>>1674978Just depends on how far you want to take it. You can get a decent hardtail for $500-1000, but it's most likely going to be on the lower end for specs - drivetrain, fork, wheels, etc. I'd say the number one feature you should look for is disc brakes. I haven't looked at cheaper mountain bikes in a while, but I'm pretty sure they all come with disc brakes now. Second, you should try to find one with a dropper post...allows your seat to go up and down with a flick of the switch.
Some good brands:
- Norco
- Intense
- YT
- Knolly
- Kona
- Trek (they're a big brand, they have good and bad)
- Pivot
- Orbea
- Santa Cruz
- Kona
Mountain biking can and will get expensive the more you get into it. If you want to rail berms and get through chunky, tech sections fast, you'll want a bike that can stand up to the abuse.
