960 ads for hardtail mountain bikes, from private sellers and shops nationwide. Typical price: £343.
Used and new hardtail mountain bikes
A hardtail is the mountain bike with a front fork and a rigid rear end: lighter, cheaper and simpler to maintain than a full-suspension bike. It's the right choice for a first MTB, for forest roads, woodland rides and cross-country racing, and it works very well in the city too.
What to check on a used hardtail
- the fork: coil on budget models, air with lockout on better ones; the stanchions should be clean
- the drivetrain: 1x12, or 2x and 3x on older models, plus chain and cassette wear
- the brakes: hydraulic discs are preferable to mechanical ones
- the wheels: 29" for most adults, 27.5" on small frames, 26" on older models
- a frame size that suits your height
Scott, Cube, Kross, Merida, Specialized and Devron have the most ads on Biklo, and the Rockrider ST 120, ST 530 or ST 540 are among the most sought-after budget hardtails. For your first MTB, a well-maintained used hardtail leaves you money for a helmet and gear too.
