Mountain Bike Brands From A to Z [+ Pro and Cons of Each!]

There’s a good chance that affiliate links are scattered throughout this post. If you click on one I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you and I’ll definitely be using it to buy bike gear.

I’m going to preface this post by saying that you really can’t go wrong when buying a new mountain bike these days. Pretty much every mountain bike brand delivers great bikes and you’d be hard-pressed to find one that isn’t up-to-date with modern geometry or great components.

Let’s just say that mountain bikes have come looong way over the past few years.

So what should you be looking for when choosing a brand? It really comes down to personal preference, budget, dealer network, and availability.

In this post, I round up all mtb brands around the world and provide a few details to help you find the best bike for you. There’s no one right answer, so take your time to do proper research before pulling the trigger on your new set of two wheels.

A

Alchemy is a small mountain bike brand with a great mission: “To build and deliver the best ride experience you will ever have”. Founded in 2008, Alchemy prides themselves on creating lasting relationships with their customers through great service and innovative designs.

Their mountain bike line-up includes three versions of the same Arktos model depending on what type of riding you prefer (XC, Enduro, or DH). They also have a conversion kit for the Arktos, which essentially allows you to have two bikes in one.

B

Banshee bikes are designed for use and abuse. The frames are made from a strong and stiff aluminum alloy that one hand makes them nearly indestructible, but on the other hand, makes them heavy and rigid. Some people will love that feel and others not so much.

But what you get for the money is incomparable. Banshee bikes are very affordably priced for what you get, which is a very capable shred sled.

Another unique feature that sets Banshee apart is that some of their bikes are made to be adjustable – you can easily swap forks, wheel sizes, shocks, etc… to build the bike of your dreams.

C

Personally, I think Canyon makes some of the most beautifully designed bikes out there – mountain, road, and gravel. Headquartered in Germany, Canyon takes pride in its bike craftmanship by testing, redesigning, and testing again their frames, forks, and components until everything meets its stringent criteria for excellence.

One big thing that sets Canyon apart is that it’s a direct-to-consumer company. This means that you can only buy Canyon bikes online from Canyon themselves. This cuts down on price but may also make it more challenging to deal with warranty issues or find spare parts.

The Canyon Spectral is one of their most versatile trail bikes while the Strive and Torque are ready for big Enduro days.

Cannondale is known for pushing the boundaries of mountain bike innovation and design – for better or worse. For example, their one-sided Lefty fork is used on several of their lightweight cross-country bikes like the F-Si Hardtail and you’ll either love it or hate it.

While the full-suspension Habit and Jekyll look more ‘normal’ they definitely still have their own design quirks.

Cannondale is owned by Dorel Sports and is based out of Wilton, Connecticut.

Commencal got its start in the year 2000 in the mountains of Andorra, a small country landlocked on the border between France and Spain. The brand quickly gained recognition in Europe for being one of the best and more innovative mountain bike brands of the day, especially amongst downhill racers.

Commencal has released a handful of mountain bike models over the years, but their current flagship bike is the Meta, which comes in several different builds.

One unique thing that sets Commencal apart is that they only make aluminum bike frames. Carbon is not a very environmentally-friendly material to work with and it can pose health risks for factory workers. n 2012 Commencal made the decision to only manufacture aluminum frame bikes.

D

My first ‘real’ mountain bike was a Devinci Troy and I loved it. I actually loved it to death because I didn’t really know how to take care of mountain bikes back then… But anyway. Devinci Cycles is a small boutique mountain bike brand based out of Quebec, Canada. They actually manufacture many of their bikes in Canada, which is pretty cool.

Devinci has a small line-up of mountain bikes covering a range of suspension travel from XC bikes all the way up to the full-on double-crown Wilson.

As far as geometry and innovation, Devinci is pretty middle-of-the-road. It’s a great small mtb brand, especially if you live in Canada!

Diamondback was first founded as a BMX mountain bike brand in the late 1970s and has since grown to include a much wider range of bikes and models. They’re known for building quality and affordable bikes, although their innovation and customization are a bit lacking compared to other ‘boutique’ brands.

If you’re looking for an entry-level mountain bike at an affordable price, Diamondback could be a great choice.

E

A rider-focused brand based out of Bellingham, Washington, Evil is firmly driven by the need to have fun on a mountain bike. Founder Kevin Walsh and his team are located in the Pacific Northwest where steep, rough, and rowdy trails are the norm. Evil bikes are, therefore, unsurprisingly descent-focused.

They’re not cheap, though, but they do have a bit of a cult following. If you’re looking for a well-engineered bike, you’re not new to mountain biking (i.e. you know how to handle one), and the sticker price doesn’t shock you, Evil might just be your brand.

F

Forbidden Bike Co is a relatively new mountain bike brand that got its start on Vancouver Island in 2019. They debuted with just a single mountain bike – the Druid – and have since added a longer travel mountain bike – the Dreadnought. These two bikes (as of right now) are the only bikes Forbidden offers.

One cool thing Forbidden is doing is allowing riders to transform their bikes into a mullet using their proprietary ziggy link. You can also order the Druid or Dreadnought as a mixed-wheel setup.

G

Ghost Bikes is a manufacturer based out of Bavaria in northern Europe. Started by two friends in a garage, they’ve been around for over 20 years. Ghost offers a range of bikes from simple cruisers and touring bikes to full-suspension mountain bikes.

They have a larger presence in Europe, but I have seen a few bikes around the trails here in the US.

Giant has been around forever. I remember owning an early Giant hardtail that I would pedal around the dirt backroads of Vermont. Bikes have come a long way since then…

Based in Taiwan, Giant is one of the world’s largest frame manufacturers with offices all over the world. Despite their dominant presence in the bike industry, though, their mountain bikes aren’t particularly innovative or exciting. That being said, they’re absolutely good bikes and a great value if you’re looking for an entry-level mountain bike from a solid mountain bike brand. The mid-travel Reign and Trance are great choices.

Liv is the sister company to Giant, so if you’re looking for a women’s-specific bike you might want to check them out.

GT was founded in 1972 and was one of the earliest mountain bike brands that spearheaded the BMX movement. They still make BMX bikes today but have since branched out into manufacturing mountain bikes (and road bikes) as well.

GT is in the market of engineering fast bikes and they sponsor some pretty big names on their GT Factory Racing roster and have a storied race history. You don’t have to be a racer to appreciate their bikes, though. The GT Sensor and Force are great full-suspension bikes that can handle a variety of terrain. However, GT isn’t the most glamorous brand I wouldn’t consider them “top of the line”.

GT is owned by the Canadian conglomerate Dorel Industries alongside Cannondale (see above).

I

Ibis is one of the oldest mountain bike brands out there with ties to early innovators and riders such as Gary Fisher, Charlie Kelly, and Tom Ritchey. Founded by Scot Nicol in 1981 in a garage in Mendocino, CA, Ibis mountain bikes have undergone countless iterations. Today, they remain one of the top mountain bike brands on the market.

Unlike most corporate bike brands, which lack the freedom to design and innovate freely, the team at Ibis is continuously tweaking and improving its models. Their goal is to create bikes that last and stay relevant in the ever-changing industry. For example, the ground-breaking Mojo is on its fifth iteration and remains an Ibis – and industry – favorite.

Ibis bikes aren’t the most budget-friendly options out there, but their aluminum frame builds (AF) makes them slightly more affordable.

Intense Cycles can be credited with the first full-suspension double-crown DH mountain bike design: the M1. Founder Jeff Steber created a prototype of the M1 in 1994 and it became the benchmark for downhill bikes at the time.

Today, Intense Cycles operates out of its headquarters in Temecula, CA where Jeff Steber still tinkers and innovates with design. Intense offers a range of full-suspension mountain bikes from the short-travel Sniper to their modern-day M Series DH bike.

Intense recently released the 951 Series which includes two models: the 951 Trail and 951 XC, both of which are better suited for entry-level riders. You can also purchase this series through Costco.

J

The first bike that Jamis released in 1979 was the revolutionary Earth Cruiser, a beach cruiser-style bike that was an instant hit. Since that debut, Jamis has grown into a larger bike brand that encompasses all types of two wheels from road bikes to mountain bikes, fixies, and yes, modern-day beach cruisers.

While Jamis isn’t considered a ‘boutique’ or top-of-the-line mtb brand, it still offers good value bikes that perform well on the trail. Over the years, they have received several awards for best-value full-suspension mountain bikes so if you’re looking for a no-frills bike at a good price, Jamis could be a great fit.

Juliana is the sister company to Santa Cruz Bicycles. They are a women’s-specific mountain bike brand, although their bike geometry is exactly the same as Santa Cruz bikes. What differs is sizing (Juliana offers extra-small bikes), women-specific components like saddles, and a lighter suspension tune that is more appropriate for lighter weights.

Juliana is named after Juli Furtado, the former “Queen of the Mountain” and one of the fiercest mountain bikers of all time. Its mission is to inspire more women to get into mountain biking.

K

Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Knolly was built from the ground up for riders by riders. With access to some of the best and most rugged terrain in the world, Knolly bikes are designed to withstand a beating while still providing great performance.

Kona is making a bit of a comeback in the mountain bike scene after a several-year lull where they shifted their focus to roadies. But their updated geometry and wide range of bikes and models have made them a popular mountain bike brand in recent years. They’re a no-frills company with a focus on having fun on two wheels. The Kona Process comes in several models including short, mid, and long-range travel while the Kona Hei Hei has made its name as a fun trail bike and even as a reliable bikepacking set-up.

The main drawback is that Kona bikes are difficult to find online. That being said, their bike shop dealer network is pretty large, so check to see if there’s a dealer near you.

L

Liv is the sister company to Giant and they are one of the industry leaders for women’s mountain bikes (alongside Juliana). Unlike Juliana bikes, though, which have the exact same geometry as Santa Cruz bikes, Liv Cycling makes the argument that women’s bodies are different, and therefore they benefit from different bike geometry. Specifically, women tend to have shorter torsos, longer legs, narrower shoulders, and smaller hands.

Arguments about whether all of this necessitates new design aside, Liv has done a lot of research and testing to create women’s-specific bikes and they are very popular with a lot of women riders.

M

Marin Bikes was founded in 1986 in Marin County, California – the birthplace of mountain biking culture as we know it today. Since then, the team behind Marin has designed and built mountain bikes with a mission to create affordable options for every rider. Today, Marin has a huge line-up of mountain bikes for all budgets and riding styles from XC charging hardtails to enduro-ready full-suspension mountain bikes.

They also make e-bikes, beach cruisers, road bikes, and gravel bikes to help round out their mission to get more people having fun on two wheels.

Mondraker is an interesting mountain bike brand out of Spain that is working hard to bring its bikes to a broader, international market. Mondraker bikes have a unique performance-focused design with a super slim top tube and a proprietary rear suspension linkage setup.

I’ve never ridden a Mondraker mountain bike but I’d love to try one because they look so interesting!

N

Based out of Fort Collins, Colorado Niner is a rider-focused brand with an emphasis on great design (although it may not appeal to everyone) and amazing ride quality (Niner bikes do pedal well). Originally, Niner Bikes started out in 2005 by only selling 29” wheel mountain bikes. Now they offer a wider range of models and wheel sizes, but one thing remains: Niner is committed to dirt and having fun. Whether that’s shredding singletrack or pedaling on gravel roads, Niner has a full line of dirt-ready rigs.

Their proprietary CVA (Constantly Varying Arc) suspension is one feature that helps sets them apart. This linkage controls the unwanted movement of suspension components helping make Niner bikes more efficient at climbing.

Norco has been making bikes for over 50 years and their designs and innovation just keeping getting better and better. Located in the loamy evergreen forests of British Columbia, Norco has a large presence in Canada, but you will also see them throughout the US as well.

They have a huge line-up of bikes with over 130 models to choose from ranging from award-winning full-suspension mountain bikes to gravel bikes, road bikes, commuter bikes, and more.

Nukeproof is the house brand for Chain Reaction Cycles, an online retailer for bikes and bike components based out of Belfast, Northern Ireland. My brother has both the Nukeproof Giga and Mega and, after churning his way through a number of different bikes and brands, seems to have landed on his perfect pair of full-suspension mountain bikes. They’re solidly built and professionally designed. World Cup racer Sam Hill rides for Nukeproof and has helped them innovate and develop their models.

Nukeproof has an interesting history of racing and innovation and the brand continues to push the boundaries on what is possible – and what is the future – of mountain biking.

O

Orbea is a long-standing Spanish brand seeking to gain a foothold in the US. With roots in Basque Country, Orbea was founded in 1840 (1840!) by three brothers as a rifle and gun company, but they began to manufacture bicycles in the 1930s using discarded materials from producing guns. Orbea was one of the earliest participants in the Tour de France and has a storied history of road racing.

In 1989 Orbea launched its first mountain bike and since then has continued to innovate and design beautiful full-suspension and hardtail bikes. You can even customize your bike including choosing frame colors, components, tires, and more.

I think Orbea bikes are some of the classiest-looking bikes out there!

P

Chris Cocalis is a long-standing bike industry guy and he founded Pivot Cycles in 2007 with a mission to build the world’s best-performing bicycles. He’s definitely on the right track. Over the last decade, he’s managed to build a company that produces some of the top bikes on the market like the Switchblade and Firebird. Along the way, he’s also sponsored many talented athletes (many of whom have stood on the podium) and done a lot of work with the Phoenix, Arizona bike community.

One feature that sets Pivot bikes apart is their use of the DW-Link suspension platform, a four-bar link system that helps reduce suspension bob and improves traction. Many riders who love the Pivot mountain bike brand love it because of this suspension setup, but not every rider prefers the feel. Take a Pivot bike out for a demo and see for yourself how it feels!

Propain is a bike manufacturer based out of Vogt, Germany. Known for its renowned German quality engineering, this is a quality mountain brand featuring exceptional design.

Through constant innovation and attention to detail, Propain bikes has earned a reputation for creating amazing bikes that are built to withstand even the most challenging terrain and conditions.

The brand was started in 2006 after the founders – Robert Krauss and Markus Zander – came back from a mountain bike trip to Whistler. Since then, they’ve been delivering top-of-the-line bikes all over the world and have a very solid pro-racing and athlete roster including Carson Storch and Rémy Métailler.

R

REI launched its Co-op Cycles brand in 2017 and has since grown it to include several bike models including mountain bikes, fat bikes, gravel bikes, and even e-bikes. Their first full-suspension mountain bike – the DRT 3.3 – was launched in January 2021 and quickly sold out (like so many bikes did in 2020/2021).

Co-op Cycles is committed to making affordable, entry-level bikes so they would be a great choice if you’re just getting started with mountain biking.

The team behind the relatively new mountain bike brand Revel Bikes has a pretty lofty goal: to make the absolute best full-suspension mountain bikes in the world. They’re doing that by paying the utmost attention to detail – like optimizing carbon layup technology to create stronger and stiffer frames while using less material.

Since they’re such a new company, but comprised of a bunch of industry veterans and awesome riders, it’ll be interesting to see where this brand goes!

With their Development Centre located on Vancouver’s North Shore, it’s no wonder that Rocky Mountain Bikes are fit for rugged and challenging terrain. Rocky Mountain has been designing and engineering mountain bikes since 1981 and they have built up an impressive line of mountain bikes. My dad rides a Rocky Mountain Altitude and loves it for his rocky, rooty east coast trails.

One thing that Rocky Mountain bikes are particularly known for is their stiff carbon frames and suspension set-up, which some riders may love and others will not.

S

Salsa Cycles has been around for a while and over the years they’ve become known for making no-frills, but still great, bikes ranging from full-suspension mountain bikes to fully rigid touring rigs. Their focus is more on backcountry adventures and everyday fun on two wheels rather than performance and speed.

Salsa was purchased by Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) in 1997, one of the largest bike manufacturers in the world. They remain committed to inspiring cyclists of all backgrounds and to get out and enjoy the adventure!

It’s probably no secret that I love Santa Cruz Bikes. My current bike is the 2021 Santa Cruz Bronson and I love it. Santa Cruz is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California and they are one of the most popular and best mountain bike brands on the west coast. You’ll see them everywhere on the trails in California.

Santa Cruz’s designs are progressive and innovative and their bikes are solidly built. Each bike in their line-up gets an upgrade every few years, so you can be sure that you’re getting the latest and greatest mountain bike technology.

Santa Cruz bikes aren’t the lowest priced options on the market, but they have a lifetime frame warranty, lifetime bearings, and they retain their resale extremely well.

Specialized is one of the biggest mountain bike brand names out there and they can also be credited – in part – to manifesting the explosion of mountain biking throughout the United States. The Specialized Stumpjumper is one of the most popular and widely recognized mountain bike models ever to be built and it’s still in their lineup today.

Specialized caters to all types and levels of riders with their diverse range of bike models and specs. Their S-Works line is their premium line of bikes, but you can also find budget-friendly and entry-level options as well.

Specialized also isn’t complacent with their models and designs. They continue to innovate and come up with new technologies, which is cool to see from a brand of their size.

Scott Sports is another long-standing brand that was established in 1958 by a skier and engineer who developed the first aluminum ski pole. It wasn’t until 1980, though, that Scott started designing and manufacturing road cycling products and eventually mountain bikes in the 1990s.

Today, Scott Sports is located in Switzerland and while they may be more widely known for their road cycling presence, they also have a large line of mountain bikes and they sponsor some pretty big athletes including world XC champion Kate Courtney.

In recent years, it seems like Scott has redirected their focus to redesigning and updating its mountain bike line, so it’ll be interesting to see where the brand goes in the next few years.

T

Transition Bikes is located in Bellingham, Washington and they pride themselves on being rider-owned and rider-focused. This means they don’t compromise on quality and they work hard to build and design bikes that riders want to actually ride (i.e. they’re not into ‘fads’ or gimmicky sales pitches). They also have a pretty great crash replacement program for original and secondhand owners. Transition wants to keep you riding!

It’s a fun brand with a cool vibe and if I wasn’t on a Santa Cruz bike, I’d probably be riding Transition.

Trek is one of the largest bike manufacturers on the market and they have a huge line of mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, and more. They’re not as innovative as some smaller mountain bike brands, but they still stay at the forefront of technology and they are quite popular among mountain bikers, particularly entry-level riders and those who are multi-passionate outdoors people (in other words, mountain biking isn’t their only jam).

To be fully honest, I rode a Trek Remedy 9.9 for half a season and really did not like it. It felt loose and unstable at high speeds going over chunky terrain. That being said, I’ve met a lot of other riders who absolutely love the Remedy!

Y

Yeti bikes are almost idolized by some mountain bikers. You’ll see many riders in Colorado on Yeti’s (they are based in Golden, CO) and their line-up is lusted after by racers and those seeking high-performance mountain bikes. You need to be willing to pay premium prices, though, because Yeti’s aren’t exactly cheap.

They’re also not for every rider. My brother had both a Yeti SB 130 and Yeti SB 150 and didn’t like the flexiness of Yeti frames. That being said, Yeti’s are super popular among cross-country enthusiasts due to their lightness, speed, and great pedaling efficiency.

YT Industries was one of the first factory-direct mountain bike brands to enter the US market and their bikes are known for being top-quality with great components. You can only purchase YT bikes online from them, though, which helps cut down on prices but can also limit their availability.

Based in Germany, YT Industries has a small line-up of mountain bikes, but they get great reviews from riders, and the team behind YT is continuously updating and tweaking their designs.

Do you have a favorite mountain bike brand? What is it and what do you love about it? Share in the comments below!