2024 Hardtails Under and Around $2000 – john watson | The Radavist | A group of individuals who share a love of cycling and the outdoors.

Hardtails make the world go round. Especially here at The Radavist. We’ve been long-time supporters of these capable yet simple mountain bikes and as people decide on the “next bike” after reaching the limitations on their gravel bikes, we thought it’d be nice to compile a list of current hardtail models we dig, all under or around $2,000 so let’s get to it!

Hey y’all, John here, writing about something I’ve been asked countless times over the years: “what’s a good entry-level hardtail for gravel, singletrack, and bike camping or bikepacking?” The catch is the bikes have to be “under or around $2,000.” Now, there are countless $500-$800 hardtails we’re omitting in this list, mainly because you get what you pay for. The Achilles of a hardtail is its fork, and plenty of sub-$1,000 hardtails have forks that just don’t cut it for trail riding.

In fact, one bike on this list has one of those very forks, and it’s the first in this alphabetical list. The only reason why that bike is included is because of its geometry and bottle/cargo cages.

This is by no means a complete list; instead, the team at The Radavist pooled these bikes together based on our anecdotal experiences with them. Perhaps we’ve gotten a friend to buy one, or we’ve had hands-on experiences with them on their own. Some we’ve even reviewed. At any rate, we’d all be comfortable riding these bikes down some of our local trails.

Our criteria included:

Suitable components. The forks have to be worthwhile. Solid tires and contact points as well.
Trail-capable geometries. We don’t want you bombing down a rocky trail with a 73º head angle!
Brands that will still be around in a decade (we hope) for parts support.
Potential resale value. We still say you should try to buy used when possible! And if you ever
graduate from these entry-level bikes, you should be able to sell them for some extra money to buy
a new or new-to-you used bike.

The elephant in the room is many of these bikes are already 3/4 of the price to get into the full suspension market, and as Travis has argued in the past, sometimes a full suspension bike is a superior “first” mountain bike. That’s a whole ‘nother can of worms!

Cannondale Habit HT3 $1,100

Why we like it: 130 mm fork with a 65º head angle, bottle and cargo bosses, great looking paint, and moderate tire clearance. The first on this alphabetical list is also the least expensive, at a cost with its SR Suntour fork. You could buy a better fork for this bike and have a very capable hardtail, while still coming in under $2,000.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: microSHIFT 10-speed.
130 mm travel
65º head angle
Variable seat tube angle.

Pros

Two bottle/cargo bosses.
Reputable brand with dealer networks.
Dropper post
Great color

Cons

Lower-end fork

Canyon Stoic 4 $1,699

The Stoic is a progressive geometry hardtail with clearance for a 29×2.6″ or 27.5×2.8″ tire, a 65º head angle, 75º seat angle, RockShox Pike fork, and Shimano Deore drivetrain. The raw aluminum finish and overall stance of this bike make it a sure winner. A few of us have recommended these bikes to friends looking for a sub-$2,000 hardtail, and those references have paid off with happy customers.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: 2XS-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12-speed 11-51t cassette
130 mm Pike fork
65º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Overall stance looks great
Great frame finish.
Dropper post
On sale with a solid price!

Cons

No dealer network.

Commencal Meta $1,100

With a similar pricepoint as the Cannondale Habit but with a better fork and more gearing, the Commencal Meta is a great budget-friendly platform with build kits ranging from $1,100 to $3,600 for the highest-end model. With a 64º ish head and 75º ish seat angle, it’ll take on just about anything you throw at it.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle 11-50t
150 mm RockShox 35 fork
64º-64.5º head angle
74º-75º seat angle

Pros

Overall stance looks great.
Great frame finish.
On sale with a solid price!

Cons

No dropper post at the lowest-priced build spec.
One bottle cage.

Devinci Kobain $1,599

Without a doubt, the Devinci Kobain is the most intriguing bike for our editorial team on this list for a number of reasons. First, Devinci knows how to make a good lookin’ bike with an appropriate stance. The Kobain has a 130 millimeters of front travel, which is arguably the sweet spot for most trails. It’s also made in Canada, which blows our mind that it’s still this affordable! There are two colors: this popping red and a muted green.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
130mm travel
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Deore 12-Speed 11-51
130 mm travel Marzocchi Z2 fork
65.5º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Overall stance looks great.
Great frame finish.
On sale with a solid price!

Cons

One bottle cage.

Giant Fathom 1 $1,425 (On Sale)

The Giant Fathom evaded our radar at first, but upon inspection, it is one of the more versatile bikes on this list with a plethora of bottle and cargo cage mounts, a progressive (yet balanced) geometry, and by speccing a 130 mm fork, is clearly aimed at a wide swath of riders and locations. Not too much travel, not too little; just enough. Although it is specced with 27.5 x 2.6″ wheels across all sizes, in our experience only the size XL riders will feel amiss.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle, 11-50t cassette
130mm Giant Crest 34 SL RCL fork
66º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Great price/value
Dropper post
Multiple bottle and cargo cage mounts

Cons

27.5×2.6″ wheels which may feel small for the XL riders.

Knolly Tyaughton $1,999

The Knolly Tyaughton is a unique bike in this lineup and is the only bike with a 157 mm super boost rear end. This allows for a big, fat tire– 29″ x 2.6″ or 27.5″ x 2.8″-3.0″ –and up to a 36t chainring! All with a 75º seat angle, 64.5º head angle, and a steel chassis. Our interest is piqued!

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Steel, super-boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12-speed 11-51t cassette
150 mm Marzocchi Z1
64.5º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Great price/value
Super boost rear end
Plenty of standover
Dropper post
Solid build kit

Cons

One bottle cage

Kona Honzo $1,899

It’s not a hardtail list without the almighty Kona Honzo! If we were to poll our readership, I’d bet a LOT of you have owned or spent time riding the Honzo. It is priced well, from a reputable brand, and has a geometry that is tried and true. We can’t say enough good things about the Honzo, and it’s always at the top of our hardtail recommendations…

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: 2XS-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12-speed 11-51t cassette
130 mm Pike fork
65º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Great price/value
Legendary platform
Dropper post

Cons

One bottle cage

Marin Pine Mtn 1 $1,499

Marin has a long legacy of making affordable mountain bikes, and the Pine Mtn 1 is perhaps the most versatile bike on this list. Built with tons of touring bosses, the right geometry, a chainstay yoke, and a great color with gumwall tires! Don’t sleep on this offering.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Steel, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore, 11-Speed, 11-51T
120 mm RockShox Recon RL
66º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Lots of touring bosses
Steel frame
Sub $1,500

Cons

No dropper
Quick release dropouts make wheel upgrades/sourcing difficult.

Marin San Quentin $1,399-$1,799

If you want less touring capability and a more “trail-tuned” geometry over Marin’s Pine Mountain bike (above), then check out the San Quentin, a bike with numerous build kit options depending on your budget. The San Quentin sports the same geometry as many progressive full-suspension bikes and while the Pine Mountain has plenty of cargo and bottle bosses, it only has one bottle position.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore, 11-Speed 11-51t cassette
140 mm X-Fusion Slide Boost RC, 29″
64º head angle
77º seat angle

Pros

Super progressive geo for a hardtail
140 mm travel is the sweet spot
Trail ready

Cons

One bottle cage

Niner Air 9 $2,099

The Air 9 is Niner’s lightweight, affordable aluminum hardtail. The geometry isn’t super progressive but—in all honesty—it’s probably a better all-rounder than other super slack and steep bikes on this list. Fitted with a 120 mm fork and with room for either 29×2.4” or 27.5×3.0” tires, you could have two wheelsets and increase its capability for touring or bikepacking. Plus, it’s got two bottle bosses in the front triangle!

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: XS-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: SRAM SX Eagle 11-50t
120 mm Marzocchi Bomber
68º head angle
74º seat angle

Pros

One of the few models with its weight listed: 25 lb for size medium.
All-rounder geometry for XC through trail riding.
Two bottle cages
Perfect for touring and bikepacking with a nicely-sized front triangle for a frame bag.

Cons

No dropper post

Orbea Lauffey H30 $1,899

The Lauffey is a superb option on this list, priced incredibly well. It features a downtube “LOCKR” for riding essentials like tools or snacks, a 140 mm travel RockShox fork, a 12-speed drivetrain, two bottle cages (one under the top tube, one on the DT), and has a few beautiful frame finishes. Orbea’s Lauffey has a great geometry, at home at the jump park and all-mountain trails alike.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12-speed Sun Race 11-51t 12-Speed
140 mm RockShox Recon RL
64º head angle
77º seat angle

Pros

Trail-ready geo
Great frame finish
Two bottle cages

Cons

No dropper post

Polygon Syncline C3 $1,249

The only carbon fiber chassis hardtail on this list comes from Polygon. The Syncline is a 27.5 or 29″ wheeled (depending on size), hardtail with a 120mm fork and a geometry tuned for XC riding.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Carbon, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100 11-51t 12-Speed
120mm RockShox Recon Silver IL
67º head angle
73º seat angle

Pros

Carbon frame (if you prefer carbon over metal)
Great frame finish
XC geometry – fast, effective
Dropper post
The most progressive bike on this list

Cons

UK brand so shipping to the States will be pricey
No US dealers
One bottle cage

Ragley Mmmbop 2 £1,599.99

If your ideal hardtail is one you want to catch shuttle runs or for afternoons at the bike park, it’s hard to beat the Ragley Mmmbop 2. The price alone is super attractive, as is the frame design with a super compact front triangle. The 150mm fork lets you play in the rough stuff, and the geometry is tuned for aggressive trail riding. The Ragley falls in line with a lot of the UK’s progressive hardtail designs and is a sleeper at that pricepoint.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano M5100 11-51t or DTS GMX 11-50t 11 Speed
150mm Marzocchi Bomber Z2
63.75º head angle
74º seat angle

Pros

Overall stance looks amazing
Great frame finish
Compact geometry with a lot of stand-over
Downhill-oriented numbers
Dropper post
The most progressive bike on this list

Cons

UK brand so shipping to the States will be pricey
No US dealers
One bottle cage

REI Drt 1.3 Co-Op $1,399

When was the last time your local bike shop gave you a dividend for everything you bought from them? While we’re not suggesting REI is a replacement for your LBS, it’s still a novel business model. The REI Drt 1.3 hardtails fall under the Co-Op line. John was out in Sedona with the REI team a few years back at the bike launch and got to spend some time on the Drt lineup. While the Co-Op bikes aren’t the most progressive, or the lightest bikes on the market, the price is right, and REI’s return policy is bomber. This would be a great “get your feet wet” without “plunging in” model.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: XS-XL
Smaller sizes 27.5″ wheels, larger sizes 29″ wheels
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
120 mm RockShox Judy Silver TK Solo Air
67º head angle
77º seat angle
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12-speed 11-51t cassette

Pros

Comes with a dropper
Dividends rewards for REI Co-Op members
Excellent return policy
Two bottle + cargo bosses

Cons

Geometry is a bit weird (steeper head angle and steep seat angle)

Rocky Mountain Growler 40 $1,899

Rocky Mountain’s Growler has been a sleeper model, yet it’s one of our top picks on this list for a few reasons. First, there are a number of models to choose from based on your budget. From sale prices at $1,119 to Microshift models for $1,499, there’s something for everyone’s budget. The geometry is progressive, and the bike can be under or over-forked (130-150 mm travel). The front triangle is sizable for a decent-size framebag without sacrificing standover too.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore 12s with a SunRace WA10 11-51T
Suntour Raidon 34 LOR Air Boost 140mm
64º head angle
75º seat angle

Pros

Very capable bike with 130-150mm travel option
Stock 140 mm travel is the sweet spot
Dropper post
Looks great! Nice colors and paint job

Cons

Single bottle cage

Salsa Timberjack SLX $2,099

The Salsa Timberjack comes in a 29er or 27.5 model, has frame protection on the downtube and chainstay, Alternator dropouts for easy singlespeed conversion, is a solid price and has plenty of cargo bosses for touring and bikepacking.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: XS-XL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100-12, 10–51t, 12-speed
130 mm RockShox 35 Silver TK (can take up to 150mm)
66.4º head angle
75.1º seat angle

Pros

Lots of bottle and cargo bosses
29er or 27.5 wheels
Dropper post
Probably the best bang/buck out there.
Reputable brand with extensive dealer network
Can take up to a 150mm fork
Easy singlespeed conversion thanks to the alternator dropouts

Cons

Santa Cruz Chameleon $2,099 (On Sale)

Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon! We didn’t need to go there, but we did! The Chameleon has gotten lots of love over here since it was first relaunched in 2017 to be a 27.5/29er 120mm chassis bike. It’s available in fancy carbon or aluminum, in a variety of build kits. John’s had the opportunity to review the 2017 model, as well as the newer, 2022 model. You should check those reviews out if you’re seriously considering one!

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
130mm travel
MX (27.5 rear, 29 front) or 29er
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 11-50t
130 mm travel RockShox Recon fork
65º head angle
+/-74º seat angle

Pros

Metal frame
Long dropper-compatible
Yoke for clearance
Two bottle bosses on the DT, cargo bosses underside of DT

Cons

One bottle cage (cargo bosses under DT)
On sale price makes it more affordable but price could/will go up.

Reviews:

Surly Karate Monkey $1,849 (Rigid) $2,599 (Hardtail)

The good ol’ Karate Monkey. Surly’s dedicated hardtail with touring bosses everywhere, a modern geometry, and a cult following. The Karate Monkey is hands down one of the most classic bikes on this list, next to the Kona Honzo. They’re beefy. They’re stout, but the Karate Monkey is designed with bike touring and bikepacking in mind while still holding its own on singletrack unloaded. While it’s not the most progressive in terms of geometry, it’s a proven platform that takes the tried and true middle road. While the hardtail is a bit pricier than we’d prefer to spec, you can buy the rigid model and then buy a mid-tier spec fork aftermarket for less than the hardtail model costs. #math.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: XS-XL
140 mm travel
Material: Steel, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: 12-speed Shimano Deore XT 11-51t
140 mm travel RockShox 35 Gold fork or rigid fork available
67.5º head angle
71.5º seat angle

Pros

Steel frame
Long dropper-compatible
Yoke for clearance (Fatties Fit Fine)
Horizontal slotted with optional vertical dumpout for easy SS
three cargo bosses on the DT, two bottle bosses underside of the DT
Great color (only comes in hardtail model though)

Cons

One bottle cage (cargo bosses under DT)

Transition TransAm $2,599

Technically above the pricepoint mark we’re trying to hit here but worth the inclusion in this list, the Transition TransAm was just announced and bang for your buck; it’s hard to beat its package. The classic is back and we’ve got a review for this one on the way this winter!

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: S-XL
150 mm travel Marzocchi Z2 fork
Material: Steel, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle 11-50t
64º head angle
76.5º seat angle

Pros

Steel frame
Long dropper-compatible
Yoke for clearance
Sliding dropouts for easy singlespeed.
Four bottle bosses on the DT
Stunning finish

Cons

One bottle cage (four mounts on the downtube but only room for one cage)
Expensive

Trek Roscoe 7 $1,649.99

The Trek Roscoe is a highly affordable platform, offering build kits as low as $1,199 and as high as $2,499 depending on build spec. It clears a nice plump 29×2.6″ tire across all sizes, with the XS running a 27.5×2.6″ wheel. With two bottle mounts inside the triangle, this is one not to miss.

Shorthand Specs:

Sizes: XS-XL
140mm RockShox Recon Silver RL
Material: Aluminum, boost-spaced frame.
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore M6100, 10-51, 12 speed
65º head angle
74.7º seat angle

Pros

Two bottle cages
Great finish
Multiple build kits depending on budget
29×2.6″ on S-XL, 27.5×2.6″ on XS

Cons

Well, that’s quite the list, and yet, I’m sure we missed something here, so let us know your pick in the comments, and if you have experience with one of these bikes, drop a quick review too! Want to see us review one of these bikes? Let us know!