Best mountain bikes under £1,000

Few of us are lucky enough to be able to splash a grand on our first bike. Instead, this tends to be the price range for people who’ve already spent some time with their first mountain bike and have decided they want something a little more serious to take their riding to the next level.

While budget is still a priority, the bikes in this price bracket are a little more trail-focused. So you can expect to find suspension that’s a little more heavy-duty and equipment that’s a little better at handling the rigours of off-road riding

You now find several full-suspension machines here (rather than just the hardtails – mountain bikes with front-suspension only – that we used to expect). The industry also seems to have settled in terms of wheel size, meaning the majority of bikes at this price will now use 27.5in / 650b wheels.

Every machine here can be happily pushed into service at any trail centre, most types of cross-country race and any sort of general off-road exploration.

Any bike you choose in this price bracket is going to help get more out of you and your riding – which, after all, is why we ride a bike.

Best mountain bikes for £1,000, as rated by our expert testers

• Boardman MHT 8.9: £1,000
• Calibre Bossnut (2020): £1,100
• Calibre Line 29: £905
• Voodoo Bizango Carbon: £1,000
• Carrera Titan X: £850
• Jamis Dakar A2: £1,095
• Vitus Sentier 29: £850