FreeRideMountainBike.net

The absolute best mountain bike that is affordable is Raleigh. They also come with lifetime guarentees and can bring them in regulary for a tune up

If this is your first mountain bike consider getting one with just front suspension. A good set of suspension forks will provide you with more comfort and better control than a set of rigid forks but will still allow you to learn how to actually ride off-road (assuming that is what you want the bike for) without letting full suspension get in the way of you feeling what the bike is doing.

For example: You are riding down a slope covered in fist to soccer ball sized rocks. On a front suspension bike you would have to pick a good line down the slope to avoid crashing through / over the rocks saving both yourself & the bike from a beating. The full suspension frame would allow you to pretty much just plough through and over everything – which while it can be fun, you won’t learn the way a bike handles in different circumstances and this is very important when you are starting out. This is the time all your riding habits and techniques will start to be formed. While you’ll be able to jump straight in at a good level on a full suspension bike you’ll soon find you can’t improve your skills, because it’s the bike that provides them.

I’ve been in the bike business for 12 years & have been riding mountain bikes for 18 years now & I always advise anyone who wants to learn how to ride properly to start with front suspension. It’ll be worth it in the long run I promise. (For the record I ride a Klein hardtail ((Front suspension)) and an Intense Tracer full suspension)