Frame

The bikes in this price range will often be the bottom of the range versions for that particular model. That may sound like a negative but don’t take it that way, it means you get the exact frame as the top models but with a lower spec – it’s effectively a great platform to upgrade from as parts wear out or you feel ready to progress your riding.

A lot of manufacturers will see this price point as “beginners”, which they translate to XC. Watch out for steep, short bikes that are predominantly focussed on climbing – they won’t be as fun to ride.

The frame will be made from aluminium that provides a proven and stable platform. Keep an eye out for features that will allow you to upgrade parts such as cable routing for a dropper post or a tapered head tube. A weight of 30-32lbs (13.6 – 14.5 kgs) for the whole bike is probably about average.

Suspension

If this is your budget for a trail bike, then you’re likely to be sacrificing suspension performance over anything else. It’s a pity but unfortunately the cuts have to be made somewhere and suspension is complex and therefore costly. It’s better than it used to be though with air technology replacing coils and brands looking to budget options as more of a priority.

Forks

You can still expect a fork from the big boys but don’t expect it to be their flagship model. RockShox traditionally would spec the Sketor, Recon or 30 (of which the Sektor is probably best for trail riding) but it has recently released the Yari that promises to bring the performance of the Pike to a cheaper price point, so keep your eyes peeled.

Fox has formerly avoided the budget market, but since it purchased Marzocchi it has announced the 34 Rhythm fork that will be specced OEM on budget bikes. We’re yet to give one a try but considering the quality of forks Fox is putting out at the moment it could be one to watch.

There are also options available from X-Fusion, Marzocchi, Manitou and SR Suntour at this level. Make sure it doesn’t feel like a pogo stick and if it comes with a lock out function for the climbs then all the better.

Shock

Once again it’s probably RockShox that are the big players in this market and you’ll more than likely see a RockShox Monarch R equipped to the bike however if you’re lucky you may get the RL version that’s lighter, has a better spring and a lockout function.

Also keep an eye out for the X-Fusion 02RL that is also commonly specced at this level and comes with a lock out to help on the climbs.

Wheels 

At this price bracket you should expect a mix of 27.5 and 29 inch wheels. Given that the wheels are likely to be cheap you may have to worry about the 29er wheels being a bit more flexy and heavy, but then they will roll much better so it’s a matter of personal taste.

Wheels are traditionally a place where manufacturers will look to cut corners on a cheap bike and hope you are too dazzled by the frame and suspension to worry about them. Quite often they will be own-brand rims and hubs designed to keep a manufacturer’s costs down. Keep an eye out for any that are excessively heavy as rolling weight has a lot more of an effect on bike handling than frame weight.

The tyres will probably be a let down with a cheap, hard compound. Swap them out as soon as possible. Take a look at the Dirt 100 selection for our recommendations.

The rest

You’ll need to be an eagle-eyed detective when checking out the rest of the spec as it gives lots of opportunities to save money for the manufacturer. Drivetrains will predominantly be 2×10 from Shimano or SRAM but if you’re lucky you may be able to source a 1x system. We would say avoid 3×9 drivetrains the extra weight isn’t really worth it for the added range.

Shimano released the SLX and SRAM the NX drivetrains earlier this year though that bring new budget options for 1x, maybe it won’t be long before 1×11 is far more common at this price point.

You should definitely be getting hydraulic discs at this price and the good news is brakes are pretty good at this level now – the Shimano M395 and M396 especially provide really good performance.

When it comes to the cockpit you’re going to have to be really careful. Long stems (>60mm) and narrow bars (<700mm) will really limit the control you have over the bike and should be discarded as soon as possible. The grips are also likely to be hard and a bit naff, unfortunately another thing you should probably replace when you can. The lock-on Specialized Sip grips are a favourite of ours and at £16 are a great price.

If you’re lucky enough to find a dropper post at this price then it’s a big bonus. They aren’t essential but they do make a big difference to your ride and when you try one you won’t want to go back.

At this price you won’t find all of these things at once, but you should pick the bike that has the best compromises across all its components. As we always say, you should try a bike out before you buy to see if it suits you well.

Under £2,500

Wheels

Predominantly you’re going to be looking at an even spread of 29 and 27.5 inch wheels. If you’re running a 29er you should be looking for Boost standard hubs at this price. These hubs are slightly wider and therefore allow you to build stiffer wheels.

Rims will still be aluminium but should no-longer be own brand. They will probably be lighter and stronger than the wheels on offer at lower price brackets. Something like the DT Swiss XM1501 Spline One from the Dirt 100 should fit the bill.

You may also see Plus sized wheels at this price point. Plus wheels use tyres around 3.0” in width that can be run at lower pressures to supposedly provide better grip without sacrificing rolling resistance.

They’re a relatively new technology and we’ve only really tested two bikes that are fitted with them – the Specialized 6Fattie and the Scott Genius Plus. We definitely felt the improvements in grip but found it harder to weight and unweight through the space hopper effect of the wheels. Horses for courses? Maybe, it’s early days and it’s definitely an area to watch as more investment gets put into it.

The rest

You should expect a 1x or 2x drivetrain. A lot of people like to have the extra support of the granny ring on the front but we don’t think there’s a great need for it in most of the UK – in fact a lot of frame manufacturers are starting to get rid of front mech mounts (such as the Whyte T-130 S) at this price point meaning you’re stuck with a 1x system whether you like it or not.

Thankfully 1x drivetrains are coming down in price and up in quality. SRAM’s GX or XO and Shimano’s XT shouldn’t be out of your reach if you’re looking at this price bracket. These will shift every bit as well as the top of the range groupsets, just with a bit more weight.

SRAM and Shimano rule the roost when it comes to brakes at this level too. They’re most likely to be two piston hydraulic, but the extra power of a four piston brake is a nice little upgrade. Shimano’s SLX are a great purchase but the Shimano XT brakes that made our Dirt 100 are also viable. From SRAM you can either look for their own brand brakes, such as the Guide or those from its sister brand Avid, such as the DB5. Rotors should be at least 180mm in diameter to give that extra bit of power.

If you’re paying this much money for a bike you shouldn’t have to faff around with the cockpit when you get it home. You’re looking for short stems and wide bars that suit the longer geometry of modern trail bikes – you may still have to replace the stock grips though, but thankfully that’s not a costly change.

At this price you absolutely should expect a dropper. It may not be an infinite adjust, internally routed RockShox Reverb but it definitely should go up and down on the fly.

Money no object