Best mountain bikes under $2,000 in Australia
Between $1,000 and $2,000 is where mountain bikes start to feel properly capable. Dropper posts, 12-speed gearing, air-sprung forks and more aggressive trail geometry all appear, and so do the first full-suspension bikes.
We compared every mountain bike on BikeFinder priced up to $2,000 and picked the best for different riders. The full table at the bottom covers every qualifying model, cheapest first.
Our picks
- Best trail hardtail
Trek Roscoe 7 Gen 4
$1,899.99 at Trek AustraliaA 150 mm RockShox Recon fork, a 170 mm dropper post, 29 x 2.4 inch tyres and a 65 degree head angle: the most descending-focused hardtail under $2,000 in our list.
Keep in mind: Shimano CUES 10-speed rather than 12-speed.
Aluminium · 1x10 · 150 mm · 29x2.40 · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.53 kg
Best full suspensionScott Spark 970
$1,899.99 RRP130 mm of travel up front and 120 mm at the back, a 1x12 drivetrain, a dropper post and a 65.8 degree head angle, at a claimed 14.95 kg.
Keep in mind: Shimano MT201 brakes are entry-level for a bike that encourages faster riding.
Aluminium · 1x12 · 130/120 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.64 · 14.95 kg
Best value trail hardtailNorco Charger A2
$1,649 RRPA 130 mm fork, 1x12 gearing with a very low climbing gear, a dropper post, 2.4 inch tyres and a 65 degree head angle, in five sizes from S to XXL.
Keep in mind: Tektro 2-piston brakes are adequate rather than strong.
Aluminium · 1x12 · 130 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.59
Best for fitness and cross-countryTrek Marlin 7 Gen 3
$1,499.99 at Trek AustraliaAn air-sprung RockShox Judy Silver fork, SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed with an 11 to 50 cassette, a 125 mm dropper and a claimed 14.15 kg, in six sizes.
Keep in mind: 100 mm of travel and a 66.5 degree head angle: built for flowing trails rather than steep, rough ones.
Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.40 · lowest gear 0.60 · 14.15 kg
Most fork travelCube Reaction TM Pro Hardtail
$1,999 RRPA 140 mm fork, 1x12 gearing, Shimano MT520 hydraulic brakes, room for tyres up to 66 mm and a 65 degree head angle at a claimed 14.3 kg.
Keep in mind: At the top of this budget.
Aluminium · 1x12 · 140 mm · 29x2.5/2.4 · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.3 kg
Cheapest full suspensionPolygon Siskiu D5
$1,399.99 at BikesOnline120 mm of travel front and rear, Shimano MT200 hydraulic brakes and a dropper post for well under $1,500.
Keep in mind: Entry-level SR Suntour fork, 9-speed gearing and only three sizes (S to L).
Aluminium · 1x9 · 120/120 mm · 27.5x2.25
How we chose
- Price shown on BikeFinder of $2,000 or less.
- Hydraulic disc brakes and a 1x drivetrain.
- A dropper post, or a clear reason to choose the bike without one.
- For trail picks, a head angle of about 66 degrees or slacker and at least 120 mm of fork travel.
Prices are the ones shown on each bike page: a checked Australian retailer price where we have one, otherwise the RRP. They change often, so confirm with the seller. Some links to retailers are affiliate links; they do not change our picks.
Hardtail or full suspension?
Under $2,000, a hardtail usually comes with better parts than a full-suspension bike at the same price, because there is no rear shock or pivots to pay for. A full-suspension bike is more comfortable and controlled on rough, rooty trails; a hardtail is lighter, simpler and cheaper to maintain.
Dropper posts
A dropper lets you lower the saddle from the handlebar before a descent. It is the upgrade most riders notice first, and most of our picks include one.
Geometry over gadgets
A slacker head angle (65 to 66 degrees) and longer reach make a bike calmer at speed and on steep ground. A steeper angle (67 to 69 degrees) suits smoother trails and climbing. Each bike page shows its geometry and how it compares with similarly priced bikes.
Every mountain bike from $1,000 to $2,000 we list (26)
| Bike | Key specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cannondale Trail 2 | Aluminium · 1x9 · 100 mm · 29x2.25 · lowest gear 0.65 | $1,099 |
| Norco Storm 120 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 120 mm · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.59 kg | $1,099 |
| Marin San Quentin 1 | Aluminium · 1x9 · 130 mm · 27.5/29x2.5 | $1,099.99 |
| Polygon Xtrada 6 | Aluminium · 1x11 · 120 mm · 29x2.25 | $1,199.99 |
| Scott Scale 980 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.3 kg | $1,299 |
| Trek Marlin 6 Gen 3 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 100 mm · 29x2.40 · lowest gear 0.63 · 15 kg | $1,299.99 |
| Liv Tempt 1 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 100 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.67 | $1,399 |
| Cannondale Trail 1 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 100 mm · 29x2.25 · lowest gear 0.63 | $1,399 |
| Polygon Siskiu D5 | Aluminium · 1x9 · 120/120 mm · 27.5x2.25 | $1,399.99 |
| BMC Twostroke AL Five | Aluminium · 11-speed · 100 mm · 29x2.25 · lowest gear 0.70 · 13.65 kg | $1,499 |
| Trek Marlin 7 Gen 3 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.40 · lowest gear 0.60 · 14.15 kg | $1,499.99 |
| Specialized Rockhopper Expert | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.35 · 13.14 kg | $1,499.99 |
| Specialized Rockhopper Comp | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.35 · 13.32 kg | $1,500 |
| Specialized Rockhopper Comp (2026) | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.35 · 13.3 kg | $1,500 |
| Norco Charger A2 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 130 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.59 | $1,649 |
| Superior XP 6.2 | Aluminium · 12-speed · 100 mm · 29x2.25" · lowest gear 0.67 · 12.9 kg | $1,699.99 |
| Scott Scale 965 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 100 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.63 · 13.3 kg | $1,699.99 to $2,199.99 |
| Kona Honzo | Aluminium · 1x11 · 130 mm · 29x2.35 · lowest gear 0.59 | $1,799 |
| Cannondale Habit HT 2 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 130 mm · 29x2.3 · lowest gear 0.63 | $1,799 |
| Giant Fathom 29 2 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 130 mm · 29x2.5 · lowest gear 0.63 | $1,899 |
| Norco Charger A1 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 130 mm · 29x2.4in | $1,899 |
| Trek Roscoe 7 Gen 4 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 150 mm · 29x2.40 · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.53 kg | $1,899.99 |
| Scott Spark 970 | Aluminium · 1x12 · 130/120 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.64 · 14.95 kg | $1,899.99 |
| Kona Big Honzo DL | Aluminium · 1x12 · 130 mm · 27.5x2.8 · lowest gear 0.63 | $1,989 |
| Cube Reaction TM Pro Hardtail | Aluminium · 1x12 · 140 mm · 29x2.5/2.4 · lowest gear 0.63 · 14.3 kg | $1,999 |
| Liv Embolden 29 2 | Aluminium · 1x10 · 140/120 mm · 29x2.4 · lowest gear 0.63 | $1,999 to $2,800 |
Related
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth spending $2,000 on a mountain bike?
If you ride trails regularly, yes. Compared with bikes around $1,000, you typically gain a dropper post, an air-sprung fork, 12-speed gearing and more confident geometry.
What is the cheapest full-suspension mountain bike in Australia?
Among the bikes we list, the Polygon Siskiu D5 is the cheapest full-suspension mountain bike with hydraulic brakes and a dropper. Check its page for the current price.