What does "affordable" really mean?

Last year after the cycling industry's annual trade show known as Interbike, I did a write-up on some of the best value mountain bikes for 2015. Now, just as then, the amount of bike you can get for $3000 has never been higher. But using the term "affordable" is always risky - what's affordable for one person can be way over the budget of another. For the hardcore enthusiast mountain biker, spending $4000-$5000 (or more) is the norm. But for a vast majority of riders out there, $3000 is the absolute upper limit of their bike buying budget. And of course, for others even $3000 is way too much (click here for our 27 best bikes under $1000 guide).

Trends for budget bikes

So, we visited several manufacturers at Interbike and asked them to show us their best value mountain bike near $3000. We told them it could be from any category as long as it was in the price range. Some trends we noticed while researching this article:
  • $3000 is a key price point for most brand (more shops will sell $2500-$3000 bikes than $6000+ dream bikes)
  • dropper posts are becoming more readily available at this price point
  • 1x drivetrains can be found on some models here (thanks mostly to SRAM's GX line)
  • carbon frames still remains exclusive to hardtails at $3k and below
  • with the exception of fat bikes, dirt jumpers and some DH rigs - 26ers are truly dead

Out of the 13 bikes featured here, 9 are full suspension bikes and 4 are hardtails. Seven of the bikes roll on 27.5" wheels, three are 29ers, two are 27.5 Plus and there is one lone 26er in the group. The selection includes two race ready carbon hardtails, two Plus bikes, one electric fat bike and several enduro/trail oriented full boingers (with alloy frames). Shown here in order from the least expensive to most expensive is our round up of 13 best affordable mountain bikes for 2016 around $3000.

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 710 is an alloy version of the high-end carbon Thunderbolt. This version offers a lot of performance for the price.

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 710 is an alloy version of the high-end carbon Thunderbolt. This version offers a lot of performance for the price (click to enlarge).​

Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 710 - $1999.99

The Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 710 is a price point friendly aluminum version of their popular Thunderbolt carbon full suspension rig that is targeted toward the aggressive XC/trail rider. It features 120mm of rear suspension and rolls on 27.5" wheels.

This bike features Rocky's Ride-9 adjustable geometry and suspension to help further dial it in just right for the rider's preference. The fork is a Manitou Marvel LTD with 130mm of suspension. A Manitou Radium Expert XC shock handles rear suspension duties. At this price, the drivetrain isn't the latest 1x or even 2x, instead it is a Shimano 3x10. Brakes are Shimano hydraulic discs and the Thunderbolt rolls on WTB rims with Maxxis tires.

No matter how you look at it, the Rocky Mountain Thunderbolt 710 is a lot of bike for $1999.99. It is available in five sizes (XS, SM, MD, LG, XL) and is the most affordable bike here by a large margin.

Consider this bike if... you're on a really tight budget but you want full suspension from a brand name you can trust.

To learn more, visit www.bikes.com.

The Surface 604 Boar is an aluminum framed fat bike with a stealthily placed battery and a 350 watt hub motor.

The Surface 604 Boar is an aluminum framed fat bike with a stealthily placed battery and a 350 watt hub motor (click to enlarge).​

Surface 604 Boar E350 Electric Fat Bike - $2499

Electric mountain bikes are always a hot topic, but if there is one arena where they make sense it is in the fat bike, commuter, adventure bike category. Surface 604 is headquartered in BC, so they know mountain bikes. Featured here is the stealthily mounted (down tube) lithium ion battery that helps keep the center of gravity low while maintaining the aesthetics of a "real" mountain bike.

The Boar has a fat bike specific 350 watt hub motor and the frame has a tapered headtube, custom reinforced battery mounts, internal cable routing and post mount brakes. The Boar is spec'ed with a rigid fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and SRAM 1x10 drivetrain.

The Surface 604 Boar E350 electric fat bike is available in two sizes (small-medium 17.5", medium-large 19") and has a retail price of $2499.00.

Consider this bike if... you are into bikepacking and adventure riding and need the extra power to carry all your gear. The Boar E350 can also pull commuter duty.

To learn more about Surface 604, be sure to check out their featured Virtual Trade Show here: https://reviews.mtbr.com/surface-604-interbike-2015.

Featured here is the Scott Scale 710 Plus, an alloy hardtail with a Scott's custom butted superlight tubing.

Featured here is the Scott Scale 710 Plus, an alloy hardtail with a Scott's custom butted superlight tubing (click to enlarge).​

Scott Scale 710 Plus - $2599.99

Without a doubt, Plus bikes were one of the hottest trends at Interbike this year and Scott is supporting the Plus size movement in a big way. They have a total of eight Plus bike models including 2 hardtails and 6 full suspension models for 2016. Plus mountain bikes use a wide rim and wider than normal tires, usually in the 2.8" to 3.2" range.

Featured here is the Scott Scale 710 Plus, an alloy hardtail with a Scott's custom butted superlight tubing frame with internal cable routing for a dropper post. This bike is spec'ed with a Fox 32 Float Performance fork with 120mm of travel, SRAM GX 1×11 drivetrain, Shimano disc brakes, Syncros cockpit parts, Syncros rims and hubs and Schwalbe Rocket Ron EVO 27.5×2.80″ tires.

The Scott Scale 710 Plus comes in four sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL), has an MSRP of $2599.99 and is available from your local Scott dealer now.

Consider this bike if... you like having a top name brand bike and you're looking at something to make riding hardtails fun again.

To learn more, visit www.scott-sports.com.

The Haro Shift 27.Five Plus is a full suspension bike featuring the new Plus size wheels.

The Haro Shift 27.Five Plus is a full suspension bike featuring the new Plus size wheels (click to enlarge).​

Haro Shift 27.Five Plus - $2609.99

Haro is another brand that is going big with Plus bikes. They have 3 Plus hardtails and the all new Shift 27.Five Plus full suspension in their 2016 lineup. The Shift 27.Five Plus has 130mm of four-bar design rear travel. The spec features a RockShox Reba RL fork with 120mm of travel, a RockShox Monarch RL Solo air rear shock, Shimano XT 1×11 shifter and cassette, WTB Scraper rims and WTB Trailblazer 2.8″ tires.

Consider this bike if... you're on a tight budget but you're Plus-size curious and a Plus hardtail just won't cut it for your demands.

The Haro Shift 27.Five Plus is available in three sizes (16″, 18″, 20.5″) and has an MSRP of $2,609.99.

To learn more, visit www.harobikes.com.

The Marin Mount Vision 6 features a hydroformed aluminum alloy frame, 140mm of travel and 27.5

The Marin Mount Vision 6 features a hydroformed aluminum alloy frame, 140mm of travel and 27.5" wheels (click to enlarge).​

Marin Mount Vision 6 - $2749

The Marin Mount Vision 6 features a hydroformed aluminum alloy frame utilizing their SHOT Tech process for enhanced strength and weight savings. The Mount Vision 6 features 140mm of travel utilizing what Marin calls their IsoTrac suspension system. This is paired with a SR Suntour Auron LO-R fork and RockShox Monarch RL Debonair rear shock. The bike is also spec'ed with SRAM's GX1 1x11 drivetrain, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, WTB Volt saddle and tubeless-ready 27.5" rims and tires. Bonus points for the Trans-X dropper post.

The Marin Mount Vision 6 is available in four sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL) and has an MSRP of $2,749.

Consider this bike if... you're looking for something different with a solid 1x drivetrain and a dropper post included.

To learn more, visit www.marinbikes.com.

Continue to page 2 for more Round up: 13 great value mountain bikes under $3000 »


Jamis Defcon 3 - $2799.

We covered Jamis's full introduction of the all new Defcon enduro bike a couple of months ago, but we had a chance to see them up-close and personal at Interbike. The Defcon is available in three versions with the Defcon 3 being the most affordable. All three models come with dropper posts. The Defcon is an alloy framed bike that features 160mm of rear travel from what Jamis calls their MP4 progressive suspension.

The parts spec of the Defcon 3 includes X-Fusion fork and shock, Shimano Deore 2x10 drivetrain, Loaded Precision bar and stem, WTB rims, Formula hubs and Vittoria 27.5x2.4" tires. The frame has a "semi" internal cable routing for the included KS eTen dropper post.

The Jamis Defcon 3 is available in four sizes (15", 17", 19", 21") and has an MSRP of $2,799.00.

Consider this bike if... you like to go big and you really know how to use all the suspension you're given.

To learn more, visit www.jamisbikes.com.

In Cannondale's Team green color, the Habit Al 4 is easily mistaken for it's more up market carbon brethren.

In Cannondale's Team green color, the Habit Al 4 is easily mistaken for it's more up market carbon brethren (click to enlarge).​

Cannondale Habit Al 4 - $2880

Cannondale's new Habit is one of those bikes that blurs the lines between aggressive XC and All Mountain Trail. We had the chance to ride the carbon version of the Habit recently and we were impressed by how much fun we had on a bike with only 120mm of travel. Like the saying goes, it's not how much travel you have but how well that travel works.

We haven't spent time on the Habit Al 4 but we expect it to have a very similar ride quality at a cost savings due to it's aluminum frame. That frame is Cannondale's smartformed alloy paired with a Lefty 2.0 alloy OPI fork with trail tune and matching 120mm of travel. The rear shock is a RockShox Monarch RL. The rest of the spec includes a Shimano Deore/SLX 2x10 drivetrain, Shimano Deore disc brakes, Stan's rims, Lefty/Formula hubs and Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5" tires.

The Cannondale Habit Al 4 is available in four sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL) and has an MSRP of $2,880.

Consider this bike if... you want the carbon look without the carbon price but with all the same ability. You also respect the Lefty fork for how well it tracks.

To learn more, visit www.cannondale.com.


KHS SixFifty 5500 - $2899

KHS had a ton of bikes on display from their Championship winning DH rigs, to road race bikes to fat bikes and more. Highlighted here is the KHS SixFifty 5500 which has a 6061 aluminum double-butted frame with custom formed top tube and down tube. KHS's own Flick informed me that they took the design and layout from it's big brothers (the 7500 and 7200) and down sized it a bit for the shorter travel bike. As such, the SixFifty 5500 features 140mm of travel (KHS calls their design FAST floating arc suspension technology) and rolls on 27.5" wheels. It has a longer, lower stance and features a longer top tube which seems to be one of the trends for this category of bike for 2016.

The 5500 features a RockShox Sektor Silver fork with 140mm of travel, Rock Shox Monarch RL shock, 1x11 SRAM GX drivetrain (the frame can accomodate a front derailleur if desired), Shimano hydraulic brakes, WTB rims and Maxxis tires. Bonus points for the internally routed KS eTen dropper post.

The KHS SixFifty 5500 is available in four sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL) and has an MSRP of $2,899.

Consider this bike if... you want a 140mm trail bike that leans towards the gnarly stuff from a brand with a proven track record on the gravity scene.

To learn more, visit www.khsbicycles.com.

 The Speedfox 03 has a triple-butted aluminum frame that features 130mm of BMC's APS (Advanced Pivot System) suspension design.


The Speedfox 03 has a triple-butted aluminum frame that features 130mm of BMC's APS (Advanced Pivot System) suspension design and rolls on 29" wheels (click to enlarge).​

BMC Speedfox 03 - $2999

BMC showed us a selection from their Trail Series, the Speedfox 03. Although the Trail Series may not be as race oriented as most of BMC's line, the Speedfox line still carries the high performance technology and design as their more expensive bikes, but remains versatile and capable.

The Speedfox 03 has a triple-butted aluminum frame that features 130mm of BMC's APS (Advanced Pivot System) suspension design. The geometry is the same BWC (Big Wheel Concept) that BMC uses on it's other 29ers in an effort to keep the handling nimble. Other aspects of the BWC geometry include a long top tube, low stack height (short headtube), more slacked out than traditional, a low bottom bracket height and a short chainstay. The Speedfox 03 is equipped with a Fox 34 Float fork with 130mm of travel, Shimano SLX/XT 2x10 drivetrain, Shimano SLX brakes and Shimano hubs with DT Swiss rims shod with Onza 29" tires.

The BMC Speedfox 03 is available in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL) and has an MSRP of $2999.00.

Consider this bike if... you want a versatile 29er trail bike that rolls through the choppy stuff well, but getting to the top first still means something to you..

To learn more, visit www.bmc-switzerland.com/.

Continue to page 3 for more Round up: 13 great value mountain bikes under $3000 »


GT Zaskar Carbon Expert - $2999

We got a look at GT's special 25th Anniversary Edition Zaskar Carbon earlier this year. For the buyer on a budget, they can still get the same F.O.C. carbon frame but at with a build that bring it in at the $3k price range.

The Zaskar has been around a long time and this carbon iteration provides a platform that the rider can use for aggressive XC riding and trail riding and it can even pull part-time double duty for the occasional XC race.

The Zaskar Carbon Expert is spec'ed with a RockShox Recon Gold RL 27.5 fork (100mm travel), Shimano Deore/XT 2×11 drivetrain, Shimano SLX disc brakes, FSA bar and stem, Stan's rims and Schwalbe 27.5x2.25" Racing Ralph tires.

The GT Zaskar Carbon Expert is available in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL) and has a retail price of $2999.00.

Consider this bike if... you are and old guy that remembers the original Zaskar with fondness and you want a simple bike for those weekend warrior rides.

To learn more, visit www.gtbicycles.com.

The Norco Revolver 9.2 HT is a no-holds-barred, high modulus carbon race bike.

The Norco Revolver 9.2 HT is a no-holds-barred, high modulus carbon 29er race bike (click to enlarge).​

Norco Revolver 9.2 HT or Revolver 7.2 HT - $3075

The Revolver is a new XC specific line from Norco that features two different versions in two different wheel sizes. They make a full suspension Revolver and a hardtail Revolver. For our purposes, the carbon hardtail Revolver 9.2 HT is featured here.

Unlike the GT carbon hardtail above, the Norco Revolver HT is a pure, lightweight XC race rig. It's high modulus frame is designed for stiffness and lightness. Make no mistake, it's a purpose built machine. The spec features a RockShox Sid RL 29 with 100mm of travel, Shimano XT 1x11 drivetrain, Shimano XT disc brakes, DT Swiss X1900 Spline TR Wheelset and Schwalbe Racing Ralph Performance Folding 29x2.1" tires. If you prefer your carbon hardtails to roll on 27.5" wheels, then the Norco Revolver 7.2 HT is the model you are looking for.

The Norco Revolver 9.2 HT is available in four sizes (SM, MD, LG, XL) and has a retail price of $3075. The Revolver 7.2 HT is available in five sizes (XS, SM, MD, LG, Xl) and has the same $3075 price tag.

Be sure to check out more new bikes in Norco's Virtual Trade Show Booth right here on Mtbr: https://reviews.mtbr.com/norco-interbike-2015

Consider this bike if... you are taking your XC racing to the next level and you want something that can win.

To learn more, visit www.norco.com.


Breezer Repack 27.5 Expert - $3149

Even though the Breezer Repack 27.5 Expert lists for a bit more than $3000, we've included it because we feel that it is a solid value. We reviewed the current year's Repack and we found it to be a worthy alternative to some of the more well known brands out there. Despite it's weight (which has been lightened up just a bit this year), this bike climbs better than you'd think and the MLink suspension has great small bump compliance.

The Breezer Repack uses a hydroformed custom butted 6066 aluminum frame with Breezer's own MLink suspension design yielding 160mm of travel. New for 2016, the fork has been bumped up to a Fox 36 Float to provide a more burly front end for those bigger jumps and drops. The 2x10 drivetrain is a Shimano Deore/SLX blend and Shimano disc brakes slow your roll. The wheels are Shimano Deore hubs and WTB Speed Disc i25 rims rolling on WTB Breakout/Riddler tires.

The Breezer Repack 27.5 Expert is available in four sizes (17", 18.5", 19.5",21") and has an MSRP of $3149.

Consider this bike if... you are looking for something different that climbs well, can handle the rought stuff and if small bump compliance is important to you.

To learn more, visit www.breezerbikes.com/.

The Fuji Rakan is pushing the upper limits of our price range at $3150 but is still a great value.

The Fuji Rakan is pushing the upper limits of our price range at $3150 but is still a great value (click to enlarge).​

Fuji Rakan 1.5 29er - $3150 $2749

Fuji had a couple of brand new models at Interbike this year and we took a look at the all new Fuji Auric and Rakan a couple of weeks ago. Highlighted here is the most affordable model, the Rakan 1.5.

The Rakan is an alloy framed 29er with 120mm of travel provided by the MLink suspension developed by Fuji's sister company Breezer. Similar to the Breezer Supercell, the Rakan provides a more cost conscious parts spec. The frame is Fuji's A6-SL custom-butted alloy tubing with hydroformed top tube, tapered 1 1/8" - 1.5" head tube, press fit bottom bracket and sealed cartridge bearing pivots.

The build of the 1.5 includes a Fox 32 FLOAT 29 fork with 120mm of travel, Fox Float shock, Shimano Deore/XT 2x10 drivetrain, Oval Concepts bar and stem, Oval Concepts 600 CL disc wheelset and Schwalbe Rocket Ron Performance, 29x2.25" tires.

The Fuji Rakan 1.5 is available in four sizes (S-15", M-17", L-19", XL-21") and has an MSRP of $3150 $2749.

UPDATE 11/18/15: Fuji has just lowered the price across the board for their Rakan and Auric models. The Rakan 1.5 featured here has gone from $3150 to $2749. Now, you can get the more upscale Rakan 1.3 for $3149 that features a Rock Shox Reba RL Solo Air 29 fork, Rock Shox Monarch RT3 shock and Shimano XT 2x11 drivetrain.

Consider this bike if... you are looking for a versatile bike that can climb well and can handle moderate levels of rowdiness.

To learn more, visit www.fujibikes.com

Conclusion

So there you have it. Don't forget that this list is comprised of the brand we saw at Interbike, so bikes from Trek, Specialized and Giant aren't represented here. With today's economy, price is a factor more than ever when buying a mountain bike.

One of the biggest critiques that we at Mtbr hear over and over again, is that the bikes we feature in our reviews are too expensive. It is a fact of the bike industry, that new features and technologies are always developed on the top-of-the-line models first. But that doesn't mean that those on a stricter budget can't benefit. Eventually, the technology trickles down the line-up making things more affordable for almost everyone. True, you still won't find dropper posts as standard equipment on bikes under $2000, but things like disc brakes and tubeless ready tires can be considered standard now.

Let's not forget that for the average bike shop, sales of $2500 to $3000 bikes will outnumber the $6000 high zoot rig by a large margin.

Do you have a favorite bike or brand that you bought new for under $3k? Let us know in the comments below.

This article is part of Mtbr's coverage of the 2015 Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. For more from Interbike CLICK HERE.