What is the best Mountain Bike you've ever ridden and why was it?

[Flowrider]

Great chat on our ride with the guys. Pretty mixed but Giant did get the most mentions.

Interesting for me was that Best and Favourite weren't always the same so we went for best.

Terrain was also a factor.

We were talking cross country mountain bikes.

And you didn't still have to own it.

The best bike I've ridden is my Giant Reign!

So what's yours?

On any terrain Downhill, XC any off road goes!?

[Painkiller]

That would be impossible for me to answer as to single out the bike I rode was the best. They all have pros and cons not to mention different purposes. I have a Gary fisher Mountain bike tandem That is thrilling in so many ways doing single track that nothing compares to that thrill. All my bikes pretty much range from 1987 to 1997, road and Mtb. I guess I love them all the best. Each unique in their own right.

[Flowrider]

True fair point. I guess cos I've had so much pleasure and it's been so durable that my Giant Reign is easily , to date, my best bike I've ridden. Except for steep uphills it was everything I wanted.

I've just upgraded to a Giant Fathom to go with my Giant Talom, so we will see if Giant Reign will still be King

[Painkiller]

(04-14-2025, 12:20 AM)Flowrider Wrote:  True fair point. I guess cos I've had so much pleasure and it's been so durable that my Giant Reign is easily , to date, my best bike I've ridden. Except for steep uphills it was everything I wanted.

I've just upgraded to a Giant Fathom to go with my Giant Talom, so we will see if Giant Reign will still be King

Nice!

[SPINMAN]

I've only had one and rode it all four seasons for 5 years 15 years ago. It was the Giant NRS 1, so I have no comparison to share. I beat the heck out of it and ultimately found I had bent the frame! Strictly road bike since then.

[Flowrider]

... and did you get attached to it? Like it was a friend with a name, and when you gave it away or sold it, there was emotion attached to it?

I ask because when I sold my Giant Reign, I had those!

[ReapThaWhirlwind]

I really only ride GT. I can't speak on other brands.

I don't have any resentment towards other brands, and I actually like a lot of frame styles from other makers, such as Specialized, Cervelo, and Pinarello (Dogma). I know some of those are road bikes, but still relevant to the subject of style preference.

Oddly, if I didn't ride GT, I would probably ride a higher end Mongoose, because that's just how I am when it comes to style.

[GirishH]

I see a lot of mountain bikers here in Nepal, and many of them—as well as the rental shops—ride Giants. Even an Argentine-Catalan couple I met while doing the Annapurna Circuit had rented Giants.

Fortunately—or unfortunately—I never spent that much on my rig. But MisterGordo has been a reliable mule for all my mountain adventures.

[Flowrider]

Yup, Giant Reigns! Well that actually was the model of my Giant
The other brand that I would recommend is Specialized.
Had one for over 20 years with limited upkeep other than servicing and rode it 2 to 3 times a week

[meamoantonio]

I can't believe I have never seen this, my best mountain bike was a Marin Nailtrail 7, it was the perfect aggressive hard tail to tackle green all the way to blue trails , light enough to ride around the country and aggressive enough to cradle you thru there toughest of terrains

[Mr. Beanz]

I bought a Trek 8000 back in 2005, rode it for a few years, still have it. Deore LX/XT mix. Rather basic ride but more than good enough. I have had other riders tell me that I should get a full suspension blah blah blah but they are shuttling up the mountain then rolling downhill.

My idea of riding a mountain bike would be pedaling up the mountains. Rode it for several years training for climbing events on the road bike. Really fine tunes one's climbing and descending skills.

ONCE I thought I needed a better MTB but some dude flew by me on a bike exactly like mine making me realize, it's the rider, not the bike.

[GirishH]

@Mr. Beanz, isn't it always the rider, and never the bike...

​I was feeling like Superman on my 10-speed fat bike—until I came across fixed-gear cyclists hauling way more gear than me, climbing the exact same Himalayan mountains. :-(

​My ego took a beating it has never recovered from...

(06-30-2026, 01:23 AM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  I bought a Trek 8000 back in 2005, rode it for a few years, still have it. Deore LX/XT mix. Rather basic ride but more than good enough. I have had other riders tell me that I should get a full suspension blah blah blah but they are shuttling up the mountain then rolling downhill.

My idea of riding a mountain bike would be pedaling up the mountains. Rode it for several years training for climbing events on the road bike. Really fine tunes one's climbing and descending skills.

ONCE I thought I needed a better MTB but some dude flew by me on a bike exactly like mine making me realize, it's the rider, not the bike.

[meamoantonio]

(06-30-2026, 04:19 AM)GirishH Wrote:  @Mr. Beanz, isn't it always the rider, and never the bike...

​I was feeling like Superman on my 10-speed fat bike—until I came across fixed-gear cyclists hauling way more gear than me, climbing the exact same Himalayan mountains. :-(

​My ego took a beating it has never recovered from...

(06-30-2026, 01:23 AM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  I bought a Trek 8000 back in 2005, rode it for a few years, still have it. Deore LX/XT mix. Rather basic ride but more than good enough. I have had other riders tell me that I should get a full suspension blah blah blah but they are shuttling up the mountain then rolling downhill.

My idea of riding a mountain bike would be pedaling up the mountains. Rode it for several years training for climbing events on the road bike. Really fine tunes one's climbing and descending skills.

ONCE I thought I needed a better MTB but some dude flew by me on a bike exactly like mine making me realize, it's the rider, not the bike.

have you recovered? don't worry we're all admirers of you here we think you are very strong so don't let anyone say other wise my friend

[Mr. Beanz]

(06-30-2026, 04:19 AM)GirishH Wrote:  @Mr. Beanz, isn't it always the rider, and never the bike...

​I was feeling like Superman on my 10-speed fat bike—until I came across fixed-gear cyclists hauling way more gear than me, climbing the exact same Himalayan mountains. :-(

​My ego took a beating it has never recovered from...

😆😁😆

(06-30-2026, 01:23 AM)Mr. Beanz Wrote:  I bought a Trek 8000 back in 2005, rode it for a few years, still have it. Deore LX/XT mix. Rather basic ride but more than good enough. I have had other riders tell me that I should get a full suspension blah blah blah but they are shuttling up the mountain then rolling downhill.

My idea of riding a mountain bike would be pedaling up the mountains. Rode it for several years training for climbing events on the road bike. Really fine tunes one's climbing and descending skills.

ONCE I thought I needed a better MTB but some dude flew by me on a bike exactly like mine making me realize, it's the rider, not the bike.

[Flowrider]

Yup totally agree @GirishH .

"....isn't it always the rider, and never the bike..."

Summed up