Going off-roading with a mountain bike is fun! The same reason that makes it fun also makes it uncomfortable, use your imagination! Wouldn’t it be nice to feel the least amount of shock and vibration while being ridiculously agile? Mountain bikes with full suspension are your best bet!
Admittedly they’re expensive but we are savvy enough to find the best options and save you the headache, confusion and help you make the most out of your budget.
In this guide, we get into the best full suspension mountain bikes under $2000, featured in a quick and easy list with individual reviews for each bike. We have broken everything down, each bike’s features and specs and how they translate to you. Do yourself a favor and follow through!
Quick List for the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike Under $2000
- Best Overall: Mongoose Impasse FS MTB
- Best Value: Kent International FS MTB
- Best Premium: GHOST Kato FS MTB
- Runner Up 1: Marin RIFT Zone 1 FS MTB
- Runner Up 2: Diamondback Atroz 3 FS MTB
- Honorable Mention: GaoFan FS MTB
Our Top picks start with …
Best Overall: Mongoose Impasse FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Travel: 120 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 29 x 2.35 in, 700c x 38c
- Weight: 44 lbs
- Gears: 21 speeds
- Brake: Mechanical Disc Brakes
The Mongoose Impasse full suspension mountain bike is a tremendous entry-level option if you are looking to step up your biking game into off-roading. For increased control, it incorporates a dual suspension. The Impasse smooths out the humps without moving about or transferring the impact to you. However, while traveling at peak speed, it can get a little bouncy.
It works well on tough terrain like rocky pathways, unpaved roads, or in rural areas. Big knocks may be absorbed by the frame, enabling you to ride more aggressively. It is quite useful in a situation since it has 21 gears and a dual disk braking system that gives you extra stopping force with less effort. The flexible seat is the main attraction!
Best Value: Kent International FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Travel: 100 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 26 in
- Weight: 40 lbs
- Gears: 21 speeds
- Brake: Front Disc, Rear Linear Pull brakes.
The greatest full-suspension mountain bike for the money can be found on the market is the Kent International model. The frame was made specifically for off-road vehicles, and it can handle them with ease. The bike frame has a butted design built into it to keep weight to a minimum and boost aerodynamics for speed.
You can transfer over rough terrain with ease thanks to the 21-speed shifters. Additionally, by enhancing its efficiency and smoothness, the rear derailleur and shifters guarantee a full transformation of your riding style. The back wheel features a linear-pull brake, while the front wheel has a disc brake. Despite being inexpensive, this combo works.
The comfort is the only real problem, therefore you might wish to replace the default seat with one that is comfier.
Best Premium: GHOST Kato FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Travel: 130 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 27.5 x 2.25 in, 650b x 36c
- Gears: 12 gears
- Brake: Hydraulic Disc Brake
The Ghost Kato is a tremendous mountain bike and it can handle whatever you throw at it. The frame is aluminum and designed for a rugged trail and all-day comfort. It is paired up with intermediate 130 mm suspension travel which is the same for the front as well as the rear.
The gearing has 12 speeds and it has a smooth operation, making the shift all the natural. They have paired these up with premium hydraulic disc brakes for excellent stopping power and reliability.
The wheel dimensions are special. Ghost is using 27.5 x 2.25 inch wheels which directly translates to superb off-roading performance. It’s agile when using your body weight to shift it and grippy when you want to take a sharp turn. The bike has even got a dropper post for some really steep descents.
Runner Up 1: Marin RIFT Zone 1 FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Travel: 125 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 29 x 2.3 in
- Weight: N/A
- Gears: 11 speeds
- Brake: Hydraulic Disc Brake
The Marin Rift Zone1 is a full-suspension trail bike that rides like a more expensive bike, naturally it’s our runner up. The suspension uses a four-bar, single-pivot design known as MultiTrac. This has 125 mm of travel and has been tuned to be progressive so the initial part of its travel is supple, while it ramps up towards the end for resistance.
The 11-speed drivetrain is headed up by a Shimano rear derailleur and shifter. It’s fitted with Marin’s own-brand cranks with a 32t chainring that uses an external bottom bracket. The bike has an upright seated position, like an enduro bike. So it feels like there’s less weight through your hands when going on an incline.
Runner Up 2: Diamondback Atroz 3 FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum
- Suspension Travel: 130 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 27.5 x 2.3 in
- Weight: N/A
- Gears: 12 speeds
- Brake: Hydraulic Disc Brake
The Diamondback Atroz 3 full suspension mountain bike has a tremendously effective suspension system that makes riding in mountainous terrains a breeze. You can tell that the design is beautiful. It manages to blend classy and sporty visual aesthetics.
The 11 gear speeds allow you to ride up and down steep hills with ease. It will help you go up or down inclines with complete control. The Atroz 3 has hydraulic disc brakes. They are incredibly powerful and give you all the stopping power you need to ride safely. They’re very effective in all weather conditions and terrains.
The wheels are incredibly effective at providing you with a lot of traction and make it easy to accelerate.
The overall design of the Atroz 3 is beginner-friendly so new riders can have an easier time mountain biking, can’t go wrong with it.
Honorable Mention: GaoFan FS MTB
Key Features and Specs:
- Frame Material: Aluminum, Carbon, Steel
- Suspension Travel: 140 mm
- Wheel & Tire Size: 26 in
- Weight: 50 lbs
- Gears: 21 speeds
- Brake: Mechanical Disc Brakes
GaoFan has focused on providing a full-suspension mountain bike with fat tires. These types of wheels have been trending for a while. The aluminum frame keeps the weight of the bike down, yet it’s strong and easy to handle, despite the bulky tires.
It’s a very stable mountain bike with fat tires, and you can ride over long distances without much of an issue. The highlight of the Gao is that you can lock the suspension for comfort when you’re on smoother and flat surfaces.
The wheels have a quick-release mechanism to make it smaller and easier to store, so extra points for compact design. You’d think a fat bike would be difficult to go off-roading and store, but then the Gao gives you the correct answer.
What to consider when buying a Full-suspension Mountain Bike?
It’s only natural to get a bit more familiar with the differences between the mountain bikes. This way you can have a better understanding. Ultimately it will help you choose the best bike and the most useful for your particular needs.
The Suspension
When choosing a full-suspension mountain bike, you also have to think about the types of terrain you want to ride in. The more challenging the terrain, the longer the travel suspension you need. Longer suspension travel can absorb large impacts, bumps, rocks, and logs so your ride will be relatively smooth.
To give you an idea, a travel suspension between 90-150 mm is optimal for any bumpy terrain, but any travel suspension between 150-200 mm is all about the roughest and toughest environments with “impossible” angles.
Front suspension
The front suspension or also known as the fork is present in most mountain bikes for obvious reasons. The main difference is the materials used for shock absorption.
Reas Suspension
There are 2 types of rear suspension. Coil and air suspension. Most mountain bikes are equipped with air suspension. Coil suspension is available on high-end full-suspension mountain bikes.
Hardtail vs Full-Suspension
Mountain bike suspension systems come either in Hardtail or Full Suspension. The biggest difference is the (or lack of) shock and rear-suspension linkage.
- Hardtail suspension mountain bikes are ideal if you use your bike as an all-purpose cycling vehicle. It makes for a much better commuter bike and can easily be tuned for touring. Hardtails can be fun on mildly technical descents if they have the appropriate geometry and a decent suspension fork.
- Full-suspension mountain bikes are more forgiving over sharp bumpy angles. Rocky and rooty trails can become easy with this type of suspension. This is where even a short-travel full-suspension bike gives much better confidence and control. You get a lot more of your own body weight involved when you use this type of suspension because shifting your weight is the key to getting over some obstacles.
| Hardtail suspension | Full-suspension |
| 1. More efficient while pedaling 2. Faster on climbs and smooth trailsLighter weight 3. Ideal for beginners and easier terrain 4. Simpler to maintain 5. Natural choice for cross-country racing 6. Relatively cheaper | 1. More capability and versatility 2. Faster on difficult trails with lots of obstacles 3. Increased stability in the bumps and while descending 4. Continuously improved 5. Ideal for racing |
Frame Material
Most full suspension mountain bikes under $2000 are made from aluminum. While the suspension system already has tremendous capabilities, the frame material is a part of the bike that you need to account for in order to tackle technical mountain trails. They will put your bike to the test!
Aluminum is a lightweight frame material that has optimal shock absorption properties, while carbon fibers would be the best choice, it would make the bikes ridiculously expensive. Design-wise, full-suspension systems are already pricey, adding carbon fiber elements would make them unaffordable for many cyclists. There are a few models that use carbon steel, which is used for lowering overall costs. It’s worth mentioning that carbon fiber frames are not the same as carbon steel. Carbon fiber frames are tremendously lightweight, are used for competitive high-level sports, and will burn a hole in your wallet.
Aluminum is the best that you can get at this price point, particularly aluminum alloys, which are high quality.
Chainring & Groupset
When it comes to mountain bikes, your ability to go up steep inclines depends on how many speeds your full-suspension mountain bike has. In the $2000 price range, full-suspension mountain bikes have at the very least 12 speeds, with most commonly 21 speeds being a general standard for all-mountain bikes.
Shifting speeds allows you to more efficiently turn your pedaling effort into work, in this case going up a hill without completely exhausting your energies. A high count speed shift essentially translates to incremental changes, which allow you to fine-tune your effort, making pedaling easier.
Brakes
The best brakes for a full-suspension mountain bike in the $2000 price range are of superior quality. While they come with disc brakes, this brake system uses different mediums to slow down. Mechanical disc brakes are the most common form of disc brakes. They use a steel cable that slows down the bike, it has pretty remarkable performance and sits at an affordable price point. You can easily maintain them, as it’s rather simple to switch the steel cables.
On the other hand, Hydraulic disc brakes have the most constant braking power, that’s yet to be matched by other systems. Hydraulic fluid travels down the tube, which closes the pads and slows you down. This system is fairly complicated, and difficult to maintain by yourself, but at a price range of $2000, you are looking for high-quality performance.
Wheels & Tyres
Full suspension mountain bike wheels are 700C or 650B. The rim diameter of a 650B wheel is exactly the same as that of a 27.5-inch wheel, just as it is with a 700C wheel and a 29-inch wheel. Considering the fact that full suspension mountain bikes are meant for technical trails that are punishing, it all boils down to the thickness and wheel patterns.
At this point, wheels have at least 2.2 inches in thickness, with deep knobby patterns, this is the most optimal tire to tackle difficult terrains. The thicker the tire dimension, the better it will fare with rough drops and going over obstacles. The pattern of the tire is also very important, deep grooves allow for better grip contact with riding surfaces.
On the side of a mountain, jumping from one peak to the other makes all the difference between a successful landing and ending up a few feet away from your intentional zone. It holds your life on the line!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are full-suspension mountain bikes worth it?
A: Yes, absolutely they can provide a very comfortable ride experience. The suspension system will dampen all the bumps and vibrations and reduce fatigue so you can pedal for longer and have a great experience.
Q: Are full suspension mountain bikes good for beginners?
A: Full-suspension mountain bikes have more moving parts than hardtails and this makes them harder to maintain. The natural choice for a beginner is a hardtail mountain bike because it is cheaper, easy to maintain and you can work on your skills without worrying too much.
The Finish line
We would highly recommend the Mongoose Impasse FS MTB is the best overall because it has the most optimal blend of features, specs, and price. While highly affordable, the Kent International FS MTB is our best value option if you are working with a budget and want to get the most. But if you want to step it up, then look no further than the GHOST Kato FS MTB as it offers you premium features. Fret not because we have included other options that might be more to your speed!
Full suspension mountain bikes are a model of mountain bikes that’s specifically aimed at the sport competitive crowd. It’s meant to endure technical trails that would break other bikes, naturally they are made with high quality parts. At $2000, if you make this commitment, then you are serious about the sport!
After all, we want you to spend less time researching and more time having fun biking and living to the fullest.
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