Mountain biking has become a massive sport and the technological advancements made over the years are unbelievable. Mountain bikes of all shapes and sizes with the latest components and concepts are available to cyclists.
There are bikes for every discipline of mountain biking, from simple day to day bikes for commuting to extreme downhill cliff-jumping bikes that have all the technical capability needed to handle the rigors of each style of riding.
A hardtail forces you to be more consistent and alert for changes in terrain and makes you more selective on which line to take on a rough trail. Your legs are the suspension on a hard tail which makes you focus on balance and dexterity on the trails.
We selected the best intermediate hardtail mountain bikes that are perfect for beginner to intermediate riders.
Top Rated Hardtails for Intermediate Riders
BEIOU Carbon T800
Beiou brings us this fantastic ultra-light hardtail bike, weighing a mere 24 pounds.
The Beiou’s Handle bar, frame and seat post are constructed from T800 carbon fiber, this fantastic material owes to the bicycles light weight. Check out some other cool features.
Features:
- Carbon fiber frame
- 30 speed Shimano gear system.
- Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes.
- Front shock absorber.
- Internal cable routing
The Beiou T800 is a really great mountain bike that has some of the latest components built onto a super lightweight frame, making it a firm favorite amongst intermediate mountain bikers.
Steppenwolf Tundra Carbon
This series of hardtail bikes by Steppenwolf strikes an awesome balance with clean looks, excellent components and functional design.
The bikes boast the very best shimano wheels and disc brake sets as well as RockShox front suspension.
Check the features:
- Shimano XT wheels
- Shimano gears and shifters
- RockShox remote fork shock absorber
- Carbon fiber frame, handle bars and seat post
- Weight of 22.4 pounds
The Steppenwolf Tundra series has 4 models to cater for various riders, all showing German made quality and neatness. They come in 30 and 20 speed using Shimano gear components.
Steppenwolf Tundra is probably one of the best carbon mountain bikes available to those who don’t want to fork out an arm and a leg; it’s a great bike to get into more serious trail riding.
Diamondback Overdrive
The Diamondback Overdrive is an awesome entry level hardtail mountain bike. Diamondback has been a leading mountain bike maker since the start and this bike is a good example of simple and efficient design that’s been packaged perfectly for first time riders.
Features:
- T6 aluminium frame
- SR Suntour front suspension
- Shimano gear components including derailleurs, cog sets and shifters
- Tektro front and rear disc brakes
The Diamondback Overdrive is basic but brilliant, the quality is great and even without a carbon fibre frame the bike is really light at 32 pounds in weight. You get real bang for your buck with this bike.
Merax Finiss
The Merax Finiss is an awesome entry level bike for younger guys and adolescents to get going on.
The combination of lightweight aluminium frame and those magnesium rims, gives this hardtail a total weight of 33 pounds.
The 21 speed bike is well made and attention to the finer detail is evident in the manufacturing of the frame, being comparable with bicycles in a higher value range.
Take a look at some of the features:
- 19 inch aluminium frame
- Magnesium alloy wheels
- Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes
- 21 speed Shimano gear shifters and components
- Alloy suspension front fork
The front suspension is very entry level and likely won’t withstand the rigors of rough terrain very well and is more suited to use as a countryside commuter than a trail bike.
The slightly smaller frame size makes it more suitable for riders in the late teens or smaller riders to get started on before upgrading to a bike of bigger calibre, making it a great choice for budget conscious riders.
The Merax Finiss has all the attributes of a world class mountain bike but it has been designed as an entry level piece of equipment which reflects in its lower price range. Notwithstanding, the bike is very well made and is ideal for family outrides to the countryside.
What is a Hardtail Mountain Bike?
A hardtail mountain bike is a bicycle that has the rear wheel fixed to the bicycle frame without any suspension or shock absorption.
This hardtail setup is old-school and is generally how bicycles have always been assembled before the advent of bicycle shocks and rear suspension. The benefits of rear suspension are clear, they give you a softer ride over bumpy terrain and help to keep the line you travel, smoother over rough terrain.
This being said, some of world’s greatest mountain bikers still prefer the hardtail for some of the most technical trails out there. The reason for this is that the hardtail forces you to be more consistent and alert for changes in terrain and makes you more selective on which line to take on a rough trail. Your legs are the suspension on a hard tail which makes you focus on balance and dexterity on the trails.
Buyer’s Guide
So how do you choose the right intermediate hardtail mountain bike for your needs?
Out of the hardtails we have chosen, there is one that will fulfill your needs. Identify what you are going to be using the bike for, what kind of terrain will you traveling on?
If you are really just starting out or want to get your high school child a bicycle for getting to school or delivering papers in the afternoon, then really consider the Diamondback Overdrive. This bike is great quality and ruggedly built but easy to maintain. Second to this bicycle the 2 Merax hard tails are good choices.
For those of you looking to get out there and make your mark on a dirty forest trail, then we would suggest looking at the Steppenwolf Tundra. These are quality hard tails and will take the punch of being manhandled on a trail somewhere. The Beiou follows closely. Both have carbon fiber components and their light weight is definitely a bonus here.
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