Best Women’s Mountain Bikes: Our 2020 Review

Looking to purchase a women’s mountain bike? Perhaps you’re new to the world of mountain biking and you are looking for your first women’s bike. Or maybe you’re an experienced rider looking to change to a frame offering women-specific geometry. No matter your experience, we’ve got you covered with our review of the best women’s mountain bikes on the market in 2020.

Introduction

The range of women-specific mountain bikes available on the market is better and more diverse than it has ever been before. Whether you’re an experienced rider looking for a luxury carbon-framed model, or a beginner looking for an entry-level hardtail, there’s a quality ladies mountain bike waiting out there for you.

Luckily, female-specific mountain bikes have come a long way since the days when a women’s bike meant a slighter frame and a different color. Some of the best manufacturers of mountain bikes have adapted their men’s models or structured brand new female-specific bikes. This means that you don’t have to compromise on quality to get a well-fitted, perfectly balanced ladies mountain bike.

This review will focus on 10 of the best mountain bikes made for the female market. We’ll be looking at a range of models from some of the best brands and manufacturers. We kept the following factors in mind when making out the selection:

• Specs
• Key features
• What they can do on the trail
• Who they’re best suited for

The bikes in this review range in price, but the most important thing is that none of them compromise on quality.

Why Consider a Mountain Bike Specifically for Women

While it’s true that women can ride any mountain bike, women’s mountain bikes offer better levels of comfort. They’re designed to fit women riders. There are certain features of unisex models that have been improved for women’s mountain bikes to be better suited to the female physique. For example, the suspension on unisex bikes is more geared towards the male (and therefore, higher average weight) rider. Women mountain bikes offer different frame sizes, saddles, and stem lengths. Some on this list are even engineered and tested by women riders.

Ultimately, these bikes promote performance features and geometrics that improve the riding experience for female cyclists. That’s why we think that a women’s mountain bike makes a great investment for any female cycler. Check out our review of the ten best mountain bikes for women below.

Liv Tempt 3

The Liv Tempt 3 model is a hardtail mountain bike, featuring a lightweight ALUXX aluminum frame that has been designed specifically for women. Available in a range of sizes and colors, this hardtail bike offers versatility for female riders, alongside quality components. You won’t be disappointed with this female-specific model. It offers a lower than usual standover height so you can easily touch the ground and get on and off the bike.

Verdict:

With its low standover height, high-quality brake system, and female-friendly geometrics, we think that the Liv Tempt 3 offers real value for the money to the female rider. The 27.5″ wheel size is easy to handle for smaller riders, while still bulky and resistant enough for difficult trails. It’s a great bike for a beginner, offering you quality components at a low price point. 

Looking for a high-quality beginner’s mountain bike that won’t break the bank? Click here to view the Liv Tempt 3.

Cannondale Scarlet 1

The Scarlet 1 model from Cannondale offers trail-focused geometry and 27.5″+ tires, making it a great choice for those who love trail riding. This women’s mountain bike is suited for both riding and racing. Thanks to its trail-specific geometry and low stand-over height, you’ll feel stable and secure no matter what you’re faced with when you’re out riding.

Verdict:

With gears designed to assist your climbs, and 120mm front suspension to deal with uneven terrain, the Cannondale Scarlet 1 makes the perfect choice for those who just love to get out and hit the trails. While the frame is slightly heavier than other models, you get high-end components, micro-suspension technology, and hydraulic disc brakes in return. If your favorite rides are trail challenges with difficult terrain, we definitely recommend the Cannondale Scarlet 1.

For a bike that provides you with everything, you need to get out and enjoy the trails, check out the Cannondale Scarlet 1 here.

Cannondale Habit Women’s 3

Another Cannondale model, the Habit AL 3 is a high-quality full suspension mountain bike. It offers a range of features designed to enhance trail riding for women, including a frame that’s geometrically made for trails, and a steep seat tube angle to make sure riders are in the right position on ascents. This bike provides both front and back suspension, so it’s great if you’re looking for a smoother ride.

Verdict:

If you’re not a fan of hardtail mountain bikes or those that only offer front suspension, you’ll love the comfort and plush ride that the Cannondale Habit AL 3 offers. It’s well-suited to technical trails with difficult terrain, as well as more leisurely open trails. It does come at a higher price, and you’ll also have to buy the pedal separately. On the flip side, you get lightweight components, excellent suspension, and a choice in wheel size to get the exact bike you want. A great all-rounder, this women’s mountain bike from Cannondale is one of our favorite full-suspension bikes on the market. 

Click here to find out more about the Cannondale Habit AL 3 – you won’t be disappointed!

Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2

Built with a woman’s geometry in mind, the Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2 is made with a shorter-than-average top tube, a female-specific saddle, narrower handlebars, and a shorter stem. This bike is truly designed with the female body in mind, but it also offers top-quality components such as the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes and a Shimano 3 x 9 drivetrain.

Verdict:

The Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2 model really engages with the brief of being specifically a women’s mountain bike. If you’re looking for a bike that suits the female body, look no further than this one – every detail has been built with this concept in mind. Better yet, it comes in at a great price, and you still get fantastic components. We particularly like the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, which means you have excellent stopping power regardless of the weather conditions. This bike is suited for a variety of terrains, so it’s a great option if you’re a versatile rider.

Want a women’s mountain bike that truly fits the brief? Check out the great value Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2 here.

Salsa Horsethief SLX 29

The Salsa Horsethief SLX 29 is – as the name suggests – a full-suspension mountain bike with 29-inch wheels. Complete with all the features of a top-quality mountain bike, the Horsethief is a well-designed bike that will suit women of all shapes and sizes. Even better, it’s designed to tackle a range of terrains with a Shimano SLX drivetrain that provides smooth shifting as you cycle.

Verdict:

The Salsa Horsethief SLX 29 really does it all. You’ll be as happy riding it on tricky, winding descents as you will be on open, breezy trails. You’ll feel completely in control of this bike, thanks to the long-travel suspension and lightweight frame. As an additional bonus, you can change up the tire size to suit your needs. This is an expensive mountain bike, but it’s definitely worth it if you want one of the best in the business and you’re happy to pay the extra cash.

If you want to get your hands on the top-rated Salsa Horsethief SLX 29, click here.

Marin Rift Zone 1

The Marin Rift Zone 1 is a full suspension mountain bike but it doesn’t come with the hefty price tag of other similar models. It is the entry-level bike in this Marin range. This women’s mountain bike is fast, agile and well-suited to a variety of terrains and trails. Offering a range of top-quality components, you won’t be disappointed with the Marin Rift Tone 1.

Verdict:

This is a great all-round full suspension bike that won’t break the bank. Aimed at beginners and those with less experience, it makes a great choice for your first mountain bike. We love the tubeless wheels and extra stopping power from the hydraulic disc brakes. It handles well even on technical terrain, and the high-quality brake discs make riding in any weather a breeze. We love that this bike comes in such a wide range of sizes, so you can choose the best fit for you.

For a high-quality, reasonably priced full suspension women’s mountain bike, choose the Marin Rift Zone 1. Click here to see how great it is for yourself.

Diamondback Lux 2

The Diamondback Lux 2 is a budget-friendly hardtail mountain bike. Diamondback is a well-known manufacturer in the world of mountain biking, so it’s no surprise that their latest women-specific offering promises great quality. It boasts a design made for women, which makes it quick and simple to mount and dismount the bike, as well as to touch the ground. It’s easy to ride for hours with this bike, due to the high handlebars that keep you in an upright position.

Verdict:

One of the cheaper models on this list, the Diamondback Lux 2 does a fantastic job of combining decent quality with affordability. It’s a great starter bike, but would be equally suited to those who just love to ride for pleasure. The aluminum frame is almost as light as carbon, and the SR Suntour XCM-HLO suspension fork offers you a silky-smooth ride. You get the added bonus of a limited lifetime warranty on the frame, and the pedals are included with this model, so you’ve got everything you need to go from the start!

A great choice if you’re looking for a reliable women-specific mountain bike to enjoy fun rides, purchase the Diamondback Lux 2 here today.

Juliana Furtado

Made with top of the range components, the Juliana Furtado is built for quality and power. This hardtail mountain bike is designed to be suited to all of your mountain biking needs, so you don’t need a garage full of different bikes for different occasions. With high levels of customization available, you can pretty much design your perfect mountain bike.

Verdict:

This is a high-end bike, and we love that you can customize the main components, including wheel size, frame material, and overall size. Of course, the choices you make can drastically alter the price – but that’s down to you! The Juliana Furtado is perfectly designed for tight, technical climbs as well as tricky descents. With a beautiful frame that’s been designed with smaller riders in mind, you can’t go wrong with this bike. 

Want an amazing mountain bike that suits your every need? Look no further than the Juliana Furtado – click here to make a purchase today!

Diamondback Clutch 1

The Diamondback Clutch 1 is a full suspension mountain bike with efficient pedaling, offering you a smooth ride even on the most difficult terrain. This bike is nimble, fast and provides excellent grip from the wide Blanchard rims and WTB Vigilante tires. It offers great maneuverability and a lightweight aluminum frame.

Verdict:

We love how well-designed this bike is for difficult trail riding. The chunky wheels provide a strong grip, and the suspension system does a fantastic job of handling all those small bumps and dips on the trail. The Diamondback Clutch 1 comes in mid-budget, offering a good balance of affordability and quality. There are subtle changes to the proportions from a standard unisex bike, making the bike perfect for the female rider. This bike is well-suited to serious mountain bikers and features some high-quality components.

Get your hands on the high-quality Diamondback Clutch 1 and click here to buy this top-rated women’s trail bike today!

Liv Intrigue 3

With frame geometry and shock tuning specifically for women, the Live Intrigue 3 is a top-rated women’s mountain bike available in a range of sizes to suit your body shape. If you love to ride on a variety of trails, this bike could be the one for you with its versatile specifications. The Intrigue 3 is the cheapest model in the Live Intrigue range, but still offers many of the same high-quality components and design features as the more expensive models.

Verdict:

The Liv Intrigue range really excels in producing high-quality, high-performance mountain bikes for ladies. They use their 3F Design Philosophy and suspension testing for and by women to make sure that this bike truly fulfills the needs of the female rider. This model offers excellent pedaling efficiency and an aggressive position for trail riding to really help you get stuck into those difficult rides. It would be a great stepping-stone bike for those looking to up their game with a reasonably priced women’s mountain bike.

Don’t miss out on this top-quality women’s mountain bike! Click here to buy the Liv Intrigue 3 today.

Which Bike Should You Choose?

The only problem facing you now is this question of which bike to choose from so many great options. We think that all of the bikes featured in this review are high-quality mountain bikes for women riders. They come in at different price points. The good news is that no matter your budget, you can still get your hands on a great mountain bike.

• Best for Budget: If you want a great mountain bike but are put off by the higher price tag of some of these models, you get a great deal with the Diamondback Lux 2. At less than half the price of some of the more expensive models, you get excellent quality and a limited lifetime frame guarantee from a reputable manufacturer.
• Best for Beginners: For first-timers or those new to mountain bikes, the Live Tempt 3 offers all off of the features you would expect to find from a mountain bike at a great price. Because the 27.5″ wheels offer a good balance of easy handling for smaller riders, with enough bulk to conquer any trail, it’s a great bike for getting used to trail riding.
• Best for Competitive Bikers: We think that the Salsa Horsethief SLX 29 offers some of the best specs and design features on the market. It’s designed to tackle a range of terrains, and the geometry is suited to a variety of riding styles. This means that overall, you get a great all-rounder bike with excellent quality components.
• Best for Customization: The Juliana Furtado truly outdoes the other models when it comes to the levels of customization available. While many women’s mountain bikes give you a choice in size, the fact that you can choose the frame material with this model means that there’s no compromise on getting the exact bike you want in a women’s style.
• Best for Women’s Design: All of the bikes on this list are designed with women in mind, but the extent to which they do this varies. If you really want a bike with a huge array of women-specific specifications, we suggest the Liv Intrigue 3 or the Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2. Both of these bikes really fulfill the brief of designing for female cyclists. The Liv Intrigue 3 boasts a design that is engineered for and by women and tested out by female athletes. Meanwhile, you can’t go wrong with the female-specific saddle, narrower handlebars, and shorter stem of the Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2

Overall, the main things that you need to consider are:

• Price
• Specifications
• Experience Level
• What you’re really looking to get out of a women’s mountain bike

Let these factors guide your choice, and you won’t go far wrong.

Review Conclusion

Choosing the best women’s mountain bike is a difficult task. However, thanks to the growing market and availability of women-specific bikes, all women have this fantastic selection to choose from. It no longer means losing out on performance or the latest specs. Instead, you get real quality, high-performance bikes that are simply better suited to the female physique.

All of the models listed in this review are high-quality mountain bikes from some of the best companies and manufacturers around. No matter which ladies mountain bike from this list you go for, you can be sure that you’ll get both quality and performance.

Get geared up with one of these pro-level mountain bikes for women today by following the above links!