRQ Fat Tire Men’s Full Suspension Mountain Bike
This is one of the affordable full suspension mountain bikes. It comes with a front suspension fork and a shock absorber in the back. Therefore, it can keep you comfortable and protected against the impact that comes with bouncing over roots and rocks.
Design and Build Quality
The weight of this mountain bike is 25KG. It should not be too hard for you to carry on your shoulder or push it if you have to. The bike is also made of carbon steel, which is not only light in weight, but it is also anti-rust and can last a long time with minimal care.
You can get this bike in sizes 24 and 26. For the former, it is suitable for users that are between the height of 160 and 175 cm while the latter is suitable for users within the height range of 170 and 185 cm.
Speed and Braking
This bike comes with 24-speed derailleurs, so you can find a speed for just about any terrain. You can shift through the gears while you are driving the bike.
Good speed also requires good stopping power. Therefore, this bike comes with double disc brakes. It is perfect for almost all types of riding needs and not only for the mountain trails.
Other features
You can adjust the height of the bike seat as well as that of the handlebars. Therefore, you can find a nice riding position.
The handlebars come in an anti-slip covering on the areas where you grip them. In addition, they come in the flat bar design so you can change your grip positions comfortably.
Pros
- It is a cheap full suspension mountain bike
- High quality steel frame
- Available in wheel sizes 24 or 26 inches
Cons
- It does not have mud guards
5. LISUEYNE Mountain Bike: Entry Level Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
When you are looking for an entry-level full suspension mountain bike, you are probably looking for something that is not going to cost you much. When you are learning how to mountain bike like a pro, you will find that the bike sees a lot of abuse.
Therefore, you might want to start with the LISUEYNE mountain bike, which retails at a price lower than $500.
Design and Build Quality
First, the design of this bike is foldable. Therefore, you can reduce its size considerably so that you can fit it in the trunk of your car. It has a fast-release clamp for helping to fold it.
In addition, it folds intact so that when you get to your destination, you can just unfold it and ride. The frame is made of aluminum alloy.
Speed and Braking
This bike comes with a 21-speed system. Hence, you get a wide variety of speed options to consider for riding on different terrains.
This bike is also fitted with rear disc brakes and mechanical front brakes. You will get instant stopping power when you need it.
Another thing that you need to know about the bike is that it has a high quality shock absorber in the rear. You will hardly feel any jars or bumps as you ride.
Other important features
It takes much more than the braking, speed and frame material to make the best budget full suspension mountain bike. There are tens more features.
For instance, this bike comes with wide, anti-skid tires. For off-road riding, you need such a function.
You can also try different tires as the need arises. You can use this bike for beach riding, road riding, snow and city riding. However, it is specifically made for the mountain trails, off the beaten path.
Pros
- Has good handlebars and seat adjustments
- Sold at a very fair price
- Good for cycling on different terrains
Cons
- There are no mudguards
Conclusion
Hopefully the above list would be sufficient for you to get a great full suspension mountain bike below $1,000.
When you get your bike, remember to read the user manual. That will show you how to assemble it. Furthermore, you might have to take the bike to a bike garage to be tweaked to suit your height, speed and braking needs.
Our full suspension mountain bike of choice is the Schwinn Protocol 1.0. It is sold at a good price, has nice features and well … Schwinn is a popular brand name.
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