Vital's $2,500 Full-Suspension Mountain Bike Comparison Test 5

We put six full-suspension 29ers through the paces to see who wins the battle of Cheap Bike 2023.

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11/22/2023 1:57pm

Can a rider buying a full-suspension mountain bike get durability and peak on-trail performance for under $2,500? Vital MTBers, welcome to the third edition of our budget mountain bike comparison test. “Budget” is a relative word and $2,500 is a ton of money to spend on a bike you have to pedal yourself. Over the years, however, we’ve come to realize that if we want a full-suspension mountain bike that can withstand the rigors of lots of miles on legit trails, this is where to start. Any cheaper and the bikes and their parts just don’t perform or hold up to real riding over time.

We’re testing new bikes here, but never forget the used market, which can bring a lot of bang for the buck if you know what to look for. Additionally, new bike prices are constantly changing with some big sales and discounts to be found, so keep in mind that the prices reflected in this video may differ from what you find today.

The Bikes + 1

We rounded up 6 full-suspension 29ers in the 130mm to 140mm rear travel range. These are considered trail bikes if you’re unaware of how mountain bikes are classified. A trail bike is made to do a little bit of everything, and hopefully do it pretty well. It has more travel than a cross-country bike and less travel than what’s called an enduro bike. Some of our test bikes are purchased at local bike shops, while the others are ordered directly from the brands online and prices here don’t reflect shipping costs or taxes. Bikes bought from a local shop will be assembled and ready to ride out the door, while direct-to-consumer bikes require some assembly upon delivery. All the direct brands we tested provide the necessary assembly tools in the packaging like hex wrenches and shock pumps.

Marin Rift Zone 29 2 - $2,299 - 33lbs 6oz / 15.13kg

Giant Trance X 29 2 - $2,280 (sale) - 34lbs 4oz / 15.50kg

Rossignol Trail Mandate Deore 11 - $1,499 (sale) - 37lbs 9oz / 17.03kg

Rocky Mountain Instinct A10 Shimano - $2,029 (sale) - 35lbs 4oz / 15.98kg

Polygon Siskiu T8 - $1,999 (sale) - 34lbs 14oz / 15.81kg

Norco Fluid FS A3 - $2,249 (sale) - 35lbs 10oz / 16.15kg

Every bike in our test has 29-inch wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and a 1x drivetrain which means there are 11 or 12 speeds on the rear gear cluster and only one chainring at the cranks. While there are component similarities between the bikes, each model is definitely its own machine with unique fit and riding characteristics.

Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alloy - $3,199 (sale) - 33lbs / 14.96kg

This year, for good measure, we threw in a Specialized Stumpjumper Comp Alloy which is currently on sale for $3,200. Would a $1,000 price bump provide enough performance benefit to make our testers ignore the other bikes?

Testers and Bike Sizing

Figuring out what size mountain bike you should ride will come down to personal preference. Our testers, Jason Schroeder, Steve Wentz, Rick Reed, Johan and Nils Hjord ranged from 5'9" (175cm) to 6 feet (184cm) tall. Our shorter testers are on that cusp between a medium and large if you look at brand recommendations. All bikes tested are size large with the exception of the Giant which is a medium. And since riding is more fun with more friends, we had schralper, Amanda Wentz on hand to rip the Giant and even brought in 6’4” Vital staffer and mechanic wizard, Jonny Simonetti, to throw a leg over some bikes, do some damage and make shapes for the camera. Principle feedback from the test comes from Jason, Johan, Rick and Steve.

Join us for some fun as we put these bikes to the test near Reno, Nevada. We had a blast testing these wallet-friendly mountain bikes, and we hope that you’ve learned which bike may be best for you. Whether you’re spending $2,000 or $200 dollars on a bike, it’s all about the ride, and all we want is that you get out on the trails to experience the joy a bike can bring. If you have any questions or comments, let us know down below and we’ll see you on the trails!