How Much to Spend on Your First Mountain Bike
Budgeting Your Mountain Bike Purchase
A good quality cross-country hardtail mountain bike can cost from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. There is virtually no limit to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To keep your spending under control, first make the decide on how much money you are willing to spend for your new bike and research only the bikes that you are interested in that is within that price range. However, do look at some higher priced mountain bikes to get an idea about the quality of the bikes you can expect to get within you price range.
Jamis Steel Hardtail
Deciding on how much to spend on a mountain bike is a tough decision. As a general rule, the more money you spend on a bike, the better the bike. The biggest difference between a $600 bike and $800 bike will be with the components that are attached on the mountain bike frame. The more expensive components will tend to last longer and be more reliable and operated smoother than cheaper components. The exception is high-end parts where lightweight is often more desired that durability.
Expect to pay anywhere from $400.00 to $600.00 for a new, good entry-level, cross-country hardtail mountain bike. You should buy the best bike you can afford and one that suits your ability. Even if your budget allows, don’t buy a bike just because you can afford it.
A good way to get more mountain bike for your money is to buy last year’s or discontinued models. There is usually little difference between models from one year and the next other that maybe new frame colors and slight changes in the components used on the bike. Bike shops usually have clearance sales to clear last year’s models around August and September. However, selections are usually limited but if you can wait and are willing to shop around, you will have a change to save some money on buying your mountain bike.
EBay also offer a great way to save money when buying a mountain bike. However, a bike purchased on eBay or by mail order will be delivered to you in a box, partially disassembled. You will need to put the bike back together and tune it a bit before you can ride it. Also, unless you order a bike that fits you exactly, you may need to swap out parts to make the bike fit you correctly, and that means spending more money on bike components. If you have never worked on a bicycle before, you should probably not buy your first bike on eBay or by mail order on your own.
Don’t forget to figure in the cost of accessories, such as a helmet, gloves, water bottle, eye protection, mountain biking clothes and shoes, tool kit and puncture repair kit, a pump and a spare inner tube, in your cross-country hardtail mountain bike budget.
Once you have decided on your mountain bike budget, it’s time to check out some bikes.
