The Best Budget Hardtail Mountain Bikes: Hardtail of the Year test 2023 | Mountain Bike Rider

Which bike is your favourite out of the test?

No nukeproof scout or Ragleys? Sacrilege!

After seeing this i realized how good of a deal I got on my Allebike Mb31 royal that i paid roughly 750£. It has good geometry, came with a dropper and a rockshox revelation fork

I started mountain biking on a full sus Carrera as a kid in the early 2000s loved that bike

Sorry guys, but after 8 years with my scott scale hd 2x10 chain was dropped only once, and immediately i put it back from the handlebar using the lever, can't understand the problem with polygon🤔perhaps a design flaw?usually the 2x have some extra extensions in and out for this reason, nice video thanks 😃👍🤟

Paid £649 for the Vitus Sentier 29 vr

I know there frame's are all made in China, taiwan,indonesia,all over seas,maybe canyon are made in USA,figure I will start with a walmart special,with Shimano components for shifting,don't need to spend 2000 dollars on an oversea manufactured mountain bike.hope those chinese carbon frames hold up for the big spenders.

I've just bought a Bizango (not the Pro version featured here) for £750 off the back of the reviews MBR have done in previous years. I must admit I've not ridden it yet as I am fitting some upgrades (dropper seatpost & brakes) but so far so good! Thank you for the education you have provided me over the years of reading your magazine and online.

Obviously the guy on the right told the bearded guy prior to the video… “mate, please talk over me whenever I begin speaking”…and bearded guy says, “no problem”.

No love for the Talon?

dude interrupts

I am having a dilemma with which bike to buy. I am looking at Commencal Meta HT AM Ride Dirt vs Trek Roscoe 7. Both coming at 1700 AUD. If you have any suggestion. Please comment below. Thanks, in advance.

Will you also do a sub 3k Hardtail test?

Superb review,love the choice of bikes.

Great video, but in what world are we living, when 1000£ for a bicycle is considered BUDGET?

Is Vitul realy go out of busines??

Is the Calibre available in the United States?

how would these compare to the trek ones in these two categories?

I have a Scandal as a second back-up bike. Its cheap, cheerful and rides really well. My wheels and fork are an upgrade over stock, but have made it into a confident winter bike. I love it.

Good video, nice to see your opinions on these bikes. I have an On One Scandal GX with the Rockshox 35 and think it rides fine but I guess it's about perspective. My previous bike was a 2010 Cannondale RZ120 and before that a 2007 Giant Terrago. I am the sort of person who drove my last car just as I got it for 6 years before I even noticed that I had reach/rake adjustment on the steering wheel.

No Ragley? Lmfao gtfoh with this bs

The 29er version of the Calibre is only £100 more and also has (as well as the 29's) 4 pot Guide-T brakes!
Its just a pity the cassette has a big cog of only 42 teeth whereas the Voodoo goes upto 51, even (maybe) 46 teeth would have made a difference!
If only we could mate the 2 bikes together?

Re-designing a bike is not free.

I am 140kg, lost 10kg by going up the gym. I've also started cycling again but looking for a bike as a heavy rider currently that is suitable for the South Downs. What do people suggest budget £0 to £1,500 (but only if I have to spend that much)

Great content, well done MBR

There is no Kona this year. Because it would win again haha. Their geometry is the same for like 5 years and still goes! It shows who sets the trends still.

My bet for HT of 2023 under 1000£ would be Merida big trail 400, it outclasses that shamelessly ugly calibre t3 27 by lightyears lol, better geometry, build, materials, features (proper cable management inside frame, we are in 2023) etc... I'm just stunned it didn't appear in this ranking at all and second of all how could you give 10 to a bike with such obvious flaws is beyond me? You had no issues taking points off for smaller things in previous bikes yet somehow line t3 11/10 what a bullshit

I think its fantastic that this review only focuses on the brands that offer real value. Some of the big US brands are appalling value like a freewheel on a £500-600 hardtail and its good that the frankly awful Decathlon bikes don't get a mention either. While their road bikes maybe very good they haven't really got the hang of mountain bikes and there was a recall on the Rockriders because of very weak frames. The bikes featured here seem to punch above their weight. The Carrera, Voodoo and Calibre brands are shop brands and from one I understand many of those recently have been made by Insera Sena who own the Polygon and Marin brands. It's the big bike manufacturer of Indonesia. They are probably the best value manufacturer of the moment. I think lots of brands have used them like Kona, Saracen, Scott and I'm sure many more.

I follow this channel for 10 years now and every year I wait for Hardtail Of The Year test. Great job guys 👏🏻👏🏻

They still spec 8 speed..?

Can I get someones opinion, I've recently become a dad and have the bod to prove it. I miss riding and I only ever bought entry level bikes in the past. I have the voodoo hoodoo 2011/12 model and it was a great bike but I'm now fancying the bizango pro to get me excited and out there again. Halfords currently offer the 25% trade in. Is this a no brainer?

On the Bizango - you cant upgrade the Rockshox 35 with a better damper unless you go after market. Although its got 35mm stanchions the other Rockshox 35mm dampers dont fit as internally its much smaller with having thicker stanctions. Hence any upgrades are limited and quite expensive. It's basically a beefed up Recon.

Sick to see swinley getting some activity it’s changed so much and come so far

I have been riding full suss for years but a just bought a Merida Big Trail 700 and I am loving it hardtails for the win.

Calibre is 1200 not sure u should class.member pricing

The Vitus Nucleus VR has been as low as £330. It was amazing value for that.

out of stock

Ragley Big Al

one second they say you can ride a hardtail hard, then the other they say plus tires makes it so you can see without having your eyes rattled out of your skull, hardtails suck just say it

exposed gear cable, wtf are they thinking

hardtails are a compromised mess, not simple like a full ridgid and not comfortable like a full sus, dont waste your time