With these bikes the frames are all fine, it's a question of components/price ratio and sometimes geometry as well.

I would avoid the Co-op bike because it has a front derailleur and will have significantly less resale value than the rest.

The Norco has a dropper seatpost which the others do not have, therefore it is more expensive. It has more modern geometry. Combine that with the dropper you will be able to ride harder and faster than the rest. It also has better drivetrain than the treks, but not by a large factor.

The Trek bikes are OK, more of an XC geometry (better at climbing than going fast or downhill). The Marlin 7 has the best brakes in the bunch, though none of them is bad here.

I would go with the Fluid, try to find a used one to save money. You can add a dropper to the treks, but you cannot change their geometry.

 

Don't try for "best." You end up second- and third-guessing yourself. Just try for "good enough" within your budget limitations.

If you can get a full-suspension, do so. If you can get a dropper post, do so. But regardless of what you get, if you can get out there and ride and have fun, it's the best bike.

 

If you can get a full-suspension, do so. If you can get a dropper post, do so. But regardless of what you get, if you can get out there and ride and have fun, it's the best bike.

I know what you mean here, but i will say it a little different - If you can up your budget and get a full suspension.......

I would NOT recommend getting a $1000 full suspension.

 

If your budget if $1k, I'd strongly consider getting a used hardtail. An option would be the Nukeproof Scout, but there are many others.

 

I second the Norco with Croz; no matter which one you pick, you'll know better in a few months to a year.

 

The Norco has a spring fork meant for bike paths and smooth trails. Once you find the fun trails that fork will be a liability.
It does have 30mm inner width rims. The Marlins have 20mm rims. Which are meant to crash.

This is the bike I often recommend. $1189. It was sold out all last year.
Ragley Big AL 1.0 Hardtail Bike - Raspberry | Hard Tail Mountain Bikes | wiggle.com
$140 to ship. No tax. 4 days to arrive.
It has everything including the best fork you can get in its price range. It'll safely handle all trails.
You won't need to upgrade for several years if at all.
The frame has some vertical rear compliance to soften the ride. Many frames don't.
The bike it performs like is a Trek Roscoe 9.
Look on YouTube hardtail Party for a review.
The bike comes fully assembled except for front wheel, bars and pedals.

 

I'd second the Ragley as it has a good geo, spec & reviews of the bike have been positive.

 

Don't base your decision on resale value, especially if you are buying new. Also, don't overthink the purchase. Often a rider becomes familiar with whatever bike they get.

 

I would go for that Ragley too. It is great value. It also has a great frame, geo and fork, which are all essentials. If the bike you get doesn't have one of those you'll be wishing it did.

 

What kind of riding is the OP going to do?

 

Starting off with trails in the area. Who knows how far I’ll take it. I’ve actually had a pretty hard time finding trails in my neighborhood.

 

Not sure where you are riding, I'll assume based on your handle that you are in the Atlanta area. Don't knwo the trails down there, but assuming you are going north into, say Dahlonega, Helen, etc., I'd look for a used Full Suspension bike. You are going to get more bang for your buck with a brand like Giant, so I'd look there. Bought a Stance a few years ago as my first bike, it served me quite well, and it was $1550 (new). LBS who sells Giant also sells Norco and Fluid, and he has both of those marked down quite a bit.

As stated previously, get a 1X12 drivetrain.

Also, I wouldn't factor in resale.

 

This is a good way to start out. Avoid the boat anchor coil forks and get an air fork on a hardtail, 12 speed Deore, with thru-axles for less than $1000
Polygon Xtrada 7

 

You beat me to it!

 

You missed out on an insane deal. Diamondback Sync'r was $750 not that long ago! I'm probably going to buy one this year when they offer the deal again.

 

2024 Polygon Siskiu D7 - Dual Suspension Mountain Bike | Bikes Online (USA)

Less Travel More Fun A slacker head angle, longer reach and steeper seat angle make the D series perfect for riders looking

www.bikesonline.com

As someone who tends to find the lowest price something, and then regrets it later, try upping your budget. I know another $500 to $800 is a lot of money but if you get a more capable bike now, you won't have to buy another one in a few more years or sooner. If you are like me, you will start to see all the people on full suspensions and want one. I bought my wife this bike and it has been flawless for 2 years so far. It even has a dropper post and alloy pedals. She doesn't ride as hard as me, but I even took it down a bike park trail and it kicked butt for what it is. It is heavy, but not much more than other bikes. Just my opinion on the matter. Used can be a good way to go if you like working on bikes. Most likely it will need the suspension serviced, brakes bled, so on. I bought my bike used because I like doing the work but man oh man the amount of money I put into it in 2 years.

 

Hey,

I started mountain biking when I moved out to California about a year ago. I started on a Marin San Quentin 2, which I absolutely love. It's a 27.5 hardtail with good geo and a dropper. Bikesonline has it for 1300. Plus the color scheme is sexy. I recently got a full suspension 29'ner but still continue to ride the Marin was well. Some flow trails are just more fun, in my opinion, on a hardtail. Also, learning to manual and hop on a 27.5 hardtail was a lot easier for me.

Good luck.

 

The PS7 can come with a RST air fork. Avoid it if it does. That's a short-term throwaway fork without adjustable rebound damping. The Marzocchi Z2 on the Ragley is a Fox34 with a good damper. It'll last and can be serviced.

 

Fluid

 

The Ragley looks like a great choice for a hard tail. FWIW I started on a hardtail and loved it, felt no need for FS. Fast forward, 2 years in to it I found a quality 2016 FS bike on Craigslist and it is a game changer. I modernized the drive trai from 2x10 to 1x10 (32t/11-46) for well under $200 and added a dropper post (another must-have!). I still “love” my hardtail but it is relegated to a backup role and place of affection in my heart. My vote for budget bike is used FS all the way unless you are sticking to mellow cross country riding and climbing.

 

Singletracks and Trailforks can help.

 

1.0 Ragley Marley Wonderfully designed hardtail that can handle any route. H30 Orbea Laufey. aggressive hardtail for tearing through the trails. Commencal Meta HT AM Origin. Specialized Chisel Comp. Cannondale Habit 4. Vitus Sentier 29 VR. Trek Roscoe 8. Vitus Escarpe 29 CR.

 

I'd also recommend the Ragley Big Al, I own one and you'll have to pry it from my cold dead fingers. It's a 2021 and I paid more than the current sale price.

The only other bike I'd recommend is the Specialized Status 140, amazing components and full suspension at $2250. I'm about to buy the 160 as a backup bike and bike park sled.

 

Used is a great idea. I bought my first MTB that way. A 2010 Epic (top of the line then, listed for $6K originally). Paid $850. Used it a lot for a year, put in about $200 worth of stuff (dropper post mostly) and sold it (in 12 hours during the COVID shortage) for $1000.
Replaced it with a Stumpjumper Comp Carbon once I realized that I would get lots of use from it (loved MTB from the start) and that I really needed new geometry.

 

The Norco would no doubt be my choice as the best and most capable all-rounder.

• Longer fork travel
• Has a dropper post
• Good drivetrain & range
• Longer wheelbase -> Stable at higher speeds
• Smaller head angle -> Won't fly over the bars too easily

 

I've noticed the trend for new members to either go Trek or Ibis.

Trek nothing wrong with as my bro rides an HT with Judy's although started on a claud butler decades ago.

Ibis - meh. I had a new mojo once upon a time in the distant thank lord and sold for under a third of RRP a few months later after purchase sadly as was riddled with faulty design and piss poor stealer dealer attitude issues.

Would I rate the handling yes, would I rate the BB height ermmmm only for cornering whilst clipping all objects though I was a phat knacked back.
Swoopy carbon designs ftw though carbon as a whole needs binning as a MTB ingredient imo for many reasons.

Leave carbon for the road going only crew.

A hard tail you'll get no doubt due to more bang for buck though has multitude of benefits to aide your journey in progression of skillset on a bike.

I if a learner new mtber would opt for a RAGLEY alloy Marley with a dropper seat post for £1100 give or take in sale couple hundred.

Equating to c. $1000 from a decent reputable hard enough hitting brand with no nonsense sensible spec on every single area of the bike.

In some radical array of colours.
So yeah my money would if having a spare $1k would be firmly aimed on the Ragley Marley.

 

Get a Ragley. Great value for money. They had a good sale on recently but it looks like it has ended (Wiggle/Chain reaction). They had the MMMbop 2.0 for ~1000USD, its back up to around ~1200USD but still a great bike for that price with Z2 fork and Deore 11sp.