The Best Mountain Bikes of 2022
That’s it, the votes have been counted and the list is in, the best mountain bikes of 2022 are here. We asked the mountain bike riders at Jenson USA their opinion on the best bikes of 2022 in any category of mountain biking and compiled a list of the bikes with the most votes.
To see more options, check out our full selection of mountain bikes.
In This Article We Will Cover:
The 10 Best Mountain Bikes of 2022
* Note: these bikes are not in any specific order.
Type: All-Mountain
Click here to see why it is the Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike
Features
- Aluminum frame with a DW-Link suspension platform, long travel, removable ISCG05 mounts, and clearance for up to 2.6" tires
- Shimano SLX M7100 drivetrain provides crisp and reliable shifting
- Shimano SLX 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes offer confidence-inspiring stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- Bike Yoke Revive Dropper Post quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
The Ibis Ripmo AF SLX Coil Bike is powered by DW-Link suspension for an unparalleled combination of climbing efficiency and downhill performance. The aluminum frame uses 147mm of travel on the rear and 160mm of travel on the front. The frame also features modern geometry with a steep, 76° seat tube angle and a rangy but not stratospheric reach, wide tire clearance for up to 2.6" tires, long dropper post compatibility, and a removable ISCG05 mount.
The SLX version of the Ibis Ripmo AF comes with a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-51T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. Shimano SLX M7120 4-Piston hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descent with confidence. Ibis S35 aluminum rims are paired with Maxxis Assegai tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the Bike Yoke Revive Dropper, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Enduro
Click here to see why it is the Best 29-inch Mountain Bike
Features
- FORM Alloy frame with RIDE-9 Adjustable Geometry, 2-position axle, and internal cable routing
- Shimano SLX/XT drivetrain performs exceptionally well in all conditions
- Shimano SLX Trail 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- Race Face Aeffect R Dropper quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
Mountain bikes are more capable than ever before. They are able to conquer rocky descents and steep climbs all while having longer and more efficient travel. The Rocky Mountain Altitude is Rocky Mountain’s key platform for enduro racing and aggressive trail riding. It has been redesigned to be competitive on today’s racetracks while still being a ton of fun for the weekend warrior. The Altitude features a wheel size split on the medium frame with the small and medium frame coming with 27.5” wheels and medium and up frames coming with 29” wheels. The FORM alloy frame features internal cable routing, 2-bolt ISCG05 tabs, and RIDE-9 adjustable geometry so you can dial in your ride to your style of riding.
The Alloy 50 version of the Rocky Mountain Altitude comes with a Shimano SLX/XT 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-51T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through demanding terrain much easier. Shimano SLX Trail 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend with confidence and control. WTB ST i30 TCS 2.0 Tubeless wheels are paired with Maxxis tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the Race Face Aeffect R Dropper Post, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Cross-Country
Click here to see why it is the Best Cross-Country Mountain Bike
Features
- Hydroformed aluminum frame with internal cable routing, a chainstay protector, World Cup geometry, and Boost spacing
- Shimano XT 12-speed drivetrain performs exceptionally well in demanding conditions
- Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
Whether you're racing to the podium, going for an all-day adventure, or climbing to the top of the mountain, you'll want an ultra-light mountain bike that is highly capable. The Orbea Oiz H10 TR Bike is designed for those that aim for the top. The Oiz TR has a lightweight hydroformed aluminum frame that uses 120mm of travel on the front and rear. The frame features internal cable routing, a chainstay protector, World Cup geometry, and Boost spacing.
The H10 TR version of the Orbea Oiz comes with a Shimano XT M8100 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-51T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control. Race Face AR 30c Tubeless-Ready wheels are paired with Maxxis Forekaster tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: All-Mountain
Click here to see why it is the Best 27.5-inch Mountain Bike
Features
- C-Series carbon frame with Boost spacing, internal cable routing, and clearance for up to 2.6" tires
- SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain performs exceptionally well in demanding conditions
- SRAM Code R hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- Fox Transfer Dropper Post quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
If you're looking to have fun out on the trails and not get held back, you'll want to look at getting an all-mountain bike. With longer travel on and front and rear, it not only can conquer descents and technical terrain, but all-mountain bikes can also climb with ease. The Yeti SB140 C-Series CLR C2 Bike is lightweight and trail-focused. It starts with a lightweight C-Series carbon frame that uses 160mm of travel on the front and 140mm of travel on the rear. The frame features Boost spacing, internal cable routing, a short fork offset design, an in-frame water bottle mount, and clearance for up to 2.6" tires.
The CLR C2 version of the Yeti SB140 comes with a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-50T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. SRAM Code R hydraulic disc brakes provide exceptional stopping power so you can descend under control. DT Swiss E1900 30mm wheels are paired with Maxxis tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the Fox Transfer Dropper, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Freeride
Click here to see why it is the Best Freeride Mountain Bike
Features
- Aluminum frame with internal cable routing, integrated frame protection, and Boost spacing
- SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain performs well in demanding conditions
- SRAM Code RSC 4-piston disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- TranzX Dropper Post quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
Freeriding is all about choosing your own adventure. There are trails with tons of rocks, trails with lots of dropoffs, and trails with a little bit of everything on them. Freeride bikes are able to easily conquer the toughest descents around. The Norco Shore A1 Bike is built for the fastest descents. It has long travel, 27.5" wheels, and an elevated Horst Link suspension design, and an integrated idler pulley that provides grip and support with minimal pedal kickback. The aluminum frame uses 180mm of travel on the front and rear and features internal cable routing and integrated frame and chainstay protection.
The A1 version of the Norco Shore comes with a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes an ultra-wide-range 10-52T cassette that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. SRAM Code RSC 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide confidence-inspiring stopping power so you can descend under control. E*Thirteen LG1 DH rims are paired with Maxxis Assegai tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the TranzX Dropper Post, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Trail E-bike
Click here to see why it is the Best Electric Mountain Bike
Features
- OMR Carbon frame with internal cable routing, integrated frame protection, and a chain guide
- Shimano SLX drivetrain performs exceptionally well in demanding terrain
- Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- Shimano EP8-RS motor with an Orbea RS Internal 360Wh battery that provides up to 20mph of pedal assist
Our Review:
E-bikes are designed to remove many of the barriers that keep people from riding a bike. They allow you to climb steeper hills with ease and ride longer so you can focus on the fun part of riding a mountain bike. The Orbea Rise M20 20mph E-Bike is a machine designed to expand your trail experience and bring you closer to the moment. It has an OMR Carbon frame that uses 140mm of travel on the front and rear. It features a Shimano EP8-RS drive unit and an integrated battery. The frame also comes with internal cable routing, integrated frame protection, and a chain guide.
The M20 version of the Orbea Rise E-Bike comes with a Shimano SLX M7100 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-51T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. Shimano M6100 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control. RaceFace AR 30c Tubeless-Ready Rims are paired with Maxxis tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: All-Mountain/Enduro
Click here to see why it is the Best Enduro Mountain Bike
Features
- FACT 11m carbon frame with a threaded bottom bracket, SWAT Door integration for extra storage, fully enclosed internal cable routing, Boost spacing, and a host pivot BB adjustment
- SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain performs well in all conditions
- SRAM Code RS 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- OneUp Dropper Post with infinite adjustability and a two-bolt head
Our Review:
The Specialized Stumpjumper EVO Expert Bike is ready to rock and roll on any trail around. It has a FACT 11m carbon chassis and rear-end. The frame uses 150mm of travel on the front and rear. The frame also features a threaded bottom bracket, SWAT Door integration for extra storage, fully enclosed internal cable routing, Boost spacing, and a host pivot BB adjustment.
The Expert version of the Specialized Stumpjumper EVO comes with a SRAM X01 Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-52T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. SRAM Code RS 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control. Roval Traverse 29 Alloy rims are paired with Butcher and Eliminator tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats With the OneUp Dropper Post, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Trail
Click here to see why it is the Best Hardtail Mountain Bike
Features
- C-Series carbon frame with internal cable routing, integrated ISCG-05 mounts, and wide tire clearance
- SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain performs well in demanding terrain
- SRAM Level TL hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- Fox Transfer Dropper Post quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review
Long-travel hardtails are a blast on the trails. You're able to easily conquer the descents, tackle the technical singletrack, and still climb with ease. The Yeti ARC C2 Bike is built to ride any trail you put ahead of it. It has a carbon frame that uses 130mm of travel and has modern geometry and Boost spacing. The frame has wide tire clearance for up to 2.6" tires. It features two mounts for water bottles, integrated ISCG-05 mounts, internal cable routing, and integrated frame protection.
The C2 version of the Yeti ARC comes with a SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 10-52T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. SRAM Level TL hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control. DT Swiss M1900 wheels are paired with Maxxis tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the Fox Transfer Dropper Post, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: All-Mountain
Click here to see why it is the Best Trail/All-Mountain Bike
Features
- Hydroformed aluminum frame with internal cable routing and a two-part linkage design
- SRAM NX/GX 12-speed drivetrain performs exceptionally well in demanding terrain
- Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Tubeless-ready rims and tires for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats
- OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper Post quickly lifts and lowers your saddle with the press of a lever
Our Review:
When it comes to all-mountain and trail riding, you'll want a bike that is ready for a little action. All-mountain bikes come with longer travel and can still climb back to the top after all those descents. The Orbea Occam H20-Eagle Bike is ready for any trail you want to ride. It has a hydroformed triple-butted aluminum frame that uses 140mm of travel on the front and rear. The frame features internal cable routing and a two-part linkage design.
The H20-Eagle version of the Orbea Occam Bike comes with a SRAM NX/GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. This includes a cassette that has a hill-crushing 11-50T gear range that makes climbing and pedaling through rough terrain a breeze. Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend under control. Race Face AR 30c wheels are paired with Maxxis Dissector and Rekon tires that can be set up tubeless for a smoother ride, better traction, and fewer flats. With the OC MC20 Mountain Control Dropper Post, you'll be able to quickly lift and lower your saddle with the press of a lever.
Type: Cross-Country/Trail
Click here to see why it is the Best Value Mountain Bike
Features
- Series 2 6061 aluminum frame with 100mm of travel on the front
- Shimano 2x9-speed drivetrain performs well in demanding terrain
- Tektro M275 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power
- Double-wall alloy rims paired with WTB Trailboss Comp tires
- Water bottle cage mount so you can always carry a water bottle with you on your bike
Our Review:
Trail riding is all about having fun in the dirt. Whether you're cruising the fireroads or you're shredding the singletrack, a trail bike will be able to take you the distance. The Marin Palisades Trail 2 27.5" Bike is built for having fun out on the trails. It has a Series 2 6061 aluminum frame that uses 100mm of travel on the front making it perfect for fire roads, singletrack, and all-day adventures out on the trails. The frame features external cable routing and has a single bottle cage mount so you can always carry water with you. The Palisades Trail also features a quick-release seat collar so you can quickly lift and lower your saddle for those descents or climbs.
The Palisades Trail 2 comes with a Shimano 2x9-speed drivetrain. The gearing is perfect for long climbs and pedaling through rough terrain. Tektro M275 hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power so you can descend with confidence. With the double-wall alloy rims that are paired with WTB Trailboss Comp tires, you'll have confident traction everywhere you ride.
Pocket Rocket
An ultra-lightweight cross-country/downcountry mountain bike with all the bells and whistles at an unbeatable price. The Orbea Oiz TR packs 120mm or travel in the front and rear, making it a bit more capable than the non-TR versions. The frame is made form a hydroformed aluminum alloy and the complete bike weighs in the low 20-pound range. For the price, the spec on this bike is unbeatable. The Oiz even has a remote-operated, Squidlock 3-position lockout on the front and rear shock so you can easy lock or unlock your suspension at the press of a button.
Trail Machine
If we could only pick one reason why we love the Orbea Occam, it would be the bang you get for your buck. The Orbea Occam H20 Eagle bike is loaded with premium spec components for a relatively cheap price. At just under four grand, this bike features Fox suspension, Maxxis tires, and a mixed SRAM NX/GX Eagle drivetrain. The hydroformed, triple-butted aluminum frame is durable, yet not overly heavy, and Orbea's newly updated, "Concentric Boost 2", two-part linkage suspension design uses a concentric axle and rear pivot connecting the chainstays and seat stays. Orbea’s new suspension update is claimed to decouple braking and suspension forces, making the rear suspension active under braking. On top of that, the Occam has a high leverage ratio and a progressive rear suspension, improving small bump sensitivity, as well as bottom-out resistance.
The EVOlution of Adjustable Enduro Bikes
The Specialized Stumpjumper EVO bike is available in many different configurations and builds, with specialized offering both carbon and aluminum versions, as well as various build kits. The Stumpjumper EVO has more travel and downhill capability than its non-EVO brother and is designed to get rowdy. Specialized included six adjustable geometry settings on all stumpjumpers, with two different bottom bracket settings and three headtube angle settings so you can adjust your bikes geometry based on the type of terrain you are riding. The Stumpjumper has the capability to be turned into a mullet setup with the purchase of an aftermarket suspension link and a new rear tire. Specialized's unique sizing system offers six different sizes so you can get the perfect size frame for you. For the finishing touches, the Stumpjumper EVO has SWAT storage, which allows you to store necessary ride items like a tube and multi-tool inside the frame of your bike.
Aluminum Bomber
The Norco Shore is an absolute freeride machine, incorporated 180mm of Horst Link suspension, a robust aluminum frame, and an integrated idler pulley. The idler pulley minimizes pedal kickback in rough terrain and the high-pivot design ensures better rollover characteristics. The Shore is fitted with an all aluminum frame and parts, a coil shock and extremely slack and long geometry. This bike belongs in the bike park, as it is rather heavy, yet confidence inspiring on the downhills, jumps and drops.
Aluminum Brawler
The Ibis Ripmo AF looks a lot like its sleek carbon brother but is far from it. This bike is big, aggressive, and durable. The Ripmo AF is for riders looking for a rough and ready bike that can play hard and pound through terrain. This bike is noticeably heavier than the carbon cousins, but that is what it is was made for; the rider who doesn’t want a beauty pageant bike, but rather a brawler. Fitted with the legendary DW-link suspension, a stiff and burly frame, short chainstays and a long front center, the Ripmo AF is born to get rowdy. It is efficient on the climbs (as efficient as a heavy aluminum bike can be), super fun and stable on the descents, and agile on the flow trails. If you are looking for a bike that can take a beating and hang with bikes that aren’t even in the same class as it, then the Ibis Ripmo AF is your bike.
Lightweight, Sleek, and Fast
With the Yeti ARC the sky is the limit. Available only in a carbon frame and slapped with perfect geometry, the ARC is at at home on nearly any terrain. With a low bottom bracket, short chainstays, and steep seat tube angle the ARC is a dream to climb and a nimble and flickable machine on the descents. The ARC can go head-to-head with the best trail and downcountry bikes out there.
Big-wheeled enduro machine
Sharing the same frame platform as its shorter travel brother, the Instinct, the Altitude just uses a longer stroke shock and fork to transform a poppy trail bike into a rock-dropping, aggressive enduro slayer. The Altitude is a do-it-all enduro machine that will never have you feeling outgunned, is very adjustable, and has a moderately progressive geometry. The Altitude has a relatively short reach, which allows it to feel poppy and playful for an enduro bike, while still soaking up the big hits with its plush suspension and 29-inch wheels. Rocky Mountain’s RIDE9 system lets you adjust the head and seat tube angle, as well as the progression of the suspension. Additionally, the Altitude features a two-position flip chip in the dropouts to adjust the chainstay length. The Altitude comes complete with chainstay and downtube protectors, a shuttle guard, and a small fender on the seat tube to protect the rear from mud and grit. All cables are internally routed and clamped at the ports for a smooth and quiet ride.
Jib, Flick, Send
Fast, agile and a lot of fun, the Yeti SB140 is a playful all-mountain bike that does just about everything right. This bike appeals to riders who would consider themselves to have a more aggressive and playful riding style; jumping, jibbing, popping wheelies and slashing corners is what the SB140 loves to do. At the heart of the SB140, as well as all Yeti bikes, is Yeti’s Switch Infinity suspension. Switch Infinity is a translating pivot that moves up and down throughout the bikes travel to help reduce pedal feedback and has high anti-squat properties, allowing for improved pedaling efficiency. This version of the SB140 is Yeti’s new Lunch Ride version, which beefs up the entire bike for a more aggressive rider. The Lunch Ride build comes with a 160mm fork, a larger volume rear shock, upgraded and wider tires and other various component substitutions. The bottom line is that the SB140 was built to have fun on and is a do-it-all mountain bike tailored towards riders looking for a smaller trail or all-mountain bike that can still handle whatever is thrown at it.
The Future of E-MTB's
This is not your average E-MTB. The Orbea Rise is a new breed of E-mountain bikes that boasts a lighter weight and less power output compared to regular E-mountain bikes. Using Shimano's EP8-RS motor, the Orbea Rise can save significant weight on its battery, which also means the frame can be made less bulky, furthering the weight savings. The EP8-RS motor has a peak torque output of 60Nm as compared to a an 80Nm output of the original EP8 motor. This is in turn allows the Orbea Rise to be built with a smaller 360Wh battery. The EP8-RS motor offers a more subtle ride feel than traditional E-MTB's, with a softer acceleration, lower initial power delivery and a more progressive power curve, which in turn has the rider still working to earn their turns and less of a feel of being boosted to the top. As with a regular EP8 system, the EP8-RS motor offers Eco, Trail and Boost assist modes, though each is tuned specifically for the EP8-RS motor and lower power output. The Orbea Rise is the perfect E-bike for riders looking to boost their ride potential in terms of capability and distance, while not sacrificing too much on the feel or the workout you would get from a traditional mountain bike.
A Bang For Your Buck
Whether you are new to mountain biking or just looking for a hardtail bike with a sweet price point, you can't go wrong with the Marin Palisades Trail 2. For just $700, you get hydraulic disc brakes, a 2x9 Shimano drivetrain, quality WTB tires and a sturdy aluminum frame. The Marin Palisades Trail 2 has modern geometry; with a 67.5-degree headtube angle and a 74.5-degree seat tube angle, you'll be in the perfect position to conquer any climb or descent. This bike gives you a lot for such a low price point and all parts on the Palisades Trail 2 are easily upgradeable down the line.
How To Choose a Mountain Bike
Jenson USA carries a full selection of mountain bikes and many of them vary greatly depending on the designated usage of the bike. The most important factor when shopping for a new mountain bike is figuring out what kind of riding your looking to do most often and what kind of trails you have access to and therefore, will be riding most frequently. Additionally, understanding the pros and cons of the different wheel sizes and choosing the correct size for you, as well as getting the right size frame plays a big part in how your bike will fit and feel. The last important aspect in choosing a mountain bike is the quality of the components on the bike and the budget you are working with.
Three things to consider
- Terrain/Type: A bike’s suspension travel and geometry vary greatly depending on the types of trail and terrains it was designed for.
- Size: Wheel size and frame size.
- Build/Budget: The quality of the components is the greatest determining factor in a bike’s price.
For a more in-depth explanation of these deciding factors, as well as all of the different style of mountain bikes, click into the Jenson USA Blog and check out our complete guide on How to Choose a Mountain Bike.
Best Mountain Bike FAQ's
What are the best mountain bike brands?
Yeti produces some of the best, top-of-the-line mountain bikes. Santa Cruz is also a very popular brand that churns out top-quality trail machines. On the cheaper side of things, Marin is a very reputable brand that had been around since the late 80’s.
How do you care for a mountain bike?
Regular and routine maintenance is the name of the game. Caring for a bike can come in many forms, whether you’re talking about cleaning it after a long ride, prepping your drivetrain beforehand, or servicing components, check out our blog post about showing your bike some love.
What is the most reliable mountain bike brand?
Reliable mountain bikes, whether hardtails or full suspension, can be found from companies like, Marin, Norco, Orbea, Santa Cruz, Yeti, and Ibis.
How much do the best mountain bikes cost?
Mountain bikes vary in price greatly. The best quality, fully loaded mountain bikes generally start out at around $6000, while top-of-the-line full suspension bikes can reach up to $13000. One of the main factors in what determines a bike’s cost is the components it has. The better the components and build spec the more expensive the bike will be.
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