A Recreational mountain bike is any mountain bike that sells for less than $600. You can ride it off-road on dirt trails but it doesn’t have the handling characteristics and suspension performance you need to ride like a mountain bike God. If they sell for $350 -$599 then they are fine at Ho Chi Mihn Trail at Memorial Park but are not made for mountain bike racing or jumping; and they will be a bit of a handicap if you are trying to really haul-ass over rough terrain.

The mountain bikes that sell for below $350 are more designed for places like Brazos Bend State Park where the trails are dirt but are graded smooth. They are like the family type mountain bike for the casual rider who wants to stay off the street. These make great campus bikes because they are pretty durable for that kind of riding and are cheap enough to not be a major hit when they get stolen. A quick note on quality-a Giant or Raleigh that sells for $229 and has a steel frame and a shock on the front is a whole lot better bike than a $229 aluminum full suspension bike with any brand name on it that you buy at Walmart or Academy. Trust me.