11 Mountain Bikes Under $3,800

This budget friendly 29-inch alloy lizard is built for for maximum speed and rollability. Depending on setup and skill level, the Chameleon is capable on a wide range of terrain – from aggressive trail riding to jump lines to all-around use.

Progressive design, playful agility, and confident capability all in the name of fun. The 2020 Cannondale Habit wants to wring a little more flow out of every kind of trail.

The 2020 GT Sensor is an aggressive bike with the handling to making it a weapon wherever you ride it. From fast, flowy singletrack to all-day epics and everything in between, the Sensor was designed to handle it all.

The 2020 Ripmo AF (Aluminum Frame) brings the performance of the carbon Ripmo to a wider, rowdier audience at an agreeable price. It's at home pointed down the most rugged slopes, but that doesn’t steal from its climbing efficiency. Additionally, a more progressive leverage ratio makes the AF frame both air and coil shock compatible.

Marin Rift Zone Carbon 1

A bike ready for all-day adventures, setting personal records, and smashing the weekly Taco-Tuesday ride. We tested the 2020 Rift Zone Carbon 2 in our Short-Travel 29er Test Sessions. It offers the ability and confidence to point-and-shoot while being both a capable climber and descender. If you are looking for a bike that can handle everything the trail has to offer, check out the Marin Rift Zone.

Unidirectional carbon front triangle, series 3 alloy rear with MultiTrac suspension design
29-inch wheels
65.5-degree head tube angle
125mm rear travel, 130mm front travel
Marzocchi Bomber Z2 fork
FOX FLOAT Performance DPS EVOL shock
X-Fusion Manic dropper seatpost
Shimano SLX 1x12 drivetrain
Shimano MT420 4-piston brakeset with 203/180mm rotors
Marin Aluminum Double Wall rims with forged alloy, centerlock Boost hubs
Maxxis Minion DHF WT 3C MaxxTerra EXO and Minion DHR II WT 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ tires
5-year frame warranty
$3,350 MSRP
Available at Jenson USA

The Following V1 is an aggressive 29er created to push the boundaries of the big wheel. The Following can do things typically reserved for longer travel rigs and is a bike you can throw around and have fun on too.

A bike for the aggressive rider seeking every opportunity to get airborne, charge the downhills, and takes the technical lines rather than go-arounds. A mini-DH bike that can pedal, it'll climb uphill too. Plus, use the flip-chip tunable geometry to mix it up to suit your preferences and terrain. The high position offers a more efficient pedaling platform, ideal for those rides with both steep descents and steep climbs. Then switch it to the low position for an even slacker head angle, perfect for those downhill laps at the resort and shuttle runs.

The Mach 6 is a big-hit all-mountain and enduro bike made for the rider who likes to tackle difficult terrain at speed, while still having an agile ride that pedals well. Descending, you'll feel more "in" and less "on" the bike for stability and confident control at high speeds on technical trails. This bike is light and flickable but isn't afraid to plow.

Developed for riders seeking out big hits and a lot of gravity, the 2020 GT Force is built for the fun of it. Made to be a smooth and predictable bike available on the affordable end of the spectrum.

The 2020 Intense Primer is great at carrying momentum, providing traction, and smoothing out the trail. Both fast and efficient. From our experience with the 2020 Primer lineup, this would be our pick for anyone who lives for fast, flowing singletrack and wants a high-performing trail machine.