Through forests and hills. TOP 5 mountain bikes

STELS Navigator 500 V 2015

The Navigator 500 V bike is the most affordable and popular model of the Russian manufacturer STELS, because it is distinguished not only by low cost, but also by sufficient reliability and versatility. This is a mountain bike for light off-road and leisurely city walks.

One of the advantages of this bike is the presence of three standard frame sizes: 17.5”, 19.5”, 21.5”. So with any height, you can choose the right bike model. In addition, the frame is made of steel, which guarantees its reliability. On the other hand, this metal is heavier than aluminium, so the model weighs a little more than other bikes in our ranking — 15.6 kg. There are also reinforced rims with a diameter of 26", which will not have to be leveled after every off-road ride.

The bike received a fork with spring shock absorbers, which is enough for comfortable riding on light off-road, but may not be enough for more aggressive riding. On the other hand, springs are easier to maintain and easy to replace in case of breakage. You will definitely like Grip-Shift shifters, which can rightly be called the best choice for beginners. Note that the bike has 18 speeds, this is a standard indicator for inexpensive models, but coupled with equipment from Shimano, they can serve a long and faithful service.

The Navigator 500 V model uses PROMAX V-shaped brakes and tyres CHAOYANG which provide excellent grip when riding off-road. The bike is equipped with easily removable plastic fenders, and a protective disc to prevent your foot from getting into the teeth of the connecting rod, as well as a footrest and large pedals for better foot traction.

Overall, this is a great affordable bike for easy walks through the forest, trips

STELS Navigator 650 MD 2015

Another model from Stels that costs a little more than the previous bike, but provides a little more riding comfort. In many respects, this result was achieved thanks to the aluminium frame, which significantly lightened the weight of the bike and thereby improved the ability to ride. And in general, the bike looks quite well-coordinated, dynamic and modern, and the guys will surely like the aggressive coloring.

Shimano components are not bad in quality — the Altus cassette with an advanced (as for an amateur model) Acera rear derailleur, A fairly reliable entry level Tourney front derailleur as well as Altus shifters for maximum comfort and control on fast descents or climbs. Do not forget about 21 gears, which again will help with rapid acceleration or when climbing a steep hill. The weight of the bike certainly does not reach the top racing models, but it is at an acceptable level. By the way, this is largely thanks to the double 26-inch aluminium rims, which are not only strong, but also very light. It is worth noting the mechanical disc brakes, which work much better in mud or bad weather than the V-brake. Add to this the studded treads that provide excellent off-road traction and you get an inexpensive, manoeuvrable, versatile bike.

In addition, front fork with spring-elastomeric shock absorber, which pretty well works out small holes and bumps, rare bumps and curbs. At the same time, it is possible to adjust the stiffness — block for maximum acceleration and soften, for off-road and forest, which will significantly increase the efficiency of driving.

Navigator 650 MD 2015 is an excellent universal model for city and country weekend walks, with a light but durable aluminium frame, the possibility of installing a roof rack or a child seat.

Trek 3500 Disc 2015

American corporation Trek makes bicycles for every taste, from low-cost models to professional solutions. The 2015 3500 Disc is a modern, rather sleek hardtail bike with bright, vibrant colours. It does not look defiant, but is able to cope with many loads.

It is worth noting that the bike has an advanced amateur body kit, which indicates sufficient versatility of the model. Of course, you can hardly recommend it for lovers of high descents, but unlike previous models, it has the makings of a cross bike. This is confirmed by the presence of higher quality components. For example, 26-inch wheels come with Bontrager tyres equipped with medium-sized studs. They are suitable both for paved roads, on which it will be possible to disperse a decent speed, and for off-road, primers and sand, on which there will be stable, high handling.

The bike uses an SR Suntour M-3030 spring fork with travel 75 mm. This model has pretty decent reliability figures and is one of the highest quality forks in its class. The bike is also equipped with Shimano Tourney derailleurs with Shimano Altus shifters. It also uses a SRAM PG-730 12-32 cassette and Shimano M131 crankset for a total of 21 speeds – more than enough for the average user. In addition, the manufacturer equipped the bike with Shimano Altus mechanical disc brakes, which in itself is not bad at all. They will prove themselves excellent in everyday riding, but their performance and quality are not enough for serious mountain trials.

In general, a universal model for weekend walks, trips to the summer cottage, friendly races in the nearest forest plantation, etc. The 2015 Trek 3500 Disc is a great solution for a basic everyday bike for the long haul. The model is perfectly balanced and can be considered a strong middling model.

KHS Sixfifty 200 2015

The American manufacturer KHS is well known in not only for professionals, but also for average cyclists. At the same time, even low-cost models are distinguished by high strength, attention to detail and have a corporate identity.

The manufacturer used double butting and hydroforming, so the reliability of the frame is beyond doubt. And since it is made of 6061 aluminium alloy, the frame is also lightweight. So carrying the bike and other manoeuvres will not tyre the owner much. In addition, it uses double aluminium alloy rims with a diameter of 27.5". This solution improves efficiency on flat areas, the average riding speed will be higher than that of models on 26 inch wheels.

And in order to be able to comfortably ride both off-road and on hard surfaces, the bike was equipped with universal tyres CST C1435A with small spikes. They also provide good handling regardless of weather and road conditions.

Among other nice features of the bike, it is also worth noting the mechanical disc brakes, which will come in handy more than ever in the rain or when riding through mud.

Cube AIM Disc 27.5 2015

At the top of our cycling ranking is the Aim Disc 27.5 2015 from the German manufacturer Cube. This is a versatile cross-country hardtail for enthusiasts and weekend athletes. The bike is designed specifically for rather demanding enthusiasts, so it can withstand good loads and is great for various cycling trips. Therefore, the model has become one of the most popular and sold in the European market.

The Aim Disc 27.5 2015 uses reliable and modern components. The 24-speed transmission will increase your riding comfort and give you plenty of options on difficult or high-speed sections. Altus switches and trigger shifters are installed by the manufacturer — rear RD-M280, front FD-M313 and SL-M310 for 8 speeds. In addition, the Tourney FC-TX801 system and the Tourney CS-HG200 12-32T cassette are used, which provide the same gear ratios as on a 9-speed system.

To get the most out of their components, the model left with 27.5-inch heavy duty, dual Schurmann Yak 584 650B rims and Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres. Together they provide high speed, excellent rolling and grip, regardless of the surface and quality of the road. Unlike the other bikes in this selection, this model uses Tektro HD-M290 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors for fast response and optimal modulation.

The frame is made of durable and light aluminium. Therefore, the weight of the model is only 13.8 kg, and this is with 27.5-inch rims! So you can push the bike to impressive speeds, and you can be sure of the reliability of its components.

It may seem that the Cube Aim Disc 27.5 2015 is too expensive. But, as you know, the quality of any thing lies in the details. The bike received many solutions from older models of the manufacturer. Particularly pleasing are the reinforced feathers and the presence of internal cable routing that will not be damaged by a fall or inept operation. Note that a strong and reliable SR Suntour XCT Disc 27.5 fork with a stroke of 100 mm is installed here, which will quite cope with pits and potholes, but there is nothing to say about bumps and bumps. So the bumps in the road will be felt by the palms and hands, but less than other models. The bonus is the ability to adjust the stiffness and lock the shock absorber for quick acceleration on a flat road or when climbing a hill. The lack of fenders can hardly be called a minus, since this bike is designed for fast riding, and its weight is very important for this. Anyway, everyone will be able to put them on their own, since the holes are provided for this.

The Cube Aim Disc 27.5 2015 bike justifies its rather high price due to the presence of a light, but at the same time strong frame, hydraulic disc brakes, quality components , versatility, ride comfort and low weight, so it can accelerate and decelerate faster, does not weigh down the owner when rolling out frequently.